High prevalence of non-accidental trauma among deceased children presenting at Level I trauma centers in the Netherlands.

Purpose: Between 0.1-3% of injured children who present at a hospital emergency department ultimately die as a result of their injuries. These events are typically reported as unnatural causes of death and may result from either accidental or non-accidental trauma (NAT).

Abnormalities suggestive of latent tuberculosis infection on chest radiography; how specific are they?

Background: Several radiological features have been reported in association with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) but it has not been studied which are specific. The aim of this study was to evaluate allegedly characteristic abnormalities on chest radiography (CXR) in patients with LTBI compared to uninfected controls.

Methods: From 236 patients tested with QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT), the CXR was re-evaluated in a blinded fashion for fibrotic scarring, (non-)calcified nodules and pleural thickening.

Implementation of latent tuberculosis infection screening and treatment among newly arriving immigrants in the Netherlands: A mixed methods pilot evaluation.

Introduction: To reach pre-elimination levels of tuberculosis (TB) incidence in the Netherlands, prevention of TB among immigrants through diagnosis and treatment of latent TB infection (LTBI) is needed. We studied the feasibility of a LTBI screening and treatment program among newly arriving immigrants for national implementation.

Methods: We used mixed methods to evaluate the implementation of LTBI screening and treatment in five Public Health Services (PHS) among immigrants from countries with a TB incidence >50/100,000 population.

General low-temperature reaction pathway from precursors to monomers before nucleation of compound semiconductor nanocrystals.

Little is known about the molecular pathway to monomers of semiconductor nanocrystals. Here we report a general reaction pathway, which is based on hydrogen-mediated ligand loss for the precursor conversion to 'monomers' at low temperature before nucleation. We apply (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to monitor the key phosphorous-containing products that evolve from MXn+E=PPh2H+HY mixtures, where MXn, E=PPh2H, and HY are metal precursors, chalcogenide precursors, and additives, respectively.

Appearance of breast cysts in planar geometry photoacoustic mammography using 1064-nm excitation.

In the search for improved imaging modalities for detection and diagnosis of breast cancer, a high negative prediction value is also important. Photoacoustic (optoacoustic) imaging is a relatively new technique that has high potential for visualizing breast malignancies, but little is known about the photoacoustic appearance of benign lesions. In this work, we investigate the visibility of benign breast cysts in forward-mode photoacoustic mammography using 1064-nm light, as currently applied in the Twente photoacoustic mammoscope.

Role of the QuantiFERON(R)-TB Gold In-Tube assay in screening new immigrants for tuberculosis infection.

This study aimed to estimate the risk of progression to active tuberculosis (TB) within 2 yrs after entry in newly arriving immigrants who were screened with the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube assay (QFT-GIT; Cellestis, Carnegie, Australia). In a case-base design, we determined the prevalence QFT-GIT-positive subjects among a representative sample of immigrants aged ≥ 18 yrs who arrived between April 2009 and March 2011 (the base cohort). Active TB patients (cases) within 2 yrs post-arrival in 2005, 2006 or 2007 were extracted from the Netherlands Tuberculosis Register.

Missed opportunities in tuberculosis control in The Netherlands due to prioritization of contact investigations.

Background: The Dutch contact investigation guidelines stipulate that Public Health Services should examine contacts around all pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients to prevent disease and further transmission. Our objective was to assess to what extent these guidelines were applied and whether patient characteristics were associated with having contacts investigated.

Methods: We extracted the records of all reported pulmonary TB patients from the nationwide surveillance register covering 2006-07.

A patient with de novo tuberculosis during anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy illustrating diagnostic pitfalls and paradoxical response to treatment.

In 2005, a 24-year-old man with Crohn disease who had been treated with infliximab for several months was exposed to an individual with smear-positive tuberculosis. Soon after exposure, he complained of malaise, dry cough, and weight loss. Despite normal chest radiograph findings and negative tuberculin skin test results, tuberculosis was considered to be the most likely diagnosis.