University Clinics in the Nordic Countries
In this issue we start a series of articles describing what activities are underway at the various university clinics in the Nordic countries as well as to get an overiew on the academic strengths of each clinic . It is intended to inspire collaboration by displaying the academic resources of the region . First out this time , are Umeå University Hospital , Sweden ; followed by Bispebjerg Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark ; University of Tampere , Finland ; and Trondheim University Hospital , Norway . We welcome more contributions to this series and invite you that have not already submitted your descriptions of your activities to do so . / The Editor
Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine , Dermatology and Venereology , Umeå University and University Hospital , Umeå , Sweden
Elisabet Nylander
Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine , Dermatology and Venereology , Umeå University and University Hospital , Umeå , Sweden . E-mail : elisabet . nylander @ umu . se
Staff
We represent the Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine , Dermatology and Venereology , Umeå University and University Hospital , Umeå , Sweden . Researchers at the Department : Nirina Andersson , MD , PhD ; Bo Glas , PhD ; Elisabet Nylander , MD , PhD , Professor ; Alexander Shayesteh , MD , PhD-student ; Berndt Stenberg , MD , PhD Senior Professor ; Virginia Zazo , MD , PhD-student .
A main strength of the department / clinic is our continuous multidisciplinary approach . We cooperate with other departments / clinics , mainly from Sweden , but also from abroad .
Our principal areas of research Sexually Transmitted Infections ( STI )/ Venereology
Research into sexually transmitted infections ( STI ) is a smaller subject area than “ general dermatology ” in Sweden . We are investigating STI from several different angles . First , we have studied risk factors for acquiring an STI , with a focus on Chlamydia trachomatis , in order to be able to identify persons who are at high risk of acquiring an infection and to study the effect of intervention on high-risk behaviour . We have found several risk factors and identified a very low incidence of condom use . A short intervention in persons at high risk of acquiring an STI , based on motivational interviewing , and completion of a special form , seems to be effective in diminishing risky behaviour . We have also focused on extra-genital Chlamydia , e . g . the incidence and possible impact of the finding that rectal infection with Chlamydia seems to be more common than previously thought . Another focus is on investigating formerly unknown risk factors for acquiring STIs . As some patients have ongoing symptoms even when routine tests are negative we are studying other possible infectious causes of STIs .
Inflammatory diseases , mainly vulvar
Another main area of research is inflammatory diseases , mainly vulvar diseases , in which we focus on , for example , the cause and treatment of erosive lichen planus . This mucosal disease affects mainly oral and genital areas , and has severe symptoms and sequelae . Cooperation with a dentist specialized in mucosal diseases is therefore paramount . Since we also investigate the impact of diseases on patients ’ psychosocial wellbeing , cooperation with a counsellor / psychologist is necessary .
Regarding another inflammatory disease , in cooperation with researchers from the Department of Pathology , we have studied factors involved in the aetiology of psoriasis , for example , why the effect of ultraviolet B ( UVB ) treatment may differ between persons .
Hyperhidrosis
Another main area of research is hyperhidrosis , which is , in many respects , an unexplored disease . We have focused on quality of life . In Sweden , we have found that the frequency of primary hyperhidrosis is 5.5 % and secondary hyperhidrosis 14.8 %; figures that were previously unknown . We have also noticed that primary hyperhidrosis is more common among younger persons and secondary hyperhidrosis among older
6 Forum for Nord Derm Ven 2018 , Vol . 23 , No . 1