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Biomedical subjects

J Christophersen

Publications and source records attributed to J Christophersen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Changes in the pattern of sensitization to common contact allergens in denmark between 1985-86 and 1997-98, with a special view to the effect of preventive strategies.

The objective of the present study is to describe any changes in the prevalence of sensitization to common contact allergens in patch-tested patients over a 12-year period. Attention is given to possible effects of preventive strategies introduced in Denmark regarding nickel and chromate sensitization during that period, and particular areas of concern are identified. Members of the Danish Contact Dermatitis Group collected patch-test results from consecutive eczema patients as well as information about exposures and demographic variables over a 6-month period in 1985-86. The investigation was repeated in 1997-98 in the same clinics, at the same time of year, using identical methods and patch-test substances, including nickel sulphate 5%, potassium dichromate 0.5% and fragrance mix 8%. Nickel was the most common contact allergen in both study periods, followed by the fragrance mix. In children 0-18 years of age, the frequency of nickel allergy decreased from 24.8% in the first study period to 9.2% in the second study period (P < 0. 0008). Fragrance mix allergy doubled in frequency from 4.1% in 1985-86 to 9.9% in 1997-98, an increase that affected all age groups. Contact allergy to potassium dichromate decreased significantly from 3.0% in the first period to 1.2% in the second period (P = 0. 001). The decrease was seen in both sexes and was most pronounced among those of working age. No other significant changes were found in the frequency of sensitization to common allergens over the 12-year observation period.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of two ibuprofen formulations in the treatment of shoulder tendonitis.

In order to compare the efficacy and tolerance of two drug formulations of ibuprofen, conventional tablets 600 mg QID (CI) and sustained-release tablets 1200 mg BID (SRI), a total of 147 patients in 7 centres in Denmark with nontraumatic shoulder pain were included in a double-blind dummy study. Initially all patients received a local injection of corticosteroid and local anaesthetic, and were randomly allocated either drug (CI or SRI) for a period of 3 weeks. Complete relief was recorded from significantly more of the patients in the CI group (21%) than in the SRI group (7%) while a similar number of patients improved viz., 67% of the SRI treated group and 77% of the CI treated group. Based on doctor's assessment improvement in the two groups was equal. 44% of the patients recorded side effects, the number and pattern being the same in the two groups. No serious side effects were recorded. It is concluded that the two treatment regimens can be rated as clinically equivalent.

Adult↗

A double-blind comparison of acitretin and etretinate in the treatment of Darier's disease.

The objective of this double-blind study was to compare the therapeutic effects of acitretin with those of etretinate in patients with Darier's disease. Twenty-six patients (10 males and 16 females) were included in the study. Patients were treated with 30 mg daily for the first 4 weeks and with an individually adjusted dose (10-50 mg/day) for the subsequent 12 weeks. Remission or marked improvement was obtained in 10 of the 13 acitretin-treated patients and in 8 of the 11 etretinate-treated patients who completed the 16-week treatment. The usual mucocutaneous adverse reactions of retinoids were observed in all but one patient. There were no significant differences between treatment groups with regard to the incidence of these reactions.

Acitretin↗

Clinical patch test data evaluated by multivariate analysis. Danish Contact Dermatitis Group.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of individual explanatory factors, such as sex, age, atopy, test time and presence of diseased skin, on clinical patch test results, by application of multivariate statistical analysis. The study population was 2166 consecutive patients patch tested with the standard series of the International Contact Dermatitis Research Group (ICDRG) by members of the Danish Contact Dermatitis Group (DCDG) over a period of 6 months. For the 8 test allergens most often found positive (nickel, fragrance-mix, cobalt, chromate, balsam of Peru, carba-mix, colophony, and formaldehyde), one or more individual factors were of significance for the risk of being sensitized, except for chromate and formaldehyde. It is concluded that patch test results can be compared only after stratification of the material or by multivariate analysis.

Adolescent↗

Treating genitourinary and pharyngeal gonorrhoea with single dose ceftriaxone.

The efficacy of ceftriaxone 250 mg given as a single intramuscular dose to treat genitourinary and pharyngeal gonorrhoea is compared with the outcome of the Danish standard treatment for uncomplicated genitourinary gonorrhoea, pivampicillin 1.4 g and probenecid 1 g, both given by mouth. The study comprised 327 patients for whom the diagnosis of gonorrhoea was made by microscopy of a methylene blue stained smear at their first visit to the clinic and for whom the diagnosis was later confirmed by culture of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. One hundred and seventy patients with genitourinary gonorrhoea (18 with and 152 without concomitant pharyngeal infection) were treated with ceftriaxone. One hundred and fifty seven (17 with and 140 without concomitant pharyngeal infection) were treated with pivampicillin. One week after treatment N gonorrhoeae was isolated from none of 18, 1/152, (1%), 11/17 (65%), and 6/140 (4%) patients, respectively. At a second attendance two weeks after treatment no further treatment failure was found. During the study period, a further 52 patients with pharyngeal infection (with or without concomitant genitourinary infection) that was shown by culture only were treated with a single intramuscular injection of 250 mg ceftriaxone. No treatment failure was observed in this group. Only minor adverse drug reactions were seen. Ceftriaxone 250 mg as a single intramuscular injection is therefore safe and effective in treating gonorrhoea, including pharyngeal infection.

Adolescent↗

Sexually transmitted diseases in hetero-, homo- and bisexual males in Copenhagen.

This study is a mapping of intestinal protozoal and pathogenic bacterial infections, and sexually transmitted urethral and anorectal infections among 365 consecutive male patients attending a veneric disease (VD) clinic in Copenhagen. The profile of diseases was strongly correlated to sexual life-style. Amoebiasis and giardiasis were found respectively in 31.9% and 13.8% of homosexuals. None of the heterosexuals had pathogenic protozoa. Protozoal infections were correlated to anilingus. Forty-five percent of the patients were infected in Denmark. Travelling to endemic areas was of no obvious importance. Among males with homosexual partners, 14% had rectal infections. Gonococcal and chlamydial infections were equally frequent. Three percent had symptomatic anorectal herpes simplex infection and 11% anal warts. Gastrointestinal symptoms were not reliable indicators of gastrointestinal infection; symptoms were claimed frequently among homosexuals without infections compared to heterosexuals. Urethral gonorrhoea and/or chlamydia infections were diagnosed in 39% of the heterosexuals compared to only 10% of the homo-bisexuals. Twelve percent of the homosexuals had untreated early syphilis, whereas syphilis was exceptional among heterosexuals. The total burden of infections expressed as the actual number of infections was largest among homosexuals, 40.4%, 22.4%, and 5.3% having one, two, and three infections respectively.

Bisexuality↗

Tinea pedis and erythrasma in Danish recruits. Clinical signs, prevalence, incidence, and correlation to atopy.

Prior to military service, 665 recruits were examined clinically and microbiologically for tinea pedis and erythrasma and 546 of these were reexamined at the end of military service. The prevalence of clinical signs, erythrasma, and dermatophyte infection at the first investigation was 58.8%, 51.3%, and 6.2%, respectively, and at the second investigation, 81.1%, 77.1%, and 7.0%, respectively. The incidence of tinea pedis was 4.2% during the 9 months of military service. Of those infected at the first visit 41% had persistent infection mainly due to Trichophyton rubrum, whereas new infections were largely caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Some of those persistently infected had signs of chronicity at the follow-up visit, indicating that chronic dermatophytosis may become established in the early twenties. The prevalence of atopy was 15.0% in all the recruits but was almost 50% in those with persistent tinea pedis.

Adolescent↗

Serum IgE antibodies to the scabies mite.

Porcine scabies mites, Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis are more readily available in sufficient quantities than are human scabies mites. Circulating IgE antibodies specific to porcine scabies mites were found in 6 (30%) of 20 scabies patients with an RAST score of at least 2. Seven patients had elevated serum total IgE levels. Correlation between the RAST values, the duration of pruritus, and the IgE levels was not found. The results do not prove the existence of antibodies specific to porcine scabies mites but strongly support this assumption.

Adolescent↗