| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
|
|
| 6. |
|
|
| 7. |
- Lederman, J. S., et al.
(author)
-
International collaborative follow-up investigation of graduating high school students' understandings of the nature of scientific inquiry : is progress Being made?
- 2021
-
In: International Journal of Science Education. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0950-0693 .- 1464-5289. ; 43:7, s. 991-1016
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Understandings of the nature of scientific inquiry (NOSI), as opposed to engaging students in inquiry learning experiences, are included in science education reform documents around the world. However, little is known about what students have learned about NOSI during their pre-college school years. The purpose of this large-scale follow-up international project (i.e. 32 countries and regions, spanning six continents and including 3917 students for the high school sample) was to collect data on what exiting high school students have learned about NOSI. Additionally, the study investigated changes in 12th grade students' NOSI understandings compared to seventh grade (i.e. 20 countries and regions) students' understandings from a prior investigation [Lederman et al. (2019). An international collaborative investigation of beginning seventh grade students' understandings of scientific inquiry: Establishing a baseline. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 56(4), 486-515. ]. This study documents and discusses graduating high school students' understandings and compares their understandings to seventh grade students' understandings of the same aspects of scientific inquiry for each country. It is important to note that collecting data from each of the 130+ countries globally was not feasible. Similarly, it was not possible to collect data from every region of each country. A concerted effort was made, however, to provide a relatively representative picture of each country and the world.
|
|
| 8. |
- Ratajczak-Tretel, B., et al.
(author)
-
Atrial fibrillation in cryptogenic stroke and TIA patients in the nordic atrial fibrillation and stroke The Nordic Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke (NOR-FIB) Study : Main results
- 2023
-
In: European Stroke Journal. - : SAGE Publications. - 2396-9873 .- 2396-9881. ; 8:1, s. 148-156
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: Secondary stroke prevention depends on proper identification of the underlying etiology and initiation of optimal treatment after the index event. The aim of the NOR-FIB study was to detect and quantify underlying atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with cryptogenic stroke (CS) or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) using insertable cardiac monitor (ICM), to optimise secondary prevention, and to test the feasibility of ICM usage for stroke physicians. Patients and methods: Prospective observational international multicenter real-life study of CS and TIA patients monitored for 12 months with ICM (Reveal LINQ) for AF detection. Results: ICM insertion was performed in 91.5% by stroke physicians, within median 9 days after index event. Paroxysmal AF was diagnosed in 74 out of 259 patients (28.6%), detected early after ICM insertion (mean 48 ± 52 days) in 86.5% of patients. AF patients were older (72.6 vs 62.2; p < 0.001), had higher pre-stroke CHA₂DS₂-VASc score (median 3 vs 2; p < 0.001) and admission NIHSS (median 2 vs 1; p = 0.001); and more often hypertension (p = 0.045) and dyslipidaemia (p = 0.005) than non-AF patients. The arrhythmia was recurrent in 91.9% and asymptomatic in 93.2%. At 12-month follow-up anticoagulants usage was 97.3%. Discussion and conclusions: ICM was an effective tool for diagnosing underlying AF, capturing AF in 29% of the CS and TIA patients. AF was asymptomatic in most cases and would mainly have gone undiagnosed without ICM. The insertion and use of ICM was feasible for stroke physicians in stroke units.
|
|
| 9. |
- Ratajczak-Tretel, B, et al.
(author)
-
Prediction of underlying atrial fibrillation in patients with a cryptogenic stroke : results from the NOR-FIB Study
- 2023
-
In: Journal of Neurology. - 1432-1459. ; 270:8, s. 4049-4059
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) detection and treatment are key elements to reduce recurrence risk in cryptogenic stroke (CS) with underlying arrhythmia. The purpose of the present study was to assess the predictors of AF in CS and the utility of existing AF-predicting scores in The Nordic Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke (NOR-FIB) Study.METHOD: The NOR-FIB study was an international prospective observational multicenter study designed to detect and quantify AF in CS and cryptogenic transient ischaemic attack (TIA) patients monitored by the insertable cardiac monitor (ICM), and to identify AF-predicting biomarkers. The utility of the following AF-predicting scores was tested: AS5F, Brown ESUS-AF, CHA 2DS 2-VASc, CHASE-LESS, HATCH, HAVOC, STAF and SURF. RESULTS: In univariate analyses increasing age, hypertension, left ventricle hypertrophy, dyslipidaemia, antiarrhythmic drugs usage, valvular heart disease, and neuroimaging findings of stroke due to intracranial vessel occlusions and previous ischemic lesions were associated with a higher likelihood of detected AF. In multivariate analysis, age was the only independent predictor of AF. All the AF-predicting scores showed significantly higher score levels for AF than non-AF patients. The STAF and the SURF scores provided the highest sensitivity and negative predictive values, while the AS5F and SURF reached an area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) > 0.7.CONCLUSION: Clinical risk scores may guide a personalized evaluation approach in CS patients. Increasing awareness of the usage of available AF-predicting scores may optimize the arrhythmia detection pathway in stroke units.
|
|
| 10. |
- Ratajczak-Tretel, B, et al.
(author)
-
Underlying causes of cryptogenic stroke and TIA in the nordic atrial fibrillation and stroke (NOR-FIB) study : the importance of comprehensive clinical evaluation
- 2023
-
In: BMC Neurology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2377. ; 23:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Cryptogenic stroke is a heterogeneous condition, with a wide spectrum of possible underlying causes for which the optimal secondary prevention may differ substantially. Attempting a correct etiological diagnosis to reduce the stroke recurrence should be the fundamental goal of modern stroke management.METHODS: Prospective observational international multicenter study of cryptogenic stroke and cryptogenic transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients clinically monitored for 12 months to assign the underlying etiology. For atrial fibrillation (AF) detection continuous cardiac rhythm monitoring with insertable cardiac monitor (Reveal LINQ, Medtronic) was performed. The 12-month follow-up data for 250 of 259 initially included NOR-FIB patients were available for analysis.RESULTS: After 12 months follow-up probable stroke causes were revealed in 43% patients, while 57% still remained cryptogenic. AF and atrial flutter was most prevalent (29%). In 14% patients other possible causes were revealed (small vessel disease, large-artery atherosclerosis, hypercoagulable states, other cardioembolism). Patients remaining cryptogenic were younger (p < 0.001), had lower CHA 2DS 2-VASc score (p < 0.001) on admission, and lower NIHSS score (p = 0.031) and mRS (p = 0.016) at discharge. Smoking was more prevalent in patients that were still cryptogenic (p = 0.014), while dyslipidaemia was less prevalent (p = 0.044). Stroke recurrence rate was higher in the cryptogenic group compared to the group where the etiology was revealed, 7.7% vs. 2.8%, (p = 0.091). CONCLUSION: Cryptogenic stroke often indicates the inability to identify the cause in the acute phase and should be considered as a working diagnosis until efforts of diagnostic work up succeed in identifying a specific underlying etiology. Timeframe of 6-12-month follow-up may be considered as optimal.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02937077, EudraCT 2018-002298-23.
|
|
| 11. |
- van Atteveld, J. E., et al.
(author)
-
Risk and determinants of low and very low bone mineral density and fractures in a national cohort of Dutch adult childhood cancer survivors (DCCSS-LATER): a cross-sectional study
- 2023
-
In: Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. - : Elsevier BV. - 2213-8587. ; 11:1, s. 21-32
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Childhood cancer survivors are at risk of developing skeletal comorbidities later in life. We aimed to assess risk factors for low and very low bone mineral density (BMD), and the risk of and risk factors for any fractures and vertebral fractures in a national cohort of Dutch adult childhood cancer survivors. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we used data from the DCCSS LATER cohort, which comprised individuals who were alive for at least 5 years after diagnosis of childhood cancer (ie, histologically confirmed malignancies or Langerhans cell histiocytosis), were diagnosed before the age of 19 years, and who had been treated at one of seven Dutch paediatric oncology centres between 1963 and 2002 (hereafter referred to as survivors). For this study, we invited survivors aged 18-45 years, who were alive as of Oct 10, 2016, living in the Netherlands, and who were deemed eligible by their treating physician to participate. We assessed BMD using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Self-reported fractures that occurred at least 5 years after cancer diagnosis were assessed using available medical history and compared with population-level data from the Swedish national registry. We assessed vertebral fractures in a subset of participants using a vertebral fracture assessment. We assessed associations between the occurrence of low (Z-score of <=-1) or very low (Z-score of <=-2) BMD, fractures, and vertebral fractures and demographic, treatment -related, endocrine, and lifestyle-related factors using logistic regression analysis. Findings Between April 29, 2016, and Jan 22, 2020, 3996 (64 center dot 8%) of 6165 individuals from the DCCSS LATER cohort were invited to participate, of whom 2003 (50 center dot 1%) were enrolled (mean age at participation was 33 center dot 1 years [SD 7 center dot 2], 966 [48 center dot 2%] were female, and 1037 [51 center dot 8%] were male [data on ethnicity and race were not available due to national policies]). 1548 (77 center dot 3%) had evaluable DXA scans for assessment of BMD, 1892 (94 center dot 5%) provided medical history of fractures, and 249 (12 center dot 4%) were assessed for vertebral fractures. 559 (36 center dot 1%) of 1548 had low BMD at any site, and 149 (9 center dot 6%) had very low BMD at any site. The standardised incidence ratio of any first fracture was 3 center dot 53 (95% CI 3 center dot 06-4 center dot 06) for male participants and 5 center dot 35 (4 center dot 46-6 center dot 52) for female participants. 33 (13 center dot 3%) of 249 participants had vertebral fractures. Male sex, underweight, high carboplatin dose, any dose of cranial radiotherapy, hypogonadism, hyperthyroidism, low physical activity, and severe vitamin D deficiency were associated with low BMD at any site and male sex, underweight, cranial radiotherapy, growth hormone deficiency, and severe vitamin D deficiency were associated with very low BMD at any site. Additionally, male sex, former and current smoking, and very low lumbar spine BMD were associated with any fractures, whereas older age at follow-up, previous treatment with platinum compounds, growth hormone deficiency, and low physical activity were specifically associated with vertebral fractures. Interpretation Survivors of childhood cancer are at increased risk of any first fracture. Very low lumbar spine BMD was associated with fractures, highlighting the importance of active BMD surveillance in high-risk survivors (ie, those treated with cranial, craniospinal, or total body irradiation). Moreover, our results indicate that intensive surveillance and timely interventions for endocrine disorders and vitamin deficiencies might improve bone health in childhood cancer survivors, but this needs to be assessed in future studies.
|
|
| 12. |
- Burguière, Adeline, et al.
(author)
-
LosA, a key glycosyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of a novel family of glycosylated acyltrehalose lipooligosaccharides from Mycobacterium marinum.
- 2005
-
In: The Journal of biological chemistry. - 0021-9258. ; 280:51, s. 42124-33
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Members of the genus Mycobacterium are characterized by cell envelopes rich in unusual free lipids, interacting with a covalently anchored mycolyl-arabinogalactan matrix. Previous studies have shown that Mycobacterium marinum produces large amounts of a diacylglycosylphenolphthiocerol, "phenolic" glycolipid. When cultivated on liquid Sauton medium, traces of a polar lipooligosaccharide (LOS) glycolipid antigen were also previously indicated. In this study, it was found that growth of the type strain of M. marinum on solid Sauton or Middlebrook 7H10 agar gave substantial, but different, amounts of a family of four major trehalose-based LOSs. The core pentasaccharide LOS-I was a rhamnosyl diglucosyl-acylated trehalose. The heptasaccharide, LOS-II, was derived from LOS-I by adding xylose accompanied by a novel sugar (X); repeated addition of this sugar unit X gave the octasaccharide LOS-III. LOS-IV has a decasaccharide component with two additional unusual sugar units, YZ. In a recent study (Alexander, D. C., Jones, J. R., Tan, T., Chen, J. M., and Liu, J. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 18824-18833), chromatographically similar glycolipids were assigned to the family of phosphatidylinositol mannosides (PIMs) and a "PimF" (Rv1500) glycosyltransferase implicated in the conversion of a supposed "PIM5" to a "PIM7." The present study indicates that these putative PIMs are in fact members of the phosphorus-free LOS family of glycolipids and that the protein product of Rv1500, which we have now termed LosA, is a glycosyltransferase involved in transferring sugars to LOS-III to form LOS-IV of M. marinum.
|
|
| 13. |
|
|
| 14. |
- Gebauer, J., et al.
(author)
-
The chance of transition : strategies for multidisciplinary collaboration
- 2022
-
In: Endocrine Connections. - 2049-3614. ; 11:9
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Many long-term childhood cancer survivors suffer from treatment-related late effects, which may occur in any organ and include a wide spectrum of conditions. Long-term follow-up (LTFU) is recommended to facilitate early diagnosis and to ensure better health outcomes. Due to the heterogeneity of these sequelae, different specialists work together in the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. Experts from both pediatric and internal medicine are involved in age-appropriate care by providing a transition process. Hence, LTFU of childhood cancer survivors is a prototypic example of multidisciplinary care for patients with complex needs treated in a specialized setting. International collaborations of healthcare professionals and scientists involved in LTFU of childhood cancer survivors, such as the International Guideline Harmonization Group, compile surveillance recommendations that can be clinically adopted all over the world. These global networks of clinicians and researchers make a joint effort to address gaps in knowledge, increase visibility and awareness of cancer survivorship and provide an excellent example of how progress in clinical care and scientific research may be achieved by international and multidisciplinary collaboration.
|
|
| 15. |
- Gerber, Sophie, et al.
(author)
-
High Rates of Gene Flow by Pollen and Seed in Oak Populations across Europe
- 2014
-
In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 9:1, s. e85130-
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Gene flow is a key factor in the evolution of species, influencing effective population size, hybridisation and local adaptation. We analysed local gene flow in eight stands of white oak (mostly Quercus petraea and Q. robur, but also Q. pubescens and Q. faginea) distributed across Europe. Adult trees within a given area in each stand were exhaustively sampled (range [239, 754], mean 423), mapped, and acorns were collected ([17,147], 51) from several mother trees ([3,47], 23). Seedlings ([65,387], 178) were harvested and geo-referenced in six of the eight stands. Genetic information was obtained from screening distinct molecular markers spread across the genome, genotyping each tree, acorn or seedling. All samples were thus genotyped at 5-8 nuclear microsatellite loci. Fathers/parents were assigned to acorns and seedlings using likelihood methods. Mating success of male and female parents, pollen and seed dispersal curves, and also hybridisation rates were estimated in each stand and compared on a continental scale. On average, the percentage of the wind-borne pollen from outside the stand was 60%, with large variation among stands (21-88%). Mean seed immigration into the stand was 40%, a high value for oaks that are generally considered to have limited seed dispersal. However, this estimate varied greatly among stands (20-66%). Gene flow was mostly intraspecific, with large variation, as some trees and stands showed particularly high rates of hybridisation. Our results show that mating success was unevenly distributed among trees. The high levels of gene flow suggest that geographically remote oak stands are unlikely to be genetically isolated, questioning the static definition of gene reserves and seed stands.
|
|
| 16. |
- Kirby, A J, et al.
(author)
-
Gemini surfactants: New synthetic vectors for gene transfection
- 2003
-
In: Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English. - : Wiley. - 0570-0833 .- 1433-7851 .- 1521-3773. ; 42:13, s. 1448-1457
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The superior surfactant properties of cationic gemini surfactants are applied to the complex problem of introducing genes into cells. Of almost 250 new compounds tested, of some 20 different structural types, a majority showed very good transfection activity in vitro. The surfactant is shown to bind and compact DNA efficiently, and structural studies and calculations provide a working picture of the lipoplex formed. The lipoplex can penetrate the outer membranes of many cell types, to appear in the cytoplasm encapsulated within endosomes. Escape from the endosome - a key step for transfection - may be controlled by changes in the aggregation behavior of the lipoplex as the pH falls. The evidence suggests that DNA may be released from the lipoplex before entry into the nucleus, where the new gene can be expressed with high efficiency.
|
|
| 17. |
|
|
| 18. |
- Reulen, RC, et al.
(author)
-
Risk of digestive cancers in a cohort of 69 460 five-year survivors of childhood cancer in Europe: the PanCareSurFup study
- 2021
-
In: Gut. - : BMJ. - 1468-3288 .- 0017-5749. ; 70:8, s. 1520-1528
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Survivors of childhood cancer are at risk of subsequent primary neoplasms (SPNs), but the risk of developing specific digestive SPNs beyond age 40 years remains uncertain. We investigated risks of specific digestive SPNs within the largest available cohort worldwide.MethodsThe PanCareSurFup cohort includes 69 460 five-year survivors of childhood cancer from 12 countries in Europe. Risks of digestive SPNs were quantified using standardised incidence ratios (SIRs), absolute excess risks and cumulative incidence.Results427 digestive SPNs (214 colorectal, 62 liver, 48 stomach, 44 pancreas, 59 other) were diagnosed in 413 survivors. Wilms tumour (WT) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivors were at greatest risk (SIR 12.1; 95% CI 9.6 to 15.1; SIR 7.3; 95% CI 5.9 to 9.0, respectively). The cumulative incidence increased the most steeply with increasing age for WT survivors, reaching 7.4% by age 55% and 9.6% by age 60 years (1.0% expected based on general population rates). Regarding colorectal SPNs, WT and HL survivors were at greatest risk; both seven times that expected. By age 55 years, 2.3% of both WT (95% CI 1.4 to 3.9) and HL (95% CI 1.6 to 3.2) survivors had developed a colorectal SPN—comparable to the risk among members of the general population with at least two first-degree relatives affected.ConclusionsColonoscopy surveillance before age 55 is recommended in many European countries for individuals with a family history of colorectal cancer, but not for WT and HL survivors despite a comparable risk profile. Clinically, serious consideration should be given to the implementation of colonoscopy surveillance while further evaluation of its benefits, harms and cost-effectiveness in WT and HL survivors is undertaken.
|
|
| 19. |
- Sieberts, SK, et al.
(author)
-
Crowdsourced assessment of common genetic contribution to predicting anti-TNF treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis
- 2016
-
In: Nature communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 7, s. 12460-
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects millions world-wide. While anti-TNF treatment is widely used to reduce disease progression, treatment fails in ∼one-third of patients. No biomarker currently exists that identifies non-responders before treatment. A rigorous community-based assessment of the utility of SNP data for predicting anti-TNF treatment efficacy in RA patients was performed in the context of a DREAM Challenge (http://www.synapse.org/RA_Challenge). An open challenge framework enabled the comparative evaluation of predictions developed by 73 research groups using the most comprehensive available data and covering a wide range of state-of-the-art modelling methodologies. Despite a significant genetic heritability estimate of treatment non-response trait (h2=0.18, P value=0.02), no significant genetic contribution to prediction accuracy is observed. Results formally confirm the expectations of the rheumatology community that SNP information does not significantly improve predictive performance relative to standard clinical traits, thereby justifying a refocusing of future efforts on collection of other data.
|
|
| 20. |
- Abu-Hayyeh, S., et al.
(author)
-
Prognostic and Mechanistic Potential of Progesterone Sulfates in Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy and Pruritus Gravidarum
- 2016
-
In: Hepatology. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0270-9139 .- 1527-3350. ; 63:4, s. 1287-1298
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A challenge in obstetrics is to distinguish pathological symptoms from those associated with normal changes of pregnancy, typified by the need to differentiate whether gestational pruritus of the skin is an early symptom of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) or due to benign pruritus gravidarum. ICP is characterized by raised serum bile acids and complicated by spontaneous preterm labor and stillbirth. A biomarker for ICP would be invaluable for early diagnosis and treatment and to enable its differentiation from other maternal diseases. Three progesterone sulfate compounds, whose concentrations have not previously been studied, were newly synthesized and assayed in the serum of three groups of ICP patients and found to be significantly higher in ICP at 9-15 weeks of gestation and prior to symptom onset (group 1 cases/samples: ICP n = 35/80, uncomplicated pregnancy = 29/100), demonstrating that all three progesterone sulfates are prognostic for ICP. Concentrations of progesterone sulfates were associated with itch severity and, in combination with autotaxin, distinguished pregnant women with itch that would subsequently develop ICP from pruritus gravidarum (group 2: ICP n = 41, pruritus gravidarum n = 14). In a third group of first-trimester samples all progesterone sulfates were significantly elevated in serum from low-risk asymptomatic women who subsequently developed ICP (ICP/uncomplicated pregnancy n = 54/51). Finally, we show mechanistically that progesterone sulfates mediate itch by evoking a Tgr5-dependent scratch response in mice. Conclusion: Our discovery that sulfated progesterone metabolites are a prognostic indicator for ICP will help predict onset of ICP and distinguish it from benign pruritus gravidarum, enabling targeted obstetric care to a high-risk population. Delineation of a progesterone sulfate-TGR5 pruritus axis identifies a therapeutic target for itch management in ICP.
|
|
| 21. |
|
|
| 22. |
|
|
| 23. |
|
|
| 24. |
|
|
| 25. |
- Bouwman, Eline, et al.
(author)
-
Healthcare professionals' perceived barriers and facilitators of health behavior support provision : A qualitative study
- 2023
-
In: Cancer Medicine. - : Wiley. - 2045-7634. ; 12:6, s. 7414-7426
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) have an increased risk of developing chronic health conditions. Evidence suggests that poor health behaviors further increase health risks. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) involved in survivorship care have a key role in providing health behavior support (HBS) but can feel limited in their ability to do so. This study aims to explore European HCPs perceived facilitators and barriers to providing HBS to CCSs. Methods: Five focus groups with 30 HCPs from survivorship care clinics across Europe were conducted. Topic guides were informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to capture domains that may influence provision of HBS. Focus groups were analyzed with thematic analysis. Transcripts were inductively coded, after which axial coding was applied to organize codes into categories. Finally, categories were mapped onto the TDF domains. Results: Nine TDF domains were identified in the data. The most commonly reported TDF domains were “Knowledge”, “Skills”, and “Environmental context and resources”. HCPs indicated that their lack of knowledge of the association between late effects and health behaviors, besides time restrictions, were barriers to HBS. Facilitators for HBS included possession of skills needed to pass on health behavior information, good clinic organization, and an established network of HCPs. Conclusions: This study identified education and training of HCPs as key opportunities to improve HBS. Survivorship care clinics should work towards establishing well-integrated structured care with internal and external networks including HBS being part of routine care. Proper understanding of facilitators and barriers should lead to better survivorship care for CCSs.
|
|
| 26. |
- Bouwman, Eline, et al.
(author)
-
Perceived barriers and facilitators to health behaviors in European childhood cancer survivors : A qualitative PanCareFollowUp study
- 2023
-
In: Cancer Medicine. - 2045-7634. ; 12:11, s. 12749-12764
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Healthy behaviors, that is, engaging in regular physical activities, maintaining a healthy diet, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding tobacco and drug use, decrease the risk of developing late adverse health conditions in childhood cancer survivors. However, childhood cancer survivors may experience barriers to adopting and maintaining healthy behaviors. This study aimed to assess these barriers and facilitators to health behavior adoption and maintenance in childhood cancer survivors. Methods: A focus group (n = 12) and semi-structured telephone interviews (n = 20) were conducted with a selected sample of European and Dutch childhood cancer survivors, respectively. The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) was used to inform the topic guide and analysis. Inductive thematic analysis was applied to identify categories relating to barriers and facilitators of health behavior adoption and maintenance, after which they were deductively mapped onto the TDF. Results: Ten TDF domains were identified in the data of which “Knowledge,” “Beliefs about consequences,” “Environmental context and resources,” and “Social influences” were most commonly reported. Childhood cancer survivors expressed a need for knowledge on the importance of healthy behaviors, possibly provided by healthcare professionals. They indicated physical and long-term benefits of healthy behaviors, available professional support, and a supporting and health-consciously minded work and social environment to be facilitators. Barriers were mostly related to a lack of available time and an unhealthy environment. Lastly, (social) media was perceived as both a barrier and a facilitator to healthy behaviors. Conclusion: This study has identified education and available professional support in health behaviors and the relevance of healthy behaviors for childhood cancer survivors as key opportunities for stimulating health behavior adoption in childhood cancer survivors. Incorporating health behavior support and interventions for this population should therefore be a high priority.
|
|
| 27. |
|
|
| 28. |
- Catania, Alessia, et al.
(author)
-
Arabidopsis thaliana alternative dehydrogenases : A potential therapy for mitochondrial complex i deficiency? Perspectives and pitfalls
- 2019
-
In: Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1750-1172. ; 14:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Complex I (CI or NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) deficiency is the most frequent cause of mitochondrial respiratory chain defect. Successful attempts to rescue CI function by introducing an exogenous NADH dehydrogenase, such as the NDI1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ScNDI1), have been reported although with drawbacks related to competition with CI. In contrast to ScNDI1, which is permanently active in yeast naturally devoid of CI, plant alternative NADH dehydrogenases (NDH-2) support the oxidation of NADH only when the CI is metabolically inactive and conceivably when the concentration of matrix NADH exceeds a certain threshold. We therefore explored the feasibility of CI rescue by NDH-2 from Arabidopsis thaliana (At) in human CI defective fibroblasts. Results: We showed that, other than ScNDI1, two different NDH-2 (AtNDA2 and AtNDB4) targeted to the mitochondria were able to rescue CI deficiency and decrease oxidative stress as indicated by a normalization of SOD activity in human CI-defective fibroblasts. We further demonstrated that when expressed in human control fibroblasts, AtNDA2 shows an affinity for NADH oxidation similar to that of CI, thus competing with CI for the oxidation of NADH as opposed to our initial hypothesis. This competition reduced the amount of ATP produced per oxygen atom reduced to water by half in control cells. Conclusions: In conclusion, despite their promising potential to rescue CI defects, due to a possible competition with remaining CI activity, plant NDH-2 should be regarded with caution as potential therapeutic tools for human mitochondrial diseases.
|
|
| 29. |
- Dreier, J. P., et al.
(author)
-
Migraine and delayed ischaemic neurological deficit after subarachnoid haemorrhage in women: a case-control study
- 2007
-
In: European Journal of Neurology. - : Wiley. - 1351-5101. ; 14:12, s. 1363-1368
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of the present case-control study was to investigate the role of migraine as a potential risk factor for a delayed ischaemic neurological deficit (DIND) after subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). A telephone interview was performed in patients or their relatives to determine the prevalence of migraine. Thirty-six women aged < 60 years had SAH with Hunt & Hess grade I-III and DIND (group A). This group was compared with an age-matched group of 36 female SAH patients, Hunt & Hess grade I-III without DIND (group B). The two populations were also characterized regarding hypertension, smoking, diabetes mellitus and alcohol use. A significant difference was only found for the prevalence of migraine with 47% in group A and 25% in group B (P < 0.05; odds ratio: 2.68, confidence interval: 0.99-7.29). Migraineurs revealed similar prevalences of risk factors independently of the presence of DINDs. This retrospective study suggests that women with migraine have a higher risk to develop a DIND than women without migraine.
|
|
| 30. |
|
|
| 31. |
|
|
| 32. |
- Haas, Jan, et al.
(author)
-
Atlas of the clinical genetics of human dilated cardiomyopathy
- 2015
-
In: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford University Press. - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 36:18, s. 1123-U43
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: We were able to show that targeted Next-Generation Sequencing is well suited to be applied in clinical routine diagnostics, substantiating the ongoing paradigm shift from low- to high-throughput genomics in medicine. By means of our atlas of the genetics of human DCM, we aspire to soon be able to apply our findings to the individual patient with cardiomyopathy in daily clinical practice. Numerous genes are known to cause dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, until now technological limitations have hindered elucidation of the contribution of all clinically relevant disease genes to DCM phenotypes in larger cohorts. We now utilized next-generation sequencing to overcome these limitations and screened all DCM disease genes in a large cohort. Methods and results: In this multi-centre, multi-national study, we have enrolled 639 patients with sporadic or familial DCM. To all samples, we applied a standardized protocol for ultra-high coverage next-generation sequencing of 84 genes, leading to 99.1% coverage of the target region with at least 50-fold and a mean read depth of 2415. In this well characterized cohort, we find the highest number of known cardiomyopathy mutations in plakophilin-2, myosin-binding protein C-3, and desmoplakin. When we include yet unknown but predicted disease variants, we find titin, plakophilin-2, myosin-binding protein-C 3, desmoplakin, ryanodine receptor 2, desmocollin-2, desmoglein-2, and SCN5A variants among the most commonly mutated genes. The overlap between DCM, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and channelopathy causing mutations is considerably high. Of note, we find that >38% of patients have compound or combined mutations and 12.8% have three or even more mutations. When comparing patients recruited in the eight participating European countries we find remarkably little differences in mutation frequencies and affected genes. Conclusion: This is to our knowledge, the first study that comprehensively investigated the genetics of DCM in a large-scale cohort and across a broad gene panel of the known DCM genes. Our results underline the high analytical quality and feasibility of Next-Generation Sequencing in clinical genetic diagnostics and provide a sound database of the genetic causes of DCM.
|
|
| 33. |
|
|
| 34. |
|
|
| 35. |
|
|
| 36. |
|
|
| 37. |
|
|
| 38. |
- Nelen, W. L., et al.
(author)
-
The methodological quality of clinical guidelines of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)
- 2008
-
In: Human Reproduction. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1460-2350 .- 0268-1161. ; 23:8, s. 1786-92
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Clinical practice guidelines bridge the gap between the evidence from literature and clinical practice, and they may provide guidance in ethical, legal and societal dilemmas. To explore the potentials for future international guideline development within the field of human reproduction and embryology, we assessed the quality of existing guidelines produced by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). METHODS: We systematically searched for the ESHRE guidelines produced after 1996 in electronic databases and on the Internet. Subsequently, we assessed the methodological quality of these guidelines using the validated Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) Instrument. RESULTS: The overall methodological quality of most of the 11 selected ESHRE guidelines was poor. Most of the guidelines scored <30% in the domains of 'stakeholder involvement', 'rigour of development', 'applicability' and 'editorial independence'. Only one guideline was rated 'strongly recommended'. CONCLUSIONS: The methodological quality of the guidelines produced under the auspices of ESHRE can be improved. We suggest a systematic, up-to-date methodology, investment in guideline development specialists, systematic quality control and the incorporation of indicator development. Furthermore, attention should be paid to the document nomenclature, and an ESHRE guidelines' summary on a special part of the ESHRE website would be a good initiative.
|
|
| 39. |
- Pappas, D. A., et al.
(author)
-
Prevalence of cardiovascular disease and major risk factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a multinational cross-sectional study
- 2018
-
In: Clinical Rheumatology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0770-3198 .- 1434-9949. ; 37:9, s. 2331-2340
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To compare the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and major CVD risk factors among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients enrolled in a large US and multinational registry. We compared CVD and CVD risk factor prevalence from 11 countries enrolled in the CORRONA US and CORRONA International registries; patients from the 10 ex-US participating countries were grouped by region (Eastern Europe, Latin America, and India). Unadjusted summary data were presented for demographics and disease characteristics; comparisons for prevalence of CVD risk factors and CVD were age/gender standardized to the age/gender distribution of the US enrolled patients. Overall, 25,987 patients were included in this analysis. Compared to patients from the ex-US regions, US participants had longer disease duration and lower disease activity, yet were more likely to receive a biologic agent. Additionally, CORRONA US participants had the highest body mass index (BMI). Enrolled patients in India had the lowest BMI, were more rarely smokers, and had a low prevalence of hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and prior CVD compared to the US and other ex-US regions. Participants from Eastern Europe had a higher prevalence of hypertension and hyperlipidemia and highest prevalence of all manifestations of CVD. Differences in the prevalence of both CVD and major CVD risk factors were observed across the four regions investigated. Observed differences may be influenced by variations in both non-modifiable/modifiable characteristics of patient populations, and may contribute to heterogeneity on the observed safety of investigational and approved therapies in studies involving RA patients from different origins.
|
|
| 40. |
- Polet, Sjoukje S., et al.
(author)
-
A detailed description of the phenotypic spectrum of North Sea Progressive Myoclonus Epilepsy in a large cohort of seventeen patients
- 2020
-
In: Parkinsonism and Related Disorders. - : Elsevier BV. - 1353-8020. ; 72, s. 44-48
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: In 2011, a homozygous mutation in GOSR2 (c.430G > T; p. Gly144Trp) was reported as a novel cause of Progressive Myoclonus Epilepsy (PME) with early-onset ataxia. Interestingly, the ancestors of patients originate from countries bound to the North Sea, hence the condition was termed North Sea PME (NSPME). Until now, only 20 patients have been reported in literature. Here, we provide a detailed description of clinical and neurophysiological data of seventeen patients. Methods: We collected clinical and neurophysiological data from the medical records of seventeen NSPME patients (5–46 years). In addition, we conducted an interview focused on factors influencing myoclonus severity. Results: The core clinical features of NSPME are early-onset ataxia, myoclonus and seizures, with additionally areflexia and scoliosis. Factors such as fever, illness, heat, emotions, stress, noise and light (flashes) all exacerbated myoclonic jerks. Epilepsy severity ranged from the absence of or incidental clinical seizures to frequent daily seizures and status epilepticus. Some patients made use of a wheelchair during their first decade, whereas others still walked independently during their third decade. Neurophysiological features suggesting neuromuscular involvement in NSPME were variable, with findings ranging from indicative of sensory neuronopathy and anterior horn cell involvement to an isolated absent H-reflex. Conclusion: Although the sequence of symptoms is rather homogeneous, the severity of symptoms and rate of progression varied considerably among individual patients. Common triggers for myoclonus can be identified and myoclonus is difficult to treat; to what extent neuromuscular involvement contributes to the phenotype remains to be further elucidated.
|
|
| 41. |
|
|
| 42. |
|
|
| 43. |
- Stingaciu, Marian, et al.
(author)
-
The magnetodielectric effect in BaTiO3-SrFe12O19 nanocomposites
- 2014
-
In: Journal of Materials Chemistry C: Materials for Optical and Electronic Devices. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 2050-7526. ; 2:2, s. 325-330
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A nanoscale composite consisting of 30 vol% magnetic strontium hexaferrite SrFe12O19 embedded in a high dielectric permittivity matrix of BaTiO3 has been produced by the spark plasma sintering method. The morphology and phase composition were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. TEM micrographs indicate that no considerable grain growth occurs and different strained regions were formed by the sintering process. XRD investigations show no evidence of a chemical reaction between the constituents. The dielectric properties of such a nanocomposite were investigated versus temperature (50-300 K), frequency (100 Hz to 100 kHz) and magnetic field (0-5.6 Tesla). A magnetodielectric (MD) effect was detected in the whole studied temperature range. Above 150 K the occurrence of sharp magnetodielectric resonances around 1 kHz leads to a considerable enhancement of the effect. At temperatures below 150 K a positive MD effect was detected which is independent of the frequency.
|
|
| 44. |
- Telenius, H, et al.
(author)
-
Molecular analysis of juvenile Huntington disease : the major influence on (CAG)n repeat length is the sex of the affected parent.
- 1993
-
In: Human Molecular Genetics. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0964-6906 .- 1460-2083. ; 2:10, s. 1535-40
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Juvenile Huntington disease (HD), characterised by onset of symptoms before the age of 20 with rigidity and intellectual decline, is associated with a predominance of affected fathers. In order to investigate the molecular basis for the observed parental effect, we have analysed the CAG trinucleotide repeat within the HD gene in 42 juvenile onset cases from 34 families. A highly significant correlation was found between the repeat length and age of onset (r = -0.86, p < 10(-7) and it was determined that the sex of transmitting parent was the major influence on CAG expansion leading to earlier onset. Neither the size of the parental upper allele, the age of parent at conception of juvenile onset child, nor the grandparental sex conferred a significant effect upon expansion. Affected sib pair analysis of CAG repeat length, however, revealed a high correlation (r = 0.91, p < 10(-7). Furthermore, analysis of nuclear and extended families showed a familial predisposition to juvenile onset disease. This study demonstrates that the sex of transmitting parent is the major influence on trinucleotide expansion and clinical features in juvenile Huntington disease.
|
|
| 45. |
|
|
| 46. |
- Van Kalsbeek, Rebecca J., et al.
(author)
-
Evaluating the feasibility, effectiveness and costs of implementing person-centred follow-up care for childhood cancer survivors in four European countries : the PanCareFollowUp Care prospective cohort study protocol
- 2022
-
In: BMJ Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 12:11
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Long-term survival after childhood cancer often comes at the expense of late, adverse health conditions. However, survivorship care is frequently not available for adult survivors in Europe. The PanCareFollowUp Consortium therefore developed the PanCareFollowUp Care Intervention, an innovative person-centred survivorship care model based on experiences in the Netherlands. This paper describes the protocol of the prospective cohort study (Care Study) to evaluate the feasibility and the health economic, clinical and patient-reported outcomes of implementing PanCareFollowUp Care as usual care in four European countries. Methods and analysis In this prospective, longitudinal cohort study with at least 6 months of follow-up, 800 childhood cancer survivors will receive the PanCareFollowUp Care Intervention across four study sites in Belgium, Czech Republic, Italy and Sweden, representing different healthcare systems. The PanCareFollowUp Care Intervention will be evaluated according to the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance framework. Clinical and research data are collected through questionnaires, a clinic visit for multiple medical assessments and a follow-up call. The primary outcome is empowerment, assessed with the Health Education Impact Questionnaire. A central data centre will perform quality checks, data cleaning and data validation, and provide support in data analysis. Multilevel models will be used for repeated outcome measures, with subgroup analysis, for example, by study site, attained age, sex or diagnosis. Ethics and dissemination This study will be conducted in accordance with the guidelines of Good Clinical Practice and the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol has been reviewed and approved by all relevant ethics committees. The evidence and insights gained by this study will be summarised in a Replication Manual, also including the tools required to implement the PanCareFollowUp Care Intervention in other countries. This Replication Manual will become freely available through PanCare and will be disseminated through policy and press releases. Trial registration number Netherlands Trial Register (NL8918; https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/8918).
|
|
| 47. |
- van Kalsbeek, Rebecca J., et al.
(author)
-
The PanCareFollowUp Care Intervention : A European harmonised approach to person-centred guideline-based survivorship care after childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer
- 2022
-
In: European Journal of Cancer. - : Elsevier BV. - 0959-8049. ; 162, s. 34-44
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Long-term follow-up (LTFU) care, although endorsed, is not available for the majority of adult survivors of childhood, adolescence and young adult (CAYA) cancer. Barriers to implementation include lack of time, knowledge, personnel and funding. Sustainable solutions are urgently needed to address the needs of CAYA cancer survivors to improve the quality of life and reduce the burden of late effects on survivors, health care systems and society. The European Union–funded PanCareFollowUp project, initiated by the Pan-European Network for Care of Survivors after Childhood and Adolescent Cancer, was established to facilitate the implementation of person-centred survivorship care across Europe. Patients and methods: The PanCareFollowUp Care Intervention was co-developed with survivors as part of the PanCareFollowUp project. It is a person-centred approach to survivorship care, supported by guidelines and with flexibility to adapt to local health care settings. The Care Intervention consists of three steps: (1) previsit completion of a Survivor Questionnaire (by the survivor) and Treatment Summary (by the health care provider [HCP]), (2) a clinic visit including shared decision-making, and (3) a follow-up call to finalise the individualised Survivorship Care Plan. Results: We developed the key components of the PanCareFollowUp Care Intervention: a PanCareFollowUp Survivor Questionnaire, Treatment Summary template, Survivorship Care Plan template, and educational materials for HCPs and survivors. Wide implementation of the PanCareFollowUp Care Intervention will be supported with a freely distributed Replication Manual on completion of the PanCareFollowUp project. Conclusions: The PanCareFollowUp Care Intervention will support the implementation of person-centred, guideline-based LTFU care in different health care settings across Europe to improve survivors’ health and well-being.
|
|
| 48. |
|
|
| 49. |
- Winther, Jeanete F., et al.
(author)
-
Childhood cancer survivor cohorts in Europe
- 2015
-
In: Acta Oncologica. - 1651-226X. ; 54:5, s. 655-668
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- With the advent of multimodality therapy, the overall five-year survival rate from childhood cancer has improved considerably now exceeding 80% in developed European countries. This growing cohort of survivors, with many years of life ahead of them, has raised the necessity for knowledge concerning the risks of adverse long-term sequelae of the life-saving treatments in order to provide optimal screening and care and to identify and provide adequate interventions. Childhood cancer survivor cohorts in Europe. Considerable advantages exist to study late effects in individuals treated for childhood cancer in a European context, including the complementary advantages of large population-based cancer registries and the unrivalled opportunities to study lifetime risks, together with rich and detailed hospital-based cohorts which fill many of the gaps left by the large-scale population-based studies, such as sparse treatment information. Several large national cohorts have been established within Europe to study late effects in individuals treated for childhood cancer including the Nordic Adult Life after Childhood Cancer in Scandinavia study (ALiCCS), the British Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (BCCSS), the Dutch Childhood Oncology Group (DCOG) LATER study, and the Swiss Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (SCCSS). Furthermore, there are other large cohorts, which may eventually become national in scope including the French Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (FCCSS), the French Childhood Cancer Survivor Study for Leukaemia (LEA), and the Italian Study on off-therapy Childhood Cancer Survivors (OTR). In recent years significant steps have been taken to extend these national studies into a larger pan-European context through the establishment of two large consortia - PanCareSurFup and PanCareLIFE. The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the current large, national and pan-European studies of late effects after childhood cancer. This overview will highlight the strong cooperation across Europe, in particular the EU-funded collaborative research projects PanCareSurFup and PanCareLIFE. Overall goal. The overall goal of these large cohort studies is to provide every European childhood cancer survivor with better care and better long-term health so that they reach their full potential, and to the degree possible, enjoy the same quality of life and opportunities as their peers.
|
|
