Evaluation of the recently established Dutch nationwide Archipelago of Ovarian Cancer Research biobank.

Fundamental and translational research in ovarian cancer aims to enhance understanding of disease mechanisms and improve treatment and survival outcomes. To support this, we established the Dutch multicenter, interdisciplinary Archipelago of Ovarian Cancer Research (AOCR) infrastructure, which includes a nationwide biobank. In this study, we share our experiences in establishing the infrastructure, offer guidance for similar initiatives, and evaluate the AOCR patient cohort.

Neurovirulence of Usutu virus in human fetal organotypic brain slice cultures partially resembles Zika and West Nile virus.

Usutu (USUV), West Nile (WNV), and Zika virus (ZIKV) are neurotropic arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) that cause severe neurological disease in humans. However, USUV-associated neurological disease is rare, suggesting a block in entry to or infection of the brain. We determined the replication, cell tropism and neurovirulence of these arboviruses in human brain tissue using a well-characterized human fetal organotypic brain slice culture model.

Results From South Africa's 2022 Healthy Active Kids' Report Card on Physical Activity, Body Composition Proxies, and Nutritional Status in Children and Adolescents.

Background: Physical activity (PA) and nutrition in children have an impact on overall physical and mental well-being, cognitive, and social development. This study aims to report on the best current available evidence on PA, body composition proxies, and nutritional status of South African children and adolescents, based on the published findings between 2018 and 2022, which comprise the 2022 Healthy Active Kids South Africa Report Card.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search of online databases, along with hand searching and a gray literature search, was conducted based on PA, body composition proxies, and nutrition indicators defined, in part, by the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance.

Improving histotyping precision: The impact of immunohistochemical algorithms on epithelial ovarian cancer classification.

To improve the precision of epithelial ovarian cancer histotyping, Köbel et al. (2016) developed immunohistochemical decision-tree algorithms. These included a six- and four-split algorithm, and separate six-split algorithms for early- and advanced stage disease.

Pulmonary artery pressure monitoring in chronic heart failure: effects across clinically relevant subgroups in the MONITOR-HF trial.

Background And Aims: In patients with chronic heart failure (HF), the MONITOR-HF trial demonstrated the efficacy of pulmonary artery (PA)-guided HF therapy over standard of care in improving quality of life and reducing HF hospitalizations and mean PA pressure. This study aimed to evaluate the consistency of these benefits in relation to clinically relevant subgroups.

Methods: The effect of PA-guided HF therapy was evaluated in the MONITOR-HF trial among predefined subgroups based on age, sex, atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus, left ventricular ejection fraction, HF aetiology, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

The Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure of the Multicenter Archipelago of Ovarian Cancer Research Biobank: A Potential Blueprint for Other Biobanks.

Biobanks play a crucial role in fundamental and translational research by storing valuable biomaterials and data for future analyses. However, the design of their information technology (IT) infrastructures is often customized to specific requirements, thereby lacking the ability to be used for biobanks comprising other (types of) diseases. This results in substantial costs, time, and efforts for each new biobank project.

Evaluation of the prognostic potential of histopathological subtyping in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma.

High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) can be categorized into four gene expression-based subtypes, with supposedly distinct prognoses and treatment responses. Murakami et al. translated these gene expression-based subtypes into the histopathological mesenchymal, immunoreactive, solid and proliferative, and papilloglandular subtypes, showing differences in survival outcomes.

Herpes simplex virus infection induces necroptosis of neurons and astrocytes in human fetal organotypic brain slice cultures.

Background: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis (HSE) is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease, affecting both adults and newborns. Progress in understanding the virus and host factors involved in neonatal HSE has been hampered by the limitations of current brain models that do not fully recapitulate the tissue structure and cell composition of the developing human brain in health and disease. Here, we developed a human fetal organotypic brain slice culture (hfOBSC) model and determined its value in mimicking the HSE neuropathology in vitro.

Image-guided point-shear-wave elastography: a valid and reliable technique for liver fibrotic staging.

Purpose: Despite progressive implementation of image-guided point-shear wave elastography (pSWE) in guidelines as an alternative to transient elastography for the staging of fibrotic liver disease, pSWE is not widely adopted in clinical workflow. More information on reliability and validity of pSWE systems is needed. Therefore, we performed a phantom study to evaluate the validity and reliability of pSWE with ultrasound systems.

Use of loop diuretics in patients with chronic heart failure: an observational overview.

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the use and dose of loop diuretics (LDs) across the entire ejection fraction (EF) spectrum in a large, 'real-world' cohort of chronic heart failure (HF) patients.

Methods: A total of 10 366 patients with chronic HF from 34 Dutch outpatient HF clinics were analysed regarding diuretic use and diuretic dose. Data regarding daily diuretic dose were stratified by furosemide dose equivalent (FDE)>80 mg or ≤80 mg.

Encapsulation in oleyl-modified hyaluronic acid nanogels substantially improves the clinical potential of the antimicrobial peptides SAAP-148 and Ab-Cath.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising alternatives to antibiotics for treatment of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacterial infections. However, their narrow therapeutic window due to in vivo toxicity and limited stability hampers their clinical use. Here, we evaluated encapsulation of two amphiphilic AMPs, SAAP-148 and snake cathelicidin Ab-Cath, into oleyl-modified hyaluronic acid (OL-HA) nanogels to improve their selectivity index.

C-Terminal PEGylation Improves SAAP-148 Peptide's Immunomodulatory Activities.

Synthetic antibacterial and anti-biofilm peptide (SAAP)-148 was developed to combat bacterial infections not effectively treatable with current antibiotics. SAAP-148 is highly effective against antimicrobial-resistant bacteria without inducing resistance; however, challenges for further development of SAAP-148 include its cytotoxicity and short circulation half-life. To circumvent these drawbacks, a library of SAAP-148 linked to polyethylene glycol (PEG) groups of various lengths was synthesized and screened for in vitro antibacterial activity and hemolytic activity.

Bringing Opiates Off the Streets and Undertaking Excess Scripts: A novel opiate reclamation and prescription reduction program.

Background: Opioid diversion and misuse continue to present problems in modern medicine. The "opioid epidemic" has claimed more than 250,000 lives since 1999, with studies pointing to prescription opioids as the culprit for future opiate misuse. Currently, there are no well-described, data-driven processes to educate surgeons on reducing opiate prescribing, informed by personal practice patterns.

Characterization of the Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Profile of Apraglutide, a Glucagon-Like Peptide-2 Analog, in Healthy Volunteers.

Apraglutide (FE 203799) is a glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) analog under development for the treatment of intestinal failure associated with short bowel syndrome (SBS-IF) and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Compared with native GLP-2, apraglutide has slower absorption, reduced clearance, and higher protein binding, enabling once-weekly dosing. This study evaluated the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) profile of apraglutide in healthy adults.

Varicella-zoster virus proteome-wide T-cell screening demonstrates low prevalence of virus-specific CD8 T-cells in latently infected human trigeminal ganglia.

Background: Trigeminal ganglia (TG) neurons are an important site of lifelong latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection. Although VZV-specific T-cells are considered pivotal to control virus reactivation, their protective role at the site of latency remains uncharacterized.

Methods: Paired blood and TG specimens were obtained from ten latent VZV-infected adults, of which nine were co-infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1).

Whole exome sequencing of low grade serous ovarian carcinoma identifies genomic events associated with clinical outcome.

Objectives: Low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (LGSOC) is a distinct, rare, ovarian cancer type characterised by younger patient age and intrinsic chemoresistance. Understanding the molecular landscape is crucial for optimising targeted therapy.

Methods: Genomic data from whole exome sequencing of tumour tissue was analysed in a LGSOC cohort with detailed clinical annotation.

Distinct histopathological features are associated with molecular subtypes and outcome in low grade serous ovarian carcinoma.

Low grade serous ovarian carcinoma (LGSOC) demonstrates unique clinical and molecular features compared to other ovarian cancer types. The relationship between common histological features of LGSOC and molecular events, such as hormone receptor expression patterns and MAPK gene mutation status, remains poorly understood. Recent data suggest some of these molecular features may be biomarkers of response to recently introduced biologically-targeted therapies, namely endocrine therapy and MEK inhibitors.

Regional management of worsening heart failure: rationale and design of the CHAIN-HF registry.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) is a progressive disease in which periods of clinical stability are interrupted by episodes of clinical deterioration known as worsening heart failure (WHF). Patients who develop WHF are at high risk of subsequent death, rehospitalization, and excessive healthcare costs. As such, WHF could be seen as a separate disease stage and precursor of advanced HF.

DNA methylation testing for endometrial cancer detection in urine, cervicovaginal self-samples and cervical scrapes.

Endometrial cancer incidence is rising and current diagnostics often require invasive biopsy procedures. DNA methylation marker analysis of minimally- and non-invasive sample types could provide an easy-to-apply and patient-friendly alternative to determine cancer risk. Here, we compared the performance of DNA methylation markers to detect endometrial cancer in urine, cervicovaginal self-samples and clinician-taken cervical scrapes.

Heart failure treatment in patients with and without obesity with an ejection fraction below 50.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess heart failure (HF) treatment in patients with and without obesity in a large contemporary real-world Western European cohort.

Methods: Patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50% and available information on body mass index (BMI) were selected from the CHECK-HF registry. The CHECK-HF registry included chronic HF patients in the period between 2013 and 2016 in 34 Dutch outpatient clinics.