Platelet Rich STROMA, the Combination of PRP and tSVF and Its Potential Effect on Osteoarthritis of the Knee

(1) Background: osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a degenerative disease accompanied by pain, reduced mobility and subsequent decrease in quality of life. Many studies on OA of the knee have reported that using an intercellular acting-derivate like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) results in a limited effect or none at all. Authors hypothesized that adding tissue-Stromal Vascular Fraction (tSVF) to PRP (Platelet Rich Stroma (PRS)) would reduce pain and improve functionality in osteoarthritis of the knee. (2) Methods: a consecutive case series of fifteen patients (aged 43-75 years) suffering from OA of the knee (Kellgren-Lawrence stage two to three) were treated with a single injection of autologous PRS. tSVF was mechanically isolated by means of the fractionation of adipose tissue (FAT) procedure. Clinical evaluation was done using a visual analogue score (VAS) score, an adapted Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and Lysholm score at fixed time points: pre-injection as well as three, six and twelve months post injection. (3) Results: VAS and WOMAC scores improved significantly after twelve months (p 0.05) in comparison to pre-injection measurements. No complications were seen in any of the patients. One patient was excluded due to a total knee arthroplasty. (4) Conclusions: a single injection with PRS for OA of the knee seems to lead to an improvement of function and simultaneous reduction of pain and joint stiffness for a period of twelve months. Further controlled trials are required to determine the optimal treatment regimen and evaluate long-term results

A High-Throughput Candida albicans Two-Hybrid System

We thank Nico Vangoethem for help with preparation of the figures and Ilse Palmans, Tom Adriany, and Selien Schots for technical assistance. Financial support was obtained from the Interuniversity Attraction Poles Programme initiated by the Belgian Science Policy Office (IAP P7/28) and by the KU Leuven Research Council (C14/17/063). C.D. acknowledges support from the French Government’s Investissement d’Avenir program (Laboratoire d’Excellence Integrative Biology of Emerging Infectious Diseases, ANR-10-LABX-62-IBEID). C.A.M. and C.D. acknowledge support from the Wellcome Trust (088858/Z/09/Z). C.A.M. acknowledges support from the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology (MR/N006364/1) and the University of Aberdeen.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma Types and the Coexistence of Ovarian Tumor Conditions

Objective. Ovarian carcinomas are presumed to arise within ovarian inclusion cysts or from a coexisting epithelial lesion in the ovary. Insight may be gained by relating different subtypes of ovarian cancer with the presence of coexisting tumor-like conditions. Methods. The Dutch nation-wide pathology database PALGA (Pathologisch Anatomisch Landelijk Geautomatiseerd Archief) identified the various histopathological subtypes of ovarian cancer in 824 patients diagnosed in 1996–2003, and recorded the presence of epithelial tumor conditions around the ovarian tumors. In addition, a PALGA database of all 153 consecutive patients referred to the Nijmegen University Medical Centre in 2007 for histopathological work-up was analyzed. Results. The prevalence of coexisting ovarian tumor conditions was 16.4% (135 out of 824 patients, (95% CI: 8.4%–24.4%)). The coexistence was highest for endometrioid, mucinous, clear cell, and borderline malignancies. The referral group revealed 35% (54 out of 153 patients, (95% CI: 28%–42%)) of coexisting epithelial ovarian tumor conditions. Conclusion. One in six patients with a malignant ovarian tumor has a coexisting epithelial tumor condition in the ovary, which is also rather frequently observed in the diagnostic work-up practice

The popular music heritage of the Dutch pirates: illegal radio and cultural identity

This article explores how cultural identities are negotiated in relation to the heritage of illegal radio in the Netherlands. The term ‘pirate radio’ commonly refers to the offshore radio stations that were broadcasting during the 1960s. These stations introduced commercial radio and popular music genres like beat music, which were not played by public broadcasters at the time. In their wake, land-based pirates began broadcasting for local audiences. This study examines the identities that are constituted by the narrative of pirate radio. Drawing on in-depth interviews with archivists, fans and broadcasters, this article explores the connection between pirate radio, popular music heritage and cultural identity. Moreover, it considers how new technologies such as internet radio provide platforms to engage with this heritage and thus to maintain these local identities. To examine how the memories of pirate radio live on in the present a narrative approach to identity will be used

Adapting to survive: how Candida spp. respond to environmental physiological constraints

Candida species are important human pathogens and have emerged as a leading cause of nosocomial fungal infections. In order to survive and proliferate within the human host, these species have to adapt to the different niches and assimilate the available nutrients. For instance, during infection, they can encounter glucose-poor microenvironments and some studies have suggested that the ability to use non-fermentable carbon sources affects the virulence of these pathogens. Our studies have demonstrated that the presence of alternative carbon sources such as lactate and acetate influence Candida biofilm formation, antifungal drug resistance and immune recognition. Additionally, there is evidence that carboxylate transporters have a role on these processes. An overview of the most significant results will be presented.Our data support the view that the different carbon sources present in the host niches affect directly the physiology of Candida cells, with implications on how these pathogens respond to antifungal treatment

Influence of daily 10-85 mu g vitamin D supplements during pregnancy and lactation on maternal vitamin D status and mature milk antirachitic activity

Pregnant and lactating women and breastfed infants are at risk of vitamin D deficiency. The supplemental vitamin D dose that optimises maternal vitamin D status and breast milk antirachitic activity (ARA) is unclear. Healthy pregnant women were randomised to 10 (n 10), 35 (n 11), 60 (n 11) and 85 (n 11) mu g vitamin D-3/d from 20 gestational weeks (GW) to 4 weeks postpartum (PP). The participants also received increasing dosages of fish oil supplements and a multivitamin. Treatment allocation was not blinded. Parent vitamin D and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) were measured in maternal plasma at 20 GW, 36 GW and 4 weeks PP, and in milk at 4 weeks PP. Median 25(OH)D and parent vitamin D at 20 GW were 85 (range 25-131) nmol/l and 'not detectable (nd)' (range nd-40) nmol/l. Both increased, seemingly dose dependent, from 20 to 36 GW and decreased from 36 GW to 4 weeks PP. In all, 35 mu g vitamin D/d was needed to increase 25(OH)D to adequacy (80-249 nmol/l) in >97 center dot 5 % of participants at 36 GW, while >85 mu g/d was needed to reach this criterion at 4 weeks PP. The 25(OH)D increments from 20 to 36 GW and from 20 GW to 4 weeks PP diminished with supplemental dose and related inversely to 25(OH)D at 20 GW. Milk ARA related to vitamin D-3 dose, but the infant adequate intake of 513 IU/l was not reached. Vitamin D-3 dosages of 35 and >85 mu g/d were needed to reach adequate maternal vitamin D status at 36 GW and 4 weeks PP, respectively