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Biomedical subjects

J Simonsen

Publications and source records attributed to J Simonsen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in Denmark: evaluation of the increasing incidence of registered SIDS in the period 1972 to 1983 and results of a prospective study in 1987 through 1988.

To investigate a reported increase, from 0.4 to 1.3 per thousand live births, in the Danish incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), a retrospective analysis of SIDS in Denmark from 1972 to 1983 was carried out. Based on data registered with the National Board of Health, a notable regional difference in SIDS rate between the western and eastern parts of Denmark was found. This difference did not correlate with the overall postneonatal mortality by region. Danish law requires medicolegal investigation in all cases of sudden unexpected death. Medicolegal autopsies are performed only in the three forensic institutes which cover all of Denmark. Despite the law and a uniform organization of the forensic medical services, differing application of postmortem examinations and individual interpretation of the history and autopsy in cases of sudden infant death existed. Differences in reporting of respiratory infections, suffocation, and cardiac malformation were found to contribute to the increase and to regional disparities in SIDS incidence. The three Danish forensic institutes examined all cases of sudden infant deaths in Denmark 1987 and 1988. These cases were classified as explained cause of death, pure SIDS, and atypical SIDS; atypical cases were evaluated by consensus. The SIDS incidence (the number of classic SIDS and atypical SIDS per thousand live births) was 1.9 in 1987 and 1.3 in 1988, and it was identical in the eastern and western part of Denmark; however, a higher incidence both of overall postneonatal and SIDS mortality was found in the middle region of Denmark.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Autopsy

[Physician's role in the assessment of criminal assault].

In cases of criminal assault, the medical report should be exhaustive and detailed enough to provide the basis for classification by legal authorities. However, the examining physician should make it explicitly clear to the victim that the examination is entirely voluntary. The Council of Medical Jurisprudence, the highest medicolegal authority, provides public authorities with scientific forensic expertise in cases involving individual legal rights.

Documentation

The manner and cause of death in a forensic series of chronic alcoholics.

Chronic alcoholics account for an increasing number of the cases which are examined in forensic pathology. The manner and cause of death in 122 chronic alcoholics is described and compared with a previous investigation and to a group of non-alcoholics. The percentage of cases in which the manner of death is undetermined is twice as high as in the control group, whilst the percentage of suicide, surprisingly enough is only half that of the control group. The patho-anatomic findings in the liver and the causes of death are discussed in detail.

Accidents

Cadmium exposure in Denmark. Based on analyses of liver and kidney tissues.

To determine the cadmium exposure level in the Danish population, tissue samples of kidney and liver were collected over the period 1981 to 1987 at the Institutes of Forensic Medicine in Copenhagen, Odense and Aarhus. A total of 795 samples were collected, of which 143 were selected for analysis using, the criteria sudden violent death (accident, homicide or suicide). Cadmium concentrations in kidney cortex increased by age to a maximum of approximately 22 micrograms/g/g (w/w) in the age group 45-55 years and decreased in the older age group, while liver concentrations tended to increase throughout the entire lifespan. Cadmium concentrations in kidney cortex and liver were found significantly correlated. The findings are in good agreement with internationally published data, but lower than previously reported Danish concentration levels. The reason for this difference is discussed.

Adolescent

Effects of 4 h preexercise carbohydrate feedings on cycling performance.

This study determined the effects of consuming three different amounts of liquid carbohydrate 4 h before exercise on the metabolic responses during exercise and on exercise performance. Four hours before exercise subjects consumed either 45 (L) or 156 (M) g of carbohydrate in isocaloric feedings and either 0 (P) or 312 (H) g of carbohydrate. Interval cycling was undertaken for 95 min, followed by a performance trial. Blood glucose had reached basal 1 h after all feedings; blood insulin had reached basal 3 h after ingestion of P, L, and M but was still 84% higher for H at the start of exercise. During exercise insulin averaged 48% higher for H than P. Blood glucose decreased 16% during exercise for P, L, and M, whereas for H there was a transient drop the first 15 min of exercise, after which glucose increased and remained constant throughout exercise. More carbohydrate oxidation occurred during exercise for H vs P, whereas results were similar for L and M. Ingestion of H improved performance by 15% as compared with P, whereas performance was similar for L and M. These results indicate that, despite elevated insulin at the start of and during exercise, consumption of 312 g of carbohydrate 4 h before moderately intense prolonged exercise can improve performance, perhaps via an enhancement of carbohydrate oxidation.

Adult