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Background: Mental health disease constitutes 25% of the total burden of disease in Denmark. In the last few years, an increasing tendency for seeking the ocean has arisen, and winter bathing is one of the outdoor activities with a large rise in popularity. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore if and how regular winter bathing in blue spaces can affect people's mental health. Methods: This study employed a qualitative design using fieldwork with semi-structured interviews with four members from three different winter bathing clubs. The empirical data were thematically analyzed followed by theoretical analysis. Results: The results revealed five themes: Social Connectedness; Blue Nature as a Free Space; The Motivation Behind Winter Bathing; It is More Than an Ice-Cold Shock; and Finding Mental Peace in Winter Bathing. The results suggest that winter bathing in blue spaces contributed to improved mental health for the informants. Conclusions: In conclusion, regular winter bathing enhanced the participants' mental health. A relatively short time in the ice-cold water provided mental peace which transferred to the rest of daily life in general, which emphasizes the mental health-promoting potential of winter bathing. Positive emotions were cultivated through exposure to blue spaces, including inner calm and a sense of safety. Winter bathing also served as a space for social connectedness and community building, facilitated by the club environment in which meaningful social interactions occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurofilament light protein (NfL) is a part of the neuronal skeleton, primarily expressed in axons, and is released when nerves are damaged. NfL has been found to be a potential diagnostic biomarker in different types of polyneuropathies. However, whether NfL levels can be used as a predictor for the risk of disease progression is currently less understood. We searched MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science Searches and included longitudinal studies with a baseline and follow‐up examination of adult patients with polyneuropathy and NfL measured in blood. Twenty studies investigating NfL as a predictor of disease progression were identified, examining eight polyneuropathy subtypes. The results from studies in Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) patients were divergent, with two out of five studies finding a significant association between NfL levels and clinical outcomes. Meta‐analysis of the three Guillian‐Barré Syndrome (GBS) studies found higher odds for the inability to run after 1 year in patients with high levels of NfL (odds ratio 2.18, 95% confidence interval 1.04–4.56). Results from studies examining other subacute or chronic polyneuropathies like Charcot–Marie–Tooth (CMT) varied in study design and results. Our findings suggest NfL can be used as a predictor of disease progression, particularly in polyneuropathies such as CIDP and GBS. However, NfL may not serve as a reliable and cost‐effective biomarker for slowly progressive polyneuropathies like CMT. Future standardized studies considering NfL as a prognostic blood biomarker in patients with different types of polyneuropathies are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A post‐hoc exploratory analysis of the PIONEER 9 and 10 trials evaluated the effect of baseline age (<65 and ≥65 years) on the efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. In PIONEER 9 and 10, patients were randomized to once‐daily oral semaglutide (3, 7 or 14 mg) or a comparator (placebo or once‐daily subcutaneous liraglutide 0.9 mg [PIONEER 9]; once‐weekly subcutaneous dulaglutide 0.75 mg [PIONEER 10]) for 52 weeks, with 5 weeks' follow‐up. In total, 701 patients were included (PIONEER 9: N = 243; PIONEER 10: N = 458). Glycaemic efficacy of oral semaglutide was similar in Japanese patients aged <65 years compared with those ≥65 years, and there did not appear to be a clear pattern between age subgroup and body weight changes. Across treatment arms, adverse events generally occurred in greater proportions of patients aged ≥65 versus <65 years. There was generally a higher rate of premature trial product discontinuation because of adverse events in the older age group. These results indicate that oral semaglutide is efficacious in Japanese patients irrespective of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to evaluate whether macular laser still has a role in the treatment of macular oedema (MO) caused by branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and provide an overview of recent studies on commonly available treatment options. A literature search was last conducted in PubMed on 26 February 2019, limited to human randomized controlled trials published in English since 2008. Seventeen articles addressing 13 trials were included in this assessment. In trials evaluating intravitreal corticosteroid and macular laser, triamcinolone was non‐inferior to laser in regard to visual acuity (VA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) outcomes. Combination treatment of dexamethasone and laser resulted in better VA and lower CRT after 6 months. In trials evaluating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors versus macular laser treatment, or sham and rescue laser, better VA and CRT of VEGF inhibition treatment was consistently reported. Results of combination treatment versus VEGF inhibition monotherapy were inconsistent, with four of six studies reporting comparable outcomes and injection burden. Study comparison was affected by considerable differences in study design and inadequate reporting of laser protocol and rescue laser. Studies evaluating angiostatic treatment as monotherapy largely report the use of rescue laser, indicating that some patients would benefit from supplemental laser treatment even in the era of intravitreal therapy. Thus, we suggest further studies on optimal design of combination therapy prioritizing longer follow‐up time to sufficiently evaluate the delayed effect of laser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Self-instruction with a DVD and a simple personal manikin is an effective alternative to traditional basic life support (BLS) courses. Objective To evaluate the effect of distributing DVD training kits to untrained laypersons. BLS skills were compared according to 2005 guidelines for resuscitation after 3.5 months with those obtained in untrained laypersons who completed the same course with instructor facilitation. Methods BLS skills of 55 untrained laypersons were assessed using the Laerdal ResusciAnne and PC Skill Reporting System in a 3 min test and a total score (12-48 points) was calculated. The participants received a DVD training kit without instructions. The test was repeated after 3.5 months. Data were compared with data from a previous published study where participants completed the same course in groups with instructor facilitation. Results There was no statistically significant difference in the total score after 3.5 months. The 'DVDdselfinstructor' group obtained 33 (29-37) points and the 'DVDdwith instructor' group obtained 34 (32-37) points, p=0.16. The 'DVDdwith instructor' group performed significantly better in checking responsiveness and had a significantly shorter 'total hands-off time' (s) (85 (76-94) vs 96 (82-120), p=0.002) and delay until first compression or ventilation group (29 s (17-40) vs 33 s (22-48), p=0.04). Conclusions Since no significant difference in total BLS score was found after 3.5 months between untrained laypersons who either completed a DVD-based BLS course in groups with instructor facilitation or received the same DVD training kit without instruction, the latter seems more efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) which is one of the main public health problem around the world. It offers information on multifaceted community focused on improving the chain of survival. It offers information on automated external defibrillator (AED) courses offered to laypersons.