ABSTRACT
In the ongoing expansion of medical systems toward prevention and health promotion, primary care is increasingly recognized as a key vehicle and agent. In order to establish a comprehensive health dialogue in the population, there is a need for innovative instruments corresponding to the information and linked media revolution that this shift is a part of. Based upon the experiences of the Department of Preventive Medicine in Malmö, Sweden, a self-mediated, interactive health testing and promotion instrument called "healthometer" has been developed and tested for feasibility. The instrument uses a special variety of a quintile-distributed visual analog scale with the thermometer as reference and allows: (a) easy summation and averaging of single or different aggregates of the test items as a "wellness" profile and score with emphasis upon the positive aspects of health, and (b) recognition against this on the whole favorable background of the weak points motivating further action. The instrument, which can be distributed on paper or electronic medium, supports participation and insight in the initial stages of a directed individual health program for the continuation of which the utilization of professional counsel is stimulated.
Subject(s)
Health Education/methods , Health Promotion/methods , Health Status Indicators , Mass Screening/methods , Primary Prevention/methods , Adult , Audiovisual Aids , Community Participation , Counseling , Feasibility Studies , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Life Style , Male , Motivation , Paper , Primary Health Care , Self Care , Self-Assessment , Sweden , User-Computer InterfaceSubject(s)
Alcoholism/rehabilitation , Neuropsychological Tests , Reaction Time/drug effects , Temperance/psychology , Adult , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Gangliosides were isolated from plasma and membranes of erythrocytes of alcoholics. The pattern of gangliosides were compared with the data of healthy donors. Up to 7 fractions of gangliosides could been detected after extraction, purification by column chromatography and fractionation by TLC. In alcoholics the main ganglioside fractions of plasma GM3 were increased (52.6%) and GD3 were decreased (17.5%). The GM3 and GD1b fraction of erythrocytes membranes were decreased significantly in alcoholics.
Subject(s)
Alcoholism/blood , Erythrocyte Membrane/chemistry , Gangliosides/blood , Adult , Chemical Fractionation , Chromatography, Gel , Chromatography, Thin Layer , HumansABSTRACT
Gangliosides were isolated from plasma of alcoholics. The pattern of gangliosides was compared with that of healthy humans. Up to seven fractions of gangliosides could be detected. In healthy subjects the following pattern was found: GM3 38.2%, SPG 6.0%, GD3 30.2%, GD1a 10.6%, GD1b 4.8%, GT1b 7.9%, GQ1b 2.2%. In alcoholics, significant differences were observed in the main ganglioside fractions GM3 (52.6%) and GD3 (17.5%).
Subject(s)
Alcoholism/blood , Gangliosides/blood , Adult , HumansABSTRACT
The pattern of gangliosides in membranes of erythrocytes was examined in healthy donors and in alcoholic subjects. Seven different gangliosides could be detected. In healthy donors the following pattern was found: GM3 = 17.6%, SPG = 43.1%, GD3 = 9.1%, GD1a = 12.8%, FucGD1b = 5.2%, GT1b = 6.7% and GX = 5.7%. The GM3 and FucDG1b fraction were decreased statistically significantly in alcoholics.
Subject(s)
Alcoholism/blood , Erythrocyte Membrane/analysis , Gangliosides/blood , Adult , Humans , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The pattern of gangliosides in membranes of erythrocytes was examined in healthy donors, in acute schizophrenics without neuroleptic treatment and in alcohol-dependent patients. 7 different gangliosides could be detected. Healthy donors were characterized by the following ganglioside pattern: GX = 5.8%; GT1b = 6.7%; FucGD1b = 5.2%; GD1a = 12.6%, GD3 = 9.2%, SPG = 43.5%, and GM3 = 17.0%. In schizophrenic patients the GM3 and GD3 fractions were increased. No difference was found between the control group and the alcoholics.
Subject(s)
Erythrocyte Membrane/analysis , Gangliosides/blood , Schizophrenia/blood , Adolescent , Adult , Alcoholism/blood , Female , G(M3) Ganglioside/blood , Humans , Male , Middle AgedSubject(s)
Alcoholism/rehabilitation , Day Care, Medical , Adult , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , RecurrenceABSTRACT
The pattern of gangliosides in membranes of erythrocytes was examined in healthy donors, in acute schizophrenics without neuroleptic treatment and in alcohol-dependent patients. 7 different gangliosides could be detected after extraction, purification by column chromatography and fractionation by TLC. Healthy donors were characterized by the following pattern of gangliosides: GX = 5.8%, GT1b = 6.7%, FucGD1b = 5.2%, und GD1a = 12.6%, GD3 = 9.2%, SPG = 43.5% and GM3 = 17.0%. In schizophrenic patients the GM3- and GD3-fraction were increased. No difference was found between the control group and the alcoholics.
Subject(s)
Erythrocyte Membrane/metabolism , Gangliosides/blood , Schizophrenia/blood , Adolescent , Adult , Alcoholism/blood , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Heart rate variability (HRV) was studied in 11 chronic alcoholic subjects, 1-30 days after the beginning of abstinence and again 5, 12 and 24 weeks later. Two patients could be re-examined after 19 and 22 months, respectively. In the follow-up study, the total patient group showed a statistically significant increase in HRV with prolonged abstinence of at least 6 months. No recovery of efferent vagal function was found in 4 patients. It is suggested that the vagal neuropathy may improve in chronic alcoholics, but perhaps only in patients with a short to moderately long duration of drinking history or a functional rather than an organic vagal damage.
Subject(s)
Alcoholism/physiopathology , Heart Rate , Substance Withdrawal Syndrome/physiopathology , Vagus Nerve/physiopathology , Adult , Autonomic Nervous System Diseases/chemically induced , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle AgedSubject(s)
Ethanol/adverse effects , Heart Rate , Substance Withdrawal Syndrome , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Measurement of heart rate variability was performed in a group of 106 healthy volunteers and 31 alcoholics. The mean momentary arrhythmia of normal individuals shows an exponential decrease with growing age. In 5 of 31 alcoholics a cardiac autonomic neuropathy was found with this parameter. The withdrawing alcoholics had a significant increase of heart rate and decrease of heart rate variability compared to later measurements, what is in agreement with the concept of hyperexcitability in early withdrawal.
Subject(s)
Alcoholism/complications , Autonomic Nervous System Diseases/etiology , Polyneuropathies/etiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Electrocardiography , Female , Heart/innervation , Heart Rate/drug effects , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Vagus Nerve/drug effectsABSTRACT
Measurement of heart rate variability was performed in 106 healthy volunteers and 31 alcoholics. The mean momentary arrhythmia (MMA) of normal individuals showed an exponential decrease with increasing age. Cardiac autonomic neuropathy was found in 5 of 31 alcoholics. In agreement with the concept of hyperexcitability the withdrawing alcoholics had a significant increase in heart rate and decrease in MMA compared to later measurements. The result suggests that the diagnosis of autonomic alcoholic neuropathy may be reliable only after at least a one week period of abstinence from alcohol.
