Platelet-Rich Plasma Does Not Inhibit Inflammation or Promote Regeneration in Human Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes Despite Increased Proliferation.

Objective: The aims of the study were to assess the anti-inflammatory properties of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and investigate its regenerative potential in osteoarthritic (OA) human chondrocytes. We hypothesized that PRP can modulate the inflammatory response and stimulate cartilage regeneration.

Design: Primary human chondrocytes from OA knees were treated with manually prepared PRP, after which cell migration and proliferation were assessed.

Intra-articular injection with Autologous Conditioned Plasma does not lead to a clinically relevant improvement of knee osteoarthritis: a prospective case series of 140 patients with 1-year follow-up.

Background and purpose - Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is broadly used in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, but clinical outcomes are highly variable. We evaluated the effectiveness of intra-articular injections with Autologous Conditioned Plasma (ACP), a commercially available form of platelet-rich plasma, in a tertiary referral center. Second, we aimed to identify which patient factors are associated with clinical outcome.

Distress, problems, referral wish, and supportive health care use in breast cancer survivors beyond the first year after chemotherapy completion.

Purpose: We examined distress levels, problems, referral wish, and supportive health care use in a cross-sectional group of breast cancer survivors at two-time points with a 1-year time interval. Also, factors related to continuing elevated distress were explored.

Methods: Breast cancer survivors, 1-5 years after chemotherapy completion, filled in the Dutch Distress Thermometer/Problem List (DT/PL) and questions on background characteristics at study inclusion (T1).

Health care use and remaining needs for support among women with breast cancer in the first 15 months after diagnosis: the role of the GP.

Background: The number of women with breast cancer in general practice is rising. To address their needs and wishes for a referral, GPs might benefit from more insight into women's health care practices and need for additional support.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of health care use and remaining needs among women with breast cancer in the first 15 months after diagnosis.

Homozygous DMRT2 variant associates with severe rib malformations in a newborn.

Spondylocostal dysostosis (SCD) is a rare disorder characterized by vertebral segmentation defects and malformations of the ribs. SCD patients have some degree of (kypho)scoliosis, short stature and suffer from respiratory impairment due to the reduced size of their thoracic cage. Mutations in DLL3, MESP2, LFNG, HES7, TBX6, and RIPPLY2 are known to cause different subtypes of SCD.

Web-Based Tailored Psychoeducation for Breast Cancer Patients at the Onset of the Survivorship Phase: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

Context: Many breast cancer patients have unmet informational and psychosocial needs after treatment completion. A psychoeducational intervention may be well suited to support these patients.

Objectives: The purpose of this multicenter randomized controlled trial was to examine the effectiveness of a web-based tailored psychoeducational program (ENCOURAGE) for breast cancer patients, which aims to empower patients to take control over prevailing problems.

Web-based information and support for patients with a newly diagnosed neuroendocrine tumor: a feasibility study.

Purpose: Patients with a neuroendocrine tumor (NET) frequently experience physical and psychosocial complaints. Novel strategies to provide information to optimize supportive care in these patients are of interest. The aim of this study was to examine whether the use of a web-based system consisting of self-screening of problems and care needs, patient education, and self-referral to professional health care is feasible in NET patients and to evaluate their opinion on this.

Antigen specificity determines anti-red blood cell IgG-Fc alloantibody glycosylation and thereby severity of haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn.

Haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) is a severe disease in which fetal red blood cells (RBC) are destroyed by maternal anti-RBC IgG alloantibodies. HDFN is most often caused by anti-D but may also occur due to anti-K, -c- or -E. We recently found N-linked glycosylation of anti-D to be skewed towards low fucosylation, thereby increasing the affinity to IgG-Fc receptor IIIa and IIIb, which correlated with HDFN disease severity.

Cancer patients' referral wish: effects of distress, problems, socio-demographic and illness-related variables and social support sufficiency.

Background: The present study's aim was to examine effects of cancer patients' perceived distress and problems, socio-demographic and illness-related variables and social support sufficiency on referral wish.

Methods: A cross-sectional group of 1340 patients (response = 51%) completed a questionnaire consisting of the Dutch version of the Distress Thermometer and Problem List, including the referral wish question, and questions on socio-demographic and illness-related variables and perceived social support sufficiency. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the effects of these variables on patients' referral wish.

Internet-based support programs to alleviate psychosocial and physical symptoms in cancer patients: a literature analysis.

In this review the effect of internet-based support programs on psychosocial and physical symptoms resulting from cancer diagnosis and treatment is analyzed. Selection of studies was based on the following criteria: (non-)randomized controlled trials, performed in adult cancer patients, comparing quantitative psychosocial and/or physical outcomes of an internet-based support program with (a) comparison group(s). Literature search yielded 2032 studies of which 16 fulfilled the eligibility criteria.

Do cancer and treatment type affect distress?

Objective: We examined differences in distress levels and Distress Thermometer (DT) cutoff scores between different cancer types. The effect of socio-demographic and illness-related variables on distress was also examined.

Methods: One thousand three hundred fifty patients (response = 51%) completed questions on socio-demographic and illness-related variables, the Dutch version of the DT and Problem List, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

A patient with a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time and a deep intracerebral haemorrhage.

We report on a 57-year-old woman with a pontine haemorrhage and an extremely prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) of more than 240 s, suggestive of a coagulation disorder. Given the location of the haemorrhage, which is associated with a high mortality rate, recombinant factor VIIa was administered, although not all necessary laboratory analyses could be performed at that time. In our case, a deficiency of factor XII was found, which is not associated with an increased bleeding risk.

Twenty-first century laparoscopic hysterectomy: should we not leave the vaginal step out?

The objective of this study was to compare surgical outcomes for laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) with total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) in three teaching hospitals in the Netherlands. This study is a multicenter cohort retrospective analysis of consecutive cases (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). One hundred and four women underwent a laparoscopic hysterectomy between March 1995 and March 2005 at one of three teaching hospitals.

Developmental anatomy of lampreys.

Lampreys are a group of aquatic chordates whose relationships to hagfishes and jawed vertebrates are still debated. Lamprey embryology is of interest to evolutionary biologists because it may shed light on vertebrate origins. For this and other reasons, lamprey embryology has been extensively researched by biologists from a range of disciplines.

Evolutionary origin and development of snake fangs.

Many advanced snakes use fangs-specialized teeth associated with a venom gland-to introduce venom into prey or attacker. Various front- and rear-fanged groups are recognized, according to whether their fangs are positioned anterior (for example cobras and vipers) or posterior (for example grass snakes) in the upper jaw. A fundamental controversy in snake evolution is whether or not front and rear fangs share the same evolutionary and developmental origin.

Molecular evolution of the MAGUK family in metazoan genomes.

Background: Development, differentiation and physiology of metazoans all depend on cell to cell communication and subsequent intracellular signal transduction. Often, these processes are orchestrated via sites of specialized cell-cell contact and involve receptors, adhesion molecules and scaffolding proteins. Several of these scaffolding proteins important for synaptic and cellular junctions belong to the large family of membrane-associated guanylate kinases (MAGUK).

Phase differences between SCN neurons and their role in photoperiodic encoding; a simulation of ensemble patterns using recorded single unit electrical activity patterns.

In mammals, a major circadian pacemaker is located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), at the base of the anterior hypothalamus. The pacemaker controls daily rhythms in behavioral, physiological and endocrine functions and is synchronized to the external light-dark cycle via the retinohypothalamic tract. The SCN are also involved in photoperiodic processes.

Adnexal torsion in very young girls: diagnostic pitfalls.

Objective: Evaluation of cases of young girls diagnosed with adnexal torsion.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study of 39 girls born between January 1980 and January 2000 who presented with acute abdominal pain and/or the diagnosis adnexal torsion in the Groene Hart Hospital. Seven patients, aged 6-13 years, with adnexal torsion were further evaluated.

Expansion of human gammadelta T cells after in vitro stimulation with Campylobacter jejuni.

Campylobacter jejuni is currently the prime cause of food-borne bacterial gastro-enteritis. An important complication of C. jejuni enteritis is Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), an immune-mediated disorder of peripheral nerve tissue.

[A cluster of patients with puerperal fever in Gouda; a reiteration of the lesson by Semmelweis].

Objective: Description of a cluster of 6 patients who developed a puerperal infection with group A haemolytic streptococci (Streptococcus pyogenes, GAS) out of 10 patients who delivered during a 2-day period in the hospital in Gouda, the Netherlands, and of the epidemiological and microbiological search for the source.

Design: Descriptive.

Method: After the report on the fourth patient the suspicion of a hospital infection arose.

Plasma amino acids in patients with the carcinoid syndrome.

Plasma tryptophan (Trp) is reported to be decreased in some patients with the carcinoid syndrome. To determine if the plasma levels of other amino acids are also altered in the carcinoid syndrome, we used a fas-liquid chromatographic method to determine the plasma amino acid concentration of nine patients with the carcinoid syndrome and nine age-matched healthy control subjects. In comparison to the control subjects, the patients with the carcinoid syndrome had decreased plasma concentration of valine (Val), isoleucine (Ile), lysine (Lys), and ornithine (Orn), and an increased plasma concentration of methionine (Met).