Dan Med Bull
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The suicide rates in Denmark have been declining during the last two decades. The decline was relatively larger among women than among men. All age groups experienced a decline except the very young with stable rates and the very old with increasing rates. ⋯ A meta-analysis of risk factors of repetition of suicide attempt has not been carried out, and the quality of the identified studies did not allow a formal meta-analysis. Large randomised clinical trials examining the effectiveness of interventions on reducing rate of suicide attempt and suicide should have high priority. Suicide is a major public health problem and should be given high priority with regard to prevention and research. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)
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Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) represents a potentially curative treatment modality in a range of hematologic malignancies. High-dose myeloablative radio-chemotherapy has conventionally been used as part of the preparative regimen before HCT for two reasons: it has a profound immunosuppressive effect on the host, limiting the ability to reject the graft and it has substantial anti-tumor efficacy. Graft rejection is an example of alloreactivity as alloreactivity denotes the immunologic reactions that occur when tissues are transplanted between two individuals within the same species. ⋯ However, many issues such as whom to transplant and when the transplant should be performed remain to be clarified. Large prospective studies, involving collaboration between centers, are needed to define the role of HCT with nonmyeloablative conditioning along with other treatment modalities. In addition, it is important to continue to elucidate the immunologic mechanisms that are responsible for GVHD and the GVT effect.
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HIV/AIDS threatens the development of countries with high HIV prevalence. This article focuses on the magnitude of the impact of HIV/AIDS on the millennium development goals (MDGs) for health. The article is based on a literature survey on the impact of HIV on child health, maternal mortality, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria. ⋯ There is evidence that HIV infections increase the risk for the progression of malaria in children and the risk of severe and complicated malaria in adults in stable malaria areas. However, the most evident effect of HIV on malaria is related to pregnant women. It is concluded that strategies to reach the MDGs for health must include a comprehensive and coordinated approach to fight the major health problems including a more suitable resource allocation and organisation of health services taking into account the many inter-linkages between diseases.
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Low-income communities will within the next decades undergo rapid changes. The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes, cardio-vascular disease and cancer, will comprise an increasing proportion of the total disease burden. The results of projections indicate that the already constrained health systems will face a double burden of disease, in which HIV/AIDS and other common infectious diseases will co-exist with the new NCDs. In order for preventive measures directed towards NCD to be cost-effective, these have to be implemented within the next 10-20 years.