Does it make sense to do repeated surveys?--the Lundby Study, 1947-1997.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the Lundby Study and the difficulties in doing repeated surveys. METHOD: Best-estimate consensus diagnoses have been used since 1957 together with DSM-IV and ICD-10 in 1997. RESULTS: The Lundby population consisting of 3563 probands was investigated in 1947, 1957 and 1972. Sufficient information was available for 98-99%. In 1997-2000 a fourth field investigation was carried out. Attrition rate for the interviews was 13% (238/1797). About 36% (1030/2827) had died between 1972 and 1997, but data from registers, case notes and key-informants for the period 1972 and 1997 completed the information for 94% (2659/2827). The population has followed the same pattern of development as many rural populations in Sweden since the 1940s. Multiple sources of information are preferable in longitudinal studies in order to tackle the problem of changing diagnostic systems. CONCLUSION: Low attrition rates over 50 years and reasonable diagnostic uniformity make comparisons over time justifiable.

Effects of ethanol on human natural killer cell activity: in vitro and acute, low-dose in vivo studies.

Chronic use of ethanol may cause a variety of immunological abnormalities in humans. In this study, we have determined the effects of an acute, low dose of ethanol (0.5 g/kg), administered either intravenously or orally, to normal, nonalcoholic male volunteers, on natural killer cell (NK) activity. We have also examined the effects of a 4-hr incubation with ethanol, in concentrations ranging from 0 to 320 mg/dl, on human NK activity in vitro. NK activity was measured by the 51Cr release assay technique in all of these studies, using peripheral blood mononuclear cells prepared from blood obtained from healthy, nonalcoholic volunteers. Eight subjects received ethanol in vivo; cells from nine subjects were used for the in vitro studies. Blood ethanol concentrations were determined at multiple time points before and after ethanol administration for the in vivo studies; for the in vitro studies, ethanol concentrations were measured from each assay sample both before and after the incubation period. Gas chromatography was used for determinations of both blood alcohol and medium ethanol concentrations. Results of the in vivo studies showed that a single dose of ethanol (0.5 g/kg), administered either intravenously (with resultant peak blood levels transiently up to 89 mg/dl) or orally (with resultant peak blood levels transiently up to 40 mg/dl at the time of the NK assay), did not alter NK activity. However, results of the in vitro studies showed a significant dose-dependent decrease (p < 0.001) in NK activity when ethanol exposure was sustained for 4 hr at concentrations of 80 mg/dl and above.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

New mandatory course in alcohol and drug dependence for medical students at the Karolinska Institute.

Traditionally, instruction concerning alcohol and drug dependence has been insignificant in medical schools. The Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, decided to introduce a special course starting in the academic year of 1983-84. It is given 4 times a year and is of a comprehensive nature. It comprises 2 weeks, 1 week of lectures and 1 week of clinical training and is followed by a separate examination. The first 7 courses from the fall of 1983 to the spring of 1985 are described and evaluated here. Evidently, the new course is much appreciated by the students and there is also a marked shift in opinion towards a more positive attitude in coping with these problems.