Liver X receptor alpha ensures blood-brain barrier function by suppressing SNAI2.

In Alzheimer's disease (AD) more than 50% of the patients are affected by capillary cerebral amyloid-angiopathy (capCAA), which is characterized by localized hypoxia, neuro-inflammation and loss of blood-brain barrier (BBB) function. Moreover, AD patients with or without capCAA display increased vessel number, indicating a reactivation of the angiogenic program. The molecular mechanism(s) responsible for BBB dysfunction and angiogenesis in capCAA is still unclear, preventing a full understanding of disease pathophysiology.

Extended interval dosing of ocrelizumab modifies the repopulation of B cells without altering the clinical efficacy in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Recent studies suggest that extended interval dosing of ocrelizumab, an anti-B cell therapy, does not affect its clinical effectiveness in most patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, it remains to be established whether certain B cell subsets are differentially repopulated after different dosing intervals and whether these subsets relate to clinical efficacy.

Methods: We performed high-dimensional single-cell characterization of the peripheral immune landscape of patients with MS after standard (SID; n = 43) or extended interval dosing (EID; n = 37) of ocrelizumab and in non-ocrelizumab-treated (control group, CG; n = 28) patients with MS, using mass cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF).

Genes associated with cognitive ability and HAR show overlapping expression patterns in human cortical neuron types.

GWAS have identified numerous genes associated with human cognition but their cell type expression profiles in the human brain are unknown. These genes overlap with human accelerated regions (HARs) implicated in human brain evolution and might act on the same biological processes. Here, we investigated whether these gene sets are expressed in adult human cortical neurons, and how their expression relates to neuronal function and structure.

Development of TOEKAN, a 360° evaluation tool for the clinical learning environment in General Practice postgraduate training.

Background: The General Practice (GP) postgraduate program exists for 80% out of workplace learning. The quality of the clinical learning environment (CLE) has a direct effect on the quality of training and the professional development of GP trainees.

Methodology: Participatory research was used to involve all stakeholders in the development process of a 360° evaluation tool that should improve the average quality of GP training practices, guide GP trainees towards the best training practices and detect and remediate GP trainers of lower quality.

Markers of aging: Unsupervised integrated analyses of the human plasma proteome.

Aging associates with an increased susceptibility for disease and decreased quality of life. To date, processes underlying aging are still not well understood, leading to limited interventions with unknown mechanisms to promote healthy aging. Previous research suggests that changes in the blood proteome are reflective of age-associated phenotypes such as frailty.

Crossing borders in Alzheimer's disease: A T cell's perspective.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia affecting millions of people worldwide. While different immunotherapies are imminent, currently only disease-modifying medications are available and a cure is lacking. Over the past decade, immunological interfaces of the central nervous system (CNS) and their role in neurodegenerative diseases received increasing attention.

The impact of COVID-19 on the well-being, education and clinical practice of general practice trainees and trainers: a national cross-sectional study.

Background: COVID-19 has changed General Practice (GP) education as well as GP clinical activities. These changes have had an impact on the well-being of medical trainees and the role of GP plays in the society. We have therefore aimed to investigate the impact that COVID-19 has had on GP trainees and trainers in four domains: education, workload, practice organization and the role of GP in society.

Teenage pregnancy in Belgium: protective factors in a migrant population.

Background: Teenage pregnancies occur frequently in developing countries and are associated with social issues, including poverty, lower levels of health and educational attainment. Although frequent in European countries in the 20th century today, teenage pregnancies account for only 4% of first children. These pregnancies are usually unplanned and they are considered a vulnerability factor during the pregnancy and the postnatal period, both for the mother and the child.

The "second ulnar groove", a MRI sign suggesting a previous palmar luxation of the ulna at the distal radioulnar joint.

Introduction: A cortical lined impaction on the radiodorsal side of the ulnar head may be at the origin of a "second ulnar groove" (SUG). The goal of this article is to illustrate this MRI sign, prompting for further investigation of the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ). Hence associated soft tissue pathology may be detected, which may lead to instability.

Screening of organic pollutants in urban wastewater treatment plants and corresponding receiving waters.

There is a lack of knowledge in environmental pollution of the anthropogenic contaminants in wastewater and surface water. Several organic compounds merit special attention, because of their potential risk to the aquatic environment. Therefore, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based screening analyses were performed in order to identify anthropogenic organic contaminants and to reveal information on the structural diversity of individual compounds and to characterize their environmental behavior.

Femoral venous oxygen saturation is no surrogate for central venous oxygen saturation.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to determine if central venous oxygen saturation and femoral venous oxygen saturation can be used interchangeably during surgery and in critically ill patients.

Design: Prospective observational controlled study.

Setting: Nonacademic university-affiliated teaching hospital in The Netherlands.

Evidence for a unitary goal concept in 12-month-old infants.

We investigated whether infants can transfer their goal attribution between situations that contain different types of information about the goal. We found that 12-month-olds who had attributed a goal based on the causal efficacy of a means-end action generated expectations about the actor's action in another scenario in which the actor could choose between alternative outcomes. This finding suggests that, by 12 months, infants possess a unitary concept of goal.

Interpositional arthroplasty with Gore-Tex, Marlex or tendon for osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal joint. A retrospective comparative study.

In this retrospective study of 26 patients with arthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal joint, we report the use of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) (Gore-Tex) and polypropylene (Marlex) as interpositional materials for resection arthroplasty of the trapeziometacarpal joint. We have compared the results with those of "conventional" tendon interposition and those in the literature. In three patients the use of ePTFE (Gore-Tex) was complicated by marked clinical synovitis, resembling findings in silicone synovitis.

Pseudotumor of the palm due to an anomalous flexor digitorum superficialis muscle belly.

A pseudotumor of the palm was due to an anomalous flexor digitorum superficialis muscle belly. Magnetic resonance imaging is an excellent diagnostic tool to define the three dimensional extension of such an anomaly. Surgical resection of the anomalous muscle belly resulted in a complete relief of all symptoms.

[Absence of blood circulation following toe-hand transplantation in a 7-year-old girl with monodactyle form of symbrachydactyly].

In a toe transplantation in a child with symbrachydactyly the authors were faced with a no-reflow phenomenon. The medication they used in prophylaxis was not an absolute guarantee to prevent this problem. Success also depends on some general measures, as a stable blood pressure, a constant blood volume, normal body temperature, short operation time, and an early revision in case of a no-reflow phenomenon.

The "cocaine body packer" syndrome. Case report and review of the literature.

The cocaine body packer syndrome is seen in drug traffickers swallowing hermetically packed cocaine. The condition can be diagnosed by serial abdominal roentgenograms. The double condom sign and the rosette form are two pathognomonic radiological signs.

Traumatic injuries to the porta hepatis: case report and review of the literature.

Injuries to the porta hepatis present a rare but life-threatening condition. This report documents a patient surviving injuries to all three structures in the porta hepatis. A literature study sets out the guidelines for the optimal treatment of these lesions.

Three-point arthrography of the wrist.

Three-point arthrography according to Levinsohn is a valuable technique in the evaluation of lesions of the ligaments of the wrist and in the prevention of severe sequelae.

Propofol for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia: comparison between younger and older patients.

The propofol requirements for the induction and maintenance of anaesthesia were compared in groups of younger and older patients. Side effects, influence on the cardiovascular system and recovery times were compared between 20 unpremedicated ASA I-III, 25-40-yr-old patients and 20 65-80-yr-old patients all scheduled to undergo elective surgery. After induction with propofol, anaesthesia was maintained with a continuous infusion of the drug.

Gastric rupture from blunt abdominal trauma.

Diagnosis, surgical management and complications of gastric rupture from blunt abdominal trauma are reviewed. The diagnosis is mainly based on the clinical examination, to which peritoneal lavage is a valuable aid. Early surgery with a two layer suture technique and extensive peritoneal irrigation are emphasized.

Propofol emulsion for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia. A combined technique of general and regional anaesthesia.

To provide general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation during regional blockades, three dose regimens of propofol emulsion were studied: induction 2 mg kg-1, infusion rate 9 mg kg-1 h-1 (Group 1); induction 2.5 mg kg-1, infusion rate 12 mg kg-1 h-1 (Group 2); induction 2.5 mg kg-1, infusion rate 9 mg kg-1 (Group 3).

Intrinsic fasciotomy. When and why?

Major trauma to the upper extremity may lead to ischemic contracture of various muscle groups, sometimes including the intrinsic muscles of the hand. The clinical consequence of such necrotic fibrosis of the intrinsics is clawing of the digits with marked stiffness. After a short anatomical review of the fascias of the intrinsics, indications and operative techniques are discussed, in parallel with clinical cases.

A plate osteosynthesis for femoral shaft fractures in adults.

Between 1978 and 1982 154 femoral shaft fractures were treated in 145 adults in our department of general surgery and traumatology. 52 fractures were nailed intramedullary. We reserved the intramedullary nailing for ideal cases like the transverse and the short oblique fractures in the middle 3/5 of the shaft.

Fibrinous tissue glue in artery anastomosis. Physiological, histological and scanning evaluation.

Twelve arterial anastomoses are performed using fibrinous tissue glue. Long term patency is controlled. Histological and scanning electron microscopical evaluation of the clot formation is performed.