Update on human herpesvirus 7 pathogenesis and clinical aspects as a roadmap for future research.

Human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) is a common virus that is associated with various human diseases including febrile syndromes, dermatological lesions, neurological defects, and transplant complications. Still, HHV-7 remains one of the least studied members of all human betaherpesviruses. In addition, HHV-7-related research is mostly confined to case reports, while or studies unraveling basic virology, transmission mechanisms, and viral pathogenesis are sparse.

Flexible large-area ultrasound arrays for medical applications made using embossed polymer structures.

With the huge progress in micro-electronics and artificial intelligence, the ultrasound probe has become the bottleneck in further adoption of ultrasound beyond the clinical setting (e.g. home and monitoring applications).

Optimal timing of simethicone administration prior to upper endoscopy: A multicenter, single-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Simethicone is useful as premedication for upper endoscopy because of its antifoaming effects. We aimed to evaluate the effect of timing of simethicone administration on mucosal visibility. In this multicenter, randomized, endoscopist-blinded study, patients scheduled for upper endoscopy were randomized to receive 40 mg simethicone at the following time points prior to the procedure: 20 to 30 minutes (early group), 0 to 10 minutes (late group) or 20 mg simethicone at both time points (split-dose group).

Adherence to guideline recommendations for Barrett's esophagus (BE) surveillance endoscopies: Effects of dedicated BE endoscopy lists.

For non-dysplastic Barrett's Esophagus (BE) patients, guidelines recommend endoscopic surveillance every 3 to 5 years with four-quadrant random biopsies every 2 cm of BE length. Adherence to these guidelines is low in clinical practice. Pooling BE surveillance endoscopies on dedicated endoscopy lists performed by dedicated endoscopists could possibly enhance guideline adherence, detection of visible lesions, and dysplasia detection rates (DDRs).

Neurologic Outcome Comparison between Fetal Open-, Endoscopic- and Neonatal-Intervention Techniques in Spina Bifida Aperta.

Introduction: In spina bifida aperta (SBA), fetal closure of the myelomeningocele (MMC) can have a neuroprotective effect and improve outcomes. In Europe, surgical MMC closure is offered by fetal-open (OSBAR), fetal-endoscopic (FSBAR), and neonatal (NSBAR) surgical techniques. Pediatric neurologists facing the challenging task of counseling the parents may therefore seek objective outcome comparisons.

OpenKBP-Opt: an international and reproducible evaluation of 76 knowledge-based planning pipelines.

To establish an open framework for developing plan optimization models for knowledge-based planning (KBP).Our framework includes radiotherapy treatment data (i.e.

Preoperative biliary drainage in severely jaundiced patients with pancreatic head cancer: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Guidelines recommend against preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) in patients with pancreatic head cancer if bilirubin levels are <250 μmol/l. However, patients with higher bilirubin levels undergo PBD, despite the lack of supporting evidence. This study aims to evaluate outcomes in patients with a bilirubin level ≥250 and < 250.

A clinical decision aid for patients with suspected midfacial and mandibular fractures (the REDUCTION-I study): a prospective multicentre cohort study.

Purpose: To assess physical examination findings related to maxillofacial trauma to identify patients at risk of midfacial and mandibular fractures and then to construct a clinical decision aid to rule out the presence of midfacial and mandibular fractures in emergency department patients.

Methods: We performed a prospective multicentre cohort study in four hospitals in the Netherlands, including consecutive patients with maxillofacial trauma. Each patient received a standardized physical examination consisting of 15 and 14 findings for midfacial and mandibular traumas, respectively.

A clinical decision aid to discern patients without and with midfacial and mandibular fractures that require treatment (the REDUCTION-II study): a prospective multicentre cohort study.

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of physical examination findings and to construct clinical decision aids to discern emergency department patients without and with midfacial and mandibular fractures that require treatment.

Methods: A prospective multicentre cohort study was conducted in four hospitals in the Netherlands. Consecutive maxillofacial trauma patients were included whereupon each patient underwent a standardized physical examination consisting of 15 and 14 findings for midfacial and mandibular trauma, respectively.

A biomechanical study on the effect of long head of biceps tenotomy on supraspinatus load and humeral head position during shoulder abduction.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of biceps tendon tenotomy on the load of the supraspinatus tendon/muscle complex during abduction of the arm from 0° to 15°.

Methods: Eleven fresh frozen human cadaver shoulders (6 males, 5 females, age ranged 44-88 years, mean upper extremity weight 2.96 ± 0.

The revised Approved Instructional Resources score: An improved quality evaluation tool for online educational resources.

Background: Free Open-Access Medical education (FOAM) use among residents continues to rise. However, it often lacks quality assurance processes and residents receive little guidance on quality assessment. The Academic Life in Emergency Medicine Approved Instructional Resources tool (AAT) was created for FOAM appraisal by and for expert educators and has demonstrated validity in this context.

Lipoprotein(a) is robustly associated with aortic valve calcium.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and quantity of aortic valve calcium (AVC) in two large cohorts, stratified according to age and lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), and to assess the association between Lp(a) and AVC.

Methods: We included 2412 participants from the population-based Rotterdam Study (52% women, mean age=69.6±6.

Feasibility and outcomes of a goal-directed physical therapy program for patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of a tailored, goal-directed, and exercise-based physical therapy program for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

Methods: This was an observational, uncontrolled feasibility study. The physical therapy intervention was highly tailored to the individual patient's goals, abilities, and preferences and could include functional, strength, aerobic, and relaxation exercises.

A validation study for a clinical decision rule for acute wrist injury.

Purpose: Acute wrist injury is a common reason for visiting the emergency department. To date, there are no implemented clinical decision rules to predict a fracture in this group of patients. We previously identified six clinical predictors in adult patients with acute wrist trauma.

Development of muscle ultrasound density in healthy fetuses and infants.

Muscle ultrasound density (MUD) is a non-invasive parameter to indicate neuromuscular integrity in both children and adults. In healthy fetuses and infants, physiologic MUD values during development are still lacking. We therefore aimed to determine the physiologic, age-related MUD trend of biceps, quadriceps, tibialis anterior, hamstrings, gluteal and calf muscles, from pre- to the first year of postnatal life.

Field Implementation of Remote Ischemic Conditioning in ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: The FIRST Study.

Background: Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) is a noninvasive therapeutic strategy that uses brief cycles of blood pressure cuff inflation and deflation to protect the myocardium against ischemia-reperfusion injury. We sought to compare major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) for patients who received RIC before PCI for ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) compared with standard care.

Methods: We conducted a pre- and postimplementation study.

Jasmonate-Induced Defense Mechanisms in the Belowground Antagonistic Interaction Between and in Rice.

Next to their essential roles in plant growth and development, phytohormones play a central role in plant immunity against pathogens. In this study we studied the previously reported antagonism between the plant-pathogenic oomycete and the root-knot nematode , two root pathogens that co-occur in aerobic rice fields. In this manuscript, we investigated if the antagonism is related to imbalances in plant hormone levels, which could be involved in activation of plant defense.

Adverse immunostimulation caused by impurities: The dark side of biopharmaceuticals.

Drug safety is an important issue, especially in the experimental phases of development. Adverse immunostimulation (AI) is sometimes encountered following treatment with biopharmaceuticals, which can be life-threatening if it results in a severe systemic inflammatory reaction. Biopharmaceuticals that unexpectedly induce an inflammatory response still enter the clinic, even while meeting all regulatory requirements.

A 3-SNP gene risk score and a metabolic risk score both predict hypertriglyceridemia and cardiovascular disease risk.

Background: Evidence on the causal link between plasma triglyceride (TG) levels and risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) has recently emerged. Individuals with the metabolic syndrome have an increased risk for acquiring elevated TG levels later in life. Moreover, common DNA sequence variations in genes affecting TG levels identify individuals at risk for elevated plasma TG levels.

Relationship of lipoprotein-associated apolipoprotein C-III with lipid variables and coronary artery disease risk: The EPIC-Norfolk prospective population study.

Background: Plasma apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III) levels are associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) risk.

Objective: To assess whether lipoprotein-associated apoC-III levels predict risk of CAD events.

Methods: apoC-III associated with apoB, apoAI, and Lp(a) (apoCIII-apoB, apoCIII-apoAI, and apoCIII-Lp(a), respectively) were measured using high-throughput chemiluminescent enzyme-linked immunoassays in 2711 subjects (1879 controls and 832 cases with CAD) in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Norfolk prospective population study with 7.

Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations for Acute Stroke Management: Prehospital, Emergency Department, and Acute Inpatient Stroke Care, 6th Edition, Update 2018.

The 2018 update of the Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations for Acute Stroke Management, 6th edition, is a comprehensive summary of current evidence-based recommendations, appropriate for use by healthcare providers and system planners caring for persons with very recent symptoms of acute stroke or transient ischemic attack. The recommendations are intended for use by a interdisciplinary team of clinicians across a wide range of settings and highlight key elements involved in prehospital and Emergency Department care, acute treatments for ischemic stroke, and acute inpatient care. The most notable changes included in this 6th edition are the renaming of the module and its integration of the formerly separate modules on prehospital and emergency care and acute inpatient stroke care.

Cardiovascular disease risk associated with elevated lipoprotein(a) attenuates at low low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in a primary prevention setting.

Aims: Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) elevation is a causal risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). It has however been suggested that elevated Lp(a) causes CVD mainly in individuals with high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. We hypothesized that the risk associated with high Lp(a) levels would largely be attenuated at low LDL-C levels.

Establishing the Production of Male Schistosoma mansoni Cercariae for a Controlled Human Infection Model.

To accelerate the development of novel vaccines for schistosomiasis, we set out to develop a human model for Schistosoma mansoni infection in healthy volunteers. During natural infections, female schistosomes produce eggs that give rise to morbidity. Therefore, we produced single-sex, male Schistosoma mansoni cercariae for human infection without egg production and associated pathology.