The bio-artificial pancreas to treat type 1 diabetes: Perspectives from healthcare professionals in the Netherlands.

Aims: Healthcare professionals are relevant stakeholders because of their gatekeeper role in the clinic. This study aims to explore their perspectives on the potential future clinical implementation of the bio-artificial pancreas (BAP) for people with type 1 diabetes, and suitable target groups.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 healthcare professionals, including endocrinologists, nurses, and pancreas transplant surgeons.

Clinical Translation and Implementation of a Bioartificial Pancreas Therapy: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Perspectives of People With Type 1 Diabetes.

Background: The development of a hybrid beta-cell replacement approach, referred to as a personalized, transplantable bioartificial pancreas (BAP), holds promise to treat type 1 diabetes (T1D). This interview study aimed to explore patients' expectations, needs, concerns, and considerations when considering to undergo a BAP transplantation.

Research Design And Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 24 participants diagnosed with T1D.

South African post-apartheid context: Self-reflection of student leaders' role identity in a multicultural context.

Since South Africa's first democratic election in 1994, the student leadership profile has changed dramatically at historically white universities (HWUs). Given the postapartheid South African context where this study was conducted, and how participants navigate multiple role identities within a multicultural setting, the article elucidates student leaders' self-reflection on their role identity and draws on identity theory from the discipline of social psychology as its theoretical framework, while referencing the roles model from leadership studies.

Older patients' experiences with and attitudes towards an oncogeriatric pathway: A qualitative study.

Introduction: To tailor treatment for older patients with cancer, an oncogeriatric care pathway has been developed in the Leiden University Medical Center. In this care pathway a geriatric assessment is performed and preferences concerning cancer treatment options are discussed. This study aimed to explore patient experiences with and attitudes towards this pathway.

The Relevance of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products in the Field of Transplantation and the Need for Academic Research Access: Overcoming Bottlenecks and Claiming a New Time.

The field of transplantation has witnessed the emergence of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) as highly promising solutions to address the challenges associated with organ and tissue transplantation. ATMPs encompass gene therapy, cell therapy, and tissue-engineered products, hold immense potential for breakthroughs in overcoming the obstacles of rejection and the limited availability of donor organs. However, the development and academic research access to ATMPs face significant bottlenecks that hinder progress.

Clinical Translation of Bio-Artificial Pancreas Therapies: Ethical, Legal and Psychosocial Interdisciplinary Considerations and Key Recommendations.

The field of regenerative medicine offers potential therapies for Type 1 Diabetes, whereby metabolically active cellular components are combined with synthetic medical devices. These therapies are sometimes referred to as "bioartificial pancreases." For these emerging and rapidly developing therapies to be clinically translated to patients, researchers must overcome not just scientific hurdles, but also navigate complex legal, ethical and psychosocial issues.

Early-Phase Clinical Trials of Bio-Artificial Organ Technology: A Systematic Review of Ethical Issues.

Regenerative medicine has emerged as a novel alternative solution to organ failure which circumvents the issue of organ shortage. In preclinical research settings bio-artificial organs are being developed. It is anticipated that eventually it will be possible to launch first-in-human transplantation trials to test safety and efficacy in human recipients.

Body composition in preterm infants: a systematic review on measurement methods.

Background: There are several methods to measure body composition in preterm infants. Yet, there is no agreement on which method should be preferred.

Methods: PubMed, Embase.

Ethics of Early Clinical Trials of Bio-Artificial Organs.

Regenerative medicine is the new frontier in the field of organ transplantation. Research groups around the world are using regenerative medicine technologies to develop bio-artificial organs for transplantation into human patients. While most of this research is still at the preclinical stage, bio-artificial organ technologies are gearing up for first-in-human clinical trials in the not-too-distant future.

Organoids: a systematic review of ethical issues.

Organoids are 3D structures grown from pluripotent stem cells derived from human tissue and serve as in vitro miniature models of human organs. Organoids are expected to revolutionize biomedical research and clinical care. However, organoids are not seen as morally neutral.

A comparative study using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, air displacement plethysmography, and skinfolds to assess fat mass in preterms at term equivalent age.

The aim of this study was to compare whole body composition, generated by air displacement plethysmography (ADP) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and to evaluate the potential predictive value of the sum of skinfolds (∑SFT) for whole body composition, in preterm infants at term equivalent age. A convenience sample of sixty-five preterm infants with a mean (SD) gestational age of 29 (1.6) weeks was studied at term equivalent age.

Investigations into the killing activity of an antimicrobial peptide active against extensively antibiotic-resistant K. pneumon iae and P. aeruginosa.

SET-M33 is a multimeric antimicrobial peptide active against Gram-negative bacteria in vitro and in vivo. Insights into its killing mechanism could elucidate correlations with selectivity. SET-M33 showed concentration-dependent bactericidal activity against colistin-susceptible and resistant isolates of P.

Development of the SIOPE DIPG network, registry and imaging repository: a collaborative effort to optimize research into a rare and lethal disease.

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a rare and deadly childhood malignancy. After 40 years of mostly single-center, often non-randomized trials with variable patient inclusions, there has been no improvement in survival. It is therefore time for international collaboration in DIPG research, to provide new hope for children, parents and medical professionals fighting DIPG.

Plasmid-mediated AmpC: prevalence in community-acquired isolates in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and risk factors for carriage.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of pAmpC beta-lactamases in community-acquired Gram negative bacteria in the Netherlands, and to identify possible risk factors for carriage of these strains.

Methods: Fecal samples were obtained from community-dwelling volunteers. Participants also returned a questionnaire for analysis of risk factors.

Detection and occurrence of plasmid-mediated AmpC in highly resistant gram-negative rods.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the current screening methods and to evaluate confirmation tests for phenotypic plasmidal AmpC (pAmpC) detection.

Methods: For this evaluation we used 503 Enterobacteriaceae from 18 Dutch hospitals and 21 isolates previously confirmed to be pAmpC positive. All isolates were divided into three groups: isolates with 1) reduced susceptibility to ceftazidime and/or cefotaxime; 2) reduced susceptibility to cefoxitin; 3) reduced susceptibility to ceftazidime and/or cefotaxime combined with reduced susceptibility to cefoxitin.

Evaluation of a D-amino-acid-containing fluorescence resonance energy transfer peptide library for profiling prokaryotic proteases.

Bacterial proteases play an important role in a broad spectrum of processes, including colonization, proliferation, and virulence. In this respect, bacterial proteases are potential biomarkers for bacterial diagnosis and targets for novel therapeutic protease inhibitors. To investigate these potential functions, the authors designed and used a protease substrate fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) library comprising 115 short d- and l-amino-acid-containing fluorogenic substrates as a tool to generate proteolytic profiles for a wide range of bacteria.

Usability evaluation of a computerized physician order entry for medication ordering.

Despite CPOE (Computerized Physician Order Entry) systems' potential to enhance patient safety by reducing medication errors, recent studies have cast some doubts on their role in error reduction. CPOE systems with poorly designed interfaces have proven to cause users dissatisfaction and to introduce new kind of errors in the ordering process, suggesting a threat instead of an enhancement of patient safety. The main objective of this study is to identify usability problems related to a CPOE medication system's design and determining their severities.

The Lui elution technique. A simple and efficient method for eluting ABO antibodies.

The Lui elution and the heat elution techniques are the most simple techniques available for eluting antibodies from red cells. Both are very effective for eluting ABO antibodies. We compared the two techniques and found the Lui technique superior in that it more efficiently eluted ABO antibodies, required less hands-on time, and allowed more flexibility in the procedure.

Comprehensive Blood Bank Survey.

Approximately 2,400 laboratories participated in the 1982 Comprehensive Blood Bank Survey of the College of American Pathologists. Fourteen Referee Laboratories were utilized to validate the results of participants and to assure lack of deterioration of the specimens during shipment. Results of the participants in ABO grouping, Rh D typing, special antigen typing, and antibody detection and identification are reported and discussed.

Variant of type B blood in an El Salvador family. Expression of a variant B gene enhanced by the presence of an A2 gene.

A variant of type B blood was found in three members of a family from El Salvador. In two members, both genotype BO, the blood and saliva had the characteristics of the phenotype Be1 . In the third member, genotype A2B, the red cell B antigen was stronger than in his BO genotype relatives.

Improved utilization of blood for elective surgery.

Results of our experience have shown that SSBO and T & S are cost effective and extremely safe. We believe that the safety in using these guidelines for hemotherapy for elective surgery depends upon a sensitive and meticulously performed T & S, a mechanism by which ABO compatibility can be affirmed and an ongoing surveillance program to monitor the proper operation of these procedures.

Immunochemical studies on Tn erythrocyte glycoprotein.

Glycoproteins were extracted from membranes of erythrocytes that displayed Tn polyagglutination and were compared chemically and immunologically with glycoproteins of group O, MN cells. Tn glycoprotein had lower than normal NANA : protein and sugar : protein ratios, as revealed by direct analysis and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and displayed slower immunoelectrophoretic mobility than glycoproteins of group O, MN cells. Agglutination of Tn cells by Salvia sclarea lectin was inhibited by Tn glycoprotein but not by O, MN glycoprotein.

B cell antigens of Black Americans.

Fourty-four unrelated North American Blacks and one Black family were tested for B-cell specific antigens with 7th International Workshop antisera. DR specificities were clearly defined in this group, but were generally less frequent than reported for Black Americans in the 7th Workshop report and were most similar in frequency to those reported for African Blacks. Five new B-cell specificities (DuB40-43, 45) were identified.