Differences in mental health status during the COVID-19 pandemic between patients undergoing in-center hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

Background: The mental health of dialysis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic may have been modulated by dialysis modality. Studies comparing mental health of in-center hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients during the first 2 years of the pandemic are lacking.

Methods: We conducted repeated cross-sectional and multivariable regression analyses to compare the mental health of in-center hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients from March 2019 until August 2021 using data from the Dutch nOcturnal and hoME dialysis Study To Improve Clinical Outcomes.

Zfp580 inactivation as a new therapeutic target to enhance recovery after stroke in mice.

Paracrine cerebral Interleukin 6 (Il6) is relevant for stroke recovery, but systemic Il6 elevation may worsen outcome. Hence, paracrine Il6 response modulation within the neurovascular unit has emerged as an attractive therapeutic approach. Lithium modulates Il6 responses and improves stroke outcome.

Zfp580 Regulates Paracrine and Endocrine Igf1 and Igfbp3 Differently in the Brain and Blood After a Murine Stroke.

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (Igf1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (Igfbp3) are endocrine and paracrine factors that influence stroke occurrence, severity, and recovery. Low levels of endocrine Igf1 and Igfbp3 were associated with larger infarct volumes and unfavorable outcomes. Paracrine Igf1 is brain cytoprotective and improves functional recovery after stroke.

Paracrine Interleukin 6 Induces Cerebral Remodeling at Early Stages After Unilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion in Mice.

Aims: Carotid artery disease is frequent and can result in chronic modest hypoperfusion of the brain. If no transient ischemic attack or stroke occur, it is classified asymptomatic. In the long-term, though, it can lead to cognitive impairment.

SorCS2 facilitates release of endostatin from astrocytes and controls post-stroke angiogenesis.

SorCS2 is an intracellular sorting receptor of the VPS10P domain receptor gene family recently implicated in oxidative stress response. Here, we interrogated the relevance of stress-related activities of SorCS2 in the brain by exploring its role in ischemic stroke in mouse models and in patients. Although primarily seen in neurons in the healthy brain, expression of SorCS2 was massively induced in astrocytes surrounding the ischemic core in mice following stroke.

Geriatric Assessment and the Relation with Mortality and Hospitalizations in Older Patients Starting Dialysis.

Background And Objectives: A geriatric assessment (GA) is a structural method for identifying frail patients. The relation of GA findings and risk of death in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is not known. The objective of the GA in OLder patients starting Dialysis Study was to assess the association of GA at dialysis initiation with early mortality and hospitalization.

Association of Initiation of Maintenance Dialysis with Functional Status and Caregiver Burden.

Background And Objectives: Little is known about the functional course after initiating dialysis in elderly patients with ESKD. The aim of this study was to assess the association of the initiation of dialysis in an elderly population with functional status and caregiver burden.

Design, Setting, Participants & Measurements: This study included participants aged ≥65 years with ESKD who were enrolled in the Geriatric Assessment in Older Patients Starting Dialysis study.

Refining humane endpoints in mouse models of disease by systematic review and machine learning-based endpoint definition.

Ideally, humane endpoints allow for early termination of experiments by minimizing an animal's discomfort, distress and pain, while ensuring that scientific objectives are reached. Yet, lack of commonly agreed methodology and heterogeneity of cut-off values published in the literature remain a challenge to the accurate determination and application of humane endpoints. With the aim to synthesize and appraise existing humane endpoint definitions for commonly used physiological parameters, we conducted a systematic review of mouse studies of acute and chronic disease models, which used body weight, temperature and/or sickness scores for endpoint definition.

Longitudinal 19F magnetic resonance imaging of brain oxygenation in a mouse model of vascular cognitive impairment using a cryogenic radiofrequency coil.

Introduction: We explored the use of a perfluoro-15-crown-5 ether nanoemulsion (PFC) for measuring tissue oxygenation using a mouse model of vascular cognitive impairment.

Methods: Seventeen C57BL/6 mice underwent stereotactic injection of PFC coupled to a fluorophore into the striatum and corpus callosum. Combined 1H/19F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to localize the PFC and R mapping to assess pO were performed.

Targeting the extradomain A of fibronectin allows identification of vascular resistance to antiangiogenic therapy in experimental glioma.

Introduction: Clinical application of antiangiogenic therapy lacks direct visualization of therapy efficacy and vascular resistance. We aimed to establish molecular imaging during treatment with sunitinib using the fibronectin extradomain A specific small immunoprotein(SIP)-F8 in glioma.

Methods: Biodistribution analysis of F8-SIP-Alexa-555 was performed in SF126-glioma bearing or control mice ( = 23 and 7, respectively).

Interaction of ARC and Daxx: A Novel Endogenous Target to Preserve Motor Function and Cell Loss after Focal Brain Ischemia in Mice.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to explore the signaling and neuroprotective effect of transactivator of transcription (TAT) protein transduction of the apoptosis repressor with CARD (ARC) in in vitro and in vivo models of cerebral ischemia in mice. In mice, transient focal cerebral ischemia reduced endogenous ARC protein in neurons in the ischemic striatum at early reperfusion time points, and in primary neuronal cultures, RNA interference resulted in greater neuronal susceptibility to oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD). TAT.

Elevated levels of plasma homocysteine, deficiencies in dietary folic acid and uracil-DNA glycosylase impair learning in a mouse model of vascular cognitive impairment.

Dietary deficiencies in folic acid result in elevated levels of plasma homocysteine, which has been associated with the development of dementia and other neurodegenerative disorders. Previously, we have shown that elevated levels of plasma homocysteine in mice deficient for a DNA repair enzyme, uracil-DNA glycosylase (UNG), result in neurodegeneration. The goal of this study was to evaluate how deficiencies in folic acid and UNG along with elevated levels of homocysteine affect vascular cognitive impairment, via chronic hypoperfursion in an animal model.

The cost effectiveness of a tailored, web-based care program to enhance postoperative recovery in gynecologic patients in comparison with usual care: protocol of a stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: The length of recovery after benign gynecological surgery and return to work frequently exceeds the period that is recommended or expected by specialists. A prolonged recovery is associated with a poorer quality of life. In addition, costs due to prolonged sick leave following gynecological surgery cause a significant financial burden on society.

Process evaluation of a multidisciplinary care program for patients undergoing gynaecological surgery.

Purpose: This study describes the process evaluation of an innovative multidisciplinary care program for patients undergoing benign gynaecologic surgery. This care program aims at improving recovery and preventing delayed return to work and consists of two steps: (1) an interactive e-health intervention for all participants, and (2) integrated clinical and occupational care management for those participants whose sick leave exceeds 10 weeks.

Methods: Eligible for this study were employed women aged between 18-65 years scheduled for a laparoscopic adnexal surgery and/or hysterectomy.

Methotrexate or expectant management in women with an ectopic pregnancy or pregnancy of unknown location and low serum hCG concentrations? A randomized comparison.

Study Question: What is the treatment success rate of systemic methotrexate (MTX) compared with expectant management in women with an ectopic pregnancy or a pregnancy of unknown location (PUL) with low and plateauing serum hCG concentrations?

Summary Answer: In women with an ectopic pregnancy or a PUL and low and plateauing serum hCG concentrations, expectant management is an alternative to medical treatment with single-dose systemic MTX.

What Is Known And What This Paper Adds: MTX is often used in asymptomatic women with an ectopic pregnancy or a PUL with low and plateauing serum hCG concentrations. These pregnancies may be self-limiting and watchful waiting is suggested as an alternative, but evidence from RCTs is lacking.

Effectiveness of a multidisciplinary care program on recovery and return to work of patients after gynaecological surgery; design of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Return to work after gynaecological surgery takes much longer than expected, irrespective of the level of invasiveness. In order to empower patients in recovery and return to work, a multidisciplinary care program consisting of an e-health intervention and integrated care management including participatory workplace intervention was developed.

Methods/design: We designed a randomized controlled trial to assess the effect of the multidisciplinary care program on full sustainable return to work in patients after gynaecological surgery, compared to usual clinical care.

The METEX study: methotrexate versus expectant management in women with ectopic pregnancy: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Patients with ectopic pregnancy (EP) and low serum hCG concentrations and women with a pregnancy of unknown location (PUL) and plateauing serum hCG levels are commonly treated with systemic methotrexate (MTX). However, there is no evidence that treatment in these particular subgroups of women is necessary as many of these early EPs may resolve spontaneously. The aim of this study is whether expectant management in women with EP or PUL and with low but plateauing serum hCG concentrations is an alternative to MTX treatment in terms of treatment success, future pregnancy, health related quality of life and costs.

Continuous monitoring of cerebrospinal fluid oxygen tension in relation to motor evoked potentials during spinal cord ischemia in pigs.

Background: Perioperative assessment of spinal cord oxygenation might guide measures to prevent neurologic deficits secondary to ischemic or traumatic damage of the spinal cord. Although cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) partial pressure of oxygen (Po2) measurement has been used to detect spinal cord ischemia (SCI), the diagnostic value and the temporal resolution of CSF Po2 measurement compared with functional assessment of the spinal cord is unknown. This study compared CSF Po2 with transcranial motor evoked potentials (tcMEPs) for detection of experimental SCI.

The role of transcranial motor evoked potentials in predicting neurologic and histopathologic outcome after experimental spinal cord ischemia.

Background: Monitoring of myogenic motor evoked potentials to transcranial stimulation (tcMEPs) is clinically used to assess motor pathway function during aortic and spinal procedures that carry a risk of spinal cord ischemia (SCI). Although tcMEPs presumably detect SCI before irreversible neuronal deficit occurs, and prolonged reduction of tcMEP signals is thought to be associated with impending spinal cord damage, experimental evidence to support this concept has not been provided. In this study, histopathologic and neurologic outcome was examined in a porcine model of SCI after different durations of intraoperative loss of tcMEP signals.

Deficiency in DNA polymerase beta provokes replication-dependent apoptosis via DNA breakage, Bcl-2 decline and caspase-3/9 activation.

Cells deficient in DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) are impaired in base excision repair (BER) and hypersensitive to various DNA damaging agents, including methylating mutagens. Hypersensitivity of beta-pol-deficient cells to methylating agents is because of induction of apoptosis (Ochs et al., Cancer Res.

Delayed detection of motor pathway dysfunction after selective reduction of thoracic spinal cord blood flow in pigs.

Objective: Clinical monitoring of myogenic motor evoked potentials to transcranial stimulation provides rapid evaluation of motor-pathway function during surgical procedures in which spinal cord ischemia can occur. However, a severe reduction of spinal cord blood flow that remains confined to the thoracic spinal cord might render ischemic only the descending axons of the corticospinal pathway. In this situation lower-limb motor evoked potentials could respond relatively late compared with a similar spinal cord blood flow reduction of the lumbar spinal cord that renders predominantly motoneurons ischemic.

Induction of DNA breaks and apoptosis in crosslink-hypersensitive V79 cells by the cytostatic drug beta-D-glucosyl-ifosfamide mustard.

To study molecular aspects of cytotoxicity of the anticancer drug beta-D-glucose-ifosfamide mustard we investigated the potential of the agent to induce apoptosis and DNA breakage. Since beta-D-glucose-ifosfamide mustard generates DNA interstrand crosslinks, we used as an in vitro model system a pair of isogenic Chinese hamster V79 cells differing in their sensitivity to crosslinking agents. CL-V5B cells are dramatically more sensitive (30-fold based on D(10) values) to the cytotoxic effects of beta-D-glucose-ifosfamide mustard as compared to parental V79B cells.