Occupational balance as a component in weight loss interventions.

BACKGROUND: Obesity can limit occupational participation because of physical and mental barriers. Weight loss programmes emphasizing dietary and physical activity may lower body weight; however, mental barriers and sustainable weight loss seemed to be challenged. Weight loss influences daily patterns and structure of occupations and finding a balance in daily life during the weight loss process might improve sustainable weight loss. AIM: To explore if and how health professionals conducting weight loss programmes in Danish municipalities address elements related to occupational balance in the daily life of citizens with obesity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty individual interviews with health professionals from Danish municipalities were conducted and analysed. RESULTS: (1) Helping participants find the time and energy to lose weight, (2) Emphasizing small steps for sustainable changes and (3) Utilizing the citizen's life experience for direction. CONCLUSION: Elements of occupational balance might be addressed by the participants, however values and meaningfulness regarding occupations seem to be missing. Integrating occupational balance in weight loss programmes could enable health professionals to understand and address sustainable weight loss. SIGNIFICANCE: Occupational therapists may be ideally suited to support citizens with obesity to sustain weight loss by supporting a balanced life focussing on meaningfulness and values in occupations.

Validity of D-dimer tests in the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis: a prospective comparative study of three quantitative assays.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the diagnostic reliability of a new quantitative D-dimer assay (VIDAS New) and an established quick test (Nycocard D-dimer assay) in the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) compared with ultrasonography. A third assay (Auto Dimer) became available during sample collection and has been included in the final assessment. The diagnostic performance of the Auto Dimer assay was evaluated on three different coagulation analysers. DESIGN: A clinical prospective study of patients admitted to hospital for evaluation of DVT. Setting. The admission ward at Aalborg Hospital. Subjects. A total of 113 outpatients with suspected DVT. Main outcome measures. Compression ultrasonography was used as the reference method for a diagnosis of DVT and compared with different D-dimer assays. The results were expressed as sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value (NPV). RESULTS: Deep vein thrombosis was established in 49 patients (43%). Two D-dimer assays (VIDAS New and Auto Dimer) showed sensitivities of 90 and 88%, specificities of 42 and 44%, and NPV's of 85 and 83%, respectively. The Nycocard D-dimer assay showed a sensitivity of 63%, specificity of 67% and NPV of 71%. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic performance of VIDAS New and the Auto Dimer D-dimer assays is almost identical, but this study suggests that neither of the D-dimer assays is suitable as the only screening method for DVT, in a situation with a high pretest probability of DVT. This call for a differential strategy that distinguishes between cases of low and high clinical probability using either a D-dimer test or ultrasonography. Abbreviations DVT, deep venous thrombosis, NPV, negative predictive value, PPV, positive predictive value

[Surgical treatment of otosclerosis with argon laser]. / Kirurgisk behandling af otosklerose med argonlaser.

OBJECTIVES: Argon laser stapedotomy is a new modality for the treatment of otosclerosis. The first results obtained in Denmark are reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective follow-up study was undertaken to evaluate the results of argon laser stapedotomy which was introduced in 1991 at the department of Otolaryngology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen. The results are based on 85 consecutive primary stapedotomy operations with argon laser in 76 patients during the period January 1, 1991 to June 30, 1996. Mean follow-up was 16.6 months (6-60). RESULTS: The postoperative air-bone gap was closed within 10 dB or less in 83% of the operations and in 20 dB or less in 98%. The mean speech reception threshold (SRT) was 48 dB preoperatively. All patients had an improved SRT after the operation, with a mean value of 23 dB. At 4000 Hz and 8000 Hz, 89% and 65% of the patients had maintained or improved their hearing. No patient developed profound sensorineural hearing loss or anacusis after the operation. Only one patient developed symptoms of a temporary perilymphatic fistula. CONCLUSION: Argon laser stapedotomy is a safe technique. Its complications are fewer and not as serious as conventional methods. In addition, the achieved hearing results are better, and thus it is a good example of "minimal invasive high success surgery".

Determination of hydrogen peroxide in workplace air: interferences and method validation.

A dynamic system for the generation of stable hydrogen peroxide test atmospheres was applied to the evaluation of samplers used for the determination of hydrogen peroxide in workplace air. The system is able to generate gas mixtures of between 0.1 and 10 ppm at different combinations of relative humidity (20-80%) and temperature (10-30 degrees C). Gaseous hydrogen peroxide is sampled on glass filters impregnated with Ti(IV) chloride and sulfuric acid and analyzed by UV spectroscopy. An interference was observed due to the acid catalyzed decomposition of peroxyacetic acid to hydrogen peroxide. This was significantly reduced by applying high sample flow rates and by lowering the concentration of sulfuric acid. The performance of the sampler and sources of uncertainties were tested according to the European Standard EN 1076.

Ozone uptake by an evergreen forest canopy: temporal variation and possible mechanisms.

Patterns of ozone concentration ([O(3)]), O(3) deposition velocity (v(d)) and O(3) flux (F(c)) over an evergreen forest canopy are shown in relation to measuring method, physiological activity of the trees, and time of year. The gradient and eddy correlation methods were compared and showed similar diel v(d) patterns. Daytime F(c) was correlated with CO(2) and water vapour fluxes, while no correlation between [O(3)] in the range 10-70 ppb (nl l(-1)) and F(c) was seen in this study. F(c) was primarily driven by stomatal conductance, reactions with surfaces, particles and gases, and not by [O(3)]. On a monthly basis, [O(3)] was always highest in the afternoon while v(d) was typically higher in the morning, resulting in an equal F(c) over the day. Night-time F(c) was more than half of the daytime O(3) flux. The data reveal the importance of emissions of nitric oxide and terpenes as O(3) removal factors in evergreen forest dominated by Norway spruce.

Elbow dislocation in children and adults. A long-term follow-up of conservatively treated patients.

Sixty-three elbow dislocations in 28 children and 34 adults were followed for a median time of 7 years. Fifty-seven dislocations were posterior or posterolateral. All the cases were treated with closed reduction and immobilization. Although function became satisfactory in both age groups, it was better in children than in adults.

Very long baseline interferometric observations made with an orbiting radio telescope.

An orbiting spacecraft and ground observatories have been used to obtain interferometric observations of cosmic radio sources. The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) was used as the orbiting observatory in conjunction with two 64- meter radio telescopes at ground observatories, one in Australia and one in Japan. The quasars 1730-130 (NRAO 530), 1510-089, and 1741-038 were observed at a frequency of 2.3 gigahertz, and a maximum projected baseline of 1.4 earth diameters was achieved. All quasar observations for which valid data were acquired resulted in detected fringes. Many of the techniques proposed for a dedicated very long baseline interferometry observatory in space were used successfully in this experiment.