Automatic detection of CT perfusion datasets unsuitable for analysis due to head movement of acute ischemic stroke patients.

Head movement during brain Computed Tomography Perfusion (CTP) can deteriorate perfusion analysis quality in acute ischemic stroke patients. We developed a method for automatic detection of CTP datasets with excessive head movement, based on 3D image-registration of CTP, with non-contrast CT providing transformation parameters. For parameter values exceeding predefined thresholds, the dataset was classified as 'severely moved'.

Ultrasound diagnosis of supracondylar fractures in children.

Purpose: The objective of our study was to evaluate the safety and accuracy of ultrasound (US) compared to standard radiographs in diagnosing supracondylar fractures (SCFs) of the humerus in children.

Patients And Methods: A total of 106 children (aged between 1 and 13 years) with clinically suspected SCF of the humerus were primarily examined by US followed by standard two-plane radiographs of the elbow. US was conducted with a linear scanner viewing the distal humerus from seven standardized sectional planes.

Efficacy and safety of olokizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with an inadequate response to TNF inhibitor therapy: outcomes of a randomised Phase IIb study.

Objectives: The aim of this 12-week Phase IIb study was to assess the efficacy and safety of olokizumab (OKZ), a humanised anti-IL6 monoclonal antibody, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with moderate-to-severe disease activity who had previously failed tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor therapy. The dose-exposure-response relationship for OKZ was also investigated.

Methods: Patients were randomised to one of nine treatment arms receiving placebo (PBO) or OKZ (60, 120 or 240 mg) every 4 weeks (Q4W) or every 2 weeks (Q2W), or 8 mg/kg tocilizumab (TCZ) Q4W.

Visualisation of time-varying respiratory system elastance in experimental ARDS animal models.

Background: Patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) risk lung collapse, severely altering the breath-to-breath respiratory mechanics. Model-based estimation of respiratory mechanics characterising patient-specific condition and response to treatment may be used to guide mechanical ventilation (MV). This study presents a model-based approach to monitor time-varying patient-ventilator interaction to guide positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) selection.

Air pollution exposure affects circulating white blood cell counts in healthy subjects: the role of particle composition, oxidative potential and gaseous pollutants - the RAPTES project.

Studies have linked air pollution exposure to cardiovascular health effects, but it is not clear which components drive these effects. We examined the associations between air pollution exposure and circulating white blood cell (WBC) counts in humans. To investigate independent contributions of particulate matter (PM) characteristics, we exposed 31 healthy volunteers at five locations with high contrast and reduced correlations amongst pollutant components: two traffic sites, an underground train station, a farm and an urban background site.

One-year volume stability of human facial defects filled with a β-tricalcium phosphate-hydroxyl apatite mixture (Atlantik).

Introduction: We investigated the applicability and 1-year stability of a β-tricalcium phosphate-hydroxyl apatite mixture (Atlantik) for secondary reconstruction of craniofacial defects and the application of OsiriX in evaluating bone and implant volumes.

Methods: We included 6 patients (25-59 years) with craniofacial defects. A computed tomography scan was made preoperative, directly postoperative, and at least 1 year postoperative to evaluate volume changes.

Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm requiring embolization during pregnancy.

Background: Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm has a pathognomonic ultrasound appearance. Its occurrence in pregnancy is life-threatening for both mother and fetus. We present an illustrative case and discuss management with selective uterine artery embolization during pregnancy.

Oxidative potential of particulate matter collected at sites with different source characteristics.

Background: The oxidative potential (OP) of particulate matter (PM) has been proposed as a more health relevant metric than PM mass. Different assays exist for measuring OP and little is known about how the different assays compare.

Aim: To assess the OP of PM collected at different site types and to evaluate differences between locations, size fractions and correlation with PM mass and PM composition for different measurement methods for OP.

The effect of head movement on CT perfusion summary maps: simulations with CT hybrid phantom data.

Head movement is common during CT brain perfusion (CTP) acquisition of patients with acute ischemic stroke. The effects of this movement on the accuracy of CTP analysis has not been studied previously. The purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of head movement on CTP analysis summary maps using simulated phantom data.

Model-based respiratory mechanics to titrate PEEP and monitor disease state for experimental ARDS subjects.

Modelling the respiratory mechanics of mechanically ventilated (MV) patients can provide useful information to guide MV therapy. Two model-based methods were evaluated based on data from three experimental acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced piglets and validated against values available from ventilators. A single compartment lung model with integral-based parameter identification was found to be effective in capturing fundamental respiratory mechanics during inspiration.

Head movement during CT brain perfusion acquisition of patients with suspected acute ischemic stroke.

Objective: Computed Tomography Perfusion (CTP) is a promising tool to support treatment decision for acute ischemic stroke patients. However, head movement during acquisition may limit its applicability. Information of the extent of head motion is currently lacking.

Respiratory effects of a reduction in outdoor air pollution concentrations.

Background: Air pollution has been associated with respiratory health effects. There is little direct evidence that reductions in air pollution related to abatement policies lead to actual improvement in respiratory health. We assessed whether a reduction in (traffic policy-related) air pollution concentrations was associated with changes in respiratory health.

Micro-structured calcium phosphate ceramic for donor site repair after harvesting chin bone for grafting alveolar clefts in children.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of synthetic bone graft material as a filling material at the mandibular symphysis donor site of autologous bone in children.

Materials And Methods: A blinded patient group comprised 20 patients with unilateral (UCLP) or bilateral (BCLP) cleft of lip and palate, all with an indication for alveolar cleft repair. The study took the form of a prospective randomized clinical trial.

Expiratory model-based method to monitor ARDS disease state.

Introduction: Model-based methods can be used to characterise patient-specific condition and response to mechanical ventilation (MV) during treatment for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Conventional metrics of respiratory mechanics are based on inspiration only, neglecting data from the expiration cycle. However, it is hypothesised that expiratory data can be used to determine an alternative metric, offering another means to track patient condition and guide positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) selection.

Short-term effects of PM2.5, PM10 and PM2.5-10 on daily mortality in The Netherlands.

Introduction: Information on the relationship between levels of particulate matter (PM) smaller than 2.5 μm and mortality rates in Europe is relatively sparse because of limited availability of PM2.5 measurement data.

Twin polymerization at spherical hard templates: an approach to size-adjustable carbon hollow spheres with micro- or mesoporous shells.

Kitset hollow spheres: The combination of twin polymerization with hard templates makes hollow carbon spheres (HCSs) with tailored properties easily accessible. The thickness and pore texture of the HCS shells and also the diameter of the spherical cavity can be varied. The application potential of synthesized HCS is substantiated by an excellent cycling stability of lithium-sulfur batteries.

Response-locked brain dynamics of word production.

The cortical regions involved in the different stages of speech production are relatively well-established, but their spatio-temporal dynamics remain poorly understood. In particular, the available studies have characterized neural events with respect to the onset of the stimulus triggering a verbal response. The core aspect of language production, however, is not perception but action.

Composition of PM affects acute vascular inflammatory and coagulative markers - the RAPTES project.

Background: Exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) has been associated with adverse cardiovascular effects in epidemiological studies. Current knowledge of independent effects of individual PM characteristics remains limited.

Methods: Using a semi-experimental design we investigated which PM characteristics were consistently associated with blood biomarkers believed to be predictive of the risk of cardiovascular events.

The policy relevance of wear emissions from road transport, now and in the future--an international workshop report and consensus statement.

Unlabelled: Road transport emissions are a major contributor to ambient particulate matter concentrations and have been associated with adverse health effects. Therefore, these emissions are targeted through increasingly stringent European emission standards. These policies succeed in reducing exhaust emissions, but do not address "nonexhaust" emissions from brake wear, tire wear, road wear and suspension in air of road dust.

Tissue engineering strategies for alveolar cleft reconstruction: a systematic review of the literature.

Objectives: To date, a great number of tissue engineering strategies have been suggested for alveolar cleft reconstruction; however, autologous bone grafting seems to remain the golden standard.

Materials And Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted in order to evaluate the clinical evidence pertaining to enhancement or replacement of the autologous bone graft in the alveolar cleft by means of tissue-engineered substitutes; 16 articles were selected for analysis.

Results: Tissue engineering strategies for alveolar cleft grafting included enhancing the autologous bone graft by means of platelet-rich plasma addition, the use of barrier membranes and fibrin glue, extension of the autologous graft with calcium phosphate scaffolds, and replacement of the graft using bone morphogenetic protein-2, mesenchymal stem cells, or calcium phosphate scaffolds.

Acute nasal pro-inflammatory response to air pollution depends on characteristics other than particle mass concentration or oxidative potential: the RAPTES project.

Objectives: To investigate which air pollution characteristics are associated with biomarkers for acute nasal airway inflammation in healthy subjects. We hypothesised that associations would be strongest for oxidative potential (OP) of particles.

Methods: 31 volunteers were exposed to ambient air pollution at five sites in The Netherlands: two traffic sites, an underground train station, a farm and an urban background site.