Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 concentration and circulation of variants of concern in wastewater of Leuven, Belgium.

Wastewater surveillance plays an important role in the management of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic all over the world. Using different wastewater collection points in Leuven, we wanted to investigate the use of wastewater surveillance as an early warning system for an uprise of infections and as a tool to follow the circulation of specific variants of concern (VOCs) in particular geographic areas. Wastewater samples were collected from local neighborhood sewers and from a large regional wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the area of Leuven, Belgium.

Two Separate Clusters of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant Infections in a Group of 41 Students Travelling from India: An Illustration of the Need for Rigorous Testing and Quarantine.

We report two clusters of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.

Folate intake and folate serum levels in men and women from two European populations: The IMMIDIET project.

Objective: Folate status has been associated with neural tube defects and cerebrovascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible differences in folate status in two European Union countries and to assess their possible association with dietary patterns and/or other lifestyles.

Methods: In the framework of the European Union-funded IMMIDIET Project, 1068 individuals (534 male-female pairs), ages 26 to 64 y, were enrolled in Italy and the United Kingdom.

Dietary patterns and fatty acids levels of three European populations. Results from the IMMIDIET study.

Background And Aims: Differences in blood fatty acids (FAs) profile among populations with different lifestyle have partly been attributed to differences in food intake. A holistic approach in dietary guidance through dietary patterns is essential. This study aimed at evaluating the main plasma and red blood cell (RBC) FAs in three European populations and assessing the role of dietary patterns in explaining variation in their levels.

Regulator of G-protein signaling 18 controls megakaryopoiesis and the cilia-mediated vertebrate mechanosensory system.

RGS18 was originally identified as a R4 subfamily member of regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) with specific expression in hematopoietic progenitors, myeloerythroid cells, and megakaryocytes, though its physiological role in hematopoiesis remained unknown. Here, we show that lentiviral RGS18 overexpression during differentiation of mouse Sca1(+) hematopoietic stem cells induced a 50% increase of megakaryocyte proliferation. RGS18 depletion in zebrafish results in thrombocytopenia, as 66 to 88% of the embryos lack thrombocytes after injection of an ATG or splice-blocking morpholino, respectively.

Gender differences in copper, zinc and selenium status in diabetic-free metabolic syndrome European population - the IMMIDIET study.

Background And Aims: The European 'IMMIDIET' study was designed to evaluate the effect of genetic and dietary habit interactions on cardiovascular disease risk factors in non-diabetic subjects. Copper, zinc and selenium are involved in redox balance and modifications of their homeostasis could be associated with metabolic syndrome. Because few studies have dealt with trace element status in metabolic syndrome with conflicting results, we aimed at investigating the relationships between plasma copper, zinc and selenium concentrations and metabolic syndrome in the IMMIDIET population.

Comparison of fresh frozen plasma and prothrombin complex concentrate for the reversal of oral anticoagulants in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery: a randomized study.

Background: Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and prothrombin complex concentrates (PCC) reverse oral anticoagulants. We compared PCC and FFP intraoperative administration in patients undergoing heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Methods: Forty patients [with international normalized ratio (INR)≥ 2·1] assigned semi-urgent cardiac surgery were randomized to receive either FFP (n = 20) or PCC (n = 20).

Validation of a food-frequency questionnaire for Flemish and Italian-native subjects in Belgium: The IMMIDIET study.

Objective: To validate an integrated food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) developed to assess habitual food intake of Flemish and Italian-native subjects in Belgium as part of the European Collaborative Dietary Habit Profile in European Communities With Different Risk of Myocardial Infarction: the Impact of Migration as a Model of Gene/Environment Interaction (IMMIDIET Project).

Methods: The semiquantitative FFQ contained 322 items on food and food preparation. FFQs filled by a sample (n = 70) of the Flemish-Flemish and Flemish-Italian IMMIDIET subpopulations were randomly selected.

Effect of endurance training on blood pressure regulation, biomarkers and the heart in subjects at a higher age.

We reported previously that two otherwise identical training programs at lower (LI) and higher intensity (HI) similarly reduced resting systolic blood pressure (BP) by approximately 4-6 mmHg. Here, we determined the effects of both programs on BP-regulating mechanisms, on biomarkers of systemic inflammation and prothrombotic state and on the heart. In this cross-over study (3 × 10 weeks), healthy participants exercised three times 1 h/week at, respectively, 33% and 66% of the heart rate (HR) reserve, in a random order, with a sedentary period in between.

Analytical and clinical performance of a new, automated assay panel for the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome.

Summary Background: Anticardiolipin (aCL) and anti-beta(2)glycoprotein I (abeta(2)GPI) antibodies are part of the criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Therefore they are widely measured and about 30 commercial kits are available.

Objectives: To investigate the analytical and clinical performances of four fully automated, chemiluminescent assays: HemosIL AcuStar aCL IgG, HemosIL AcuStar aCL IgM, HemosIL AcuStar abeta(2)GPI IgG, and HemosIL AcuStar abeta(2)GPI IgM.

Genetic variation of alcohol dehydrogenase type 1C (ADH1C), alcohol consumption, and metabolic cardiovascular risk factors: results from the IMMIDIET study.

Introduction: Moderate alcohol consumption is protective against cardiovascular disease (CAD). ADHs are major enzymes of alcohol metabolism. A polymorphism in the alcohol dehydrogenases 1C gene (ADH1C) was reportedly associated with the protective effect of alcohol consumption on CAD risk and risk factor levels.

Influence of exercise at lower and higher intensity on blood pressure and cardiovascular risk factors at older age.

Objective: It is not well known which exercise intensity is needed to obtain blood pressure reductions in response to endurance training. We therefore compared the effect of training at lower and higher intensity on blood pressure, and, in addition on other cardiovascular risk factors, in at least 55-year-old sedentary men and women.

Methods: We used a randomized crossover design comprising three 10-week periods.

Laboratory detection of the antiphospholipid syndrome via calibrated automated thrombography.

Lupus anticoagulants (LAC) consist of antiphospholipid antibodies, detected via their anticoagulant properties in vitro. Strong LAC relate to thromboembolic events, a hallmark of the antiphospholipid syndrome. We have analyzed whether detection of this syndrome would benefit from thrombin generation measurements.

Alcohol consumption and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in healthy men and women from 3 European populations.

Background: Because high dietary and blood n-3 (omega-3) fatty acids (FAs) are protective against coronary heart disease and sudden cardiac death, the alcohol-associated increase in blood n-3 FAs could be considered an original mechanism of alcohol's cardioprotective effect.

Objective: Our objective was to assess whether alcohol consumption is associated with concentrations of very-long-chain "marine" (eg, fish oil) n-3 FAs both in plasma and in red blood cell membranes.

Design: In the framework of the IMMIDIET (Dietary Habit Profile in European Communities with Different Risk of Myocardial Infarction: the Impact of Migration as a Model of Gene-Environment Interaction) Project, 1604 subjects (802 women-men pairs), aged 26-65 y, were enrolled in Italy, Belgium, and England.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in healthy unrelated male-female pairs of European regions: the dietary habit profile in European communities with different risk of myocardial infarction--the impact of migration as a model of gene-environment interaction project.

Background: Blood pressure control is of great importance in the prevention of cardiovascular events.

Aim: To determine the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in healthy unrelated male-female pairs of European regions.

Methods: The dietary habit profile in European communities with different risk of myocardial infarction: the impact of migration as a model of gene-environment interaction (IMMIDIET) project was a cross-sectional study to investigate differences in the distribution of cardiovascular risk factors and dietary habits in healthy unrelated male-female pairs married or living together in European regions.

Effect of insulin therapy on coagulation and fibrinolysis in medical intensive care patients.

Objective: Most intensive care deaths beyond the first few days of critical illness are attributable to nonresolving organ failure, either due to or coinciding with sepsis. One of the mechanisms that is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of organ failure is microvascular thrombosis. Recently, we reported significant improved survival and prevention of organ failure with the use of intensive insulin therapy to maintain normoglycemia for at least several days.

Gas6 promotes inflammation by enhancing interactions between endothelial cells, platelets, and leukocytes.

The role of Gas6 in endothelial cell (EC) function remains incompletely characterized. Here we report that Gas6 amplifies EC activation in response to inflammatory stimuli in vitro. In vivo, Gas6 promotes and accelerates the sequestration of circulating platelets and leukocytes on activated endothelium as well as the formation and endothelial sequestration of circulating platelet-leukocyte conjugates.

C reactive protein and its determinants in healthy men and women from European regions at different risk of coronary disease: the IMMIDIET Project.

Aim: Differences in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and its determinants in three European populations at different risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) were studied.

Methods: Subjects were recruited randomly in Limburg (Belgium), Abruzzo (Italy) and south-west (SW) London (England).

Results: Ten-year risk of fatal coronary events (estimated using risk equations provided by the SCORE Project) was lower both in men and women from Abruzzo, intermediate in people from Limburg and higher in subjects from SW London.

Cardiovascular risk factors and global risk of fatal cardiovascular disease are positively correlated between partners of 802 married couples from different European countries. Report from the IMMIDIET project.

Shared environmental factors may confer to spouses a similar risk for cardiovascular disease. We aimed at investigating in pairs the concordance in risk factors for cardiovascular disease and in global risk of cardiovascular events. In the framework of the IMMIDIET Project, married couples, recruited randomly from general practice, were studied.

Major coagulation disturbances during fractionated plasma separation and adsorption.

Fractionated Plasma Separation and Adsorption (FPSA) is a novel nonbiologic detoxification system for the removal of protein-bound solutes. FPSA is used to bridge patients during fulminant liver failure, either to functional recovery or to liver transplantation. Besides liver failure associated protein bound solutes, several important uremic retention solutes share important protein binding.

Long-term management of an implantable left ventricular assist device using low molecular weight heparin and antiplatelet therapy: a possible alternative to oral anticoagulants.

Between January 2004 and December 2005, out of 14 patients with decompensated heart failure who were treated with an INCOR left ventricular assist device (Berlin Heart AG, Berlin, Germany), 10 patients were kept on a long-term regime of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and antiplatelet therapy. The treatment objective was bridge-to-transplantation. All patients received LMWH in therapeutic doses according to body weight, in combination with daily aspirin 160 mg, clopidogrel 75 mg, and three times dipyridamole 75 mg.