History of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies : Milestones in rheumatology.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV) are autoimmune inflammatory small-vessel disorders with potentially life-threatening organ manifestations. Recent disease definitions and classification criteria allow distinction between granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), and non-granulomatous microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). The discovery of ANCA-autoantibodies directed against proteolytic enzymes of neutrophil granules-has enabled earlier diagnosis of AAV and paved the way to stage-adapted treatments.

Association of Iliofemoral Calcium Score and Major Vascular Complications within the First Year after Lower Limb Endovascular Revascularization.

Background: The accumulation of calcium load in peripheral lower extremity arteries has been associated with increased severity of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and mortality. While calcium scores are commonly calculated from non-contrast computed tomography (CT) scans, patients with PAD often undergo contrast-enhanced CT scans. This study aims to explore the association between a length-adjusted calcium score (LACS) of the iliofemoral arteries, determined through pre-intervention contrast-enhanced CT, and major adverse events in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI).

Improving the quality of nursing care through standardized nursing languages: Call to action across European countries.

Background: Standardized Nursing Languages (SNLs) have enabled nursing assessments and care to be better documented and visible in electronic health records (EHRs). However, its implementation is challenging and heterogeneous across clinical settings. This study aimed to demonstrate the challenges experienced by members of a European nursing organization, ACENDIO, in implementing SNLs in documentation systems across countries and offer recommendations about its use.

Reliability Theory for Measurements with Variable Test Length, Illustrated with ERN and Pe Collected in the Flanker Task.

In psychophysiology, an interesting question is how to estimate the reliability of event-related potentials collected by means of the Eriksen Flanker Task or similar tests. A special problem presents itself if the data represent neurological reactions that are associated with some responses (in case of the Flanker Task, responding incorrectly on a trial) but not others (like when providing a correct response), inherently resulting in unequal numbers of observations per subject. The general trend in reliability research here is to use generalizability theory and Bayesian estimation.

A preliminary global investigation into potential impacts on successful captive breeding for two species of Rhyticeros hornbill.

Asian hornbills have limited ex situ breeding success, yet these species are some of the most threatened of birds, in need of managed breeding programs. To optimize breeding and increase the sustainability of such populations, it is necessary to assess and improve their husbandry and welfare. Evidence to improve reproduction can be gathered through global husbandry surveys.

Task shifting in Dutch nursing practice: A repeated cross-sectional analysis of nurses' experiences.

Aim: This study aims firstly to identify shifts in the execution of medical tasks by nurses in the past decade. Secondly, it aims to explore nurses' perspectives on task shifting: how they think task shifting affects the quality of care, the attractiveness of nursing practice and their collaboration with physicians.

Design: A quantitative repeated cross-sectional study.

Encapsulated stem cell-derived β cells exert glucose control in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Clinical studies on the treatment of type 1 diabetes with device-encapsulated pancreatic precursor cells derived from human embryonic stem cells found that insulin output was insufficient for clinical benefit. We are conducting a phase 1/2, open-label, multicenter trial aimed at optimizing cell engraftment (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03163511 ).

Riding the Omicron BA.5 Wave: Improved Humoral Response after Vaccination with Bivalent Omicron BA.4-5-Adapted mRNA SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients.

Hemodialysis patients faced an excess morbidity and mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated the effect of second-generation mRNA vaccines against Omicron BA.4 and BA.

PersonALL: a genetic scoring guide for personalized risk assessment in pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background: Recurrent genetic lesions provide basis for risk assessment in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, current prognostic classifiers rely on a limited number of predefined sets of alterations.

Methods: Disease-relevant copy number aberrations (CNAs) were screened genome-wide in 260 children with B-cell precursor ALL.

Validation of a Length-Adjusted Abdominal Arterial Calcium Score Method for Contrast-Enhanced CT Scans.

Background: The Agatston score on noncontrast computed tomography (CT) scans is the gold standard for calcium load determination. However, contrast-enhanced CT is commonly used for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVDs), such as peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Currently, there is no validated method to determine calcium load in the aorta and peripheral arteries with a contrast-enhanced CT.

Comparison of Omentum and Subcutis as Implant Sites for Device-Encapsulated Human iPSC-Derived Pancreatic Endoderm in Nude Rats.

Subcutaneous implants of device-encapsulated stem cell-derived pancreatic endoderm (PE) can establish a functional beta cell mass (FBM) with metabolic control in immune-compromised mice. In a study with human-induced pluripotent stem cell-PE, this outcome was favored by a preformed pouch which allowed lesion-free insertion of devices in a pre-vascularized site. This was not reproduced in nude rats, known to exhibit a higher innate reactivity than mice and therefore relevant as preclinical model: a dense fibrotic capsule formed around subcutis (SC) implants with virtually no FBM formation.

COVID-19 pandemic impairs medical care of vasculitis patients in Germany: Results of a national patient survey.

Objective: To analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical care and vaccination acceptance of vasculitis patients in Germany.

Methods: A web-based national survey was developed by rheumatology centers and vasculitis patient advocacy groups. The survey was distributed nationwide by mail and flyers and could be accessed via a QR-code or weblink from December 2021 to April 2022.

Renal disease in sarcoidosis patients in a German multicentric retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease potentially affecting every organ system. Renal involvement is reportedly rare, and the evidence consists of case reports and cohort studies. Systematic investigations are scarce and show a varying prevalence ranging from <1% to 30-50%.

[Nomenclature for kidney function and kidney diseases - Improving assessment and prognosis through precision and comprehensibility].

Kidney disease represents an increasing global health problem. Its mitigation requires effective communication between all stakeholders involved in assessment, diagnosis and therapy and individuals affected by kidney disease. However, as of today the nomenclature for kidney function and kidney disease is far from uniform.

A wearable patch based remote early warning score (REWS) in major abdominal cancer surgery patients.

Introduction: The shift toward remote patient monitoring methods to detect clinical deterioration requires testing of wearable devices in real-life clinical settings. This study aimed to develop a remote early warning scoring (REWS) system based on continuous measurements using a wearable device, and compare its diagnostic performance for the detection of deterioration to the diagnostic performance of the conventional modified early warning score (MEWS).

Materials And Methods: The study population of this prospective, single center trial consisted of patients who underwent major abdominal cancer surgery and were monitored using routine in-hospital spotcheck measurements of the vital parameters.

Indisulam synergizes with palbociclib to induce senescence through inhibition of CDK2 kinase activity.

Inducing senescence in cancer cells is emerging as a new therapeutic strategy. In order to find ways to enhance senescence induction by palbociclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor approved for treatment of metastatic breast cancer, we performed functional genetic screens in palbociclib-resistant cells. Using this approach, we found that loss of CDK2 results in strong senescence induction in palbociclib-treated cells.

Genetic and compound screens uncover factors modulating cancer cell response to indisulam.

Discovering biomarkers of drug response and finding powerful drug combinations can support the reuse of previously abandoned cancer drugs in the clinic. Indisulam is an abandoned drug that acts as a molecular glue, inducing degradation of splicing factor RBM39 through interaction with CRL4 Here, we performed genetic and compound screens to uncover factors mediating indisulam sensitivity and resistance. First, a dropout CRISPR screen identified SRPK1 loss as a synthetic lethal interaction with indisulam that can be exploited therapeutically by the SRPK1 inhibitor SPHINX31.

Home care for patients with dirty homes: a qualitative study of the problems experienced by nurses and possible solutions.

Background: Home-care nurses are often the first care professionals to enter a dirty home. The perceived problems and support needs of home-care nurses in these situations are largely unknown.

Objective: To examine the problems home-care nurses encounter in caring for patients living in dirty homes, and possible solutions for these problems.

Isotopic reconstruction of short to absent breastfeeding in a 19th century rural Dutch community.

Artificial feeding of young infants is considered a modern phenomenon. However, historical sources note its practice in some past European populations. This research explores factors that contributed to a short to absent period of breastfeeding in pre-modern Netherlands.

Patient participation in electronic nursing documentation: An interview study among home-care patients.

Background: Patients are increasingly expected to take an active role in their own care. Participation in nursing documentation can support patients to take this active role since it provides opportunities to express care needs and preferences. Yet, patient participation in electronic nursing documentation is not self-evident.

Bird protection treatments reduce bird-window collision risk at low-rise buildings within a Pacific coastal protected area.

Background: In North America, up to one billion birds are estimated to die annually due to collisions with glass. The transparent and reflective properties of glass present the illusion of a clear flight passage or continuous habitat. Approaches to reducing collision risk involve installing visual cues on glass that enable birds to perceive glass as a solid hazard at a sufficient distance to avoid it.