Evaluating the effect of BCG vaccination for non-specific protection from infection in senior citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomised clinical trial.

Objectives: The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine may induce non-specific protection against unrelated infections. We tested the effect of BCG on the risk of infections among Danish senior citizens.

Methods: Single-blinded randomised controlled trial including 1676 volunteers >65 years.

Managing multi-functional peri-urban landscapes: Impacts of horse-keeping on water quality.

Eutrophication assessments in water management to quantify nutrient loads and identify mitigating measures seldom include the contribution from horse facilities. This may be due to lack of appropriate methods, limited resources, or the belief that the impact from horses is insignificant. However, the recreational horse sector is growing, predominantly in multi-functional peri-urban landscapes.

Nutrient losses over time via surface runoff and subsurface drainage from an agricultural field in northern Sweden.

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) losses, via both surface runoff and subsurface drainage water, were monitored in an agricultural field in northern Sweden for 32 yr. The objective was to determine losses of N and P in a long-term perspective in relation to meteorological factors and impacts of agricultural land use, with a focus on relative contributions of surface runoff and subsurface drainage water to N and P losses. In order to collect surface runoff water, an embankment was installed on three sides of the field, and the fourth side had an open ditch that drove runoff water to a measuring station.

A national study of health-related quality of life in patients with cancer of the base of the tongue compared to the general population and to patients with tonsillar carcinoma.

Background: This exploratory, registry-based, cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate patients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a subsite of oropharyngeal cancer: cancer of the base of the tongue (CBT).

Methods: CBT patients, treated with curative intent, completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires 15 months after diagnosis. The HRQOL of CBT patients was compared to reference scores from the general population and to that of tonsillar carcinoma patients.

Health-related quality of life among tonsillar carcinoma patients in Sweden in relation to treatment and comparison with quality of life among the population.

Background: The health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of tonsillar carcinoma survivors was explored to investigate any HRQOL differences associated with tumor stage and treatment. The survivors' HRQOL was also compared to reference scores from the population.

Methods: In this exploratory cross-sectional study patients were invited 15 months after their diagnosis and asked to answer two quality of life questionnaires (EORTC QLQ- C30, EORTC QLQ- HN35), 405 participated.

Effects of flunixin meglumine on postponement of ovulation in mares.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate use of flunixin meglumine as a treatment to postpone ovulation in mares, mare fertility after flunixin meglumine treatment during estrous cycles, and effects of flunixin meglumine on function of the corpus luteum after ovulation. ANIMALS 13 healthy mares. PROCEDURES A single-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study was conducted.

Toxicity Evaluation of a Novel Magnetic Resonance Imaging Marker, CoCl2-N-Acetylcysteine, in Rats.

C4 (cobalt dichloride-N-acetylcysteine [1% CoCl:2% NAC]) is a novel magnetic resonance imaging contrast marker that facilitates visualization of implanted radioactive seeds in cancer brachytherapy. We evaluated the toxicity of C4. Rats were assigned to control (0% CoCl:NAC), low-dose (0.

Balancing game universes for playing without sight or hearing.

Equal access to cultural activities is important for inclusion and computer gaming is one of the most common activities in digital culture. However, many people with impairments are excluded from participating. While parallel game universes (PGUs) provide a method to achieve equal access, the question is: how can a balanced collaborative real-time game be designed with the help of PGU for playing without sight or hearing? Balance is a central concept in game design and is important to avoid perceived cheating or disadvantages due to individual or environmental differences.

The Odense Child Cohort: aims, design, and cohort profile.

Background: The importance of the environment on the development of the fetus and infant throughout early life is increasingly recognised. To study such effects, biological samples and accurate data records are required. Based on multiple data collection from a healthy pregnant population, the Odense Childhood Cohort (OCC) study aims to provide new information about the environmental impact on child health by sequential follow-up to 18 years of age among children born between 2010 and 2012.

Associations between selected allergens, phthalates, nicotine, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and bedroom ventilation and clinically confirmed asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic dermatitis in preschool children.

Previous studies, often using data from questionnaires, have reported associations between various characteristics of indoor environments and allergic disease. The aim of this study has been to investigate possible associations between objectively assessed indoor environmental factors and clinically confirmed asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic dermatitis. The study is a cross-sectional case-control study of 500 children aged 3-5 years from Odense, Denmark.

Positive nickel patch tests in infants are of low clinical relevance and rarely reproducible.

Background: We have previously reported patch test reactivity to nickel sulphate in a cohort of unselected infants tested repeatedly at 3-18 months of age. A reproducible positive reaction at 12 and 18 months was selected as a sign of nickel sensitivity provided a patch test with an empty Finn chamber was negative. A reproducible positive reaction was seen in 8.

Intracranial tumours after external fractionated radiotherapy for pituitary adenomas in northern Sweden.

Unlabelled: We analysed the incidence of second primary intracranial tumours in patients with pituitary adenomas treated with radiotherapy compared to the risk of patients not exposed to irradiation and to the general population.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study includes 298 patients with pituitary adenomas that received radiotherapy to the pituitary from 1960 to 2007. The patients were recruited from the Cancer Registry of northern Sweden and the local radiotherapy-registry of the University Hospital in Umeå.

Pituitary adenomas in northern Sweden: a study on therapy choices and the risk of second primary tumours.

Objectives: To present the incidence of pituitary adenomas in northern Sweden and to determine whether the incidence of second primary tumours differs from the incidence in the general population or might be related to radiotherapy.

Design: A retrospective register study.

Patients: A total of 546 patients with pituitary adenomas were identified in the Cancer Registry of northern Sweden between 1958 and 2004.

Specific immunotherapy has long-term preventive effect of seasonal and perennial asthma: 10-year follow-up on the PAT study.

Background: 3-year subcutaneous specific immunotherapy (SIT) in children with seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis reduced the risk of developing asthma during treatment and 2 years after discontinuation of SIT (5-year follow-up) indicating long-term preventive effect of SIT.

Objective: We evaluated the long-term clinical effect and the preventive effect of developing asthma 7-years after termination of SIT.

Methods: One hundred and forty-seven subjects, aged 16-25 years with grass and/or birch pollen allergy was investigated 10 years after initiation of a 3-year course of SIT with standardized allergen extracts of grass and/or birch or no SIT respectively.

Patterns of sensitization in infants and its relation to atopic dermatitis.

Longitudinal studies in infant populations using validated diagnostic criteria of atopic dermatitis and sensitization are rarely reported, and disease definitions, testing procedures, age of study population and evaluation of objective markers vary between countries and studies. The objectives of this prospective birth cohort study were to investigate: (i) the prevalence, the cumulative incidence and the pattern of transient and persistent sensitization to common food- and aeroallergens in unselected infants, (ii) the association between sensitization and the development of atopic dermatitis (AD) and (iii) the association between selected perinatal risk factors with respect to AD and post-natal sensitization. During a one-year period a cohort of 562 unselected newborns was established and followed up at the age of 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months of age.

Five-year follow-up on the PAT study: specific immunotherapy and long-term prevention of asthma in children.

Background: A 3-year course of specific immunotherapy (SIT) in children with hay fever to grass and/or birch pollen significantly reduced the risk of developing asthma. To investigate the long-term preventive effect, we performed a follow up--2 years after termination of immunotherapy.

Methods: A total of 183 children, aged 6-14 years with grass and/or birch pollen allergy could be investigated 2 years after discontinuation of SIT or no treatment.

A comparison between criteria for diagnosing atopic eczema in infants.

Background: Epidemiological studies have shown different estimates of the frequency of atopic eczema (AE) in children. This may be explained by several factors including variations in the definition of AE, study design, age of study group, and the possibility of a changed perception of atopic diseases. The role of IgE sensitization in AE is a matter of debate.

Reactivity to patch tests with nickel sulfate and fragrance mix in infants.

The pattern of patch test reactivity to nickel sulfate and fragrance mix was studied with respect to patch test performance, reproducibility and clinical relevance in a population of unselected infants followed prospectively from birth to 18 months of age. TRUE Testtrade mark patches with nickel sulfate in 3 concentrations, 200, 66 and 22 microg/cm(2), and fragrance mix 430 microg/cm(2) were used. A likely case of nickel sensitivity was defined as a reproducible positive reaction with at least homogeneous erythema and palpable infiltration occurring at least 2x and present at both the 12 and 18 months follow-up.

Pollen immunotherapy reduces the development of asthma in children with seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis (the PAT-study).

Background: Children with allergic rhinitis are likely to develop asthma.

Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether specific immunotherapy can prevent the development of asthma and reduce bronchial hyperresponsiveness in children with seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

Methods: From 6 pediatric allergy centers, 205 children aged 6 to 14 years (mean age, 10.

Nurse-doctor interaction in teleconsultations between a hospital and a geriatric nursing home.

The aim of the present study was to elucidate both the interaction between a doctor and five registered nurses and the problems or tasks dealt with in teleconsultations between a university clinic for geriatric medicine and a nursing home for the elderly in northern Sweden. The interaction and problems or tasks were studied through analyses of video-recorded teleconsultations and through open interviews with the participating staff. The results indicated that teleconsultations between a geriatrician and the nurses at a nursing home for the elderly can be a useful tool for providing medical services.

Anaesthetic effects of pregnanolone in combination with allopregnanolone, thiopental, hexobarbital and flurazepam: an EEG study in the rat.

The anaesthetic interactions of the steroid, 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 beta-pregnan-20-one, in male rats were investigated in different fixed binary combinations with the steroid allopregnanolone (3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one), two barbiturates (thiopental and hexobarbital) and the benzodiazepine, flurazepam. Anaesthetic effects were determined using an EEG threshold method. Interactions were assessed using an isobolographic method.

Quantitation and localization of cycling tumor cells in pleomorphic adenomas and myoepitheliomas: an immunohistochemical analysis.

Previous investigations have suggested that in certain salivary gland tumors only nonluminal (myoepithelial-like) tumor cells proliferate and that this may have histogenetic implications; however, no quantitative assessment of the cycling component is available. We decided, therefore, to enumerate the cycling luminal and nonluminal cells in 15 pleomorphic adenomas and six myoepitheliomas by using an antibody to proliferating cell nuclear antigen. The mean percentages of cycling luminal and nonluminal cells in pleomorphic adenomas were 2.

Differentiating myoepithelial and acinar cells in rat neonatal parotid gland and histogenetic concepts for salivary gland tumors.

Histogenetic concepts for salivary gland tumors are predicated on the presence of reserve or undifferentiated cells in normal glands, presumably the source for cell renewal and induction of tumors. Developing rat parotid gland, which remains fetal-like at birth, provides the opportunity to study differentiation and observe whether cytologically undifferentiated cells do or do not have functional indicators of specific differentiation pathways. Immunohistochemistry and immuno-electron microscopy, when applied to parotid gland at birth, at 12 days of age and in the adult gland, indicate that commitment to myoepithelial cell differentiation occurs prior to development of structural changes characteristic of these cells.