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Prevalence of retinitis pigmentosa and allied disorders in Denmark. I Main results.

In a nation-wide study we utilized all available sources to characterize the prevalence rates of retinitis pigmentosa. 1301 persons, 715 males and 586 females, were identified, with a diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa or some other tapetoretinal dystrophy, and living in Denmark per January 1, 1988. The corresponding completeness corrected prevalence rate of retinitis pigmentosa was 1:3026. All cases were classified as 'certain', 'probable', or 'possible'. The age specific prevalence rates increased until 40-50 years, reaching a level of 35-40 male cases per 100,000 and 25-30 female cases per 100,000. Age specific prevalence rates were standardized to the WHO World Standard Population and compared to rates reported from Britain and The United States. World standardized prevalence rate for males was 25.29 per 100,000 and for females 19.31 per 100,000. The preponderance of males was highly statistically significant, (P less than 0.01).

Adolescent↗

Suicide in Denmark: a statistical review for the past 150 years.

This paper presents a survey of suicide in Denmark from the time when statistics were first kept 100 years ago, up to the present. The remarkable high suicide rate at the start is discussed. The belief that suicide rate is influenced by several factors outside the individual, factors which to some extent can be influenced, is supported by the great variability of the suicide index during the last 100-150 years, being 29.9 in 1861, 12.8 in 1918 and 26 in 1976. The distribution according to sex and age today compared have helped many elements of the population, especially the youngest and the eldest, and especially the men. However, among women 35 to 70 years old and especially those between 45 and 55 the suicide rate has increased. One possible explanation is today's greater number of divorces with all the troubles that follow. Finally, the changing of suicide methods is discussed.

Adolescent↗

Trends in attempted suicide in Denmark, 1976-1980.

The object of the present study was to estimate proportions and changes in the incidence of suicide attempts in Denmark. Case sheets concerning all admissions in 1976-1979 (total 6,650) at the Department of Psychiatry, Odense University Hospital (the catchment area of which provides a representative sample of the Danish population), were examined with a view to establishing the reasons for admission. Rates of suicide attempts by age and sex in 1976-1979 were calculated, and estimated rates of the suicide attempts in 1980 added. Trend analysis showed an increase in the mean rates from 1976 to 1979 of 48%, followed by a decrease in 1980 of 13%. There were high increases among the adolescents, but the increase was above all due to the fact that more and more men attempted suicide; the study suggests as a new phenomenon more male than female suicide attempters. We stress the fact that incidences calculated on the basis of hospital admissions only underestimate the real proportions of self-destructive behavior.

Adolescent↗

Post-bomb rise in radiocarbon activity in Denmark.

During the summers of 1958 and 1959 the increase in concentration of bomb-produced radiocarbon in Denmark was several percent higher than the average increase for the hemisphere. This additional increase is probably a carbon-14 equivalent to the spring peaks in strontium-90 fallout in the North Temperate Zone in the same years, and suggests latitudinal variations in carbon-14 contamination.

Bombs↗

Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. from humans, pigs, cattle, and broilers in Denmark.

The MICs of 16 antimicrobial agents were determined for 202 Campylobacter jejuni isolates, 123 Campylobacter coli isolates, and 6 Campylobacter lari isolates from humans and food animals in Denmark. The C. jejuni isolates originated from humans (75), broilers (95), cattle (29), and pigs (3); the C. coli isolates originated from humans (7), broilers (17), and pigs (99); and the C. lari isolates originated from broilers (5) and cattle (1). All isolates were susceptible to apramycin, neomycin, and gentamicin. Only a few C. jejuni isolates were resistant to one or more antimicrobial agents. Resistance to tetracycline was more common among C. jejuni isolates from humans (11%) than among C. jejuni isolates from animals (0 to 2%). More resistance to streptomycin was found among C. jejuni isolates from cattle (10%) than among those from humans (4%) or broilers (1%). A greater proportion of C. coli than of C. jejuni isolates were resistant to the other antimicrobial agents tested. Isolates were in most cases either coresistant to tylosin, spiramycin, and erythromycin or susceptible to all three antibiotics. More macrolide-resistant isolates were observed among C. coli isolates from swine (79%) than among C. coli isolates from broilers (18%) and humans (14%). Twenty-four percent of C. coli isolates from pigs were resistant to enrofloxacin, whereas 29% of C. coli isolates from humans and none from broilers were resistant. More resistance to streptomycin was observed among C. coli isolates from swine (48%) than among C. coli isolates from broilers (6%) or humans (0%). The six C. lari isolates were susceptible to all antimicrobial agents except ampicillin and nalidixic acid. This study showed that antimicrobial resistance was found only at relatively low frequencies among C. jejuni and C. lari isolates. Among C. coli isolates, especially from swine, there was a high level of resistance to macrolides and streptomycin. Furthermore, this study showed differences in the resistance to antimicrobial agents among Campylobacter isolates of different origins.

Animals↗

Molecular basis of high-level ciprofloxacin resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains isolated in Denmark from 1995 to 1998.

In Denmark surveillance of the in vitro susceptibility to ciprofloxacin of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was established in 1990. The proportion of N. gonorrhoeae strains with decreased susceptibility or resistance to ciprofloxacin (MIC >/= 0.06 microg/ml) was low (0.3 to 2.3%) up to 1995. Between 1995 and 1998 the rate of less-susceptible and resistant strains rose from 6.9 to 13.2%. Among ciprofloxacin-resistant strains (MIC >/= 1 microg/ml), 81% were highly resistant (MIC >/= 4 microg/ml). Thirty-five N. gonorrhoeae strains (40 isolates) for which ciprofloxacin MICs were 4 to 32 microg/ml were investigated for the frequency and patterns of mutations within the gyrA and parC genes. The quinolone resistance-determining regions of the gyrA and parC genes were amplified by PCR, and the amplicons were directly sequenced. Alterations at Ser-91 and Asp-95 in GyrA and a single or double alteration in ParC were identified in 32 strains (91%). Ser-91-to-Phe and Asp-95-to-Gly alterations in GyrA were detected in 28 strains (80%). The most common ParC alteration, Asp-86 to Asn, was found in 19 strains (54%). The strains were analyzed for genetic relationship by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The analysis showed that nine strains with the same mutation pattern in the gyrA and parC genes, originating from different geographical areas over 3 years, had the same PFGE patterns after SpeI as well as NheI digestion (only one strain with one band difference in the NheI pattern), suggesting that a resistant clone had spread worldwide. The results from this study strongly suggest that double gyrA mutations plus a parC mutation(s) play an important role in the development of high-level fluoroquinolone resistance in N. gonorrhoeae.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

Application of multilocus enzyme electrophoresis in studies of the epidemiology of Listeria monocytogenes in Denmark.

A total of 245 strains of Listeria monocytogenes were investigated. These strains were isolated from human and animal cases of listeriosis as well as from different kinds of raw and processed foods. Thirty-three electrophoretic types (ETs) were identified among the 245 strains. The strains investigated included all human clinical strains isolated in Denmark during 1989 and 1990. Seventy-three percent of the strains isolated in this period were assigned to one of only two ETs (ET 1 and ET 4). ET 1, which was found to be the most frequently occurring ET among strains isolated from human clinical cases, was also found to occur rather frequently in animal clinical cases. ET 1 was, however, found only sporadically among strains isolated from foods and food factories. The data indicate that there might be something distinctive about the physiology or ecology of the ET 1 clone which makes it more likely to bring about disease in human beings either because of high pathogenicity or because of a special ability to multiply to infectious doses in processed foods. Another type, designated ET 4, was found to be the next most frequently occurring ET, after ET 1, among human clinical isolates. This could be explained by the fact that ET 4 was found to be the most frequently occurring ET within food isolates.

Animals↗

Evidence for microbial iron reduction in a landfill leachate-polluted aquifer (Vejen, Denmark).

Aquifer sediment samples obtained from the anaerobic part of a landfill leachate plume in Vejen, Denmark, were suspended in groundwater or in an artificial medium and incubated. The strictly anaerobic suspensions were tested for reduction of ferric iron [Fe(III)] oxides, which was measured as an increase in the concentration of dissolved Fe(II). Iron reduction did not occur when the medium was inoculated with inactive sediment and when the organisms in the inoculated medium were killed by formaldehyde, by chloroform, or by pasteurization, whereas the level of iron reduction was significant when living bacteria were present. Mixed cultures were obtained from the sediment samples, and differences in apparent iron reduction rates among the different cultures were maintained during several transfers. In addition, iron reduction was observed in unamended incubation mixtures containing whole sediment and groundwater. Synthetic amorphous Fe(III) oxides, as well as naturally occurring sediment-bound Fe(III) oxides, could be reduced by the cultures. Together, our results provide evidence that iron-reducing bacteria are present and microbial iron reduction occurs in the polluted aquifer sediments which we studied.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗

Distribution of sulfate-reducing bacteria in a stratified fjord (Mariager Fjord, Denmark) as evaluated by most-probable-number counts and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of PCR-amplified ribosomal DNA fragments.

The sulfate-reducing bacterial populations of a stratified marine water column, Mariager Fjord, Denmark, were investigated by molecular and culture-dependent approaches in parallel. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA and DNA encoding rRNA (rDNA) isolated from the water column indicated specific bacterial populations in different water column layers and revealed a highly differentiated pattern of rRNA- and rDNA-derived PCR amplificates, probably reflecting active and resting bacterial populations. Hybridization of DGGE patterns with rRNA probes indicated the increased presence and activity (by at least 1 order of magnitude) of sulfate-reducing bacteria within and below the chemocline. Parallel to this molecular approach, an approach involving most-probable-number (MPN) counts was used, and it found a similar distribution of cultivable sulfate-reducing bacteria in the water column of Mariager Fjord, Approximately 25 cells and 250 cells per ml above and below the chemocline, respectively, were found. Desulfovibrio- and Desulfobulbus-related strains occurred in the oxic zone. DGGE bands from MPN cultures were sequenced and compared with those obtained from nucleic acids extracted from water column samples. The MPN isolates were phylogenetically affiliated with sulfate-reducing delta subdivision proteobacteria (members of the genera Desulfovibrio, Desulfobulbus, and Desulfobacter), whereas the molecular isolates constituted an independent lineage of the delta subdivision proteobacteria. DGGE of PCR-amplified nucleic acids with general eubacterial PCR primers conceptually revealed the general bacterial population, whereas the use of culture media allowed cultivable sulfate-reducing bacteria to be selected. A parallel study of Mariager Fjord biogeochemistry, bacterial activity, and bacterial counts complementing this investigation has been presented elsewhere (N.B. Ramsing, H. Fossing, T. G. Ferdelman, F. Andersen, and B. Thamdrup, Appl. Environ.

Bacteria↗

Heterogeneity among isolates of Vibrio vulnificus recovered from eels (Anguilla anguilla) in Denmark.

The findings of this study demonstrate that Vibrio vulnificus isolates recovered from diseased eels in Denmark are heterogeneous as shown by O serovars, capsule types, ribotyping, phage typing, and plasmid profiling. The study includes 85 V. vulnificus isolates isolated from the gills, intestinal contents, mucus, spleen, and kidneys of eels during five disease outbreaks on two Danish eel farms from 1995 to 1997, along with a collection of 12 V. vulnificus reference strains. The results showed that more than one serovar may be capable of causing disease in eels and that these isolates are genetically heterogenous as shown by ribotyping. Ribotyping also showed that the same isolates may persist in an eel farm and cause recurrent outbreaks. Phage typing did not correlate with ribotyping or serotyping. However, we observed that 26 of 28 isolates, which were not susceptible to any of the phages, showed the same ribotype, O serovar, and capsule type. This suggests that these isolates may possess features that make them resistant to lysis by the phages used in this study. Ninety-three of 97 isolates harbored between one and three high-molecular-weight plasmids which previously had been suggested to be associated with eel virulence. The subdivision of V. vulnificus into two biotypes based on the indole reaction can no longer be supported, since 82 of 97 isolates in this study were indole positive, and a subdivision into serovars appears to be more correct.

Anguilla↗

Effects of climate on incidence of Campylobacter spp. in humans and prevalence in broiler flocks in Denmark.

Campylobacter infections are increasing and pose a serious public health problem in Denmark. Infections in humans and broiler flocks show similar seasonality, suggesting that climate may play a role in infection. We examined the effects of temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, and hours of sunlight on Campylobacter incidence in humans and broiler flocks by using lag dependence functions, locally fitted linear models, and cross validation methods. For humans, the best model included average temperature and sunlight 4 weeks prior to infection; the maximum temperature lagged at 4 weeks was the best single predictor. For broilers, the average and maximum temperatures 3 weeks prior to slaughter gave the best estimate; the average temperature lagged at 3 weeks was the best single predictor. The combined effects of temperature and sunlight or the combined effects of temperature and relative humidity predicted the incidence in humans equally well. For broiler flock incidence these factors explained considerably less. Future research should focus on elements within the broiler environment that may be affected by climate, as well as the interaction of microclimatic factors on and around broiler farms. There is a need to quantify the contribution of broilers as a source of campylobacteriosis in humans and to further examine the effect of temperature on human incidence after this contribution is accounted for. Investigations should be conducted into food consumption and preparation practices and poultry sales that may vary by season.

Animals↗

Comparison of MICs of ceftiofur and other antimicrobial agents against bacterial pathogens of swine from the United States, Canada, and Denmark.

The MICs of ceftiofur and other antimicrobial agents, tested for comparison, for 515 bacterial isolates of pigs from the United States, Canada, and Denmark with various diseases were compared. The organisms tested included Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pasteurella multocida, Salmonella choleraesuis, Salmonella typhimurium, Streptococcus suis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis, Streptococcus equi subsp. equi, and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus. In addition to ceftiofur, the following antimicrobial agents or combinations were tested: enrofloxacin, ampicillin, sulfamethazine, trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (1:19), erythromycin, lincomycin, spectinomycin, lincomycin-spectinomycin (1:8), tilmicosin, and tetracycline. Tilmicosin was only tested against the U.S. isolates. Overall, ceftiofur and enrofloxacin were the most active antimicrobial agents tested against all isolates, with MICs inhibiting 90% of isolates tested (MIC90s) of < or = 2.0 and < or = 1.0 microgram/ml, respectively. Erythromycin, sulfamethazine, spectinomycin, and lincomycin demonstrated limited activity against all of the organisms tested, with MIC90s of > or = 8.0, > or = 256.0, > or = 32.0, and > or = 16.0 micrograms/ml, respectively. Trimethoprim-sulfadiazine was active against isolates of A. pleuropneumoniae, S. choleraesuis, S. typhimurium, P. multocida, S. equi, and S. suis (MIC90s, < or = 0.5 microgram/ml) but was less active against the E. coli strains tested (MIC90, > 16.0 micrograms/ml). Ampicillin was active against the P. multocida, S. suis, and S. equi isolates tested (MIC90s, 0.5, 0.06, and 0.06 micrograms/ml, respectively) and was moderately active against S. typhimurium (MIC90s, 2.0 micrograms/ml). However, this antimicrobial agent was much less active when it was tested against A. pleuropneumoniae, S. cholerae-suis, and E. coli (MIC90s, 16.0, > 32.0, and 32.0 micrograms/ml, respectively). Against the U.S. isolates of A. pleuropneumoniae and P. multocida, tilmicosin was moderately active (MIC90s, 4.0 and 8.0 micrograms/ml, respectively). However, this compound was not active against the remaining U.S. isolates (MIC90s, > 64.0 micrograms/ml). Differences in the MICs from one country to another were not detected with enrofloxacin, ceftiofur, or lincomycin for the strains tested, but variations in the MICs of the remaining antimicrobial agents were observed.

Animals↗

Typing of clinical Mycobacterium avium complex strains cultured during a 2-year period in Denmark by using IS1245.

In the present study restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses with the recently described insertion sequence IS1245 as a probe was performed with clinical Mycobacterium avium complex strains cultured in Denmark during a 2-year period. The overall aim of the study was to disclose potential routes of transmission of these microorganisms. As a first step, the genetic diversity among isolates from AIDS patients and non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients was described. In addition, a number of isolates from nonhuman sources cultured during the same period were analyzed and compared to the human isolates. A total of 203 isolates from AIDS patients (n = 90), non-HIV-infected patients (n = 91), and nonhuman sources (n = 22) were analyzed. The presence of IS1245 was restricted to Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium isolates. The majority of human isolates had large numbers of IS1245 copies, while nonhuman isolates could be divided into a high-copy-number group and a low-copy-number group. Groups of identical strains were found to be geographically widespread, comprising strains from AIDS patients as well as strains from non-HIV-infected patients. Samples of peat (to be used as potting soil) and veterinary samples were found to contain viable M. avium isolates belonging to genotypes also found in humans.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Usefulness of spoligotyping To discriminate IS6110 low-copy-number Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains cultured in Denmark.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains cultured in Denmark have been analyzed by IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) on a routine basis from 1992 and onwards. Due to the influx of immigrants with tuberculosis, the number of strains harboring only one to five copies of IS6110 has increased steadily. Since the discriminatory power of IS6110 fingerprinting for such strains is poor, we have performed additional genotyping of all low-copy-number strains by the recently described PCR-based method known as spoligotyping. A total of 311 clinical strains were typed: 14 Mycobacterium bovis BCG, 48 M. bovis, and 249 M. tuberculosis strains. Spoligotyping correctly differentiated M. bovis and M. bovis BCG from M. tuberculosis strains, but it did not differentiate M. bovis from M. bovis BCG. All M. bovis BCG strains exhibited identical spoligotype patterns. The discriminatory power of spoligotyping of low-copy-number M. tuberculosis strains was higher than that of IS6110 fingerprinting. Based on RFLP typing solely, 83% of the low-copy-number M. tuberculosis strains were found to form part of a cluster, and 75% were found to form a cluster on the basis of spoligotyping. When the two techniques were combined, the amount of clustering decreased to 55%. The combination of these two techniques might be valuable in studying the epidemiology of M. tuberculosis strains harboring few copies of the IS6110 element.

DNA Fingerprinting↗

Tularemia in Denmark: identification of a Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica strain by real-time PCR and high-resolution typing by multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis.

We report ulceroglandular tularemia affecting an 8-year-old boy and the first recovery of Francisella tularensis in Denmark. A novel real-time PCR assay was used to identify the strain as F. tularensis subsp. holarctica (type B). Multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis demonstrated a close genetic relationship to strains from Norway.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗

Congenital hypothyroidism in Denmark.

Among 436 959 live infants born between 1970 and 1975 in Denmark were 72 (49 girls and 23 boys) who developed primary hypothyroidism, giving an incidence of 1 in 6064 live births. In the oldest group (6 to 8 years of age) the incidence was 1 in 5100. The age at diagnosis ranged from 1 week to 5 years 4 months; 10% were diagnosed within the first month, 40% within the first 3 months, and 70% within the first year of life. Thyroid scintigrams were available for 43 patients, 72% had aplastic or hypoplastic thyroid glands, 12% had ectopic thyroid glands, 16% had goitres. Patients with aplastic or hypoplastic thyroids tended to be diagnosed earlier than those with ectopic thyroid glands. The calculated incidence in the presence study is lower than that suggested by the Danish neonatal screening programme.

Age Factors↗

Denmark: the elderly living in style.

In the next 20 years every country in Western Europe will see a rise in its total numbers of people aged over 60, and since old people are now living longer the proportion aged over 75 will also rise. Both physical and mental disorders become much more common between 60 and 75, so that if these old people are to be provided with accommodation and medical services at contemporary standards many more places will be needed in sheltered flats, nursing homes, and geriatric hospitals. Yet in the current economic recession most European countries are trying to cut back on public expenditure. How do politicians and administrators reconcile the conflict between the demands created by demographic change and the freeze on public spending? How will the care of the elderly change in response to this conflict? Tony Smith is examining the ways in which old people are looked after in several European countries and their plans for the future. This first article deals with Denmark.

Aged↗

Trends in incidence of anal cancer in Denmark.

OBJECTIVE: To study long term trends in incidence of anal cancer in a well monitored, unselected population. DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiological study based on data from the Danish Cancer Registry. SETTING: Denmark, 1943-87. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Time related changes in anal cancer incidence according to sex, age, birth cohort, urban or rural residence, and marital status. RESULTS: The incidence of anal cancer remained fairly constant in the period 1943-57 and was similar for men and women, but it increased 1.5-fold among men and nearly tripled among women thereafter. Among men the incidence increased from 0.25 per 100,000 population (world standardised) in 1958-62 to 0.38 in 1983-7 (p = 0.01) and among women from 0.28 to 0.74 (p < 0.01). The greatest increase was among residents of the capital (Copenhagen). During 1943-87 age specific trends increased in young and middle aged men and in all age groups among women. Men with anal cancer were significantly more likely throughout the study period to be unmarried than were patients with cancer of the colon (adjusted odds ratio 2.7; 95% confidence interval 2.0 to 3.6) and stomach (2.1; 1.5 to 2.8), but no association with marital status was found among women. CONCLUSIONS: The distribution and incidence of anal cancer have changed appreciably since around 1960, especially among women, which indicates important aetiological changes. Changes in sexual behaviour may have facilitated the spread of a transmittable agent of aetiological importance. It has recently been suggested that cigarette smoking promotes anal cancer, and this finds indirect support in the synchronism between changes in anal cancer incidence and heavy smoking behaviour. Factors associated with homosexuality are likely to explain some of the cases among men.

Adult↗