A randomized placebo-controlled trial of convalescent plasma for adults hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Passive immunotherapy with convalescent plasma may be the only available agent during the early phases of a pandemic. Here, we report safety and efficacy of high-titer convalescent plasma for COVID-19 pneumonia. Double-blinded randomized multicenter placebo-controlled trial of adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia.

[Generalized seizure during placement of an axillary plexus block].

A young patient experienced a generalized seizure during the placement of an axillary plexus block. The mechanisms, essentially the presumed intravascular administration, which led to the local anesthetic toxicity as the cause of this event, are discussed. This case is an example of how visualization of the anatomy by ultrasound can give a false impression when certain details are not respected.

Reduced prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in ABO blood group O.

Identification of risk factors for contracting and developing serious illness following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is of paramount interest. Here, we performed a retrospective cohort analysis of all Danish individuals tested for SARS-CoV-2 between 27 February 2020 and 30 July 2020, with a known ABO and RhD blood group, to determine the influence of common blood groups on virus susceptibility. Distribution of blood groups was compared with data from nontested individuals.

The value of circulating microRNAs for early diagnosis of B-cell lymphoma: A case-control study on historical samples.

MicroRNAs are small regulatory RNAs that are deregulated in a wide variety of human cancers, including different types of B-cell lymphoma. Nevertheless, the feasibility of circulating microRNA for early diagnosis of B-cell lymphoma has not been established. To address the possibility of detecting specific circulating microRNAs years before a B-cell lymphoma is diagnosed, we studied the plasma expression of microRNA first in pre-treatment samples from patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and subsequently in repository samples from blood donors who later developed B-cell lymphomas.

Administration of platelets to ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm patients before open surgery: a prospective, single-blinded, randomised study.

Background: In patients undergoing open surgery for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA), survivors demonstrate a high platelet count, and proactive administration of platelets (and fresh frozen plasma) appears to influence mortality.

Objectives: This trial investigated the effect of platelets administered before transport to surgery.

Methods: In a prospective study design, patients were randomised to receive platelets (intervention; n = 61) or no platelets (control; n = 61) before transport to vascular surgery from 11 local hospitals.

HOXB4 Gene Expression Is Regulated by CDX2 in Intestinal Epithelial Cells.

The mammalian Caudal-related homeobox transcription factor 2 (CDX2) plays a key role in the homeobox regulatory network and is essential in regulating the expression of several homeobox (HOX) genes during embryonic development, particularly in the gut. Genome-wide CDX2 chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis and expression data from Caco2 cells also suggests a role for CDX2 in the regulation of HOXB4 gene expression in the intestinal epithelium. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether HOXB4 gene expression is regulated by CDX2 in the intestinal epithelium.

Routine noninvasive prenatal screening for fetal RHD in plasma of RhD-negative pregnant women-2 years of screening experience from Denmark.

Objective: Prenatal and postnatal RhD prophylaxis reduces the risk of RhD immunization in pregnancies of RhD-negative women. Based on the result from prenatal screening for the fetal RHD gene, prenatal RhD prophylaxis in Denmark is targeted to RhD-negative women who carry an RhD-positive fetus. Here, we present a 2-year evaluation of a nationwide prenatal RHD screening.

Multiple glacial refugia of the low-dispersal ground beetle Carabus irregularis: molecular data support predictions of species distribution models.

Classical glacial refugia such as the southern European peninsulas were important for species survival during glacial periods and acted as sources of post-glacial colonisation processes. Only recently, some studies have provided evidence for glacial refugia north of the southern European peninsulas. In the present study, we combined species distribution models (SDMs) with phylogeographic analyses (using mitochondrial DNA = mtDNA) to investigate if the cold-adapted, stenotopic and flightless ground beetle species, Carabus irregularis, survived the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) in classical and/or other refugia.

Report of the first nationally implemented clinical routine screening for fetal RHD in D- pregnant women to ascertain the requirement for antenatal RhD prophylaxis.

Background: A combination of antenatal and postnatal RhD prophylaxis is more effective in reducing D immunization in pregnancy than postnatal RhD prophylaxis alone. Based on the result from antenatal screening for the fetal RHD gene, antenatal RhD prophylaxis in Denmark is given only to those D- women who carry a D+ fetus. We present an evaluation of the first national clinical application of antenatal RHD screening.

Increased mortality among persons infected with hepatitis C virus.

Background & Aims: The long-term mortality of patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is not known; few studies have controlled for potential confounders, investigated how mortality changes with age at diagnosis and length of follow-up period, provided absolute risk estimates of death, or analyzed specific causes of death.

Methods: Using a Danish population, we compared mortality of a cohort of 10,991 HCV-infected patients with that of an age- and sex-matched cohort. Using regression analysis, we adjusted for municipality of residence, history of psychiatric illness, comorbidities, alcohol and drug abuse, and income.

Time trend of the prevalence of hepatitis E antibodies among farmers and blood donors: a potential zoonosis in Denmark.

Background: Antibody to hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV) is prevalent in Western countries, where clinical hepatitis E is rarely reported. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-HEV among Danish blood donors and Danish farmers. In addition, we compared the prevalence among 2 sets of serum samples obtained from blood donors 20 years apart.

Hepatitis A infection and vaccination among Danish blood donors.

When testing 466 Danish blood donors, of whom 60 reported to be vaccinated against hepatitis A, 55 (11.8%, 95% CI: 9.0-15.

Acute and late toxicity following adjuvant high-dose chemotherapy for high-risk primary operable breast cancer--a quality assessment study.

From 1996 to 2000, high-dose chemotherapy with haematopoietic stem-cell support was used as an adjuvant treatment strategy for management of primary high-risk breast cancer patients with more than five positive nodes. This single institution study included 52 women aged < or = 56 years with primary operable breast cancer and > or = 6 tumour-positive axillary lymph nodes. The treatment regimen consisted of at least three initial courses of FEC (5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide) followed by high-dose chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, thiotepa, carboplatin) supported by autologous peripheral blood stem-cell reinfusion.

Hepatitis B core antibodies in Danish blood donors: a surrogate marker of risk behaviour.

Background And Objectives: The aim of this work was to determine the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) among Danish blood donors and to correlate this with risk factors for blood-borne and sexually transmitted diseases.

Materials And Methods: During a 5-month period, 10 862 consecutive donors in the County of Funen were screened for anti-HBc, and repeat-reactive samples were confirmed by supplementary testing. Information on risk factors was assessed by questionnaire in 585 consecutive anti-HBc-negative blood donors and compared with information obtained from confirmed positive donors.

Acute and Late Toxicity Following Adjuvant High-Dose Chemotherapy for High-Risk Primary Operable Breast Cancer A Quality Assessment Study.

From 1996 to 2000, high-dose chemotherapy with haematopoietic stem-cell support was used as an adjuvant treatment strategy for management of primary high-risk breast cancer patients with more than five positive nodes. This single institution study included 52 women aged h 56 years with primary operable breast cancer and S 6 tumour-positive axillary lymph nodes. The treatment regimen consisted of at least three initial courses of FEC (5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide) followed by high-dose chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, thiotepa, carboplatin) supported by autologous peripheral blood stem-cell reinfusion.

[Mycobacterium avium complex infection in a patient with idiopathic CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia].

Primary cutaneous infections with MAC are extremely rare. We report a case of primary cutaneous infection with MAC, in a 69 year-old HIV-negative male. Idiopathic CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia was diagnosed.