Effects of Off-Season Heavy-Load Resistance Training on Lower Limb Mechanical Muscle Function and Physical Performance in Elite Female Team Handball Players.

: Team handball involves a high number of rapid and forceful muscle actions. Progressive heavy-load resistance training is known to enhance mechanical muscle function; however, its transfer into functional performance in team handball athletes remains largely unknown. The current study aimed to analyze the effects of eight weeks undulating heavy-load resistance training on lower limb mechanical muscle function and sports-specific performance in elite female team handball players.

Opportunities and Challenges of Chatbots in Ophthalmology: A Narrative Review.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly influential in ophthalmology, particularly through advancements in machine learning, deep learning, robotics, neural networks, and natural language processing (NLP). Among these, NLP-based chatbots are the most readily accessible and are driven by AI-based large language models (LLMs). These chatbots have facilitated new research avenues and have gained traction in both clinical and surgical applications in ophthalmology.

Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Sputum Eosinophils Are Complementary Tools for Diagnosing Occupational Asthma.

Background: Exposure-related changes in exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and sputum eosinophils have not been thoroughly compared in the investigation of occupational asthma.

Objective: This study aimed at comparing the accuracies of the changes in FeNO concentrations and sputum eosinophil counts in identifying asthmatic reactions induced by occupational agents during specific inhalation challenges (SICs).

Methods: This retrospective multicenter study included 321 subjects who completed an assessment of FeNO and sputum eosinophils before and 24 h after SICs with various occupational agents, of whom 156 showed a positive result.

The use and impact of prehospital blood lactate measurements in acute non-traumatic patients: a systematic review.

Background: The prehospital use of blood lactate measurements is increasing. However, the test's benefits have not been methodically evaluated in non-trauma patients. This study had three aims: (1) To assess the evidence of prehospital blood lactate measurements' prognostic value in non-trauma patients, (2) to investigate to what extent the test changed early patient treatment, and (3) to evaluate the healthcare personnel's attitude towards the test.

The association between different timeframes of air pollution exposure and COVID-19 incidence, morbidity and mortality in German counties in 2020.

Background: Ambient air pollution is a known risk factor for several chronic health conditions, including pulmonary dysfunction. In recent years, studies have shown a positive association between exposure to air pollutants and the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of a COVID-19 infection, however the time period for which air pollution exposure is most relevant for the COVID-19 outcome is still not defined. The aim of this study was to analyze the difference in association when varying the time period of air pollution exposure considered on COVID-19 infection within the same cohort during the first wave of the pandemic in 2020.

The effect of coronary artery calcifications and radiotherapy on the risk of coronary artery disease in high-risk breast cancer patients in the DBCG RT-Nation cohort.

Background And Purpose: Radiotherapy improves outcomes for breast cancer. However, prior studies have correlated the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) to the mean heart dose (MHD), mean dose to the left anterior descending artery (LAD_mean) and the left ventricle V5Gy (LV5). Other studies showed an increased risk of CAD for patients with pronounced coronary artery calcification (CAC) at the time of radiotherapy.

Efficacy, tolerability, and safety of xanomeline-trospium chloride for schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The United States Food and Drug Administration approved xanomeline-trospium combination for schizophrenia on September-26-2024. We conducted a PRISMA 2020-compliant systematic review with random-effects meta-analysis on the efficacy and safety of xanomeline-trospium in randomized controlled trials in patients with schizophrenia (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, PsycINFO, October-01-2024). Co-primary outcomes were Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score (standardized mean difference=SMD), and all-cause discontinuation (risk ratio=RR).

Unsupervised clustering of a deeply phenotyped cohort of adults with idiopathic generalized epilepsy.

Objective: Idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) in adults comprise juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE), and epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures alone (EGTCS), which are defined by their seizure types but also cover a broad endophenotype of symptoms. Controversy exists on whether adult IGE is a group of distinct diseases or a clinical spectrum of one disease. Here, we used a deeply phenotyped cohort to test the hypothesis that IGE comprises three distinct clinical entities.

Hope is Not a Strategy: Key Lessons from COVID-19 for Future Health Crises.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global economies, social structures, and public health systems. However, Denmark stood out as an exception, maintaining steady life expectancy during this period. This raises important questions about the factors that strengthened the Danish healthcare system and society against the pandemic's challenges.

Identifying the population to be targeted in a lung cancer screening programme in Denmark.

Introduction: We assessed the impact of recruitment criteria on lung cancer detection in a future Danish screening programme with low-dose CT.

Methods: We combined data from two Danish population-based health examination surveys with eligibility criteria from seven randomised controlled trials on lung cancer screening. Incident lung cancers were identified by linkage with the National Pathology Data Bank (Patobank).

An update on access to novel treatment for metastatic melanoma in Europe - A 2024 survey of the European melanoma registry and the European association of dermato-oncology.

Advances in cancer treatments have significantly improved their effectiveness, yet access to first-line therapies remains limited. A 2017 survey revealed that over 25 % of metastatic melanoma patients in Europe lacked access to recommended therapies. To address this, the European Association of Dermato-Oncology and the European Melanoma Registry conducted a follow-up study on the registration and reimbursement of first-line treatments.

Attendance rate and perceived relevance related to type, content, and delivery of current rehabilitation programmes after surgical resection for non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Surgical resection is the preferred treatment for localised non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Rehabilitation is central in the management of the associated impaired quality of life, high symptom burden, deconditioning, and social-existential vulnerability. Yet, optimal content and delivery of rehabilitation are not yet defined.

Pulmonologists-level lung cancer detection based on standard blood test results and smoking status using an explainable machine learning approach.

Lung cancer (LC) remains the primary cause of cancer-related mortality, largely due to late-stage diagnoses. Effective strategies for early detection are therefore of paramount importance. In recent years, machine learning (ML) has demonstrated considerable potential in healthcare by facilitating the detection of various diseases.

YKL-40, cardiovascular events, and mortality in individuals recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes: A Danish cohort study.

Aims: We investigated the association of the inflammatory biomarker YKL-40 with cardiovascular events (CVEs) and mortality in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We followed 11,346 individuals recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for up to 14 years. Baseline YKL-40 levels (measured in 9,010 individuals) were grouped into percentiles (0-33 %, 34-66 %, 67-90 %, and 91-100 %) and analyzed continuously (per 1 SD log increment), with comparisons to CRP (measured in 9,644 individuals).

Patient reported outcomes after laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to establish more evidence to provide the clinicians with a greater knowledge on the patient reported outcomes and quality of life (QoL) after laparoscopic appendectomy (LA).

Method: 105 patients who had undergone LA for acute appendicitis regardless of severity, were included prospectively at Odense University Hospital, Svendborg. The patient reported consequence of surgery were assessed through the validated electronic survey from European-QoL questionnaire (5Q-5D-5L) including a self-reported VAS-score (0-100).

The extent of physical and psychological workplace violence experienced by prehospital personnel in Denmark: a survey.

Background: Workplace violence against healthcare workers has been a well-known problem for more than 40 years. This problem is also relevant for prehospital personnel who are at risk of physical and/or psychological violence during work. Violence and threats of violence can have physical and psychological consequences, including personal challenges in their everyday life, use of sick days, reports, and the need for professional help.

Blood-based epigenetic biomarkers associated with incident chronic kidney disease in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

There is an increasing need for new biomarkers improving prediction of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). We aimed to identify blood-based epigenetic biomarkers associated with incident CKD and develop a methylation risk score (MRS) predicting CKD in newlydiagnosed individuals with T2D. DNA methylation was analysed epigenome-wide in blood from 487 newly-diagnosed individuals with T2D, of whom 88 developed CKD during 11.

Fertility and Sexual Function in Males with Hirschsprung's Disease: A Nordic Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: The aim was to assess fertility, sexual function and sexual quality of life in males with Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) in the Nordic countries with a cross-sectional study using self-reported validated questionnaires.

Summary Background Data: Data on fertility and sexual function in males with HSCR are limited.

Methods: This multi-center study targeted all males born between 1970-2003 who underwent pull-through surgery at a pediatric surgery center in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, or Finland.

Predicting Persistent Reduced Physical Performance in Adults 65+ in Emergency Departments: A Temporal Validation.

Background And Purpose: Targeted interventions to maintain physical performance in older adults are important. We aimed to validate an existing 4-item prediction model and, if necessary, develop a new model for early identification of adults aged 65+ with persistent reduced physical performance.

Methods: A temporal validation study on adults aged 65+ admitted to the emergency department for medical reasons and who performed ≤8 repetitions in the 30-second chair-stand test (30s-CST) within the first 48 hours of admission.

Patterns and predictors of multiple sclerosis phenotype transition.

Currently, there are limited therapeutic options for patients with non-active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Therefore, real-world studies have investigated differences between patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, non-active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis and active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Here, we explore patterns and predictors of transitioning between these phenotypes.

Implementation and evaluation of Pressurized IntraThoracic Aerosol Chemotherapy (PITAC) for the treatment of patients with malignant pleural effusion: study protocol for the Danish phase-I PITAC-OPC5 study.

Objectives: Pressurized IntraThoracic Aerosol Chemotherapy (PITAC) is a minimally invasive cancer-directed therapy for patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) and/or pleural metastasis (PLM). PITAC is based on Pressurized IntraPeritoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy, which has proven to be safe and feasible. Since 2012, 47 PITACs have been published, and prospective data on feasibility, safety and potential local response are lacking.

Pressurized IntraThoracic Aerosol Chemotherapy (PITAC) directed therapy of patients with malignant pleural effusion and pleural metastasis.

Objectives: Pressurized IntraThoracic Aerosol Chemotherapy (PITAC) has been suggested as a new therapy for patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) and/or pleural metastasis (PLM). The patients have a poor prognosis with a median survival of 3 to 12 months. We present feasibility, patient safety, and cytological/histological response assessment in PITAC-treated patients with MPE and/or PLM.

Healthcare professionals' experiences of the change to telephone consultations in cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic: An explorative qualitative study.

Objective: During the COVID-19 pandemic, changes were made in cancer care including increased use of teleconsultations (TCs) and restrictions for relatives to attend in-person appointments at the outpatient clinics. This study aimed to provide in-depth information on healthcare professionals' experiences of TC and the limited access for relatives during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Methods: This qualitative study was conducted at an oncological department responsible for oncological care of all patients with cancer in one of five health regions in Denmark.