PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Steensberg

Publications and source records attributed to J Steensberg.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Epidemiology of unintentional drowning and near-drowning in Denmark in 1995.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the pattern of accidental drowning and near-drowning in Denmark. DESIGN: Prospective study of all cases of accidental drowning and near-drowning during one year. SETTING: Denmark, 1995. SUBJECTS: All patients brought to Danish hospitals after incidents of unintentional near-drowning or cooling in water and all fatal cases. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of near-drowned patients reported prospectively by hospital departments supplemented by cases reported after requests based on the National Patient Register. Number of drownings reported by public health medical officers (as medical examiners), institutes of forensic medicine, and hospitals. RESULTS: Sixty three (38%) of 167 unintentionally immersed persons died: eight (17%) of 47 children and 55 (46%) of 120 adults. The annual incidence of serious immersion events in children leading to hospital contact was 5.2/100,000; mortality was 0.7/100,000. For adult males the annual incidence of serious unintentional immersions was 4.3/100,000 and for females 1.2/100,000. For foreigners the risk was three to four times higher than for Danes. CONCLUSIONS: More attention should be paid to the risk of drowning in children, adult males, and foreigners.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Deaths at the neonatal department. Withholding or interruption of life-support treatment].

The circumstances of 88 deaths in the Neonatal Department, Rigshospitalet Copenhagen, were reviewed with special emphasis on the clinical background for, and parental attitude to withholding life-sustaining treatment. We recorded whether these considerations appeared in the patient's medical record, the type of treatment withheld and the use of opioids. No infant died under ongoing maximal treatment. Fourteen infants were judged to have died with "almost certainty" (gr A), 48 infants were judged to have died with great probability (gr B) and 26 infants were judged to have had a considerable chance of survival (gr C). Opioids were used more often in the terminal course of treatment in group C as opposed to group B. Parental attitudes and clinical background were not fully described in the medical record for many patients. The decision to withhold life sustaining treatment in the severely ill neonate was made to avoid prolonged futile suffering, or survival with very severe handicaps.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Community noise policy in Denmark.

This paper summarizes an analysis of Danish policy on community noise during the last three decades seen in a public health perspective. Estimates made during this period of population exposures to noise from transport are presented, followed by data on population reactions to community noise. The analysis of the main elements of Danish community noise policy in the form of remedies, preventive actions and strategies leads to the conclusion that although exposures of the population to community noise have decreased during this period, the Danish policy was not consistent in the 1970s and 1980s. Administratively and politically, noise had low priority as an environment problem. The improvements in exposures from road traffic were probably mainly due to the legislation on physical planning, but also to lower speed limits and local traffic planning measures. During recent years important new steps have been taken, including the railway sector, but air traffic noise still represents a problem. Local authorities have, generally, been slow in giving priority to noise alleviating and preventive actions. Improved coordination at the central level is needed, and local action may raise the general awareness of the importance of our noise environment for health and well-being.

Denmark↗
PubMed1998

[Enzyme substitution in Gauscher disease].

Gaucher's disease is the most frequent inherited lysosomal storage disorder, displaying hepato-splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, anaemia, and bone pain as characteristic features. Substitution with the modified enzyme alglucerase has revolutionized the treatment and prognosis of Gaucher's disease. Treatment in general and current trends in enzyme substitution therapy in particular are discussed.

Gaucher Disease↗
PubMed1998

[Gaucher disease type 1--therapeutic results of enzyme substitution].

Gaucher's disease is the most common inherited lysosomal storage disorder, displaying hepato-splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, anaemia and bone pain as characteristic features. Substitution therapy with a modified enzyme alglucerase has revolutionized the treatment and prognosis of Gaucher's disease. The first Danish patients treated with alglucerase are reported.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Epidemiology of accidental drowning in Denmark 1989-1993.

Three hundred and forty-nine cases of accidental drowning or cooling in water occurring in Denmark from 1989 to 1993 have been studied. The incidence was highest in 0-4-year-old children, in middle-aged men, and in old people. A third of the children drowned in private pools. A quarter of all fatalities occurred during leisure boating. At least half of those that drowned in this way did not wear a life-jacket and could have been saved if they had been wearing one. Between a third and a half of the adult drownings were related to alcohol intake, and a large number of inebriated men fell into harbour basins and other water bodies. A few final remarks are made on the prospects for preventing accidental drowning in children, elderly people and adult males.

Accidents↗
PubMed1998

Automobile exhaust as a means of suicide: an experimental study with a proposed model.

Experiments were conducted to investigate the concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) in a car cabin under suicide attempts with different vehicles and different start situations, and a mathematical model describing the concentration of CO in the cabin was constructed. Three cars were set up to donate the exhaust. The first vehicle didn't have any catalyst, the second one was equipped with a malfunctioning three-way catalyst, and the third car was equipped with a well-functioning three-way catalyst. The three different starting situations were cold, tepid and warm engine start, respectively. Measurements of the CO concentrations were made in both the cabin and in the exhaust pipe. Lethal concentrations were measured in the cabin using all three vehicles as the donor car, including the vehicle with the well-functioning catalyst. The model results in most cases gave a good prediction of the CO concentration in the cabin. Four case studies of cars used for suicides were described. In each case measurements of CO were made in both the cabin and the exhaust under different starting conditions, and the mathematical model was tested on these cases. In most cases the model predictions were good.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Food-borne streptococcal epidemics].

Approximately two days after a high school final year farewell party a striking number of pupils and teachers became ill with pharyngitis. The regional public health medical office carried out a questionnaire study with a control group of younger pupils. The regional food control unit studied the preparation and handling at food. Some bacterial cultures received from general practitioners were identified by the regional clinical-microbiological laboratory. Seventy-six percent of the 216 exposed pupils who answered (94% response rate) against 15% of 238 answering in the control group (83% response rate) became ill. The peak incidence was two days after the party. The infectious agent was beta-haemolytic streptoccoci group-A, T-type 25. A salad made of pasta and vegetables that were not cooked and handled properly must have been the vehicle of infection although no salad was left for cultivation. Salads made of pasta must be prepared with great care and effectively cooled. When suspecting a food-borne epidemic, clinicians should immediately inform the regional public health medical office, and the municipal food control unit must take part in the investigations. It is important that bacterial cultures are identified by the regional clinical-microbiological laboratory. It should be considered to make it mandatory that the involved personnel accepts clinical examination and microbiological sampling in cases of suspected food-borne infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Quality of life of young adults whose birth weight was under 1.500 g].

Quality of Life (QoL) has been assessed in eighty-five young adults, born in 1971-1974 with birthweight < 1500 g (VLBW) and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of the State University Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their QoL has been compared to that of 85 subjects with birth weight > 2500 g (NBW) born in the same period at The State University Hospital. The subjects were interviewed by telephone on the basis of well defined theories on QoL by Anton Aggernaes. Quality of Life was assessed both in objective terms and as judged by the interviewed person. Subjects born with VLBW who were free of handicaps had QoL-scores (both objective and subjective) fully comparable to the NBW group. VLBW subjects reporting various physical and mental handicaps had subjective QoL-scores comparable to scores in the NBW group but the objective QoL-scores were significantly lower.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Quality of life among young adults born with very low birthweights.

Quality of life (QoL) was assessed in 85 young adults, born in 1971-1974 with birthweights < 1500 g (VLBW) and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of the State University Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their QoL was compared to that of 85 subjects with birthweights > 2500 g (NBW) born in the same period at the State University Hospital. The subjects were interviewed by telephone on the basis of the well-defined theories on QoL by Anton Aggernaes. Quality of life was assessed both in objective terms and as judged by the interviewed person. Subjects born with VLBWs and free of handicaps had QoL scores (both objective and subjective) fully comparable with the NBW group. VLBW subjects reporting various physical and mental handicaps had objective as well as subjective QoL scores significantly lower than the NBW group.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1994

Accidental road traffic deaths--prospects for local prevention.

One hundred sixty-three fatal road traffic accidents (RTAs) resulting in 178 deaths occurring from 1983-1987 in a Danish county have been studied from a preventive perspective. Alcohol was an important factor in 41% of all fatal RTAs. Other factors such as high speed, the use of seat belts and helmets, and technical defects are mentioned. Also, the material has been analyzed according to types of accidents. Prospects for the local prevention of RTAs are discussed with particular emphasis on accidents related to alcohol and high speed. Examples are given of preventive activities where experience gained through the present study have been useful.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1994

[Accidents and accident mortality in Denmark--a comparison with Scandinavia and Europe].

As the development in mean age of the population and life expectancy has been less favourable in Denmark than in the rest of Western Europe, the Ministry of Health decided to investigate statistics for the period, 1972-1990, for the main areas where Danish life expectancy was poorer. A sharp increase in the incidence of accidental poisoning with medical drugs and alcohol during the period was found to be a factor contributing to the poorer Danish statistics during the period. In the subcategory, death after a fall, there was an increase in incidence among the elderly, but the loss of life-years remained constant. The subcategory, fatal road accidents, manifested a marked reduction in incidence, despite the increase in traffic density during the period, and there was a reduction in the loss of life-years. Thus, in the category, accidental deaths, the increase in the incidence of accidental poisonings would appear to be the only factor contributing to the poorer development in mean age and life expectancy in Denmark.

Accidents↗
PubMed1994

Post-Soviet public health administration in Estonia.

Estonia's administrative legacy presents a number of difficult challenges for the health services. The system which was designed as part of a gigantic centrally controlled bureaucracy now has to be adapted to the needs of a small independent country.

Estonia↗
PubMed1993

[Public health administration in Estonia].

All parts of the former Soviet Union experience enormous problems in their clinical health sectors. However, reforms of public health administrations are also needed. This is illustrated, using Estonia as an example, based on the author's function as a consultant to the Estonian Ministry of Health. At the local level, expertise should be concentrated in a few regional public health centres with strong laboratory support. Centrally, the new Ministry of Social Affairs must play a strong role to make sure that the traditional system is adapted. "Organization development" and postgraduate training should be useful instruments in this process. Support from the Nordic countries is encouraged.

Estonia↗