NOTCH1 fusions in pediatric T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma: A high-risk subgroup with CCL17 (TARC) levels as diagnostic biomarker.

Twenty percent of children with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) will relapse and have an extremely poor outcome. Currently, we can identify a genetically low-risk subgroup in pediatric T-LBL, yet these high-risk patients who need intensified or alternative treatment options remain undetected. Therefore, there is an urgent need to recognize these high-risk T-LBL patients through identification of molecular characteristics and biomarkers.

A case vignette study to refine the target group of an intermediate care model: the Acute Geriatric Community Hospital.

Purpose: To refine the admission criteria of the Acute Geriatric Community Hospital (AGCH) by defining its target group boundaries with (geriatric) hospital care and other bed-based intermediate care models in the Netherlands.

Methods: A qualitative study consisting of a three-phase refinement procedure with case vignettes. Physicians, medical specialists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in hospitals (n = 10) or intermediate care facilities (n = 10) in the Netherlands participated.

F-FDG-PET/CT imaging in diagnostic workup of pediatric precursor B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma.

F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging is currently not used in standard diagnostics for B-cell precursor lymphoblastic lymphoma (BCP-LBL), and it is unknown whether PET/CT imaging would lead to agreement between detection of lesions with the gold standard imaging methods. Therefore, we performed a retrospective cohort study in which we included 32 pediatric BCP-LBL patients and determined localizations by reviewing local imaging reports. There was a disagreement between protocol-based imaging and PET/CT in 59% of the patients, and the discrepancies mostly comprise of additional lesions detected with PET/CT, typically in lymph node and bone or the absence of bone marrow involvement with PET/CT.

One for All, All for One: A Mixed Methods Case Study into the Role Organisational and Personal Interests Play on Cooperation in Dutch Integrated Dementia Care Networks.

Introduction: Cooperation is key to provide integrated dementia care. However, different kinds of (personal and organisational) interests will affect collaboration in integrated dementia care (IDC) networks. Hence, it is crucial to understand how interests influence relations in IDC-networks in order to shape future policies.

Pediatric Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Malignancies: From Extramedullary to Medullary Involvement.

B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (BCP-LBL) and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) are the malignant counterparts of immature B-cells. BCP-ALL is the most common hematological malignancy in childhood, while BCP-LBL accounts for only 1% of all hematological malignancies in children. Therefore, BCP-ALL has been well studied and treatment protocols have changed over the last decades, whereas treatment for BCP-LBL has stayed roughly the same.

High Prevalence of Constitutional Mismatch Repair Deficiency in a Pediatric T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma Cohort.

This study describes the clinical characteristics of a complete Dutch T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) cohort, including second primary malignancies and comorbidities. We show that over 10% of patients in this complete T-LBL cohort have been diagnosed with a cancer predisposition syndrome (CPS), consisting almost exclusively of constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD). The clinical characteristics of sporadic T-LBL patients were compared with T-LBL patients that have been diagnosed with CMMRD.

AS03-adjuvanted H7N9 inactivated split virion vaccines induce cross-reactive and protective responses in ferrets.

Human infections with avian H7N9 subtype influenza viruses are a major public health concern and vaccines against H7N9 are urgently needed for pandemic preparedness. In early 2013, novel H7N9 influenza viruses emerged in China that caused about 1600 human cases of infection with a high associated case fatality rate. In this study, two H7N9 split virion vaccines with or without AS03 adjuvant were tested in the naive ferret model.

T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma and leukemia: different diseases from a common premalignant progenitor?

T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) and lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) represent malignancies that arise from the transformation of immature precursor T cells. Similarities in T-LBL and T-ALL have raised the question whether these entities represent 1 disease or reflect 2 different diseases. The genetic profiles of T-ALL have been thoroughly investigated over the last 2 decades, whereas fairly little is known about genetic driver mutations in T-LBL.

Pathogenesis of influenza-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a fatal complication of influenza infection. In this Review we provide an integrated model for its pathogenesis. ARDS involves damage to the epithelial-endothelial barrier, fluid leakage into the alveolar lumen, and respiratory insufficiency.

Low pathogenic avian influenza A(H7N9) virus causes high mortality in ferrets upon intratracheal challenge: a model to study intervention strategies.

Infections with low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) A(H7N9) viruses have caused more than 100 hospitalized human cases of severe influenza in China since February 2013 with a case fatality rate exceeding 25%. Most of these human infections presented with severe viral pneumonia, while limited information is available currently on the occurrence of mild and subclinical cases. In the present study, a ferret model for this virus infection in humans is presented to evaluate the pathogenesis of the infection in a mammalian host, as ferrets have been shown to mimic the pathogenesis of human infection with influenza viruses most closely.

Pandemic H1N1 vaccine requires the use of an adjuvant to protect against challenge in naïve ferrets.

In the context of an A/H1N1 influenza pandemic situation, this study demonstrates that heterologous vaccination with an AS03-adjuvanted 2008/2009 seasonal trivalent and pandemic H5N1 monovalent split vaccine conferred partial protection in influenza-naïve ferrets after challenge with the influenza pandemic H1N1 A/The Netherlands/602/09 virus. Further, unlike saline control and non-adjuvanted vaccine, it was shown that immunization of naïve ferrets with an AS03-adjuvanted pandemic H1N1 A/California/7/09 influenza split vaccine induced increased antibody response and enhanced protection against the challenge strain, including significant reduction in viral shedding in the upper respiratory tract and reduced lung pathology post-challenge. These results show the need for vaccination with the adjuvanted vaccine to fully protect against viral replication and influenza disease in unprimed ferrets.

Alterations of the pituitary-ovarian axis in dogs with a functional granulosa cell tumor.

Information on the pituitary-ovarian axis in dogs with a granulosa cell tumor (GCT) is lacking. Therefore, we investigated the plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol before and after gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) administration in seven bitches with a functional GCT (GCT-total), of which three were intact (GCT-intact) and four had remnant ovarian tissue (GCT-ROT). The results of the GnRH stimulation test were compared with those in six anestrous and six ovariectomized bitches.

Effects of allopurinol on plasma uric acid levels in normouricaemic and hyperuricaemic green iguanas (Iguana iguana).

A two-phase cross-over therapeutic study was performed with 19 green iguanas (Iguana iguana) maintained within a preferred optimum temperature range of 26 to 37 degrees C. During phase 1, they were fed a normal vegetarian diet and medicated orally with either allopurinol or a placebo control once a day for seven days. Uric acid concentrations, total protein, packed-cell volumes (pcv) and bodyweights were recorded from each lizard before and after treatment to determine the effects of allopurinol.

[Cerebellar cortical degeneration in an American Staffordshire terrier].

Most diseases affecting the cerebellum are congenital and three groups can be distinguished on pathogenetic grounds. In the first group, diseases are caused by intrauterine or neonatal viral infections, in the second group by malformations of genetic or unknown origin, and in the third group by degenerative disease, or abiotrophies. Familial late-onset cerebellar abiotrophy has been reported in the Gordon Setter the Old English Sheepdog, the Brittany Spaniel and more recently the American Staffordshire Terrier.

Transient erythropoietic protoporphyria associated with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis in a cohort of German shepherd dogs.

Over the course of one year, slight jaundice and ascites suggestive of chronic liver disease occurred in 17 German shepherd dogs from one breeding colony. Blood analyses, performed twice with a six-month interval, revealed elevated serum activities of liver enzymes in 13 dogs. In addition, four young adult German shepherd dogs that showed severe ascites, slight jaundice and increased serum liver enzyme activities were referred for further evaluation.

[Unilateral facial paralysis and keratitis sicca, signs of temporohyoid osteoarthropathy in the horse].

A 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare was presented with a history of abnormal behaviour and acute facial nerve paralysis on the left side. Clinical examination revealed a slight head tilt and a corneal ulcer of the left eye. The base of the left ear was warm and painful.