Religiousness and Diseases in Europe: Findings from SHARE.

Recent research in religiousness and health suggests that epidemiological forces can have opposed effects. Here we examine two forms of religiousness and their association with disease. We performed a cross-sectional study of 23,864 people aged 50+ included in wave 1 (2004-2005) of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe and a longitudinal study including people from wave 1, who were followed up during 11 years. Results suggested that taking part in a religious organization was associated with lower odds of heart attack (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.60, 0.90), stroke (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.50, 0.95), and diabetes (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.58, 0.90) and longitudinally associated with lower odds of cancer (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.60, 1.00). Conversely, praying was longitudinally associated with higher odds of heart attack (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.10, 1.48) and high cholesterol (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.00, 1.26). The most religious people had lower odds of stroke, diabetes, and cancer than other respondents, and in the longitudinal model, people who only prayed had higher odds of heart attack than non-religious people. Our findings lend support to the hypothesis that restful religiousness (praying, taking part in a religious organization, and being religiously educated) was associated with lower odds of some diseases, whereas little evidence was present that crisis religiousness (praying only) was associated with higher odds of disease.

Free condoms in the schools of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Attitudes of ninth grade students and their classroom teachers toward using condoms as a preventive measure against contracting AIDS were studied. Students (N = 438) and their teachers (N = 28) in the council schools of the Municipality of Copenhagen were surveyed using a structured questionnaire. Overall, results demonstrated that the message regarding "safe sex" had been well understood. However, 42% of pupils reported not using a condom during their last sexual intercourse. Many pupils indicated difficulty in using condoms. A continuing need exists for advice to the young. An information campaign, with distribution of free condoms, was well accepted by pupils and teachers. Almost all (94%) pupils indicated they will use condoms more frequently in the future. This campaign differed from other efforts that focused more on general information. The importance of other strategies designed to alter behavior to reduce the risk of contracting AIDS is discussed.

PIP: 438 9th-grade students from 28 different classes in the schools of Copenhagen, Denmark, participated in a survey aimed at assessing attitudes toward the use of condoms to prevent acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). 147 (34%) of the students surveyed had experienced sexual intercourse, and 70% of these sexually active teenagers reported contraceptive use at each sexual episode. 52% of the males and 57% of the females who were sexually active reported using a condom at 1st intercourse; the percentages for latest intercourse were 68% and 49%, respectively. 30% of the entire sample always carried a condom with them. The main reasons cited for condom use were to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (80%) and to prevent pregnancy (74%). Moreover, condom use was identified by 87% of the sample as the most important thing they could do to reduce their risk of contracting AIDS. 94% indicated a belief that more young people would use condoms if they were free. Preferred sources of free condoms were pharmacies, schools, and general practitioners. 89% of the teachers of the 28 classes agreed that free distribution of condoms to young people was a good idea and were receptive to the use of schools for this purpose. Overall, these findings indicate that Denmark's "safe sex" campaign has been effective in educating young people about the centrality of condom use to AIDS prevention. However, the fact that about 40% of students in this survey had not used a condom at their last sexual encounter suggests a need for further AIDS education campaigns and serious consideration of a free condom distribution program.

Purulent pericarditis in children. Review and case report.

Acute purulent pericarditis is infrequent in children. Only around 200 cases have been reported in the western literature in the past 25 years (1-10). From the Scandinavian countries only two cases have been described (6, 7). Purulent pericarditis is usually a complication of upper respiratory tract infection. Mortality is very high in unrecognized or inadequately treated cases. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment with adequate surgical drainage and antimicrobial therapy are vitally important for the outcome.

Desamino-D-arginine vasopressin in childhood nocturnal enuresis.

The effect of desamino-D-arginine vasopressin was investigated in a double-blind study of 37 children more than 9 years old with nocturnal enuresis resistant to conventional therapy. A significant reduction of wet nights was observed but as soon as the medication was stopped the children reverted to earlier bedwetting habits.