Christoffer Johansen

Publications of Christoffer Johansen

• Who participates in a randomized trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) after breast cancer? A study of factors associated with enrollment among Danish breast cancer patients.

  Authors: Hanne Würtzen, Susanne Oksbjerg Dalton, Klaus Kaae Andersen, Peter Elsass, Henrik Lavlund Flyger, Antonia Sumbundu, Christoffer Johansen

  Psycho-oncology. 05/2012;

  BACKGROUND: Discussion regarding the necessity to identify patients with both the need and motivation for psychosocial intervention is ongoing. Evidence for an effect of mindfulness-basedBACKGROUND: Discussion regarding the necessity to identify patients with both the need and motivation for psychosocial intervention is ongoing. Evidence for an effect of mindfulness-based interventions among cancer patients is based on few studies with no systematic enrollment. METHODS: We used Danish population-based registries and clinical databases to determine differences in demographics, breast cancer and co-morbidity among 1208 women eligible for a randomized controlled trial (www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00990977) of mindfulness-based stress reduction MBSR. RESULTS: Participants (N = 336) were found to be younger (p < 0.001) and have a less recent diagnosis at invitation than decliners (N = 872; p < 0.001). After adjustment for age and time since diagnosis at invitation, a statistically significant difference was also found between the two groups in use of psychologist sessions (p < 0.05), whereas neither breast cancer variables nor co-morbidity was significantly different. Self-reported data obtained by use of validated psychometric scales from 169 decliners and 336 women who agreed to enroll in the trial showed statistically significant differences in level of education, distress, anxiety, depression, well being and symptom burden. No differences were observed with regard to marital status, children living at home, affiliation to the work market, psychiatric caseness or any lifestyle measure. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that participants are younger, have a less recent diagnosis and have a higher level of education than those who refuse. This should be taken into account in designing and evaluating trials of psychosocial interventions and in planning mindfulness-based interventions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

• Parental Separation and Pediatric Cancer: A Danish Cohort Study.

  Authors: Sally Grant, Kathrine Carlsen, Pernille Envold Bidstrup, Gro Samsø Bastian, Lasse Wegener Lund, Susanne Oksbjerg Dalton, Christoffer Johansen

  Pediatrics. 04/2012;

  OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to determine the risk for separation (ending cohabitation) of the parents of a child with a diagnosis of cancer.METHODS:In a nationwide cohort, we compared theOBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to determine the risk for separation (ending cohabitation) of the parents of a child with a diagnosis of cancer.METHODS:In a nationwide cohort, we compared the risk for ending cohabitation of the parents of 2450 children (aged 0-20 years) given a diagnosis of cancer with the risk of parents of 44 853 randomly selected, gender- and age-matched cancer-free children. We adjusted for socioeconomic position and demographic factors. Rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals for separation were estimated in a Cox proportional hazards model.RESULTS:The parents of children with cancer did not have a higher risk for separation than the general population (rate ratio: 1.00 [95% confidence interval: 0.91-1.10]). Separate analyses according to type of cancer and survival of the child similarly yielded null results.CONCLUSIONS:Experiencing cancer in a child does not seem to be a risk factor for separation. Our study will allow clinicians to reassure parents and to support them in facing the trauma of cancer in their child.

• Socioeconomic Position and Stage of Cervical Cancer in Danish Women Diagnosed 2005 to 2009.

  Authors: Else Ibfelt, Susanne K Kjær, Christoffer Johansen, Claus Høgdall, Marianne Steding-Jessen, Kirsten Frederiksen, Birgitte Lidegaard Frederiksen, Merete Osler, Susanne Oksbjerg Dalton

  Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology. 03/2012;

  BACKGROUND: To reduce social disparities in cervical cancer survival, it is important to understand the mechanisms by which social position influence cancer prognosis. We investigated the relationsBACKGROUND: To reduce social disparities in cervical cancer survival, it is important to understand the mechanisms by which social position influence cancer prognosis. We investigated the relations between socioeconomic factors, comorbidity, time since last Papanicolau smear, and stage at diagnosis in Danish women with cervical cancer.METHODS: We identified 1,651 cervical cancer cases diagnosed 2005 to 2009 from the Danish Gynaecological Cancer Database. Date of diagnosis, clinical cancer stage, tumor histology, and treating hospital were retrieved; Pap smear registrations were obtained from the Danish Pathology Register; data on comorbid conditions from the Danish National Patients Register; and data on education, income, and cohabitation from Statistics Denmark. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the relations between socioeconomic factors and cancer stage in a four-step model, with stepwise inclusion of mediators.RESULTS: The risk for advanced (stage II-IV) compared with early-stage cancer (stage I) was increased for women with short and medium education (OR = 2.40; 1.67-3.45 and 1.76; 1.44-2.16), women living without a partner (OR = 1.31; 1.10-1.55), and older women (OR = 1.07; 1.06-1.08 increase per year). The relations between socioeconomic factors and cancer stage were partly mediated by time since last Pap smear test and to a lesser extent by comorbidity.CONCLUSIONS: Shorter education, living alone, and older age were related to advanced stage cervical cancer, due partly to Pap smear testing and less to comorbidity.Impact: It is relevant to further investigate how to decrease delay in cervical cancer diagnosis among disadvantaged groups. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 1-8. ©2012 AACR.

• Participation in cancer rehabilitation and unmet needs: a population-based cohort study.

  Authors: Lise Vilstrup Holm, Dorte Gilså Hansen, Christoffer Johansen, Peter Vedsted, Pia Veldt Larsen, Jakob Kragstrup, Jens Søndergaard

  Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer. 03/2012;

  PURPOSE: To investigate associations between cancer survivors' sex, age, and diagnosis in relation to their (1) need for rehabilitation, (2) participation in rehabilitation activities, and (3) unmetPURPOSE: To investigate associations between cancer survivors' sex, age, and diagnosis in relation to their (1) need for rehabilitation, (2) participation in rehabilitation activities, and (3) unmet needs for rehabilitation in a 14-month period following date of diagnosis. METHODS: A population-based cohort study was performed on incident cancer patients diagnosed from 1 October 2007 to 30 September 2008. Fourteen months after diagnosis, participants completed a questionnaire developed to measure the aspects of rehabilitation. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore the association between sex, age, and diagnosis, and the outcome variables for rehabilitation. RESULTS: A total of 3,439 patients participated, yielding an overall response rate of 70%. One third of the cancer patients reported a need for physical rehabilitation and one third for psychological rehabilitation. Half of the patients participated in at least one activity. Unmet needs were most often reported in psychological, sexual, and financial areas. Women expressed more needs, participated more often in rehabilitation activities, and had, to a higher extent, their emotional needs fulfilled. Breast cancer patients participated more often in physical rehabilitation. Elderly who expressed rehabilitation needs more often had them unresolved. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial variation in rehabilitation needs, participation in activities, and unmet needs in relation to sex, age, and cancer type was observed. Cancer care ought to systematically address the wide range of needs in all groups through integration of systematic needs assessment and targeted supply of offers.

• Mobile Phone Use and Incidence of Glioma in the Nordic Countries 1979-2008: Consistency Check.

  Authors: Isabelle Deltour, Anssi Auvinen, Maria Feychting, Christoffer Johansen, Lars Klaeboe, Risto Sankila, Joachim Schüz

  Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.). 03/2012; 23(2):301-307.

  BACKGROUND:: Some case-control studies have reported increased risks of glioma associated with mobile phone use. If true, this would ultimately affect the time trends for incidence rates (IRs).BACKGROUND:: Some case-control studies have reported increased risks of glioma associated with mobile phone use. If true, this would ultimately affect the time trends for incidence rates (IRs). Correspondingly, lack of change in IRs would exclude certain magnitudes of risk. We investigated glioma IR trends in the Nordic countries, and compared the observed with expected incidence rates under various risk scenarios. METHODS:: We analyzed annual age-standardized incidence rates in men and women aged 20 to 79 years during 1979-2008 using joinpoint regression (35,250 glioma cases). Probabilities of detecting various levels of relative risk were computed using simulations. RESULTS:: For the period 1979 through 2008, the annual percent change in incidence rates was 0.4% (95% confidence interval = 0.1% to 0.6%) among men and 0.3% (0.1% to 0.5%) among women. Incidence rates have decreased in young men (20-39 years) since 1987, remained stable in middle-aged men (40-59 years) throughout the 30-year study period, and increased slightly in older men (60-79 years). In simulations, assumed relative risks for all users of 2.0 for an induction time of up to 15 years, 1.5 for up to 10 years, and 1.2 for up to 5 years were incompatible with observed incidence time trends. For heavy users of mobile phones, risks of 2.0 for up to 5 years' induction were also incompatible. CONCLUSION:: No clear trend change in glioma incidence rates was observed. Several of the risk increases seen in case-control studies appear to be incompatible with the observed lack of incidence rate increase in middle-aged men. This suggests longer induction periods than currently investigated, lower risks than reported from some case-control studies, or the absence of any association.

• Complementary medicine for fatigue and cortisol variability in breast cancer survivors.

  Authors: James C Coyne, Christoffer Johansen, David Gorski

  Cancer. 01/2012;

• Risk of neurological diseases among survivors of electric shocks: A nationwide cohort study, Denmark, 1968-2008.

  Authors: Kathrine Grell, Andrea Meersohn, Joachim Schüz, Christoffer Johansen

  Bioelectromagnetics. 01/2012;

  Several studies suggest a link between electric injuries and neurological diseases, where electric shocks may explain elevated risks for neuronal degeneration and, subsequently, neurologicalSeveral studies suggest a link between electric injuries and neurological diseases, where electric shocks may explain elevated risks for neuronal degeneration and, subsequently, neurological diseases. We conducted a retrospective cohort study on the risk of neurological diseases among people in Denmark who had survived an electric accident in 1968-2008. The cohort included 3,133 people and occurrences of neurological diseases were determined by linkage to the nationwide population-based Danish National Register of Patients. The numbers of cases observed at first hospital contact in the cohort were compared with the respective rates of first hospital contacts for neurological diseases in the general population. We observed significantly increased risks for peripheral nerve diseases (standardized hospitalization ratio (SHR), 1.66; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.22-2.22), for migraine (SHR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.23-2.54), for vertigo (SHR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.22-2.05), and for epilepsy (SHR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.11-1.85). Only small numbers of cases of other neurological diseases were found, making the risk estimates unstable. These findings suggest an association between a single electric shock and increased risks for peripheral nerve diseases, migraines, vertigo, and epilepsy, but confirmation of these observations is needed. Bioelectromagnetics. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

• Mobile phones and multiple sclerosis - a nationwide cohort study in denmark.

  Authors: Aslak Harbo Poulsen, Egon Stenager, Christoffer Johansen, Joan Bentzen, Søren Friis, Joachim Schüz

  PloS one. 01/2012; 7(4):e34453.

  We investigated the risk of, prognosis of and symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) among all Danish residents who owned a mobile phone subscription before 1996. Using the Danish Multiple SclerosisWe investigated the risk of, prognosis of and symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) among all Danish residents who owned a mobile phone subscription before 1996. Using the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry and Civil Registration System, study subjects were followed up for MS through 2004. Poisson models were used to calculate incidence rate ratios (IRR, age range: 18-64 years) and mortality rate ratios (MRR, age range: 18+) and to compare presenting symptoms among subscribers and all non-subscribers. A total of 405 971 subscription holders accrued four million years of follow up, with men accounting for 86% of the observation time. Among subscription holding men, the IRR of MS was close to unity, overall as well as 13+ years after first subscription (IRR 1.02, 95% CI: 0.48-2.16). Among women, the IRR was 3.43 (95% CI: 0.86-13.72) 13+ years after first subscription, however, based on only two cases. Presenting symptoms of MS differed between subscribers and non-subscribers (p = 0.03), with slightly increased risk of diplopia in both genders (IRR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.02-1.86), an increased risk of fatigue among women (IRR: 3.02, 95% CI: 1.45-6.28), and of optic neuritis among men (IRR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.03-1.86). Overall the MRR was close to one (MRR: 0.91, 95%CI 0.70-1.19) among MS-patients with a subscription and although we observed some increased MRR estimates among women, these were based on small numbers. In conclusion, we found little evidence for a pronounced association between mobile phone use and risk of MS or mortality rate among MS patients. Symptoms of MS differed between subscribers and nonsubscribers for symptoms previously suggested to be associated with mobile phone use. This deserves further attention, as does the increased long-term risk of MS among female subscribers, although small numbers and lack of consistency between genders prevent causal interpretation.

• Genome-wide high-density SNP linkage search for glioma susceptibility loci: results from the Gliogene Consortium.

  Authors: Sanjay Shete, Ching C Lau, Richard S Houlston, Elizabeth B Claus, Jill Barnholtz-Sloan, Rose Lai, Dora Il'yasova, Joellen Schildkraut, Siegal Sadetzki, Christoffer Johansen [......] Eastwood Hon-chiu Leung, Caleb Davis, Rita Cheng, Fay J Hosking, Georgina N Armstrong, Yanhong Liu, Robert K Yu, Roger Henriksson, Beatrice S Melin, Melissa L Bondy

  Cancer research. 12/2011; 71(24):7568-75.

  Gliomas, which generally have a poor prognosis, are the most common primary malignant brain tumors in adults. Recent genome-wide association studies have shown that inherited susceptibility plays aGliomas, which generally have a poor prognosis, are the most common primary malignant brain tumors in adults. Recent genome-wide association studies have shown that inherited susceptibility plays a role in the development of glioma. Although first-degree relatives of patients exhibit a two-fold increased risk of glioma, the search for susceptibility loci in familial forms of the disease has been challenging because the disease is relatively rare, fatal, and heterogeneous, making it difficult to collect sufficient biosamples from families for statistical power. To address this challenge, the Genetic Epidemiology of Glioma International Consortium (Gliogene) was formed to collect DNA samples from families with two or more cases of histologically confirmed glioma. In this study, we present results obtained from 46 U.S. families in which multipoint linkage analyses were undertaken using nonparametric (model-free) methods. After removal of high linkage disequilibrium single-nucleotide polymorphism, we obtained a maximum nonparametric linkage score (NPL) of 3.39 (P = 0.0005) at 17q12-21.32 and the Z-score of 4.20 (P = 0.000007). To replicate our findings, we genotyped 29 independent U.S. families and obtained a maximum NPL score of 1.26 (P = 0.008) and the Z-score of 1.47 (P = 0.035). Accounting for the genetic heterogeneity using the ordered subset analysis approach, the combined analyses of 75 families resulted in a maximum NPL score of 3.81 (P = 0.00001). The genomic regions we have implicated in this study may offer novel insights into glioma susceptibility, focusing future work to identify genes that cause familial glioma.

• Psychological distress among women with newly diagnosed breast cancer.

  Authors: Birgitte Goldschmidt Mertz, Pernille Envold Bistrup, Christoffer Johansen, Susanne Oksbjerg Dalton, Isabelle Deltour, Henrik Kehlet, Niels Kroman

  European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society. 10/2011;

  PURPOSE: Psychological distress is common in the cancer continuum. Our objectives were to determine the prevalence of distress and to investigate the related problems and the characteristics of womenPURPOSE: Psychological distress is common in the cancer continuum. Our objectives were to determine the prevalence of distress and to investigate the related problems and the characteristics of women with breast cancer who experienced psychological distress at the time of diagnosis. METHODS: We used cross-sectional data from a questionnaire study. Women with newly diagnosed breast cancer were consecutively invited to respond before breast surgery. Between October 2008 and October 2009, a total of 357 responded out of 426 (84%) invited. Among these, 343 patients completed the 'distress thermometer' to measure psychological distress and the accompanying 'problem list' to identify related problems. Logistic regression models with 95% confidence intervals were used to estimate the associations between psychological distress, age, social support and domains on the problem list. RESULTS: With a cut-off of 3 on the distress thermometer, 77% of women with breast cancer reported distress, whereas when the cut-off was 7, 43% were distressed. The mean distress score was 5.4 (SD, 3.1). The most frequently reported problems were worry (77%) and nervousness (71%). Distress was significantly associated with the total score and three domains on the problem list. Younger women (<50 years) reported higher levels of distress than older (≥50 years). We found no significant association between distress and having a partner or someone outside the family to rely on. CONCLUSIONS: Distress was reported by 77% of patients. Age and problem list were significantly associated with distress. No significant association between psychological distress and social support was observed.

• DNA-repair gene variants are associated with glioblastoma survival.

  Authors: Carl Wibom, Sara Sjöström, Roger Henriksson, Thomas Brännström, Helle Broholm, Patrik Rydén, Christoffer Johansen, Helle Collatz-Laier, Sara Hepworth, Patricia A McKinney, Lara Bethke, Richard S Houlston, Ulrika Andersson, Beatrice S Melin

  Acta oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden). 10/2011;

  Abstract Patient outcome from glioma may be influenced by germline variation. Considering the importance of DNA repair in cancer biology as well as in response to treatment, we studied theAbstract Patient outcome from glioma may be influenced by germline variation. Considering the importance of DNA repair in cancer biology as well as in response to treatment, we studied the relationship between 1458 SNPs, which captured the majority of the common genetic variation in 136 DNA repair genes, in 138 glioblastoma samples from Sweden and Denmark. We confirmed our findings in an independent cohort of 121 glioblastoma patients from the UK. Our analysis revealed nine SNPs annotating MSH2, RAD51L1 and RECQL4 that were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with glioblastoma survival.

• Stress and survival after cancer: A prospective study of a Finnish population-based cohort.

  Authors: Kumi Saito-Nakaya, Pernille E Bidstrup, Naoki Nakaya, Kirsten Frederiksen, Susanne O Dalton, Yosuke Uchitomi, Pia Verkasalo, Markku Koskenvuo, Eero Pukkala, Jaakko Kaprio, Christoffer Johansen

  Cancer epidemiology. 10/2011;

  Stress has been suggested to reduce survival after cancer, but the results of previous studies have been contradictory. We investigated the hypothesis in a national cohort of adults in Finland. OfStress has been suggested to reduce survival after cancer, but the results of previous studies have been contradictory. We investigated the hypothesis in a national cohort of adults in Finland. Of those who completed the Stressful Life Events scale and the Stress of Daily Activities scale, 1470 and 1882, respectively, later had cancer and were included in the analysis, covering 23 years of follow-up between 1982 and 2004. In Cox regression analysis, the multivariate hazard ratio (HR) was 0.99 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.96-1.01) for total number of life events and the HR for the life change score was 0.99 (95% CI, 0.95-1.03). Further, the HR was 0.92 (95% CI, 0.69-1.22) for severe daily stress. Overall, the results of the current study do not support the hypothesis that stress reduces cancer survival.

• Marriage and divorce among childhood cancer survivors.

  Authors: Susanne Vinkel Koch, Anne Mette Tranberg Kejs, Gerda Engholm, Henrik Møller, Christoffer Johansen, Kjeld Schmiegelow

  Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology. 10/2011; 33(7):500-5.

  Many childhood cancer survivors have psychosocial late effects. We studied the risks for cohabitation and subsequent separation. Through the Danish Cancer Register, we identified a nationwide,Many childhood cancer survivors have psychosocial late effects. We studied the risks for cohabitation and subsequent separation. Through the Danish Cancer Register, we identified a nationwide, population-based cohort of all 1877 childhood cancer survivors born from 1965 to 1980, and in whom cancer was diagnosed between 1965 and 1996 before they were 20 years of age. A sex-matched and age-matched population-based control cohort was used for comparison (n=45,449). Demographic and socioeconomic data were obtained from national registers and explored by discrete-time Cox regression analyses. Childhood cancer survivors had a reduced rate of cohabitation [rate ratio (RR) 0.78; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.73-0.83], owing to lower rates among survivors of both noncentral nervous system (CNS) tumors (RR 0.88; 95% CI: 0.83-0.95) and CNS tumors (RR 0.52; 95% CI: 0.45-0.59). Male CNS tumor survivors had a nonsignificantly lower rate (RR 0.47; 95% CI: 0.38-0.58) than females (RR 0.56; 95% CI: 0.47-0.68). The rates of separation were almost identical to those of controls. In conclusion, the rate of cohabitation was lower for all childhood cancer survivors than for the population-based controls, with the most pronounced reduction among survivors of CNS tumors. Mental deficits after cranial irradiation are likely to be the major risk factor.

• Mobile phone use and brain tumors in children and adolescents: a multicenter case-control study.

  Authors: Denis Aydin, Maria Feychting, Joachim Schüz, Tore Tynes, Tina Veje Andersen, Lisbeth Samsø Schmidt, Aslak Harbo Poulsen, Christoffer Johansen, Michaela Prochazka, Birgitta Lannering, Lars Klæboe, Tone Eggen, Daniela Jenni, Michael Grotzer, Nicolas Von der Weid, Claudia E Kuehni, Martin Röösli

  Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 08/2011; 103(16):1264-76.

  It has been hypothesized that children and adolescents might be more vulnerable to possible health effects from mobile phone exposure than adults. We investigated whether mobile phone use isIt has been hypothesized that children and adolescents might be more vulnerable to possible health effects from mobile phone exposure than adults. We investigated whether mobile phone use is associated with brain tumor risk among children and adolescents. CEFALO is a multicenter case-control study conducted in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Switzerland that includes all children and adolescents aged 7-19 years who were diagnosed with a brain tumor between 2004 and 2008. We conducted interviews, in person, with 352 case patients (participation rate: 83%) and 646 control subjects (participation rate: 71%) and their parents. Control subjects were randomly selected from population registries and matched by age, sex, and geographical region. We asked about mobile phone use and included mobile phone operator records when available. Odds ratios (ORs) for brain tumor risk and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using conditional logistic regression models. Regular users of mobile phones were not statistically significantly more likely to have been diagnosed with brain tumors compared with nonusers (OR = 1.36; 95% CI = 0.92 to 2.02). Children who started to use mobile phones at least 5 years ago were not at increased risk compared with those who had never regularly used mobile phones (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 0.70 to 2.28). In a subset of study participants for whom operator recorded data were available, brain tumor risk was related to the time elapsed since the mobile phone subscription was started but not to amount of use. No increased risk of brain tumors was observed for brain areas receiving the highest amount of exposure. The absence of an exposure-response relationship either in terms of the amount of mobile phone use or by localization of the brain tumor argues against a causal association.

• Common variation at 10p12.31 near MLLT10 influences meningioma risk.

  Authors: Sara E Dobbins, Peter Broderick, Beatrice Melin, Maria Feychting, Christoffer Johansen, Ulrika Andersson, Thomas Brännström, Johannes Schramm, Bianca Olver, Amy Lloyd [......] Per Hoffmann, Thomas W Mühleisen, Markus M Nöthen, Susanne Moebus, Lewin Eisele, Michael Kosteljanetz, Kenneth Muir, Anthony Swerdlow, Matthias Simon, Richard S Houlston

  Nature genetics. 07/2011; 43(9):825-7.

  To identify susceptibility loci for meningioma, we conducted a genome-wide association study of 859 affected individuals (cases) and 704 controls with validation in two independent sample setsTo identify susceptibility loci for meningioma, we conducted a genome-wide association study of 859 affected individuals (cases) and 704 controls with validation in two independent sample sets totaling 774 cases and 1,764 controls. We identified a new susceptibility locus for meningioma at 10p12.31 (MLLT10, rs11012732, odds ratio = 1.46, P(combined) = 1.88 × 10(-14)). This finding advances our understanding of the genetic basis of meningioma development.

• A prospective association between quality of life and risk for cancer.

  Authors: Trine Flensborg-Madsen, Christoffer Johansen, Morten Grønbæk, Erik Lykke Mortensen

  European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990). 07/2011; 47(16):2446-52.

  The contributions of social and especially of psychological factors to cancer development have been questioned. The goal of this study was to investigate, in a longitudinal setting, the prospectiveThe contributions of social and especially of psychological factors to cancer development have been questioned. The goal of this study was to investigate, in a longitudinal setting, the prospective associations between self-reported measures of social relations, subjective health (physical and mental) and quality of life and the risk for cancer. In 1993, 4493 people in the Copenhagen Perinatal Cohort were asked to rate their social relations, their physical and mental health and their quality of life. The study population was followed until the end of 2006 for registration of cancer in the Danish Hospital Discharge Register. During the follow-up period, cancer was diagnosed in 102 people. When compared with people with very good quality of life, those who rated their quality of life as poor had a hazard ratio of 1.90 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-3.4) for cancer, and those who rated their quality of life as good had a hazard ratio of 1.31 (95% CI, 0.8-2.2), after adjustment for age, sex, income, lifestyle factors and number of health problems. Self-rated physical and mental health were significantly associated with the risk for cancer, but the estimates became non-significant after adjustment for confounding factors. Social relations were not associated with the risk for cancer. Broad assessment of general well-being, self-rated as global quality of life, appears to be a better predictor of cancer risk than more specific information on social relations and health.

• Location of gliomas in relation to mobile telephone use: a case-case and case-specular analysis.

  Authors: Suvi Larjavaara, Joachim Schüz, Anthony Swerdlow, Maria Feychting, Christoffer Johansen, Susanna Lagorio, Tore Tynes, Lars Klaeboe, Sven Reidar Tonjer, Maria Blettner [......] Anders Ahlbom, Olof Flodmark, Anders Lilja, Stefano Martini, Emanuela Rastelli, Antonello Vidiri, Veikko Kähärä, Jani Raitanen, Sirpa Heinävaara, Anssi Auvinen

  American journal of epidemiology. 07/2011; 174(1):2-11.

  The energy absorbed from the radio-frequency fields of mobile telephones depends strongly on distance from the source. The authors' objective in this study was to evaluate whether gliomas occurThe energy absorbed from the radio-frequency fields of mobile telephones depends strongly on distance from the source. The authors' objective in this study was to evaluate whether gliomas occur preferentially in the areas of the brain having the highest radio-frequency exposure. The authors used 2 approaches: In a case-case analysis, tumor locations were compared with varying exposure levels; in a case-specular analysis, a hypothetical reference location was assigned for each glioma, and the distances from the actual and specular locations to the handset were compared. The study included 888 gliomas from 7 European countries (2000-2004), with tumor midpoints defined on a 3-dimensional grid based on radiologic images. The case-case analyses were carried out using unconditional logistic regression, whereas in the case-specular analysis, conditional logistic regression was used. In the case-case analyses, tumors were located closest to the source of exposure among never-regular and contralateral users, but not statistically significantly. In the case-specular analysis, the mean distances between exposure source and location were similar for cases and speculars. These results do not suggest that gliomas in mobile phone users are preferentially located in the parts of the brain with the highest radio-frequency fields from mobile phones.

• Long-term mobile phone use and the risk of vestibular schwannoma: a Danish nationwide cohort study.

  Authors: Joachim Schüz, Marianne Steding-Jessen, Søren Hansen, Sven-Eric Stangerup, Per Cayé-Thomasen, Aslak Harbo Poulsen, Jørgen H Olsen, Christoffer Johansen

  American journal of epidemiology. 06/2011; 174(4):416-22.

  Vestibular schwannomas grow in the region within the brain where most of the energy by radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from using mobile phones is absorbed. The authors used 2 Danish nationwideVestibular schwannomas grow in the region within the brain where most of the energy by radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from using mobile phones is absorbed. The authors used 2 Danish nationwide cohort studies, one a study of all adult Danes subscribing for a mobile phone in 1995 or earlier and one on sociodemographic factors and cancer risk, and followed subjects included in both cohorts for occurrence of vestibular schwannoma up to 2006 inclusively. In this study including 2.9 million subjects, a long-term mobile phone subscription of ≥11 years was not related to an increased vestibular schwannoma risk in men (relative risk estimate = 0.87, 95% confidence interval: 0.52, 1.46), and no vestibular schwannoma cases among long-term subscribers occurred in women versus 1.6 expected. Vestibular schwannomas did not occur more often on the right side of the head, although the majority of Danes reported holding their mobile phone to the right ear. Vestibular schwannomas in long-term male subscribers were not of larger size than expected. Overall, no evidence was found that mobile phone use is related to the risk of vestibular schwannoma. Because of the usually slow growth of vestibular schwannoma and possible diagnostic delay, further surveillance is indicated.

• The Danish religious societies health study.

  Authors: Lau Caspar Thygesen, Niels Christian Hvidt, Knud Juel, Andreas Hoff, Lone Ross, Christoffer Johansen

  International journal of epidemiology. 06/2011;

• [Adult cancer rehabilitation].

  Authors: Dorte Gilså Hansen, Jens Søndergaard, Helle Ploug Hansen, Christoffer Johansen

  Ugeskrift for laeger. 06/2011; 173(24):1725-7.

  The aim of cancer rehabilitation is to enable patients to reach and maintain the physical and psychosocial functional levels needed to attain an independent and meaningful life. Rehabilitation shouldThe aim of cancer rehabilitation is to enable patients to reach and maintain the physical and psychosocial functional levels needed to attain an independent and meaningful life. Rehabilitation should be integrated in cancer programs. Taking a systematic approach aiming to identify patients in need is essential and should include coordination amongst professionals. Research may add knowledge to the sparse evidence of the effect of the various interventions and the need of rehabilitation when living with cancer. Patient, organisational and economic perspectives are important.