<p>Treatment for varicose veins (VV) is insufficiently evidence based and recurrence rates are high. The aim of this thesis was to study the long-term results after VV surgery, risk factors for recurrences and the effect of preoperative duplex scanning on recurrence rate, quality of life (QoL) and costs.</p><p>In a follow-up study 89 patients with 100 legs operated on for VV 6–10 years earlier were re-examined with duplex, in 13 cases also with varicography. 57% had incompetent vessels in the groin visible with duplex, equally well defined by varicography. Residual branches could not be differentiated from new vessel formation. The recurrence rate did not correlate to the surgeon’s level of experience or perioperative difficulties at primary surgery. </p><p>In a prospective randomized study 293 patients (343 legs) were operated on for primary VV with or without preoperative duplex. Duplex was done postoperatively, at 2 months and 2 years. QoL was measured with SF-36 preoperatively, at 1 month, 1 year and 2 years. </p><p>After 2 years the number of reoperations were 2 in the group with preoperative duplex and 14 in the group without (p=0.002). Incompetent veins were seen in the saphenofemoral or saphenopopliteal junction in 19 and 53 legs respectively (p<0.001).</p><p>Preoperative QoL was worse in the VV patients compared to a reference population, and was normalised 2 years postoperatively. The improved surgical result in the duplex group was not reflected in a significantly higher QoL. </p><p>The lower costs for redo surgery in the duplex group did not offset the costs for duplex, partly due to more extensive primary surgery. </p><p>A significant proportion of recurrences after 2 years was new vessel formation and progression of disease. Preoperative perforating vein incompetence did not influence recurrence rate, and was abolished without specific interruption in 60% at 2 years postoperatively.</p>

Treatment for varicose veins (VV) is insufficiently evidence based and recurrence rates are high. The aim of this thesis was to study the long-term results after VV surgery, risk factors for recurrences and the effect of preoperative duplex scanning on recurrence rate, quality of life (QoL) and costs. In a follow-up study 89 patients with 100 legs operated on for VV 6–10 years earlier were re-examined with duplex, in 13 cases also with varicography. 57% had incompetent vessels in the groin visible with duplex, equally well defined by varicography. Residual branches could not be differentiated from new vessel formation. The recurrence rate did not correlate to the surgeon’s level of experience or perioperative difficulties at primary surgery. In a prospective randomized study 293 patients (343 legs) were operated on for primary VV with or without preoperative duplex. Duplex was done postoperatively, at 2 months and 2 years. QoL was measured with SF-36 preoperatively, at 1 month, 1 year and 2 years. After 2 years the number of reoperations were 2 in the group with preoperative duplex and 14 in the group without (p=0.002). Incompetent veins were seen in the saphenofemoral or saphenopopliteal junction in 19 and 53 legs respectively (p&lt;0.001). Preoperative QoL was worse in the VV patients compared to a reference population, and was normalised 2 years postoperatively. The improved surgical result in the duplex group was not reflected in a significantly higher QoL. The lower costs for redo surgery in the duplex group did not offset the costs for duplex, partly due to more extensive primary surgery. A significant proportion of recurrences after 2 years was new vessel formation and progression of disease. Preoperative perforating vein incompetence did not influence recurrence rate, and was abolished without specific interruption in 60% at 2 years postoperatively.

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR), back flow of blood from the right ventricle to the right atrium, has been reported in approximately 85% of the population, with 16% having mild or severe TR. Patients with untreated moderate to severe TR are likely to experience decreased exercise capacity and have increased morbidity and mortality, thus affecting the patient's quality of life. Current methods of repair offer limited rates of success, and many patients require further operations to correct returning levels of TR. Incomplete repair may be due to incomplete understanding of the functional anatomy and mechanics of the TV and the underlying causes of TR. It was hypothesized that alterations in the geometry of tricuspid valve annular and subvalvular apparatus induced by ventricular dilatation determine the severity of TR. In vivo measurements of papillary muscle (PM) position in patients with single or biventricular dilatation revealed PM displacement away from the center of the annulus as compared to control patients. Additionally, pulmonary arterial pressure, annulus area, ventricular size and apical displacement of the anterior PM were highly correlated with the severity of TR. An in vitro right-heart simulator was developed to investigate isolated mechanics of TR. Through these in vitro studies it was demonstrated that the tricuspid valve begins to leak at only 40% dilation, much lower than the mitral valve. Additionally, it was shown that isolated PM displacement resulted in significant TR. The highest levels of TR were achieved with a combination of annular dilatation and PM displacement. Alterations in leaflet coaptation, as quantified by measuring the amount of leaflet available for coaptation and leaflet mobility were observed with annular dilatation and PM displacement, both isolated and combined. The changes in leaflet coaptation resulted in redistribution of the forces on the chords originating from the anterior PM and inserting into the anterior and posterior leaflets. The findings herein provide the clinical and scientific community with a mechanistic understanding of the tricuspid valve to further improve intervention and repair of TV disease.

Bakgrund: Venduplex har på senare år vuxit fram som den mest använda metoden vid diagnostik av venös insufficiens eftersom det är en ofarlig, kostnadseffektiv, non-invasiv metod med hög sensitivitet och specificitet där både den anatomiska placeringen av insufficiensen samt den funktionella förändringen av venen kan påvisas direkt vid undersökningen. Olika manövrar kan genomföras för att påfresta venklaffarna och därmed framkalla en eventuell reflux, men det är oklart om de olika manövrerna kan påverka den reflux som provoceras fram och därmed också påverkar bedömningen av insufficiensgraden. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka om det förelåg skillnad i graderingen av insufficiensen samt om den maximala refluxhastigheten påverkades beroende på vilken manöver som användes för att framkalla en reflux. Metod: 20 v. saphena magna mitt på låret med påvisad reflux deltog i studien. Två upprepade mätningar genomfördes där venklaffarna provocerades med hjälp av en blodtrycksmanschett över vaden, med en manuell kompression över låret samt med en manuell kompression över vaden. Resultat: Den maximala refluxhastigheten blev 0,33±0,20m/s när en blodtrycksmanschett över vaden användes, 0,31±0,22m/s när en manuell handkompression över vaden användes samt 0,17±0,16m/s när en manuell lårkompression genomfördes. Slutsats: Ingen signifikant skillnad på maximal refluxhastighet kunde konstateras när en automatisk uppblåsbar blodtrycksmanschett över vaden jämfördes med en manuell handkompression över vaden. En signifikant högre maximal refluxhastighet konstaterades när en manuell vadkompression jämfördes med en manuell lårkompression.

Thesis (M.S.)--East Carolina University, 2009. / Presented to the faculty of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science. Advisor: Timothy P. Gavin. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed May 5, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

This dissertation augmented Kahlor’s (2010) planned risk information seeking model (PRISM). According to the PRISM, people’s intentions to seek risk information hinge on their attitudes toward seeking, seeking-related subjective norms, perceived control over seeking, affective response to the perceived risk, and information need. As well, this dissertation examined the role of self-identity as an information seeker, independent self-construal, past risk information seeking, involvement, and motivation orientation in people’s intention to seek risk information about radon and poor indoor air quality. In a pilot study of a convenience sample (N = 59), I derived an information-seeking self-identity scale and a novel instrument for measuring information need. The main study of a national probability sample (N = 602) evaluated the proposed structural model, tested several hypotheses, and explored several research questions. Both the pilot and main study gathered data via online surveys. Results supported the proposed model (R2 = .62) and several hypotheses. Notably, information-seeking self-identity and past risk information seeking positively predicted seeking intention. Also, the effects of attitudes and norms on seeking intention were stronger among more independent respondents. Finally, in a series of multiple regression analyses, I detailed the roles of involvement and various motivation orientations in each model component. An unexpected finding was that perceived control over seeking did not significantly predict seeking intention. Post-hoc analysis revealed that the strength of the control-intention relationship was—at least with the current sample—inversely related to socioeconomic status (SES), where at higher levels of SES, the importance of perceived control over seeking diminished. / text

Velofarynxinsufficiens (VPI) innebär en otillräcklig förmåga att stänga passagen mellan mun- och näshåla. En ofullständig slutning får konsekvenser framför allt för talet, då luft passerar genom näsan även vid orala språkljud och leder till en avvikande talklang och artikulation. Dessa avvikelser kan vara mer eller mindre framträdande i talet och innebära allt ifrån en lätt förvrängning av talklangen till att talet blir oförståeligt för omgivningen, vilket får allvarliga konsekvenser för möjligheten att kommunicera verbalt.   VPI kan behandlas på flera sätt, dels protetiskt, dels med kirurgi. Deltagarna i denna studie har alla genomgått operation med uppåtbaserad farynxlambå, som är en väldokumenterad och effektiv metod för att behandla VPI. En vanligt förekommande biverkning till operationen är luftvägshinder, exempelvis nästäppa, snarkning och sömnapné.    Syftet med studien var att undersöka deltagarnas egen uppfattning om operationsresultatet gällande tal och biverkningar, med hjälp av en enkät för självskattning. 61 patienter opererade med uppåtbaserad svalglambå under perioden 2000-2011 vid Akademiska Sjukhuset i Uppsala deltog i studien. Deltagarna delades in i tre undergrupper utifrån etiologi: deltagare med spalt (n  =  35), deltagare med spalt och syndrom (n  =  13), samt deltagare utan spalt (n  =  13).   Resultat: 55 av 61 deltagare (90  %) ansåg att operationen förbättrade deras tal. 49 av 61 deltagare (80  %) skulle dessutom rekommendera operationen till någon annan med samma besvär. 42 av 61 deltagare (68,8  %) uppgav att de är nöjda med sitt tal. Kvarstående biverkningar som rapporterades var nästäppa, snarkning, dagtrötthet och muntorrhet. Deltagarna upplevde dock dessa biverkningar i liten grad. Ingen tydlig skillnad sågs mellan de olika patientgrupperna. / Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is the inability to completely close the velopharyngeal port. Velopharyngeal closure is an important part of speech. VPI leads to a leakage of air into the nasal cavity during speech, which can cause hypernasal resonance and misarticulations. The effect of VPI on speech differs depending on the nature of the insufficiency. It can affect speech intelligibility severely.   VPI can be treated prosthetically or surgically. The patients in this study have all undergone pharyngeal flap surgery; a well established surgical method with documented effect in correcting VPI and reducing hypernasality in speech. Pharyngeal flap surgery can have negative consequences, such as airway obstruction, sleep apnea and snoring.   The aim of this study was to investigate the patients experiences of speech, complications and side-effects after pharyngeal flap surgery, through self-reports. 61 patients who underwent superior pharyngeal flap surgery during the period 2000 to 2011 at Uppsala University Hospital participated in the study. They were divided into three sub-groups: patients with cleft (n  =  35), patients with cleft and syndrome (n  =  13), patients without cleft (n  =  13).   Result: 55 of 61 participants (90 %) were of the opinion that the pharyngeal flap surgery had improved their speech. 49 of 61 participants (80 %) said they would recommend someone else with the same problem to undergo the operation. 42 of 61 participants (68,8 %) were content with their speech. Reported residual side effects, though experienced in low degree, were nasal congestion, snoring, weariness during daytime and dry mouth. No evident difference was seen between the sub-groups.

To investigate the possibility that malnutrition is an important factor that prolongs respiratory failure (PRF), I studied the effects of pharmacologic injections of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), an important anabolic stimulus, on nutritional and respiratory parameters in patients requiring mechanical ventilation for more than three days. Patients were excluded from consideration if dominating factors known to prolong ventilatory failure had not been stabilized. Over ten months, 106 patients in PRF were evaluated, but only six met the selection criteria. Three patients were randomized to receive standard nutritional support, and three into a group that received the equivalent nutrition plus 5 mg/day of rhGH for 14 days or until withdrawal of mechanical ventilation. Baseline characteristics of the selected patients were divergent as demonstrated by body mass indexes ranging from 14 to 42 (kg/m$ sp2),$ baseline maximal inspiratory pressures (PI$ sb{ max}$ from $-$15 to $-$70 cm H$ sb2$O, and Day 1 N balances from $-$13.5 to 1.2 g N/day. Despite increased plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations, the mean daily N balances of the rhGH-treated group were no better than the controls (1.3 $ pm$ 5.0 vs. 0.4 $ pm$ 2.6 g N/day; Mean $ pm$ SD), nor were there differences in PI$ sb{ max},$ level of ventilatory assistance required, and days to weaning. The persistence of respiratory failure in the overwhelming majority of patients in PRF appears to be due to factors already known to prevent weaning from mechanical ventilation. Even the carefully selected patients enrolled in the present study were insufficiently homogeneous or stable enough to allow proper testing of the experimental hypothesis.

Poor breath management is problematic for singing. Voice students and singing teachers typically attribute breath management issues to abdominal-diaphragmatic breathing technique. The present study seeks to determine whether glottal insufficiency may also contribute to singer’s breath management problems. Studies have revealed a relationship between incomplete vocal fold closure and inefficiency in the speaking voice. However, the effect of incomplete vocal fold closure on vocal efficiency in singers has yet to be determined. Since the larynx cannot be observed without the assistance of clinical instrumentation, not readily available in the voice studio, issues at the glottal level may be underappreciated as a contributor to poor breath management in the singer. Two groups of voice students identified with and without breath management problems underwent aerodynamic and acoustic voice assessment as well as videostroboscopy of the vocal folds to quantify the prevalence of incomplete vocal fold closure. These assessments revealed four groups: (1) those with glottic insufficiency and no perceived breathiness; (2) those with glottic sufficiency and perceived breathiness; (3) those with glottic insufficiency and perceived breathiness; and, (4) those with glottic sufficiency and no perceived breathiness. Results suggest that previously undiscovered glottal insufficiency is common, though the correlation with identified breath management problems was not statistically significant. Acoustic and aerodynamic measures including noise-to-harmonics ratio, maximum phonation time, airflow rate, subglottal pressure and laryngeal airway resistance were most sensitive to glottic insufficiency.

No description available.