http://hdl.handle.net/1956/948 Search the Channel search http://bora.uib.no/simple-search http://hdl.handle.net/1956/2325 Title: Assessing medical students’ attitudes towards learning communication skills – which components of attitudes do we measure? <br/> <br/>Authors: Anvik, Tor; Gude, Tore; Grimstad, Hilde; Baerheim, Anders; Fasmer, Ole B.; Hjortdahl, Per; Holen, Are; Risberg, Terje; Vaglum, Per <br/> <br/>Abstract: Background. The Communication Skills Attitudes Scale (CSAS) created by Rees, Sheard and Davies and published in 2002 has been a widely used instrument for measuring medical students' attitudes towards learning communication skills. Earlier studies have shown that the CSAS mainly tests two dimensions of attitudes towards communication; positive attitudes (PAS) and negative attitudes (NAS). The objectives of our study are to explore the attitudes of Norwegian medical students towards learning communication skills, and to compare our findings with reports from other countries. Methods. The CSAS questionnaire was mailed simultaneously to all students (n = 3055) of the four medical schools in Norway in the spring of 2003. Response from 1833 students (60.0%) were analysed by use of SPSS ver.12. Results. A Principal component analysis yielded findings that differ in many respects from those of earlier papers. We found the CSAS to measure three factors. The first factor describes students' feelings about the way communication skills are taught, whereas the second factor describes more fundamental attitudes and values connected to the importance of having communication skills for doctors. The third factor explores whether students feel that good communication skills may help them respecting patients and colleagues. Conclusion. Our findings indicate that in this sample the CSAS measures broader aspects of attitudes towards learning communication skills than the formerly described two-factor model with PAS and NAS. This may turn out to be helpful for monitoring the effect of different teaching strategies on students' attitudes during medical school. Thu, 29 Mar 2007 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1956/2208 Title: Hyperoxia retards growth and induces apoptosis and loss of glands and blood vessels in DMBA-induced rat mammary tumors <br/> <br/>Authors: Raa, Anette; Stansberg, Christine; Steen, Vidar M.; Bjerkvig, Rolf; Reed, Rolf K.; Stuhr, Linda E. B. <br/> <br/>Abstract: Background: This study investigated the effects of hyperoxic treatment on growth, angiogenesis, apoptosis, general morphology and gene expression in DMBA-induced rat mammary tumors. Methods: One group of animals was exposed to normobaric hyperoxia (1 bar, pO2 = 1.0 bar) and another group was exposed to hyperbaric hyperoxia (1.5 bar, pO2 = 1.5 bar). A third group was treated with the commonly used chemotherapeutic drug 5- Fluorouracil (5-FU), whereas animals housed under normal atmosphere (1 bar, pO2 = 0.2 bar) served as controls. All treatments were performed on day 1, 4, 7 and 10 for 90 min. Tumor growth was calculated from caliper measurements. Biological effects of the treatment, was determined by assessment of vascular morphology (immunostaining for von Willebrandt factor) and apoptosis (TUNEL staining). Detailed gene expression profiles were obtained and verified by quantitative rtPCR. Results: Tumor growth was significantly reduced (~57–66 %) after hyperoxic treatment compared to control and even more than 5-FU (~36 %). Light microscopic observations of the tumor tissue showed large empty spaces within the tissue after hyperoxic treatment, probably due to loss of glands as indicated by a strong down-regulation of glandular secretory proteins. A significant reduction in mean vascular density (30–50%) was found after hyperoxic treatment. Furthermore, increased apoptosis (18–21%) was found after hyperoxic treatment. Conclusion: Thus, by increasing the pO2 in mammary tumor tissue using normobaric and moderate hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a significant retardation in tumor growth is achieved, by loss of glands, reduction in vascular density and enhanced cell death. Hyperbaric oxygen should therefore be further evaluated as a tumor treatment. Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1956/2134 Title: Genetics in Parkinson’s disease <br/> <br/>Authors: Kurz, Martin Thu, 14 Dec 2006 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1956/1964 Title: Drug-induced activation of SREBP-controlled lipogenic gene expression in CNS-related cell lines : marked differences between various antipsychotic drugs <br/> <br/>Authors: Fernø, Johan; Skrede, Silje; Vik-Mo, Audun O.; Håvik, Bjarte; Steen, Vidar M. <br/> <br/>Abstract: Background: The etiology of schizophrenia is unknown, but neurodevelopmental disturbances, myelin- and oligodendrocyte abnormalities and synaptic dysfunction have been suggested as pathophysiological factors in this severe psychiatric disorder. Cholesterol is an essential component of myelin and has proved important for synapse formation. Recently, we demonstrated that the antipsychotic drugs clozapine and haloperidol stimulate lipogenic gene expression in cultured glioma cells through activation of the sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) transcription factors. We here compare the action of chlorpromazine, haloperidol, clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone and ziprasidone on SREBP activation and SREBP-controlled gene expression (ACAT2, HMGCR, HMGCS1, FDPS, SC5DL, DHCR7, LDLR, FASN and SCD1) in four CNS-relevant human cell lines. Results: There were marked differences in the ability of the antipsychotic drugs to activate the expression of SREBP target genes, with clozapine and chlorpromazine as the most potent stimulators in a context of therapeutically relevant concentrations. Glial-like cells (GaMg glioma and CCF-STTG1 astrocytoma cell lines) displayed more pronounced drug-induced SREBP activation compared to the response in HCN2 human cortical neurons and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, indicating that antipsychotic-induced activation of lipogenesis is most prominent in glial cells. Conclusion: Our present data show a marked variation in the ability of different antipsychotics to induce SREBP-controlled transcriptional activation of lipogenesis in cultured human CNS-relevant cells. We propose that this effect could be relevant for the therapeutic efficacy of some antipsychotic drugs. Thu, 19 Oct 2006 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1956/1900 Title: Clinical, epidemiological, and functional neuroimaging perspectives on the association between depression and neurocognitive function <br/> <br/>Authors: Biringer, Eva Thu, 28 Sep 2006 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1956/678 Title: Umbilical vein constriction at the abdominal wall: An ultrasound study in low risk pregnancies <br/> <br/>Authors: Skulstad, Svein Magne <br/> <br/>Abstract: The umbilical vein is the only vessel supplying the fetus with blood supplying oxygen and nutrients from the placenta. Case reports indicate that the fetal end of the umbilical cord is susceptible to mechanical complications. Hypothesis: We assume that umbilical ring constriction may affect the umbilical vein and have haemodynamic effects on fetal development and birth. Aims: To describe the occurrence and degree of umbilical venous constriction in low risk–pregnancies. To establish reference ranges. To determine whether such a constriction has a haemodynamic effect, or any effect on fetal development or perinatal outcome. Material and methods: 384 low–risk singleton pregnancies were included in the cross–sectional studies after written consent and ethical approval. 2D–imaging, colour Doppler and pulsed Doppler were used to measure diameters and blood velocity in the umbilical vein before, at or beyond the abdominal wall. All blood flow velocimetry was performed during fetal quiescence. Perinatal outcome was noted. Results: From 13 weeks onwards, after the period of physiological umbilical herniation, umbilical venous constriction was noted in increasing numbers and severity until 19 weeks of gestation (paper I). For the latter half of the pregnancy, during gestational weeks 20–40, the pattern remained constant; 41/191 (21%) had a venous constriction corresponding to a diameter reduction to the half, while the corresponding venous blood velocity increment was ≥300%, and 5% of the fetuses had velocities ≥107 cm/s, which is exceptionally high compared with other blood velocities in the body, whether arterial or venous (paper II). The reproducibility study showed that the measurements of venous blood velocity in the cord and at the umbilical ring had SD of 0.58 and 1.83 cm/s respectively and that the diameter measurements both at the umbilical ring and at the cord had a mean SD of 0.07 mm (paper II). The incidence of umbilical venous pulsation was higher at the umbilical ring in the abdominal wall, 242/279 (87%) than in the cord, 43/198 (22%) or intra–abdominally, 84/277 (30%). When pulsation was observed intra–abdominally, the pulsatility was not different from that at the umbilical ring. The lowest pulsatility was found in the cord vein, where the largest vein diameter was found (paper III). Umbilical venous constriction had a significant negative correlation to the birthweight/placental weight ratio in male but not in female fetuses. Umbilical venous constriction was also associated with and increased length of the cord, but only in female fetuses. Constriction was also associated with Apgar score ≤7 at one minute after birth but not after five, and was not associated with emergency delivery (paper IV). Conclusions: The umbilical ring seams to tighten in the following weeks after the period of physiological herniation, causing an increasing number and degree of umbilical vein constriction. After 19 weeks of gestation, the occurrence of umbilical vein constriction is constant until term. The degree of constriction can be considerable, and in 20% of the fetuses the umbilical vein diameter is ≤50% of that in the cord. We have established reference ranges. Within physiological ranges, i.e. in a low–risk population, such constrictions have a haemodynamic effect leading to increased incidence of pulsations and gender specific effects on fetal, cordal and placental growth. The significant effect on Apgar score at one minute warrants further studies of the effect of extreme constriction on perinatal morbidity. Wed, 18 May 2005 13:39:05 GMT