PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Bergström

Publications and source records attributed to E Bergström.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Endurance running performance in relation to cardiovascular risk indicators in adolescents.

We evaluated endurance running performance and body mass index (BMI) in relation to biochemical cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk indicators (s-lipids, s-insulin, s-ferritin), and blood pressure in 14- and 17-year-old healthy Swedish adolescents (n = 879), also considering current dietary intake and physical activity. Endurance running performance was assessed using a 3 km running test and height, body weight, waist and hip circumference, and skinfolds were measured at clinical examination. Physical activity and dietary intake were evaluated using self-reported 7-day-records. The results showed that high endurance running performance was related to a favourable CVD risk indicator profile. Multiple regression analyses including running time, BMI, physical activity, dietary fat and iron intake, and age as independent and s-lipids, s-insulin, and s-ferritin as dependent variables revealed that, in both boys and girls, low BMI was associated to a favourable s-lipid profile and lower s-insulin values and, in boys but not in girls, also to lower s-ferritin values. There were, however, no independent associations between level of physical activity or endurance running performance on the one side and s-lipids, s-insulin, or s-ferritin values on the other. High dietary fat intake was associated to s-lipids in a non-atherogenic direction; in boys to higher HDL-C and in girls to lower TG. In conclusion the study showed that body mass seems to be the most important factor explaining the differences in s-lipid and s-insulin values between adolescents with different level of physical performance capacity. An interesting finding was, that s-ferritin, being a proposed risk factor for CVD, in the older boys related to body mass in a similar way as s-lipids and s-insulin.

Adolescent↗

Self-esteem before and after treatment in children with nocturnal enuresis and urinary incontinence.

A case control study was designed to study self-esteem in children with nocturnal enuresis and daytime incontinence. The patients and the controls were recruited from the normal population in the town of Umeå, Sweden. Medical and psychological examinations were performed before the start of treatment. Follow up investigations were carried out at 3 and 6 months after starting treatment. Self-esteem was measured using a Swedish self-answering questionnaire that was known to have good psychometric properties. Statistically significant impairment of self-esteem was observed between patients and control children before starting treatment (P < 0.001). After 6 months treatment, the patients had the same levels of self-esteem as the control group. Self-esteem was significantly better in patients that were totally dry at 6 months follow up compared with the patients with persisting urinary problems (P < 0.01). Children from lower socioeconomic groups were found to have lower self-esteem than children from higher socioeconomic groups; boys were also found to have lower self-esteem than girls.

Age Factors↗

High bone mass and altered relationships between bone mass, muscle strength, and body constitution in adolescent boys on a high level of physical activity.

We have recently demonstrated a general relationship between bone mass, muscle strength, and several body constitutional parameters in adolescent boys with a moderate exercise level. The present study was conducted to evaluate these previously described relationships in adolescent boys subjected to high physical activity and also to compare the bone mass of the same group with that of adolescents on a moderate level of physical activity. The reference group consisted of 24 boys, age 15.9 +/- 0.3 years, not training for more than 3 h per week. The ice hockey players consisted of 20 boys, age 15.9 +/- 0.3 years, from an ice hockey junior team training for about 10 h per week. The groups were matched according to age, pubertal stage, and weight. Areal bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in total body, head, humerus, spine, femur, and proximal femur using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. BMD was significantly higher in the humerus (p < 0.01), femur (p < 0.05), and proximal femur (p < 0.05) in the high activity group. Furthermore, physical activity (h/week) was an independent predictor of humerus BMD (p < 0.01) and proximal femur BMD (p < 0.05), among all subjects investigated (n = 44). Isokinetic muscle strength of the quadriceps and hamstrings muscles was significantly higher in the high activity group (p < 0.05). In the reference group, there was a general strong independent relationship between BMD, muscle strength, and different body constitutional parameters. In the high activity group, muscle strength of the thigh independently predicted BMD of humerus and spine. Furthermore, in the same group, weight, BMI, and fat mass independently predicted only spine BMD. In conclusion, the higher BMD demonstrated in the ice hockey players seems to be site-specific and may well be associated with the type and magnitude of loading from predominantly ice hockey. High physical activity seems to weaken the relationship between BMD, muscle strength, and body constitution demonstrated in adolescent boys on a low or moderate level of physical activity.

Adolescent↗

Insulin resistance syndrome in adolescents.

To explore whether the so-called insulin resistance syndrome can be identified in adolescents, serum insulin level was measured in 842 healthy Swedish adolescents (462 boys and 380 girls) and the values were related to current serum lipoprotein and apolipoprotein values (triglyceride [TG], total cholesterol [TC], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], apolipoprotein [apo] A-I, apo B, and lipoprotein(a)), blood pressure (BP), and anthropometric measurements and previous physical growth. Mean serum insulin values were higher in 14-year-olds as compared with 17-year-olds and were highest in midpuberty. Adolescents with a high serum insulin had a higher attained height and weight during infancy and childhood. Obesity (body mass index [BMI] > 30 kg/m2) was found in 1% of both boys and girls, and hypertensive BP levels were found in 3% of the boys and 1% of the girls. Controlling for age, serum insulin correlated positively with BMI (r = .36 and .25 in boys and girls, respectively), TG (r = .32 and .14), LDL-C (r = .17 and .24), and apoB (r = .23 and .23) and negatively with HDL-C (r = -.13 and -.21). High serum insulin, TG, LDL-C, and BP and low HDL-C clustered in adolescents with high BMI. In conclusion, the findings of this study indicate that features typical of the insulin resistance syndrome are already present in adolescents.

Adolescent↗

The inter rater reliability of the original and of the modified Ashworth scale for the assessment of spasticity in patients with spinal cord injury.

Thirty patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) were randomly selected to participate in this study which evaluated the inter rater reliability of the original and of the modified Ashworth scale for the assessment of spasticity in the lower limbs. A doctor and a physiotherapist rated the muscle tone of hip adductors, hip extensors, hip flexors and ankle plantarflexors according to the original and to the modified Ashworth scale. The results were analyzed using a Cohen's Kappa statistical test and showed varying levels of reliability for different muscle groups and limbs. Kappa values ranged between 0.21 and 0.61 (mean 0.37). The original scale was slightly more reliable than was the modified scale. However, this difference was not significant (P > 0.05), and was not consistent between the two limbs and between different muscle groups. It was concluded that the Ashworth scale is of limited use in the assessment of spasticity in the lower limb of patients with SCI. Further work is required to establish a standardised speed of muscle stretching during the test, or to find more appropriate grades and descriptions of spasticity for this patient group. The effects of training of the raters in the use of the scales also warrants further investigation.

Adolescent↗

Cardiovascular risk indicators cluster in girls from families of low socio-economic status.

We evaluated tobacco use, physical activity, dietary intake and cardiovascular risk indicators (s-lipids, s-insulin, s-ferritin, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, physical fitness) in healthy 14- and 17-year-old Swedish adolescents in relation to socio-economic status (SES) of their parents. Girls reported more smoking than boys (14-year-olds 10 and 3%, 17-year-olds 27 and 18%, girls and boys, respectively). Daily smoking was associated to low SES of the family, but was most strongly associated to smoking in peers (OR = 58.7). Tobacco use was considerably higher among adolescents attending vocational programs at secondary high school as compared with theoretical programs. Daily smokers had a more unfavourable serum lipid profile compared with non-smokers. Adolescents from families with a low educational level of the mother had a higher relative dietary fat intake. Boys and girls from families of low SES had higher body mass index (BMI), and girls, but not boys, also had lower physical fitness. Clustering of high BMI, low physical fitness and daily smoking was more pronounced in girls from families of low SES. In conclusion, our study shows that in both boys and girls low SES and educational level of the parents are related to an unfavourable cardiovascular risk profile in Swedish adolescents. Furthermore, smoking in adolescents is more related to smoking in peers than to smoking in parents, implying that preventive efforts should focus on peer groups.

Adolescent↗

Serum lipid values in adolescents are related to family history, infant feeding, and physical growth.

Total serum cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I), apolipoprotein B (apo B), and lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) were analysed in 879 14- and 17-year-old healthy adolescents (477 boys and 402 girls), and related to family history of cardiovascular disease, early feeding, weight and length at birth, and physical growth during infancy and childhood. Mean TC was significantly higher in girls than in boys (4.4 and 4.2 mmol/l, respectively, both age-groups together). High TC values ( > 5.2 mmol/l) were more prevalent in girls than in boys: 14% and 17% compared to 6% and 12% in 14- and 17-year-old girls and boys, respectively. Mean TC and LDL-C values were lower during mid-puberty in both boys and girls while, in boys but not in girls, mean HDL-C values decreased and TG values increased successively with increasing pubertal stage. Girls who were taking oral contraceptives had higher mean values of TC (4.91/4.39 mmol/l), TG (1.32/0.83 mmol/l), and apo B (0.89/0.73 g/l). Boys with a family history of early deaths ( < 55 years) from myocardial infarction and girls with a family history of cerebral haemorrhage/thrombosis in fathers had higher mean values of TC (4.55/4.17 and 5.03/4.40 mmol/l, for boys and girls, respectively), LDL-C (2.84/2.47 and 3.08/2.56 mmol/l), and apo B (0.73/0.70 and 0.86/0.73 g/l). Adolescents with short duration of breast feeding ( < 6 months), or early introduction of infant formula, had higher mean values of TC (4.29/4.14 mmol/l) and apo B (0.72/0.68 g/l). There were no significant correlations between serum lipid values and body weight or length at birth, but adolescents with high LDL-C (upper quartile) seemed to have lower attained heights during infancy and childhood. In conclusion, this study shows that serum lipids in adolescence are primarily related to age and sex but also to early determinants like family history of cardiovascular diseases, infant feeding, and early physical growth.

Adolescent↗

Bone mass, muscle strength, and different body constitutional parameters in adolescent boys with a low or moderate exercise level.

This study was conducted to evaluate the association between muscle strength of the thigh, different body constitutional parameters, and bone mineral density (BMD) in adolescents. The subjects were 26 healthy adolescent boys, age 15.9 +/- 0.3 years, not training for more than 3 h per week. BMD was measured in total body, head, humerus, spine, femur, and tibia/fibula. Univariate correlations were measured between the explanatory parameters height, weight, body mass index (BMI), fat mass, lean body mass, quadriceps strength, hamstrings strength, and each BMD site using Pearson's coefficient of correlation. The explanatory variables were also used in a multivariate analysis to explain each BMD site. There was a high degree of concordance when comparing the two methods of analysis. Using the multivariate analysis, quadriceps strength and lean body mass showed significant independent correlations to all BMD sites measured, the correlations being stronger for the adjacent femur and tibia/fibula than for the distant humerus and head. Hamstrings strength correlated significantly and independently with tibia/fibula BMD and spine BMD. Fat mass, BMI, and weight correlated significantly and independently to all BMD sites except femur. This study demonstrates a general relationship between BMD and different body constitutional parameters and muscle strength of the thigh.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Sex differences in iron stores of adolescents: what is normal?

We evaluated iron status and its determinants in healthy adolescents. Fasting morning blood samples from a school-based cross-sectional study were analyzed for serum ferritin (SF), serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, and circulating transferrin receptors. Physical development, chronic disease, medication, dietary intake, and physical activity were assessed using clinical examination, questionnaires, and 7-day records. The risk of having low serum ferritin values was estimated using bivariate and multivariate regression. Subjects were 867 healthy Swedish adolescents, 14- and 17-year-olds (472 boys and 395 girls). SF values increased with pubertal stage in boys but not in girls. Five percent of the boys and 15% of the girls had SF values < 12 micrograms/L. Of the 17-year-old boys, 7% compared to 1% of the 17-year-old girls had SF values > 100 micrograms/L. Forty-one percent of cases with SF values > 12 micrograms/L had serum iron values < 15 microM, and 22% had transferrin saturation values < 16%. Mean total iron intakes of the boys were high [1.6 times recommended daily allowance (RDA)] and mean intakes of the girls were adequate (0.9 times RDA). Low heme iron intakes increased the risk of low iron stores (< 12 micrograms/L) in girls but not in boys. Total iron intake or other dietary factors, physical development, or level of physical activity did not influence the risk of low SF. The findings of this study suggest that the differences in iron status between boys and girls in adolescence results primarily from biological differences other than menstrual bleeding or insufficient iron intake. Furthermore, the results question the role of SF as an indicator of iron deficiency in adolescence, in particular if age and sex are not taken into consideration. We suggest that different reference values for SF, including the cut-off limit for low SF, adjusted for age and sex, should be considered. The high iron intakes and corresponding high SF values found in the older boys are noticeable in light of the possible negative health consequences of iron overload.

Adolescent↗

Dietary changes in Swedish adolescents.

A school-based dietary survey, using seven-day records, was performed in two cohorts of Swedish adolescents; 14- and 17-year-olds. The study comprised 366 boys and 365 girls. When compared to previous studies in Sweden, a striking finding was a decrease in dietary fat intake and an increase in carbohydrate intake. However, the relative intake of saturated fat had not changed (15% of total energy). The dietary change was mainly due to an increased consumption of cereal products. There were no major differences in dietary habits or nutrient density of the food between the two age groups, or between boys and girls. The mean intakes of protein, fat and carbohydrate, expressed as a percentage of the total energy intake, were 15, 33 and 52%, respectively. The mean intakes of vitamins and minerals were low only for selenium. The boys had a high iron intake (1.5 and 1.7 times the recommended intake for 14- and 17-year-olds, respectively) while the mean iron intake for girls was 0.9 times the recommended dietary allowances in both age groups. The intake of dietary salt was higher in boys than in girls (7.7 g and 9.0 g per day in 14- and 17-year-old boys, respectively, and 5.8 g per day in both 14- and 17-year-old girls). In a long-term health perspective, this positive change in nutrient intake in adolescents may contribute to a reduction in the incidence of diet-related diseases in Sweden.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

School injuries. Epidemiology and clinical features of 307 cases registered at hospital during one school year.

Injuries at school were studied for one school year in 57 primary and three secondary schools (13,733 students, aged 7-19 years) at Umeå in northern Sweden. The injury rate was 22/1000 student years. There was a wide variation in injury rate between different schools. The boy/girl ratio was 1.1/1. Physical education was the dominating activity at the time of injury for the older students and play in the school yard for the younger. The majority of the students had a minor injury, but 17% had a fracture. The injured students did not seem to have more somatic, psychological or social problems than students in general. Fewer competitive sports and ball games and more adult supervision and organized activities during breaks are suggestions to reduce injuries at school. A hospital-based injury registration system is well fitted for serving as a base for analysing school injuries.

Adolescent↗

Health teams in school. A step towards primary prevention.

Health education in schools is a subject that many people talk about but few do something about. One reason for this is that it is an interdisciplinary subject. This paper describes a community model with a ten-point program. Local health teams with collaboration between the school health service and the teachers are one of the main features of the model. A more active engagement in health education is a step towards primary prevention of health problems caused by living habits and environmental factors.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

The influence of surfactants on gill physiology and cadmium uptake in perfused rainbow trout gills.

Cadmium transfer through and the retention of metal in perfused gills from rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) has been studied in the presence of two detergents, LAS (linear alkylaryl sulphonate) and NP-10EO (nonylphenol ethoxylate). Accordingly, the effects of the metal and the surfactants on gill viability (vascular resistance, oxygen diffusion capacity, sodium net flux) was measured. Cd had no effect on gill viability either at 0.008 or at 9.0 mumol/liter during a 60-min perfusion period. The viability of the gills deteriorated markedly during 60 min of exposure to 100 mumol/liter LAS and to NP-10EO, or to a mixture of 100 mumol/liter surfactant + 8.1-8.3 mumol/liter Cd. LAS, 100 mumol/liter, reduced Cd transfer, whereas NP-10EO had no effect. NP-10EO increased Cd retention in gill tissue. LAS more than doubled Cd transfer through the gills when tested in concentrations expected to be found in a polluted recipient (0.9 micrograms/liter Cd + 0.05 mg/liter LAS). NP-10EO had no effect on the transfer when tested under these environmentally relevant conditions.

Animals↗