Higher prevalence of depressive symptoms in middle-aged men with low serum cholesterol levels

OBJECTIVE: Investigators from several studies have reported a positive relationship between low cholesterol levels and death due to violent causes (eg, suicide and accidents), possibly mediated by depressive symptoms, aggression or hostility, or impulsivity. We set out to establish whether middle-aged men with chronically low cholesterol levels (< or =4.5 mmol/liter) have a higher risk of having depressive symptoms, according to scores on the Beck Depression Inventory, compared with a reference group of men with cholesterol levels between 6 and 7 mmol/liter. A similar comparison was also made for measures of anger, hostility, and impulsivity. METHODS: Cholesterol measurements were obtained as part of a population-based cholesterol screening study in 1990-1991. These levels were remeasured in 1993-1994. Only those whose cholesterol level remained in the same range were included in the study. Depressive symptoms were assessed by using the Beck Depression Inventory; anger, by questionnaires based on the Spielberger Anger Expression Scale and State-Trait Anger Scale; hostility, by the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory; and impulsivity, by the Eysenck and Eysenck Impulsivity Questionnaire. RESULTS: Men with chronically low cholesterol levels showed a consistently higher risk of having depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory score > or =15 or > or =17) than the reference group, even after adjusting for age, energy intake, alcohol use, and presence of chronic diseases. No differences in anger, hostility, and impulsivity were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Men with a lower cholesterol level (< or =4.5 mmol/liter) have a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms than those with a cholesterol level between 6 and 7 mmol/liter. These data may be important in the ongoing debate on the putative association between low cholesterol levels and violent death

Coffee and cardiovascular risk; an epidemiological study

This thesis comprises several studies on the effect of coffee and caffeine on cardiovascular risk in general, and the effect on serum lipids, blood pressure and selected hemostatic variables in particular. The association between coffee use and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality was evaluated by a review of the published results of 17 cohort studies and 10 casecontrol studies. In the interpretation of the results of these studies, it is important to take into account the strong relationship of coffee consumption and other habits associated with cardiovascular disease, such as smoking and a high dietary fat intake. When these confounders are not considered in the analysis, the risk of coffee use for cardiovascular disease may be overestimated. Most case-control studies yielded positive results, i.e. coffee use was observed to increase the risk of a cardiovascular event. Casecontrol studies, however, are subject to several forms of bias which could lead to overestimation of the coffee-cardiovascular disease association. The majority of cohort studies, which are more reliable, support the hypothesis that coffee use does not affect the risk of cardiovascular diseas

Overvejelser om iværksættelse af kommunikation og valg af tegn i en professionel kontekst

Semiotikken er først og fremmest en teori om betydning og en analytisk ramme om betydningsdannelse. Dermed er semiotikken grundlæggende rettet mod den allerede foreliggende kommunikation. Imidlertid kan semiotik også bringes i frugtbar anvendelse i en fremadrettet iværksættelse af kommunikation, der søger at kombinere kommunikativ handling med reflektorisk skarphed. Det er formålet i dette paper at indtænke semiotikkens refleksion i en fremadrettet kommunikationspraksis. Paperet er motiveret af konkrete undervisningssammenhænge, og dets sigte er primært didaktisk

Social isolation, loneliness, socioeconomic status, and health-risk behaviour in deprived neighbourhoods in Denmark: A cross-sectional study

The importance of social isolation and loneliness on our health is widely recognised in previous research. This study compares loneliness in deprived neighbourhood with that in the general population. It further examines whether social isolation and loneliness are associated with health-risk behaviours (including low intake of fruit or vegetables, daily smoking, high-risk alcohol intake, and physical inactivity and their co-occurrence) in deprived neighbourhoods, and whether social isolation and loneliness modify the associations between socioeconomic status and health-risk behaviours. Cross-sectional data from 5113 residents of 12 deprived neighbourhoods in Denmark were analysed using multiple logistic regression. Data on 14,686 individuals from the nationally representative Danish Health and Morbidity Survey 2010 were used as a comparison group with regard to loneliness. Cohabitation status, frequency of meeting with family and friends, participation in voluntary work were used as an indicator to measure social isolation. A question on feeling often unwillingly alone was used as an indicator to measure loneliness. Compared with the general population, residents of deprived neighbourhoods had higher odds of loneliness. Both social isolation and loneliness were significantly associated with higher odds of health-risk behaviour. When social isolation and loneliness were combined with low socioeconomic status, strong associations with health-risk behaviours were found. Social isolation and loneliness did not significantly modify the associations between socioeconomic status and health-risk behaviour. The findings in this study have important implications for the future planning of health promotion intervention programmes aimed to reduce health-risk behaviour in deprived neighbourhoods.</p

The future of algal blooms in lakes globally is in our hands

Lakes are fundamental to society and nature, yet they are currently exposed to excessive nutrients and climate change, resulting in algal blooms. In the future, this may change, but how and where still needs more scientific attention. Here, we explore future trends in algal blooms in lakes globally for >3,500 ‘representative lakes’ for the year 2050, considering the attribution of both nutrient and climate factors. We soft-coupled a process-based lake ecosystem model (PCLake+) with a watershed nutrient model (MARINA-Multi) to assess trends in algal blooms in terms of the Trophic State Index for chlorophyll-a (TSI-Chla). Globally between 2010 and 2050, we show a rising trend in algal blooms under fossil-fuelled development (TSI-Chla increase in 91% of lakes) and a declining trend under sustainable development (TSI-Chla decrease in 63% of lakes). These changes are significantly attributed to nutrients. While not always significant, climate change attributions point to being unfavourable for lakes in 2050, exacerbating lake water quality. Our study stresses prioritising responsible nutrient and climate management on policy agendas. This implies that the future of algal blooms in lakes is in our hands