Human Papillomavirus Infection Among 2460 Men in Denmark: Prevalence in Relation to Age Using 2 Human Papillomavirus DNA Testing Methods.

BACKGROUND: It is crucial to understand the epidemiology and natural history of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in both men and women, to prevent the increasing HPV-related disease burden in men. Data on HPV prevalence among men in the general population are limited. In this cross-sectional population-based study, we aimed to estimate genital HPV infection prevalence in Danish men using 2 different test methods. METHODS: Penile swab samples from 2460 male employees and conscripts at military barracks in Denmark were tested for HPV DNA with the hybrid capture 2 (HC2) method, and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, Inno-LiPA. The overall and age- and type-specific prevalence of HPV infection with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated, and the correlation between the 2 assays was assessed. RESULTS: The overall HPV prevalence was 22.2% (95% CI, 20.6-23.9) in the HC2 test and 41.8% (95% CI, 39.9-43.8) with PCR. Of the PCR-positive samples, 50.9% were negative in the HC2 test. Of 183 PCR-positive samples that could not be genotyped (HPVX), 88.0% (95% CI, 83.2-92.7) were HC2 negative. The most prevalent types were HPV-51, HPV-16, HPV-66, HPV-53, and HPV-6. The prevalence of high-risk and low-risk HPV peaked among men aged 20 to 29 years, whereas the HPVX prevalence increased with age. CONCLUSIONS: Human papillomavirus is highly prevalent in the general male population of Denmark, with HPV-16 and HPV-51 being the most prevalent. Polymerase chain reaction detects twice as many positive samples as HC2 but includes HPVX, possibly representing cutaneous HPV types found on normal genital skin.

Risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among deployed Danish soldiers from 1990 to 2009.

OBJECTIVE: The study was undertaken to identify risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among deployed Danish soldiers. Research on suicide among Danish veterans has only been conducted to a limited degree. METHOD: The method applied was a questionnaire survey administered to a population of 1,264 Danish soldiers deployed from 1990 to 2009. The data were analyzed using backward logistic regression modeling in SAS 9.2. RESULTS: In the logistic regression analysis, the following were significant risk factors for suicidal ideation: drug abuse, a poor financial situation before deployment, a heavy workload and/or repatriation during deployment, and attending a poor athletic and recreation program after deployment. Significant protective factors against suicidal ideation were support from friends at home during deployment and appreciation by the general population after deployment. Significant risk factors for suicide attempts were an unhappy childhood and pointless tasks during deployment. No significant protective factors against suicide attempts were identified. CONCLUSION: On the basis of the results presented in this study, intervention against suicidal behavior would benefit from screening for certain childhood issues, drug abuse, and poor financial situation before deployment. During deployment, measures should be taken to minimize the amount of meaningless tasks and heavy workloads. At the same time, efficient ways of communicating with home should be ensured. After deployment, good athletic and recreation programs should be warranted for all military personnel-including repatriated soldiers. Finally, priority should be given to ensure public appreciation of what deployed soldiers accomplish.

Risk of post-traumatic stress disorder among Danish junior medical officers deployed to Afghanistan is not increased.

INTRODUCTION: Since August 2006, the Danish Armed Forces have deployed junior medical officers (JMOs) to the Helmand Province in Afghanistan. Research has shown an increased incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in deployed military personnel throughout the history of modern warfare. No investigation of the mental health of Danish military medical personnel has been performed. We wanted to investigate the extent of potentially traumatizing events experienced by Danish JMOs and the prevalence of PTSD among them. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included all JMOs deployed for one or more tours of duty in Afghanistan from January 2006 to August 2010. Potential participants received a questionnaire to their home address including the PTSD Checklist - Civilian Version (PCL-C). RESULTS: A total of 72 JMOs were included in the survey. The completion rate was 65%. We found that 98% of the respondents had experienced a potentially traumatizing event and that 47% had experienced feeling fear, horror or helplessness in the context of such an event. The prevalence of PTSD was 0%. CONCLUSION: Danish JMOs do not seem to have an increased risk of PTSD after deployment to Afghanistan. However, further research on the mental health of this personnel group is needed. FUNDING: This study was partly funded by The Danish Armed Forces Health Services. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered with the Danish Data Protection Agency.

[Injuries and death among Danish soldiers serving overseas]. / Skader og død hos udsendte danske soldater.

INTRODUCTION: This is a survey of wounded and dead Danish soldiers in the period 1992-2008. Injuries and deaths caused by weapon effects, including accidental shots and subsequent events are described. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During the period, the Danish Armed Forces deployed a total of 38,255 service men and women to former Yugoslavia, Iraq and Afghanistan. Factual survey data were collected from the Danish Armed Forces and compared with relevant medical sources. RESULTS: Denmark has had an overall mortality of 0.08% in missions and a morbidity of 0.25% due to weapon effects. There has been an increase in morbidity and mortality due to increased risks, while the survival rate has actually increased. The trend today is that those who die, do so quickly - most within 0-10 minutes. This survey shows that most of the wounded survive, and that many of them are injured to a lesser degree. This study involves no psychological conditions, but it is notable that suicide, violence-caused deaths, etc. were not subsequently observed among the injured. More than 75% of those injured have continued working with the Defence. CONCLUSION: Treatment and management of wounded soldiers have now changed to focus on haemostatics, tourniquet use, better first aid training and specially trained soldiers (medics) to take care of the wounded combined with continuous treatment during evacuation by rotary wing directly to surgical facilities. This has improved the survival of wounded soldiers in line with the results found in foreign studies.

Depleted uranium and cancer in Danish Balkan veterans deployed 1992-2001.

In a population based retrospective cohort study we studied cancer risk in Danish soldiers deployed to the war in the Balkans. In particular, leukaemia, earlier linked to ammunition enforced with depleted uranium (DU) in other deployed soldiers, was a concern. Military personnel, 13,552 men and 460 women, without known cancer at first deployment to the Balkans, January 1, 1992 to December 31, 2001 were followed through December 2002. We found 96cases of cancer, 84 among men (standardised incidence ratio (SIR) 0.9) and 12 among women (SIR 1.7). Only four male bone cancers (SIR 6.0), with three during the first year of follow-up, exceeded expectations. Earlier reports on increased risk of leukaemia and testis cancer among deployed military personnel to the Balkans are not corroborated by our study. Quick and open communication about potential risks, a health check, a telephone counselling line and careful monitoring, and diminished anxiety all helped contain the 'Balkan syndrome' in Denmark.

Acquisition and persistence of human papillomavirus infection in younger men: a prospective follow-up study among Danish soldiers.

No data is yet available on incidence or persistence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in men. We enrolled 374 younger male conscripts (18-29 years) in a prospective study, and they were examined twice with an interval of 6 to 8 months. Data collection included a questionnaire and a sample of cells from the penis for HPV detection using PCR. In addition, the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis DNA was assessed in urine samples by means of PCR. The HPV prevalence at the first and second examinations was 33.8% and 31.9%, respectively. The acquisition rate of HPV (overall) during follow-up was 13.8%, and nearly one fourth of the participants were HPV positive at both examinations. Number of sex partners during follow-up was the most important risk factor for acquiring HPV (odds ratio, 17.2; 95% confidence interval, 4.6-64.7, for > or = 3 partners versus < or = 1 partner). In contrast, acquisition of a new HPV type in initially HPV-positive men was strongly related to having multiple HPV types at enrollment (OR, 4.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-12.3). This was also the most important risk factor for HPV persistence together with current smoking and having a high-risk HPV type at enrollment. This is the first study to assess risk factors for acquisition and persistence of HPV. The sexually transmitted nature of the infection is confirmed, and the data point to an important role of having multiple HPV types for persistence.