Since Jan. 1, 1976 practically all new cases of germ cell tumours of the testis in Denmark have been included in the Danish Testicular Carcinoma Study (DATECA), permitting detailed registration of data concerning histology and stage at the time of diagnosis. The incidence of carcinoma of the testis in Denmark continues to be high with a crude rate of 8 to 9/100000 males per year. During the past 5 years the size of the primary tumours has decreased. Parallel to this, the rate of metastatic spread has decreased for seminoma, while no such change has been observed for non-seminomatous tumours. Data are presented on histology and stage for 1058 consecutive patients.
Aim : To examine the association between psychosocial exposures during pregnancy and the risk of infantile colic. Methods : The study included 378 infants and was conducted as a substudy of the Danish National Birth Cohort from 1997 to 1999, with prenatal data collected twice during pregnancy. A diary with a record for postpartum weeks 4–8 was used to quantify the amount of the infants' crying and fussing. Results : The cumulative incidence proportion of infantile colic was 8.2%. A threefold increased risk of infantile colic (OR = 3.7; 95% CI: 1.1–13.2) was found for mothers who reported distress during pregnancy. Close to a twofold increased risk of IC was found for the women who scored higher than 8 on the psychological distress scale (adjusted OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 0.5–7.2). Conclusion : The results indicate that general distress during pregnancy influences the risk of infantile colic. Whether or not this relationship is causal requires further investigations.
The morphology of resected residual retroperitoneal tumour tissue from 18 patients treated with a combined chemotherapy regime for advanced testicular non-seminomatous germ cell tumours was studied. In five cases (28%) the resected tissue comprised only fibrous tissue and in ten cases (56%) only mature teratoma (T) was present. Embryonal carcinoma (EC) with yolk sac tumour (YST) differentiation was found in addition to T in one case and in two cases the resected tissue comprised pure EC. In all patients with residual T, T had also been present in the primary tumour. Resected tissue containing T was investigated for the presence of various marker proteins, including alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1 AT), carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA), ferritin (FER), lactoferrin (LF), and pregnancy-specific beta-1-glycoprotein (SP1), in addition to the well-established markers for germ cell tumours, alphafetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). AFP and HCG were present in only two cases. A1 AT and CEA were demonstrated in various amounts in epithelial structures in 11 out of 11 cases with T, while FER was found in ten and LF and SP1 in seven cases. Since A1 AT, CEA and LF were also found in the secreted material within the lumen of the teratoid structures, aspiration of cystic fluid for demonstration of these proteins in addition to AFP and HCG is recommended for diagnostic assessment. CEA and SP1 are suggested for localization and treatment of tumour tissue with the recently-developed methods using specific antibodies which are either radiolabelled or conjugated to anti-neoplastic drugs.
In Denmark, the magnitude and impact of work disability on the individual worker and society has prompted the development of a new "coordinated and tailored work rehabilitation" (CTWR) approach. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of CTWR with conventional case management (CCM) on return-to-work of workers on sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).The study was a randomized controlled trial with economic evaluation undertaken with workers on sick leave for 4-12 weeks due to MSDs. CTWR consists of a work disability screening by an interdisciplinary team followed by the collaborative development of a RTW plan. The primary outcome variable was registered cumulative sickness absence hours during 12 months follow-up. Secondary outcomes were work status as well as pain intensity and functional disability, measured at baseline, 3 and 12 months follow-up. The economic evaluation (intervention costs, productivity loss, and health care utilization costs) was based on administrative data derived from national registries.For the time intervals 0-6 months, 6-12 months, and the entire follow-up period, the number of sickness absence hours was significantly lower in the CTWR group as compared to the control group. The total costs saved in CTWR participants compared to controls were estimated at US $ 1,366 per person at 6 months follow-up and US $ 10,666 per person at 12 months follow-up.Workers on sick leave for 4-12 weeks due to MSD who underwent "CTWR" by an interdisciplinary team had fewer sickness absence hours than controls. The economic evaluation showed that-in terms of productivity loss-CTWR seems to be cost saving for the society.
