Publications by authors named "J A C van Bruggen"
Investments in agricultural intensification in sub-Saharan Africa aim to fulfill food and economic demands. However, the increased use of fertilizers and pesticides poses ecological risks to water bodies in agricultural catchments. This study focused on assessing the impact of agricultural intensification on nutrient and pesticide pollution in the L.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAutologous T-cell-based therapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, exhibit low success rates in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and correlate with a dysfunctional T-cell phenotype observed in patients. Despite various proposed mechanisms of T-cell dysfunction in CLL, the specific CLL-derived factors responsible remain unidentified. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms through which CLL cells suppress CAR T-cell activation and function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - The study explored the effectiveness of taurolidine-citrate(-heparin) lock solutions (TCHL) in preventing central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in pediatric oncology patients, with a trial conducted from 2020 to 2023.
- - A total of 462 patients using central venous access devices were split into two groups: one using TCHL and the other using heparin-only locks (HL), with follow-ups for 90 days post-insertion.
- - Results showed no significant difference in the incidence of CLABSI between the TCHL and HL groups, with slightly fewer infections in the TCHL group, but adverse events occurred more often in that group.
Article Synopsis
- Taurolidine lock solutions (TL) may prevent bloodstream infections but can interfere with blood culture results if not fully aspirated before testing.
- Various lock solutions were tested for their impact on microbial detection in blood culture vials, with taurolidine showing a significant delay in detecting microbial growth.
- The findings emphasize the necessity of removing TLs from central venous catheters prior to collecting blood cultures to avoid misleading results.
The applicability of the central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) criteria for the evaluation of bacteremia episodes in pediatric oncology patients.
Eur J Haematol
May 2024
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate the use of CLABSI criteria by the CDC in pediatric oncology patients with central venous catheters.
- A total of 84 bacteremia episodes were analyzed, with 40% classified as CLABSIs and 60% as non-CLABSIs, showing a significant disagreement (13%) among medical experts on these classifications.
- The findings suggest that modifying the MBI-LCBI criteria to include Pseudomonas aeruginosa and mucositis might enhance the accuracy of diagnosing bloodstream infections in this population.