Diagnosing viral gastro-enteritis using the fully automated sample-in, result-out STARlet All in one system (AIOS).

The STARlet All-In-One system is a modular platform that integrates the complete molecular diagnostic workflow from nucleic acid extraction of clinical samples to PCR set-up and amplification. The platform was evaluated in comparison with laboratory developed tests (LDT) on fecal samples from patients with suspected viral gastro-enteritis. In a retrospective study, 72 positive samples were analysed, including all pathogens detected by the Seegene Allplex™ GI-virus assay, adenovirus, astrovirus, norovirus GI and GII, sapovirus, and rotavirus.

Spatial and temporal properties of intra-operatively recorded spikes and high frequency oscillations in focal cortical dysplasia.

Objective: Focal cortical dysplasias (FCD) are characterized by distinct interictal spike patterns and high frequency oscillations (HFOs; ripples: 80-250 Hz; fast ripples: 250-500 Hz) in the intra-operative electrocorticogram (ioECoG). We studied the temporal relation between intra-operative spikes and HFOs and their relation to resected tissue in people with FCD with a favorable outcome.

Methods: We included patients who underwent ioECoG-tailored epilepsy surgery with pathology confirmed FCD and long-term Engel 1A outcome.

Genetic glucocorticoid receptor variants differ between ethnic groups but do not explain variation in age of diabetes onset, metabolic and inflammation parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aims: The effect of excess glucocorticoid receptor (GR) stimulation through glucocorticoid medication or cortisol on glucose metabolism is well established. There are genetic GR variants that result in increased or decreased GR stimulation. We aimed to determine the prevalence of genetic GR variants in different ethnic groups in a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes, and we aimed to determine their association with age of diabetes onset and metabolic and inflammation parameters.

Atazanavir-induced unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia prevents vascular hyporeactivity during experimental human endotoxemia.

Objective: Inflammation-induced free radical release is important in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including atherosclerosis and sepsis. Heme oxygenase (HO) breaks down heme into carbon monoxide, iron, and biliverdin. Biliverdin IXα is directly converted to bilirubin by biliverdin reductase.

The spatial relationship between the MRI lesion and intraoperative electrocorticography in focal epilepsy surgery.

MRI and intraoperative electrocorticography are often used in tandem to delineate epileptogenic tissue in resective surgery for focal epilepsy. Both the resection of the MRI lesion and tissue with high rates of electrographic discharges on electrocorticography, e.g.

Health economic evaluation of nation-wide screening programmes for atrial fibrillation in the Netherlands.

Aims: Screening for atrial fibrillation (AF) is recommended by the European Society of Cardiology guidelines to prevent strokes. Cost-effectiveness analyses of different screening programmes for AF are difficult to compare because of varying settings and models used. We compared the impact and cost-effectiveness of various AF screening programmes in the Netherlands.

Discontinuation of Antihypertensive Medications on the Outcome of Hospitalized Patients With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2.

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Dynamics of Pellet Fragmentation and Aggregation in Liquid-Grown Cultures of .

Streptomycetes are extensively used for the production of valuable products, including various antibiotics and industrial enzymes. The preferred way to grow these bacteria in industrial settings is in large-scale fermenters. Growth of streptomycetes under these conditions is characterized by the formation of complex mycelial particles, called pellets.

Parenteral bilirubin in healthy volunteers: a reintroduction in translational research.

Aims: Preclinical results suggest therapeutic potential of mild hyperbilirubinemia in T2DM and cardiovascular disease. Translational data are limited, because an appropriate bilirubin formulation for parenteral human use is lacking. Considering its use in both clinical practice and medical research in the past, we explored the feasibility to reintroduce parenteral bilirubin for translational experiments.

Genetic determinants of impaired awareness of hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes.

Objective: It is likely that impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (IAH) and severe hypoglycemia are in part determined by genetic factors. The aim of this study was to investigate candidate genes for associations with IAH and severe hypoglycemia in a cohort of patients with type 1 diabetes.

Participants And Methods: Consecutive patients with type 1 diabetes were genotyped for single-nucleotide polymorphisms in or near the genes for the β1 and β2 adrenergic receptor (ADRB1, ADRB2), SORCS1, and BNC2, and for the insertion/deletion polymorphism in the ACE gene.

Clinical signs, diagnostics and successful treatment of a myocarditis in an adult chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes).

A chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) was presented with lethargic behaviour. Echocardiography and abnormal cardiac and inflammatory biomarkers revealed a myocarditis. The animal fully recovered after prolonged treatment with losartan and carvedilol.

Assessing the effectiveness of topical betamethasone to treat chronic chilblains: a randomised clinical trial in primary care.

Background: GPs prescribe topical corticosteroids to patients with chronic chilblains despite poor evidence for their effectiveness. The authors of the current study therefore decided to assess the effectiveness of topical steroids in a primary care setting.

Aim: To assess the effectiveness of topical application of betamethasone valerate 0.

Nifedipine vs Placebo for Treatment of Chronic Chilblains: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Nifedipine is commonly prescribed for the treatment of chilblains (pernio, perniosis) on the basis of observational studies and a single small, older clinical trial. We aimed to confirm the proposed superiority of oral nifedipine 60 mg per day over placebo for treatment of chronic chilblains in primary care.

Methods: We performed a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trial, closely following the design of the older trial.

Improved quality and more attractive work by applying EBM in disability evaluations: a qualitative survey.

Background: The uptake of evidence in practice by physicians, even if they are trained in the systematic method of evidence-based medicine (EBM), remains difficult to improve. The aim of this study was to explore perceptions and experiences of physicians doing disability evaluations regarding motivators and preconditions for the implementation of EBM in daily practice.

Methods: This qualitative study was nested in a cluster randomized controlled trial (Trial registration NTR1767; 20-apr-2009) evaluating the effects of training in EBM.

Evaluation Studies on Education in Occupational Safety and Health: Inspiration for Developing Economies.

Background: Education and training of students, workers, and professionals are essential for occupational safety and health (OSH). We noticed a lack of debate on how to advance coverage and quality of OSH education given high shortages in developing economies.

Objectives: International discussion on future options might be stimulated by an overview of recent studies.

Upfront Genotyping of DPYD*2A to Individualize Fluoropyrimidine Therapy: A Safety and Cost Analysis.

Purpose: Fluoropyrimidines are frequently prescribed anticancer drugs. A polymorphism in the fluoropyrimidine metabolizing enzyme dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD; ie, DPYD*2A) is strongly associated with fluoropyrimidine-induced severe and life-threatening toxicity. This study determined the feasibility, safety, and cost of DPYD*2A genotype-guided dosing.

Effects of the 34C>T Variant of the AMPD1 Gene on Immune Function, Multi-Organ Dysfunction, and Mortality in Sepsis Patients.

Introduction: Adenosine exerts anti-inflammatory and tissue-protective effects during systemic inflammation. While the tissue-protective effects might limit organ damage, its anti-inflammatory properties may induce immunoparalysis and impede bacterial clearance. The common 34C>T loss-of-function variant of AMPD1 (rs17602729) is associated with increased adenosine formation, but effects on immune function and outcome in sepsis patients are unknown.

Vascular and metabolic effects of the haem oxygenase-1 inducer haem arginate in subjects with the metabolic syndrome: A translational cross-over study.

This translational randomized and vehicle-controlled cross-over study was performed to assess the impact of haem arginate treatment on haem oxygenase-1 induction, endothelial function and insulin sensitivity in subjects with the metabolic syndrome (n = 14). Both treatment periods consisted of 5 days. Haem arginate or vehicle (l-arginine) was administered intravenously on Days 1 and 3.

Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root Water-Extract (Danshen) Has No Beneficial Effect on Cardiovascular Risk Factors. A Randomized Double-Blind Cross-Over Trial.

Purpose: Danshen is the dried root extract of the plant Salvia Miltiorrhiza and it is used as traditional Chinese medicinal herbal product to prevent and treat atherosclerosis. However, its efficacy has not been thoroughly investigated. This study evaluates the effect of Danshen on hyperlipidemia and hypertension, two well known risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis.

Cell-type-specific downregulation of heme oxygenase-1 by lipopolysaccharide via Bach1 in primary human mononuclear cells.

Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 is the inducible isoform of the heme-degrading enzyme HO, which is upregulated by multiple stress stimuli. HO-1 has major immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects via its cell-type-specific functions in mononuclear cells. Contradictory findings have been reported on HO-1 regulation by the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 ligand lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in these cells.

Functional vascular changes of the kidney during pregnancy in animals: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Renal vascular responses to pregnancy have frequently been studied, by investigating renal vascular resistance (RVR), renal flow, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and renal artery responses to stimuli. Nonetheless, several questions remain: 1. Which vasodilator pathways are activated and to what extent do they affect RVR, renal flow and GFR across species, strains and gestational ages, 2.

Association of Fitness Level With Cardiovascular Risk and Vascular Function in Older Nonexercising Individuals.

It is currently unknown whether differences in physical fitness in older, nonexercising individuals affect cardiovascular risk profile and vascular function. To examine this, 40 healthy older individuals (age 69 ± 4 years) who were classified as nonexercising for the past 5-10 years were allocated to a lower physical fitness (LF; VO2max 20.7 ± 2.

Multi-centre evaluation of real-time multiplex PCR for detection of carbapenemase genes OXA-48, VIM, IMP, NDM and KPC.

Background: Resistance to carbapenem antibiotics is emerging worldwide among Enterobacteriaceae. To prevent hospital transmission due to unnoticed carriage of carbapenemase producing micro-organisms in newly admitted patients, or follow-up of patients in an outbreak setting, a molecular screening method was developed for detection of the most prevalent carbapenemase genes; blaOXA-48, blaVIM, blaIMP, blaNDM and blaKPC.

Methods: A real-time multiplex PCR assay was evaluated using a collection of 86 Gram negative isolates, including 62 carbapenemase producers.

The effect of an advanced glycation end-product crosslink breaker and exercise training on vascular function in older individuals: a randomized factorial design trial.

Aging leads to accumulation of irreversible advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), contributing to vascular stiffening and endothelial dysfunction. When combined with the AGE-crosslink breaker Alagebrium, exercise training reverses cardiovascular aging in experimental animals. This study is the first to examine the effect of Alagebrium, with and without exercise training, on endothelial function, arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk in older individuals.

Development and evaluation of a new occupational medicine teaching module to advance self-efficacy and knowledge among medical students.

Objectives: Self-efficacy is defined as a person's beliefs in his or her abilities to successfully complete a task, and has been shown to influence student motivation and academic achievement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a new European teaching module in occupational medicine on undergraduate students' self-efficacy and knowledge in the subject matter.

Methods: Pre-, in-between, and posttraining tests were used to assess self-efficacy and knowledge building of 261 third-year medical students on occupational health issues.