Seroprevalence of HIV, hepatitis b, and hepatitis c among opioid drug users on methadone treatment in the netherlands

Background: Injecting drug users (IDU) remain an important population at risk for blood-borne infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). In the Netherlands, a program is being implemented to offer annual voluntary screening for these infections to opioid drug users (ODUs) screened in methadone care. At two care sites where the program is now operating, our study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence among ODUs screened for HIV, HBV and HCV; to evaluate HBV vaccination coverage; and to assess the feasibility of monitoring seroprevalence trends by using routine annual screening data.Methods: Opioid drug users on methadone treatment are routinely offered voluntary screening for infectious diseases such as HIV, HBV and HCV. Data on uptake and outcome of anti-HIV, anti-HBc, and anti-HCV screening among ODUs receiving methadone were obtained from two regions: Amsterdam from 2004 to 2008 and Heerlen from 2003 to 2009.Findings: Annual screening uptake for HIV, HBV and HCV varied from 34 to 69%, depending on disease and screening site. Of users screened, 2.5% were HIV-positive in Amsterdam and 11% in Heerlen; 26% were HCV-positive in Amsterdam and 61% in Heerlen. Of those screened for HBV, evidence of current or previous infection (anti-HBc) was found among 33% in Amsterdam and 48% in Heerlen. In Amsterdam, 92% were fully vaccinated for HBV versus 45% in Heerlen.Conclusion: Annual screening for infectious diseases in all ODUs in methadone care is not fully implemented in the Netherlands. On average, more than half of the ODUs in methadone care in Heerlen and Amsterdam were screened for HIV, HBV and HCV. In addition, screening data indicate that HBV vaccination uptake was rather high. While the HIV prevalence among these ODUs was relatively low compared to other drug-using populations, the high HCV prevalence among this group underscores the need to expand annual screening and interventions to monitor HIV, HBV and HCV in the opioid drug-using population

Numero XXXIII

<p><b>Cumulative Incidence of AUR (A) and UR (B) with FDC Soli 6 mg or 9 mg + TOCAS.</b> (A) Acute urinary retention. (B) Urinary retention. Black markers indicate 6 mg FDC dose at time of AUR/UR onset; orange markers indicate 9 mg FDC dose at time of AUR/UR onset. AUR cases were a subgroup of UR cases that required catheterization. Abbreviation: FDC, fixed-dose combination.</p

Untargeted metabolomics-based screening method for inborn errors of metabolism using semi-automatic sample preparation with an UHPLC-orbitrap-MS platform

Routine diagnostic screening of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) is currently performed by different targeted analyses of known biomarkers. This approach is time-consuming, targets a limited number of biomarkers and will not identify new biomarkers. Untargeted metabolomics generates a global metabolic phenotype and has the potential to overcome these issues. We describe a novel, single platform, untargeted metabolomics method for screening IEM, combining semi-automatic sample preparation with pentafluorophenylpropyl phase (PFPP)-based UHPLC-Orbitrap-MS. We evaluated analytical performance and diagnostic capability of the method by analysing plasma samples of 260 controls and 53 patients with 33 distinct IEM. Analytical reproducibility was excellent, with peak area variation coefficients below 20% for the majority of the metabolites. We illustrate that PFPP-based chromatography enhances identification of isomeric compounds. Ranked z-score plots of metabolites annotated in IEM samples were reviewed by two laboratory specialists experienced in biochemical genetics, resulting in the correct diagnosis in 90% of cases. Thus, our untargeted metabolomics platform is robust and differentiates metabolite patterns of different IEMs from those of controls. We envision that the current approach to diagnose IEM, using numerous tests, will eventually be replaced by untargeted metabolomics methods, which also have the potential to discover novel biomarkers and assist in interpretation of genetic data

Understanding the relevance of in-mouth food processing. A review of in vitro techniques

[EN] Oral processing of food is the first step in the eating process. Although the food undergoes a number of changes during mastication that influence the subsequent steps, this stage has very often been neglected in studies of digestion, bioavailability, flavor release, satiety potential, glycemic index determination, etc. The present review draws on different sources such as nutrition, medicine, phoniatry and dentistry to explain some in vitro oral processing methods and techniques that could be transferred to food technology studies to mimic in vivo comminution, insalivation, and bolus formation, describing, as a necessary reference, the respective in vivo physiological processes they attempt to imitate. Developing a deeper understanding of all the aspects of in-mouth process will help food technologists to give this crucial step the necessary attention its due importance and to consider better ways to incorporate it into their studies.The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support of the Spanish Government (project AGL2012-36753-C02) and gratefully acknowledge the financial support of EU FEDER funds. Mary Georgina Hardinge assisted with the translation and corrected the English text.Morell Esteve, P.; Hernando Hernando, MI.; Fiszman, SM. (2014). Understanding the relevance of in-mouth food processing. A review of in vitro techniques. Trends in Food Science and Technology. 35(1):18-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2013.10.005S183135

Tuolinjalan jyrsintäkiinnittimien suunnittelu

Opinnäytetyön tavoitteena oli suunnitella robotilla tehtävään kappaleenkäsittelyyn soveltuvat automaattiset jyrsintäkiinnikkeet epäsymmetrisen puusta valmistettavan tuolinjalan jyrsintään. Työ toteutettiin Savon ammatti- ja aikuisopiston puualan tiloihin rakennetussa RFID-tekniikan opetus- ja testausympäristössä. Suunnitteluvaiheessa pyrittiin hyödyntämään olemassa olevien laitteiden ja koneiden, kuten CNC-jyrsimen ja kappaleenkäsittelyrobotin ominaisuuksia jyrsintäkiinnittimien valmistuksessa. Opinnäytetyössä käytiin läpi työkappaleen, jyrsimen ja robotin asettamia vaatimuksia ja niiden huomiointia kiinnittimien suunnittelussa ja pohdittiin RFID-sirun integroinnin mahdollisuuksia työkappaleen työkierron ohjauksessa. Kiinnittimien suunnitteluun käytettiin Autodesk Inventor 3D -suunnitteluohjelmaa, jolla luotiin työn tuloksena syntyneet työkappaleen dimensioiden ja työstövaatimusten perusteella suunnitellut kiinnittimien tietokonemallit. Tietokonemallien pohjalta rakennettiin jyrsintään ja automaattiseen kappaleenvaihtoon soveltuvat jyrsintäkiinnittimet, joiden avulla tuolinjalkojen valmistus onnistuu miehittämättömään tuotantoon soveltuvassa solussa.The objective of this final year project was to design mechanical clamps which would be suitable for being used with a CNC milling machine. The clamps were designed according to the dimensions and design principles of a particular chair leg which is part of the Sakky-chair assembly. The project was commissioned by Savo Vocational Colleges and it is part of the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) project. The design process was started by researching old manual clamps used for attaching the chair leg blank to the milling table. These manual clamps were used as design examples in the beginning of the process. The clamps were designed using Autodesk Inventor 3D CAD software. The clamps were designed to the testing phase and will be manufactured over the coming months. The new automatically controlled clamps were designed to be operated by using negative pressure that is available through the vacuum cups of the milling machines. Handling the blanks and the milled chair legs was designed to be carried out using the available material handling robot. The implementation of RFID tags for transferring milling and handling information in the blanks will be investigated. In order to get the clamp design to work, some minor tweaks to the final design might be necessary. These necessary design tweaks are mostly due to some small dimensional differences between different chair leg blanks used

Summary of patients on FDC Soli + TOCAS treatment with UR/AUR in NEPTUNE and NEPTUNE II, listed in chronological order of appearance.

<p>Summary of patients on FDC Soli + TOCAS treatment with UR/AUR in NEPTUNE and NEPTUNE II, listed in chronological order of appearance.</p