Ugeskrift for laeger最新文献

Introduction: Dermatological topical agents are usually valued for their pharmacological effects, yet their aesthetic Christmas potential remains unexplored. This study tested seven coloured topical agents (tar, methylrosaniline, potassium permanganate, cadexomer iodine, silver nitrate, ferric sulfate and ketoconazole shampoo) as alternative Christmas decorations.

Methods: Preparations were applied to terracotta baubles and a pork roast, and their Christmas aesthetics were rated on a five-point scale by colleagues at department of Dermatology and Venereology at Aarhus University Hospital.

Results: All products produced visible colouring but presented practical challenges: prolonged drying (iodine, silver nitrate, ferric sulfate, ketoconazole), difficult consistency (iodine, ferric sulfate), strong odour (tar) and heavy straining (methylrosaniline). Methylrosaniline, potassium permanganate and ketoconazole achieved the highest aesthetic scores, whereas iodine was least suitable due to poor appearance, dying time and cost. The study has limitations: pork roast is not representative for all kinds of food or human skin, and safety concerns preclude ingestion. Certain preparations, including methylrosaniline and potassium permanganate, have documented systemic toxicity when ingested.

Conclusion: Dermatology's colourful topical agents show unexpected potential for festive Christmas decoration. Further research should address durability, safety, and optimization of practical properties - possibly in combination with glitter.

Introduction: Accurate visual estimation of length is a skill often relied upon in clinical practice, yet little is known about surgeons' ability to judge distances without measurement tools. This multicenter study aimed to evaluate physicians' ability to visually estimate a length of 13.1 cm and to explore potential differences between surgical specialities.

Method: A total of 105 physicians from several Danish hospitals participated. Each was asked to estimate a 13.1 cm distance by eye without using any measuring device. Participants' specialities and shoe size were recorded for subgroup analysis.

Results: Across all participants, the mean estimated length was 12.0 cm, indicating a general underestimation. Orthopaedic surgeons estimated significantly shorter lengths (mean 11.5 cm) compared to urologists (mean 12.5 cm; p less-than 0.05). Shoe size showed no correlation with estimation accuracy.

Conclusion: Physicians tend to underestimate 13.1 cm when judging by eye. Urologists, however, demonstrated the most accurate estimates, possibly reflecting their daily clinical calibration to relevant anatomical measures. Orthopaedic surgeons' shorter estimates may reflect a more modest internal reference. The findings highlight the variability of clinical »eyeballing« - even when the length in question is familiar.

Introduction: According to Danish Christmas traditions, on Christmas Eve, a whole almond is hidden in risalamande, and whoever finds it is the winner of the "almond gift". Disputes may arise if a whole almond is not found, and instead, slightly damaged almonds are presented in order to claim victory. Can we ascertain the nature of this damage - is it a lightly chopped almond, or was the whole almond accidentally bitten? We examined if histological assessment could reliably distinguish between different types of almond damage.

Methods: Blanched almonds (n = 24) were allocated to three groups: coarsely chopped using a food processor (n=8), coarsely chopped with a kitchen knife (n = 8), or subjected to a single bite (n = 8). Almonds were fixed, paraffin-embedded, and stained with periodic acid Schiff (PAS). A blinded pathologist evaluated each specimen macro- and microscopically and classified the type of damage.

Results: All almonds were classified correctly, yielding a sensitivity and specificity of 100% for each group and an overall diagnostic accuracy of 100% (95% CI 86-100%). Food-processed almonds displayed small, deep surface defects, knife-chopped almonds showed smooth, regular margins, and bitten almonds exhibited irregular, frayed surfaces.

Conclusion: Routine histopathology can accurately differentiate between chopped and bitten almonds. In cases of doubt during the Christmas festivities, pathological examination may therefore assist in determining the legitimate almond prize winner and help preserve the Christmas spirit.

In Denmark, December brings two certainties: upper respiratory symptoms and »julefrokost« (Christmas lunch). The overlap prompted us to investigate whether festive alcohol intake might be responsible for nasal congestion otherwise mistaken for winter »sniffles«.

Methods: A total of 23 PhD students were randomised to consume either beer (n = 12) or wine (n = 11). Subjective symptom scores (Nasal Congestion Score (NCS), Sino-Nasal-Outcome-Test-22 (SNOT-22), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) smell, Standard Test for Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis and Chronic Rhinosinusitis (STARR-15)) and objective measures (fiberoptic endoscopy, Sniffin' Sticks 16) were assessed at baseline, 20 minutes post intake, and after 24 hours.

Results: Post intake, 75% of participants in the beer group reported nasal congestion versus 45% in the wine group (p = 0.083). Mucosal edema increased from 30% at baseline to 52% (p = 0.143). SNOT-22 scores improved slightly post-alcohol, likely reflecting mood enhancement rather than true sinonasal improvement. No significant changes in olfactory function or Sniffin' Sticks scores were observed.

Conclusion: Beer may provoke transient nasal congestion more than wine, although the difference was not statistically significant. Findings support the hypothesis that some Christmas »sniffles« may be alcohol-related rather than viral.

Funding: The study was supported by the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Audiology, Copenhagen University Hospital.

Trial registration: None.

Introduction: Cake and sweets are often the icing on the workday. Cake is often believed to enhance social cohesion, well-being, and blood glucose levels in the workplace. Against this background, this study aimed to systematically slice through a year of cake intake at a Danish forensic pathology department.

Methods: To achieve this, cake events were logged in all of 2024. Variables included date, cake type, occasion, weekday, and whether the cake was announced in advance via e-mail. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used for analysis.

Results: Cake was served on 50.8% of workdays, indicating a regular rhythm of cake and non-cake days. Only 33.1% of cake events were announced in advance, introducing an element of surprise. Thursdays were peak cake days, possibly due to scheduled teaching. July and November tied for the most cake occations (17 days each), while March was notably low in sugar (6 days). Traditional cakes, candy, and chocolate were the most common types of treats. Most events were justified by birthdays or work-related occasions.

Conclusions: Taken together, these findings suggest that cake plays a vital role in the department's culture, serving both as comfort and an energy booster in a demanding work environment. The frequency of cake days suggests a semi-formalised, perhaps institutionalised, culture of cake. Future research should address the balance between workplace well-being and nutrition, the role of fruit as a debated alternative, and whether official cake procedures are now warranted.

Funding: Entirely cake-based.

Trial registration: None.

Introduction: Collective false memories - the »Mandela effect« - are well-described in international popular culture. However, equivalent phenomena within a Danish context have not previously been demonstrated. This study examined whether a specific misremembered cinematic detail from the 1986 Danish movie, »Flamberede hjerter«, constitutes a shared false memory.

Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey among staff at the Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen. Participants who confirmed having seen »Flamberede hjerter« were asked to recall which medium supported the sausages in a well-known dinner scene. Free-text responses were categorised, and the proportion of »mashed potatoes« responses was analysed using a binomial test against a 50/50 expected distribution.

Results: Twenty participants were included. None recalled the correct answer (»fettuccine«). Fifteen (75.0%) answered »mashed potatoes«, four (20.0%) »spaghetti«, and one (5.0%) »meatball«. The proportion of »mashed potato« responses was significantly higher than the null expectation (p = 0.041), indicating strong convergence around a single erroneous memory.

Conclusion: All participants misremembered the scene, and »mashed potatoes« emerged as the dominant false recollection. This supports the existence of a culturally shared false memory in a Danish context. Accordingly, we suggest that this effect be referred to as flaming heart Syndrome.

Funding: No external funding was received.

Trial registration: Not applicable.

Background: During the holiday season, many hospitals celebrate with traditional festivities featuring Santa Claus carrying a heavy sack of gifts. Yet, the process of selecting who plays Santa remains unclear. Anecdotally, surgical specialties are favored, possibly due to presumed superior grip strength. To understand this further, we examined the next steps in evaluating suitability for Santa roles.

Methods: To investigate, grip strength was measured using a handheld dynamometer, and participants completed questionnaires detailing their medical specialty, regular physical activity, and enthusiasm for working with children and night shifts. These are key traits for a potential Santa, linking physical ability with role enthusiasm.

Results: Surgical specialties flexed their muscles, showing significantly higher average grip strength than medical and paraclinical specialties (p = 0.032). When controlling for gender and regular strength training, only male sex predicted higher grip strength (p less-than 0.001). Notably, aspiring Santas showed lower grip strength (p=0.021).

Conclusion: If you judge by grip strength alone, male staff - regardless of specialty - might lift the sack best. But we know Santa's true power comes not just from muscle, but from a jolly spirit; a caring heart, and a booming "Ho-Ho-Ho."

Funding: None.

Trial registration: None.