Paracrine signalling by pancreatic δ cells determines the glycaemic set point in mice.

While pancreatic β and α cells are considered the main drivers of blood glucose homeostasis through insulin and glucagon secretion, the contribution of δ cells and somatostatin (SST) secretion to glucose homeostasis remains unresolved. Here we provide a quantitative assessment of the physiological contribution of δ cells to the glycaemic set point in mice. Employing three orthogonal mouse models to remove SST signalling within the pancreas or transplanted islets, we demonstrate that ablating δ cells or SST leads to a sustained decrease in the glycaemic set point.

Obesity and hyperinsulinemia drive adipocytes to activate a cell cycle program and senesce.

Obesity is considered an important factor for many chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. The expansion of adipose tissue in obesity is due to an increase in both adipocyte progenitor differentiation and mature adipocyte cell size. Adipocytes, however, are thought to be unable to divide or enter the cell cycle.

Role of parents in fatigue of children with a chronic disease: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: As parents majorly impact their child's well-being, and as fatigue is a highly prevalent threat to the well-being of children with a chronic disease, we aimed to explore the association between parental factors and fatigue in children with a chronic disease.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Two Dutch children's hospitals.

Diagnostic accuracy of audio-based seizure detection in patients with severe epilepsy and an intellectual disability.

Unlabelled: We evaluated the performance of audio-based detection of major seizures (tonic-clonic and long generalized tonic) in adult patients with intellectual disability living in an institute for residential care.

Methods: First, we checked in a random sample (n=17, 102 major seizures) how many patients have recognizable sounds during these seizures. In the second part of this trial, we followed 10 patients (who had major seizures with recognizable sounds) during four weeks with an acoustic monitoring system developed by CLB ('CLB-monitor') and video camera.

Integrated analysis of cardiac tissue structure and function for improved identification of reversible myocardial dysfunction.

Background: Myocardial deformation imaging and contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (ceMRI) have been used to define myocardial viability in ischemic left ventricular dysfunction. This study evaluated the incremental predictive value of an integrated analysis of function and tissue structure for functional improvement after revascularization therapy.

Methods: In 59 patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction, myocardial viability was defined by pixel-tracking-derived myocardial deformation imaging and ceMRI to predict recovery of function at 9+/-2 months follow-up after revascularization.