Infants who are breastfed are introduced to a variety of flavours from the maternal milk, and thus the transition from maternal milk to complementary foods may be easier for these children. The aim of this study was to investigate if duration of exclusive breastfeeding was associated with pickiness or dietary intake of vegetables, fruit, starchy foods or sugar sweetened beverages among obesity prone normal weight children aged 2-6 years. This cohort study was based on data from the Healthy Start primary intervention study, the Danish Medical Birth registry and the Danish Health Visitor's Child Health Database. Infant feeding was registered by health nurses while home-visiting the mother and child up to four times within the first year. Information on eating behaviour and diet intake at age 2-6 years was obtained by parents. Crude and adjusted logistic and general linear regression models were used to investigate associations. A total of 236 children had complete information on all variables. Data showed lower odds of picky eating behaviour when exclusively breastfed until age 4-5 months compared to exclusively breastfed for 0-1 months (OR = 0.35, 95CI = 0.16;0.76, p = 0.008). In the crude analysis only, exclusively breastfed until age 6-10 months was associated with a higher daily intake of vegetables (p = 0.04). This study suggests that exclusive breastfeeding duration seems to influence pickiness and may contribute to facilitate the consumption of more vegetables in later childhood in obesity prone normal weight children.

INTRODUCTION: An unbalanced intestinal microbiota may mediate activation of the inflammatory pathways seen in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). A randomised, placebo-controlled trial of faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) infused into the small intestine of patients with PsA with active peripheral disease who are non-responsive to methotrexate (MTX) treatment will be conducted. The objective is to explore clinical aspects associated with FMT performed in patients with PsA.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This trial is a randomised, two-centre stratified, double-blind (patient, care provider and outcome assessor), placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. Eighty patients will be included and randomised (1:1) to either placebo (saline) or FMT provided from an anonymous healthy donor. Throughout the study, both groups will continue the weekly self-administered subcutaneous MTX treatment, remaining on the preinclusion dosage (15-25 mg/week). The clinical measures of psoriasis and PsA disease activity used include the Short (2-page) Health Assessment Questionnaire, the Dermatology Quality of Life Index, the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada Enthesitis Index, the Psoriasis Area Severity Index, a dactylitis digit count, a swollen/tender joint count (66/68), plasma C reactive protein as well as visual analogue scales for pain, fatigue and patient and physician global assessments. The primary end point is the proportion of patients who experience treatment failure during the 6-month trial period. The number of adverse events will be registered throughout the study.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This is a proof-of-concept clinical trial and will be performed in agreement with Good Clinical Practice standards. Approvals have been obtained from the local Ethics Committee (DK-S-20150080) and the Danish Data Protection Agency (15/41684). The study has commenced in May 2017. Dissemination will be through presentations at national and international conferences and through publications in international peer-reviewed journal(s).

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03058900; Pre-results.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies have shown that body mass index (BMI) is positively associated with asthma. However, observational data are prone to confounding and reverse causation. In Mendelian randomization, genetic variants are used as unconfounded markers of exposures to examine causal effects. We examined the causal effect of BMI on asthma, hay fever, allergic sensitization, serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE), forced expiratory volume in one-second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC).

METHODS: We included 490 497 participants in the observational and 162 124 participants in the genetic analyses. A genetic risk score (GRS) was created using 26 BMI-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Results were pooled in meta-analyses and expressed as odds ratios (ORs) or β-estimates with 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS: The GRS was significantly associated with asthma (OR=1.009; 95% CI: 1.004, 1.013), but not with hay fever (OR= 0.998; 95% CI: 0.994, 1.002) or allergic sensitization (OR=0.999; 95% CI: 0.986, 1.012) per BMI-increasing allele. The GRS was significantly associated with decrease in FEV1: β=-0.0012 (95% CI: -0.0019, -0.0006) and FVC: β=-0.0022 (95% CI: -0.0031, -0.0014) per BMI-increasing allele. Effect sizes estimated by instrumental variable analyses were OR=1.07 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.10) for asthma, a 9 ml decrease in FEV1 (95% CI: 2.0-15 mL decrease) and a 16 ml decrease in FVC (95% CI: 7.0-24 mL decrease) per 1 kg/m(2) higher BMI.

CONCLUSIONS: The results support the conclusion that increasing BMI is causally related to higher prevalence of asthma and decreased lung function, but not with hay fever or biomarkers of allergy.

INTRODUCTION: The number of persons living with a chronic condition is increasing worldwide. Conditions are considered chronic when lasting 1 year or more and requiring ongoing medical attention and/or limiting activities of daily living (ADL). Besides medical treatment, physical exercise to improve body functions is recommended and prescribed. However, improvements in body functions do not necessarily improve ability to perform ADL. Thus, it is necessary to develop interventions aiming directly at enhancing ADL ability. As a part of the research programme 'A Better Everyday Life', the first version of the ABLE intervention programme was developed.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This feasibility study examine the perceived value and acceptability of the ABLE programme by evaluating the fidelity, reach, dose and potential outcomes using a pretest and post-test design involving 30 persons living with chronic conditions. Qualitative interviews among occupational therapists delivering and participants receiving the ABLE programme will be conducted to explore aspects affecting the intervention.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The results will form the base for refinement of the ABLE programme and planning of a large-scale randomised controlled trial investigating the effect of the programme on self-reported and observed ADL ability. Dissemination will include peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences.

PROTOCOL VERSION: 7 November 2017: v ersion 1.0. 19 February 2018: v ersion 2.0.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03335709; Pre-results.

The objective of the study was to examine if exposure to extra vitamin D from food fortification was associated with a decrease in the risk of preeclampsia. The study was based on a natural experiment exploring the effect of the abolition of the Danish mandatory vitamin D fortification of margarine in 1985. The effect of the extra vitamin D (1.25μg vitamin D/100 g margarine) was examined by comparing preeclampsia risk in women who have been exposed or unexposed to extra vitamin D from the fortified margarine during pregnancy, and who gave birth in the period from June 1983 to August 1988. The Danish National Patient Registry allowed the identification of pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. The study included 73,237 women who gave birth during 1983-1988. We found no association between exposure to vitamin D fortification during pregnancy and the risk of any of the pregnancy related hypertensive disorders, including preeclampsia: Odds ratios (OR, 95%) for all hypertensive pregnancy related disorders among exposed vs. unexposed women was (OR 1.04, 95%CI: 0.98,1.10). In conclusion, the extra vitamin D from the mandatory vitamin D fortification did not influence the risk of preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) results from the combined effects of susceptibility genes and environmental factors. Polymorphisms in genes regulating inflammation may explain part of the heritability of AS.

METHODS: Using a candidate gene approach in this case-control study, 51 mainly functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes regulating inflammation were assessed in 709 patients with AS and 795 controls. Data on the patients with AS were obtained from the DANBIO registry where patients from all of Denmark are monitored in routine care during treatment with conventional and biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). The results were analyzed using logistic regression (adjusted for age and sex).

RESULTS: Nine polymorphisms were associated with risk of AS (p < 0.05). The polymorphisms were in genes regulating a: the TNF-α pathway (TNF -308 G > A (rs1800629), and - 238 G > A (rs361525); TNFRSF1A -609 G > T (rs4149570), and PTPN22 1858 G > A (rs2476601)), b: the IL23/IL17 pathway (IL23R G > A (rs11209026), and IL18-137 G > C (rs187238)), or c: the NFkB pathway (TLR1 743 T > C (rs4833095), TLR4 T > C (rs1554973), and LY96-1625 C > G (rs11465996)). After Bonferroni correction the homozygous variant genotype of TLR1 743 T > C (rs4833095) (odds ratios (OR): 2.59, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.48-4.51, p = 0.04), and TNFRSF1A -609 G > T (rs4149570) (OR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.31-2.41, p = 0.01) were associated with increased risk of AS and the combined homozygous and heterozygous variant genotypes of TNF -308 G > A (rs1800629) (OR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.44-0.72, p = 0.0002) were associated with reduced risk of AS.

CONCLUSION: We replicated associations between AS and the polymorphisms in TNF (rs1800629), TNFRSF1A (rs4149570), and IL23R (rs11209026). Furthermore, we identified novel risk loci in TNF (rs361525), IL18 (rs187238), TLR1 (rs4833095), TLR4 (rs1554973), and LY96 (rs11465996) that need validation in independent cohorts. The results suggest that genetically determined high activity of the TNF-α, IL23/IL17, and NFkB pathways increase risk of AS.

INTRODUCTION: Short-term outcome after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) has been reported to improve hip function and decrease pain. Only few midterm and long-term studies have been published. The objective of this study was to report midterm results in a consecutive cohort and to study the relation between cartilage lesions and the conversion rate to total hip arthroplasty (THA).

METHODS: Eighty-four FAI patients were followed retrospectively for 6-8 years. The conversion rate to THA, the peri-operative findings and the patient-reported outcome measures were reported.

RESULTS: Fifteen of 84 (18%) patients were converted to THA. The five-year hip survival rate was 83.9% (confidence interval (CI): 75.1-91.5%). The THA group was significantly older, with a mean age of 46.9 years (CI: 42.8-50.8 years) compared with 39.0 years (CI: 36.6-41.6 years) in the non-THA group (p = 0.011). In the THA group, 13 of 15 patients were 40 years or older (p = 0.005). A high-grade acetabular or femoral cartilage lesion was associated with a higher risk of conversion to THA (p = 0.017 and p < 0.0001). Sixty-four of the 69 patients (93%) were willing to repeat their arthroscopy.

CONCLUSIONS: The midterm results for arthroscopic hip-preserving surgery show a high level of patient satisfaction and a good functional outcome. The conversion rate to THA was 18%. High-grade cartilage lesions and age of 40 years and older are risk factors for conversion to THA.

FUNDING: This work was supported by Aleris' Research Foundation, Box 47134, 100 74 Stockholm, Sweden. Registration number: 2014-24.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant. .

OBJECTIVE: A meeting was convened by the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) and Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) to further the development of consensus among physicians and patients regarding composite disease activity measures and targets in psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

METHODS: Prior to the meeting, physicians and patients completed surveys on outcome measures. A consensus meeting of 26 rheumatologists, dermatologists, and patient research partners reviewed evidence on composite measures and potential treatment targets plus results of the surveys. The meeting consisted of plenary presentations, breakout sessions, and group discussions. International experts including members of GRAPPA and OMERACT were invited to the meeting, including the developers of all of the measures discussed. After discussions, participants voted on proposals for use, and consensus was established in a second survey.

RESULTS: Survey results from 128 health care professionals and 139 patients were analyzed alongside a systematic literature review summarizing evidence. A weighted vote was cast for composite measures. For randomized controlled trials, the most popular measures were the PsA disease activity score (40 votes) and the GRAPPA composite index (28 votes). For clinical practice, the most popular measures were an average of scores on 3 visual analog scales (45 votes) and the disease activity in PsA score (26 votes). After discussion, there was no consensus on a composite measure. The group agreed that several composite measures could be used and that future studies should allow further validation and comparison. The group unanimously agreed that remission should be the ideal target, with minimal disease activity (MDA)/low disease activity as a feasible alternative. The target should include assessment of musculoskeletal disease, skin disease, and health-related quality of life. The group recommended a treatment target of very low disease activity (VLDA) or MDA.

CONCLUSION: Consensus was not reached on a continuous measure of disease activity. In the interim, the group recommended several composites. Consensus was reached on a treatment target of VLDA/MDA. An extensive research agenda was composed and recommends that data on all PsA clinical domains be collected in ongoing studies.