Using socio-economic differences in knowledge and attitudes to shape community alcohol programmes: experiences from the Kirseberg Project

Community-based public health projects have become increasinglyimportant as a tool for health promotion. This approach hasbeen considered appropriate also in addressing socio-economicdifferences in health, although little is known about socio-economicdifferences in perception of health as a community issue. Ouraim was to study socio-economic differences in awareness andknowledge about the Kirseberg Project and in attitudes towardsthe concept of health as a local community issue. The KirsebergProject was initiated in 1988. The primary prevention aims areto reduce alcohol consumption in the population in order todecrease the incidence of alcohol-related problems. Kirsebergis an area with 10000 inhabitants in the north-eastern partof the city of Malmö (population 230000), Sweden. A sampleof 400 people in the area between the ages of 20 and 75 yearsof age was randomised from the population register and interviewedby telephone. Of the sample, 73.3% responded. Of the respondents,65.2% were aware of the project and 38.6% had knowledge aboutit. Socio-economic differences were found both regarding knowledgeand attitudes. Individuals in the high socio-economic status(SES)-group were better informed about the project than thelow SES-group, more often associated the project with the promotionof the community spirit, tended to give more positive answersto the questions about important local health issues, demonstratedhigher adherence to the social environment issues and were moreinterested in local health promotion activities. Our conclusionis that the socio-economic knowledge differences which werefound in the Kirseberg Project should be seen as shortcomingsin the health educational campaign rather than as a first stepin a determined social process. The issue of how the explicitnotions and the hidden agenda of a health promotion campaigncorrespond with central attitudes and values in different populationgroups in the target community must be carefully investigated.     

Pentobarbitone and skeletal muscle contractions: on the interaction with the effect elicited by the β-adrenoceptor agonist,terbutaline

The soleus, a slow-contracting muscle, and the extensor digitorum longus (EDL), a fast-contracting muscle from guinea-pig were prepared for isometric recording in vitro. Sub-tetanic contractions were evoked by transmural field-stimulation. Pentobarbitone increased the force of contraction in both muscles. In the soleus it shifted the stimulation frequency-response curve to the left. Terbutaline caused a decrease in the force of subtetanic contractions of the soleus, an effect which was dependent on the stimulation frequency. In the presence of pentobarbitone, the stimulation frequency had to be lowered by about 2 Hz in order to maintain the optimum response to terbutaline. The EDL responded to terbutaline with an increased force of contraction. In this case the stimulation frequency was less critical and the effects were the same in the presence and in the absence of pentobarbitone. Experiments with α-chloralose yielded results similar to those obtained with pentobarbitone.     

GASTRIC EMPTYING IN PRETERM INFANTS

ABSTRACT. Cavell, B. (Department of Paediatrics, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden). Gastric emptying in preterm infants. Acta Paediatr Scand, 68: 725, 1979.—The gastric emptying of meals of human milk and infant formula was studied in 11 healthy preterm (AGA) infants at a postnatal age of 1–9 weeks corresponding to 33–38 weeks of gestational age. A total of 30 studies were performed using a marker dilution technique. Gastric emptying of meals of human milk followed a biphasic emptying pattern with an initial fast phase. In about 25 min half of the meal had left the stomach. The emptying of meals of adapted infant formula usually followed a linear pattern and half the meal had left the stomach after 51 min. After one hour an average of 24.8 ml of human milk and 19.2 ml of infant formula had left the stomach.     

The Role of Glucagon,Catecholamines and Cortisol in Counterregulation of Insulin-induced Hypoglycemia in Normal Man

ABSTRACT To study the response of glucose counterregulation to insulin-induced hypoglycemia, six normals were given a 4-hour infusion of insulin (2.4 U/h) ± somatostatin (50 μg/h). Supplementary glucagon (1.5 or 3.0 ng/kg/min) was given in additional experiments. In a separate study, glucagon was supplemented for 4 hours as a constant rate infusion (3.25 ng/kg/min) or at rates stepwise increasing from 1.5 to 5.0 ng/kg/min. Insulin decreased blood glucose by 1.5 mmol/1 and simultaneous suppression of glucagon resulted in a more pronounced hypoglycemia enhancing the adrenaline and Cortisol responses. The hyperglycemic effect of glucagon substitution (3 ng/kg/min) faded out after about 2 hours, whereafter exaggerated adrenaline and Cortisol responses to hypoglycemia were seen. A comparison between the effects of steady state hyperglucagonemia and gradually appearing hyperglucagonemia on the counterregulation of hypoglycemia revealed no significant differencies in glucose, adrenaline and Cortisol responses to insulin. It is concluded that the glycemic effect of glucagon is transient in the hypoglycemic state. When the hepatic responsiveness to this hormone is decreased during hypoglycemia, adrenaline becomes the essential protective factor.     

Early experiences from the Kirseberg Public Health Project in Malmo, Sweden An alcohol prevention campaign

This article reports on a pilot demonstration to implement analcohol reduction campaign in the community of Kirseberg (population10 000) located in Malmö, Sweden. Begun in 1988, this publichealth project integrates many aspects of the comprehensivecommunity based models for heart disease and cancer preventionreported in the literature during the past two decades. Utilizinga five stage model of preventive action, the paper details theintervention activities and experiences encountered during theearly phases of community implementation. Overall, the projecthypothesizes a 25% reduction in alcohol use by the year 2000and the prevention of alcohol related problems. The varioustheoretical bases supporting the interventions are discussesedThe role of local organizations and citizen groups activelyinvolved in this partnership strategy is described. Projectobjectives and evaluation plans are presented.     

INVESTIGATION AND PROGNOSIS IN THE RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIOPATHIES

Eighty-three patients with retinal pigment epitheliopathy have been identified from the photographic and fluorescein records of the Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology in Glasgow. Many have been brought back for follow-up assessment. Twenty-seven patients had placoid lesions. 22 geographic lesions and 15 a condition which we propose to rename the 'not ocular histoplasmosis' (NOH) syndrome. Patients with placoid lesions could be divided into typical acute multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (AMPPE), where the long-term visual prognosis was poor because of recurrent disease leading to extensive areas of atrophy, and acute diffuse placoid pigment epitheliopathy which seemed to be self-limiting. No consistent evidence of viral or immunological abnormality was found in either group of patients
Geographic lesions appeared to result either from a coalescence of focal lesions or from a slow (serpiginous) spread from a single focus.
Four patients with helicoid atrophy lost central vision from disciform lesions.
Seven patients had pigment epithelial disorder associated with sarcoidosis. The pigment epithelial disease was unresponsive to systemic corticosteroid therapy and tended to be complicated by disciform lesions.
Disciform lesions may occur in any type of pigment epitheliopathy, as may serous retinal detachment or pigment epithelial detachment.
A technique for the biopsy of choroid and retinal pigment epithelium is described. This may lead to a better understanding of these disorders.     

Catecholamine Release after Physical Exercise

ABSTRACT A simple and practical provocative test is needed for early asymptomatic pheochromocytoma, which is a major risk for patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN-2). We measured plasma catecholamines before and after submaximal exercise in 26 MEN-2 gene carriers, eight of whom with asymptomatic pheochromocytoma, nine with medullary thyroid carcinoma and 10 after uni- or bilateral adrenalectomy. Seventeen clinically healthy individuals and 11 patients with neurovegetative lability and symptoms mimicking pheochromocytoma served as controls. Plasma adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine increased after excercise except for adrenaline after bilateral adrenalectomy. The post-exercise levels of adrenaline and the adrenalineldopamine ratio were significantly higher in the pheochromocytoma patients compared to the healthy controls and the patients with neurovegetative lability, while the patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma represented an intermediate group with a high probability of developing adrenal tumors. The present method is a physiological test with a high sensitivity and specificity. It is practical and well suited for repeated examinations and seems to be of value for the detection of early pheochromocytoma in MEN-2 patients. Furthermore, the test could be used in the differential diagnosis between pheochromocytoma and neurovegetative lability.     

Plasma catecholamines,cyclic AMP and metabolic substrates in hemorrhagic shock of the rat. The effect of adrenal demedullation and 6-OH-dopamine treatment

Plasma catecholamines, cyclic AMP and metabolic substrates in hemorrhagic shock of rats was studied in 4 groups of animals: 1) Control rats, 2) rats with adrenal demedullation, 3) rats with 6-OH-dopamine induced chemical sympathectomy, and 4) rats with combined demedullation and sympathectomy. The rats were bled to a systemic blood pressure of 35 mmHg. The basal plasma level of noradrenaline (NA), adrenaline (A) and dopamine (DA) in control animals was each about 1 nmol/1. After hemorrhage for 1 h the A levels had reached 50 nmol/1 and there was little further rise after 4 h. The rise was eliminated by demedullation but unaffected by sympathectomy. NA levels rose continuously in the control and in the sympathectomized rats. At 1 h the level was about 4 nmol/1 and at 4 h about 20 nmol/1. The demedullated rats showed a 3-fold increase in circulating NA, while little or no change was seen in the combined demedullated and sympathectomized rats. DA levels did not change in any of the groups during the first hour, but were markedly elevated after 4 h of hypotension. Cyclic AMP and glucose levels in plasma showed a rapid increase 1 h after hemorrhage and thereafter returned to or below basal values. Demedullation largely prevented the increase, while sympathectomy had no effect. The increase in lactate and pyruvate levels were diminished but not eliminated by either sympathectomy or demedullation. Glycerol levels were unchanged and FFA decreased in all groups of rats. The results show that the adrenal medulla is the dominating source of plasma catecholamines in hemorrhagic shock in rats. The initial increase in plasma glucose and cyclic AMP appear to be largely mediated by adrenal A. The subsequent fall in these parameters and derangement of circulatory homeostasis are not, in the present shock model, primarily due to a failure of catecholamine secretion, but rather to a decreased responsiveness of peripheral tissues to catecholamine stimulation.