Lifestyle and demographic associations with 47 inflammatory and vascular stress biomarkers in 9876 blood donors.

Background: The emerging use of biomarkers in research and tailored care introduces a need for information about the association between biomarkers and basic demographics and lifestyle factors revealing expectable concentrations in healthy individuals while considering general demographic differences.

Methods: A selection of 47 biomarkers, including markers of inflammation and vascular stress, were measured in plasma samples from 9876 Danish Blood Donor Study participants. Using regression models, we examined the association between biomarkers and sex, age, Body Mass Index (BMI), and smoking.

Ancient genomes lack the virulence-associated Ypf prophage present in modern pandemic strains.

is the causative agent of at least three major plague pandemics (Justinianic, Medieval and Modern). Previous studies on ancient genomes revealed that several genomic alterations had occurred approximately 5000-3000 years ago and contributed to the remarkable virulence of this pathogen. How a subset of strains evolved to cause the Modern pandemic is less well-understood.

The effect of ferritin-guided iron supplementation among Danish female first-time blood donors.

Background: The identification of blood donors at risk of developing low hemoglobin (Hb) and subsequent intervention is expected to reduce donation-induced iron deficiency and low Hb among blood donors. This study explores the effects of ferritin-guided iron supplementation for female first-time donors implemented in four of five administrative regions in Denmark.

Study Design And Methods: We included 45,919 female first-time donors in this study.

Sleep Problems in Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis: A Systematic Literature Review and Metaanalysis.

Objective: The aim of this systematic review and metaanalysis is to summarize evidence regarding the relationship between psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and sleep problems.

Methods: We identified 36 eligible studies-26 cross-sectional, 7 cohort, and 3 interventional studies-in PubMed and Embase.

Results: The prevalence of self-reported sleep problems in patients with PsA ranged from 30% to 85%.

Mapping bone microstructure trace element composition: Sr, Ba, Cu, and Pb in an early modern Danish skeleton.

Objectives: A Geographical Information System (GIS) approach enhances the acquisition, management, and analysis of trace element data from cortical bone. A high-resolution spatial dimension expands the research potential of Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) data from cortical bone cross-sections. The chemical characterization of hundreds of osteons, notably sequences of superimposed osteons, permits more exacting studies of individual life histories than is possible with analyses of bulk bone samples.

Reply to Barton et al: signatures of natural selection during the Black Death.

Barton . raise several statistical concerns regarding our original analyses that highlight the challenge of inferring natural selection using ancient genomic data. We show here that these concerns have limited impact on our original conclusions.

Emergence, continuity, and evolution of Yersinia pestis throughout medieval and early modern Denmark.

The historical epidemiology of plague is controversial due to the scarcity and ambiguity of available data. A common source of debate is the extent and pattern of plague re-emergence and local continuity in Europe during the 14th-18th century CE. Despite having a uniquely long history of plague (∼5,000 years), Scandinavia is relatively underrepresented in the historical archives.

Using SXRF and LA-ICP-TOFMS to Explore Evidence of Treatment and Physiological Responses to Leprosy in Medieval Denmark.

Leprosy can lead to blood depletion in Zn, Ca, Mg, and Fe and blood enrichment in Cu. In late medieval Europe, minerals were used to treat leprosy. Here, physiological responses to leprosy and possible evidence of treatment are investigated in enamel, dentine, and cementum of leprosy sufferers from medieval Denmark (n = 12) and early 20th century Romania (n = 2).

Paleodemography: From archaeology and skeletal age estimation to life in the past.

Much of paleodemography, an interdisciplinary field with strong ties to archaeology, among other disciplines, is oriented toward clarifying the life experiences of past people and why they changed over time. We focus on how human skeletons contribute to our understanding of preindustrial demographic regimes, including when changes took place that led to the world as we know it today. Problems with existing paleodemographic practices are highlighted, as are promising directions for future work.

Population trends and the transition to agriculture: Global processes as seen from North America.

Agriculture-specifically an intensification of the production of readily stored food and its distribution-has supported an increase in the global human population throughout the Holocene. Today, with greatly accelerated of growth during recent centuries, we have reached about 8 billion people. Human skeletal and archaeobotanical remains clarify what occurred over several millennia of profound societal and population change in small-scale societies once distributed across the North American midcontinent.

Smoking is associated with infection risk in healthy blood donors.

Objectives: There is a gap in knowledge about the effects of smoking on overall infection risk in otherwise healthy populations, possibly leading to underestimation of the dangers of smoking. The present study aimed to examine the association of smoking with the risk of infections in a large cohort of healthy blood donors.

Methods: This cohort study used questionnaire and health register data from 127 831 Danish blood donors.

Evolution of immune genes is associated with the Black Death.

Infectious diseases are among the strongest selective pressures driving human evolution. This includes the single greatest mortality event in recorded history, the first outbreak of the second pandemic of plague, commonly called the Black Death, which was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. This pandemic devastated Afro-Eurasia, killing up to 30-50% of the population.

Seroprevalence and infection fatality rate of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in Denmark: A nationwide serosurveillance study.

Background: Introduction of the Omicron variant caused a steep rise in SARS-CoV-2 infections despite high vaccination coverage in the Danish population. We used blood donor serosurveillance to estimate the percentage of recently infected residents in the similarly aged background population with no known comorbidity.

Methods: To detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies induced due to recent infection, and not vaccination, we assessed anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) immunoglobulin G (IgG) in blood donor samples.

Estimation of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Fatality Rate by Age and Comorbidity Status Using Antibody Screening of Blood Donors During the COVID-19 Epidemic in Denmark.

Background: Studies presenting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection fatality rate (IFR) for healthy individuals are warranted. We estimate IFR by age and comorbidity status using data from a large serosurvey among Danish blood donors and nationwide data on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mortality.

Methods: Danish blood donors aged 17-69 years donating blood October 2020-February 2021 were tested with a commercial SARS-CoV-2 total antibody assay.

Atopic respiratory diseases and IgE sensitization are associated with leukocyte subset concentrations in 14,440 blood donors.

Background And Aims: Allergic rhinitis (AR), allergic conjunctivitis (AC), and asthma are characterized by activation of the immune system. The aim of this study was to explore the long-term association between AR, AC, asthma, and specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and blood platelet and leukocyte differential counts.

Material And Methods: In the Danish Blood Donor Study, 14,440 participants from Central Denmark Region had platelet and leukocyte differential counts available and completed a questionnaire regarding AR, AC, and asthma.

Leprosy in medieval Denmark: Exploring life histories through a multi-tissue and multi-isotopic approach.

Objectives: By focusing on two Danish leprosaria (Naestved and Odense; 13th-16th c. CE) and using diet and origin as proxies, we follow a multi-isotopic approach to reconstruct life histories of patients and investigate how leprosy affected both institutionalized individuals and the medieval Danish community as a whole.

Materials And Methods: We combine archaeology, historical sources, biological anthropology, isotopic analyses (δ C, δ N, δ S, Sr/ Sr) and radiocarbon dating, and further analyze bones with different turnover rates (ribs and long bones).

Combinations of self-reported rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthma predicts IgE sensitization in more than 25,000 Danes.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR), allergic conjunctivitis (AC), and asthma composing multiple phenotypes and improved understanding of these phenotypes and their respective risk factors are needed.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to define the prevalence of AR, AC, and asthma and their association with allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) sensitization in a large cohort of blood donors and identify risk factors.

Methods: From the nationwide population-based Danish Blood Donor Study, 52,976 participants completed an electronic questionnaire including AR, AC, asthma, allergic predisposition, and childhood residence.

Estimation of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Fatality Rate by Real-time Antibody Screening of Blood Donors.

Background: The pandemic due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has tremendous consequences for our societies. Knowledge of the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 is needed to accurately monitor the spread of the epidemic and to calculate the infection fatality rate (IFR). These measures may help the authorities make informed decisions and adjust the current societal interventions.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection Fatality Rate Among Elderly Danes: A Cross-sectional Study on Retired Blood Donors.

Background: Although the vast majority of individuals succumbing to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are elderly, infection fatality rate (IFR) estimates for the age group ≥70 years are still scarce. To this end, we assessed SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among retired blood donors and combined it with national coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survey data to provide reliable population-based IFR estimates for this age group.

Methods: We identified 60 926 retired blood donors aged ≥70 years in the rosters of 3 regionwide Danish blood banks and invited them to fill in a questionnaire on COVID-19-related symptoms and behaviors.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Seroprevalence Survey Among 17 971 Healthcare and Administrative Personnel at Hospitals, Prehospital Services, and Specialist Practitioners in the Central Denmark Region.

Background: The objective of this study was to perform a seroprevalence survey on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among Danish healthcare workers to identify high-risk groups.

Methods: All healthcare workers and administrative personnel at the 7 hospitals, prehospital services, and specialist practitioner clinics in the Central Denmark Region were invited to be tested by a commercial SARS-CoV-2 total antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co, Ltd, Beijing, China).

Results: A total of 25 950 participants were invited.

Transition analysis applied to third molar development in a Danish population.

Introduction: Age assessment based on dental development is often requested in order to assess whether an individual is older or younger than 18 years of age. There are several statistical approaches to estimate age based upon third molar development. The aim of this study was to apply the principles of transition analysis (TA) to a Danish reference material and to evaluate whether it was indicated to include a model that allows for logistic non-linearity as opposed to applying a model only allowing for logistic linearity.

A millennium of population change in pre-modern Danish Ribe.

Denmark experienced major socioeconomic changes, including overall population growth, during the Viking, medieval and post-medieval periods from ca. AD 800 to 1800. Archaeological skeletons provide a unique perspective on the population structure of Ribe, a Danish town in Jutland, during the millennium that immediately precedes the industrialization of northern Europe.