An international core outcome set for primary progressive aphasia (COS-PPA): Consensus-based recommendations for communication interventions across research and clinical settings.

Introduction: Interventions to treat speech-language difficulties in primary progressive aphasia (PPA) often use word accuracy as a highly comparable outcome. However, there are more constructs of importance to people with PPA that have received less attention.

Methods: Following Core Outcome Set Standards for Development Recommendations (COSSTAD), this study comprised: Stage 1 - systematic review to identify measures; Stage 2 - consensus groups to identify important outcome constructs for people with PPA (n = 82) and care partners (n = 91); Stage 3 - e-Delphi consensus with 57 researchers.

Symptom-based staging for logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia.

Background And Purpose: Logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia (lvPPA) is a major variant presentation of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that signals the importance of communication dysfunction across AD phenotypes. A clinical staging system is lacking for the evolution of AD-associated communication difficulties that could guide diagnosis and care planning. Our aim was to create a symptom-based staging scheme for lvPPA, identifying functional milestones relevant to the broader AD spectrum.

Cone Beam Computed Tomography-Assisted Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in a Hybrid Operating Room: Optimization of Patient Selection.

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) enables intraoperative cross-sectional and three-dimensional imaging of the urinary tract. CBCT in a hybrid operating room can be used for intraoperative detection of residual stones and potential additional stone extraction at the end of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). This study describes our initial experience with intraoperative CBCT during PCNL and analyzes its role in potentially improving its outcomes.

The significance of clinically insignificant residual fragments after percutaneous nephrolithotomy: an analysis into the relevance of complete stone clearance.

Purpose: After treatment for kidney stones, residual fragments with a diameter of ≤ 4 mm are traditionally referred to as 'clinically insignificant residual fragments'. We hypothesize that patients with these fragments are at an increased risk for stone-related morbidity, such as complaints, hydronephrosis, and stone regrowth, when compared to stone-free patients. This study aimed to investigate the relevance of complete stone clearance in surgical treatment of urolithiasis.

Symptom-led staging for semantic and non-fluent/agrammatic variants of primary progressive aphasia.

Introduction: Here we set out to create a symptom-led staging system for the canonical semantic and non-fluent/agrammatic variants of primary progressive aphasia (PPA), which present unique diagnostic and management challenges not well captured by functional scales developed for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Methods: An international PPA caregiver cohort was surveyed on symptom development under six provisional clinical stages and feedback was analyzed using a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design.

Results: Both PPA syndromes were characterized by initial communication dysfunction and non-verbal behavioral changes, with increasing syndromic convergence and functional dependency at later stages.

Symptom-led staging for primary progressive aphasia.

The primary progressive aphasias (PPA) present complex and diverse challenges of diagnosis, management and prognosis. A clinically-informed, syndromic staging system for PPA would take a substantial step toward meeting these challenges. This study addressed this need using detailed, multi-domain mixed-methods symptom surveys of people with lived experience in a large international PPA cohort.

Cone beam computed tomography for detecting residual stones in percutaneous nephrolithotomy, a randomized controlled trial (CAPTURE) protocol.

Introduction: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the standard surgical treatment method for large kidney stones. Its aim is to achieve a stone-free status, since any residual fragments (RFs) after PCNL are likely to cause additional morbidity or stone growth. Enhancing intraoperative detectability of RFs could lead to increased stone-free rates and decreased re-intervention rates.

Intraoperative cone beam computed tomography for detecting residual stones in percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a feasibility study.

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides multiplanar cross-sectional imaging and three-dimensional reconstructions and can be used intraoperatively in a hybrid operating room. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of using a CBCT-scanner for detecting residual stones during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Intraoperative CBCT-scans were made during PCNL procedures from November 2018 until March 2019 in a university hospital.

Safety, immunogenicity and lot-to-lot consistency of a new Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV) in healthy Infants: Results of a Phase III, observer blind, randomized, controlled clinical study.

Background: Poliomyelitis infection continues to be endemic in few countries despite rigorous efforts for eradication. A new Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (BBio bOPV) was tested in a Phase III Clinical study.

Methods: An observer blind, randomized, controlled clinical study was conducted comparing BBio bOPV with a licensed bOPV (SII bOPV).

Clinical outcomes of Ghanaian Buruli ulcer patients who defaulted from antimicrobial therapy.

Objectives: Buruli ulcer (BU) is a tropical skin disease caused by infection with Mycobacterium ulcerans, which is currently treated with 8 weeks of streptomycin and rifampicin. The evidence to treat BU for a duration of 8 weeks is limited; a recent retrospective study from Australia suggested that a shorter course of antimicrobial therapy might be equally effective. We studied the outcomes of BU in a cohort of Ghanaian patients who defaulted from treatment and as such received less than 8 weeks of antimicrobial therapy.

Registration of CT to 3D ultrasound using near-field fiducial localization: A feasibility study.

Objective: Registration of ultrasound to computed tomography (CT) images is used in several image-guided procedures, including laparoscopic surgery and radiation therapy. Conventional approaches use an external tracker calibrated to the ultrasound transducer and CT system, but several calibration steps are required. Registration can also be performed by aligning image features between modalities, but differences in feature depiction make matching difficult and initial approximate alignment is often needed.

Quality control of routine, experimental and real-time aged diphtheria toxoids by in vitro analytical techniques.

Physicochemical and immunochemical techniques can be used to assess the quality of diphtheria toxoid vaccines. In a previous paper [Metz B, Jiskoot W, Hennink WE, Crommelin DJA, Kersten GFA. Physicochemical and immunochemical techniques predict the quality of diphtheria toxoid vaccines.

Intracranial penetration of a halo pin causing an epileptic seizure.

A 71-year-old man with ankylosing spondylitis and an unstable fracture of the 6th and 7th cervical vertebrae was managed with a halo vest. Eight weeks following application the halo had shifted because of a loose pin. The patient's only complaint at the time was a headache but this was followed two days later by a seizure.

Measures of cardiovascular autonomic nervous function: agreement, reproducibility, and reference values in middle age and elderly subjects.

Aims/hypothesis: Currently, three categories of cardiovascular autonomic nervous function measures are used: classic Ewing-test measures, measures of heart-rate variability (HRV), and measures of baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). Little is known about the agreement between these measures, and reference and reproducibility values for these measures have not been reported within the same group.

Methods: As part of the Hoorn Study, 631 subjects aged 50 to 75 participated in a study of autonomic nervous function.

Thoracic sympathectomy: effects on hemodynamics and baroreflex control.

Unlabelled: Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy at T2-T4 is an effective and safe treatment for primary axillary and palmar hyperhidrosis and facial blushing refractory to conventional treatment. T2 and T4 ganglia however are in the direct pathway of sympathetic innervation of the heart and part of the vasomotor nerves. In this study we investigate possible changes in steady-state hemodynamics as well as in beat-to-beat cardiovascular control after thoracoscopic sympathectomy of T2-T4.

Functional importance of calcium binding sites in outer membrane phospholipase A.

Outer membrane phospholipase A (OMPLA) is an integral membrane enzyme that hydrolyses phospholipids requiring Ca(2+) as cofactor. In vitro studies have shown that OMPLA is only active as a dimer. The structures of monomeric and dimeric OMPLA provided possible clues to the activation process.

Activation of a covalent outer membrane phospholipase A dimer.

The activity of outer membrane phospholipase A (OMPLA) is regulated by reversible dimerization. However, native OMPLA reconstituted in phospholipid vesicles was found to be present as a dimer but nevertheless inactive. To investigate the importance of dimerization for control of OMPLA activity, a covalent OMPLA dimer was constructed and its properties were compared to native OMPLA both in a micellar detergent and after reconstitution in a phospholipid bilayer.

Substrate interferes with dimerisation of outer membrane phospholipase A.

Outer membrane phospholipase A (OMPLA) activity is regulated by reversible dimerisation with the dimer being the active species. Observed lag phases in activity indicated that dimerisation may be slow relative to turnover. A covalent OMPLA dimer indeed did not display lag phase behaviour.

Structural investigations of the active-site mutant Asn156Ala of outer membrane phospholipase A: function of the Asn-His interaction in the catalytic triad.

Outer membrane phospholipase A (OMPLA) from Escherichia coli is an integral-membrane enzyme with a unique His-Ser-Asn catalytic triad. In serine proteases and serine esterases usually an Asp occurs in the catalytic triad; its role has been the subject of much debate. Here the role of the uncharged asparagine in the active site of OMPLA is investigated by structural characterization of the Asn156Ala mutant.

Structural investigations of calcium binding and its role in activity and activation of outer membrane phospholipase A from Escherichia coli.

Outer membrane phospholipase A (OMPLA) is an integral membrane enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of phospholipids. Enzymatic activity is regulated by reversible dimerisation and calcium-binding. We have investigated the role of calcium by X-ray crystallography.

A baroreflex model of short term blood pressure and heart rate variability.

Parameters based on heart rate variability alone or on both heart rate and blood pressure variability (baroreflex sensitivity) are becoming increasingly clinical relevant. Nevertheless a complete insight in physiological mechanisms underlying these parameters is still lacking. A computer model may help to fill up some of the gaps.

Unusual catalytic triad of Escherichia coli outer membrane phospholipase A.

Escherichia coli outer membrane phospholipase A (OMPLA) is an integral membrane enzyme. OMPLA is active as a homodimer and requires calcium as a cofactor. The crystal structures of the monomeric and the inhibited dimeric enzymes were recently determined [Snijder, H.