[Fatal accidents in house fires. The most significant causes, such as smoking and alcohol abuse, multiplied by four the incidence during the last 40 years]. / Dødsulykker ved bygningsbrande. Rygning og alkoholmisbrug er vaesentlige årsager til en fordobling over 40 år.

A population-based descriptive investigation of housefire accidents in Denmark was carried out for the two five year periods 1953-58 and 1988-93, based on death certificates, police reports and autopsy reports. The number of deaths due to housefire accidents in Denmark has increased (1953-58: 136 (66 men and 70 women), 1988-93: 363 (212 men and 150 women), mostly due to an increase in tobacco-smoking related fire accidents. In 1988-93 the three common causes of housefire deaths were tobacco-smoking, often in combination with alcohol intoxication or handicap (51%), cooking-accidents (10%) and accidents with candles (9%). The largest risk groups were chronic alcoholics, handicapped and elderly people. In conclusion, warnings should be issued against smoking in bed and use of loose-fitting clothing while cooking on an open fire. Protective aprons and devices for use while smoking, self-extinguishing cigarettes and use of fireproof materials in furniture and clothing may prevent ignition. Smoke-alarms may secure early warning.

[Spread of teflon particles from periurethrally injected teflon paste to pulmonary tissue]. / Spredning af teflonpartikler til lungevaev fra periuretralt injiceret teflonpasta.

Periurethral injections of pyrolyzed teflon are used for control of urinary incontinence. Here a case is reported in which teflon-particles have spread from periurethrally injected teflon to pulmonary tissue. Teflon embolization to the lungs from artificial heart valves has previously been reported. The differences between these two forms of teflon-embolization are discussed. The risk of carcinogenicity is discussed.

[Helicobacter pylori]. / Helicobacter pylori.

Helicobacter pylori (HP) are Gram-negative spiral bacteria which occur in the human stomach. The bacteria were cultured in vitro for the first time in 1983. It is suspected that the bacteria may cause chronic gastritis of type B and may also be a contributory cause of chronic ulceration and cancer of the stomach. The bacteria are accompanied by characteristic inflammatory changes in the gastric mucosa. The significance for gastritis, chronic ulceration, non-ulcer dyspepsia and carcinoma of the stomach is discussed. HP occurs in a great proportion of the population of the world and the frequency increases with age. The route of infection is unknown but faecal-oral infection is probable. Correlation between the presence of HP and the occurrence of symptoms is poor in the individual patient. The bacteria can be demonstrated histologically, cytologically, by culture, by the urease test, by the urease expiration test or serologically. The bacteria are sensitive for a series of antibiotics and bismuth but no effective treatment is known as the recurrence rate is high.