Recorded gonorrhoea rates in Denmark, 1900-2010: the impact of clinical testing activity and laboratory diagnostic procedures.

Objectives: Assessment of the relations between recorded gonorrhoea rates and clinical testing activity and disposable diagnostic tests.

Methods: In Denmark, two sources of information on the epidemiology of gonorrhoea are available: (1) a mandatory clinical notification system (since 1867) comprising summary information about geographic distribution, season, age group and gender; in 1994, more detailed anonymous individualised epidemiological information was included; (2) a voluntary countrywide laboratory surveillance system for culture-confirmed cases (since 1957) comprising information about patient's age and gender, infected anatomical sites and medical setting attended.

Results: Both surveillance systems showed marked simultaneous changes in gonorrhoea rates, although periodically considerable under-reporting or under-diagnosing was demonstrated.

Chlamydia pneumoniae IgG and IgA antibody titers and prognosis in patients with coronary heart disease: results from the CLARICOR trial.

The association observed between coronary heart disease (CHD) and Chlamydia (Chlamydophila) pneumoniae antibodies prompted, during the 1990s, several primary and secondary prevention trials with various antibiotics. In our CLARICOR trial, a randomized placebo-controlled trial in 4372 patients with stable CHD, a brief clarithromycin regimen was followed, unexpectedly, by increased long-term mortality. We now compare C.

Statin treatment prevents increased cardiovascular and all-cause mortality associated with clarithromycin in patients with stable coronary heart disease.

In the CLARICOR trial, significantly increased cardiovascular (CV) and all-cause mortality in stable patients with coronary heart disease were observed after a short course of clarithromycin. We report on the impact of statin treatment at entry on the CV and all-cause mortality. The multicenter CLARICOR trial randomized patients to oral clarithromycin (500 mg daily; n = 2172) versus matching placebo (daily; n = 2201) for 2 weeks.

Laboratory surveillance of urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis infections in Denmark 1988-2007.

In 1994 laboratory reporting of urogenital chlamydia was integrated in the countrywide notification system for infectious diseases. Previously (1988-1993), laboratory confirmed cases had been reported on a voluntary basis. The applied laboratory technologies changed significantly: in 1988, 48% of cases were diagnosed by culture; in 1994, 88% by enzyme immunoassays; and since 2004 more than 99% by nucleic acid amplification tests.

High serum YKL-40 concentration is associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Aims: Macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques secrete YKL-40. We tested the hypothesis if high serum YKL-40 concentration predicts coronary events and death of patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods And Results: During the 2.

Clarithromycin for 2 weeks for stable coronary heart disease: 6-year follow-up of the CLARICOR randomized trial and updated meta-analysis of antibiotics for coronary heart disease.

Objectives: We have reported increased 2.6-year mortality in clarithromycin- versus placebo-exposed stable coronary heart disease patients, but meta-analysis of randomized trials in coronary heart disease patients showed no significant effect of antibiotics on mortality. Here we report the 6-year mortality of clarithromycin- versus placebo-exposed patients and updated meta-analyses.

Randomised placebo controlled multicentre trial to assess short term clarithromycin for patients with stable coronary heart disease: CLARICOR trial.

Objective: To determine if the macrolide clarithromycin affects mortality and cardiovascular morbidity in patients with stable coronary heart disease.

Design: Centrally randomised multicentre trial. All parties at all stages were blinded.

Plasmid-mediated resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains isolated from female sex workers in North Sumatra, Indonesia, 1996.

Background: Sentinel surveillance of the antimicrobial resistance of strains isolated from female sex workers in North Sumatra, Indonesia, has been carried out since 1975. In 1996 a high prevalence of strains with plasmid-mediated resistance to tetracycline and penicillin was observed.

Goal: The goal was to further characterize strains isolated from a core group of patients in Indonesia with sexually transmitted infections in 1996.

Neisseria meningitidis phenotypic markers and septicaemia, disease progress and case-fatality rate of meningococcal disease: a 20-year population-based historical follow-up study in a Danish county.

The incidence rate (IR) and case-fatality rate (CFR) of meningococcal disease increased during the late 1980s and early 1990s in North Jutland County, Denmark. We examined the hypothesis that phenotypic markers of Neisseria meningitidis are predictors of septicaemia with or without meningitis, rapid disease progress and fatal outcome of meningococcal disease and we studied whether changes in IR and CFR over time might be related to emergence or spread of certain phenotypes. This follow-up study was based on a complete registration of 413 cases of meningococcal disease in North Jutland County during 1980-99.

Performance of three microimmunofluorescence assays for detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae immunoglobulin M, G, and A antibodies.

The microimmunofluorescence (MIF) test is considered the "gold standard" for laboratory diagnosis of acute and chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection. The performance of a MIF test based on C. pneumoniae antigen from Washington Research Foundation (WRF) was compared with those of assays from Labsystems (LAB) and MRL Diagnostics (MRL) by investigation of sera from three groups of patients: group I, 83 sera from 28 patients with atypical pneumonia; group II, 37 sera from 16 patients with acute C.

[Fever and skin hemorrhages in children--is it meningococcal disease?].

Introduction: Our main aims were to establish criteria for early distinction between meningococcal disease and other conditions with similar clinical features, and to identify other causes of haemorrhagic rashes accompanied by fever.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study comprised 264 infants and children hospitalised with fever and skin haemorrhages.

Results: We identified an aetiological agent in 28%: 15% had meningococcal disease, 2% another invasive bacterial infection, 7% enterovirus infection, and 4% adenovirus infection.