Publications by authors named "A J Hoekstra"

Background: Mental health care (MHC) is under pressure due to increased demands and limited capacity, resulting in long waiting lists. To improve accessibility, Mental Health Centers (MCs) were established in Central and West-Brabant starting in 2021, with the exploratory meeting (EM) as the first step.

Aim: To gain insight into citizens’ experiences with the EM, the flow to appropriate care, and contribution of action research to this process.

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The evolution of information and communication technologies has affected all fields of science, including health sciences. However, the rate of technological innovation adoption by the healthcare sector has been historically slow, compared to other industrial sectors. Innovation in computer modeling and simulation approaches has changed the landscape in biomedical applications and biomedicine, paving the way for their potential contribution in reducing, refining, and partially replacing animal and human clinical trials.

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An ongoing thrombosis on a ruptured atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid may cause stroke. The primary treatment for patients with tandem lesion is stenting. Dual-layer stents have been introduced as an alternative to single-layer stents for elective and emergent carotid artery stenting.

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Endocannabinoids (ECBs) are lipid-derived endogenous molecules with important physiological roles such as regulation of energy balance, immunity, or neural development. Quantitation of ECBs helps better understand their physiological role and modulation of biological processes. This chapter presents the simultaneous quantification of 14 ECBs and related molecules in the brain, liver, and muscle, as well as white and brown adipose tissue using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

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Article Synopsis
  • Platelet aggregation can block blood flow, contributing to cardiovascular diseases, but the effects of different flow conditions on this process are not fully understood.
  • This study examines how various shear rates affect platelet aggregation, looking at factors like growth, shape, and binding times, through in vitro blood perfusion experiments.
  • Findings reveal that aggregation dynamics depend heavily on flow rates, with specific binding mechanisms showing varied efficiency, suggesting that medical treatments could be improved by targeting lower-efficiency zones in platelet aggregation.
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