Efficacy of Blood Flow Restriction Exercise for Improving Lower Limb Muscle Strength and Function in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of low-load (LL) blood flow restriction exercise (BFRE) for improving lower limb muscle strength, muscle thickness and physical function in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). In a randomized sham-controlled trial, 21 participants (age ≥ 18 years, SCI duration ≥ 1 year, knee extensor strength grade 2-4, ASIA A-D) were randomized to either 45-min LL-BFRE (n = 11) or sham BFRE (n = 10) twice/week for 8 weeks. The exercise protocol consisted of four sets (30 × 15 × 15 × 15 repetitions) of unilateral seated leg extensions and leg curls at 30%-40% of 1RM performed with pneumatic cuffs applied proximally on the trained limb and inflated to 40% of total arterial occlusion pressure (BFRE) or non-inflated (sham exercise).

Danish and Swedish National Data Collections for Cancer - Solutions for Radiotherapy.

Collecting large amounts of radiotherapy (RT) data from clinical systems is known to be a challenging task. Still, data collections outside the original RT systems are needed to follow-up on the quality of cancer care and to improve RT. This paper aims to describe how RT data is collected nationally in Denmark and Sweden for this purpose and gives an overview of the stored information in both countries' national data sources.

Prediction of large-for-gestational-age at birth using fetal biometry in type 1 and type 2 diabetes: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To compare ultrasound-assessed fetal head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), HC/AC ratio, and estimated fetal weight (EFW) in prediction of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) at birth in pregnancies affected by type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 (T2DM) diabetes.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all women with T1DM and T2DM giving birth to singletons between 2010 and 2019 at Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark. Ultrasound scans were performed at 16, 20, 28 and 34 weeks of pregnancy.

Safety and efficacy of blood flow restriction exercise in individuals with neurological disorders: A systematic review.

Objectives: This systematic review evaluated the safety and efficacy of blood flow restriction exercise (BFRE) on skeletal muscle size, strength, and functional performance in individuals with neurological disorders (ND).

Methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase. Two researchers independently assessed eligibility and performed data extraction and quality assessments.

Case of primary low-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin.

A man presents a 4 mm skin tumour at his general practitioner. The tumour is removed on the suspicion of a dermatofibroma. Important differential diagnoses are sebaceous neoplasms, melanomas, Merkel cell carcinomas and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, and metastases of neuroendocrine neoplasms from the gut or lung.

A national repository of complete radiotherapy plans: design, Results, and experiences.

Background: Previously, many radiotherapy (RT) trials were based on a few selected dose measures. Many research questions, however, rely on access to the complete dose information. To support such access, a national RT plan database was created.

Short-term prognosis of changes in plasma potassium following an episode of hyperkalaemia in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background/aim: There is an increasing prevalence of chronic heart failure (HF). It is well known that patients with HF and disturbances in the potassium level have an increased mortality risk. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognosis of a second plasma-potassium measurement after an episode with hyperkalaemia on short-term mortality in patients with chronic HF.

EHealth for Sexual Assault: A Systematic Scoping Review.

Providing efficient psychosocial support for survivors of sexual assault is of critical societal importance. Around the globe, technology-based solutions (eHealth) are increasingly being used to accomplish this task, especially following COVID-19. Despite increased importance and reliance on eHealth for sexual assault, minimal efforts have been made to systematically synthesize research in this area.

Predicting Progression, Recurrence, and Survival in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Single Center Analysis of 174 Patients.

Introduction: The European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society, ENETS, reports variables of prognostic significance in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET). However, studies have short follow-ups, and the optimal treatment remains controversial. We aimed to determine overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) after conservative treatment, and recurrence-free survival (RFS) after surgery and further to find predictors of aggressive PNET behavior to support treatment decisions.

Appropriateness of referrals from primary care for lumbar MRI.

Background: International guidelines do not recommend routine imaging, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and seek to guide clinicians only to refer for imaging based on specific indications. Despite this, several studies show an increase in the use of MRI among patients with low back pain (LBP) and an imbalance between appropriate versus inappropriate use of MRI for LBP. This study aimed to investigate to what extent referrals from general practice for lumbar MRI complied with clinical guideline recommendations in a Danish setting, contributing to the understanding and approaches to lumbar MRI for all clinicians managing LBP in the primary sector.

Efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for improving lower limb function in individuals with neurological disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized sham-controlled trials.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation vs sham stimulation on improving lower-limb functional outcomes in individuals with neurological disorders.

Data Sources: PubMed, CINAHL, Embase and Scopus databases were searched from inception to 31 March 2020 to identify papers (n = 1,198). Two researchers independently reviewed studies for eligibility.

Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on recovery in lower limb muscle strength and gait function following spinal cord injury: a randomized controlled trial.

Study Design: Randomized sham-controlled clinical trial.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) compared to sham stimulation, on the development of lower limb muscle strength and gait function during rehabilitation of spinal cord injury (SCI).

Setting: SCI rehabilitation hospital in Viborg, Denmark.

Categorisation of lumbar spine MRI referrals in Denmark as compliant or non-compliant to international imaging guidelines: an inter-rater reliability study.

Background: Managing low back pain (LBP) often involves MRI despite the fact that international guidelines do not recommend routine imaging. To allow us to explore the topic and use this knowledge in further research, a reliable method to review the MRI referrals is needed. Consequently, this study aimed to assess the inter-rater reliability of a method evaluating lumbar spine MRI referrals' appropriateness.

Feasibility and safety of 4 weeks of blood flow-restricted exercise in an individual with tetraplegia and known autonomic dysreflexia: a case report.

Introduction: Blood flow-restricted exercise (BFRE) appears to hold considerable potential in spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation, due to its ability to induce beneficial functional changes and morphological alterations from low-intensity, low-load exercise. However, it remains unclear if this training approach is feasible and safe in individuals with autonomic dysreflexia (AD).

Case Presentation: A 23-year-old male with traumatic, cervical (C6), motor-complete (AIS: B) SCI and diagnosed AD completed eight sessions of BFRE for the upper extremities over 4 weeks.

[Neuromodulation in spinal cord injury rehabilitation].

Suffering a spinal cord injury is a devastating event often entailing a significant and demanding inpatient rehabilitation regime to improve the level of functioning post-injury. Neuromodulation has been applied in spinal cord injury rehabilitation for decades and carries promise for ameliorating the chronic complications associated with lesions of the spinal cord. Conventional methods of rehabilitation may be augmented by different modes of neuromodulation offering better rehabilitation outcomes, and combining techniques not currently in clinical use may convey additional benefits.

Feasibility of predicting improvements in motor function following SCI using the SCAR outcome measure: a retrospective study.

Study Design: A retrospective study.

Objectives: To assess improvement in volitional motor function after SCI, using The Spinal Cord Ability Ruler (SCAR) as a metric and investigate participant characteristics and recovery of motor functioning.

Setting: A highly-specialized SCI rehabilitation unit (Spinal Cord Injury Centre of Western Denmark, SCIWDK).

[Biomarkers of cardiovascular disease in patients with Type 2 diabetes].

Patients with Type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, there exists a considerable heterogeneity in cardiovascular risk in this patient population. A heterogeneity, which may escape the predictive capability of established clinical risk scores.

Mindfulness is positively related to socioeconomic job status and income and independently predicts mental distress in a long-term perspective: Danish validation studies of the Five-Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire.

The Five Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) measures 5 factor-analytically derived mindfulness aspects (Observe, Describe, Non-Judgment, Non-Reactivity, and Acting with Awareness) and is commonly used as an indicator of mindfulness in population surveys and studies of mindfulness-based interventions (MBI). Outside MBI, FFMQ scores are hypothesized to reflect relatively stable human dispositions of importance to psychological health. However, the long-term test-retest reliability of FFMQ scores is virtually untested and it remains unknown whether FFMQ scores predict psychological health after controlling for standardized socioeconomic status classifications.

Pain assessment in hospitalized spinal cord injured patients - a controlled cross-sectional study.

Background and aims Following spinal cord injury (SCI), a majority of individuals may develop neuropathic pain, which further reduces quality of life. Pain is difficult to treat by medication; in fact, medication overuse may aggravate neuropathic pain in SCI by causing central sensitization (CS): a mechanism of hyper-reactivity of the dorsal horn neurons in the spinal cord with amplified cerebral pain response. The purpose of this study was to examine the presence of neuropathic pain and CS above the spinal lesion in SCI, and to investigate whether injury characteristics or medication influenced pain response.

[Intersection syndrome in a tetraplegic hand cyclist].

Wrist tendinopathies are common overuse injuries in athletes and often associated with activities such as rowing, riding or racket sports. Correctly diagnosing the various tendinopathies is essential for management of cases refractory to initial treatment. Easily mistaken for de Quervain's tenosynovitis, the intersection syndrome may be effectively managed by simple taping negating the need for corticosteroid injection and tendon release surgery.

Whiplash injury results in sustained impairments of cervical muscle function: A one-year prospective, controlled study.

Objective: To investigate the temporal development of neck muscle function following whiplash injuries.

Design: A 1-year prospective, controlled observational study.

Subjects: A total of 141 individuals exposed to whiplash injury due to rear-end vehicle collisions and 40 age- and sex-matched controls with acute ankle distortion.

DBCG hypo trial validation of radiotherapy parameters from a national data bank versus manual reporting.

Introduction: The current study evaluates the data quality achievable using a national data bank for reporting radiotherapy parameters relative to the classical manual reporting method of selected parameters.

Methods: The data comparison is based on 1522 Danish patients of the DBCG hypo trial with data stored in the Danish national radiotherapy data bank. In line with standard DBCG trial practice selected parameters were also reported manually to the DBCG database.

Plasma levels of MASP-1, MASP-3 and MAp44 in patients with type 2 diabetes: influence of glycaemic control, body composition and polymorphisms in the MASP1 gene.

Mounting evidence indicates that adverse activation of the complement system plays a role in the development of diabetic vascular complications. Plasma levels of the complement proteins mannan-binding lectin (MBL) and its associated serine proteases (MASP-1 and MASP-2) are elevated in diabetes. We hypothesized that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the MASP1 gene may contribute to altered plasma levels of the belonging gene products; MASP-1, MASP-3 and mannan-binding lectin-associated protein of 44 kDa (MAp44) in patients with type 2 diabetes.