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Biomedical subjects

K K Petersen

Publications and source records attributed to K K Petersen.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Epidemiology of violence in a Danish municipality. Changes in the incidence during the 1980s.

A one-year prospective study of injuries caused by violence was performed at the two casualty wards and at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Arhus, and the results were compared with those of a similar study done six years earlier. Whereas the population at risk increased by 4% to just over a quarter of a million, the number of cases increased by 14% to 1874 (p = 0.06) and the number of persons by 17% to 1726 (p = 0.01). The overall incidence increased for females from 3.0 to 3.7 per 1000 (maximum 7.4 per 1000 females 35-39 years old), and for males from 10.6 to 11.1 per 1000 (maximum 33.4 per 1000 males 15-19 years old). Statistically significant increase of age-specific incidence rates was only found among females 35-49 years old, where, however, also the largest frequency of repeated registrations was noted. As in the former investigation, almost three-fourths of male violence took place at bars and discotheques or on the street, usually associated with unknown person(s), whereas one-half of female violence occurred at home with the partner as the most frequent counterpart. Police recorded cases increased from 16 to 22% (p less than 0.05).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Epidemiology of violence in a Danish municipality. Changes in severity during the 1980s.

Between April 1987 and April 1988, all assault victims attending the two casualty wards and the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Arhus were registered, and an extensive questionnaire was completed by the casualty ward physician. These data were compared with the data from an analogous study undertaken six years earlier. A total of 1874 patients were victims of personal violence in 1987 compared to 1639 in 1981. The most common cause of injury was one or more blows from a fist and/or kicks (used in approximately 70% of all cases). The present study demonstrated an increasing use of firearms and assaults involving attempts to strangle the victim. Ninety-eight percent of the injuries were classified as no injury or AIS-grade 1-2 in both 1981 and 1987. The number of AIS-grade 2 injuries increased from 1981 to 1987 due to an increased number of facial injuries, but the number of homicides and AIS-grade 4-6 injuries decreased in the interval. Based on the present study, it is concluded that the severity of interpersonal violence did not increase in the Arhus area in the 1980s.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Street violence in Arhus].

As part of a one-year prospective investigation of all violent accidents in Arhus undertaken in the casualty departments and the Medicolegal Institute, the extent and severity of street violence were analysed and compared with violence in and near pubs. Street violence constituted 26% of all accidents due to violence and involved 1.3 persons per day. 75% were blameless and 68% of these were attacked outside the region where they lived. Violence in the street, in pubs and in the vicinity of pubs was concentrated in the centre of the city, in the evening and night hours, at weekends and involved young men. Street violence and violence in the vicinity of pubs differed from violence in pubs in that significantly more of the victims were blameless (approximately 75%), several persons were the perpetrators (approximately 40%) and blows and kicks were combined (approximately 15%). As assessed by the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), the lesions sustained in street injury did not differ from those of violence in or near pubs: 86% were minor injuries, 11% moderate and none proved fatal. 75% of the victims could be treated completely in the casualty department or by the general practitioner or dentist. Street violence is concentrated to the middle of the city, at weekends and in the evening and night hours and is similar in many ways to violence in and near pubs. The authors consider that exposure to street violence is, to a great extent, connected with participation in night life of the city.

Abbreviated Injury Scale↗
PubMed1991

[Violence and women in Arhus. Changes in the 1980's].

As part of a one-year prospective investigation of accidents due to violence in Arhus carried out by the casualty departments and the Institute of Forensic Medicine in cooperation with the Arhus Police and the Crisis centre for female victims of violence, the fraction of violence which involved women was analysed. A total of 492 contacts were received from 424 women. The average age was 32 years. The home was the commonest site of violence with the husband as the commonest perpetrator of violence (192). In 98 cases the perpetrator was unknown. The majority had received blunt injuries (blows and/or kicks). The lesions frequently appeared to be limited from a therapeutic viewpoint. In 143 women, however, the lesions were potentially serious. Thirteen women were hospitalized and 60 were referred for treatment in other departments. Violence was commonest in the evening and night hours and there was a tendency to an increase towards the end of the week. The majority (279) stated that the episode was not their fault. The police were contacted in 25% of the cases. A total of 164 requests were made for access to the Crisis Centre by female victims of violence. Of these, 30 women had been seen by a doctor and 23 had previously been hospitalized. Compared with conditions five years previously, a considerable increase in the number of registered violent accidents to women was observed. On the other hand, no definite evidence was found that the nature of the violence to which they had been exposed had altered during the past five years.

Accidents↗
PubMed1989

[CS tear gas spray as an injurious agent. Clinical aspects].

Eight cases are described, in which illegally imported CS-tear gas spray ("self-defence spray") were used in connection with malice or robbery. Analysis of the content of the sprays revealed small amounts of CS (0.2 per cent), but large amounts of solvents and propellants. The latter are presumed to have contributed to the symptoms. Exposure to CS-tear gas spray is usually harmless, but skin manifestations such as ulcerations, Quincke-like oedema in the face and allergic dermatitis have been reported by other authors. Theoretically, CS-particles may adhere to the cornea. Examination of the eye is therefore recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Patellar fractures. Modified tension band osteosynthesis].

In a retrospective investigation, the ability of modified tension band osteosynthesis to retain 45 reduced fractures of the patella and the functional end result was studied. Postoperatively, 24 patients were immobilized in plaster casts for 0-14 days and the remainder for 25-56 days. Postoperative radiographs revealed nine fractures (four transverse, three comminuted and two pole fractures) with fragment displacements exceeding 2-3 millimeters. Among these, three fractures had secondary dislocation and, further, one exactly reduced pole fracture dislocated. Operation was complicated with infection in four cases: two superficial wound infections, one subcutaneous fistula and one pyarthron. Operative release of adhesions was performed in five cases, two patients were patellectomized and one required a condyle prosthesis. At follow-up 18-80 months after the injury, 37 patients were examined clinically. Among 29 patients without concomitant injuries, seven patients were free of symptoms and 13 patients were without any pain. Free knee movement and quadriceps atrophy less than or equal to 1.5 cm was found in 17 patients. The modified tension band can retain adequately reduced transverse and comminuted fractures of the patella, probably also without plaster immobilisation. Dislocated fracture of the patella is a serious lesion, which must be treated with care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Complete sternal cleft.

Complete sternal clefts are rare congenital anomalies, which may be associated with other abnormalities of midline fusion. We here present a case with a complete cleft as the only anomaly of midline fusion.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

The incidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux in children with exogenic and endogenic asthma tested by a new radiological method.

24 asthmatic children and 15 children without any respiratory or gastrointestinal signs of symptoms were investigated for gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER) by a new radiological test in which the child swallowed a piece of rye bread with liver paté after intake of a glass of Mixobar (600 mg/ml barium sulphate). The asthmatic children were divided into an exogenic and an endogenic group. 62.5% of the endogenically asthmatic children had GER (p less than 0.01) and 19% in the exogenic group. In normal children only one child had GER (7%). Furthermore, GER was more frequent in asthmatic children with nightly cough compared to asthmatic children without nightly cough (p less than 0.02). It is concluded that GER reflux occurred significantly more often in patients with endogenic asthma and/or nightly cough when compared to normal children.

Asthma↗
PubMed1988

Value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of gallstone ileus.

Two patients are presented, both of whom were admitted to hospital because of abdominal pains. In both patients, ultrasonography showed gallstones in the lower abdomen and in the small bowel loops were found to be dilated. In both cases it was possible to diagnose the gallstone ileus by ultrasonography and to mark the abdomen as a guide to the surgeon.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Evidence for increased media thickness, increased neuronal amine uptake, and depressed excitation--contraction coupling in isolated resistance vessels from essential hypertensives.

The functional and morphologic characteristics of isolated subcutaneous resistance vessels (about 170 micron i.d.) from 15 untreated subjects with essential hypertension and 15 matched controls were examined. The vessels from the hypertensives had a 29% increase in the media-thickness-to-lumen-diameter ratio. The maximal force development to noradrenaline (NA) expressed as active pressure (an estimate of the pressure the vessels could have contracted against in vivo) was 30% higher in vessels from the hypertensives, while active media stress (force per square unit of smooth muscle) and sensitivity to NA was not significantly different. Increased active pressure, as well as unaltered active media stress and sensitivity, was seen for vasopressin, serotonin, angiotensin II, and K+. There was, however, an enhanced leftward shift of the NA sensitivity with cocaine (an inhibitor of the neuronal amine pump) in vessels from the hypertensives [pD2(+cocaine) and pD2(-cocaine) were 0.185 +/- 0.53) and 0.040 +/- 0.044, hypertensives and normotensives, respectively, p less than 0.05] suggesting an abnormality of presynaptic function in essential hypertension. Furthermore, the calcium sensitivity was depressed (pD2 was 4.197 +/- 0.050 and 4.381 +/- 0.068, hypertensives and normotensives, respectively, p less than 0.05), and the rate of relaxation was faster (p less than 0.05) in vessels from hypertensives, suggesting that excitation-contraction coupling might be depressed. The results suggest that the increased pressor response in essential hypertension can, to a large extent, be explained by altered vascular structure, while smooth muscle function is either unchanged or possibly depressed.

Arteries↗