Adherence to chronic kidney disease guidelines in primary care patients is associated with comorbidity.

Background: GPs insufficiently follow guidelines regarding consultation and referral for chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Objective: To identify patient characteristics and quality of care (QoC) in CKD patients with whom consultation and referral recommendations were not followed.

Method: A 14 month prospective observational cohort study of primary care patients with CKD stage 3-5.

Web-based consultation between general practitioners and nephrologists: a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: Consultation of a nephrologist is important in aligning care for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at the primary-secondary care interface. However, current consultation methods come with practical difficulties that can lead to postponed consultation or patient referral instead.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether a web-based consultation platform, telenephrology, led to a lower referral rate of indicated patients.

Covalent Binding of Antibodies to Cellulose Paper Discs and Their Applications in Naked-eye Colorimetric Immunoassays.

This report presents two methods for the covalent immobilization of capture antibodies on cellulose filter paper grade No. 1 (medium-flow filter paper) discs and grade No. 113 (fast-flow filter paper) discs.

Quality of chronic kidney disease management in primary care: a retrospective study.

Background: Early detection and appropriate management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in primary care are essential to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Aim: To assess the quality of care (QoC) of CKD in primary healthcare in relation to patient and practice characteristics in order to tailor improvement strategies.

Design And Setting: Retrospective study using data between 2008 and 2011 from 47 general practices (207 469 patients of whom 162 562 were adults).

Multibiodose radiation emergency triage categorization software.

In this note, the authors describe the MULTIBIODOSE software, which has been created as part of the MULTIBIODOSE project. The software enables doses estimated by networks of laboratories, using up to five retrospective (biological and physical) assays, to be combined to give a single estimate of triage category for each individual potentially exposed to ionizing radiation in a large scale radiation accident or incident. The MULTIBIODOSE software has been created in Java.

Is a semi-automated approach indicated in the application of the automated micronucleus assay for triage purposes?

Within the EU MULTIBIODOSE project, the automated micronucleus (MN) assay was optimised for population triage in large-scale radiological emergencies. For MN scoring, two approaches were applied using the Metafer4 platform (MetaSystems, Germany): fully automated scoring and semi-automated scoring with visual inspection of the gallery of MN-positive objects. Dose-response curves were established for acute and protracted whole-body and partial-body exposures.

Inter- and intra-laboratory comparison of a multibiodosimetric approach to triage in a simulated, large scale radiation emergency.

Purpose: The European Union's Seventh Framework Programme-funded project 'Multi-disciplinary biodosimetric tools to manage high scale radiological casualties' (MULTIBIODOSE) has developed a multiparametric approach to radiation biodosimetry, with a particular emphasis on triage of large numbers of potentially exposed individuals following accidental exposures. In November 2012, an emergency exercise took place which tested the capabilities of the MULTIBIODOSE project partners. The exercise described here had a dual purpose: Intercomparison of (i) three biodosimetric assays, and (ii) the capabilities of the seven laboratories, with regards to provision of triage status for suspected radiation exposed individuals.

Impact on cardiovascular risk follow-up from a shift to the CKD-EPI formula for eGFR reporting: a cross-sectional population-based primary care study.

Objective: To assess the impact on cardiovascular risk factor management in primary care by the introduction of chronic kidney disease epidemiological collaboration (CKD-EPI) for estimated-glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) reporting.

Design And Setting: Cross-sectional study of routine healthcare provision in 47 primary care practices in The Netherlands with Modification of Diet and Renal Disease Study eGFR reporting.

Methods: eGFR values were recalculated using CKD-EPI in patients with available creatine tests.

Initial implementation of a web-based consultation process for patients with chronic kidney disease.

Purpose: A Web-based consultation system (telenephrology) enables family physicians to consult a nephrologist about a patient with chronic kidney disease. Relevant data are exported from the patient's electronic file to a protected digital environment from which advice can be formulated by the nephrologist. The primary purpose of this study was to assess the potential of telenephrology to reduce in-person referrals.

Genetic susceptibility in solvent induced neurobehavioral effects.

The aim of this investigation was to study the influence of genetic polymorphisms of biotransformation enzymes and dopamine receptors on neurobehavioral effects in referents (n = 53), solvent-workers (n = 144), and chronic toxic encephalopathy (CTE) patients (n = 33). All participants were interviewed for exposure data and confounding factors and underwent a clinical examination. Neurobehavioral complaints (neurotoxicity symptom checklist-60) and effects [simple reaction time (SRT), symbol digit substitution (SDS), hand-eye coordination (HEC), and digit span backwards (DSB)] were evaluated with a computer assisted test battery.

The use of [123I]-2-iodo-L-phenylalanine as an early radiotherapy evaluation tool: in vitro R1M rabdomyosarcoma cell and in vivo mouse experiments.

Unlabelled: This study was performed to determine whether [123I]-2-iodo-L-phenylalanine single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can be used to monitor the tumor response to radiotherapy in an early phase.

Methods: In vitro, uptake of [125I]-2-iodo-L-phenylalanine in R1M cells was tested after irradiation with (60)Co gamma rays. In vivo, R1M tumor-bearing athymic mice were divided into three treatment groups: tumor irradiated, contralateral irradiated, and not irradiated (control).

Chromosomal radiosensitivity in head and neck cancer patients: evidence for genetic predisposition?

The association between chromosomal radiosensitivity and genetic predisposition to head and neck cancer was investigated in this study. In all, 101 head and neck cancer patients and 75 healthy control individuals were included in the study. The G(2) assay was used to measure chromosomal radiosensitivity.

Assessment of supra-additive effects of cytotoxic drugs and low dose rate irradiation in an in vitro model for hepatocellular carcinoma.

The use of 5-fluorouracil, topotecan, or gemcitabine was tested for enhancement of the effects of low dose rate (LDR) irradiation in an in vitro model for hepatocellular carcinoma. For comparison, all drugs were tested in combination with high dose rate (HDR) gamma-irradiation as well. Multicellular spheroids of HepG2 cells were exposed to HDR or LDR irradiation by means of external beam cobalt-60 or rhenium-188 (188Re), respectively, dissolved in the culture medium.

In vitro screening for synergism of high-linear energy transfer 213Bi-radiotherapy with other therapeutic agents for the treatment of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Background: External beam radiotherapy and beta-radioimmunotherapy (RIT) are effective treatments for lymphoid malignancies. The development of RIT with alpha-emitters is attractive, owing to the high (LET) nature and short path length of alpha particles allowing for higher tumor cell kill and lower toxicity to healthy tissues.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the response of B-Cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cells in vitro after treatment with chemotherapy (cisplatin, fludarabine, doxorubicin, or vincristine) or other pharmaceuticals (colchicine, simvastatin, or cyclosporin A) in combination with (60)Co-gamma or (213)Bi-alpha-irradiation.

Cytogenetic biodosimetry of an accidental exposure of a radiological worker using multiple assays.

A technician involved in the maintenance of X-ray equipment visited the occupational medicine service with complaints of skin lesions, apparently caused by an accidental exposure three months earlier. To estimate the dose received by the technician in the accident, biodosimetry was performed 6 and 18 months post-exposure with the dicentric and micronucleus assays. Part of the latest blood sample was also used for retrospective dosimetry by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) analysis for translocations.

Importance of receptor density in alpha radioimmunotherapy in B cell malignancies: an in-vitro study.

Background: External beam radiotherapy and beta radioimmunotherapy (RIT) are effective treatments for lymphoid malignancies. The development of RIT with alpha emitters is attractive because of the high linear energy transfer (LET) and short path length, allowing higher tumour cell kill and lower toxicity to healthy tissues.

Aim: To assess the binding of rituximab to samples of B cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) and splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes (SLVL), and to evaluate the induction of apoptosis by conventional therapies as well as with Bi conjugated to rituximab.

Screening for supra-additive effects of cytotoxic drugs and gamma irradiation in an in vitro model for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies in the world. A wide variety of treatment modalities is available for palliative therapy of HCC, although there is no strong evidence that these treatments can have a significant impact on survival. The aim of this work was to screen cytotoxic drugs relevant in the treatment of HCC for enhancement of the effect of irradiation in an in vitro model.

In vitro evaluation of 213Bi-rituximab versus external gamma irradiation for the treatment of B-CLL patients: relative biological efficacy with respect to apoptosis induction and chromosomal damage.

External source radiotherapy and beta radioimmunotherapy (RIT) are effective treatments for lymphoid malignancies. The development of RIT with alpha emitters is attractive because of the high linear energy transfer (LET) and short path length, allowing higher tumour cell kill and lower toxicity to healthy tissues. We assessed the relative biological efficacy (RBE) of alpha RIT (in vitro) compared to external gamma irradiation with respect to induction of apoptosis in B chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) and induction of chromosomal damage in healthy donor B and T lymphocytes.