Publications by authors named "L M Verhagen"

Background: Tuberculosis vaccine trials using disease as the primary endpoint are large, time consuming, and expensive. An earlier immunological measure of the protection against disease would accelerate tuberculosis vaccine development. We aimed to assess whether the effectiveness of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine for prevention of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection was consistent with that for prevention of tuberculosis disease.

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Transcranial ultrasonic stimulation (TUS) is rapidly gaining traction for non-invasive human neuromodulation, with a pressing need to establish protocols that maximise neuromodulatory efficacy. In this review, we aggregate and examine empirical evidence for the relationship between tunable TUS parameters and in vitro and in vivo outcomes. Based on this multiscale approach, TUS researchers can make better informed decisions about optimal parameter settings.

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This commentary explores the potential cardiovascular (CV) benefits of combining methotrexate (MTX) and Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). While European guidelines recommend MTX as first-line treatment, concerns about the CV risks associated with JAKis have emerged. This article reviews the existing literature to assess the role of concomitant MTX in reducing CV risk when used with JAKis.

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Article Synopsis
  • Transcranial ultrasonic stimulation (TUS) is a non-invasive technique showing promise for neuromodulation in humans, especially affecting motor cortical functions, although it’s been primarily tested in animals so far.
  • Recent studies indicated that the motor inhibition effects observed in humans may actually stem from peripheral auditory stimulation rather than direct neuromodulatory action of TUS.
  • The findings urge researchers to reassess prior studies that didn't control for auditory confounds and emphasize the need for rigorous experimental designs to ensure accurate interpretations in future TUS research.
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