Decrease of free thyroxine levels after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation could lead to opposing effects on thyroid function. Therefore, in a prospective study of 65 women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, thyroid hormones, T4-binding globulin, TPO antibodies, gonadotropins, estradiol, and PRL were measured before and after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. After ovarian stimulation (mean +/- SE of mean): free T4 decreased, 14.4 +/- 0.2 vs. 12.9 +/- 0.2 pmol/L (P < 0.0001); thyroid-stimulating hormone increased, 2.3 +/- 0.3 vs. 3.0 +/- 0.4 mU/L (P < 0.0001); T4-binding globulin increased, 25.2 +/- 0.7 vs. 33.9 +/- 0.9 mg/L (P < 0.0001); total T4 increased, 98.1 +/- 2.3 vs. 114.6 +/- 2.5 nmol/L (P < 0.0001); total T3 increased, 2.0 +/- 0.04 vs. 2.3 +/- 0.07 nmol/L (P < 0.0001); TPO antibodies decreased, 370 +/- 233 U/mL vs. 355 +/- 224 U/mL (P < 0.0001); LH decreased, 8.1 +/- 1.1 vs. 0.4 +/-0.1 U/L (P < 0.0001); FSH did not change, 6.5 +/- 0.6 vs. 7.9 +/- 0.9 U/L (P = 0.08); human CG increased, <2 +/- 0.0 vs. 195 +/- 16 U/L (P < 0.0001); estradiol increased, 359.3 +/- 25.9 pmol/L vs. 3491.8 +/-298.3 pmol/L (P < 0.0001); and PRL increased, 0.23 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.95 +/- 0.06 U/L (P < 0.0001). Because low maternal free T4 and elevated maternal thyroid-stimulating hormone levels during early gestation have been reported to be associated with impaired psychomotor development in the offspring, our findings indicate the need for additional studies in the children of women who where exposed to high levels of estrogens around the time of conception

High-contrast imaging constraints on gas giant planet formation - The Herbig Ae/Be star opportunity

Planet formation studies are often focused on solar-type stars, implicitly considering our Sun as reference point. This approach overlooks, however, that Herbig Ae/Be stars are in some sense much better targets to study planet formation processes empirically, with their disks generally being larger, brighter and simply easier to observe across a large wavelength range. In addition, massive gas giant planets have been found on wide orbits around early type stars, triggering the question if these objects did indeed form there and, if so, by what process. In the following I briefly review what we currently know about the occurrence rate of planets around intermediate mass stars, before discussing recent results from Herbig Ae/Be stars in the context of planet formation. The main emphasis is put on spatially resolved polarized light images of potentially planet forming disks and how these images - in combination with other data - can be used to empirically constrain (parts of) the planet formation process. Of particular interest are two objects, HD100546 and HD169142, where, in addition to intriguing morphological structures in the disks, direct observational evidence for (very) young planets has been reported. I conclude with an outlook, what further progress we can expect in the very near future with the next generation of high-contrast imagers at 8-m class telescopes and their synergies with ALMA.Comment: Accepted by Astrophysics and Space Science as invited short review in special issue about Herbig Ae/Be stars; 12 pages incl. 5 figures, 2 tables and reference

High Contrast Imaging of the Close Environment of HD 142527 -

Context. It has long been suggested that circumstellar disks surrounding young stars may be the signposts of planets, and still more since the recent discoveries of embedded substellar companions. The planet-disk interaction may create, according to models, large structures, gaps, rings or spirals, in the disk. In that sense, the Herbig star HD 142527 is particularly compelling as, its massive disk displays intriguing asymmetries that suggest the existence of a dynamical peturber of unknown nature. Aims. Our goal was to obtain deep thermal images of the close circumstellar environment of HD 142527 to re-image the reported close-in structures (cavity, spiral arms) of the disk and to search for stellar and substellar companions that could be connected to their presence. Results. The circumstellar environment of HD 142527 is revealed at an unprecedented spatial resolution down to the sub arcsecond level for the first time at 3.8 microns. Our images reveal important radial and azimuthal asymmetries which invalidate an elliptical shape for the disk as previously proposed. It rather suggests a bright inhomogeneous spiral arm plus various fainter spiral arms. We also confirm an inner cavity down to 30 AU and two important dips at position angles of 0 and 135 deg. The detection performance in angular differential imaging enables the exploration of the planetary mass regime for projected physical separations as close as 40 AU. The use of our detection map together with Monte Carlo simulations sets stringent constraints on the presence of planetary mass, brown dwarf or stellar companions as a function of the semi-major axis. They severely constrain the presence of massive giant planets with semi-major axis beyond 50AU, i.e. probably within the large disk's cavity that radially extends up to 145 AU or even further outside.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, accepted in A&

Circumstellar disks and planets. Science cases for next-generation optical/infrared long-baseline interferometers

We present a review of the interplay between the evolution of circumstellar disks and the formation of planets, both from the perspective of theoretical models and dedicated observations. Based on this, we identify and discuss fundamental questions concerning the formation and evolution of circumstellar disks and planets which can be addressed in the near future with optical and infrared long-baseline interferometers. Furthermore, the importance of complementary observations with long-baseline (sub)millimeter interferometers and high-sensitivity infrared observatories is outlined.Comment: 83 pages; Accepted for publication in "Astronomy and Astrophysics Review"; The final publication is available at http://www.springerlink.co

Perceived need for mental health care among non-western labour migrants

Background There is a supposed higher prevalence of common mental disorders among many migrant groups. At the same time, problems are reported regarding underutilisation of mental health services by migrants. Since perceived need for care is a powerful predictor of actual care utilisation, we aimed to study the hypothesis that, given the same level of mental morbidity, non-Western migrants would perceive less need for mental health care than ethnic Dutch residents. Additionally, we studied the extent to which needs are met in both groups, as well as several possible barriers to care. Methods A cross-sectional study with data from the 2004/2005 Amsterdam Health Monitor. Data were complete from 626 ethnic Dutch and non-Western (Turkish and Moroccan) labour migrants. Respondents participated in a structured interview in their own language, which included the perceived need for care questionnaire (PNCQ) and the composite international diagnostic interview (CIDI) version 2.1 for anxiety and depressive disorders. Results Perceived need was much higher among Turkish migrants. Among Moroccans the perceived need was comparable to ethnic Dutch. Turkish migrants also reported that needs were met less often than ethnic Dutch. Differences were explained by a higher prevalence of common mental disorders and higher symptom levels among Turkish. When differences in mental morbidity were taken into account, Moroccans perceived less need for information, drugs, referral to specialised mental health care, or for counselling. The most important barrier to care in all ethnic groups was the preference to solve the problem on one’s own. Conclusion In case of similar mental morbidity, perceived need for care was lower than among ethnic Dutch. The results did not support the hypothesis that in case of similar mental distress, needs of migrants were less often met than needs of ethnic Dutch

GASPS observations of Herbig Ae/Be stars with PACS/Herschel. The atomic and molecular content of their protoplanetary discs

We observed a sample of 20 representative Herbig Ae/Be stars and five A-type debris discs with PACS onboard of Herschel. The observations were done in spectroscopic mode, and cover far-IR lines of [OI], [CII], CO, CH+, H2O and OH. We have a [OI]63 micron detection rate of 100% for the Herbig Ae/Be and 0% for the debris discs. [OI]145 micron is only detected in 25%, CO J=18-17 in 45% (and less for higher J transitions) of the Herbig Ae/Be stars and for [CII] 157 micron, we often found spatially variable background contamination. We show the first detection of water in a Herbig Ae disc, HD 163296, which has a settled disc. Hydroxyl is detected as well in this disc. CH+, first seen in HD 100546, is now detected for the second time in a Herbig Ae star, HD 97048. We report fluxes for each line and use the observations as line diagnostics of the gas properties. Furthermore, we look for correlations between the strength of the emission lines and stellar or disc parameters, such as stellar luminosity, UV and X-ray flux, accretion rate, PAH band strength, and flaring. We find that the stellar UV flux is the dominant excitation mechanism of [OI]63 micron, with the highest line fluxes found in those objects with a large amount of flaring and greatest PAH strength. Neither the amount of accretion nor the X-ray luminosity has an influence on the line strength. We find correlations between the line flux of [OI]63 micron and [OI]145 micron, CO J = 18-17 and [OI]6300 \AA, and between the continuum flux at 63 micron and at 1.3 mm, while we find weak correlations between the line flux of [OI]63 micron and the PAH luminosity, the line flux of CO J = 3-2, the continuum flux at 63 micron, the stellar effective temperature and the Brgamma luminosity. (Abbreviated version)Comment: 20 pages, 29 figures, accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysic

Effects of Dual Targeting of Tumor Cells and Stroma in Human Glioblastoma Xenografts with a Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor against c-MET and VEGFR2

Contains fulltext : 118357.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Anti-angiogenic treatment of glioblastoma with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)- or VEGF Receptor 2 (VEGFR2) inhibitors normalizes tumor vessels, resulting in a profound radiologic response and improved quality of life. This approach however does not halt tumor progression by diffuse infiltration, as this phenotype is less angiogenesis dependent. Combined inhibition of angiogenesis and diffuse infiltrative growth would therefore be a more effective treatment approach in these tumors. The HGF/c-MET axis is important in both angiogenesis and cell migration in several tumor types including glioma. We therefore analyzed the effects of the c-MET- and VEGFR2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor cabozantinib (XL184, Exelixis) on c-MET positive orthotopic E98 glioblastoma xenografts, which routinely present with angiogenesis-dependent areas of tumor growth, as well as diffuse infiltrative growth. In cultures of E98 cells, cabozantinib effectively inhibited c-MET phosphorylation, concomitant with inhibitory effects on AKT and ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and cell proliferation and migration. VEGFR2 activation in endothelial cells was also effectively inhibited . Treatment of BALB/c nu/nu mice carrying orthotopic E98 xenografts resulted in a significant increase in overall survival. Cabozantinib effectively inhibited angiogenesis, resulting in increased hypoxia in angiogenesis-dependent tumor areas, and induced vessel normalization. Yet, tumors ultimately escaped cabozantinib therapy by diffuse infiltrative outgrowth via vessel co-option. Of importance, in contrast to the results from experiments, blockade of c-MET activation was incomplete, possibly due to multiple factors including restoration of the blood-brain barrier resulting from cabozantinib-induced VEGFR2 inhibition. In conclusion, cabozantinib is a promising therapy for c-MET positive glioma, but improving delivery of the drug to the tumor and/or the surrounding tissue may be needed for full activity

Myometrial contractility and gap junctions : an experimental study in chronically instrumented ewes

This thesis presents a combined approach using ultrastructural, electrophysiological and endocrinological methods to investigate factors which control myometrial contractility in vivo in the period of time around parturition, in an attempt to integrate various recent research findings. These findings indicate the importance of steroid hormones, prostaglandins and myometrial gap junctions in the control of myometrial contractility during pregnancy and labor. Our study in pregnant ewes shows the relationship between the presence of gap junctions during labor and the observed increase in myometrial contractility. Gap function formation, Which facilitates the spread of electrical activity across the myometrium, appears to be associated with enhanced coordination of contractile activity of the myometrial smooth muscle cells. The increase in the number of gap junctions which occurs in all species investigated, also in humans, seems to be a necessary step in the initiation of parturition. The results of our study, as well as those of studies by others in sheep, rats and rabbits, indicate that gap junction formation is regulated and modulated by steroid hormones. Progesterone inhibits and estradiol stimulates the formation of gap junctions. Since investigation in vivo of the regulation of gap junction formation by steroid hormones, and by other factors such as prostaglandin synthesis, causes considerable difficulties in pregnant animals, we developed a nonpregnant animal model in which several factors could be manipulated more easil

Building space for children's voices:The added value of participatory and creative approaches for child-centred integrated obesity care

Background: Paediatric obesity is increasing across the globe. In search for solutions, it is important to engage children, as they have their own unique perspectives on what it means to be a child with obesity within their so-ciocultural context. Though this is increasingly acknowledged, the question remains how to meaningfully engage children in paediatric obesity care as they are often in an unequal position in relation to adults.Aim: In this study, we reflect on what can be learned from a participatory research approach to improve child-centred paediatric obesity care.Design and methods: We reflect on four years of participatory research with children and care professionals to un-derstand the mechanisms that facilitated child participation within the research process. Secondly, we reflect on how these lessons relate to care practices. We conducted qualitative content analysis on the data gathered, in-cluding interviews, observations and working sessions with children and care professionals.Results: We identified three elements that facilitated child participation: (1) adopting a participatory attitude, (2) connecting to children's living environment and (3) doing activities together. This helped to build trusting relationships and gain in-depth understanding of what works well and why.Conclusion: Our findings underscore the significance of building communicative spaces where children's voices can be articulated at their own pace, about issues of their own choice, based on their own experiences.Practical implications: Working together with children as knowledgeable partners in paediatric obesity care can improve care delivery and provide solutions that better reflect their everyday realities and needs