Objectives: In 2007 neonatal screening (NNS) was expanded to include screening for sickle cell disease (SCD) and beta-thalassaemia. Up until that year no formal recommendations for haemoglobinopathy (carrier) screening existed in the Netherlands. Although it has been subject to debate in the past, preconceptional and prenatal haemoglobinopathy carrier screening are not part of routine healthcare in the Netherlands. This study aimed to explore the decision-making process of the past: why was the introduction of a screening programme for haemoglobinopathy considered to be untimely, and did ethnicity play a role given the history in other countries surrounding the introduction of haemoglobinopathy screening?
Design: A witness seminar was organised, inviting key figures to discuss the decision-making process concerning haemoglobinopathy screening in the Netherlands, thereby adding new perspectives on past events. The transcript was content-analysed.
Results: The subject of haemoglobinopathy screening first appeared in the 1970s. As opposed to a long history of neglect of African-American health in the United States, the heritage of the Second World War influenced the decision-making process in the Netherlands. As a consequence, registration of ethnicity surfaced as an impeding factor. However, overall, official Dutch screening policy was restrained regarding reproductive issues caused by fear of eugenics. In the 1990s haemoglobinopathy screening was found to be 'not opportune' due to low prevalence, lack of knowledge and fear of stigmatisation. Currently the registration of ethnicity remains on the political agenda, but still proves to be a sensitive subject.
Discussion: Carrier screening in general never appeared high on the policy agenda. Registration of ethnicity remains sensitive caused by the current political climate. Complexities related to carrier screening are a challenge in Dutch healthcare. Whether carrier screening will be considered a valuable complementary strategy in the Netherlands, depends partly on participation of representatives of high-risk groups in policy making.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2011.604126 | DOI Listing |
Talanta
January 2025
Department of Chemistry and Laboratory for Preparation and Application of Ordered Structural Materials of Guangdong Province, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, 515063, P.R. China; Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Offshore Environmental Pollution Control, Shantou, Guangdong, 515063, P.R. China; Analysis & Testing Center, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, 515063, P.R. China. Electronic address:
CYFRA21-1 is a tumor marker for lung cancer, and its rapid and accurate detection can provide evidence for the early diagnosis of lung cancer. In this work, Bi-Fe turnbull blue analogues (Bi-Fe-TBA) were synthesized by the self-templating method. BiO-SFNs was prepared by simple oxidation in air using Bi-Fe-TBA as a template.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActa Dermatovenerol Croat
November 2024
Prof. Ana Bakija-Konsuo, MD, PhD, Clinic for Dermatovenerology CUTIS, Vukovarska 22, Dubrovnik, Croatia;
We report the case of an 18-month-old boy who developed a phototoxic skin reaction to terbinafine on his scalp, ears, and face in the form of disseminated erythematous plaques, which resembled subacute lupus erythematosus (SCLE) in their clinical presentation. Skin changes appeared a short time after the boy was exposed to sunlight during the period of time when he was treated with oral terbinafine due to Microsporum canis fungal scalp infection. Tinea capitis is a common dermatophyte infection primarily affecting prepubertal children (1).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Alzheimer disease (AD) plasma biomarkers are noninvasive measures of the key amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau pathologies. Validation and generalization studies are needed to fully understand their potential for AD prediction and diagnosis in the elderly population.
Methods: In 1,067 Amish individuals aged ≥ 65, we measured plasma Aβ and tau to assess their relationships with AD-related outcomes.
Atheroscler Plus
March 2025
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
Background And Aims: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and other disorders with similar features are common genetic disorders that remain underdiagnosed and undertreated, due in part to the cost of screening. The aim of this study was to design and implement a whole gene targeted NGS panel for the molecular diagnosis of FH and statin intolerance with an emphasis on high quality variant calling, including copy number analysis.
Methods: A whole gene panel for hybridisation-based short read NGS was designed for the dominant FH-genes low density lipoprotein receptor (), apolipoprotein B (APOB), proproteinconvertas subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), apolipoprotein E (APOE) and the recessive FH-genes low density lipoprotein receptor adaptor protein 1 (), ATP binding cassette subfamily member 5/8 (ABCG5/8) and lipase A, lysosomal acid type (), as well as solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B1 (), not an FH gene but linked to statin intolerance.
AIMS Public Health
November 2024
Community health science, Aga Khan University Karachi, Pakistan.
Beta-thalassemia major (β-TM) is a genetic disorder, prevalent especially in the Mediterranean region, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. With improvements in management over the years, β-TM has transitioned from a fatal childhood disease to a chronic condition. However, in Pakistan, there is still a lack of a comprehensive national policy and strategic plan, which has resulted in a growing number of β-TM patients, placing a substantial burden on individuals and the national healthcare system.
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