Research Interests:
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a well-known cardiovascular risk factor. Less is known about cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Therefore, we investigated the risk of... more
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a well-known cardiovascular risk factor. Less is known about cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Therefore, we investigated the risk of mortality and adverse cardiovascular events in patients diagnosed with SLE and CLE. We conducted a cohort study of the entire Danish population aged ≥ 18 and ≤ 100 years, followed from 1997 to 2011 by individual-level linkage of nationwide registries. Multivariable adjusted Cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) for a composite cardiovascular endpoint and all-cause mortality, for patients with SLE and CLE. A total of 3282 patients with CLE and 3747 patients with SLE were identified and compared with 5,513,739 controls. The overall HR for the composite CVD endpoint was 1.31 (95% CI 1.16–1.49) for CLE and 2.05 (95% CI 1.15–3.44) for SLE. The corresponding HRs for all-cause mortality were 1.32 (95% CI 1.20–1.45) for CLE and 2.21 (...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Traditionally, psoriasis in certain body sites such as the scalp, nails, palms, soles and intertriginous areas has been acknowledged as difficult to treat.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major public health concern. Lupus erythematosus (LE) is a chronic autoimmune disease ranging from localized cutaneous disease (CLE) to systemic involvement (SLE). Patients with SLE have an... more
Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major public health concern. Lupus erythematosus (LE) is a chronic autoimmune disease ranging from localized cutaneous disease (CLE) to systemic involvement (SLE). Patients with SLE have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), but little is known about the CLE-related risk of VTE. Methods To evaluate the risk of VTE in patients with SLE and CLE as compared to the general population, a retrospective cohort study was conducted. Incidence rates and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from multivariable Cox regression models were used to evaluate and compare the risk of VTE. Registries of hospitalizations, outpatient visits, and prescription drug use were studied to determine the risk of VTE in patients with CLE and SLE and the general population between 1997 and 2011. Results A total of 3234 patients with CLE and 3627 patients with SLE were identified and compared to 5,590,070 individuals in the reference popul...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
In January 2009 the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was included in the Danish childhood vaccination programme for girls aged 12 years. A catch-up programme for girls up to 16 years of age was started a couple of months earlier. Based... more
In January 2009 the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was included in the Danish childhood vaccination programme for girls aged 12 years. A catch-up programme for girls up to 16 years of age was started a couple of months earlier. Based on national register data, anogenital wart (AGW) incidences between January 2001 and December 2011 were estimated. We used χ2 analysis to identify significant trends in proportions of patients diagnosed with AGW in the period before and after inclusion of the HPV vaccine in the program. The development of chlamydia infections was included in this study as a proxy for possible behaviour changes that could affect the AGW incidence. Between 2008 and 2011, a 50% (95% CI 44-56) decrease in AGW incidence was seen among 15-19-year-old men (p = 0.041), from 5.2 to 2.6/1,000. Among women, a 67% (95% CI 63-72) decrease from 11.7 to 3.8/1,000 was seen (p < 0.0001). The decline in frequency of AGW in young Danish women seems to result from the high coverage ...
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Occupational Health, Risk assessment, Medicine, Denmark, Humans, and 14 moreFemale, Risk factors, Clinical Sciences, Prevalence, Mouth Diseases, Mouth mucosa, Occupational Exposure, Laser Therapy, Risk Factors, Risk Assessment, Electrosurgery, Nasal Mucosa, Papillomavirus Infections, and Condylomata acuminata
Research Interests:
Thirty-three inhabitants in a nursing home were evaluated by the Gottfries-Bråne-Steen scale. The evaluation showed that more than one third of the residents had marked dementia, especially with intellectual symptoms. The residents showed... more
Thirty-three inhabitants in a nursing home were evaluated by the Gottfries-Bråne-Steen scale. The evaluation showed that more than one third of the residents had marked dementia, especially with intellectual symptoms. The residents showed a high degree of motoric problems. It is concluded that dementia is a common cause for placement in a nursing home, although it seldom is recorded in detail as such before admission.
Research Interests: Dementia, Denmark, Humans, Nursing Homes, Female, and 4 moreMale, Clinical Sciences, Physical Fitness, and Aged
Research Interests:
7. Richelsen B, Tonstad S, Rossner S et al. Effect of orlistat on weight regain and cardiovascular risk factors following a very-low-energy diet in abdominally obese patients: a 3-year randomized, placebo-controlled study. Diabetes Care... more
7. Richelsen B, Tonstad S, Rossner S et al. Effect of orlistat on weight regain and cardiovascular risk factors following a very-low-energy diet in abdominally obese patients: a 3-year randomized, placebo-controlled study. Diabetes Care 2007;30:27-32. 8. Torgerson JS, ...
In recent years, the increased understanding of the pathophysiology of psoriasis has resulted in several new treatments. The success of ustekinumab proved the importance of the IL-23/T helper cell 17 axis in psoriatic diseases. Several... more
In recent years, the increased understanding of the pathophysiology of psoriasis has resulted in several new treatments. The success of ustekinumab proved the importance of the IL-23/T helper cell 17 axis in psoriatic diseases. Several new biologics targeting this axis will reach the clinic in the next years. Biologics are costly, require injections, and some patients experience tacaphylaxis, thus, the development of orally available, small-molecule inhibitors is desirable. Among small-molecules under investigation are A3 adenosine receptor agonists, Janus kinase inhibitors, and phosphodiesterase inhibitors. We review published clinical trials, and conference abstracts presented during the last years, concerned with new drugs under development for the treatment of psoriasis. In conclusion, our psoriasis armamentarium will be filled with several new effective therapeutic options the coming years. We need to be aware of the limitations of drug safety data when selecting new novel trea...
Research Interests:
To assess the effect of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 and syphilis coinfection on HIV-ribonucleic acid (RNA) viral load, CD4 cell count, and the response in rapid plasmin reagin (RPR) to treatment of the syphilis infection. Cases... more
To assess the effect of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 and syphilis coinfection on HIV-ribonucleic acid (RNA) viral load, CD4 cell count, and the response in rapid plasmin reagin (RPR) to treatment of the syphilis infection. Cases of syphilis diagnosed during 1 year in HIV-infected patients in Copenhagen were included. HIV-RNA, CD4 cell counts, and RPR-serology were measured before, during, and after syphilis. Forty-one patients were included. CD4 cell count decreased significantly during infection in patients with primary and secondary stages of syphilis (mean 106 cells/mm, P = 0.03). Treatment of syphilis was associated with an increase in the CD4 cell count and a decrease in HIV-RNA in the overall group (mean 66 cells/mm and -0.261 RNA log10 copies/ml, P = 0.02 and 0.04). The serological response rates for 15 patients treated with penicillin and 25 treated with doxycycline were the same. Syphilis was associated with a decrease in CD4 cell counts and an increase in HIV-RNA levels that both improved after treatment of syphilis.
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Africa, Malaria, Treatment Outcome, Tourism, Denmark, and 16 moreDisease Outbreaks, Travel, Humans, Travel Medicine, Asia, Patient Compliance, Naphthoquinones, Incidence, Clinical Sciences, Public health systems and services research, ATOVAQUONE, Antimalarials, Combination drug therapy, Chloroquine, Mefloquine, and Case Control Studies
Research Interests:
Research Interests: HIV medicine, Cardiovascular Risk, HIV, Peroxidase, Antiretroviral Therapy, and 17 moreHumans, Female, Male, Risk factors, Clinical Sciences, Aged, Middle Aged, C reactive protein, Longitudinal Studies, Adult, Cardiovascular Diseases, Biological markers, Combination drug therapy, Risk Factors, Myeloperoxidase, Matrix Metalloproteinase, and Viral Load
Research Interests: Biological Sciences, Humans, Infectious Disease, Female, Male, and 13 moreDisease Severity, ROC Curve, Intensive Care Unit, European, Aged, Middle Aged, Adult, Health Care System, Prognosis, Multiple Organ Failure, Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Emergency Department, and Severity of Illness Index
Research Interests:
Regenerative treatment with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) has been promising in patients with ischaemic heart failure but needs confirmation in larger randomized trials. We aimed to study effects of intra-myocardial autologous bone... more
Regenerative treatment with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) has been promising in patients with ischaemic heart failure but needs confirmation in larger randomized trials. We aimed to study effects of intra-myocardial autologous bone marrow-derived MSC treatment in patients with severe ischaemic heart failure. The MSC-HF trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients were randomized 2 : 1 to intra-myocardial injections of MSC or placebo, respectively. The primary endpoint was change in left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), measured by magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography at 6 months follow-up. Sixty patients aged 30-80 years with severe ischaemic heart failure, New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes II-III, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <45% and no further treatment options were randomized. Fifty-five patients completed the 6-month follow-up (37 MSCs vs. 18 placebo). At 6 months, LVESV was reduced in the MSC group: -7....
Research Interests:
Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) and elevated nocturnal blood pressure are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes. Previously, associations between CAN, non-dipping of nocturnal blood pressure and... more
Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) and elevated nocturnal blood pressure are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes. Previously, associations between CAN, non-dipping of nocturnal blood pressure and coronary artery calcification have been demonstrated. The present protocol describes a trial to test the efficacy of bedtime dosing of the ACE inhibitor enalapril on night time blood pressure and left ventricular mass in patients with type 1 diabetes. In a randomised, double-blind, two-way cross-over study, 24 normoalbuminuric patients with type 1 diabetes with CAN will be treated for 12 weeks with either morning or bedtime dosing of 20 mg enalapril, followed by 12 weeks of switched treatment regimen. During each treatment period, two 24 h ambulatory blood pressure measurements will be performed and after each treatment period left ventricular mass will be determined by multisliced CT. Primary end points will be reduction in blood pressure and reduc...
Research Interests:
Conventional cardiac PET modeling techniques for [13N]ammonia flow determination do not fully account for the effects of spillover of activity from the right ventricle (RV) onto the activity in the myocardial septum. The purpose of this... more
Conventional cardiac PET modeling techniques for [13N]ammonia flow determination do not fully account for the effects of spillover of activity from the right ventricle (RV) onto the activity in the myocardial septum. The purpose of this study was to investigate and to quantitatively account and correct for this effect. Simulations were performed to determine the error introduced by conventional quantitation using septal time-activity curves, which only account for left ventricle (LV) spillover. Furthermore, we explored two separate methods to account for the dual spillover problem: direct estimation of the RV and LV spillover fractions incorporated into the [13N]ammonia model by using the LV and RV input functions in the fit and estimation of the relative dispersion and time shift between the LV and RV input functions by fitting using only the LV input function. The simulated curves were fitted using a two-compartment [13N]ammonia model. Flow estimates from the conventional model an...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Algorithms, Image Processing, Humans, Noise, Female, and 12 moreMale, Artifacts, Clinical Sciences, Aged, Middle Aged, Coronary Angiography, Reproducibility of Results, Myocardial Perfusion Imaging, Coronary Artery Disease, Sensitivity and Specificity, Signal to Noise Ratio, and *Radiographic Image Enhancement
ABSTRACT To determine the prevalence of anogenital warts (AGWs) and concurrent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in men who have sex with men (MSM), and their knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV). Attitudes towards the HPV vaccine... more
ABSTRACT To determine the prevalence of anogenital warts (AGWs) and concurrent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in men who have sex with men (MSM), and their knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV). Attitudes towards the HPV vaccine among MSM are explored. A web-based cross-sectional survey on AGWs, sociodemographic factors and sexual behaviour conducted in August 2009 in Denmark. Overall 25.2% of the 1184 respondents reported a prior or current episode of AGWs. The prevalence of AGW was significantly higher in homosexuals compared with bisexuals, in men with high levels of education and in those with a high number of sexual partners within the last year. MSM with a history of another STI reported a significantly higher prevalence of warts. More than 70% did not know what causes AGWs. If a free HPV vaccine were to be offered, 94.4% would like to receive it. These data suggest a high prevalence of AGWs in Danish MSM. The awareness of HPV is low; however, the acceptance of a HPV vaccine seems high.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Critical, Critical Care, Prospective studies, Humans, Infectious Disease, and 19 moreFemale, Male, Systemic inflammation, Cohort Study, Aged, Middle Aged, Neutrophils, C reactive protein, Adult, Biological markers, Bacterial infections, Diagnostic Accuracy, Calcitonin, Bacterial Infection, Area Under Curve, Prospective Study, Emergency Department, Confidence Interval, and Cohort Studies
Methods and Results Thirty-two patients were studied 1 to 2 years after cardiac transplantation by use of positron emission tomography (n=32), intravascular ultrasound (n=26), coronary angiography (n=32), and endomyocardial biopsy (n=32).... more
Methods and Results Thirty-two patients were studied 1 to 2 years after cardiac transplantation by use of positron emission tomography (n=32), intravascular ultrasound (n=26), coronary angiography (n=32), and endomyocardial biopsy (n=32). Twenty healthy individuals served as control ...
Research Interests:
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is associated with an increased risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD). The relative contribution of structural and functional abnormalities of the coronary circulation determining clinically manifested IHD... more
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is associated with an increased risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD). The relative contribution of structural and functional abnormalities of the coronary circulation determining clinically manifested IHD remains unknown. The aim of this study was to assess potential differences in myocardial perfusion at rest and coronary atherosclerosis between asymptomatic T1DM patients and healthy controls. Left ventricular (LV) myocardial perfusion at rest measured as LV myocardial Attenuation Density/LV blood pool Attenuation Density (MyoAD-ratio) and coronary artery atherosclerosis were evaluated with 320-multidetector computed tomography angiography in 57 asymptomatic T1DM patients and 114 sex and age matched controls. In both groups median age was 53 years (p5,p95: 42,67) and 59.6% were men. Median duration of diabetes in the T1DM group was 35 years (p5,p95: 17,49). Median coronary calcium score was higher in T1DM patients (51 vs. 2, p=0.037) compared with co...
Research Interests:
Increased regional myocardial 18F fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) uptake in relation to 13N ammonia (13NH3) uptake--i.e. glucose metabolism-blood flow 'mismatch'--appears to be a strong indicator of myocardial viability in patients... more
Increased regional myocardial 18F fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) uptake in relation to 13N ammonia (13NH3) uptake--i.e. glucose metabolism-blood flow 'mismatch'--appears to be a strong indicator of myocardial viability in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and regionally reduced contractile function. Reference values of regional 18FDG and 13NH3 uptake have not been determined in healthy subjects with the target age for the development of IHD. We therefore studied healthy middle-aged and old men using positron emission tomography (PET). Twenty-three healthy men aged 51 to 83 years of age were studied. 18FDG and 13NH3 uptake was quantified in 16 myocardial segments with PET and circumferential profile analysis. The relative 18FDG/13NH3 uptake was considerably heterogeneous with 18FDG uptake consistently higher than 13NH3 uptake in the left lateral ventricular wall. This regional 'mismatch' pattern was observed in all subjects, but was most prominent in middle-aged ...
Research Interests: Aging, Positron Emission Tomography, Denmark, Humans, Glucose Metabolism, and 14 moreLeft Ventricular Assist Device, Male, Ammonia, Aged, Middle Aged, Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography, Myocardium, Cardiovascular Imaging, Blood Flow, Ischemic Heart Disease, Reference Values, Healthy Subjects, Reference Value, and Statistics as Topic
Myocardial segments with impaired function may have the potential for functional recovery. Augmented exogenous glucose uptake in relation to blood flow estimated by [2-18F]2-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and positron emission tomography (PET)... more
Myocardial segments with impaired function may have the potential for functional recovery. Augmented exogenous glucose uptake in relation to blood flow estimated by [2-18F]2-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and positron emission tomography (PET) frequently indicates functional reversibility. The spectrum of FDG uptake levels in relation to Sestamibi uptake and dobutamine contraction reserve in areas with impaired function subtended by an occluded coronary artery has never been reported. Seventeen patients with stable angina pectoris and dysfunctional myocardium subtended by an occluded coronary artery were studied with FDG-PET, low-dose dobutamine echocardiography and Sestamibi-Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography. In a 16 segment model dysfunctional myocardial segments showed a normally distributed FDG uptake ranging from 34% to 150% when normalized to peak segmental Sestamibi uptake. Low FDG uptake was associated with both lack of dobutamine induced contractile reserve and low S...
Research Interests: Positron Emission Tomography, Echocardiography, Humans, Low Dose, Female, and 18 moreMale, Heart, Left Ventricular Dysfunction, Aged, Middle Aged, Spectrum, Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography, Adult, Cardiac Imaging, Myocardium, Coronary heart disease, Functional Recovery, Blood Flow, Radiopharmaceuticals, Coronary Artery Disease, Glucose Uptake, Normal Distribution, and Coronary artery
We have reviewed and discussed current knowledge on existing scoring systems regarding high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) images for the assessment of primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after lung transplantation. Adult respiratory... more
We have reviewed and discussed current knowledge on existing scoring systems regarding high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) images for the assessment of primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after lung transplantation. Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been more widely studied and appears to have many morphological features similar to what is found in PGD, and might, therefore, be usefully extrapolated to PGD. Principles of HRCT, scoring systems based on HRCT and various terms describing PGD were reviewed and summarized. The sensitivity, inter-intra observer variability, and reproducibility of these systems were discussed. Lastly, the future perspectives for 64-multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) in relation to PGD were discussed. Few studies on scoring systems of lung tissue by HRCT in ARDS patients and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients were found. Most studies were performed on patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Sensitivity of HRCT for the detection of ...
Research Interests: Evidence Based Medicine, Cystic Fibrosis, Humans, Lung, Observer Variation, and 8 moreReproducibility of Results, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Sensitivity and Specificity, X ray Computed Tomography, Heart and Lung Transplantation, Predictive value of tests, Severity of Illness Index, and health status indicators
We evaluated the diagnostic value of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) images generated from 64 detector multi-slice CT scanners (HRCT(64-MSCT) imaging) in relation to primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after lung-transplantation... more
We evaluated the diagnostic value of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) images generated from 64 detector multi-slice CT scanners (HRCT(64-MSCT) imaging) in relation to primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after lung-transplantation (LUTX) in a pilot study. PGD has mortality rates ranging from 17 to 50% over a 90-day period. Detailed HRCT lung images, reconstructed using 64-MSCT, may aid diagnostic and therapeutic efforts in PGD. Thirty-two patients were scanned four times within a year post-LUTX, in a single-centre prospective study. HRCT lung images were reviewed, evaluated and scored by two observers, for ground-glass (GG) opacities, consolidation, septal thickening (ST) and pulmonary embolism. Image and PGD scores were compared in each patient. GG and consolidation changes were largely present up until 2 weeks post-LUTX, and markedly reduced by the 12th week. ST was predominantly found in patients with PGD. There were no vascular changes found at CT angiographies. The most se...