Molecular diversity and evolution of neuron types in the amniote brain.

The existence of evolutionarily conserved regions in the vertebrate brain is well established. The rules and constraints underlying the evolution of neuron types, however, remain poorly understood. To compare neuron types across brain regions and species, we generated a cell type atlas of the brain of a bearded dragon and compared it with mouse datasets.

Trends in data quality and quality indicators 5 years after implementation of the Dutch Hip Fracture Audit.

Purpose: The Dutch Hip Fracture Audit (DHFA), a nationwide hip fracture registry in the Netherlands, registers hip fracture patients and aims to improve quality of care since 2016. This study shows trends in the data quality during the first 5 years of data acquisition within the DHFA, as well as trends over time for designated quality indicators (QI).

Methods: All patients registered in the DHFA between 1-1-2016 and 31-12-2020 were included.

Evaluation of Individualized Pain Plans for Children With Sickle Cell Disease Admitted for Vaso-occlusive Crisis at Riley Hospital for Children.

Objective: Vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) is the most common problem reported by patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of individualized pain plans in pediatric patients with SCD admitted for VOC.

Methods: This was a pre- and post-study of patients with SCD admitted to Riley Hospital for Children for VOC from July 1, 2019, through July 1, 2020.

Public Health Leadership in a VUCA World Environment: Lessons Learned during the Regional Emergency Rollout of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinations in Heidelberg, Germany, during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The purpose of this work is to share methods used and lessons learned during a comprehensive inter-institutional pandemic disaster response in Heidelberg, Germany, conveying experiences of the regional SARS-CoV-2 vaccination rollout campaign for up to 1,000,000 vaccines in the year 2020. In this volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environment, the following five strategic elements were pertinent for institutional arrangements so that specific contributions of the various project partners would be available fast without the necessity of extensive negotiations or information exchange: (1) robust mandate, (2) use of established networks, (3) fast onboarding and securing of commitment of project partners, (4) informed planning of supply capacity, and (5) securing the availability of critical items. Planning tools included analyses through a VUCA lens, analyses of stakeholders and their management, possible failures, and management of main risks including mitigation strategies.

Correction: Rijnsdorp et al. Impact of the Noise Penalty Factor on Quantification in Bayesian Penalized Likelihood (Q.Clear) Reconstructions of Ga-PSMA PET/CT Scans. 2021, , 847.

In the original article [...

Evaluation of Quantitative Ga-68 PSMA PET/CT Repeatability of Recurrent Prostate Cancer Lesions Using Both OSEM and Bayesian Penalized Likelihood Reconstruction Algorithms.

Rationale: To formally determine the repeatability of Ga-68 PSMA lesion uptake in both relapsing and metastatic tumor. In addition, it was hypothesized that the BPL algorithm Q. Clear has the ability to lower SUV signal variability in the small lesions typically encountered in Ga-68 PSMA PET imaging of prostate cancer.

Impact of the Noise Penalty Factor on Quantification in Bayesian Penalized Likelihood (Q.Clear) Reconstructions of Ga-PSMA PET/CT Scans.

Functional imaging with Ga prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and positron emission tomography (PET) can fulfill an important role in treatment selection and adjustment in prostate cancer. This article focusses on quantitative assessment of Ga-PSMA-PET. The effect of various parameters on standardized uptake values (SUVs) is explored, and an optimal Bayesian penalized likelihood (BPL) reconstruction is suggested.

Maintenance of an Immunogenic Response to Pneumococcal Vaccination in Children With Sickle Cell Disease.

Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at increased risk for invasive pneumococcal disease because of splenic dysfunction. To mitigate this risk, patients are protected with prophylactic penicillin until completion of pneumococcal vaccination series. The objective of this study was to assess the maintenance of a protective immune response to pneumococcal vaccination in children with SCD.

Early Predictors for Discharge to Geriatric Rehabilitation after Hip Fracture Treatment of Older Patients.

Objective: To investigate early predictors for discharge to a geriatric rehabilitation department at a skilled nursing home in older patients after hospitalization for hip fracture surgery.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting And Participants: Data from 21,176 patients with hip fracture aged ≥70 years, who were registered in the Dutch Hip Fracture Audit database between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2019, were included.

[Tailored care for elderly patients; the importance of geriatric expertise].

Treating elderly patients can be challenging. It is very important to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of potential treatments in individual patients. This treatment decision making can be guided by geriatric parameters.

Physical and Pharmacological Restraints in Hospital Care: Protocol for a Systematic Review.

Background: Physical and pharmacological restraints, defined as all measures limiting a person in his or her freedom, are extensively used to handle unsafe or problematic behavior in hospital care. There are increasing concerns as to the extent with which these restraints are being used in hospitals, and whether their benefits outweigh their potential harm. There is currently no comprehensive literature overview on the beneficial and/or adverse effects of the use of physical and pharmacological restraints in the hospital setting.

A claustrum in reptiles and its role in slow-wave sleep.

The mammalian claustrum, owing to its widespread connectivity with other forebrain structures, has been hypothesized to mediate functions that range from decision-making to consciousness. Here we report that a homologue of the claustrum, identified by single-cell transcriptomics and viral tracing of connectivity, also exists in a reptile-the Australian bearded dragon Pogona vitticeps. In Pogona, the claustrum underlies the generation of sharp waves during slow-wave sleep.

Evaluation of a Bayesian penalized likelihood reconstruction algorithm for low-count clinical F-FDG PET/CT.

Background: Recently, a Bayesian penalized likelihood (BPL) reconstruction algorithm was introduced for a commercial PET/CT with the potential to improve image quality. We compared the performance of this BPL algorithm with conventional reconstruction algorithms under realistic clinical conditions such as daily practiced at many European sites, i.e.

[Assessment instruments in frail older patients; a call for more standardisation].

Objective: To determine the frequency and background of the use of assessment instruments for the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment by clinical geriatricians and internists in geriatric medicine; the secondary aim was to make an inventory of the willingness to standardise the assessment instruments used.

Design: A descriptive questionnaire study.

Method: In December 2016, we sent out a digital questionnaire (Survey Monkey) to all the hospitals in the Netherlands.

The Dutch Hip Fracture Audit: evaluation of the quality of multidisciplinary hip fracture care in the Netherlands.

Unlabelled: The nationwide Dutch Hip Fracture Audit (DHFA) is initiated to improve the quality of hip fracture care by providing insight into the actual quality of hip fracture care in daily practice. The baseline results demonstrate variance in practice, providing potential starting points to improve the quality of care.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to describe the development and initiation of the DHFA.

Simultaneous reflectometry and interferometry for measuring thin-film thickness and curvature.

A coupled reflectometer-interferometer apparatus is described for thin-film thickness and curvature characterization in the three-phase contact line region of evaporating fluids. Validation reflectometry studies are provided for Au, Ge, and Si substrates and thin-film coatings of SiO and hydrogel/Ti/SiO. For interferometry, liquid/air and solid/air interferences are studied, where the solid/air samples consisted of glass/air/glass wedges, cylindrical lenses, and molded polydimethylsiloxane lenses.

Safety of Extended Interval Tobramycin in Cystic Fibrosis Patients Less an 6 Years Old.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to assess the nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity risks of extended interval tobramycin in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients who are <6 years old. A secondary objective included analyzing pharmacokinetic parameters in this age group.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients with CF who were <6 years old, admitted for an acute pulmonary exacerbation from January 1, 2003, to January 1, 2014, and treated with intravenous tobramycin.

Quantification, improvement, and harmonization of small lesion detection with state-of-the-art PET.

In recent years, there have been multiple advances in positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) that improve cancer imaging. The present generation of PET/CT scanners introduces new hardware, software, and acquisition methods. This review describes these new developments, which include time-of-flight (TOF), point-spread-function (PSF), maximum-a-posteriori (MAP) based reconstruction, smaller voxels, respiratory gating, metal artefact reduction, and administration of quadratic weight-dependent F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) activity.

Methodology for senior-proof guidelines: A practice example from the Netherlands.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: Evidence-based guidelines constitute a foundation for medical decision making. It is often unclear whether recommendations in general guidelines also apply to older people. This study aimed to develop a methodology to increase the focus on older people in the development of guidelines.

Benzalkonium tolerance genes and outcome in Listeria monocytogenes meningitis.

Objectives: Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne pathogen that can cause meningitis. The listerial genotype ST6 has been linked to increasing rates of unfavourable outcome over time. We investigated listerial genetic variation and the relation with clinical outcome in meningitis.

Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor-associated stomatitis.

With the recent introduction of inhibitors of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in oncology, distinct cutaneous and oral adverse events have been identified. In fact, stomatitis and rash are documented as the most frequent and potentially dose-limiting side effects. Clinically, mTOR inhibitor-associated stomatitis (mIAS) more closely resembles aphthous stomatitis than oral mucositis due to conventional anticancer therapies.

Molecular spectrum of β-thalassemia mutations in the admixed Venezuelan population, and their linkage to β-globin gene haplotypes.

In order to establish the spectrum of β-thalassemia (β-thal) mutations in the Venezuelan population for the first time, 127 unrelated subjects either with a suspicion of β-thal trait or with a clinically recognized β-thal syndrome of different degrees of severity, were studied. DNA from these subjects was analyzed by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based reverse dot-blot method or amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS). Prototype β-globin gene sequencing of relevant DNA was performed to confirm the mutations.

A comparison of the physical properties of four new generation flexible ureteroscopes: (de)flection, flow properties, torsion stiffness, and optical characteristics.

Background And Purpose: Several kinds of flexible ureteroscopes are in use for the removal of kidney stones. This study evaluated and compared the characteristics of four new-generation flexible ureteroscopes.

Materials And Methods: The flexible ureteroscopes studied were: the ACMI Dur-8 Elite, the Storz Flex-X2 the Olympus XURF-P5, and the Wolf 7325.

Hemoglobin variants, hematological parameters and beta-globin gene cluster haplotypes in an isolated Amerindian group from the Orinoco River Delta.

Background: Several previous studies reported that the Venezuelan Warao Indians presented unusual genetic characteristics.

Aim: The present study checked previous reports of a high frequency of hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH) and examined other hematological traits.

Subjects And Methods: Standard hematology, electrophoresis on cellulose acetate, fetal hemoglobin alkali denaturation, gamma-globin chain, DNA amplification and sequencing, and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis determinations were performed in 269 individuals living in two localities of the Orinoco River Delta.

Pyruvate relieves the necessity of high induction levels of catalase and enables Campylobacter jejuni to grow under fully aerobic conditions.

Aims: Several cases of campylobacteriosis reported worldwide seemingly conflict with the strict growth requirements and sensitivity to environmental stress of Campylobacter jejuni. In this study, the need for a micro-aerobic environment [dissolved oxygen tension (DOT): 0.1-90%; 100% air saturation)] and the adaptive responses to oxygen stress were studied.