Branchial cleft anomalies: accuracy of pre-operative diagnosis, clinical presentation and management.

Objective: To examine the accuracy of the pre-operative diagnosis of branchial cleft anomalies, and also to describe their occurrence, clinical presentation and management.

Methods: Retrospective review of the records of patients diagnosed with a branchial cleft anomaly between 1997 and 2006.

Results: One hundred and twenty-six patients were included.

Recurrence of cutaneous malignant melanoma after more than 20 years.

Late recurrence 10 years or more after treatment for localised cutaneous malignant melanoma is unusual. We present three cases with recurrences of cutaneous melanoma after 20 years or more. Two patients presented with a nodal recurrence and one patient with systemic disease.

The polymorphism IL-1beta T-31C is associated with a longer overall survival in patients with multiple myeloma undergoing auto-SCT.

Proinflammatory cytokines are suspected to play a role in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM). Therefore, it is possible that inborn genetic variations leading to a modified expression of these cytokines will influence the outcome for these patients. We investigated 348 MM patients undergoing high-dose melphalan treatment followed by Auto-SCT and examined the influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in the inflammatory response.

Acute epiglottitis: epidemiology, clinical presentation, management and outcome.

Aims: To describe the incidence trends, clinical presentation, management and outcome of acute epiglottitis in a Danish population after the introduction of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine.

Methods: Retrospective review of the health records of all patients discharged with a diagnosis of acute epiglottitis from the otolaryngology department, Roskilde County Hospital, Denmark, from 1996 to 2005.

Results: One infant and 34 adults were identified.

Knee arthrodesis with the Sheffield external ring fixator: fusion in 6 of 10 consecutive patients.

Background: Knee arthrodesis with external fixation (XF) is a possible salvage procedure for infected total knee arthroplasties (TKA). We report the outcome in 10 patients who underwent arthrodesis with the Sheffield Ring Fixator.

Patients And Methods: The patients had primary arthrosis in 8 cases; 2 cases were due to rheumatoid arthritis and sclerodermia.

Arthrodesis with external fixation in the unstable or misaligned Charcot ankle in patients with diabetes mellitus.

The unstable or misaligned Charcot ankle with or without chronic foot ulceration is a major clinical challenge. When it cannot be accommodated with an ankle foot orthosis, surgical treatment is indicated in order to avoid leg amputation. This requires extensive soft tissue release and bony resection to realign the foot and arthrodesis with internal or external fixation.

Bone mineral density in patients with growth hormone deficiency: does a gender difference exist?

Objective: The aim of the study was to clarify whether a gender difference exists with respect to bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) in adult patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD).

Design: A case-control design.

Methods: Blood sampling for measurements of calcium, phosphate, creatinine, PTH, vitamin D, IGF-1, markers of bone formation and bone resorption, and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), to determine BMD and BMC of the lumbar spine, hip, distal arm and total body, were performed in 34 patients with GHD (19 females) and 34 sex-, age- and weight-matched healthy control subjects.

Routine use of FDG-PET scans in melanoma patients with positive sentinel node biopsy.

Purpose: Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning is an efficient and well-known diagnostic tool in various malignant disorders. However, the utility of PET as a clinical routine screening procedure for the detection of subclinical metastases in stage III melanoma patients has not yet been established.

Methods: Thirty-three patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma and subclinical lymph node metastases diagnosed by sentinel node biopsy (SNB) were submitted to( 18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D: -glucose (FDG) whole-body PET scanning within 100 days after SNB and wide local excision.

Technology evaluation: denosumab, Amgen.

Amgen, as part of its program targeting the RANK/RANKL/ osteoprotegerin pathway, is developing denosumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody, delivered subcutaneously, targeting the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand, for the potential treatment of diseases associated with bone loss, such as osteoporosis and bone metastases. The antibody is currently undergoing phase III clinical trials.

Skip inflammation of the appendiceal orifice: a prospective endoscopic study.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the incidence of discontinuous inflammation of the appendiceal orifice in patients undergoing colonoscopy for diagnosis or surveillance of colonic disease.

Material And Methods: Consecutive and unselected patients subjected to colonoscopy over a 3-year period were included in a prospective study. Biopsies were taken within 2 cm of the orifice of the appendix, from the caecum and from predefined colonic segments.

Lower urinary tract symptoms after total and subtotal hysterectomy: results of a randomized controlled trial.

The aim of this Danish multicenter trial was to compare the proportion of women with lower urinary tract symptoms after total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) and subtotal abdominal hysterectomy (SAH) for benign uterine disorders. A total of 319 women were randomized to TAH (n = 158) or SAH (n = 161). Women were followed up for 1 year by strict data collection procedures, including postal questionnaires.

Demonstration by PCR and DNA sequencing of Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum as a cause of joint infection and isolation of the same organism from a surface swab specimen from the patient.

A case of infectious arthritis following arthroscopy is described. Real-time PCR, using universal bacterial primers targeting the 16S rRNA gene, and subsequent DNA sequencing of the PCR product demonstrated the presence of DNA from Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum in the synovial fluid from the affected knee. Culture from a surface swab from the site of purulent discharge from the knee was initially reported as growing normal skin microbiota.

Smoking habits and attitudes to smoking 2001 among hospital staff at a Danish hospital--comparison with a similar study 1999.

Background: Smoking is the main preventable cause of lifestyle-related diseases and smoking cessation interventions have shown to be cost-effective. It is important to know the smoking habits and attitudes towards smoking among the hospital staff because of the impact the staff have on the patients. Two studies were conducted to attain this information.

Total versus subtotal hysterectomy: an observational study with one-year follow-up.

The aim of this study was to compare total and subtotal abdominal hysterectomy for benign indications, with regard to urinary incontinence, postoperative complications, quality of life (SF-36), constipation, prolapse, satisfaction with sexual life, and pelvic pain at 1-year postoperative. Eighty women chose total and 105 women chose subtotal abdominal hysterectomy. No significant differences were found between the 2 operation methods in any of the outcome measures at 12 months.

Dose titration of repaglinide in patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes.

A total of 385 drug-therapy naïve patients, with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes, were randomised into a multinational, parallel-group study to compare two strategies for dose titration of the oral hypoglycaemic agent repaglinide. Patients were allocated to either a fasting blood glucose (FBG) monitoring group with titration target 4.4-6.

Colonization and immunomodulation by Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 55730 in the human gastrointestinal tract.

Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 55730 is a probiotic (health-promoting) bacterium widely used as a dietary supplement. This study was designed to examine local colonization of the human gastrointestinal mucosa after dietary supplementation with L. reuteri ATCC 55730 and to determine subsequent immune responses at the colonized sites.

Sexuality after total vs. subtotal hysterectomy.

Background: The effect of hysterectomy on sexuality is not fully elucidated and until recently total and subtotal hysterectomies have only been compared in observational studies.

Aims: To compare total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) to subtotal abdominal hysterectomy (SAH) regarding effects on sexuality.

Methods: In a Danish multicenter trial 319 women were randomized to TAH (n = 158) or SAH (n = 161); 185 women had self-selected TAH (n = 80) or SAH (n = 105) in a simultaneously conducted observational study.

Congruence on medication between patients and physicians involved in patient course.

Objective: To analyse congruence on medication throughout patient courses, including an acute admission to a medical department.

Design: A prospective, observational study. Data were collected from patient records in primary health care, hospital departments, from the Health Insurance database and through patient interviews.

Randomised controlled trial of total compared with subtotal hysterectomy with one-year follow up results.

Objective: To compare total abdominal hysterectomy and subtotal abdominal hysterectomy performed for benign uterine diseases.

Design: Randomised, controlled, unblinded trial with central, computer-generated randomisation.

Setting: Danish trial performed in 11 departments of gynaecology.

The aging woman: the role of medical therapy.

The growth of the postmenopausal population demands a change in the medical profession's approach to health and disease. Especially in the developed world, lifespan is increasing, and at the age of 60 the majority of women will still have at least 20 years to live. There will, therefore, be an increasing need for health programs that lead to more years of disability free life.

Incomplete remission with short-term prednisolone treatment in collagenous colitis: a randomized study.

Background: Microscopic colitis is a disease of unknown aetiology characterized by chronic watery diarrhoea and diarrhoea can be eliminated by budesonide but frequently recurs when budesonide is stopped. We studied whether prednisolone could induce remission in patients with disabling, chronic diarrhoea due to microscopic colitis.

Methods: A double-blind, randomized (3:1) trial of oral prednisolone 50 mg daily or placebo for 2 weeks.

Long-term efficacy of dietary treatment of obesity: a systematic review of studies published between 1931 and 1999.

Methods: MEDLINE surveys were carried out and reference lists were cross-checked to identify publications on long-term outcome for dietary treatment of obesity. 898 papers were identified, 17 fulfilled our planned criteria for inclusion (dietary treatment; adults; follow-up period > or = 3 years; follow-up rate > or = 50% of original study group; information on one of the success criteria: maintenance of all weight initially lost (or further weight reduction) or maintenance of at least nine to 11 kg of initial weight loss; obesity complications of the patient group not over-represented; English, German or Scandinavian languages).

Results: The 17 included publications (here of three publications on randomized clinical trials with control group relevant for this review) reported on 21 study groups, comprising 3030 patients.

Surface immunoglobulin on B lymphocytes as a potential target for specific peptide ligands in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

With the aim of producing unique targets for malignant cells we have identified peptide ligands for the clonal surface immunoglobulin isolated from the B cells of a chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patient. The peptides were identified from random-peptide phage-display libraries. The obtained ligands bound specifically to the surface of the target lymphocytes as well as to clonal immunoglobulin in lysate from the same cells.

Glycosaminoglycan-bound and free inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor components of follicular fluid.

The proteinase inhibitor inter-alpha trypsin inhibitor (ITI) is a blood-derived protein necessary for normal female fertility. Absence of ITI leads to ovulation of naked oocytes that cannot fertilise. ITI consists of two heavy chains (ITI-HC) and bikunin linked by a chrondroitin sulphate.