Injection-salting and cold-smoking of farmed atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) at different stages of Rigor Mortis: effect on physical properties.

Processing of fish is generally conducted postrigor, but prerigor processing is associated with some potential advantages. The aim of this study was to study how 5 processing regimes of cold-smoked cod and salmon conducted at different stages of rigor influenced yield, fillet shrinkage, and gaping. Farmed cod and salmon was filleted, salted by brine injection of 25% NaCl, and smoked for 2 h at different stages of rigor. Filleting and salting prerigor resulted in increased fillet shrinkage and less increase in weight during brine injection, which in turn was correlated to the salt content of the fillet. These effects were more pronounced in cod fillets when compared to salmon. Early processing reduced fillet gaping and fillets were evaluated as having a firmer texture. In a follow-up trial with cod, shrinkage and weight gain during injection was studied as an effect of processing time postmortem. No changes in weight gain were observed for fillets salted the first 24 h postmortem; however, by delaying the processing 12 h postmortem, the high and rapid shrinking of cod fillets during brine injection was halved.

Patient characteristics and age-dependent sub-populations in severe fibrocystic breast disease--the Hjørring project.

This study aimed at providing a detailed anamnestic, clinical, and mammographical characterization of 109 patients with fibrocystic breast disease, who were selected on the basis of pronounced mastodynia, prominent palpable structure and mammographical confirmation of the clinical diagnosis. Since these patients were selected for subsequent therapy, and most of them also underwent various hormonal investigations, accurate differential diagnosis was considered essential. Therefore, X-ray mammography was supplemented as required with adenography, galactography, and aspiration of cysts followed by aerography. Additionally, the results for most study variables were recorded by means of standardized scoring systems. On the basis of this characterization, three diagnostic sub-groups of fibrocystic disease could be distinguished: 20 patients with prominent glandular structure but no visible cysts (group A), 43 patients with prominent glandular structure as well as small (less than 1 cm) cysts (group B), and 46 patients with both small and large (greater than or equal to 1 cm) cysts. The three groups differ significantly in mean age (33.1 +/- 5.5 (SD), 39.2 +/- 4.9, and 43.7 +/- 4.6 years in groups A, B, and C, respectively). There was a significant trend towards increasing duration of breast complaints, and patients with a history of greater than 5 years account for 45, 65, and 74% in groups A, B, and C, respectively. Moreover, most of the study variables, viz. mastodynia, palpable structure, amount of glandular tissue, non-cystic nodularity, small cysts, duct ectasia, nipple discharge, and fibrosis, also tended to increase significantly in intensity and/or frequency from group A to B to C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Danazol treatment of severely symptomatic fibrocystic breast disease and long-term follow-up--the Hjørring project.

The purpose of the investigation was to study various aspects of danazol treatment in patients with fibrocystic breast disease and pronounced mastodynia. To qualify for inclusion, the patients in this study had to have a mammographically confirmed prominent glandular structure and/or severe cystic breast disease, associated with pronounced cyclical mastodynia lasting at least one week per menstrual cycle for more than 6 months. They also had to be premenopausal and not undergoing hormonal therapy. Of 109 patients with a mean age of 40 +/- 6.2 (SD) years, who completed 6 months' treatment with danazol, 65% had a pre-treatment history of more than 5 years. According to detailed mammographic characterization, only 18% of the patients had no visible cysts. Of the 82% with visible cysts, half presented with both small (less than 1 cm) and large cysts. The patients were treated in two consecutive groups, 55 patients receiving 400 mg a day and 54 patients 200 mg a day. The therapeutic response was similar following both dosages. Mastodynia responded rapidly and total elimination was noted in about 90% of cases. A marked decrease in prominence of palpable structure was observed in virtually all patients. Mammographically, a decrease in the amount of glandular tissue was observed. These changes during treatment were statistically highly significant (p less than 0.001), irrespective of dose or category of patient. Non-cystic nodularities gradually decreased in 85% and resolved completely in 58% of the cases, but the degree of resolution in the groups of patients with no or only small (less than 1 cm) visible cysts was significantly greater (p less than 0.02 or less) than in the group which also had large cysts and which included the most severe and intractable cases. The mammographical visualization of cysts, ductal system, and fibrous tissue increased initially due to the marked regression of obscuring glandular tissue. Thereafter, a decrease in the number and spread of small cysts was observed in a significant proportion of patients and in some cases a reduction in duct diameter could be demonstrated by means of galactography. Nipple discharge also decreased. The extent of fibrosis appeared to be unaffected by therapy. In the 46 patients with large cysts and, in most cases, a documented history of repeated cyst formation, danazol treatment was found to arrest the development of new cysts and to prevent recurrence for a considerable time thereafter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Treatment of recurrent cyclical mastodynia in patients with fibrocystic breast disease. A double-blind placebo-controlled study--the Hjørring project.

Thirty premenopausal women with recurrent, pronounced cyclical mastodynia associated with mammographically confirmed fibrocystic disease were studied. All patients had long-standing symptoms, had undergone one previous course of treatment with danazol, and were recruited during long-term follow-up after original treatment, when cyclical mastodynia had again reached similar severity as before the original treatment (mean interval between treatments 9.5 +/- 3.9 (SD) months). Fifteen patients each were randomly allocated to double-blind treatment with either danazol or placebo. During the first month, 2 capsules a day (each containing danazol 100 mg or placebo) were given, thereafter one capsule a day up to 6 months. Danazol caused a marked and sustained decrease in mastodynia, according to the clinician's assessment and according to each patient's self-rating on a visual analogue scale. The response to danazol was fairly uniform and statistically significant (p less than 0.005 or less), whereas the response to placebo was inconsistent and not statistically significant (p greater than 0.10). Danazol proved significantly more effective than placebo (p less than 0.05 or less). Changes in palpatory and/or mammographic findings were also found more consistently after danazol treatment than after placebo. During treatment, there was a modest weight increase, which was statistically significant in the danazol group (p less than 0.01) but not in the placebo group. A greater frequency in menstrual irregularities was observed in the danazol group than in the placebo group, but not to an extent that would have caused 'unblinding' of the study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Transabdominal isthmic cerclage for the treatment of incompetent cervix.

During the period from 1973 to 1980 transabdominal isthmic cerclage was performed on 32 patients. Twenty-nine patients experienced 35 pregnancies. In 23 cases (79%) the diagnosis was based on one or several second-trimester abortions. In the remaining 6 cases the diagnosis was based on clinical findings of an abnormal cervix. Both groups had fetal loss in first and third trimester. The operation was performed before pregnancy or during pregnancy up to the 14th week. The fetal salvage rate rose from 12% to 91.4%, and the prematurity rate was 6.7% after operation. Only one pregnancy was terminated prematurely, due to forcible labor.