Findings on the atopic triad from a Danish twin registry.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate to what extent the same genetic and environmental risk factors influence asthma, hay fever and eczema. DESIGN: From the nationwide Danish Twin Registry, twin cohorts born between 1953 and 1982 were contacted for a questionnaire survey, and a total of 29 183 twin individuals (86%) responded. Subjects were classified as cases when responding affirmatively to three questions about the lifetime occurrence of asthma, hay fever and eczema. Variance components twin analysis was conducted using maximum likelihood methods. RESULTS: The phenotypic (within-subject) correlations in liability between the different diseases were 0.57 (95% CI 0.54-0.59) for asthma and hay fever, 0.40 (95% CI 0.36-0.42) for asthma and eczema, and 0.33 (95% CI 0.29-0.36) for hay fever and eczema. Decomposition of these correlations into their genetic and environmental contributions showed that shared genes explained between 70% and 85% of the correlation between the different diseases. The remaining parts were explained by environmental factors shared between the diseases. CONCLUSION: To a large extent, atopic diseases share a common genetic background, although disease-specific genes also play a considerable role. These results can prove informative when counselling families with atopy, and may furthermore be used to guide the search for pleiotropic genes of importance for these diseases.     

Employability and workability among Danish employees.

The study is based on a cross-sectional study of 5575 employees interviewed by telephone in 1995. The response rate was 80%. The purpose of the study was to examine the association between employability, workability, and age. The findings of this study support the hypothesis of a correlation between employability and workability. Furthermore, it shows a strong association between employability, age, and gender.     

Cerebral toxoplasmosis in Danish AIDS patients.

We estimate the frequency of central nervous system (CNS) toxoplasmosis in Danish AIDS patients and evaluate the diagnostic accuracy using the following criteria for acceptance of the diagnosis: either (1) the demonstration of Toxoplasma gondii in brain tissue or (2) one or more hypodense or ring-enhancing lesions on computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan and a neurologic and CAT scan improvement in response to 2 weeks of treatment. From 1981 until July 1990 266 patients were diagnosed with AIDS at Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen and 29 (11%) were treated, suspected for CNS toxoplasmosis. 17 patients had the diagnosis confirmed but since 5 patients, who were never treated, were diagnosed at autopsy, the overall cumulated incidence was 8% (22/266 patients). The overall diagnostic accuracy was 59% (17/29 patients) showing some changes over time. Among patients diagnosed with AIDS in 1988 or later, the accuracy was 83% (10/12 patients) while among patients diagnosed in 1987 or earlier the accuracy was 41% (7/17 patients). Four patients were diagnosed with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) prior to the diagnosis of CNS toxoplasmosis, while among patients with toxoplasmosis as the AIDS-defining diagnosis, 3 later developed PCP. None of these 7 patients had received secondary prophylaxis with a drug containing sulfonamide.     

Contrasting the models. Reflections on the pattern of geriatric evaluation unit care

In order to understand geriatric assessment programs better, it is necessary to understand some of the general subgroups of such programs. This article compares various aspects of geriatric evaluation units.