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Biomedical subjects

G Hay

Publications and source records attributed to G Hay.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Validation of a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire used among 2-year-old Norwegian children.

OBJECTIVES: An adequate diet is of profound importance in infancy and early childhood. To ensure an optimal diet, knowledge about actual intake must be obtained. The aims of this study were to assess the validity of a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) applied in a large nation-wide survey among 2-year-old children and to examine the validity of the SFFQ in relation to different background parameters. DESIGN: The SFFQ was administered to the parents close to the child's second birthday, and one to two weeks later they started to weigh and record the child's diet for 7 days. SUBJECTS: One-hundred and eighty-seven families with a 2-year-old child completed both methods. RESULTS: There were no differences between the intakes of protein, saturated fatty acids, total carbohydrates and calcium estimated from the two methods. The average intake of all micronutrients, except for calcium, was overestimated by the SFFQ. Bland-Altman plots showed a systematic increase in difference between the two methods with increasing intake for most nutrients. Spearman correlation coefficients between methods for nutrient intakes ranged from 0.26 to 0.50, the median correlation was 0.38. The correlations increased when estimates were adjusted for energy intake, the median correlation being 0.52. Differences in observed validity were found according to the number of siblings. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the SFFQ may be a valuable tool for measuring average intakes of energy, macronutrients and several food items among a 2-year-old population in Norway. The ability of the questionnaire to rank children according to intakes of nutrients and food items was rather low.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed2004

Iron status in a group of Norwegian children aged 6-24 months.

UNLABELLED: An adequate iron status is of vital importance for health and development in infancy and early childhood. Iron status was evaluated in a group of full-term Norwegian children followed longitudinally, at the ages of 6 mo (n = 278), 12 mo (n = 249) and 24 mo (n = 231) by measuring haemoglobin (Hb), mean cell volume (MCV) and serum ferritin. At 6, 12 and 24 mo of age, 3, 10 and 12%, respectively, had iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) defined as Hb <110 g/l in combination with ferritin <15 microg/l. With more restrictive criteria for defining IDA (Hb <110 g/l or <105 g/l in combination with ferritin <12 microg/l), the prevalence decreased to 1-2% at 6 mo and 2-5% at 12 and 24 mo of age. If children with a history of fever in the previous month were excluded, the proportion of children with depleted iron stores (ferritin <10 microg/l) increased from 2 to 3% at 6 mo, from 5 to 7% at 12 mo and from 9 to 13% at 24 mo. CONCLUSION: Mild iron deficiency anaemia exists among otherwise healthy Norwegian infants and toddlers. The prevention and early treatment of iron deficiency should be a priority for the child health services.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2002

Monitoring hepatitis C virus infection among injecting drug users in the European Union: a review of the literature.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) among injecting drug users (IDUs) is one of the European Union's (EU) major public health problems. This review examines the current state of knowledge regarding HCV among IDUs in EU countries. Studies published between January 1990 and December 2000, were identified through a computerized search (MEDLINE and EMBASE). Ninety-eight studies have reported prevalence for HCV among groups of IDUs in all EU countries except Luxembourg. The prevalence of anti-HCV ranged from 30 to 98%. Incidence rates ranged from 6.2 to 39.3 per 100 person years. This review provides a comprehensive examination of HCV infection among IDUs in the countries of the EU, and quite clearly demonstrates that the quality and epidemiological relevance of the studies published varies widely. Thus, the reported data may not reflect accurately the current or recent past prevalence of HCV among IDUs in the EU. A strategic approach to the surveillance of HCV among IDUs in the EU, utilizing robust and consistent methods, is required urgently.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The attendance pattern of clients at a Scottish needle exchange.

AIMS: To examine the pattern of attendance at a Scottish needle exchange. DESIGN: Semi-structured interviews and retrospective analysis of attendance patterns. SETTING: A needle exchange in a Scottish city which covers the whole of the city. PARTICIPANTS: Clients and staff of the needle exchange. MEASUREMENTS: The attendance pattern of 1556 clients of the needle exchange over a 4-year period 1995-1998. FINDINGS: The average frequency of attendance over the 4-year period was 12.7. In 1998, 23% had only visited the needle exchange once and 11% had only visited twice. CONCLUSIONS: A significant minority of clients only attend the needle exchange once or twice a year. There is a need to include information on client retention in future evaluations of needle and syringe exchange clinics and to specify the kind of relationships needle and syringe exchange clinic staff are expected to develop with clients and what level of client retention they should be aiming towards in a well-run clinic.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Capture-recapture estimates of drug misuse in urban and non-urban settings in the north east of Scotland.

AIMS: To estimate the prevalence of opiate or benzodiazepine misuse in the Grampian Health Board area, Scotland and illustrate the use of the capture-recapture method in both rural and urban settings. DESIGN: Capture-recapture analyses on six distinct sources of data with unequal coverage of the geographical area. SETTING: Grampian Health Board area, including the City of Aberdeen. PARTICIPANTS: Data were collated from the Police, Social Work Departments, GPs contributing to the Scottish Drug Misuse Database, statutory drug agencies, a voluntary sector drug agency and a needle/syringe exchange. MEASUREMENTS: In total 1770 individuals were identified as misusing opiates or benzodiazepines and residing in the Grampian Health Board area; 1129 individuals were resident in the City of Aberdeen. FINDINGS: The total number of opiate or benzodiazepine misusers in the City of Aberdeen was estimated to be 2519 (95% CI 2048-3200). This figure corresponds to 2.0% (1.6-2.5%) of the population aged 15-54 years. In a town to the north of Aberdeenshire where high levels of heroin use had previously been reported in the media, 2.5% of the population aged 15-54 (1.8-3.8%) were estimated to be misusing opiates or benzodiazepines. CONCLUSIONS: Although there may be difficulties in applying capture-recapture methods in all settings, the methodology can give valuable information on the extent of drug misuse in both urban and non-urban areas. This information is particularly important to assess the spread of drug misuse from cities to rural areas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Mathematical modelling of the spread of HIV/AIDS amongst injecting drug users.

In this paper we develop and analyse a model for the spread of HIV/AIDS amongst a population of injecting drug users. Our work is based on a model originally due to Kaplan (1989, Rev. Inf. Diseases 11, 289-98). We start off with a brief literature survey and review; this is followed up by a detailed description of Kaplan's model. We then outline a more realistic extension of Kaplan's model. Then we perform an equilibrium and stability analysis on this model. We find that there is a critical threshold parameter Rzero which determines the behaviour of the model. If Rzero < or = 1 there is a unique disease-free equilibrium, and if Rzero < 1 the disease dies out. If Rzero > 1 this disease-free equilibrium is unstable, and in addition there is a unique endemic equilibrium which is locally stable. If a certain condition is satisfied (and for Kaplan's model this condition is always satisfied), additional complete global-stability results are shown. These results are confirmed and explored further by simulation.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1996

Contrasting methods of collecting data on injectors' risk behaviour.

In this paper two contrasting methods of collecting data on drug injectors' needle and syringe sharing practices are considered, namely: direct questions about any previous sharing in the last 6 months, and vignettes in which injectors are asked to indicate whether they would be prepared to share injecting equipment in a range of situations. Injectors' statements of their preparedness to share are far in excess of their reports of actual sharing. The possible reasons for this discrepancy are considered, including that injectors may have under-reported the level of their actual sharing. It is suggested that in future studies aiming to collect risk behaviour data should seek to combine methods rather than to rely solely upon direct questioning of any past sharing.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Estimating the prevalence of drug misuse in Dundee, Scotland: an application of capture-recapture methods.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To apply capture-recapture methods to provide an estimate of the prevalence of opiate and benzodiazepine misuse in Dundee, Scotland. DESIGN: A four sample capture-recapture method using data from both statutory and non-statutory data sources to estimate drug misuse prevalence in Dundee between January 1990 and December 1994. PARTICIPANTS: Users of benzodiazepines or opiates residing within Dundee. RESULTS: Altogether 855 drug misusers were identified from various sources within Dundee; many were identified from more than one source. Using this data, the estimated unknown population was 1702, giving a total population of 2557 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1974, 3458) who misuse benzodiazepines or opiates. This represents a prevalence of 28.8 (95% CI 22.3, 39.0) per thousand. CONCLUSIONS: Capture-recapture techniques can be applied to statutory and non-statutory agency data to produce an estimate of at least certain sections of the drug misusing population. However, it is important to recognise the limitations of this methodology and in future to seek to combine a range of approaches to the problem of estimating prevalence rather than sticking rigidly to any single approach.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Friend or foe?

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Administrative Personnel↗
PubMed1981

Tissue distribution of sulfolipids in the rat. Restricted location of sulfatoxygalactosylacylalkylglycerol.

Eleven rat tissues (excluding brain) have been assayed for their ability to synthesize sulfatoxygalactosylacylalkylglycerol (SGG) from Na235SO4 in vivo. These tissues were also assayed for the presence of SGG by an indirect immunofluorescence procedure using rabbit anti-SGG and frozen tissue sections. By both procedures SGG was found to be restricted to the testis; several novel sulfolipids were detected during this study.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Urine electrolyte response to 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone in normal man.

1. To assess whether the adrenal corticosteroid 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone [18-(OH)-DOC] affects urine electrolyte excretion in normal man, seven male volunteers received 120 microgram (353 nmol) intravenously in 1 h. This was compared with glucose (50 g/l; control) and aldosterone (80 microgram, 222 nmol) infusions in the same subjects. 2. A definite though weak antinatriuretic response to 18-(OH)DOC was observed, whereas urine potassium excretion was not altered. Aldosterone increased urine potassium excretion and reduced sodium output. Urine pH was lowered by both corticosteroids, aldosterone in general having a more marked effect. Urine volume was not altered by 18-(OH)DOC. 3. Plasma concentrations of 18-(OH)DOC and aldosterone rose approximately tenfold during their respective infusions. Compared with that of aldosterone, the metabolic clearance rate of 18-(OH)DOC was slower andits plasma half-life was longer. 4. We have been able to demonstrate that 18-(OH)DOC has a definite, albeit weak antinatriuretic action in normal man, but whether or not this corticosteroid is capable of elevating the blood pressure in man remains to be shown.

18-Hydroxydesoxycorticosterone↗