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Biomedical subjects

M Melbye

Publications and source records attributed to M Melbye.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Infectious mononucleosis in Greenland: a disease of the non-indigenous population.

Greenland Eskimos have one of the highest incidences of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in the world. Asian and African areas endemic for NPC show early infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and few cases of infectious mononucleosis (IM). Among 40 000 Eskimos and 10 000 Caucasians in Greenland there were 82 reported cases of IM from 1963 to 1980. Incidence rates from 1975 to 1980, age adjusted to the "world" population distribution, were 12.0 and 5.2/100 000/yr for males and females, respectively. Comparable Danish data revealed incidence rates of 97.4 and 105.1. From 1970 to 1981 Greenland hospital records verified 16 cases, of which only 2 were in Eskimos. The IM incidence in Eskimos is extremely low, and Danes living in Greenland have a comparatively much higher incidence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Virus-associated cancers in Greenland: frequent hepatitis B virus infection but low primary hepatocellular carcinoma incidence.

The incidence of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) in Greenland between 1960 and 1981 was determined and compared with the rate of this disease in Denmark. The annual age and sex rate (per 100,000) was not significantly different (overall, 1.9 vs. 2.2) despite a large difference in the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HBs markers of hepatitis. On the basis of a recent report of a very strong risk of PHC among male HBsAg carriers, 4.0 cases of PHC per year were expected in male Eskimos, but only 0.2 cases per year were observed. The incidence rates of other cancers suggested to be virally associated, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma, salivary gland cancer, and carcinoma of the cervix, were all high in Greenland compared to rates for the Danish population, and these high incidence rates are in accord with the markedly higher prevalences in Greenland Eskimos of viruses with which these other cancers have been associated. Thus Greenland Eskimos do not have a high incidence of PHC despite a high prevalence of HBsAg carriers, which suggests that other carcinogenic factors in this environment may be absent or that protective factors are present.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1983

AIDS in Europe.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1983

Seminal fluid excretion of cytomegalovirus related to immunosuppression in homosexual men.

Seminal fluid samples from 84 Danish homosexual men were successfully cultured to determine the prevalence of cytomegalovirus excretion. Ten (15%) out of 66 men positive for the antibody were found to be excreting the virus. Although the proportion excreting was inversely related to age (p less than 0.01), three men aged over 30 and with many years of homosexual experience excreted the virus. In addition, a 50 year old man with Kaposi's sarcoma excreted the virus. A further study of the ratio of T cell helpers to suppressors in the men aged over 30 and a series of age matched non-excreting homosexual control or heterosexual men showed that those excreting cytomegalovirus in their seminal fluid had statistically lower ratios (all less than 0.77) than the controls (p less than 0.05). Excretion of cytomegalovirus may be related to re-emergence of latent infection in immunosuppressed homosexual men.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Lifestyle and antiviral antibody studies among homosexual men in Denmark.

Two-hundred and fifty-nine male homosexuals (HS) of a large and a small Danish town were studied for antibodies to various virus and their statistical relationship to sex habits, drug use and other lifestyle factors. Prevalence rates against cytomegalovirus (CMV) were 86.7% of HS men from Copenhagen and 73.3% of HS men from the smaller community of Aarhus, against 30% of a control group. Antibody prevalence in homosexuals was significantly related to number of years of homosexual activity (p less than 0.0001), number of partners (p less than 0.01), nitrite inhalant use in the past year (p less than 0.01), and independently to venereal disease during the past year (p less than 0.01). Titer levels correlated with number of years of HS activity (p less than 0.001), number of partners (p less than 0.01), and independently with nitrite use in the past year (p less than 0.01). The association between lifestyle and antibodies was not detectable for VCA-IgG, VCA-IgA, VCA-IgM, and EA antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or for antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2, parvovirus and rotavirus. In a subset of 78 HS men, T-helper/T-suppressor ratio was determined. No correlation was found between level of ratio and either prevalence or titer of antibodies against CMV, EBV-components or herpes type 1 and 2.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1983

Danish children in Greenland have high Epstein-Barr virus titers.

Danish children brought to Greenland have somewhat higher mean titers of antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus than do Danish children in Denmark, although their titers are lower than those found in Eskimo children. This study presents the first evidence of increases in Epstein-Barr virus titers in migrant children.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Risk factors for parvovirus B19 infection in pregnancy.

CONTEXT: Parvovirus B19 infection during pregnancy has been associated with fetal death. However, the incidence of and risk factors for infection in pregnant women have not been well studied. OBJECTIVES: To estimate a pregnant woman's risk of infection with parvovirus B19 in epidemic and endemic situations and to study risk factors for infection. DESIGN: Population-based cohort study conducted between November 1992 and June 1994. SETTING: Three regions in Denmark. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 30946 pregnant women from a consecutive and population-based screening. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Specific IgG antibodies in serum samples obtained in the first trimester of pregnancy and from the newborn infant to assess past infection and seroconversion. Information on family structure, educational background, socioeconomic status, and pregnancy outcome was obtained from national registers. RESULTS: Based on 30 946 serum samples, 65.0% of pregnant women had evidence of past infection. Annual seroconversion rates among susceptible women during endemic and epidemic periods were 1.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2%-1.9%) and 13.0% (95% CI, 8.7%-23.1 %), respectively. Baseline seropositivity was significantly correlated with increasing number of siblings, having a sibling of the same age, number of own children, and occupational exposure to children. Risk of acute infection increased with the number of children in the household as follows: 0 children odds ratio (OR), 1 (reference); 1 child OR, 3.17 (95% CI, 2.24-4.49); 2 children OR, 5.47 (95% CI, 3.55-8.45); 3 or more children OR, 7.54 (95% CI, 3.80-14.94). Having children aged 6 to 7 years resulted in the highest rate of seroconversion among mothers (6.8%; OR, 4.07; 95% CI, 1.89-8.73). Compared with other pregnant women, nursery school teachers had a 3-fold increased risk of acute infection (OR, 3.09; 95% CI, 1.62-5.89). Population-attributable risk of seroconversion was 55.4% for number of own children and 6.0% for occupational exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of infection is high for susceptible pregnant women during epidemics and associated with the level of contact with children. Nursery school teachers have the highest occupational risk, but most infections seem to be the result of exposure to the woman's own children.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Syphilis and the risk of penis cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Until recently, syphilis was considered a major cause of penis cancer. The possible role of syphilis was discarded without much debate with the detection of certain of human papillomaviruses centrally involved in the etiology of penis cancer. GOALS: To reevaluate the association between syphilis and penis cancer by using truly population-based cancer and syphilis data and to generate a more sound basis for judging the possible role of syphilis in the etiology of penis cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Patients with epidermoid cancer of the penis, totalling 1,523, were diagnosed and reported to the Danish Cancer Registry from 1943 to 1990. Through linkage with the Danish Syphilis Registry, the impact of prior syphilis infection was evaluated in a case-control design using patients with colon cancer or stomach cancer as controls. RESULTS: Depending on the criteria used to assess prior syphilis status, 3% to 5% of patients with penis cancer had had syphilis before the cancer diagnosis. The corresponding proportions were 2% to 4% among patients with colon cancer and 2% to 5% among patients with stomach cancer. Logistic regression showed that patients with penis cancer did not have a syphilis history significantly more often than control cancer patients. CONCLUSION: Syphilis should be removed from the list of possible causes of penis cancer.

Adult↗