Antifibrotic effect after low-dose imatinib mesylate treatment in patients with nephrogenic systemic fibrosis: an open-label non-randomized, uncontrolled clinical trial.

Background: Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is a disease affecting the connective tissue of the skin and internal organs in patients with renal failure. No effective treatments are available.

Objectives: To investigate if the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, imatinib mesylate was effective in patients with moderate to severe nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.

Atopic dermatitis and risk of skin cancer: a Danish nationwide cohort study (1977-2006).

Background: Recent data suggest a reduced risk of malignant melanoma (MM) among atopic dermatitis (AD) patients, but an increased risk of other skin cancers (including basal cell carcinoma [BCC] and squamous cell carcinoma [SCC]).

Objective: We examined the association between AD and skin cancers in a large cohort study in Denmark from 1977 through 2006.

Methods: Our cohort consisted of 31 330 AD patients recorded in the Danish National Patient Registry, including AD patients admitted to hospitals and specialized outpatient clinics.

Hip fracture history and risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer: a Danish population-based study.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with osteoporotic fractures, such as hip fracture. Sun exposure, the natural source of vitamin D, is the main risk factor for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). In this study, we examined the association between a history of hip fracture and risk of BCC and SCC.

Lasers or light sources for treating port-wine stains.

Background: Port-wine stains are birthmarks caused by malformations of blood vessels in the skin. Port-wine stains manifest themselves in infancy as a flat, red mark and do not regress spontaneously but may, if untreated, become darker and thicker in adult life. The profusion of various lasers and light sources makes it difficult to decide which equipment is the best for treating port-wine stains.

The analgesic effect of pregabalin in patients with chronic pain is reflected by changes in pharmaco-EEG spectral indices.

Aim: To identify electroencephalographic (EEG) biomarkers for the analgesic effect of pregabalin in patients with chronic visceral pain.

Methods: This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 31 patients suffering from visceral pain due to chronic pancreatitis. Patients received increasing doses of pregabalin (75mg-300mg twice a day) or matching placebo during 3 weeks of treatment.

Abatacept is a promising treatment for patients with disseminated morphea profunda: presentation of two cases.

Morphea profunda is a rare disease that mainly affects young women and often has a progressive course with physical and psychological sequelae. The skin becomes sclerotic after an initial inflammatory reaction and joint contractures can develop. The aetiology is unknown.

[Presentation of atypical bullous pyoderma gangrenosum].

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare, ulcerative skin disease. Atypical PG is characterized by rapidly evolving painful vesicles and enlarging bullae. Minor trauma or surgery is considered the cause in 25-50% of PG lesions.

Randomised clinical trial: pregabalin attenuates experimental visceral pain through sub-cortical mechanisms in patients with painful chronic pancreatitis.

Background: Pregabalin has a broad spectrum of analgesic and antihyperalgesic activity in both basic and clinical studies. However, its mechanisms and sites of action have yet to be determined in humans.

Aims: To assess the antinociceptive effect of pregabalin on experimental gut pain in patients with visceral hyperalgesia due to chronic pancreatitis and to reveal putative changes in corresponding central pain processing as assessed by evoked brain potentials.

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is found only among gadolinium-exposed patients with renal insufficiency: a case-control study from Denmark.

Background: Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a systemic fibrosing disease associated with exposure to gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) in patients with renal insufficiency.

Objectives: To report the prevalence of NSF in a well-defined cohort of patients with renal insufficiency exposed to GBCA, to investigate if GBCA-unexposed controls showed signs of NSF and to evaluate selected risk factors among NSF cases and GBCA-exposed controls.

Methods: A study among GBCA-exposed patients with renal insufficiency (n=565) was conducted to identify cases of NSF.

Is electrical brain activity a reliable biomarker for opioid analgesia in the gut?

The effects of morphine on brain potentials after experimental gut pain have never been investigated. This study explored whether multi-channel-evoked brain potentials (EP) and corresponding dipole sources in the brain would reflect the effects of morphine on experimental oesophageal pain. In a crossover study, the effects of oral morphine (30 mg) or corresponding placebo on pain from electrical oesophageal stimulation were tested in 12 healthy male volunteers.

Validated tools for evaluating opioid-induced bowel dysfunction.

Adverse effects on the gastrointestinal system are problematic for pain patients receiving opioid treatment. Opioid-induced bowel dysfunction (OIBD) is often misinterpreted as constipation as this is the most frequently reported symptom of OIBD; however, it actually comprises the whole gut with symptoms such as nausea, reflux, bloating, and anorexia being very prevalent as well. Validated methods to evaluate these symptoms are essential before the action of a drug on bowel dysfunction can be evaluated, but only the effect on the most frequently reported symptom, constipation, has been evaluated systematically.

[Increased morbidity risk in female athletes].

The female athlete triad refers to the interrelationships among energy availability, menstrual function and bone mineral density which may have clinical manifestations including eating disorders, functional hypothalamic amenorrhea and osteoporosis. The potentially irreversible consequences of these clinical conditions emphasize the critical need for prevention, early diagnosis and treatment. Nutritionally correct food ensuring optimal energy balance is a premise to improve these conditions.

Having children with multiple partners is associated with reduced risk of malignant melanoma: an observation seeking a plausible explanation.

Objective: We examined the association between the number of partners that mothers and fathers have children with and occurrence of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM).

Methods: We conducted a complete registry-based follow-up of all Danish mothers born after 1935 from the birth of their second child until CMM, death, emigration, or end of study in 2002. We conducted a similar follow-up of the corresponding fathers.

A pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of oral oxycodone in a human experimental pain model of hyperalgesia.

Background And Objective: Oxycodone is not as well characterized, with respect to its pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties, as other opioids. Moreover, the pharmacodynamic profile of oxycodone can be affected by changes in the pain system, e.g.

Registration in the Danish Regional Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Dermatology Database: completeness of registration and accuracy of key variables.

Objective: To validate a clinical database for nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) with the aim of monitoring and predicting the prognosis of NMSC treated by dermatologists in clinics in the central and north Denmark regions.

Methods: We assessed the completeness of registration of patients and follow-up visits, and positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), sensitivity, and specificity of registrations in the database. We used the Danish Pathology Registry (DPR) (n = 288) and a review of randomly selected medical records (n = 67) from two clinics as gold standards.

Systemic sclerosis and the risk of cancer: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

Background: Earlier studies reported an increased cancer risk among patients with systemic sclerosis. Study size limitations and paucity of population-based study designs may have resulted in imprecise risk estimates.

Objectives: To assess cancer risk among patients with systemic sclerosis in a nationwide follow-up study.

Different effects of morphine and oxycodone in experimentally evoked hyperalgesia: a human translational study.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT * Previous studies using short-lasting experimental pain stimulations in healthy volunteers have shown differences in opioid effects regarding visceral pain stimulations. However, these differences can be more pronounced in patients due to a sensitized pain system. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to mimic the clinical situation by investigating opioid effects on experimental pain in healthy volunteers after experimentally evoked hyperalgesia.

[Down's syndrome risk assessment in Denmark--secondary publication].

In 2004 The Danish National Board of Health introduced a new guideline regarding prenatal screening. All pregnant women are now offered a Down's syndrome risk assessment. The new guideline has had an impact on the number of invasive early prenatal procedures.

Two cases of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis after exposure to the macrocyclic compound gadobutrol.

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a disease with progressive fibrosis. We describe two cases of NSF after exposure to a macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) gadobutrol, which has been considered as a low-risk agent compared to linear GBCAs. The first case had chronic kidney disease (CKD) Stage 3 and was exposed to 17.

Trends in the incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer in Denmark 1978-2007: Rapid incidence increase among young Danish women.

Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common cancer among Caucasian populations worldwide, and incidence rates are increasing. However, NMSC data are not routinely collected by cancer registries, but Denmark has extensive registration of NMSC in two nationwide population-based registries. We assessed incidence trends of NMSC in Denmark from 1978 to 2007.

Impact of exercise on patients with depression and anxiety.

Background: Persons with common mental disorders are at risk of lowered physical activity.

Aims: To investigate if patients with depressive and/or anxiety disorders can achieve a level of physical activity meeting public health recommendations, increase their physical fitness and quality of life (QoL) through participation in a physical exercise programme.

Methods: In a non-blinded controlled study, 48 patients referred by private psychiatric clinics and private general practices were either treated in an intervention (n=27) or a control group (n=21).

[Intensified training at department of dermatology].

In recent years the Department of Dermatology at Aarhus Hospital has implemented a number of changes in order to improve the training of junior medical doctors. Some of the areas in focus are introduction, more responsibility, supervision, work planning and scheduling, conferences and weekly meetings for the specialists. The changes have a positive effect in many ways as training has become more efficient, motivation among staff has risen and the working environment has improved.