Cryo-EM characterization of the anydromuropeptide permease AmpG central to bacterial fitness and β-lactam antibiotic resistance.

Bacteria invest significant resources into the continuous creation and tailoring of their essential protective peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall. Several soluble PG biosynthesis products in the periplasm are transported to the cytosol for recycling, leading to enhanced bacterial fitness. GlcNAc-1,6-anhydroMurNAc and peptide variants are transported by the essential major facilitator superfamily importer AmpG in Gram-negative pathogens including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

An adaptable cytokine release assay (CRA): Susceptibility to cytokine storm in COVID-19 as a model.

Translational models such as cytokine release assay (CRA) are essential to assess the susceptibility to cytokine storm or CRS in a non-interventional manner in a human laboratory setting. Such models are also helpful to unravel disease mechanisms, to study the effects of new therapeutics and vaccines thereon and to diagnose or monitor diseases. Such assay will be important in predicting, planning and preparing for hospital intensive care units that are needed during the course of a pandemic.

A web-based decision aid for shared decision making in pelvic organ prolapse: the SHADE-POP trial.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Among women worldwide, pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common problem. There are three different treatment options for POP: pelvic floor muscle therapy, pessary treatment and prolapse surgery. As none of the three treatment options is clearly superior, shared decision making (SDM) is very important.

Administration of an adeno-associated viral vector expressing interferon-β in patients with inflammatory hand arthritis, results of a phase I/II study.

Objective: Inflammatory hand arthritis (IHA) results in impaired function. Local gene therapy with ART-I02, a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 5 vector expressing interferon (IFN)-β, under the transcriptional control of nuclear factor κ-B responsive promoter, was preclinically shown to have favorable effects. This study aimed to investigate the safety and tolerability of local gene therapy with ART-I02 in patients with IHA.

Differences in treatment choices between prostate cancer patients using a decision aid and patients receiving care as usual: results from a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To determine whether or not decision aid (DA) use influences treatment decisions in patients with low and intermediate risk prostate cancer (PC).

Patients And Methods: In a cluster randomized controlled trial, patients were randomized to either DA use (DA group) or no DA use (control group). Between 2014 and 2016, newly diagnosed patients with low or intermediate risk PC were recruited in 18 hospitals in the Netherlands.

SHAred DEcision making in Pelvic Organ Prolapse (SHADE-POP); Implementation is not as easy as it seems.

Objective: Despite the positive effects of decision aids (DAs), implementation remains a significant challenge. The aim of the current study was to determine what barriers clinicians experience using a DA for pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

Methods: This study was conducted with a qualitative descriptive design including in-depth semi-structured interviews according to COREQ-criteria.

Treatment Preferences of Patients With Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Before and After Using a Web-based Decision Aid.

Objective: To evaluate treatment preferences of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH) before and after using a web-based decision aid (DA).

Patients And Methods: Between July 2016 and January 2017 patients were invited to use a web-based LUTS/BPH DA. Treatment preferences (for lifestyle advices, medication or surgery) before and after DA use and responses on values clarification exercises were extracted from the DA.

Introducing Decision Aids into Routine Prostate Cancer Care in The Netherlands: Implementation and Patient Evaluations from the Multi-regional JIPPA Initiative.

Uptake of decision aids (DAs) in daily routine is low, resulting in limited knowledge about successful DA implementation at a large scale. We assessed implementation rates after multi-regional implementation of three different prostate cancer (PCa) treatment DAs and patient-perceived barriers and facilitators to use a DA. Thirty-three hospitals implemented one out of the three DAs in routine care.

Effectiveness of a web-based treatment decision aid for men with lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a web-based decision aid (DA), with values clarification exercises compared with usual care, for men with lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH).

Patients And Methods: Between July 2016 and January 2017, all new patients with LUTS/BPH who consulted the urologist were invited to use the DA and participate in this prospective questionnaire study. Patients who consulted the urologist between December 2015 and February 2016 served as controls.

Longitudinal regret and information satisfaction after deciding on treatment for localized prostate cancer with or without a decision aid. Results at one-year follow-up in the PCPCC trial.

Objective: To investigate the effect of including an online decision aid (DA) during prostate cancer treatment counseling on decisional regret and information satisfaction in a one-year follow-up.

Methods: Within a cluster RCT, 18 Dutch hospitals were randomized to DA counseling or care-as-usual, patients (n = 382) initially completed questionnaires directly after treatment decision making. Six and twelve months later regret (Decisional Regret Scale) and information satisfaction (SCIP-B) were assessed.

Uptake and usage of an online prostate cancer treatment decision aid in Dutch clinical practice: A quantitative analysis from the Prostate Cancer Patient Centered Care trial.

Implementation of patient's decision aids in routine clinical care is generally low. This study evaluated uptake and usage of a novel Dutch web-based prostate cancer treatment decision aid within the Prostate Cancer Patient Centered Care trial. From an estimated total patient sample of 1006 patients, 351 received a decision aid (35% implementation rate; hospital ranges 16%-84%).

Impact of a web-based prostate cancer treatment decision aid on patient-reported decision process parameters: results from the Prostate Cancer Patient Centered Care trial.

Purpose: To compare patients' evaluation of the treatment decision-making process in localized prostate cancer between counseling that included an online decision aid (DA) and standard counseling.

Methods: Eighteen Dutch hospitals were randomized to DA counseling (n = 235) or the control group with standard counseling (n = 101) in a pragmatic, cluster randomized controlled trial. The DA was provided to patients at, or soon after diagnosis.

The impact of prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment decision-making on health-related quality of life before treatment onset.

Objective: The objective of this study is to test if patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) declines after prostate biopsy to detect Pca, and after subsequent treatment decision-making in case Pca is confirmed, and to test whether personality state and traits are associated with these potential changes in HRQoL.

Methods: Patients who were scheduled for prostate biopsy to detect Pca (N = 377) filled out a baseline questionnaire about HRQoL (EORTC QLQ-C30 and PR25), "big five" personality traits (BFI-10), optimism (LOT-r), and self-efficacy (Decision Self-efficacy Scale) (t0). Patients with confirmed Pca (N = 126) filled out a follow-up questionnaire on HRQoL within 2 weeks after treatment was chosen but had not yet started (t1).

A global, incremental development method for a web-based prostate cancer treatment decision aid and usability testing in a Dutch clinical setting.

Many new decision aids are developed while aspects of existing decision aids could also be useful, leading to a sub-optimal use of resources. To support treatment decision-making in prostate cancer patients, a pre-existing evidence-based Canadian decision aid was adjusted to Dutch clinical setting. After analyses of the original decision aid and routines in Dutch prostate cancer care, adjustments to the decision aid structure and content were made.

How do patients choose between active surveillance, radical prostatectomy, and radiotherapy? The effect of a preference-sensitive decision aid on treatment decision making for localized prostate cancer.

Purpose: To determine the effect of a decision aid (DA) on treatment preferences and to investigate which patient preferences are important for final treatment preferences. We also determined if the patient׳s treatment decision was influenced by the urologist׳s treatment preference.

Patients And Methods: Between August 2014 and July 2015, newly diagnosed patients with low-/intermediate-risk prostate cancer were offered to use a web-based DA after diagnosis.

The Type IVa Pilus Machinery Is Recruited to Sites of Future Cell Division.

Unlabelled: Type IVa pili (T4aP) are ubiquitous microbial appendages used for adherence, twitching motility, DNA uptake, and electron transfer. Many of these functions depend on dynamic assembly and disassembly of the pilus by a megadalton-sized, cell envelope-spanning protein complex located at the poles of rod-shaped bacteria. How the T4aP assembly complex becomes integrated into the cell envelope in the absence of dedicated peptidoglycan (PG) hydrolases is unknown.

Structure of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Type IVa Pilus Secretin at 7.4 Å.

Type IVa pili (T4aP) function as bacterial virulence factors. T4aP pass through the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria via homo-oligomeric secretins. We present a 7.

Prostate cancer survivors with a passive role preference in treatment decision-making are less satisfied with information received: Results from the PROFILES registry.

Objective: To investigate decision-making role preferences and their association with the evaluation of information received in a sample of low-risk and intermediate-risk prostate cancer (Pca) survivors.

Methods: Cross-sectional study involved 562 men diagnosed with low-risk or intermediate-risk Pca (median time since diagnosis, 48mo), measuring preferred decision-making role (Control Preference Scale) and the evaluation of information received (EORTC QLQ-INFO25). Analyses were performed using analysis of variance, chi-square tests, and multivariable linear regression models.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa: targeting cell-wall metabolism for new antibacterial discovery and development.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections and is resistant to most antibiotics. With therapeutic options against P. aeruginosa dwindling, and the lack of new antibiotics in advanced developmental stages, strategies for preserving the effectiveness of current antibiotics are urgently required.

Development of a decision aid for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: A four stage method using a Delphi consensus study.

Objective: To develop a web-based decision aid (DA) for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH).

Methods: From February-September 2014 we performed a four-stage development method: 1: Two-round Delphi consensus method among urologists, 2: Identifying patients' needs and expectations, 3: Development of DA content and structure, 4: Usability testing with LUTS/BPH patients.

Results: 1 (N=15): Dutch urologists reached consensus on 61% of the statements concerning users' criteria, decision options, structure, and medical content.

Patients are dissatisfied with information provision: perceived information provision and quality of life in prostate cancer patients.

Objective: To determine the satisfaction with information received by prostate cancer survivors and associations with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and illness perception.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed among 999 patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2009. All patients received a questionnaire on HRQoL (EORTC QLQ-C30), illness perception (B-IPQ) and satisfaction with information provision (EORTC QLQ-INFO-25).

Loss of membrane-bound lytic transglycosylases increases outer membrane permeability and β-lactam sensitivity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of nosocomial infections. Its relatively impermeable outer membrane (OM) limits antibiotic entry, and a chromosomally encoded AmpC β-lactamase inactivates β-lactam antibiotics. AmpC expression is linked to peptidoglycan (PG) recycling, and soluble (sLT) or membrane-bound (mLT) lytic transglycosylases are responsible for generating the anhydromuropeptides that induce AmpC expression.

Impact of a web-based treatment decision aid for early-stage prostate cancer on shared decision-making and health outcomes: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: At an early stage, prostate cancer patients are often eligible for more than one treatment option, or may choose to defer curative treatment. Without a pre-existing superior option, a patient has to weigh his personal preferences against the risks and benefits of each alternative to select the most appropriate treatment. Given this context, in prostate cancer treatment decision-making, it is particularly suitable to follow the principles of shared decision-making (SDM), especially with the support of specific instruments like decision aids (DAs).

Chronic alcohol consumption promotes alterations on salivary gland regeneration process.

The aim of this study is to investigate the histological effect of alcohol ingestion on the regeneration of the submandibular gland (SMG) in rats. Twelve 60-day-old male Wistar rats were randomized into two experimental groups. Test group (TG) animals ingested 40° GL of alcohol for 45 days before surgery, being its concentration gradually increased 10° GL/week for 4 weeks to achieve the final concentration of 40° GL.

Longitudinal genetic analyses of Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage dynamics in a diverse population.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus (SA) nasal colonization plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of staphylococcal infections and SA eradication from the nares has proven to be effective in reducing endogenous infections. To understand SA nasal colonization and its relation with consequent disease, assessment of nasal carriage dynamics and genotypic diversity among a diverse population is a necessity.

Results: We have performed extensive longitudinal monitoring of SA nasal carriage isolates in 109 healthy individuals over a period of up to three years.