The intention to make preconception lifestyle changes in men: Associated socio-demographic and psychosocial factors.

Objective: To determine which socio-demographic and psychosocial factors are associated with the intention for preconception healthily behavioral changes in the general population of reproductive-aged men.

Design: A cross-sectional, multicenter study.

Setting: Four secondary schools, 4 Public Centers for Social Welfare, 7 Community Health Centers, and online.

Barriers and facilitators to the provision of preconception care by healthcare providers: A systematic review.

Background: Healthcare providers play an important role in providing preconception care to women and men of childbearing age. Yet, the provision of preconception care by healthcare providers remains low.

Objectives: To provide an overview of barriers and facilitators at multiple levels that influence the provision of preconception care by healthcare providers.

Psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy in women with pregnancies ending in birth.

Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy in women with pregnancies ending in birth.

Methods: A two-phase psychometric evaluation design was set-up. Phase I comprised the translation from English into Dutch and pretesting with 6 women using cognitive interviews.

Preconception lifestyle changes in women with planned pregnancies.

Objectives: (1) to study preconception lifestyle changes and associated factors in women with planned pregnancies; (2) to assess the prevalence of risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes in women not reporting any preconception lifestyle changes; and (3) to explore the need for and use of preconception-related advice.

Design: secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional study about pregnancy planning.

Setting: six Flemish Hospitals (Belgium).

Blood protein biomarkers as diagnostic tool for ischemic stroke: a systematic review.

Aim: This systematic review provides a summary of the blood protein biomarkers that have been studied for the diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke.

Materials & Methods: An extensive MEDLINE (using PubMed) and Web of Knowledge search was performed. From the 354 articles found, 42 were eligible for further analysis and 25 protein biomarkers were examined.

Advanced midwifery practice: An evolutionary concept analysis.

Aim: the concept of 'advanced midwifery practice' is explored to a limited extent in the international literature. However, a clear conception of advanced midwifery practice is vital to advance the discipline and to achieve both internal and external legitimacy. This concept analysis aims to clarify advanced midwifery practice and identify its components.

Preconception-related needs of reproductive-aged women.

Objective: to assess women׳s interest in preconception care, their organisational preferences, and their preconception-related information and support needs.

Design: cross-sectional study design.

Setting: participants were recruited online through social media and discussion forums for issues relating to (in)fertility, pregnancy and parenting, and at the Women׳s Clinic of Ghent University Hospital.

Communication difficulties and the experience of loneliness in patients with cancer dealing with fertility issues: a qualitative study.

Purpose/objectives: To explore communication difficulties and the experience of loneliness among patients with cancer dealing with fertility issues.

Design: Qualitative study based on grounded theory principles.

Setting: One university hospital and two general hospitals in Flanders, Belgium.

Combination of therapeutic hypothermia and other neuroprotective strategies after an ischemic cerebral insult.

Abrupt deprivation of substrates to neuronal tissue triggers a number of pathological events (the "ischemic cascade") that lead to cell death. As this is a process of delayed neuronal cell death and not an instantaneous event, several pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies have been developed to attenuate or block this cascade. The most promising neuroprotectant so far is therapeutic hypothermia and its beneficial effects have inspired researchers to further improve its protective benefit by combining it with other neuroprotective agents.

Cancer patients' and professional caregivers' needs, preferences and factors associated with receiving and providing fertility-related information: a mixed-methods systematic review.

Objectives: Cancer treatment can impair fertility. The aim of this review was to investigate (1) fertility information needs, receipt and provision, (2) fertility information preferences, and (3) factors associated with receiving/providing fertility information. Cancer patients' and professional caregivers' perspectives were considered.

Porcine intestinal epithelial barrier disruption by the Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol and T-2 toxin promotes transepithelial passage of doxycycline and paromomycin.

Background: The gastrointestinal tract is the first target for the potentially harmful effects of mycotoxins after intake of mycotoxin contaminated food or feed. With deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 toxin (T-2), fumonisin B1 (FB1) and zearalenone (ZEA) being important Fusarium toxins in the northern hemisphere, this study aimed to investigate in vitro the toxic effect of these mycotoxins on intestinal porcine epithelial cells derived from the jejunum (IPEC-J2 cells). Viability of IPEC-J2 cells as well as the proportion of apoptotic and necrotic IPEC-J2 cells was determined by flow cytometry after 72 h of exposure to the toxins.

Toxicokinetic study and absolute oral bioavailability of deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin and zearalenone in broiler chickens.

Mycotoxins lead to economic losses in animal production. A way to counteract mycotoxicosis is the use of detoxifiers. The European Food Safety Authority stated that the efficacy of detoxifiers should be investigated based on toxicokinetic studies.

A modified glucomannan mycotoxin-adsorbing agent counteracts the reduced weight gain and diminishes cecal colonization of Salmonella Typhimurium in T-2 toxin exposed pigs.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of a modified glucomannan binder on the course of a Salmonella Typhimurium infection in pigs. Therefore, four pig diets were provided during 23 days: (1) free of mycotoxins, (2) containing 1g binder per kg feed, (3) containing 83 μg T-2 toxin per kg feed and (4) containing 83 μg T-2 toxin and 1g binder per kg feed. After 18 days, all pigs were inoculated with Salmonella Typhimurium and euthanized five days later.

Interaction between tylosin and bentonite clay from a pharmacokinetic perspective.

The interaction between bentonite and tylosin was investigated in broiler chickens, based on pharmacokinetic characteristics obtained in vivo. Simultaneous oral administration of bentonite and tylosin significantly lowered plasma levels of tylosin and reduced the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC(0-inf)), maximal plasma concentration (C(max)), time to maximal plasma concentration (T(max)) and relative oral bioavailability. The results prove unambiguously the binding of tylosin by bentonite.

Influence of mycotoxins and a mycotoxin adsorbing agent on the oral bioavailability of commonly used antibiotics in pigs.

It is recognized that mycotoxins can cause a variety of adverse health effects in animals, including altered gastrointestinal barrier function. It is the aim of the present study to determine whether mycotoxin-contaminated diets can alter the oral bioavailability of the antibiotics doxycycline and paromomycin in pigs, and whether a mycotoxin adsorbing agent included into diets interacts with those antibiotics. Experiments were conducted with pigs utilizing diets that contained blank feed, mycotoxin-contaminated feed (T-2 toxin or deoxynivalenol), mycotoxin-contaminated feed supplemented with a glucomannan mycotoxin binder, or blank feed supplemented with mycotoxin binder.

The association between malnutrition and oral health status in elderly in long-term care facilities: a systematic review.

Objectives: Malnutrition is a common problem in the elderly. It is not clear if oral health is associated to malnutrition in this population. The aim of this systematic review is to determine whether an association exists between oral health and malnutrition in the elderly in a long-term care facility.

T-2 toxin induced Salmonella Typhimurium intoxication results in decreased Salmonella numbers in the cecum contents of pigs, despite marked effects on Salmonella-host cell interactions.

The mycotoxin T-2 toxin and Salmonella Typhimurium infections pose a significant threat to human and animal health. Interactions between both agents may result in a different outcome of the infection. Therefore, the aim of the presented study was to investigate the effects of low and relevant concentrations of T-2 toxin on the course of a Salmonella Typhimurium infection in pigs.

The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol potentiates intestinal inflammation by Salmonella typhimurium in porcine ileal loops.

Background And Aims: Both deoxynivalenol (DON) and nontyphoidal salmonellosis are emerging threats with possible hazardous effects on both human and animal health. The objective of this study was to examine whether DON at low but relevant concentrations interacts with the intestinal inflammation induced by Salmonella Typhimurium.

Methodology: By using a porcine intestinal ileal loop model, we investigated whether intake of low concentrations of DON interacts with the early intestinal inflammatory response induced by Salmonella Typhimurium.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 penetrates the basement membrane in human nasal respiratory mucosa.

Background: Herpes simplex virus infections are highly prevalent in humans. However, the current therapeutics suffer important drawbacks such as limited results in neonates, increasing occurrence of resistance and impeded treatment of stromal infections. Remarkably, interactions of herpesviruses with human mucosa, the locus of infection, remain poorly understood and the underlying mechanisms in stromal infection remain controversial.