Genome Sequencing of Historical Encephalomyocarditis Viruses from South Africa Links the Historical 1993/4 Savanna Elephant () Outbreak to Cryptic Rodents.

From 1993 to 1994, 64 free-ranging elephants () succumbed to encephalomyocarditis in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, of which 83% were adult bulls. rodents were implicated as the reservoir host of the (EMCV) based on serology and RT-PCR. However, in the absence of sequence-confirmation of both the virus and the rodent host, definitive links between the elephant outbreak strains and rodent reservoir could not be established.

Photoinduced Current Transient Spectroscopy on Metal Halide Perovskites: Electron Trapping and Ion Drift.

Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) are disruptive materials for a vast class of optoelectronic devices. The presence of electronic trap states has been a tough challenge in terms of characterization and thus mitigation. Many attempts based on electronic spectroscopies have been tested, but due to the mixed electronic-ionic nature of MHP conductivity, many experimental results retain a large ambiguity in resolving electronic and ionic charge contributions.

Pragmatic trial on inhaled corticosteroid withdrawal in patients with COPD in general practice.

The therapeutic value of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) for COPD is limited. In published RCTs, ICS could be withdrawn in COPD patients without increasing exacerbation risk when bronchodilator treatment is optimized. Here we report on the feasibility and risks of ICS withdrawal in Dutch general practice for COPD patients without an indication for ICSs.

Validation of online Asthma Control Questionnaire and Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire.

Objective: Several newly developed eHealth applications use online questionnaires to monitor asthma control. The Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) and Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) are two such commonly used questionnaires. These questionnaires are validated for use on paper.

GFAP isoforms control intermediate filament network dynamics, cell morphology, and focal adhesions.

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is the characteristic intermediate filament (IF) protein in astrocytes. Expression of its main isoforms, GFAPα and GFAPδ, varies in astrocytes and astrocytoma implying a potential regulatory role in astrocyte physiology and pathology. An IF-network is a dynamic structure and has been functionally linked to cell motility, proliferation, and morphology.

Long-term outcomes of internet-based self-management support in adults with asthma: randomized controlled trial.

Background: Long-term asthma management falls short of the goals set by international guidelines. The Internet is proposed as an attractive medium to support guided self-management in asthma. Recently, in a multicenter, pragmatic randomized controlled parallel trial with a follow-up period of 1 year, patients were allocated Internet-based self-management (IBSM) support (Internet group [IG]) or usual care (UC) alone.

One-hour training for general practitioners in reducing the implementation gap of smoking cessation care: a cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: This study examined the effectiveness of low-intensity, practice-tailored training for general practitioners (GPs) aimed at personal and organizational barriers that arise when routinely asking patients' smoking status, advising to quit, and arranging follow-up.

Methods: A cluster-randomized controlled trial with 49 GPs and 3,401 patients (677 smokers). Two patient groups participated: 2,068 patients (433 smokers) at baseline and 1,333 patients (244 smokers) postintervention.

Cardiometabolic prevention consultation in the Netherlands: screening uptake and detection of cardiometabolic risk factors and diseases--a pilot study.

Background: Until now, cardiometabolic risk assessment in Dutch primary health care was directed at case-finding, and structured, programmatic prevention is lacking. Therefore, the Prevention Consultation cardiometabolic risk (PC CMR), a stepwise approach to identify and manage patients with cardiometabolic risk factors, was developed. The aim of this study was 1) to evaluate uptake rates of the two steps of the PC CMR, 2) to assess the rates of newly diagnosed hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease and 3) to explore reasons for non-participation.

Implementation strategies of internet-based asthma self-management support in usual care. Study protocol for the IMPASSE cluster randomized trial.

Background: Internet-based self-management (IBSM) support cost-effectively improves asthma control, asthma related quality of life, number of symptom-free days, and lung function in patients with mild to moderate persistent asthma. The current challenge is to implement IBSM in clinical practice.

Methods/design: This study is a three-arm cluster randomized trial with a cluster pre-randomisation design and 12 months follow-up per practice comparing the following three IBSM implementation strategies: minimum strategy (MS): dissemination of the IBSM program; intermediate strategy (IS): MS + start-up support for professionals (i.

Internet-based self-management compared with usual care in adolescents with asthma: a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Asthma control often is poor in adolescents and this causes considerable morbidity. Internet-based self-management (IBSM) improves asthma-related quality of life in adults. We hypothesized that IBSM improves asthma-related quality of life in adolescents.

Bridging the gap between public health and primary care in prevention of cardiometabolic diseases; background of and experiences with the Prevention Consultation in The Netherlands.

Background: There is an increasing need for programmatic prevention of cardiometabolic diseases (cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease). Therefore, in the Netherlands, a prevention programme linked to primary care has been developed. This initiative was supported by the national professional organizations of GPs and occupational physicians as well as three large health foundations.

Assessment of appropriateness of screening community-dwelling older people to prevent functional decline.

Objectives: To identify appropriate screening conditions, stratified according to age and vulnerability, to prevent functional decline in older people.

Design: A RAND/University of California at Los Angeles appropriateness method.

Setting: The Netherlands.

Evaluating the evidence for the implementation of C-reactive protein measurement in adult patients with suspected lower respiratory tract infection in primary care: a systematic review.

Background: Excessive prescription of antibiotics in patients with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is common in primary care and might be reduced by rapid point-of-care (POC) C-reactive protein (CRP) testing. However, the exact benefits of this test are unclear.

Objective: To review the available evidence for the role of POC CRP measurement in (i) guiding antibiotic prescription, (ii) predicting aetiology, (iii) prognosis and (iv) diagnosis (pneumonia) in LRTI patients.

Cost-effectiveness of Internet-based self-management compared with usual care in asthma.

Background: Effectiveness of Internet-based self-management in patients with asthma has been shown, but its cost-effectiveness is unknown. We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis of Internet-based asthma self-management compared with usual care.

Methodology And Principal Findings: Cost-effectiveness analysis alongside a randomized controlled trial, with 12 months follow-up.

Chronic kidney disease in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 or hypertension in general practice.

Background: The prevalence and severity of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in primary care patients with diabetes or hypertension is unknown.

Aim: To assess the prevalence and severity of CKD in patients with diabetes and hypertension; and identify whether age, sex, diabetes, and hypertension are associated with CKD.

Design Of Study: Cross-sectional survey.

Weekly self-monitoring and treatment adjustment benefit patients with partly controlled and uncontrolled asthma: an analysis of the SMASHING study.

Background: Internet-based self-management has shown to improve asthma control and asthma related quality of life, but the improvements were only marginally clinically relevant for the group as a whole. We hypothesized that self-management guided by weekly monitoring of asthma control tailors pharmacological therapy to individual needs and improves asthma control for patients with partly controlled or uncontrolled asthma.

Methods: In a 1-year randomised controlled trial involving 200 adults (18-50 years) with mild to moderate persistent asthma we evaluated the adherence with weekly monitoring and effect on asthma control and pharmacological treatment of a self-management algorithm based on the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ).

Internet-based self-management plus education compared with usual care in asthma: a randomized trial.

Background: The Internet may support patient self-management of chronic conditions, such as asthma.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of Internet-based asthma self-management.

Design: Randomized, controlled trial.

Internet-based self-management offers an opportunity to achieve better asthma control in adolescents.

Background: Internet and short message service are emerging tools for chronic disease management in adolescents, but few data exist on the barriers to and benefits of internet-based asthma self-management. Our objective was to reveal the barriers and benefits perceived by adolescents with well-controlled and poorly controlled asthma to current and internet-based asthma management.

Methods: Ninety-seven adolescents with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma monitored their asthma control on a designated Web site.

Diagnostic value of C reactive protein in infections of the lower respiratory tract: systematic review.

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of C reactive protein in detecting radiologically proved pneumonia and to evaluate how well it can discriminate between bacterial and viral infections of the lower respiratory tract.

Data Sources: Medline and Embase (January 1966 to April 2004), with reference checking.

Study Selection: We included articles comparing C reactive protein with a chest radiograph or with microbiological work-up as a reference test.

Accuracy of objective ambulatory accelerometry in detecting motor complications in patients with Parkinson disease.

Shortcomings of existing assessment methods in Parkinson disease (PD) have led to the development of continuous ambulatory multichannel accelerometry for the assessment of the core features of PD. Although measures for hypokinesia, bradykinesia, and tremor have been validated in groups of patients with PD, it is unclear whether this method is able to detect "on" with or without dyskinesias, and "off" in individual PD patients. This study therefore addressed the accuracy of objective ambulatory accelerometry in detecting motor complications in 15 PD patients, using a self-assessment scale as gold standard.