Significant contribution of the portal vein to blood flow through the common bile duct.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of the hepatic artery, gastroduodenal artery, and portal vein to the microvascular blood flow in the common bile duct (CBD).

Background: Biliary complications are a common cause of graft loss after liver transplantation. The occurrence is, partly, attributed to hepatic artery thrombosis, which is considered to be the sole provider of blood flow to the bile ducts.

Impact of influent data frequency and model structure on the quality of WWTP model calibration and uncertainty.

Application of activated sludge models (ASMs) to full-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is still hampered by the problem of model calibration of these over-parameterised models. This either requires expert knowledge or global methods that explore a large parameter space. However, a better balance in structure between the submodels (ASM, hydraulic, aeration, etc.

Mycophenolic acid augments interferon-stimulated gene expression and inhibits hepatitis C Virus infection in vitro and in vivo.

Unlabelled: Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is a highly effective immunosuppressant that has broad antiviral activity against different viruses and can act in synergy with interferon-α (IFN-α) on hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication. MPA is a potent inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) inhibitor but the antiviral mechanisms are less understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibition of HCV infection by MPA and the molecular basis for its synergy with IFN-α.

Outcome of microscopic incomplete resection (R1) of colorectal liver metastases in the era of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: Data from patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy before resection were reviewed and evaluated to see whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy influences the predictive outcome of R1 resections (margin is 0 mm) in patients with CRLM.

Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2008, all consecutive patients undergoing liver resection for CRLM were analyzed. Patients were divided into those who did and did not receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Hepatocyte-derived microRNAs as serum biomarkers of hepatic injury and rejection after liver transplantation.

Recent animal and human studies have highlighted the potential of hepatocyte-derived microRNAs (HDmiRs) in serum as early, stable, sensitive, and specific biomarkers of liver injury. Their usefulness in human liver transplantation, however, has not been addressed. The aim of this study was to investigate serum HDmiRs as markers of hepatic injury and rejection in liver transplantation.

End-to-end versus end-to-side esophagogastrostomy after esophageal cancer resection: a prospective randomized study.

Objective: To compare single-layered hand-sewn cervical end-to-side (ETS) anastomosis with end-to-end (ETE) anastomosis in a prospective randomized fashion.

Background: The preferred organ used for reconstruction after esophagectomy for cancer is the stomach. Previous studies attempted to define the optimal site of anastomosis and anastomotic techniques.

Is the clinical risk score for patients with colorectal liver metastases still useable in the era of effective neoadjuvant chemotherapy?

Background: Several clinical risk scores (CRSs) for the outcome of patients with colorectal liver metastases have been validated, but not in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Therefore, this study evaluates the predictive value of these CRSs in this specific group.

Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2008, all patients undergoing a metastasectomy were analyzed and divided into two groups: 193 patients did not receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (group A), and 159 patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (group B).

Improvement of H5N1 influenza vaccine viruses: influence of internal gene segments of avian and human origin on production and hemagglutinin content.

The H5N1-clade 1 influenza vaccine strain NIBRG-14 produces exceptionally low amounts of antigen, a problem recently encountered also for initial pandemic H1N1-2009 vaccine seeds. Here, we report on a strategy that may contribute to overcome this obstacle. Influenza vaccine viruses usually consist of two segments coding for the antigenic HA and NA proteins of a wild-type strain and the six residual internal gene segments of the vaccine donor strain A/PR/8/34 (PR8).

Mobilization of hepatic mesenchymal stem cells from human liver grafts.

Extensive studies have demonstrated the potential applications of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) as regenerative or immunosuppressive treatments in the setting of organ transplantation. The aims of the present study were to explore the presence and mobilization of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in adult human liver grafts and to compare their functional capacities to those of BM-MSCs. The culturing of liver graft preservation fluids (perfusates) or end-stage liver disease tissues resulted in the expansion of MSCs.

The importance of portal venous blood flow in ischemic-type biliary lesions after liver transplantation.

Ischemic-type biliary lesions (ITBL) are the most frequent cause of nonanastomotic biliary strictures after liver transplantation. This complication develops in up to 25% of patients, with a 50% retransplantation rate in affected patients. Traditionally, ischemia-reperfusion injury to the biliary system is considered to be the major risk factor for ITBL.

Job resources and matching active coping styles as moderators of the longitudinal relation between job demands and job strain.

Background: Only in a few longitudinal studies it has been examined whether job resources should be matched to job demands to show stress-buffering effects of job resources (matching hypothesis), while there are no empirical studies in which the moderating effect of matching personal characteristics on the stress-buffering effect of job resources has been examined.

Purpose: In this study, both the matching hypothesis and the moderating effect of matching active coping styles were examined with respect to the longitudinal relation between job demands, job resources, and job strain.

Method: The study group consisted of 317 beginning teachers from Belgium.

Outcome of esophagectomy for cancer in elderly patients.

Background: This study analyzes the outcome of esophageal resection in patients 70 or more years of age, compared with patients aged less than 70 years and identifies risk factors for worse outcome in the elderly.

Methods: Comorbidity, postoperative morbidity, in-hospital mortality and survival rates were compared between 811 patients aged less than 70 years and 250 patients aged 70 years or more who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in a single high-volume center from 1985 to 2005.

Results: Groups were similar regarding surgical approach, resectability, and tumor stage.

Design of the DIRECT-project: interventions to increase job resources and recovery opportunities to improve job-related health, well-being, and performance outcomes in nursing homes.

Background: Because of high demands at work, nurses are at high risk for occupational burnout and physical complaints. The presence of job resources (such as job autonomy or social support) and recovery opportunities could counteract the adverse effect of high job demands. However, it is still unclear how job resources and recovery opportunities can be translated into effective workplace interventions aiming to improve employee health, well-being, and performance-related outcomes.

Effect of acute and chronic job demands on effective individual teamwork behaviour in medical emergencies.

Aim: This paper is a report of a study conducted to determine the combined effect of acute and chronic job demands on acute job strains experienced during medical emergencies, and its consequences for individual teamwork behaviour.

Background: Medical emergency personnel have to cope with high job demands, which may cause considerable work stress (i.e.

Prospective risk analysis prior to retrospective incident reporting and analysis as a means to enhance incident reporting behaviour: a quasi-experimental field study.

Hospitals can apply prospective and retrospective methods to reduce the large number of medical errors. Retrospective methods are used to identify errors after they occur and to facilitate learning. Prospective methods aim to determine, assess and minimise risks before incidents happen.

A longitudinal test of the demand-control model using specific job demands and specific job control.

Background: Supportive studies of the demand-control (DC) model were more likely to measure specific demands combined with a corresponding aspect of control.

Purpose: A longitudinal test of Karasek's (Adm Sci Q. 24:285-308, 1) job strain hypothesis including specific measures of job demands and job control, and both self-report and objectively recorded well-being.

Defining near misses: towards a sharpened definition based on empirical data about error handling processes.

Medical errors in health care still occur frequently. Unfortunately, errors cannot be completely prevented and 100% safety can never be achieved. Therefore, in addition to error reduction strategies, health care organisations could also implement strategies that promote timely error detection and correction.

The effects of intravenous nitroglycerine and norepinephrine on gastric microvascular perfusion in an experimental model of gastric tube reconstruction.

Background: Esophagectomy with gastric tube reconstruction is the surgical treatment for cancer of the esophagus. Perfusion of the anastomotic site of the tube depends exclusively on microcirculation, making it susceptible to hypoperfusion. It is unknown whether vasodilatation is superior to increased perfusion pressure to improve gastric tissue perfusion of the anastomosis.

Consumer confidence in the safety of food and newspaper coverage of food safety issues: a longitudinal perspective.

This study develops a longitudinal perspective on consumer confidence in the safety of food to explore if, how, and why consumer confidence changes over time. In the first study, a theory-based monitoring instrument for consumer confidence in the safety of food was developed and validated. The monitoring instrument assesses consumer confidence together with its determinants.

The effect of perfusion pressure on gastric tissue blood flow in an experimental gastric tube model.

Background: Anastomotic leakage and stricture formation remain an important surgical challenge after esophagectomy with gastric tube reconstruction for cancer of the esophagus. The perfusion of the anastomotic site at the proximal site of the gastric tube depends exclusively on the microcirculation, making it susceptible to hypoperfusion. We hypothesized that increasing the perfusion pressure would improve blood flow at the anastomotic site of the gastric tube.

Integration of prospective and retrospective methods for risk analysis in hospitals.

Objective: To explore how hospital management could gain a better picture of risks to support them in setting priorities for patient safety.

Methods: and

Setting: This study deals with the combined application of prospective and retrospective methods for risk analysis on two units of a Dutch general hospital. In the prospective analyses, employees identified and assessed possible risks in selected processes.

Gene expression changes in the mesenteric lymph nodes of rats after oral peanut extract exposure.

New techniques are needed to broaden the understanding of the food allergic response. The capacity of peanut extract to influence gene expression profiles was investigated in a Brown Norway rat model for food allergy. Brown Norway rats were sensitized to peanut extract (0, 1 and 10 mg/rat/d) by daily oral gavage and were dissected after 3, 7 or 14 days of exposure.

Unique early gene expression patterns in human adult-to-adult living donor liver grafts compared to deceased donor grafts.

Because of inherent differences between deceased donor (DD) and living donor (LD) liver grafts, we hypothesize that the molecular signatures will be unique, correlating with specific biologic pathways and clinical patterns. Microarray profiles of 63 biopsies in 13 DD and 8 LD liver grafts done at serial time points (procurement, backbench and postreperfusion)were compared between groups using class comparisons, network and biological function analyses. Specific genes were validated by quantitative PCR and immunopathology.

Application of item response theory to achieve cross-cultural comparability of occupational stress measurement.

Our objective was to examine cross-cultural comparability of standard scales of the Effort-Reward Imbalance occupational stress scales by item response theory (IRT) analyses. Data were from 20,256 Japanese employees, 1464 Dutch nurses and nurses' aides, 2128 representative employees from post-communist countries, 963 Swedish representative employees, 421 Chinese female employees, 10,175 employees of the French national gas and electric company and 734 Spanish railroad employees, sanitary personnel and telephone operators. The IRT likelihood ratio model was used for differential item functioning (DIF) and differential test functioning (DTF) analyses.

Convergence of self-reports and coworker reports of counterproductive work behavior: a cross-sectional multi-source survey among health care workers.

Background: Most studies of counterproductive work behavior (CWB) are criticized for overreliance on single-source self-reports. This study attempts to triangulate on behaviors and perceptions of the work environment by linking job incumbent self-report with coworker report of the job incumbent's behaviors. Theoretical framework is the Demand-Induced Strain Compensation (DISC) Model, which proposes in general that specific job resources should match specific job demands to reduce deviant behavioral outcomes such as CWB.