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Biomedical subjects

L Cernerud

Publications and source records attributed to L Cernerud.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Critical review of non-invasive respiratory monitoring in medical care.

Respiratory failure can be difficult to predict. It can develop into a life-threatening condition in just a few minutes, or it can build up more slowly. Thus continuous monitoring of respiratory activity should be mandatory in clinical, high-risk situations, and appropriate monitoring equipment could be life-saving. The review considers non-invasive methods and devices claimed to provide information about respiratory rate or depth, or gas exchange. Methods are categorised into those responding to movement, volume and tissue composition detection; air flow; and blood gas concentration. The merits and limitations of the methods and devices are analysed, considering information content and their ability to minimise the rate of false alarms and false non-alarms. It is concluded that the field of non-invasive respiratory monitoring is still in an exploratory phase, with numerous reports on specific device solutions but less work on evaluation and adaptation to clinical requirements. Convincing evidence of the clinical usefulness of respiratory monitors is still lacking. Devices responding only to respiratory rate, and lacking information about actual gas exchange, will have limited clinical value. Furthermore, enhancement in specificity and sensitivity to avoid false alarms and non-alarms will be necessary to meet clinical requirements. Miniature CO2 sensors are identified as one route towards substantial improvement.

Breath Tests↗
PubMed2000

Harmonizing dilemmas. Siblings of children with DAMP and Asperger syndrome's experiences of coping with their life situations.

The aim of this qualitative study was to describe, from their own perspective and experiences, how siblings of children with deficits in attention, motor control and perception (DAMP) and Asperger syndrome cope with their life situations in their families. Fifteen adolescent females 12-18 years old, siblings of boys with DAMP (8 subjects) and Asperger syndrome (7 subjects), were interviewed. The method used in sampling and analysis of interview protocols was the constant comparative method for grounded theory. The inductive categorization of data produced two core concepts, one about the siblings' life situations in DAMP and Asperger syndrome ('dilemma of requirements and concerns') and one about the siblings' coping processes ('harmonizing'). Of the six categories identified, four were categories of the processes of coping ('gaining understanding', 'gaining independence', 'following a bonding responsibility' and 'balancing'). The qualitative differences between coping processes were related to the two categories of context to cope within the experienced dilemma 'requirements' and 'concerns'. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the siblings' life situations, and may be important for health personnel in encounter families and for identifying siblings with special needs. The findings may also aid in the development of preventive programs for siblings of children with DAMP and Asperger syndrome.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1996

Amphetamine addiction during pregnancy: 14-year follow-up of growth and school performance.

Sixty-five children born to women who all abused amphetamine during pregnancy have been followed prospectively since their birth in 1976-77. At the age of 14-15 years, information about growth and school achievement was collected from school records. For comparison of school achievements the means of schoolmates were used, and for growth a group of Stockholm children born in the same year. By the age of 14 years only 14 children (22%) had stayed with their biological mothers for the whole period since birth. In the eighth grade, 10 (15%) were one grade lower than indicated by their biological age. The norm for Sweden is less than 5%. The means of the points in mathematics, Swedish language and sports were statistically below those of their classmates. At the age of 10 years the girls were significantly shorter and lighter than their peers born in 1976. At the age of 14 years the boys were statistically taller and heavier than their peers. It can be concluded that maternal amphetamine abuse during pregnancy will influence children at lest up to the age of 14-15 years even though many of them have been living in foster homes since a young age.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Social inequality in height. A comparison between 10-year-old Helsinki and Stockholm children.

The height of children may be used to indicate social inequality. The aim of this study was to analyze the difference in height of the socially more and less privileged 10-year-old Helsinki children in 1963 and 1991 and to compare the social gap to the corresponding gap in 1943, 1963 and 1991 in previous studies of Stockholm children. The difference in mean height of the Helsinki boys in 1963 was 4.5 cm (p < 0.001) and for girls 4.4 cm (p < 0.001). In Stockholm the corresponding differences in 1963 were negligible. Twenty years earlier (in 1943) it was 3.2 cm (p < 0.001) in Stockholm. In 1991 the difference was 1.4 cm (p < 0.05) for boys and 0.6 cm (n.s.) for girls in Helsinki, equivalent to the findings of the Stockholm children at the same time. The well-off Helsinki children already in 1963 were as tall as the Stockholm children. Thus, the decrease of the social gap in height from 1963 to 1991 in Helsinki seems to be mainly due to an increase in height of the socially less privileged children, exactly what was previously found for the Stockholm children between 1943 and 1963. Would the time for the equalization of height mirror the time for the development of the welfare states in Finland and Sweden respectively?

Body Height↗
PubMed1995

Height and social mobility. A study of the height of 10 year olds in relation to socio-economic background and type of formal schooling.

Based on a representative sample of Stockholm school-children born in 1943, the association between the height at 10 years of age and the selection to higher and lower education at the same age was examined for upper and lower social groups defined by the father's occupational status. The hypothesis that there is a link between height and change of social position even among children was examined. Upwardly mobile boys (lower class boys selected for higher education) were taller than those staying in their social position. Downwardly mobile boys (higher class boys selected only for elementary education) were smaller than those remaining in their social position. The same tendency was found for girls--although not statistically significant.

Body Height↗
PubMed1995

Salt and public health--policies for dietary salt in the Nordic countries.

OBJECTIVE: To review current knowledge about excess dietary salt as a risk factor for diseases and to compare and discuss the national policies for dietary salt in the Nordic countries. DESIGN: Literature review, questionnaire and interviews. Nordic comparative study. SETTING: The Medline bibliographic system and authorities responsible for the national nutritional policies in the Nordic countries. SUBJECTS: Scientific articles published since 1988 concerning the impact of excess dietary salt on health and key persons with responsibilities for the formulation of national recommendations about dietary salt in each of the five Nordic countries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Articles dealing with (i) epidemiological observations, (ii) sensitive groups, (iii) underlying biological mechanisms concerning the contents of the latest national recommendations and the wording of legislation and decrees about salt in food-stuffs in the Nordic countries. RESULTS: The impact of excess dietary salt on health mainly concerns hypertension, gastric cancer, osteoporosis and bronchial hyperreactivity. The national policy for dietary salt in Finland differs from the other Nordic countries. In Finland salt is a food additive and a variety of special regulations exist. Finland has chosen a more active way to achieve the existing Nordic recommendation of 5 g salt per day. The daily intake is about 10 g per day in all the Nordic countries. CONCLUSIONS: There is need for further epidemiological studies of the relationship between excess dietary salt and gastric cancer, osteoporosis, and bronchial hyperreactivity. The knowledge of the relationship between dietary salt and raised blood pressure is sufficient to put force behind the implementation of existing Nordic recommendations.

Asthma↗
PubMed1994

The value of measuring height and weight of schoolchildren.

The measurements of height and weight in the Stockholm school health service was appraised in relation to the screening value, the costs and benefits. The concept of a doubtful screening value of growth surveillances at school age was supported. Investment costs and running expenses were very low. The measurement procedure used only 2% of the total time spent by the nurses in the school health service. The growth data were an appropriate prerequisite for the reassurance of adolescents about their developing identity and body image. The growth data also constituted an appropriate indicator for public heath research. The benefits and low costs may justify maintenance of the measurements in the school health service despite a low screening value.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Are there still social inequalities in height and body mass index of Stockholm children?

Height and body mass index (BMI) of all non-immigrant schoolchildren in Stockholm in the age interval 10.0-10.9 years born in 1981 were related to the mother's educational level and the number of siblings. The two social variables were dichotomized and two extreme groups of socially more and less privileged children were formed. Socially less privileged boys were 1.1 cm shorter than their more privileged peers, whereas there was no difference as regards girls. Socially less privileged children were expected to show higher BMI, but the finding was contrary. More privileged boys were heavier. The findings were compared to a previous study of Stockholm children born in 1933-1963. Major social inequalities in height were levelled out for Stockholm children in the 1950s, a social gap reappeared in the 1960s and small disparities still exist for boys today.

Body Height↗
PubMed1992

Differences in height between socially more and less privileged 10 year old Stockholm children born in 1933-1963.

The change of the difference in height between two socially extreme groups of 10 year old Stockholm children born in 1933, 1943, 1953 and 1963 was analysed. Data on height and social conditions were taken from the school health records. The two groups were established on the basis of the father's occupation and the number of children in the family. The height of the 10 year old children in the more privileged group born in 1933, 1943 and 1953 was virtually unchanged, but the height in the less privileged group increased gradually. The difference between the two groups was levelled out in the 1953 cohort. However, it reappeared in the 1963 cohort, mainly as a result of increasing height in the more privileged group and fairly unchanged height in the less privileged group.

Body Height↗
PubMed1991

[Organization of school health services in the Scandinavian countries].

The school health services are under debate in all Nordic countries. Some want to improve it and some think it is an area which can be cut down in a time of economic crisis. In all Nordic countries except Sweden the responsibility for the school health lies with the primary communities. In Sweden the responsibility is within the school, supervised by the National Board of Education. In July this Board will be abolished and it is yet uncertain who will assume responsibility for the Swedish school health.

Child↗
PubMed1991

[The future role of school health services].

The overriding objectives of the school health service are to preserve and improve the health of children and young people. Three areas should be given priority in the school health service of the 21st century: the care of children with special problems, measures to provide health education, and measures to improve the school environment. The organizational connection with the school may be of advantage with regard to influencing the educational planning and development work from within.

Adolescent↗