| 1. |
- Bradnam, K. R., et al.
(author)
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Assemblathon 2 : Evaluating de novo methods of genome assembly in three vertebrate species
- 2013
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In: GigaScience. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 2047-217X. ; 2:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The process of generating raw genome sequence data continues to become cheaper, faster, and more accurate. However, assembly of such data into high-quality, finished genome sequences remains challenging. Many genome assembly tools are available, but they differ greatly in terms of their performance (speed, scalability, hardware requirements, acceptance of newer read technologies) and in their final output (composition of assembled sequence). More importantly, it remains largely unclear how to best assess the quality of assembled genome sequences. The Assemblathon competitions are intended to assess current state-of-the-art methods in genome assembly. Results: In Assemblathon 2, we provided a variety of sequence data to be assembled for three vertebrate species (a bird, a fish, and snake). This resulted in a total of 43 submitted assemblies from 21 participating teams. We evaluated these assemblies using a combination of optical map data, Fosmid sequences, and several statistical methods. From over 100 different metrics, we chose ten key measures by which to assess the overall quality of the assemblies. Conclusions: Many current genome assemblers produced useful assemblies, containing a significant representation of their genes and overall genome structure. However, the high degree of variability between the entries suggests that there is still much room for improvement in the field of genome assembly and that approaches which work well in assembling the genome of one species may not necessarily work well for another.
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| 2. |
- Escott-Price, Valentina, et al.
(author)
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Gene-Wide Analysis Detects Two New Susceptibility Genes for Alzheimer's Disease
- 2014
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In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 9:6, s. e94661-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Alzheimer's disease is a common debilitating dementia with known heritability, for which 20 late onset susceptibility loci have been identified, but more remain to be discovered. This study sought to identify new susceptibility genes, using an alternative gene-wide analytical approach which tests for patterns of association within genes, in the powerful genome-wide association dataset of the International Genomics of Alzheimer's Project Consortium, comprising over 7 m genotypes from 25,580 Alzheimer's cases and 48,466 controls. Principal Findings: In addition to earlier reported genes, we detected genome-wide significant loci on chromosomes 8 (TP53INP1, p = 1.4x10(-6)) and 14 (IGHV1-67 p = 7.9x10(-8)) which indexed novel susceptibility loci. Significance: The additional genes identified in this study, have an array of functions previously implicated in Alzheimer's disease, including aspects of energy metabolism, protein degradation and the immune system and add further weight to these pathways as potential therapeutic targets in Alzheimer's disease.
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| 3. |
- Kalliokoski, Otto, et al.
(author)
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The Effect of Voluntarily Ingested Buprenorphine on Rats Subjected to Surgically Induced Global Cerebral Ischaemia
- 2010
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In: In Vivo. - 0258-851X .- 1791-7549. ; 24:5, s. 641-646
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The effect of perioperatively administered buprenorphine analgesia on rats subjected to surgically induced global ischaemia was assessed. Rats supplied with buprenorphine, mixed in nut paste for voluntary ingestion, displayed significant reductions in postoperative excretions of faecal corticosterone, in both magnitude and variance. This is indicative of lowered stress levels and less inter-animal metabolic variation. Although corticosterone has been reported to modulate the extent of cerebral damage, histology of coronal sections exhibited no differences in the extent of the ischaemia in buprenorphine-treated and untreated animals. A part from a slightly higher hyperthermia immediately after surgery and typical opiate-associated behaviour, the buprenorphine treatment had no apparent adverse effects on the experimental model. In contrast, the analgesic treatment improved the model by minimizing stress-associated confounding variables in the experimental animals.
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| 4. |
- Rizvi, Saiyada N. F., et al.
(author)
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Biodistribution, radiation dosimetry and scouting of 90Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan therapy in patients with relapsed B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma using 89Zr-ibritumomab tiuxetan and PET
- 2012
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In: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1619-7070 .- 1619-7089. ; 39:3, s. 512-520
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: Positron emission tomography (PET) with Zr-89-britumomab tiuxetan can be used to monitor biodistribution of Y-90-ibritumomab tiuxetan as shown in mice. The aim of this study was to assess biodistribution and radiation dosimetry of 90Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan in humans on the basis of Zr-89-ibritumomab tiuxetan imaging, to evaluate whether co-injection of a therapeutic amount of Y-90-ibritumomab tiuxetan influences biodistribution of Zr-89-ibritumomabtiuxetan and whether pre-therapy scout scans with Zr-89-ibritumomab tiuxetan can be used to predict biodistribution of Y-90-ibritumomab tiuxetan and the dose-limiting organ during therapy. Methods: Seven patients with relapsed B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma scheduled for autologous stem cell transplantation underwent PET scans at 1, 72 and 144 h after injection of similar to 70 MBq Zr-89-ibritumomab tiuxetan and again 2 weeks later after co-injection of 15 MBq/kg or 30 MBq/kg Y-90-britumomab tiuxetan. Volumes of interest were drawn over liver, kidneys, lungs, spleen and tumours. Ibritumomab tiuxetan organ absorbed doses were calculated using OLINDA. Red marrow dosimetry was based on blood samples. Absorbed doses to tumours were calculated using exponential fits to the measured data. Results: The highest Y-90 absorbed dose was observed in liver (3.2 +/- 1.8 mGy/MBq) and spleen (2.9 +/- 0.7 mGy/MBq) followed by kidneys and lungs. The red marrow dose was 0.52 +/- 0.04 mGy/MBq, and the effective dose was 0.87 +/- 0.14 mSv/MBq. Tumour absorbed doses ranged from 8.6 to 28.6 mGy/MBq. Correlation between predicted pre-therapy and therapy organ absorbed doses as based on Zr-89-ibritumomab tiuxetan images was high (Pearson correlation coefficient r=0.97). No significant difference between pre-therapy and therapy tumour absorbed doses was found, but correlation was lower (r=0.75). Conclusion: Biodistribution of Zr-89-ibritumomab tiuxetan is not influenced by simultaneous therapy with Y-90-ibritumomab tiuxetan, and Zr-89-ibritumomab tiuxetan scout scans can thus be used to predict biodistribution and dose-limiting organ during therapy. Absorbed doses to spleen were lower than those previously estimated using In-111-ibritumomab tiuxetan. The dose-limiting organ in patients undergoing stem cell transplantation is the liver.
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| 5. |
- Schmidt, G. A., et al.
(author)
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Climate forcing reconstructions for use in PMIP simulations of the last millennium (v1.0)
- 2011
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In: Geoscientific Model Development. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1991-959X .- 1991-9603. ; 4:1, s. 33-45
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Simulations of climate over the Last Millennium (850-1850 CE) have been incorporated into the third phase of the Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project (PMIP3). The drivers of climate over this period are chiefly orbital, solar, volcanic, changes in land use/land cover and some variation in greenhouse gas levels. While some of these effects can be easily defined, the reconstructions of solar, volcanic and land use-related forcing are more uncertain. We describe here the approach taken in defining the scenarios used in PMIP3, document the forcing reconstructions and discuss likely implications.
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| 6. |
- Schmidt, G. A., et al.
(author)
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Climate forcing reconstructions for use in PMIP simulations of the last millennium (v1.0)
- 2010
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In: Geoscientific Model Development. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1991-959X. ; 3:3, s. 1549-1586
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Simulations of climate over the Last Millennium (850-1850 CE) have been incorporated into the third phase of the Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project (PMIP3). The drivers of climate over this period are chiefly orbital, solar, volcanic, changes in land use/land cover and some variation in greenhouse gas levels. While some of these effects can be easily defined, the reconstructions of solar, volcanic and land use-related forcing are more uncertain. We describe here the approach taken in defining the scenarios used in PMIP3, document the forcing reconstructions and discuss likely implications.
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| 7. |
- Schmidt, G. A., et al.
(author)
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Climate forcing reconstructions for use in PMIP simulations of the Last Millennium (v1.1)
- 2012
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In: Geoscientific Model Development. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1991-959X .- 1991-9603. ; 5:1, s. 185-191
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We update the forcings for the PMIP3 experiments for the Last Millennium to include new assessments of historical land use changes and discuss new suggestions for calibrating solar activity proxies to total solar irradiance.
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| 8. |
- Tanaka, Toshiko, et al.
(author)
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Genome-wide meta-analysis of observational studies shows common genetic variants associated with macronutrient intake
- 2013
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In: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. - : Elsevier BV. - 1938-3207 .- 0002-9165. ; 97:6, s. 1395-1402
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Macronutrient intake varies substantially between individuals, and there is evidence that this variation is partly accounted for by genetic variants. Objective: The objective of the study was to identify common genetic variants that are associated with macronutrient intake. Design: We performed 2-stage genome-wide association (GWA) meta-analysis of macronutrient intake in populations of European descent. Macronutrients were assessed by using food-frequency questionnaires and analyzed as percentages of total energy consumption from total fat, protein, and carbohydrate. From the discovery GWA (n = 38,360), 35 independent loci associated with macronutrient intake at P < 5 x 10(-6) were identified and taken forward to replication in 3 additional cohorts (n = 33,533) from the DietGen Consortium. For one locus, fat mass obesity-associated protein (FTO), cohorts with Illumina MetaboChip genotype data (n 7724) provided additional replication data. Results: A variant in the chromosome 19 locus (rs838145) was associated with higher carbohydrate (beta +/- SE: 0.25 +/- 0.04%; P = 1.68 x 10(-8)) and lower fat (beta = SE: -0.21 +/- 0.04%; P = 1.57 x 10(-9)) consumption. A candidate gene in this region, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), encodes a fibroblast growth factor involved in glucose and lipid metabolism. The variants in this locus were associated with circulating FGF21 protein concentrations (P < 0.05) but not mRNA concentrations in blood or brain. The body mass index (BMI) increasing allele of the FTO variant (rs1421085) was associated with higher protein intake (beta +/- SE: 0.10 +/- 0.02%; P = 9.96 x 10(-10)), independent of BMI (after adjustment for BMI, beta +/- SE: 0.08 +/- 0.02%; P = 3.15 x 10(-7)). Conclusion: Our results indicate that variants in genes involved in nutrient metabolism and obesity are associated with macronutrient consumption in humans. Trials related to this study were registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00005131 (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities), NCT00005133 (Cardiovascular Health Study), NCT00005136 (Family Heart Study), NCT00005121 (Framingham Heart Study), NCT00083369 (Genetic and Environmental Determinants of Triglycerides), NCT01331512 (InCHIANTI Study), and NCT00005487 (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis).
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| 9. |
- Aust, Birgit, et al.
(author)
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The Danish national return-to-work program - aims, content, and design of the process and effect evaluation
- 2012
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - : Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - 0355-3140 .- 1795-990X. ; 38:2, s. 120-133
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Danish national return-to-work (RTW) program aims to improve the management of municipal sickness benefit in Denmark. A study is currently ongoing to evaluate the RTW program. The purpose of this article is to describe the study protocol. The program includes 21 municipalities encompassing approximately 19 500 working-age adults on long-term sickness absence, regardless of reason for sickness absence or employment status. It consists of three core elements: (i) establishment of multidisciplinary RTW teams, (ii) introduction of standardized workability assessments and sickness absence management procedures, and (iii) a comprehensive training course for the RTW teams. The effect evaluation is based on a parallel group randomized trial and a stratified cluster-controlled trial and focuses on register-based primary outcomes-duration of sickness absence and RTW and questionnaire-based secondary outcomes such as health and workability. The process evaluation utilizes questionnaires, interviews, and municipal data. The effect evaluation tests whether participants in the intervention have a (i) shorter duration of full-time sickness absence, (ii) longer time until recurrent long-term sickness absence, (iii) faster full RTW, (iv) more positive development in health, workability, pain, and sleep; it also tests whether the program is (v) cost-effective. The process evaluation investigates: (i) whether the expected target population is reached; (ii) if the program is implemented as intended; (iii) how the beneficiaries, the RTW teams, and the external stakeholders experience the program; and (iv) whether contextual factors influenced the implementation. The program has the potential to contribute markedly to lowering human and economic costs and increasing labor force supply. First results will be available in 2013. The trial registrations are ISRCTN43004323, and ISRCTN51445682.
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| 10. |
- de Langen, Adrianus J, et al.
(author)
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Monitoring response to antiangiogenic therapy in non-small cell lung cancer using imaging markers derived from PET and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI
- 2011
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In: Journal of Nuclear Medicine. - : Society of Nuclear Medicine. - 0161-5505 .- 1535-5667 .- 2159-662X. ; 52:1, s. 48-55
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- With antiangiogenic agents, tumor shrinkage may be absent, despite survival benefit. The present study assessed the predictive value of molecular imaging for the identification of survival benefit during antiangiogenic treatment with bevacizumab and erlotinib in patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer.Methods:Patients were evaluated using an imaging protocol including CT, 18F-FDG PET, H215O PET, and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI to derive measurements on tumor size, glucose metabolism, perfusion, and microvascular permeability. The percentage change in imaging parameters after 3 wk of treatment as compared with baseline was calculated and correlated with progression-free survival (PFS).Results:Forty-four patients were included, and 40 underwent CT and 18F-FDG PET at both time points. Complete datasets, containing all imaging modalities, were available for 14 patients. Bevacizumab and erlotinib treatment resulted in decreased metabolism, perfusion, and tumor size. A decrease in standardized uptake value or tumor perfusion of more than 20% at week 3 was associated with longer PFS (9.7 vs. 2.8 mo, P = 0.01, and 12.5 vs. 2.9 mo, P = 0.009, respectively). Whole-tumor Ktrans (the endothelial transfer constant) was not associated with PFS, but patients with an increase of more than 15% in the SD of tumor Ktrans values—that is, an increase in regions with low or high Ktrans values—after 3 wk had shorter PFS (2.3 vs. 7.0 mo, P = 0.008). A partial response, according to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST), at week 3 was also associated with prolonged PFS (4.6 vs. 2.9 mo, P = 0.017). However, 40% of patients with a partial response as their best RECIST response still had stable disease at week 3. In these cases tumor perfusion was already decreased and Ktrans heterogeneity showed no increase, indicating that the latter parameters seem to be more discriminative than RECIST at the 3-wk time point.Conclusion:PET and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI were able to identify patients who benefit from bevacizumab and erlotinib treatment. Molecular imaging seems to allow earlier response evaluation than CT.
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| 11. |
- Dell'Anna, M., et al.
(author)
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THz Spectroscopy Using Low Temperature Mesoscopic Devices
- 2012
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In: Journal of Low Temperature Physics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0022-2291 .- 1573-7357. ; 167:3-4, s. 467-472
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The prototype of a THz spectroscopic camera based on low temperature mesoscopic devices is presented. The core of this system is an array of Quantum-Dots coupled to Quantum Point Contact sensors. Readout electronics is based on Time Domain Multiplexing combined with Lock-in technique. Results show that such system can reach the sensitivity needed to detect THz emission of materials in a fully passive way.
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| 12. |
- Freischmidt, Axel, et al.
(author)
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Serum microRNAs in patients with genetic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and pre-manifest mutation carriers
- 2014
-
In: Brain. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0006-8950 .- 1460-2156. ; 137:11, s. 2938-2950
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Knowledge about the nature of pathomolecular alterations preceding onset of symptoms in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is largely lacking. It could not only pave the way for the discovery of valuable therapeutic targets but might also govern future concepts of pre-manifest disease modifying treatments. MicroRNAs are central regulators of transcriptome plasticity and participate in pathogenic cascades and/or mirror cellular adaptation to insults. We obtained comprehensive expression profiles of microRNAs in the serum of patients with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, asymptomatic mutation carriers and healthy control subjects. We observed a strikingly homogenous microRNA profile in patients with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis that was largely independent from the underlying disease gene. Moreover, we identified 24 significantly downregulated microRNAs in pre-manifest amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mutation carriers up to two decades or more before the estimated time window of disease onset; 91.7% of the downregulated microRNAs in mutation carriers overlapped with the patients with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Bioinformatic analysis revealed a consensus sequence motif present in the vast majority of downregulated microRNAs identified in this study. Our data thus suggest specific common denominators regarding molecular pathogenesis of different amyotrophic lateral sclerosis genes. We describe the earliest pathomolecular alterations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mutation carriers known to date, which provide a basis for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets and strongly argue for studies evaluating presymptomatic disease-modifying treatment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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| 13. |
- Laxminarayan, Ramanan, et al.
(author)
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Antibiotic resistance-the need for global solutions
- 2013
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In: The Lancet - Infectious diseases. - 1473-3099 .- 1474-4457. ; 13:12, s. 1057-1098
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The causes of antibiotic resistance are complex and include human behaviour at many levels of society; the consequences affect everybody in the world. Similarities with climate change are evident. Many efforts have been made to describe the many different facets of antibiotic resistance and the interventions needed to meet the challenge. However, coordinated action is largely absent, especially at the political level, both nationally and internationally. Antibiotics paved the way for unprecedented medical and societal developments, and are today indispensible in all health systems. Achievements in modern medicine, such as major surgery, organ transplantation, treatment of preterm babies, and cancer chemotherapy, which we today take for granted, would not be possible without access to effective treatment for bacterial infections. Within just a few years, we might be faced with dire setbacks, medically, socially, and economically, unless real and unprecedented global coordinated actions are immediately taken. Here, we describe the global situation of antibiotic resistance, its major causes and consequences, and identify key areas in which action is urgently needed.
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| 14. |
- Lubberink, Mark, et al.
(author)
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Validity of Simplified 3′-Deoxy-3′-[18F]Fluorothymidine Uptake Measures for Monitoring Response to Chemotherapy in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer
- 2012
-
In: Molecular Imaging and Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1536-1632 .- 1860-2002. ; 14:6, s. 777-782
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose:Positron emission tomography using 3′-deoxy-3′-[18F]fluorothymidine ([18F]FLT) has been suggested as a means for monitoring response to chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of simplified uptake measures for assessing response to chemotherapy using [18F]FLT in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC).Procedures:Fifteen LABC patients underwent dynamic [18F]FLT scans both prior to and after the first cycle of chemotherapy with fluorouracil, epirubicin or doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide. The net uptake rate constant of [18F]FLT, K i , determined by non-linear regression (NLR) of an irreversible two-tissue compartment model was used as the gold standard. In addition to Patlak graphical analysis, standardised uptake values (SUV) and tumour-to-whole blood ratio (TBR) were used for analysing [18F]FLT data. Correlations and relationships between simplified uptake measures and NLR before and after chemotherapy were assessed using regression analysis.Results: No significant differences in both pre- and post-chemotherapy relationships between any of the simplified uptake measures and NLR were found. However, changes in SUV between baseline and post-therapy scans showed a significant negative bias and slope less than one, while TBR did not.Conclusions:In LABC, TBR instead of SUV may be preferred for monitoring response to chemotherapy with [18F]FLT.
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| 15. |
- Luyssaert, S, et al.
(author)
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The European land and inland water CO2, CO, CH4 and N2O balance between 2001 and 2005
- 2012
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In: Biogeosciences. - : European Geosciences Union (EGU) / Copernicus Publications. - 1726-4170 .- 1726-4189. ; 9:8, s. 3357-3380
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Globally, terrestrial ecosystems have absorbed about 30% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions over the period 2000-2007 and inter-hemispheric gradients indicate that a significant fraction of terrestrial carbon sequestration must be north of the Equator. We present a compilation of the CO2, CO, CH4 and N2O balances of Europe following a dual constraint approach in which (1) a land-based balance derived mainly from ecosystem carbon inventories and (2) a land-based balance derived from flux measurements are compared to (3) the atmospheric data-based balance derived from inversions constrained by measurements of atmospheric GHG (greenhouse gas) concentrations. Good agreement between the GHG balances based on fluxes (1294 +/- 545 Tg C in CO2-eq yr(-1)), inventories (1299 +/- 200 Tg C in CO2-eq yr(-1)) and inversions (1210 +/- 405 Tg C in CO2-eq yr(-1)) increases our confidence that the processes underlying the European GHG budget are well understood and reasonably sampled. However, the uncertainty remains large and largely lacks formal estimates. Given that European net land to atmosphere exchanges are determined by a few dominant fluxes, the uncertainty of these key components needs to be formally estimated before efforts could be made to reduce the overall uncertainty. The net land-to-atmosphere flux is a net source for CO2, CO, CH4 and N2O, because the anthropogenic emissions by far exceed the biogenic sink strength. The dual-constraint approach confirmed that the European biogenic sink removes as much as 205 +/- 72 Tg C yr(-1) from fossil fuel burning from the atmosphere. However, This C is being sequestered in both terrestrial and inland aquatic ecosystems. If the C-cost for ecosystem management is taken into account, the net uptake of ecosystems is estimated to decrease by 45% but still indicates substantial C-sequestration. However, when the balance is extended from CO2 towards the main GHGs, C-uptake by terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is offset by emissions of non-CO2 GHGs. As such, the European ecosystems are unlikely to contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change.
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| 16. |
- Mohamed, Ami F, et al.
(author)
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A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model developed for the effect of colistin on Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro with evaluation of population pharmacokinetic variability on simulated bacterial killing
- 2014
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In: Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0305-7453 .- 1460-2091. ; 69:5, s. 1350-1361
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: An optimized dosing regimen of the prodrug of colistin, colistin methanesulphonate (CMS), against resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa is needed to ensure effective bacterial killing. The objectives of this study were to develop a pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) model that characterizes the time course of the antibacterial activity of colistin against P. aeruginosa in a static in vitro system and to perform simulations of different dosing regimens and dosing algorithms to evaluate the effect of interindividual variability and interoccasion variability in PK on bacterial killing.METHODS: Static in vitro time-kill curve experiments were conducted on two different strains of P. aeruginosa (MIC 1 and 1.5 mg/L). Mechanism-based PK/PD models were fitted in NONMEM7 and the final model was combined with a previously developed population PK model of CMS and colistin to perform simulations of variability based on different dosing algorithms.RESULTS: A model with compartments for growing and resting bacteria, with a function allowing the maximal bacterial killing of colistin to reduce upon increasing colistin exposure, characterized both the fast bactericidal effect and the adaptive resistance. The variability in PK was shown to translate into pronounced interoccasion variability in bacterial killing. A flat fixed loading dose was demonstrated to result in less variability than an algorithm based on weight.CONCLUSIONS: The developed PK/PD model described the growth, death and resistance development of P. aeruginosa in response to colistin for two different strains. Based on simulations, a flat fixed loading dose followed by an 8 or 12 hourly maintenance dose with an infusion duration of up to 2 h appeared adequate.
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| 17. |
- Mohamed, Ami F, et al.
(author)
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Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model for gentamicin and its adaptive resistance with predictions of dosing schedules in newborn infants
- 2012
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In: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. - 0066-4804 .- 1098-6596. ; 56:1, s. 179-188
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Gentamicin is commonly used in the management of neonatal infections. Development of adaptive resistance is typical for aminoglycosides and reduces the antibacterial effect. There is, however, a lack of understanding of how this phenomenon influences the effect of different dosing schedules. The aim was to develop a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PKPD) model that describes the time course of the bactericidal activity of gentamicin and its adaptive resistance and to investigate different dosing schedules in preterm and term newborn infants based on the developed model. In vitro time-kill curve experiments were conducted on a strain of Escherichia coli (MIC of 2 mg/liter). The gentamicin exposure was either constant (0.125 to 16 mg/liter) or dynamic (simulated concentration-time profiles in a kinetic system with peak concentrations of 2.0, 3.9, 7.8, and 16 mg/liter given as single doses or as repeated doses every 6, 12, or 24 h). Semimechanistic PKPD models were fitted to the bacterial counts in the NONMEM (nonlinear mixed effects modeling) program. A model with compartments for growing and resting bacteria, with a function allowing the maximal bacterial killing of gentamicin to reduce with exposure, characterized both the fast bactericidal effect and the adaptive resistance. Despite a lower peak concentration, preterm neonates were predicted to have a higher bacterial killing effect than term neonates for the same per-kg dose because of gentamicin's longer half-life. The model supported an extended dosing interval of gentamicin in preterm neonates, and for all neonates, dosing intervals of 36 to 48 h were as effective as a 24-h dosing interval for the same total dose.
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| 18. |
- Ravesteijn, Wim, et al.
(author)
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River systems in transition : pathways and stakeholder involvement
- 2011
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In: River Basin Management VI. - Southampton : WIT Press. - 9781845645168 ; , s. 327-339
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In view of present-day water stress, water transitions are necessary, incorporatingboth technological innovation and institutional reform. Water provisions andproblems involve a range of diverging interests and values, with which acorresponding range of actors and stakeholders are connected. This paperfocuses on both the social and the technological dynamics around riverdevelopment and management, and explores the margins and possibilities ofstakeholder involvement in water transitions. It draws on cases from TheNetherlands, Bangladesh and China.
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| 19. |
- Reist, James D., et al.
(author)
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SWIPA Synthesis: Implications of Findings
- 2011
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In: Snow, Water, Ice and Permafrost in the Arctic (swipa): Climate Change and the Cryosphere. - 9788279710714 ; , s. 1-15
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Book chapter (peer-reviewed)
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| 20. |
- Schnitzbauer, Andreas A, et al.
(author)
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A prospective randomised, open-labeled, trial comparing sirolimus-containing versus mTOR-inhibitor-free immunosuppression in patients undergoing liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma.
- 2010
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In: BMC cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2407. ; 10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The potential anti-cancer effects of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors are being intensively studied. To date, however, few randomised clinical trials (RCT) have been performed to demonstrate anti-neoplastic effects in the pure oncology setting, and at present, no oncology endpoint-directed RCT has been reported in the high-malignancy risk population of immunosuppressed transplant recipients. Interestingly, since mTOR inhibitors have both immunosuppressive and anti-cancer effects, they have the potential to simultaneously protect against immunologic graft loss and tumour development. Therefore, we designed a prospective RCT to determine if the mTOR inhibitor sirolimus can improve hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-free patient survival in liver transplant (LT) recipients with a pre-transplant diagnosis of HCC.
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| 21. |
- Sinha, Abhinav, et al.
(author)
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A cascade of DNA-binding proteins for sexual commitment and development in Plasmodium
- 2014
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In: Nature. - : Macmillan Publishers Ltd.. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 507:7491, s. 253-257
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Commitment to and completion of sexual development are essential for malaria parasites (protists of the genus Plasmodium) to be transmitted through mosquitoes. The molecular mechanism(s) responsible for commitment have been hitherto unknown. Here we show that PbAP2-G, a conserved member of the apicomplexan AP2 (ApiAP2) family of DNA-binding proteins, is essential for the commitment of asexually replicating forms to sexual development in Plasmodium berghei, a malaria parasite of rodents. PbAP2-G was identified from mutations in its encoding gene, PBANKA_143750, which account for the loss of sexual development frequently observed in parasites transmitted artificially by blood passage. Systematic gene deletion of conserved ApiAP2 genes in Plasmodium confirmed the role of PbAP2-G and revealed a second ApiAP2 member (PBANKA_103430, here termed PbAP2-G2) that significantly modulates but does not abolish gametocytogenesis, indicating that a cascade of ApiAP2 proteins are involved in commitment to the production and maturation of gametocytes. The data suggest a mechanism of commitment to gametocytogenesis in Plasmodium consistent with a positive feedback loop involving PbAP2-G that could be exploited to prevent the transmission of this pernicious parasite.
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| 23. |
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