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Biomedical subjects

C Johansen

Publications and source records attributed to C Johansen.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Incidence of vestibular schwannoma in Denmark, 1977-1995.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the incidence rate of vestibular schwannomas (VS) (acoustic neuromas) in Denmark. BACKGROUND: The worldwide incidence rates of VS vary from 1 to 20 cases per million population per year. METHODS: The nationwide and population-based age-specific, sex-specific, and calendar year-specific incidence rates of VS in Denmark between 1977 and 1995 are presented. Information on cases of VS was obtained from the Danish Cancer Registry and a clinical database situated at the University Hospital of Gentofte. A total of 795 cases were reported during the period of the study. RESULTS: The incidence rate increased from 5 cases per million population per year in 1977-1981 to 10 cases in 1992-1995; the increase was from 5 to 11 cases among women and 5 to 9 cases among men. The age-specific incidence rates show that VS is rarely diagnosed in persons under 30, but the incidence rate appears to increase among women after menopause. CONCLUSION: The overall incidence rate of VS increased linearly during the study period, probably owing to the introduction of more precise diagnostic procedures, increased awareness among physicians and patients of the symptoms of VS, improved registration of benign tumors in Denmark, and the use of data from two sources.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Multiple sclerosis among utility workers.

The incidence of MS was assessed in a nationwide cohort study of 31,990 employees of Danish utility companies between 1900 and 1993. Overall, 32 cases of MS were diagnosed, as compared with 23.7 expected from national incidence rates, to yield a standardized incidence ratio of 1.35 (95% confidence interval, 0.92 to 1.91). We found no support for the hypothesis of an association between occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and the risk of MS.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Risk of cancer among Danish electricity workers. A cohort study].

We report the incidence of cancer in a large cohort of employees identified from all 99 Danish utility companies. Personal data, and information on employment and exposure to magnetic fields and asbestos were obtained from manual files at the companies, the Danish Supplementary Pension Fund and the public payroll administration. A total of 32,006 individuals with more than three months of employment were linked with the files of the Danish Cancer Registry. Overall, 3008 cancers were observed, with 2825 expected, yielding a small but significantly increased risk of 1.06 (95% CI, 1.03-1.10). No excess was observed for all leukemias or for cancers of the brain or breast among men or women. There was no association of electromagnetic field exposure with risk of these cancers even when the level and length of exposure to magnetic fields were taken into account. Increased risks for cancers of the lung and pleural cavity were seen mainly for workers whose jobs involve exposure to asbestos. Our results do not support the hypothesis of an association between occupational exposures to magnetic fields in the electric utility industry and the risk for cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Molar pregnancy and risk for cancer in women and their male partners.

OBJECTIVE: It was our aim to evaluate the hypothesis that molar pregnancy is a marker of increased risk for cancer. STUDY DESIGN: This was a nationwide cohort study of 1520 women, identified from the Danish National Register of Patients, in whom a molar pregnancy was diagnosed during the period 1977-1992 and of 1295 male partners of these women, traced in the Danish Central Population Register. RESULTS: Linkage of the female roster with the Danish Cancer Registry through 1994 revealed 19 cases of gestational choriocarcinoma, whereas 0.04 was expected from the rates for the general population. Twenty cases of cancers of other types were observed with 24.9 expected (standardized incidence ratio, 0.8; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-1.2), but no specific type of cancer other than gestational choriocarcinoma occurred at a rate significantly different from that expected. Among the 1295 male partners notified in the Central Population Register, a total of 22 cancers were observed with 21.9 expected (standardized incidence ratio, 1.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.7-1.5). CONCLUSION: Molar pregnancy is not associated with an increased risk for cancer other than gestational carcinoma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Lipid-lowering medication and risk of cancer.

Low or declining levels of serum cholesterol have been associated with increased mortality from cancer. We conducted a population-based cohort study of 1882 patients from one Danish county who received lipid-lowering drugs between January 1, 1991 and December 31, 1994. During the follow-up period of up to 4 years, 41 cancers were observed among users of lipid-lowering drugs, with 42.9 expected, to yield an age- and sex-standardized incidence ratio of 1.0 (95% confidence interval, 0.7-1.3). Although limited by small numbers and short follow-up period, examination by site of cancer and type of drug provided no evidence of an association. Further research is needed, however, with longer follow-up to assess more fully any potential cancer risk with these medications.

Denmark↗
PubMed1999

Gallstones, cholecystectomy and risk of cancers of the liver, biliary tract and pancreas.

To examine the association between gallstones and cholecystectomy, we conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study in Denmark. Patients with a discharge diagnosis of gallstones from 1977 to 1989 were identified from the Danish National Registry of Patients and followed up for cancer occurrence until death or the end of 1993 by record linkage to the Danish Cancer Registry. Included in the cohort were 60 176 patients, with 471 450 person-years of follow-up. Cancer risks were estimated by standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) stratified by years of follow-up and by cholecystectomy status. Among patients without cholecystectomy, the risks at 5 or more years of follow-up were significantly elevated for cancers of liver (SIR = 2.0, CI = 1.2-3.1) and gallbladder (SIR = 2.7, CI = 1.5-4.4) and near unity for cancers of extrahepatic bile duct (SIR = 1.1), ampulla of Vater (SIR = 1.0) and pancreas (SIR = 1.1). The excess risk of liver cancer was seen only among patients with a history of hepatic disease. Among cholecystectomy patients, the risks at 5 or more years of follow-up declined for cancers of liver (SIR = 1.1) and extrahepatic bile duct (SIR = 0.7), but were elevated for cancers of ampulla of Vater (SIR = 2.0, CI = 1.0-3.7) and pancreas (SIR = 1.3, CI = 1.1-1.6). These findings confirm that gallstone disease increases the risk of gallbladder cancer, whereas cholecystectomy appears to increase the risk of cancers of ampulla of Vater and pancreas. Further research is needed to clarify the carcinogenic risks associated with gallstones and cholecystectomy and to define the mechanisms involved.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Phylogeography of three closely related African bovids (tribe Alcelaphini).

The phylogeography of three species of African bovids, the hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus), the topi (Damaliscus lunatus), and the wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), is inferred from sequence variation of 345 sequences at the control region (d-loop) of the mtDNA. The three species are closely related (tribe Alcelaphini) and share similar habitat requirements. Moreover, their former distribution extended over Africa, as a probable result of the expansion of open grassland on the continent during the last 2.5 Myr. A combination of population genetics (diversity and structure) and intraspecific phylogeny (tree topology and relative branch length) methods is used to substantiate scenarios of the species history. Population dynamics are inferred from the distribution of sequence pairwise differences within populations. In the three species, there is a significant structuring of the populations, as shown by analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) pairwise and hierarchical differentiation estimations. In the wildebeest, a pattern of colonization from southern Africa toward east Africa is consistent with the asymmetric topology of the gene tree, showing a paraphyletic position of southern lineages, as well as their relatively longer branch lengths, and is supported by a progressive decline in population nucleotide diversity toward east Africa. The phylogenetic pattern found in the topi and the hartebeest differs from that of the wildebeest: lineages split into monophyletic clades, and no geographical trend is detected in population diversity. We suggest a scenario where these antelopes, previously with wide pan-African distributions, became extinct except in a few refugia. The hartebeest, and probably also the topi, survived in refugia north of the equator, in the east and the west, respectively, as well as one in the south. The southern refugium furthermore seems to have been the only place where the wildebeest has survived.

Africa↗
PubMed1999

Occurrence of Shewanella algae in Danish coastal water and effects of water temperature and culture conditions on its survival.

The marine bacterium Shewanella algae, which was identified as the cause of human cases of bacteremia and ear infections in Denmark in the summers of 1994 and 1995, was detected in seawater only during the months (July, August, September, and October) when the water temperature was above 13 degrees C. The bacterium is a typical mesophilic organism, and model experiments were conducted to elucidate the fate of the organism under cold and nutrient-limited conditions. The culturable count of S. algae decreased rapidly from 10(7) CFU/ml to 10(1) CFU/ml in approximately 1 month when cells grown at 20 to 37 degrees C were exposed to cold (2 degrees C) seawater. In contrast, the culturable count of cells exposed to warmer seawater (10 to 25 degrees C) remained constant. Allowing the bacterium a transition period in seawater at 20 degrees C before exposure to the 2 degrees C seawater resulted in 100% survival over a period of 1 to 2 months. The cold protection offered by this transition (starvation) probably explains the ability of the organism to persist in Danish seawater despite very low (0 to 1 degrees C) winter water temperatures. The culturable counts of samples kept at 2 degrees C increased to 10(5) to 10(7) CFU/ml at room temperature. Most probable number analysis showed this result to be due to regrowth rather than resuscitation. It was hypothesized that S. algae would survive cold exposure better if in the biofilm state; however, culturable counts from S. algae biofilms decreased as rapidly as did counts of planktonic cells.

Biofilms↗
PubMed1998

[Does psychosocial intervention in cancer patients affect survival and psychological well-being?].

We have critically reviewed the scientific literature examining the effect of psychosocial interventions on survival and well-being among adult cancer patients. Only studies using randomization and including a control-group not receiving psychosocial intervention were reviewed. Six studies examined the effect on prognosis. In four of these studies survival increased significantly in the intervention group as compared to the control group. All of these studies, however, have methodological flaws, leaving a possible prognostic effect to be clarified in larger, well-controlled future studies. The effect of psychosocial intervention on various psychosocial variables (such as anxiety and depression) was evaluated in 20 studies. Differences in patient populations, intervention strategies, and outcomes decrease the comparability of the results, and the majority of these studies suffer from methodological flaws as well. A positive effect on anxiety and depression immediately following the intervention is, however, reported in the majority of these studies. It is thus possible that the level of anxiety and depression may be decreased by integrating psychosocial intervention in the overall treatment of cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Mortality from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, other chronic disorders, and electric shocks among utility workers.

Above-average exposure to electromagnetic fields has been associated with certain nonmalignant medical conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, other neurologic diseases, depressive symptoms, and suicide. The authors conducted a nationwide mortality study in Denmark of 21,236 men employed in utility companies between 1900 and 1993. The causes of death were ascertained for January 1, 1974, through December 31, 1993, and cause-specific mortality was analyzed by latency and estimated levels of exposure to 50-Hz electromagnetic fields. Overall, 3,540 deaths were observed as compared with 3,709 expected from national mortality rates, yielding a standardized mortality ratio of 0.96 (95% confidence interval 0.93-0.99). A slight excess in mortality from cancer was due to deaths from cancers of the lung and pleural cavity, probably because of exposure to asbestos. A twofold increase in mortality from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and a tenfold increase in mortality from electrical accidents were seen on the basis of 14 and 10 deaths, respectively, the former increasing with time since first employment in a utility company. The excess mortality from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis seems to be associated with above-average levels of exposure to electromagnetic fields and may be due to repeated episodes with electric shocks.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Psychological stress, occurrence of cancer and cause-specific mortality].

Psychological stress has been claimed to contribute to the onset of cancer and to increase mortality from a number of nonmalignant diseases. We investigated the effect of a genuine psychological stressor, i.e. cancer in a child, on the incidence of cancer and mortality from nonmalignant diseases of 11,231 parents in a Danish nationwide population-based study. The children were identified from records in the Danish Cancer Registry for the period 1943-1985; their parents were identified from population registers. Overall, 1665 parental malignancies were diagnosed from the date the cancer of the child was reported through 1992, as compared with 1702 expected from national incidence rates, to yield standardized incidence ratios of 1.0 (95% confidence interval, 0.9-1.0) for all parents, 1.0 for mothers and 1.0 for fathers. No excess mortality was seen from causes associated with allergic illness, autoimmune conditions, chronic illness or changes in behaviour. Our data provide no support for the hypothesis of an association between psychological stress and the incidence of cancer or mortality from nonmalignant diseases. We conclude that the human organism is highly adaptable, even to extreme psychological stress.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1998

Risk of cancer among Danish utility workers--a nationwide cohort study.

The authors report the incidence of cancer in a large cohort of employees identified from all 99 Danish utility companies. Personal data and information on employment and exposure to magnetic fields and asbestos were obtained from manual files at the companies, the Danish Supplementary Pension Fund, and the public payroll administration. A total of 32,006 individuals with more than 3 months of employment were linked with the files of the Danish Cancer Registry. The period of follow-up for cancer occurrence among the employees was from April 1968 through December 1993 in the study conducted from 1994 to 1997. Overall, 3,008 cancers were observed, with 2,825 expected, yielding a small but significantly increased risk of 1.06 (95% confidence interval 1.03-1.10) among the utility workers in comparison with the general population. No excess was observed for all leukemias or for cancers of the brain or breast among men or women. There was no association of electromagnetic field exposure with risk of these cancers, even when the level and length of exposure to magnetic fields were taken into account. Increased risks for cancers of the lung and pleural cavity were seen mainly for workers whose jobs involved exposure to asbestos. The results from this study do not support the hypothesis of an association between occupational exposures to magnetic fields in the electric utility industry and the risk for cancer.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Risk of colorectal cancer and other cancer diseases in patients with gallstones].

In a nationwide cohort of gallstone patients we evaluated the hypothesis that gall stones are associated with an increased risk of cancer of the colon. In the Danish Hospital Discharge Register we identified 42,098 patients with gallstones diagnosed in 1977-1989. These patients were linked to the Danish Cancer Registry in order to assess their risks of colorectal and other cancers during follow-up to the end of 1992. The analysis showed a modest increase in the number of cancers at all sites combined (N = 3940; RR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.0-1.1). A weak association was found for cancer of the colon (N = 360; RR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.0-1.2), which remained unchanged when analysed by sex, anatomical subsite and duration of follow-up. Multivariate analysis with adjustment for cholecystectomy and clinically defined obesity did not change these estimates to any significant extent. A nonsignificantly increased risk of breast cancer was seen in women five years after initial discharge for gallstones.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Marital status and survival in colorectal cancer].

We analysed marital status and survival from colorectal cancer among 9596 patients in a nationwide Danish study with complete follow-up of 22-26 years. After exclusion of 2294 patients with missing information, adjusted survival among married patients diagnosed with colon cancer was significantly longer (RR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.78-0.93). We conclude that marital status does indeed prognosticate long-term survival from colon cancer. These results may have implications for psychosocial intervention after surgery for colorectal cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Cancer risk following appendectomy for acute appendicitis (Denmark).

OBJECTIVE: Epidemiologic studies have not been able definitely to exclude that appendectomy carries a cancer risk. This study was conducted to clarify whether appendectomy is associated with a subsequent increase in cancer risk, since appendectomy is frequently an elective procedure. METHODS: The present study included more than 82,000 persons who underwent appendectomy for acute appendicitis during 1977-89 according to the nation-wide Danish Hospital Discharge Register. During a follow-up interval of up to 17 years, cancer incidence was assessed by linkage to the Danish Cancer Registry and compared with the incidence in the general population of Denmark. RESULTS: The total number of malignancies among appendectomized persons was 1.05 times higher than expected with 95 percent confidence intervals of 0.99-1.11. There was no clear significant excess of any specific cancer type. CONCLUSION: During a postsurgery period of nearly two decades, results of our study did not support the hypothesis that either appendectomy or acute appendicitis are likely to be associated with malignant neoplasms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Sexological problems after cystectomy: bladder substitution compared with ileal conduit diversion. A questionnaire study of male patients.

A questionnaire study was carried out to compare the postoperative sexological problems after cystectomy and bladder substitution using the urethral Kock reservoir or the ileocecal reservoir with that following ileal conduit diversion. A total of 76 male patients with bladder cancer completed the questionnaire: 49 patients had a bladder substitution and 27 an ileal conduit diversion. Median follow-up was 1.3 years (range 0.5-6.4) and 4.8 years (range 2.4-14.7), respectively. Only 9% of all patients could achieve an erection at least every second time, in comparison to 82% preoperatively. Thirty-eight percent of all patients were able to achieve orgasm, and 26% were coitally active to some degree. Reasons for decrease or cessation of coitus were loss of potency among 77% and 96% respectively (p = 0.04), while those reporting decreased libido (29%), partner refusal (13%), and feeling less sexually attractive (20%) showed no between-group differences. Regression analysis showed no influence of type of operation, while age above 68 years influenced orgasmic ability and coital activity, and radiation treatment influenced whether the patient felt less sexually attractive than before surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Cancer risk in individuals with benign thyroid disorders.

The risk of cancer was examined in a cohort of 57,326 individuals who were discharged from a Danish hospital with a diagnosis of myxedema, thyrotoxicosis, or goiter. Although the general risk of cancer was only slightly increased, the risk of several sites was significantly above expected. The risk of thyroid cancer especially, was increased with standardized incidence ratios among women of 2.1 (myxedema), 2.5 (thyrotoxicosis), and 6.6 (nontoxic goiter). The increase in risk was present even many years after discharge, indicating that surveillance was not the only explanation. Furthermore, an increased risk was noted for cancer of the kidney in women discharged with myxedema (standardized incidence ratios [SIR] = 1.8) and thyrotoxicosis (SIR = 1.3), for cancer of the bladder in women discharged with myxedema (SIR = 1.5) and nontoxic goiter (SIR = 1.3), and for cancer of the hematopoetic system in women discharged with myxedema (SIR = 1.4) and nontoxic goiter (SIR = 1.4). The findings indicate that thyroid disorders may be related to cancer risk of several specific sites other than the thyroid.

Adolescent↗