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Background Previous findings regarding physical activity and risk of incident atrial fibrillation (AF) are controversial, focusing on leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and without distinguishing it from occupational physical activity (OPA). Our aim was to study the association between physical activity and risk of AF, with special attention to the possible divergent effects of OPA and LTPA.Methods and results In a prospective, observational cohort study, 17,196 subjects were included from the Copenhagen Population Register. All participants had a physical examination, a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), and answered a questionnaire regarding health and physical activity. Participants without previously diagnosed AF who answered adequately regarding OPA and LTPA were included. LTPA and OPA were each graded into four levels. Follow-up were carried out between 1981–1983, 1991–1994, and 2001–2003. Information regarding hospitalization and mortality was drawn from the National Patient Registry and the Registry of Causes of Death. Outcome was incident AF as determined by follow-up ECG or register diagnosis. In univariable Cox regression analysis all sub-groups of OPA had a significant higher risk of AF compared to moderate OPA. When adjusting for confounders, the risk remained significantly increased for high OPA (hazard ratio (HR) 1.21 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.43), p= 0.028), and very high OPA (HR 1.39 (95% CI 1.03–1.88), p= 0.034). We found no significant association between LTPA and incident AF.Conclusions High and very high OPA were associated with a significantly increased risk of incident AF. LTPA was not associated with risk of incident AF.

This article presents the results of comprehensive inventories made of water-related conflict and cooperation occurring in five districts in Africa, Asia and Latin America between 1997 and 2007. Following a description of the conceptual and methodological framework developed for undertaking these inventories, the article documents the extent, nature and intensity of water related conflict and cooperation in the five districts. The article concludes by identifying three challenges relating to the magnitude, complexity and invisibility of local-level conflict and cooperation about water, which efforts to improve local water governance would have to address. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forty adult patients undergoing elective surgery, anaesthetized with diazepam, alfentanil and nitrous oxide in oxygen, and paralysed with atracurium were given flumazenil or placebo i.v. in a double-blind randomized study to assess the efficacy of flumazenil. Awake state, heart rate, arterial pressure, rate of ventilation and arterial blood-gas values were measured at 0, 5, 30, 120 and 240 min after administration of flumazenil or placebo. Flumazenil was found to antagonize the sedative effects of diazepam; there was no resedation within the time of observation. There were no intergroup differences in any of the other measured variables. A median dose of diazepam 0.33 mg kg−1 during surgery lasting a median of 98 min was antagonized by a median dose of flumazenil 0.35 mg. No side effects related to flumazenil were observed.