Ugeskrift for laeger最新文献

Introduction: The joy of Christmas gifts depends not only on their content but also on how they're presented. We investigated which gift characteristics most effectively increase recipient joy.

Methods: We conducted a randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. 31 adults aged 21-66 years each evaluated 27 gifts differing in wrapping, size, weight, texture, and accompanying narratives. Recipient joy was rated on a Christmas-modified 0-10 Wong-Baker scale.

Results: Median self-reported enjoyment of Christmas was eight on a 0-10 scale (IQR 6-9). Compared with a red-wrapped reference gift, several factors significantly increased joy: gold wrapping paper (+1.48), a bow (+1.81), softness (+1.90), the sound of broken porcelain (+2.61), and especially a long, heartfelt card (+5.42). Larger (+3.55) and heavier (+3.48) gifts were better received than smaller or lighter ones. Verbal stories describing the gift as "expensive" (+3.19) or "hard to find" (+3.23) also enhanced ratings. From a cost-effectiveness perspective, small gifts paired with a brief narrative offered the highest joy per unit of time and material. In a separate comparison, identically wrapped gifts containing either a gift card worth DKK 500 or a 10 mL saline syringe yielded different outcomes: the placebo gift scored significantly higher (6.90 vs. 5.03; p=0.005).

Conclusion: To maximise Christmas joy, the gift should be large, heavy, soft, wrapped in gold paper with a bow, and accompanied by a long, heartfelt card and a convincing backstory.

Funding: None.

Trial registration: Not registered.

This review describes the evolving and increasing role of the endoscope in ear examination and treatment of ear diseases, including ear surgery. With the development of affordable and publicly accessible commercial endoscope models, patients may now have the possibility to examine their own ears. While this development opens up new possibilities for patient-involvement, self-monitoring and telemedicine, it also raises concerns regarding the quality, safety, and appropriate use of such devices in the absence of adequate clinical supervision.

This review highlights the importance of reporting adverse effects from food supplements to the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA). Food supplements are not legally marketed in Denmark before notification to the DVFA, which does not assess their safety. If a food supplement is suspected of causing an adverse effect, the effect can be reported to the DVFA on its webpage. This review describes that the adverse effects may be due to high doses of ingredients, the use of ingredients with limited toxicological data, ingredient interactions, including the addition of substances that increase the bioavailability, interactions with a patient's medication, or adulteration.

In a Danish context, Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is an often-overlooked psychiatric condition affecting children, adolescents, and adults. As patients with BED are often seen in other healthcare settings for different conditions, this review finds that there are many opportunities to improve screening and care for people with BED. This is important, given that BED is a severe eating disorder, but it is also essential because of the significant physical and mental health issues associated with BED. To this end, a new screening tool for general practitioners targeting adolescents has recently been developed.

Testicular torsion (TT) is an acute urological emergency where the testicle twists around its axis, resulting in vascular compromise. Without immediate surgical intervention, it can result in testicular necrosis. Bilateral TT is rare and accounts for under 2% of TT cases. We present a case of an adolescent who showed unilateral symptoms of TT. On surgical exploration, TT was found bilaterally as well as »bell clapper deformity«. Orchiopexy was performed bilaterally. This case suggests that Orchiopexy should only be performed after a proper examination of both testicles.

A young Danish boy developed severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria after travel to Indonesia without malaria chemoprophylaxis or mosquito protection. Flu-like symptoms were misinterpreted as influenza, delaying diagnosis. He presented cerebral malaria and multiorgan failure requiring intensive care. Rapid treatment with IV artesunate led to full recovery. The case highlights the importance of correct travel advice, as well as early recognition of malaria symptoms and rapid malaria testing without delay after travel in a malaria endemic area, despite a low perceived local risk of malaria.

Degloving injury is a severe soft tissue injury requiring timely diagnosis to preserve the patient's quality of life and, in critical cases, ensure survival. Diagnosis is challenging, and a delayed or missed diagnosis increases the risk of necrosis, infection, and amputation. Early identification is essential for maximising tissue viability and achieving the best functional and cosmetic outcomes. Despite the lack of standardised guidelines, newer treatment methods, such as ICG fluorescence imaging, hydrosurgery, and VAC therapy, have improved reconstruction, as argued in this review.

Children with life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses and their families face significant physical and emotional distress. Advance care planning (ACP) provides an opportunity to discuss and document end-of-life wishes. ACP benefits are clear for adults, but evidence is lacking for paediatric populations. Ten American published ACP studies show reduced negative emotions, improved decision-making, enhanced family communication, and a significant increase in completion of advance directives. However, adaptation to Danish health care and systematic implementation are needed to adhere to a Danish setting, as argued in this review.

In this case report, a 73-year-old male with metastatic prostate cancer is presented. After progression on available standard treatments, he was enrolled in a precision medicine program. Re-biopsy revealed a defect in mismatch repair and an Activin A receptor type 2A mutation associated with high microsatellite instability. Pembrolizumab was started with clinical response, tumor regression, PSA-decline, and no adverse reactions. After 5 months, the treatment is ongoing. This illustrates that pembrolizumab can have an effect in some patients with prostate cancer and underscores the importance of molecular diagnostics.