Maximum a posteriori detection of heartbeats from a chest-worn accelerometer.

. Unobtrusive long-term monitoring of cardiac parameters is important in a wide variety of clinical applications, such as the assesment of acute illness severity and unobtrusive sleep monitoring. Here we determined the accuracy and robustness of heartbeat detection by an accelerometer worn on the chest.

Smart devices to measure and monitor QT intervals.

Careful observation of the QT interval is important to monitor patients with long QT syndrome and during treatment with potentially QT-prolonging medication. It is also crucial in the development of novel drugs, in particular in case of a potential side effect of QT prolongation and in patients with increased risk of QT prolongation. The 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is the gold standard to evaluate cardiac conduction and repolarization times.

High-Grade Serous Carcinoma at Risk-Reducing Salpingo-Oophorectomy in Asymptomatic Carriers of Pathogenic Variants: Prevalence and Clinical Factors.

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of and clinical factors associated with high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) at risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) in asymptomatic -pathogenic variant (PV) carriers.

Patients And Methods: We included -PV carriers who underwent RRSO between 1995 and 2018 from the Hereditary Breast and Ovarian cancer in the Netherlands study. All pathology reports were screened, and histopathology reviews were performed for RRSO specimens with epithelial abnormalities or where HGSC developed after normal RRSO.

Association between Genetic Variants and Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients with NSCLC Treated with First-Line Platinum-Based Therapy.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common, disabling side effect in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with platinum-based therapy. There is increasing evidence for associations between genetic variants and susceptibility to CIPN. The aim of this study was to further explore genetic risk factors for CIPN by investigating previously reported genetic associations.

The association between skeletal muscle measures and chemotherapy-induced toxicity in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced toxicities frequently occur in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. Low skeletal muscle mass (SMM) has been associated with a higher incidence of toxicities for several types of cancers and cytostatics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between skeletal muscle measures and chemotherapy-induced toxicity in a large cohort of NSCLC patients.

Association between Genetic Variants and Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity: A Genome-Wide Approach and Validation Study.

This study aims to evaluate genetic risk factors for cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity by investigating not previously studied genetic risk variants and further examining previously reported genetic associations. A genome-wide study (GWAS) was conducted in genetically estimated Europeans in a discovery cohort of cisplatin-treated adults from Toronto, Canada, followed by a candidate gene approach in a validation cohort from the Netherlands. In addition, previously reported genetic associations were further examined in both the discovery and validation cohorts.

Deploying a rapid point-of-care polymerase chain reaction test for SARS-CoV-2 in a clinical research unit to ensure healthy volunteer safety.

The entire world was severely affected by the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Early phase clinical research was no exception and clinical healthy volunteer trials were halted across the globe. To enable continuation of development of new drugs, we developed a testing strategy for nonsymptomatic trial participants in an early stage of the outbreak.

Evidence for a Novel Endometrioid Carcinogenic Sequence in the Fallopian Tube With Unique Beta-Catenin Expression.

Epithelial proliferations in the fallopian tube have been characterized by some as stem cell outgrowths (SCOUTs) and divided into type I and type II. Type II SCOUTs exhibit diffuse cellular beta-catenin nuclear staining (β-catenin), implying a CTNNB1 mutation. SCOUTs are more common in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women and are associated with ovarian cancer but have not been linked directly to malignancy.

Home closure as a weapon in the Dutch war on drugs: Does judicial review function as a safety net?

Background: A widespread sense of a failing criminal justice system and increased feelings of insecurity changed the response to crime into a culture of control, which is characterized by policies that punish and exclude. In the Netherlands, these influences can be witnessed in the war on drugs where local authorities use their administrative power to close homes involved in drug-related crime. Citizens can invoke judicial review over these administrative interferences by claiming that such closure results in an unfair balance between purposes, means and consequences.

Serous tubal intraepithelial neoplasia: the concept and its application.

In recent years it has become clear that many extra-uterine (pelvic) high-grade serous carcinomas (serous carcinomas) are preceded by a precursor lesion in the distal fallopian tube. Precursors range from small self-limited 'p53 signatures' to expansile serous tubal intraepithelial neoplasms that include both serous tubal epithelial proliferations (or lesions) of uncertain significance and serous tubal intraepithelial carcinomas. These precursors can be considered from three perspectives.

Small RNA sequencing reveals a comprehensive miRNA signature of BRCA1-associated high-grade serous ovarian cancer.

Aims: BRCA1 mutation carriers are at increased risk of developing high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), a malignancy that originates from fallopian tube epithelium. We aimed to identify differentially expressed known and novel miRNAs in BRCA1-associated HGSOC.

Methods: Small RNA sequencing was performed on eight normal tubal and five HGSOC samples of BRCA1 carriers.

Long-term follow-up of second-generation everolimus-eluting stents versus first-generation sirolimus-eluting stents in acute myocardial infarction: three-year results of the XAMI trial.

Aims: Evaluation of the long-term safety and efficacy of second-generation everolimus-eluting stents (EES) versus first-generation sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients.

Methods And Results: Six hundred and twenty-five patients were randomised (2:1) to EES or SES in the multicentre XAMI (XienceV stent vs. Cypher stent in Primary PCI for Acute Myocardial Infarction) trial.

Eutrophication threatens Caribbean seagrasses - An example from Curaçao and Bonaire.

Seagrass beds are globally declining due to human activities in coastal areas. We here aimed to identify threats from eutrophication to the valuable seagrass beds of Curaçao and Bonaire in the Caribbean, which function as nursery habitats for commercial fish species. We documented surface- and porewater nutrient concentrations, and seagrass nutrient concentrations in 6 bays varying in nutrient loads.

Seagrasses as indicators for coastal trace metal pollution: a global meta-analysis serving as a benchmark, and a Caribbean case study.

Seagrass beds are highly productive coastal ecosystems providing a large array of ecosystem services including fisheries and carbon sequestration. As seagrasses are known to be highly sensitive to anthropogenic forcing, we evaluated the use of trace metal concentrations in seagrasses as bioindicators for trace metal pollution of coastal regions at both global and local scale. We carried out a meta-analysis based on literature data to provide a global benchmark list for trace metal accumulation in seagrasses, which was lacking in literature.

Toxic effects of increased sediment nutrient and organic matter loading on the seagrass Zostera noltii.

As a result of anthropogenic disturbances and natural stressors, seagrass beds are often patchy and heterogeneous. The effects of high loads of nutrients and organic matter in patch development and expansion in heterogeneous seagrass beds have, however, poorly been studied. We experimentally assessed the in situ effects of sediment quality on seagrass (Zostera noltii) patch dynamics by studying patch (0.

The clinical impact of different coagulometers on patient outcomes.

Introduction: Long-term anticoagulation therapy using vitamin K antagonists (VKA) is used in millions of patients worldwide to reduce the risk of thrombotic or thromboembolic events. Control and monitoring of VKA therapy is improved by the regular self-measurement of international normalized ratio (INR) using a home monitoring device. This retrospective analysis of a large cohort of patients in the Netherlands seeks to determine whether the choice of INR monitor could have a clinical impact on patient outcomes.

More cells, bigger cells or simply reorganization? Alternative mechanisms leading to changed internode architecture under contrasting stress regimes.

Shading and mechanical stress (MS) modulate plant architecture by inducing different developmental pathways. Shading results in increased stem elongation, often reducing whole-plant mechanical stability, while MS inhibits elongation, with a concomitant increase in stability. Here, we examined how these organ-level responses are related to patterns and processes at the cellular level by exposing Impatiens capensis to shading and MS.

Two-year results of an open-label randomized comparison of everolimus-eluting stents and sirolimus-eluting stents.

Background: Second generation drug-eluting stents were developed to improve the safety and efficacy of first generation stents. So far, limited long term randomized data exist comparing the second generation everolimus-eluting stents (EES) with first generation sirolimus-eluting stents (SES).

Methods: A prospective, open-label, randomized, single center trial comparing EES and SES in all-comer patients.

Second-generation everolimus-eluting stents versus first-generation sirolimus-eluting stents in acute myocardial infarction. 1-year results of the randomized XAMI (XienceV Stent vs. Cypher Stent in Primary PCI for Acute Myocardial Infarction) trial.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of second-generation everolimus-eluting stents (EES) with first-generation sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Background: Drug-eluting stents (DES) in AMI are still feared for possible late and very late stent thrombosis (ST). Newer-generation DES, with more hemocompatible polymers and improved healing, may show promise regarding increased efficacy of DES with improved safety.

High risk of pregnancy-related venous thromboembolism in women with multiple thrombophilic defects.

Pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism, which probably varies according to the presence of single or multiple thrombophilic defects. This retrospective family cohort study assessed the risk of venous thromboembolism during pregnancy and puerperium, and the contribution of concomitant thrombophilic defects in families with hereditary antithrombin, protein C or protein S deficiencies. Probands were excluded.

Reduction of high fetal loss rate by anticoagulant treatment during pregnancy in antithrombin, protein C or protein S deficient women.

Hereditary thrombophilia is associated with an increased risk of fetal loss. Assuming that fetal loss is due to placental thrombosis, anticoagulant treatment might improve pregnancy outcome. In an observational family cohort study, we prospectively assessed the effects of anticoagulant drugs on fetal loss rates in women with hereditary deficiencies of antithrombin, protein C or protein S.

Genotyping hepatitis C viruses from Southeast Asia by a novel line probe assay that simultaneously detects core and 5' untranslated regions.

Hepatitis C viruses (HCVs) display a high level of sequence diversity and are currently divided into six genotypes. A line probe assay (LiPA), which targets the 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) of the HCV genome, is widely used for genotyping. However, this assay cannot distinguish many genotype 6 subtypes from genotype 1 due to high sequence similarity in the 5'UTR.

Clustering of RR intervals predicts effective electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is characterized by an irregularly irregular ("random") heart beat. However, controversy exists whether the ventricular rhythm in AF is truly random. We investigated randomness by constructing three-dimensional RR interval plots (3D plots), allowing identification of "clustering" of RR intervals.

Diagnostic performance of various QTc interval formulas in a large family with long QT syndrome type 3: Bazett's formula not so bad after all..

Background: Recently, we identified a novel mutation of SCN5A (1795insD) in a large family with LQTS3. The aim of this study was to assess whether the various proposed corrections of the QT interval to heart rate help to improve the identification of carriers of the mutant gene.

Methods: The study group consisted of 101 adult family members: 57 carriers and 44 noncarriers (mean age 44.