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Biomedical subjects

B Jeune

Publications and source records attributed to B Jeune.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Screening against cervical cancer. Experiences, attitudes and knowledge of women in the county of Funen].

Questionnaires on women's attitudes and knowledge of cervical screening in the County of Funen were mailed to a sample of 1505 attenders aged 23-59 years, stratified on age and residence. A high proportion of attenders (80.4%) answered the questionnaire. Two-thirds of the women had been informed about the screening program before they received the invitation to participate. Generally the women were satisfied with the introduction to the screening program. However, the majority of the attenders were not satisfied with the way they received the result. They wanted the result no later than two weeks after the test was done, and they wanted the result from their GP. Independent of age and education the majority (about 90%) had a good general knowledge (knew that the smear is taken from the cervix; that early diagnosis is important; that cervix cancer can be treated). However the specific knowledge was lower and significantly associated with education (e.g. 43% versus 63% could identify the cervix on a drawing of the uterus among women with respectively low and high levels of school education). Furthermore, the majority were of the opinion that the test should be done more frequently than every three years as recommended by the National Health Board.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Genotypes for the cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 in human longevitY. Role of CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 in longevity.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether some genotypes for CYP2D6 or CYP2C19 could contribute to longevity, we genotyped 241 Danish nonagenarians and centenarians for CYP2D6 and CYP2C19. METHODS: For CYP2D6 we identified the alleles CYP2D6*1, CYP2D6*3 and CYP2D6*4 with allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The CYP2D6*5 alleles were identified with a long PCR method. For CYP2C19 we identified the alleles CYP2C19*1, CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*3 with an oligonucleotide ligation assay. RESULTS: The four alleles for CYP2D6 did not occur in Hardy-Weinberg proportions. The frequency of poor metabolism was slightly higher (10.2%) than expected [7.7%; odds ratio (OR) = 1.36 (0.75-2.40)]. The genotypes for CYP2C19 occur in Hardy-Weinberg proportions. The frequency of poor metabolism (3.8%) was not significantly different from a young control group [3.1%; OR = 1.21 (0.26-5.75)]. CONCLUSION: CYP2D6 could play a role in human longevity due to the lack of Hardy-Weinberg proportions. If CYP2D6 only plays a role in longevity by protecting the poor metabolizers from cancer, we should expect a rise in the frequency in these genotypes in Denmark from 7.7% among young adults to 10-11% among very old people. We found a frequency of poor metabolism of 10.2% in the very old group. CYP2C19 is - due to the occurrence of Hardy-Weinberg proportions and the expected number of poor metabolizers unlikely to contribute to human longevity.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Few microorganisms associated with bacterial vaginosis may constitute the pathologic core: a population-based microbiologic study among 3596 pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between various microorganisms isolated from the genital tract in pregnant women with bacterial vaginosis. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional population-based study among pregnant women addressed at their first antenatal visit before 24 full gestational weeks from the referring area of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Odense University Hospital, Denmark, from November 1992 to February 1994. The main outcome measures were prevalence of various microorganisms and statistical estimates of interactions (crude, adjusted, and relative odds ratios) between the microorganisms isolated from the lower genital tract in pregnant women with and without clinical diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis. RESULTS: Three thousand five hundred ninety-six (3596) pregnant women were asked to participate. Of the 3596 pregnant women 3174 (88.4%) agreed to participate before 24 full gestational weeks. After controlling for the presence of other microorganisms, strong associations between Gardnerella vaginalis, anaerobic bacteria, Mycoplasma hominis, and present bacterial vaginosis were found. Similarly Lactobacillus spp. were found to be associated with the absence of bacterial vaginosis. The combination of G. vaginalis and anaerobic bacteria and/or M. hominis was found in 59.6% of the cases with bacterial vaginosis and in 3.9% of the cases without bacterial vaginosis (odds ratio 36.4, 95% confidence interval 27.8 to 47.8). The crude odds ratio was found to be as high as 74.8 (95% confidence interval 32.3 to 174.1) when the combination of G. vaginalis, M. hominis, anaerobic bacteria, and no Lactobacillus spp. was associated with bacterial vaginosis. CONCLUSION: There is a microbial foundation for bacterial vaginosis, and it is possibly due to an intermicrobial interaction in which the microorganisms G. vaginalis, anaerobic bacteria, and M. hominis are dominating, indicating that these constitute the pathologic core of bacterial vaginosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Low activity of superoxide dismutase and high activity of glutathione reductase in erythrocytes from centenarians.

OBJECTIVE: to compare the activities of antioxidative enzymes in erythrocytes between centenarians and a younger group of elderly subjects. DESIGN: cross-sectional study. SETTING: county of Funen, Denmark. SUBJECTS: 41 centenarians aged between 100 and 105 years and 52 community control subjects aged between 60 and 79 years. MEASUREMENTS: enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD), glutathione peroxidase, catalase and glutathione reductase (GR) in erythrocytes. Functional capacity among the centenarians was evaluated by Katz' index of activities of daily living, the Physical Performance Test and Mini-Mental State Examination. RESULTS: the mean CuZn-SOD activity was significantly lower and the mean GR activity was significantly higher in centenarians than in the group of elderly people. The centenarians with the lowest cognitive and physical functional capacity and who did not survive at least 1 year after blood sampling tended to have the lowest CuZn-SOD activities. The range of GR activity was shifted toward higher values in the centenarian group than in the younger group and those centenarians having the best functional capacity tended to have the highest GR activity. CONCLUSIONS: CuZn-SOD activity is decreased in centenarians, probably because of reduced demand for the enzyme at lower metabolic rate and oxygen consumption. Subjects with high GR activity occur more frequently among centenarians than expected, possibly due to their better survival. The role of GR in disease prevention and as a predictor for longevity deserves to be further explored.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1997

High prevalence of Parkinson's disease in the Faroe Islands.

We used several case-findings methods and strict criteria for case ascertainment to diagnose parkinsonism and idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) in the Faroe Islands. In the last few years before the prevalence date of July 1, 1995, we searched various registries from pharmacies, hospitals, and general practices, and found 195 patients with suspected parkinsonism out of 43,709 inhabitants. After excluding those who died before the prevalence date or were treated with levodopa (LD) for other diseases, a total of 124 patients remained for study, of whom 122 participated. We found 102 patients with parkinsonism and 82 with PD versus the expected 53 (p < 0.001, age-specific prevalences in the county of Rogaland, Norway). The overall prevalence of PD was estimated to be 187.6 and the age-adjusted prevalence to be 183.3 versus 110.9 per 100,000 inhabitants in the county of Rogaland. Compared to the study from Rogaland, the mean age at onset of PD symptoms, the mean age at the prevalence date, and the duration of PD indicated that the higher prevalence was not due to either an early onset nor to a longer duration of PD. A lower proportion of definite PD, a lower mean score on the Hoehn-Yahr scale, and a lower average dose of LD suggest that the high prevalence may be due to early diagnosis and a higher ascertainment of cases with mild disease. However, a high incidence cannot be excluded.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[The demography of centenarians in Denmark].

The aim of this study was to describe the demography of centenarians in Denmark in the period 1775-1995. The prevalence of centenarians increased from about 1-2 pr. million in the last half of the 1800s to about 80 pr. million in 1995, especially among women since 1950 leading to a female/male-ratio of three to one. A total of 4292 centenarian deaths were found reported in different sources. The number of reported centenarian deaths was found to be much higher in the first half than in the last half of the 1800s, especially among men and among 105+ year-old: A through examination of 275 reported centenarian deaths on the Island of Funen from before 1900 indicates that this most plausibly was due to age-exaggeration and lack of validation of the reported ages before 1850. This was supported by a backward extrapolation of regression estimates based on the reported number in the period 1870-1925, which showed a much lower estimated number of centenarians than reported in the first half of the 1800s, indicating an emergence of centenarians after 1780. The probability of becoming a centenarian only first increased substantially for cohorts born after 1860. The reduction of mortality among the oldest old in the last decades has created a new generation of very old people. The proportion of centenarians can therefore be considered as an indicator of earlier changes in lifestyle and care for elderly.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[Centenarians in the county of Funen. Morbidity and functional capacity].

The aim was to examine the feasibility of a study of centenarians and to describe morbidity and functional capacity of centenarians in the County of Funen. A total of 51 out of 58 centenarians on Funen born on May 1, 1894 or before participated. An interview could be carried out almost completely in 80.4% of the 51 participants, cognitive testing (MMSE) in 78.4% and physical performance test (PPT) in 49%. Additional information on morbidity and activities of daily living (ADL) was collected on all 51 centenarians from family members, nursing staff, GP's, hospital registries and the National Cancer Registry. Almost 3/4 were women and 58.8% were in an old people's home. Osteoarthrosis, urinary incontinence, heart failure, dizziness and eye diseases were found to be frequently prevalent, while hypertension, diabetes, cancer and stroke were found to be rare. Based on Katz' ADL index approx. 1/3 could be considered to be independent of help, while almost everybody was dependent on help for the instrumental activities (IADL). A low average score was found at the PPT, especially the walking speed was found to be very slow. Only 32.5% scored over 23 points at the MMSE, but allowing for severe impairment of vision and hearing more than 1/3 were found to be cognitively well-functioning. Severe dementia was found among 15.7%. Dependency on help for the ADL-functions was not found to be associated with health measurement, but strongly associated with visual function, PPT and MMSE (p < 0.001). The characterization of centenarians as described in a number of foreign studies as being an homogeneous, relatively healthy and independent group could therefore not be confirmed. On the contrary, they were found to be very heterogeneous and characterized by multi-morbidity. By far the great part of them were in addition dependent on help in their activities of daily life. Approx. 1/3, however, were found to be relatively independent of help for basic functions, more than 1/3 were cognitively well-functioning, and a very small number could even manage a few outdoor functions by themselves.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1996

The oldest man ever? A case study of exceptional longevity.

This article summarizes recent findings in a case study of exceptional longevity. CM, a resident of San Rafael, California, was 114 years old in August 1996. He is the first properly verified case of a 114-year-old man in human history (although a few women have been known to live longer). Our investigation of CM continues as we attempt to gather additional information about his life, family history, and current condition. Here, we consider only two aspects of this case: its authenticity and its significance in the history of human longevity. We believe that we have proven that CM's stated age is accurate. Based on the available information, it also seems a reasonable conjecture that he may be the oldest man alive today and perhaps the oldest man who has ever lived. This study documents an extreme example of human longevity and records characteristics of the man's life that may provide clues about the causes of his exceptional survivorship.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Drosophila-host genetic control of susceptibility to Drosophila C virus.

Interactions between Drosophila C virus (DCV) and its natural host, Drosophila melanogaster, were investigated using 15 geographical population samples infected by intraabdominal inoculation. These strains derived from natural populations of D. melanogaster differed in susceptibility to the DCVc. One strain was "partially tolerant". Isofemale lines obtained from one susceptible and one partially tolerant strain were studied. The partially tolerant phenotype was dominant, and there was no difference between F1 progeny of direct and reciprocal crosses. Analysis of F2 progeny showed that neither sex-linked genes nor maternal effects are involved in susceptibility to DCVc. The partially tolerant strain phenotype was dominant and segregated with chromosome III. Two nonexclusive hypotheses are proposed to explain chromosome III gene action.

Africa↗
PubMed1993

[Age at menarche among schoolgirls in Odense. Is age at menarche still decreasing in Denmark?].

The average age at the menarche has decreased from the 1850s to the 1950s. It is controversial whether there has been a continued decrease since the 1950s. The object of this investigation is to illustrate whether this trend has continued into the 1980s. This study is based on the ages at the menarche as recalled by 908 girls aged 14-16 years in 40 schools in Odense. The information was obtained during intervals of differing lengths and consequently, the parameters of the distribution of the age at the menarche were estimated in a randomly grouped normal distribution. The average age at the menarche was found to be the same throughout the municipality (13.27 years; 95% confidence limit 13.20-13.35). The variations were found to be significantly differentiated by the type of school district. The variations were low in the suburbs and in the surrounding rural districts, higher in the inner city areas and highest among girls attending private schools. Compared with the results from other recent Danish studies, these findings suggest a halt in the decline of the average age at the menarche, which may be temporary.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Has the age at sexual debut changed after the Safe Sex Campaign?].

In 1984, immediately before information about AIDS had reached the general public and the campaign for "Safe sex" had begun in earnest, 286 women (percentage replies 75.3) and 336 men (percentage replies 77.8) who were over 16 years but not yet 21 years were interviewed about sexual knowledge, sexual experience and contraception. In October 1989, the investigation was repeated and 359 women (percentage replies 77.9) and 400 men (percentage replies 76.3) participated. Both of the investigations were carried out as personal interviews by the professional interviewer staff of the Institute for Social Research. The age profiles for the first coitus were found to be practically identical in the two investigations. The median age for the first coitus was calculated to be 16.7 years in 1984 and 16.8 years in 1989 for females and 16.9 years for males in both 1984 and 1989. In both of the investigations, the majority stated that the first coitus was with a person of the same age group. Just under 1/4 of the women and nearly 1/3 of the men stated that the first coitus was also the first for the partner. In the 1989 investigation, significantly more stated that they had employed contraception at the first coitus. The campaign for "Safe sex" had recommended condoms. In the 1989 investigation, 61.0% of the women and 62.0% of the men had employed condoms at the first coitus as compared with 36.5% of the women and 42.1% of the men, five years previously. Parental advice about contraception had also changed as a great many more stated that their parents had advised them to use condoms as a contraceptive measure in the 1989 investigation. Among the young people who had not yet had coitus, 24.4% of the women and 34.7% of the men stated in 1989 that they always had a condom handy when they thought they might need it.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Aspects of comfort and safety of condom. A study of two thousand intercourses among volunteer couples.

In nearly 2,000 intercourses 14 different types of condoms were tested by 80 heterosexual and seven homosexual volunteer couples. The test couples were generally quite experienced in the use of condoms. It appears that the condoms rarely (1.3%) ruptured or slipped off during the actual intercourse. This means that emphasis must be put on consistency and skill in the use of condoms rather on technical improvements in the promotion of condoms as a means of preventing the spread of sexually transmitted infections like HIV. Lubricated condoms and condoms that were not too small were preferred by both users and their partners. Other condom properties were significant but of minor concern for the participants of the study.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Prevalence of smoking and oral contraception in a sample of Danish young women.

A representative sample of 286 Danish females aged 16-20 years were interviewed during the period April 1984--February 1985. The response rate was 75%. Both use of oral contraception (OC) and smoking were common; 46.6% used OC, 34.2% smoked and 19.6% combined smoking and OC. The prevalence of smoking was significantly higher (42.0%) among OC-users than among non-users (27.2%). The combination of smoking and OC was especially prevalent among young women with sexual debut before 16 years (36.8%). The association between smoking and the use of OC was significant both when tested unstratified (p less than 0.05) and stratified by age at sexual debut (p less than 0.01). Smoking was also associated with early debut of intercourse (p less than 0.001). It has been reported that the combination of these two factors in adult women increase the risk for cardiovascular mortality. However, the health consequences later in life of combining smoking and OC at young ages have not been illuminated in the literature. These findings indicate the necessity for prospective studies of young women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Distribution of age at menopause in two Danish samples.

We analyzed the distribution of reported age at natural menopause in two random samples of Danish women (n = 176 and n = 150) to determine the shape of the distribution and to disclose any possible trends in the distribution parameters. It was necessary to correct the frequencies of the reported ages for the effect of differing ages at reporting. The corrected distribution of age at menopause differs from the normal distribution in the same way in both samples. Both distributions could be described by a mixture of two normal distributions. It appears that most of the parameters of the normal distribution mixtures remain unchanged over a 50-year time lag. The position of the distribution, that is, the mean age at menopause, however, increases slightly but significantly.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[The significance of childhood conditions with regard to disability pensions. A case-controlled study among unskilled workers].

The significance of the conditions in childhood and adolescence for awarding of disability pension is illustrated by means of a case-control design with persons matched according to age, sex and type of work. The group investigated consisted of 581 general male workers who received middle or highest disability pension and 1,550 control persons. No significant differences were found between the case and control group as regards the occupation of the father, unemployment of the father, illness or disability pension in the parents, economical problems during childhood, growing up in the parental home and growing up in rural or urban surroundings. Disability pensioners had more frequently had schooling for less than seven years. These results cannot confirm the conclusions from previous investigations which are associated with bias in the form of socioeconomical differences between the group investigated and the control group. Unskilled work results in confounding as it is associated not only with poor childhood conditions and also with a high incidence of disability pension. Poor childhood conditions are not found more frequently within the group of general workers among the disability pensioners and can thus not be regarded per se as a risk factor for awarding disability pensioning. However, the childhood condition may influence the choise of occupation and then indirectly act as a risk factor for disability pension.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[The significance of working conditions with regard to disability pensions. A case-controlled study among unskilled workers].

The incidence of disability pension varies considerably from occupation to occupation. General workers are the occupational group where disability pension is most frequently recognized. In this investigation, the significance of the working conditions for awarding disability pension is illustrated by means of a case-control design. The case group consisted of 581 unskilled workers who received the middle or highest disability pension. The control group consisted of 1,550 age-matched unskilled workers. Disability pensioners had commenced work at a young age significantly more frequently. They had been exposed to physically strenuous work, too rapid a tempo and a long series of unpleasant working conditions. In addition, disability pensioners had frequently experienced periods of unemployment. No differences were observed as regards piece work, shift work or the number of places of employment. The stressing working conditions which occurred more frequently among disability pensioners are all accessible for preventative measures.

Adult↗