Openbaarmaking in het toezicht : afwegingen bij het publiceren van toezichtsinformatie door twee nieuwe toezichthouders

In deze bijdrage gaan we in op openbaarmaking van toezichtsresultaten door toezichthouders. We onderscheiden twee doelen van openbaarmaking: een marktordeningsdoel of een toezichtsdoel. In deze bijdrage zijn we geïnteresseerd in de wijze waarop toezichthouders in de praktijk invulling geven aan deze doelstellingen. Op welke wijze maken toezichthouders gebruik van openbaarmaking om marktordeningsdoelen of toezichtsdoelen te realiseren, welke problemen of dilemma’s ondervinden zij daarbij, en laat de doelstelling van marktordening zich verenigen met het toezichtsdoel? We proberen een eerste antwoord te formuleren op deze vragen op basis van de empirische bestudering van twee markttoezichthouders: De Nederlandse Zorgautoriteit (NZa) en de Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM). Voor beide toezichthouders geldt het marktordeningsdoel en het toezichtsdoel, maar de AFM en de NZa geven in de praktijk een verschillende invulling aan deze doelen

In vitro interaction network of a synthetic gut bacterial community

A key challenge in microbiome research is to predict the functionality of microbial communities based on community membership and (meta)-genomic data. As central microbiota functions are determined by bacterial community networks, it is important to gain insight into the principles that govern bacteria-bacteria interactions. Here, we focused on the growth and metabolic interactions of the Oligo-Mouse-Microbiota (OMM12) synthetic bacterial community, which is increasingly used as a model system in gut microbiome research. Using a bottom-up approach, we uncovered the directionality of strain-strain interactions in mono- and pairwise co-culture experiments as well as in community batch culture. Metabolic network reconstruction in combination with metabolomics analysis of bacterial culture supernatants provided insights into the metabolic potential and activity of the individual community members. Thereby, we could show that the OMM12 interaction network is shaped by both exploitative and interference competition in vitro in nutrient-rich culture media and demonstrate how community structure can be shifted by changing the nutritional environment. In particular, Enterococcus faecalis KB1 was identified as an important driver of community composition by affecting the abundance of several other consortium members in vitro. As a result, this study gives fundamental insight into key drivers and mechanistic basis of the OMM12 interaction network in vitro, which serves as a knowledge base for future mechanistic in vivo studies

Rectal cancer treatment and outcome in the elderly: an audit based on the Swedish rectal cancer registry 1995–2004

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Limited information is available regarding the effect of age on choice of surgical and oncological treatment for rectal cancer. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of age on treatment and outcome of rectal cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We utilized data in the Swedish Rectal Cancer Registry (SRCR) from patients treated for rectal cancer in Sweden in 1995–2004.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 15,104 patients with rectal cancer were identified, 42.4% of whom were 75 years or older. Patients ≥75 years were less likely to have distant metastases than younger patients (14.8% vs. 17.8%, <it>P </it>< 0.001), and underwent abdominal tumor resection less frequently (68.5% vs. 84.4%, <it>P </it>< 0.001). Of 11,725 patients with abdominal tumor resection (anterior resection [AR], abdominoperineal excision [APE], and Hartmann's procedure [HA]), 37.4% were ≥75 years. Curative surgery was registered for 85.0% of patients ≥ 75 years and for 83.9% of patients < 75 years, <it>P </it>= 0.11. Choice of abdominal operation differed significantly between the two age groups for both curative and non-curative surgery, The frequency of APE was similar in both age groups (29.5% vs. 28.6%), but patients ≥75 years were more likely to have HA (16.9% vs. 4.9%) and less likely to have preoperative radiotherapy (34.3vs. 67.2%, <it>P </it>< 0.001). The relative survival rate at five years for all patients treated with curative intent was 73% (70–75%) for patients ≥75 years and 78% (77–79%) for patients < 75 years of age. Local recurrence rate was 9% (8–11%) for older and 8% (7–9%) for younger patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Treatment of rectal cancer is influenced by patient's age. Future studies should include younger and older patients alike to reveal whether or not age-related differences are purposive. Local recurrence following surgery for low tumors and quality of life aspects deserve particular attention.</p

Like Will to Like: Abundances of Closely Related Species Can Predict Susceptibility to Intestinal Colonization by Pathogenic and Commensal Bacteria

The intestinal ecosystem is formed by a complex, yet highly characteristic microbial community. The parameters defining whether this community permits invasion of a new bacterial species are unclear. In particular, inhibition of enteropathogen infection by the gut microbiota ( = colonization resistance) is poorly understood. To analyze the mechanisms of microbiota-mediated protection from Salmonella enterica induced enterocolitis, we used a mouse infection model and large scale high-throughput pyrosequencing. In contrast to conventional mice (CON), mice with a gut microbiota of low complexity (LCM) were highly susceptible to S. enterica induced colonization and enterocolitis. Colonization resistance was partially restored in LCM-animals by co-housing with conventional mice for 21 days (LCMcon21). 16S rRNA sequence analysis comparing LCM, LCMcon21 and CON gut microbiota revealed that gut microbiota complexity increased upon conventionalization and correlated with increased resistance to S. enterica infection. Comparative microbiota analysis of mice with varying degrees of colonization resistance allowed us to identify intestinal ecosystem characteristics associated with susceptibility to S. enterica infection. Moreover, this system enabled us to gain further insights into the general principles of gut ecosystem invasion by non-pathogenic, commensal bacteria. Mice harboring high commensal E. coli densities were more susceptible to S. enterica induced gut inflammation. Similarly, mice with high titers of Lactobacilli were more efficiently colonized by a commensal Lactobacillus reuteri RR strain after oral inoculation. Upon examination of 16S rRNA sequence data from 9 CON mice we found that closely related phylotypes generally display significantly correlated abundances (co-occurrence), more so than distantly related phylotypes. Thus, in essence, the presence of closely related species can increase the chance of invasion of newly incoming species into the gut ecosystem. We provide evidence that this principle might be of general validity for invasion of bacteria in preformed gut ecosystems. This might be of relevance for human enteropathogen infections as well as therapeutic use of probiotic commensal bacteria

On effectiveness in colorectal surgery : mechanical bowel preparation or not in elective colonic surgery and treatment options for elderly patients with rectal cancer

The management of patients undergoing colorectal surgery has changed in recent decades. Efforts have been made to show that perioperative physiological stress to the patient can be minimised with standardised care programmes and thus improve short term outcome after colorectal surgery. Mechanical bowel preparation (MBP), for instance, has been questioned as part of standard management. There are studies highlighting the effect of cancer treatment and its side effects in the elderly, showing that geriatric patients benefit from oncological therapy in much the same way as younger patients. The impact of this information on surgical and oncological practice in Sweden today is not known. To assess the effectiveness of colorectal surgery we need both randomised controlled trials and population-based cohort studies. We have performed a trial on colonic surgery with and without preoperative mechanical bowel preparation, as well as a nation-wide register study comparing treatment and outcome of rectal cancer in two age groups. In a randomised controlled trial 1505 patients from 21 hospitals were randomised to MBP or no-MBP prior to open elective colonic resection. There were no differences in overall complication rates between the groups: cardiovascular 5.1% with MBP vs. 4.6% without MBP; general infection 7.9% vs. 6.8%; and surgical site complications 15.1% vs. 16.1%. The proportion of patients reaching at least one primary endpoint was 24.5% vs. 23.7% respectively. The patients experience of and postoperative recovery after MBP or no-MBP was evaluated in 105 of the patients in the bowel preparation trial at three of the participating hospitals. Sixty-five patients received MBP and 40 patients did not. In the MBP group 52% needed assistance with bowel preparation. Day 4 postoperatively patients in the no-MBP group perceived more discomfort than patients in the MBP group, p&lt;0.05. Bowel emptying occurred significantly earlier in the no-MBP group than in the MBP group, p&lt;0.05. In an experimental study the effect of MBP on intramucosal bacterial count was evaluated. Macroscopically normal colon mucosa was collected from 37 patients (20 MBP and 17 No-MBP) undergoing elective colorectal surgery at three hospitals. MBP did not influence the median colony count of E. coli, Bacteroides, or total median colony count, information that was previously unknown. These three studies imply that MBP can be omitted before elective colonic resection. In a population-based register study, treatment for rectal cancer in patients ≥ 75 years and those &lt; 75 years was evaluated using data from the Swedish Rectal Cancer Register 1995-2004 (N=15104). This study revealed that preoperative radiotherapy was used less in patients &gt; 75 years. There was also a higher threshold for surgery in this group, and they more often received a permanent stoma compared to younger patients. Outcome in terms of 5-year local recurrence rate and 5-year cancer-specific survival differed very little between the older and younger patient groups who underwent abdominal tumour resection with curative intent. We suggest future studies focusing on ways of reducing surgical and perioperative stress and on quality of life when assessing suitable treatment modalities for rectal cancer