Colibactin-driven colon cancer requires adhesin-mediated epithelial binding.

Various bacteria are suggested to contribute to colorectal cancer (CRC) development, including pks Escherichia coli, which produces the genotoxin colibactin that induces characteristic mutational signatures in host epithelial cells. However, it remains unclear how the highly unstable colibactin molecule is able to access host epithelial cells to cause harm. Here, using the microbiota-dependent ZEB2-transgenic mouse model of invasive CRC, we demonstrate that the oncogenic potential of pks E.

Contrast media viscosity and its potential effect on the diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux in children.

Objective: To confirm that contrast-enhanced voiding cystourosonography (ceVUS) diagnoses more vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) than voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) and assess whether this could be explained by contrast agent viscosity differences.

Materials And Methods: Children addressed for a VCUG for suspected or known VUR between April 2021 and June 2023 were prospectively included. CeVUS and VCUG were consecutively performed during the same procedure by two operators; for each pelviureteric unit (PUU), VUR presence was assessed and scored (I-V scale).

Fetal and neonatal post-mortem imaging referral template: recommendations from the European Society of Paediatric Radiology Post-mortem Task Force.

Background: In post-mortem (PM) fetal and neonatal imaging, relevant clinical information is crucial for accurate interpretation and diagnosis; however, it is usually incomplete.

Objective: To propose a standardized template for PM fetal and neonatal imaging referrals to enhance communication between referring clinicians and reporting radiologists.

Materials And Methods: A modified Delphi approach was conducted amongst members of the European Society of Paediatric Radiology (ESPR) PM Task Force and other recommended PM imaging specialists worldwide to determine consensus on necessary information.

Prospective Natural History Study in 24 Adult Patients With LGMDR12 Over 2 Years of Follow-up: Quantitative MRI and Clinical Outcome Measures.

Background And Objectives: Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy autosomal recessive type 12 (LGMDR12) is a rare hereditary muscular dystrophy for which outcome measures are currently lacking. We evaluated quantitative MRI and clinical outcome measures to track disease progression to determine which tests could be useful in future clinical trials to evaluate potential therapies.

Methods: We prospectively measured the following outcome measures in all participants at baseline and after 1 and 2 years: 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), 10-meter walk test (10MWT), the Medical Research Council (MRC) sum scores, Biodex isometric dynamometry, serum creatine kinase, and 6-point Dixon MRI of the thighs.

Unraveling the Molecular Basis of the Dystrophic Process in Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy LGMD-R12 by Differential Gene Expression Profiles in Diseased and Healthy Muscles.

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy R12 (LGMD-R12) is caused by two mutations in anoctamin-5 (). Our aim was to identify genes and pathways that underlie LGMD-R12 and explain differences in the molecular predisposition and susceptibility between three thigh muscles that are severely (semimembranosus), moderately (vastus lateralis) or mildly (rectus femoris) affected in this disease. We performed transcriptomics on these three muscles in 16 male LGMD-R12 patients and 15 age-matched male controls.

Six-Minute Walk Distance Is a Useful Outcome Measure to Detect Motor Decline in Treated Late-Onset Pompe Disease Patients.

Late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) is a rare, progressive disorder characterized by limb-girdle muscle weakness and/or respiratory insufficiency, caused by acid alpha-glucosidase () gene mutations and treated with enzyme replacement therapy. We studied isometric muscle strength in eight muscle groups bilaterally using a Biodex dynamometer, as well as the Medical Research Council sum score (MRC-SS), hand grip strength, 6 min walk distance (6MWD), 10 m walk test (10MWT) and timed up-and-go test (TUG) in 12 adult, ambulatory, treated LOPD patients and 12 age-/gender-matched healthy controls, every 6 months for 2 years. The mean isometric muscle strength showed a significant decline in right and left knee extensors at 12 months in controls ( < 0.

Real-Time In Vivo Imaging of Human Liver Vasculature Using Coherent Flow Power Doppler: A Pilot Clinical Study.

Power Doppler (PD) is a commonly used technique for flow detection and vessel visualization in radiology clinics. Despite its broad set of applications, PD suffers from multiple noise sources and artifacts, such as thermal noise, clutter, and flash artifacts. In addition, a tradeoff exists between acquisition time and Doppler image quality.

SOX9-induced Generation of Functional Astrocytes Supporting Neuronal Maturation in an All-human System.

Astrocytes, the main supportive cell type of the brain, show functional impairments upon ageing and in a broad spectrum of neurological disorders. Limited access to human astroglia for pre-clinical studies has been a major bottleneck delaying our understanding of their role in brain health and disease. We demonstrate here that functionally mature human astrocytes can be generated by SOX9 overexpression for 6 days in pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived neural progenitor cells.

Intracerebroventricular delivery of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a phase I study.

We studied the feasibility, safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of intracerebroventricular delivery of recombinant human vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In this phase I study in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the study drug was delivered using an implantable programmable pump connected to a catheter inserted in the frontal horn of the lateral cerebral ventricle. A first cohort received open label vascular endothelial growth factor (0.

Identifying Clinical Phenotypes in Moderate to Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Related to COVID-19: The COVADIS Study.

Different phenotypes have been identified in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Existence of several phenotypes in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) related acute respiratory distress syndrome is unknown. We sought to identify different phenotypes of patients with moderate to severe ARDS related to COVID-19.

Static compliance of the respiratory system in COVID-19 related ARDS: an international multicenter study.

Background: Controversies exist on the nature of COVID-19 related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in particular on the static compliance of the respiratory system (Crs). We aimed to analyze the association of Crs with outcome in COVID-19-associated ARDS, to ascertain its determinants and to describe its evolution at day-14.

Methods: In this observational multicenter cohort of patients with moderate to severe Covid-19 ARDS, Crs was measured at day-1 and day-14.

Liver Fat Quantification by Ultrasound in Children: A Prospective Study.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in children in certain regions and is rising in prevalence with increasing obesity. Accurate noninvasive imaging methods for diagnosing and quantifying liver fat are needed to guide NAFLD management. The purpose of this article is to evaluate four ultrasound technologies for quantitative assessment of liver fat content in children using MRI proton density fat fraction (PDFF) as a reference standard.

Impact of COVID-19 on nursing time in intensive care units in Belgium.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on nursing practice in intensive care unit and consequently, on workload.

Objective: To assess the nurse-patient ratio required by COVID-19 patients and to identify the factors that influence nursing in this context.

Design: This study was a retrospective observational study that evaluated the ratio using the Nursing Activities Score (NAS).

Characteristics and outcomes of acute respiratory distress syndrome related to COVID-19 in Belgian and French intensive care units according to antiviral strategies: the COVADIS multicentre observational study.

Background: Limited data are available regarding antiviral therapy efficacy in most severe patients under mechanical ventilation for Covid-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Methods: Comparison of antiviral strategies (none, hydroxychloroquine (OHQ), lopinavir/ritonavir (L/R), others (combination or remdesivir) in an observational multicentre cohort of patients with moderate-to-severe Covid-19 ARDS. The primary endpoint was the number of day 28 ventilator-free days (VFD).

Factors Associated With Pulmonary Embolism Among Coronavirus Disease 2019 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Multicenter Study Among 375 Patients.

Risk factors associated with pulmonary embolism in coronavirus disease 2019 acute respiratory distress syndrome patients deserve to be better known. We therefore performed a post hoc analysis from the COronaVirus-Associated DIsease Study (COVADIS) project, a multicenter observational study gathering 21 ICUs from France ( = 12) and Belgium ( = 9). Three-hundred seventy-five consecutive patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and positive coronavirus disease 2019 were included in the study.

Late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) in Belgium: clinical characteristics and outcome measures.

Background: Late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) is a rare, hereditary, progressive disorder that is usually characterized by limb-girdle muscle weakness and/or respiratory insufficiency. LOPD is caused by mutations in the acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) gene and treated with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT).

Methods: We studied the clinical, brain imaging, and genetic features of the Belgian cohort of late-onset Pompe disease patients (N = 52), and explored the sensitivity of different outcome measures, during a longitudinal period of 7 years (2010-2017), including the activity limitations ActivLim score, 6 min walking distance (6MWD), 10 m walk test (10MWT), MRC sum score, and forced vital capacity (FVC) sitting/supine.

Pulmonary hypertension detection by computed tomography pulmonary transit time in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Aims: To evaluate the relationships between pulmonary transit time (PTT), cardiac function, and pulmonary haemodynamics in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and to explore how PTT performs in detecting pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Methods And Results: In this prospective study, 57 patients with advanced HFrEF [49 men, 51 years ± 8, mean left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction 26% ± 8] underwent echocardiography, right heart catheterization, and cardiac computed tomography (CT). PTT was measured as the time interval between peaks of attenuation in right ventricle (RV) and LV and was compared between patients with or without PH and 15 controls.

Beclomethasone dipropionate in microscopic colitis: Results of an exploratory open-label multicentre study (COLCO).

Background: Budesonide has been proven to be an effective treatment for microscopic colitis (MC). However, the two current commercially available preparations are released in the ileum. Beclomethasone dipropionate (Clipper®) is a synthetic corticosteroid with topical colonic release.

Accuracy of malaria diagnosis by clinical laboratories in Belgium.

Background: The Belgian Reference Laboratory for Plasmodium offers a free-of-charge reference testing of malaria-positive or doubtful samples to clinical laboratories.

Methods: The final malaria diagnosis from the Reference Laboratory (microscopy, rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and Plasmodium species-specific PCR) were compared with the final diagnosis from peripheral Belgian laboratories. The Reference Laboratory reports were analysed for all samples submitted between 2013 and 2017.

A case report of rigidity and recurrent lower limb myoclonus: progressive encephalomyelitis rigidity and myoclonus syndrome, a chameleon.

Background: Progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus (PERM) syndrome is a rare neurological condition. Its clinical characteristics include axial and limb muscle rigidity, myoclonus, painful spasms and hyperekplexia. Diagnosis of this disease can be very challenging and optimal long-term treatment is unclear.