Preanalytical variables influencing the interpretation and reporting of biological tests on blood samples of living and deceased donors for human body materials.

With the present paper, the Working Group on Cells, Tissues and Organs and other experts of the Superior Health Council of Belgium aimed to provide stakeholders in material of human origin with advice on critical aspects of serological and nucleic acid test (NAT) testing, to improve virological safety of cell- and tissue and organ donation. The current paper focusses on a number of preanalytical variables which can be critical for any medical biology examination: (1) sampling related variables (type of samples, collection of the samples, volume of the sample, choice of specific tubes, identification of tubes), (2) variables related to transport, storage and processing of blood samples (transport, centrifugation and haemolysis, storage before and after centrifugation, use of serum versus plasma), (3) variables related to dilution (haemodilution, pooling of samples), and (4) test dependent variables (available tests and validation). Depending on the type of donor (deceased donor (heart-beating or non-heart beating) versus living donor (allogeneic, related, autologous), and the type of donated human material (cells, tissue or organs) additional factors can play a role: pre- and post-mortem sampling, conditions of sampling (e.

Effective resting-state connectivity in severe unipolar depression before and after electroconvulsive therapy.

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective treatments for severe depressive disorders. A recent multi-center study found no consistent changes in correlation-based (undirected) resting-state connectivity after ECT. Effective (directed) connectivity may provide more insight into the working mechanism of ECT.

Ethics of assertive care in mental health: A gradual concept.

Mental health professionals have a contradictory social mission: respecting the autonomy of persons with mental illness while at the same time providing them with unsolicited or assertive care when necessary. The aim of this contribution is therefore to reflect on the ethical question of how care professionals can provide assertive care in an ethically responsible manner. To answer this question, we take a relational view of human beings, draw on the Ethics Committee for Mental Health Care of the Organization Brothers, and invoke a case to shape the ethical reflection.

Remission Rates Following Electroconvulsive Therapy and Relation to Index Episode Duration in Patients With Psychotic Versus Nonpsychotic Late-Life Depression.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe and effective treatment, especially in psychotic late-life depression (LLD). However, it is not yet clear whether the greater efficacy seen in psychotic LLD is because of a shorter index episode duration. The first aim of this study was to substantiate the superior ECT remission rates in patients with psychotic LLD, as compared to patients with nonpsychotic LLD, and a second aim was to investigate whether this association is independent of the index duration.

Assays of CFTR Function In Vitro, Ex Vivo and In Vivo.

Cystic fibrosis, a multi-organ genetic disease, is characterized by abnormal function of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein, a chloride channel at the apical membrane of several epithelia. In recent years, therapeutic strategies have been developed to correct the CFTR defect. To evaluate CFTR function at baseline for diagnosis, or the efficacy of CFTR-restoring therapy, reliable tests are needed to measure CFTR function, in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo.

Transient Cognitive Impairment and White Matter Hyperintensities in Severely Depressed Older Patients Treated With Electroconvulsive Therapy.

Background: Although electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe and effective treatment for patients with severe late life depression (LLD), transient cognitive impairment can be a reason to discontinue the treatment. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the association between structural brain characteristics and general cognitive function during and after ECT.

Methods: A total of 80 patients with LLD from the prospective naturalistic follow-up Mood Disorders in Elderly treated with Electroconvulsive Therapy study were examined.

Nanostructured selenium-doped biphasic calcium phosphate with in situ incorporation of silver for antibacterial applications.

Selenium-doped nanostructure has been considered as an attractive approach to enhance the antibacterial activity of calcium phosphate (CaP) materials in diverse medical applications. In this study, the selenium-doped biphasic calcium phosphate nanoparticles (SeB-NPs) were first synthesized. Then, silver was in situ incorporated into SeB-NPs to obtain nanostructured composite nanoparticles (SeB-NPs).

Psychotic late-life depression less likely to relapse after electroconvulsive therapy.

Background: A substantial number of patients with late-life depression (LLD) that remitted after ECT experience relapse. Identifying risk factors for relapse may guide clinical management to devote attention to those at increased risk. Therefore the current study aims to evaluate which baseline clinical characteristics are related to relapse within six months after successful ECT in patients with severe LLD.

Hydroxyethyl Chitosan-Reinforced Polyvinyl Alcohol/Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Hydrogels for Bone Regeneration.

Fabrication of reinforced scaffolds for bone regeneration remains a significant challenge. The weak mechanical properties of the chitosan (CS)-based composite scaffold hindered its further application in clinic. Here, to obtain hydroxyethyl CS (HECS), some hydrogen bonds of CS were replaced by hydroxyethyl groups.

When to consider electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Objective: To familiarize the reader with the role of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in current psychiatric medicine.

Method: We review clinical indications for ECT, patient selection, contemporary ECT practice, maintenance treatment and ECT in major treatment guidelines.

Results: ECT is underutilized largely due to persisting stigma and lack of knowledge about modern ECT technique.

What are the economic burden and costs associated with the treatment of breast cancer-related lymphoedema? A systematic review.

Objectives: To provide an overview of costs associated with the treatment of breast cancer-related lymphoedema (BCRL) and its possible sequelae, borne by patients or by society.

Data Sources: According to the PRISMA guideline, a systematic literature search was carried out in four electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Clinical Trials and EMBASE. Searches were performed on October 1, 2018.

Development of chitosan/gelatin hydrogels incorporation of biphasic calcium phosphate nanoparticles for bone tissue engineering.

The chitosan/gelatin hydrogel incorporated with biphasic calcium phosphate nanoparticles (BCP-NPs) as scaffold (CGB) for bone tissue engineering was reported in this article. Such nanocomposite hydrogels were fabricated by using cycled freeze-thawing method, of which physicochemical and biological properties were regulated by adjusting the weight ratio of chitosan/gelatin/BCP-NPs. The needle-like BCP-NPs were dispersed into composites uniformly, and physically cross-linked with chitosan and gelatin, which were identified via Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis.

Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and exploratory efficacy of the novel enzyme replacement therapy avalglucosidase alfa (neoGAA) in treatment-naïve and alglucosidase alfa-treated patients with late-onset Pompe disease: A phase 1, open-label, multicenter, multinational, ascending dose study.

This multicenter/multinational, open-label, ascending-dose study (NCT01898364) evaluated safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and exploratory efficacy of repeat-dose avalglucosidase alfa (neoGAA), a second-generation, recombinant acid α-glucosidase replacement therapy, in late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD). Patients ≥18 years, alglucosidase alfa naïve (Naïve) or previously receiving alglucosidase alfa for ≥9 months (Switch), with baseline FVC ≥50% predicted and independently ambulatory, received every-other-week avalglucosidase alfa 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg over 24 weeks. 9/10 Naïve and 12/14 Switch patients completed the study.

Exploring resting state connectivity in patients with psychotic depression.

Background: Severe depression is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Neural network dysfunction may contribute to disease mechanisms underlying different clinical subtypes. Here, we apply resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging based measures of brain connectivity to investigate network dysfunction in severely depressed in-patients with and without psychotic symptoms.

Investigation on the orientation dependence of elastic response in Gyroid cellular structures.

Materials used for hard tissue replacement should match the elastic properties of human bone tissue. Therefore, cellular structures are more favourable for the use of implants than solid materials for their custom-designed mechanical properties. The superimposed load from various directions in vivo makes uniaxial compression testing insufficient for describing the mechanical responses.

Salivary cortisol as predictor for depression characteristics and remission in electroconvulsive therapy in older persons.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective treatment for depression; however, consensus on predictors for ECT outcome is lacking. We aim to examine the relation between pre-ECT salivary cortisol values and clinical characteristics and ECT outcome in depressed, older persons. A total of 102 inpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria for depression and referred for ECT were selected.

NO strongly prevents adhesion formation and postoperative pain in open surgery through a drug-like effect.

Background: Microsurgical tenets and peritoneal conditioning during laparoscopic surgery (LS) decrease postoperative adhesions and pain. For a trial in human, the strong beneficial effects of NO needed to be confirmed in open surgery (OS).

Results: In a mouse model for OS, the effect of the gas environment upon adhesions was evaluated.

Vascular risk factors in older patients with depression: outcome of electroconvulsive therapy versus medication.

Objective: Research suggests that in depression, vascular burden predicts a lower efficacy for medication (MED) and a more favourable outcome for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Therefore, we investigated the influence of the following vascular risk factors (VRF): hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, smoking, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and cerebral vascular accident/transient ischemic attack, on remission from major depression after ECT versus MED.

Methods: The study sample consisted of 81 inpatients with a DSM-IV unipolar major depression diagnosis (mean age 72.

The Y chromosome as the most popular marker in genetic genealogy benefits interdisciplinary research.

The Y chromosome is currently by far the most popular marker in genetic genealogy that combines genetic data and family history. This popularity is based on its haploid character and its close association with the patrilineage and paternal inherited surname. Other markers have not been found (yet) to overrule this status due to the low sensitivity and precision of autosomal DNA for genetic genealogical applications, given the vagaries of recombination, and the lower capacities of mitochondrial DNA combined with an in general much lower interest in maternal lineages.