Prevalence and Correlates of Mental Health Problems in Norwegian Peacekeepers 18–38 Years Postdeployment

Peacekeeping missions involve experiences that may impact the mental health of participating soldiers. However, research on the long-term mental health consequences of peacekeeping is sparse. The present study aimed to find the prevalence of mental health problems (MHPs), possible MHP predictors, and associations between predictors and MHPs in Norwegian peacekeepers 18–38 years after deployment to a United Nations peacekeeping mission. We used data from a cross-sectional, postdeployment survey of Norwegian peacekeepers who served in Lebanon between 1978 and 1998 (N = 10,605). Participants were assessed for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); anxiety; depression; insomnia; alcohol misuse; drug misuse; and exposure to pre-, peri-, and postdeployment stressors. Logistic regressions were executed to explore key variables associated with MHPs. Total MHP prevalence was 15.1%, 95% CI [14.4, 15.8]. The estimates for specific disorders were 0.1% for drug misuse, 3.4% for alcohol misuse, 4.0% for depression, 6.2% for PTSD, 6.4% for anxiety, and 9.3% for insomnia. Postdeployment stressors, OR = 1.91, 95% CI [1.79, 2.04]; employment status, OR = 1.41, 95% CI [1.33, 1.48]; and traumatic exposure during deployment, OR = 1.11, 95% CI [1.09, 1.12], were positively related to PTSD, χ2(17, N = 8,568) = 1,791.299, p < .001. Similar patterns were found for the other MHPs. Considering that most participants (84.9%) reported low symptom levels, our findings challenge the widespread public perception that most peacekeepers have MHPs. Moreover, our results indicate that future peacekeepers should be prepared for challenges they may face not only during deployment but also in the years following their homecoming.     

Wear of the Christiansen hip prosthesis

The wear was examined in 39 Christiansen total hip prostheses, which were removed because of mechanical loosening after being used 5 (3-11) years. In the polyacetal acetabular cups, the head had made an eccentric defect, the mean volume of which was 680 (180-3310) mm³. The mean penetration of the head into the wall of the cup was 0.8 (0.1-3.2) mm. In two additional cups the head had penetrated right through the wall of the cup. In three prostheses the polyacetal sleeve of the trunnion was so worn that the head bore directly on the stem. There was a positive correlation between wear and the time the prostheses had been used before symptoms of loosening presented.     

Contractile properties of in situ perfused skeletal muscles from rats with congestive heart failure

We hypothesized that in congestive heart failure (CHF) slow-twitch but not fast-twitch muscles exhibit decreased fatigue resistance in the sense of accelerated reduction of muscle force during activity. Experiments were carried out on anaesthetized rats 6 weeks after induction of myocardial infarction or a sham operation (Sham). Animals with left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) > 15 mmHg under anaesthesia were selected for the CHF group. There was no muscle atrophy in CHF. Force generation by in situ perfused soleus (Sol) or extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles was recorded during stimulation (trains at 5 Hz for 6 s (Sol) or 10 Hz for 1.5 s (EDL) at 10 or 2.5 s intervals, respectively) for 1 h in Sol and 10 min in EDL at 37 °C. Initial force was almost the same in Sol from CHF and Sham rats, but relaxation was slower in CHF. Relaxation times (95–5 % of peak force) were 177 ± 55 and 131 ± 44 ms in CHF and Sham, respectively, following the first stimulation train. After 2 min of stimulation the muscles transiently became slower and maximum relaxation times were 264 ± 71 and 220 ± 45 ms in CHF and Sham, respectively (   P < 0.05  ). After 60 min they recovered to 204 ± 60 and 122 ± 55 ms in CHF and Sham, respectively (   P < 0.05  ). In CHF but not in Sham rats the force of contraction of Sol declined from the second to the sixtieth minute to 70 % of peak force. The EDL of both CHF and Sham fatigued to 24–28 % of initial force, but no differences in contractility pattern were detected. Thus, slow-twitch muscle is severely affected in CHF by slower than normal relaxation and significantly reduced fatigue resistance, which may explain the sensation of both muscle stiffness and fatigue in CHF patients.     

Evaluation of endoscopic laser Doppler flowmetry for measurement of human gastric blood flow. Methodologic aspects

Endoscopic measurement of gastric blood perfusion by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) has been evaluated in 28 patients and 15 healthy volunteers. During the recordings it was necessary to keep the probe in light contact with the mucosa to obtain stable curves and to avoid artificial Doppler signals caused by relative movements between the gastric wall and the probe. Gastric distention by air insufflation did not influence the recorded flow level significantly when air insufflation was moderate. The intravenous injection of 0.6 mg atropine did not cause any significant alteration in recorded blood flow, and this drug may be used as premedication before endoscopic blood flow measurements. Recordings with both 4- and 12-kHz bandwidth of the LDF instrument showed a relative constant relationship for different flow levels, the flow values measured with 12 kHz being about twice the corresponding values measured with 4 kHz. With 12-kHz bandwidth more of the disturbance signal is recorded, which makes analysis of endoscopic recorded flow curves difficult and inaccurate. It is therefore recommended to use 4-kHz bandwidth during endoscopic measurements in conscious humans. Blood flow measurements from both sides of the gastric wall were consistently of the same order of magnitude (r = 0.91), and the endoscopically recorded output signal increased in three of five patients when a reflecting mirror was placed at the serosal side. The results indicate that endoscopic LDF usually represents blood perfusion in all layers of the gastric wall.     

Fever in general practice. I. Frequency and diagnoses.

Although fever is a common symptom, few studies have broadly addressed this as a clinical problem in general practice. The aims of this study were to determine the frequency of fever among general practice patients in two rural municipalities in Norway, the diagnoses (according to ICHPPC-2-def.) of conditions causing fever, and the receptionist's role in the management of these problems. All the general practitioners and their receptionists within the study area participated. During 4 weeks throughout 1988 all individuals attending their general practitioner had their body temperature measured with an electronic thermometer (orally > or = 7 years, rectally < 7 years). Fever was defined as an oral body temperature > or = 37.5 degrees C (rectally > or = 38.0 degrees C in those < 7 years). All telephone applications, including telephone encounters for fever, were recorded. Fever was detected in 80 (5%) of a total of 1610 direct encounters: 36% of those below 7 years of age (n = 70) were febrile. One-third of the total encounters for fever were telephone encounters (n = 36), of which 30% were managed by the receptionists. A wide range of diagnoses were made, most of which were associated with infectious diseases. The distribution of the diagnoses of primary care patients with fever is different from those admitted to hospital for fever of unknown origin. General practitioners and their receptionists should consider fever a diagnostic challenge, especially when the patient is handled over the telephone.