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Context: Obesity is considered to have a detrimental impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Objective: To compare HRQoL in a well-defined group of people with obesity with a population-based control group from the general public. Design: Observational cross-sectional cohort study with a reference population. Setting: The Regional Obesity Center at the Department of Medicine at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Participants: People with obesity (n = 1122) eligible for surgical and non-surgical obesity treatment in routine care were included consecutively between 2015 and 2017 into the BASUN study. Men and women from the WHO-MONICA-GOT project were used as a reference population (n = 414). Main outcome measures: HRQoL was measured with the RAND-36/Short Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36) and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for self-related health (SRH). Prescription drugs for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, depression, and anxiety were taken as a proxy for these conditions. Results: People with obesity rated their overall HRQoL lower than the reference population according to the SRH-VAS. Lower scores were reported on physical and social functioning, vitality, general and mental health after adjustment for age and use of prescription drugs (considered a proxy for burden of disease, or comorbidities) using the RAND-36/SF-36 questionnaire. Use of some psychopharmacological agents was more common in patients with obesity. Conclusion: People with obesity seeking help with weight reduction are more likely to have lower physical and mental self-reported HRQoL than the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gothenburg is the most important harbour on the west coast of Sweden and the foremost port in Scandinavia. When founded in 1621, the city was protected by the latest forms of defence. Within its walls, canals divided the city into five districts. The vast majority of buildings were tightly packed timber structures. Between 1621 and 1813 Gothenburg suffered 13 major fires. The canals acted as firebreaks, saving the city from total destruction. The study presents a complete analysis of the types of stone used in the building facades of central Gothenburg. The survey covers the same area as a previous study of staircases and plinths. In total, 2 132 buildings were analysed, of which 1 571 date from the period 1793-1944. This timeframe has been selected because it includes the period of urban reconstruction following the major fires that occurred between 1793 and 1813. The end date of 1944 has been chosen for its proximity to the end of the Second World War, after which the market for stone changed radically. Of the 1 571 buildings, 689 feature stone in their facades (staircases and plinths excluded). In the case of 569 buildings, only a single stone type is represented, whereas 120 other buildings feature two or more types. Each type of stone has been considered a separate entity, in order to evaluate distribution. In total, 825 instances of stone have been identified, comprising 20 stone types. Two types predominate: Ordovician limestone and Bohus granite at 35.5 % and 30.7 % respectively. The third most common type is Fjärås gneiss at 11.9 %. Sandstone, at 2.7 %, was the most common type in the early 19th century. By c.1850 Ordovician limestone had become the most popular type of stone, being surpassed by Bohus granite by c.1910. In the early 1920s a new type appeared on the market: Fjärås gneiss, which became dominant over the coming decades. In the 1850s, only a small proportion of Gothenburg's buildings featured stone in their facades, increasing to more than 75 % of buildings by the 1930s. In the area studied, only nine building facades include loadbearing ashlar. Four types of facade detail predominate: window surrounds, cornices, portals and decorative ashlar. From the 1850s the use of stone in window surrounds and cornices increased, only to decrease rapidly from the 1920s. The use of ashlar became more common just before the turn of the century. Stonework has always been a popular choice for portals. In the reconstruction period that followed the more recent fires, sandstone was used for portals and associated features such as columns. From around 1880, when very few stone portals were built, numbers steadily rose. The types of stone used in facades were dominated by local varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) followed at a large Swedish Rheumatology Clinic, and to compare differences in cardiovascular risk factors between men and women with PsA and with the general population.Method: A questionnaire was sent to patients with PsA registered at the Rheumatology Clinic at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg (n = 982). Comparisons with the general population were made using data from the Swedish National Public Health Survey. Descriptive statistics are presented. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using self-reported height and weight.Results: Overall, 692 (70.6%) of the patients with PsA responded. The mean ± sd age was 55.6 ± 11.4 years and 52% were women. Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) was more prevalent (p < 0.001) in patients with PsA (28.6%) than in matched subjects from the general population (16.3%). Hypertension was also more prevalent (p < 0.001) in PsA (40.3%) than in matched subjects from the general population (24.1%), as was diabetes, with a prevalence of 10.5% in the PsA population compared with 6.2% in matched subjects (p < 0.001).Conclusion: We found obesity to be highly overrepresented in patients with PsA compared with matched subjects from the general population. This difference was particularly seen in women with PsA. Hypertension and ever smoking were also more prevalent in women with PsA compared with matched subjects from the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many cities have seen public support for congestion charges increase substantially after charges have been introduced. Several alternative explanations of this phenomenon have been suggested, but so far little evidence has been available to assess the relative importance of these explanations. We study attitudes to congestion pricing in Gothenburg before and after congestion charges were introduced in January 2013. Attitudes to the charges did indeed become more positive after the introduction, just as in previous cities. Using a two-wave postal survey, we separate contributions to the attitude change from a number of sources: benefits and costs being different than anticipated, use of hypothecated revenues, reframing processes, and changes in related attitudes such as attitudes to environment, equity, taxation and pricing measures in general. We conclude that the dominant reason for the attitude change is status quo bias, rather than any substantial changes in beliefs or related attitudes, although some of these factors also contribute. Contrary to a common belief, nothing of the attitude change is due to benefits being larger than anticipated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article features three different methods of obtaining the mean radiant temperature in an outdoor urban setting. The first method is based on integral radiation measurement and angular factors. The second method is based on measurements with a 38 millimeter flat grey globe thermometer. The third method makes use of the Rayman 1.2 software. In details, the measurements were performed in a large open square in a high latitude city in Göteborg, Sweden, during clear to overcast weather conditions in October 2005 and in July and August 2006. Detailed information regarding the results of the study is discussed.

Abstract: Four urban public spaces, representing various designs and microclimates, were investigated in Gothenburg, Sweden, in order to estimate how weather and microclimate affect people in urban outdoor environments. The research strategy was both multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary and included scientists from three disciplines: architecture, climatology and psychology. The project is based on common case studies carried out during four seasons, including measurements of meteorological variables, interviews and observations of human activity at each place. Multiple regression analysis of meteorological and behavioural data showed that air temperature, wind speed and clearness index (cloud cover) have a significant influence on people''s assessments of the weather, place perceptions and place-related attendance. The results support the arguments in favour of employing climate sensitive planning in future urban design and planning projects, as the physical component of a place can be designed to influence the site-specific microclimate and consequently people''s place-related attendance, perceptions and emotions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Previously published data are conflicting about the effect of various factors on secretions from minor salivary glands. The aim of the present study was to investigate the secretion rate from palatal, buccal, and labial glands, and to analyze the immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations in relation to age, gender, circulatory disease, diabetes, medication, smoking, and pregnancy. Resting and stimulated whole-saliva secretion rates, as well as IgA concentration in stimulated whole saliva, were also examined. One-hundred and forty two individuals (96 women and 46 men), 18–82 yr of age, participated. The results did not suggest any effect of aging on the secretion capacity of minor salivary glands, but the IgA concentration seemed to increase with age. Women had lower buccal and labial saliva secretion rates, and lower levels of IgA in buccal saliva, than men. For whole saliva, resting, but not stimulated, saliva secretion rates were reduced with age, and the secretion rate of stimulated whole saliva was lower in women than in men. The IgA concentration in buccal saliva showed a positive correlation with IgA in stimulated whole saliva, and the IgA concentration decreased with increased flow rate in both salivas. Oral Microbiology, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban benzene concentration and personal exposure to benzene were measured within different urban environments in Gothenburg, Sweden. Three intensive monitoring campaigns were carried out in May 2000, February 2001 and May 2001. Three different environments were selected; two central built-up areas with different traffic densities (high and low) and one large urban park. The methods used included passive and active sampling. Passive sampling was used to retrieve spatial variability in urban benzene concentrations, while active sampling aimed to give data on personal exposure levels within the designated areas. The passive sampling showed large spatial and temporal variations in urban benzene concentrations. The benzene concentrations, ranging from 1.0 to 3.1 μg m−3, were typically two to four times higher within the high-traffic built-up area compared to the adjacent urban park. This was mainly due to the proximity to motorised traffic. A comparison between personal exposure and active stationary measurements showed that the personal exposure levels were roughly 1.5 times higher in the heavy traffic area and 1.3 times higher in the light traffic area than the fixed benzene concentrations. The personal exposure levels in the park were equal to the active stationary benzene concentration. Given the large spatial heterogeneity within urban areas, the placement of single street level point measurements becomes crucial. Care must be taken to ensure that the measurements are actually representative when using these measurements to estimate urban concentrations and exposure levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a GIS based empirical model to simulate wind and/or air temperature variations over land. The technique is based on meteorological data (wind direction and wind speed, temperature and cloud cover) from one permanent reference station, a digital local climate map and a digital land use map. The focus of the paper is to apply and evaluate the technique for clear and calm night-time weather conditions in Göteborg, Sweden. Hourly data from a monitoring network including 31 temperature stations are used in the verification of simulations made using the model. These data are also used for a description of geographical factors that influence air temperature variations in the Göteborg urban district. The technique is a potential tool for urban planning purposes but the verification shows that further improvements are needed. The main problems identified are related to details in the climate map but also to some of the algorithms that need to be refined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This open study examined the effect of smoking reduction and smoking cessation on established cardiovascular risk factors. Fifty-eight healthy adult smokers (smoking ≥15 cigarettes/day for at least 3 years) were provided with nicotine nasal spray (to be used ad libitum) and asked to stop smoking. The primary goal during the first 8 weeks, however, was to reduce their daily smoking by at least 50%. Subjects were then followed for another 8 weeks; at this point, 33 participants had successfully stopped smoking. Cardiovascular risk factors including fibrinogen, hemoglobin, hematocrit, triglycerides, and cholesterol were measured at baseline and at 9 and 17 weeks. After 8 weeks of smoking reduction, the mean number of cigarettes smoked per day had decreased from 21.5 ± 0.6 (baseline) to 10.8 ± 0.6 (p < 0.001). This was accompanied by significant improvements in fibrinogen (from 2.9 ± 0.1 g/l at baseline to 2.6 ± 0.1 g/l, p = 0.011), white blood cells (from 7.0 ± 0.4 to 6.2 ± 0.3 × 10[sup 9]/l, p = 0.005) and the high-density/low-density lipoprotein (HDL/LDL) ratio (0.33 ± 0.03 to 0.37 ± 0.03, p < 0.005). Following 8 weeks of abstinence from smoking, the mean white blood cell count was further reduced (to 6.1 ± 0.3 × 10[sup 9]/l, p = 0.026 vs. baseline) and there were also significant improvements in HDL (from 1.16 ± 0.06 mmol/l at baseline to 1.32 ± 0.06, p < 0.001) and LDL (from 3.78 ± 0.16 mmol/l at baseline to 3.52 ± 0.17, p = 0.015). In conclusion, 8 weeks of smoking reduction resulted in clinically significant improvements in established cardiovascular risk factors. These improvements were even greater after an additional period of abstinence from smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the influence of green areas on nocturnal temperatures in Göteborg, a high latitude city in Sweden. Analysis of the air temperature pattern in several urban parks and their surrounding built-up areas; Value of the maximum temperature difference; Dependence of the extension and the magnitude of the temperature difference on the size of the park and the distance from the park border.

Investigates the effects of spinal cord stimulation on coronary heart disease induced by atrial pacing in Gothenburg, Sweden. Reduction of coronary sinus blood flow and myocardial oxygen consumption; Insertion of polyethylene in the peripheral artery; Use of atrial pacing to assess myocardial ischemia.