Relationele en Seksuele Vorming in het Buitengewoon Secundair Onderwijs

Dit onderzoeksrapport bouwt verder op het onderzoek van Joan Lesseliers1, Tina Goethals2 en Inge Blockmans3 rond seksualiteit en relaties aan de vakgroep Orthopedagogiek, Faculteit Psychologie en Pedagogische wetenschappen aan de UGent. Dit rapport bevat de resultaten van een exploratief onderzoek naar de vormgeving en beleving van Relationele en Seksuele Vorming (RSV) bij leerlingen in het Buitengewoon Secundair Onderwijs (BUSO) in Vlaanderen, waarin een 3 – ledige opzet centraal staat: 1. Zicht krijgen op de vormgeving van RSV in de klaspraktijk Hoe krijgen lessen RSV in de klas en in de brede klaspraktijk op school vorm? Dit werd onderzocht op basis van de survey die gebruik maakt van 8 domeinen: (1) beleid en visie, (2) ontwikkelingsdoelen, (3) ondersteuning leerkrachten, (4) toegankelijkheid en inhoudelijk aanbod van materialen, (5) samenwerkingsverbanden, (6) evaluatie van de tevredenheid van leerlingen (7) specifieke aanpassingen, (8) bestaand ondersteuningsaanbod. 2. Medewerkers van scholen aan het woord omtrent RSV Bevragen van het perspectief van medewerkers van scholen als aanvulling op de survey; zicht krijgen op visie en attitudes, kennis en vaardigheden, thema’s, sterktes en uitdagingen, noden en wensen. 3. Leerlingen aan het woord omtrent relaties en seksualiteit Bevragen van het perspectief van leerlingen zelf; zicht krijgen op visie en attitudes, kennis en vaardigheden, infokanalen, thema’s en interesses, noden en wensen. Vanuit de voorgaande onderzoeksopzet trachten we een antwoord te formuleren op drie onderzoeksvragen: ‘(1) Hoe krijgen lessen RSV in de klas en in de brede klaspraktijk op school vorm binnen het Buitengewoon Secundair Onderwijs (BUSO)? (2) Welke ervaringen omtrent RSV en relaties en seksualiteit delen medewerkers van scholen? (3) Welke ervaringen omtrent RSV en relaties en seksualiteit delen leerlingen?’. De resultaten uit de survey van WP2 werden in WP3 gelinkt aan resultaten van de interviews met medewerkers van scholen en leerlingen. Dit werd gelinkt aan inzichten uit internationaal onderzoek én aan de kennis/inzichten van stuurgroepleden. In totaal namen 330 mensen deel aan dit onderzoek, waaronder 125 leerlingen en 204 medewerkers van scholen Buitengewoon Secundair Onderwijs4. Dit onderzoek heeft tot doel zicht te krijgen op hoe in het Buitengewoon Secundair Onderwijs vormgegeven wordt aan het thema Relaties en Seksualiteit. In voorgaand onderzoek, zoals bvb. het onderzoek rond Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (2020), wordt duidelijk aangehaald dat dit onderzoek zich niet richt op BUSO. In het onderzoek van Goethals (2018) wordt de nood gekaderd om dit aanbod ook in het Buitengewoon Onderwijs in kaart te brengen. Daarnaast komt ook aan bod dat seksualiteit iets is dat niet in elke thuiscontext besproken wordt. Kanalen om informatie rond seksualiteit te bekjokmen zijn minder toegankelijk voor bepaalde jongeren (Liddiard, 2018). Tegelijkertijd is er een nood om op een positieve manier over seksualiteit te spreken en leren (Liddiard, 2014). In dit rapport zal u kunnen lezen over dromen, acties en alles wat zich daartussen bevindt vanuit het perspectief van medewerkers van scholen en leerlingen zelf

Amplification of 1q32.1 refines the molecular classification of endometrial carcinoma

Molecular classification of endometrial cancer (EC) identified distinct molecular subgroups. However, the largest subset of ECs remains poorly characterized and is referred to as the 'non-specific molecular profile' (NSMP) subgroup. Here, we aimed at refining the classification of this subgroup by profiling somatic copy number aberrations (SCNAs).status: publishe

Amplification of 1q32.1 Refines the Molecular Classification of Endometrial Carcinoma

Purpose: Molecular classification of endometrial cancer identified distinct molecular subgroups. However, the largest subset of endometrial cancers remains poorly characterized and is referred to as the "nonspecific molecular profile" (NSMP) subgroup. Here, we aimed at refining the classification of this subgroup by profiling somatic copy-number aberrations (SCNAs).Experimental Design: SCNAs were analyzed in 141 endometrial cancers using whole-genome SNP arrays and pooled with 361 endometrial cancers from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Genomic Identification of Significant Targets in Cancer (GISTIC) identified statistically enriched SCNAs and penalized Cox regression assessed survival effects. The prognostic significance of relevant SCNAs was validated using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification in 840 endometrial cancers from the PORTEC-1/2 trials. Copy-number status of genes was correlated with gene expression to identify potential cancer drivers. One plausible oncogene was validated in vitro using antisense oligonucleotide-based strategy.Results: SCNAs affecting chromosome 1q32.1 significantly correlated with worse relapse-free survival (RFS) in the NSMP subgroup (HR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.26-3.59; P = 0.005). This effect was replicated in NSMP endometrial cancers from PORTEC-1/2 (HR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.17-4.70; P = 0.017). A new molecular classification including the 1q32.1 amplification improved risk prediction of recurrence. MDM4 gene expression strongly correlated with 1q32.1 amplification. Silencing MDM4 inhibited cell growth in cell lines carrying 1q32.1 amplification, but not in those without MDM4 amplification. Vice versa, increasing MDM4 expression in nonamplified cell lines stimulated cell proliferation.Conclusions: 1q32.1 amplification was identified as a prognostic marker for poorly characterized NSMP endometrial cancers, refining the molecular classification of this subgroup. We functionally validated MDM4 as a potential oncogenic driver in the 1q32.1 region. Clin Cancer Res; 23(23); 7232-41. ©2017 AAC

MDM4 is a key therapeutic target in cutaneous melanoma.

The inactivation of the p53 tumor suppressor pathway, which often occurs through mutations in TP53 (encoding tumor protein 53) is a common step in human cancer. However, in melanoma-a highly chemotherapy-resistant disease-TP53 mutations are rare, raising the possibility that this cancer uses alternative ways to overcome p53-mediated tumor suppression. Here we show that Mdm4 p53 binding protein homolog (MDM4), a negative regulator of p53, is upregulated in a substantial proportion (∼65%) of stage I-IV human melanomas and that melanocyte-specific Mdm4 overexpression enhanced tumorigenesis in a mouse model of melanoma induced by the oncogene Nras. MDM4 promotes the survival of human metastatic melanoma by antagonizing p53 proapoptotic function. Notably, inhibition of the MDM4-p53 interaction restored p53 function in melanoma cells, resulting in increased sensitivity to cytotoxic chemotherapy and to inhibitors of the BRAF (V600E) oncogene. Our results identify MDM4 as a key determinant of impaired p53 function in human melanoma and designate MDM4 as a promising target for antimelanoma combination therapy.JOURNAL ARTICLESCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Nationwide Harmonization Effort for Semi-Quantitative Reporting of SARS-CoV-2 PCR Test Results in Belgium.

From early 2020, a high demand for SARS-CoV-2 tests was driven by several testing indications, including asymptomatic cases, resulting in the massive roll-out of PCR assays to combat the pandemic. Considering the dynamic of viral shedding during the course of infection, the demand to report cycle threshold (Ct) values rapidly emerged. As Ct values can be affected by a number of factors, we considered that harmonization of semi-quantitative PCR results across laboratories would avoid potential divergent interpretations, particularly in the absence of clinical or serological information. A proposal to harmonize reporting of test results was drafted by the National Reference Centre (NRC) UZ/KU Leuven, distinguishing four categories of positivity based on RNA copies/mL. Pre-quantified control material was shipped to 124 laboratories with instructions to setup a standard curve to define thresholds per assay. For each assay, the mean Ct value and corresponding standard deviation was calculated per target gene, for the three concentrations (10, 10 and 10 copies/mL) that determine the classification. The results of 17 assays are summarized. This harmonization effort allowed to ensure that all Belgian laboratories would report positive PCR results in the same semi-quantitative manner to clinicians and to the national database which feeds contact tracing interventions

The association of the Activities of Daily Living and the outcome of old intensive care patients suffering from COVID-19

Purpose: Critically ill old intensive care unit (ICU) patients suffering from Sars-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) are at increased risk for adverse outcomes. This post hoc analysis investigates the association of the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) with the outcome in this vulnerable patient group. Methods: The COVIP study is a prospective international observational study that recruited ICU patients >= 70 years admitted with COVID-19 (NCT04321265). Several parameters including ADL (ADL; 0 = disability, 6 = no disability), Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), SOFA score, intensive care treatment, ICU- and 3-month survival were recorded. A mixed-effects Weibull proportional hazard regression analyses for 3-month mortality adjusted for multiple confounders. Results: This pre-specified analysis included 2359 patients with a documented ADL and CFS. Most patients evidenced independence in their daily living before hospital admission (80% with ADL = 6). Patients with no frailty and no disability showed the lowest, patients with frailty (CFS >= 5) and disability (ADL < 6) the highest 3-month mortality (52 vs. 78%, p < 0.001). ADL was independently associated with 3-month mortality (ADL as a continuous variable: aHR 0.88 (95% CI 0.82-0.94, p < 0.001). Being "disable" resulted in a significant increased risk for 3-month mortality (aHR 1.53 (95% CI 1.19-1.97, p 0.001) even after adjustment for multiple confounders. Conclusion: Baseline Activities of Daily Living (ADL) on admission provides additional information for outcome prediction, although most critically ill old intensive care patients suffering from COVID-19 had no restriction in their ADL prior to ICU admission. Combining frailty and disability identifies a subgroup with particularly high mortality

Differences in mortality in critically ill elderly patients during the second COVID-19 surge in Europe

Background!#!The primary aim of this study was to assess the outcome of elderly intensive care unit (ICU) patients treated during the spring and autumn COVID-19 surges in Europe.!##!Methods!#!This was a prospective European observational study (the COVIP study) in ICU patients aged 70 years and older admitted with COVID-19 disease from March to December 2020 to 159 ICUs in 14 European countries. An electronic database was used to register a number of parameters including: SOFA score, Clinical Frailty Scale, co-morbidities, usual ICU procedures and survival at 90 days. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04321265).!##!Results!#!In total, 2625 patients were included, 1327 from the first and 1298 from the second surge. Median age was 74 and 75 years in surge 1 and 2, respectively. SOFA score was higher in the first surge (median 6 versus 5, p &amp;lt; 0.0001). The PaO!##!Conclusion!#!An unexpected, but significant, decrease in 30-day and 90-day survival was observed during the second surge in our cohort of elderly ICU patients. The reason for this is unclear. Our main concern is whether the widespread changes in practice and treatment of COVID-19 between the two surges have contributed to this increased mortality in elderly patients. Further studies are urgently warranted to provide more evidence for current practice in elderly patients.!##!Trial registration number!#!NCT04321265 , registered March 19th, 2020

Health-related quality of life in older patients surviving ICU treatment for COVID-19: results from an international observational study of patients older than 70 years

International audienceBackground health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important patient-centred outcome in patients surviving ICU admission for COVID-19. It is currently not clear which domains of the HRQoL are most affected. Objective to quantify HRQoL in order to identify areas of interventions. Design prospective observation study. Setting admissions to European ICUs between March 2020 and February 2021. Subjects patients aged 70 years or older admitted with COVID-19 disease. Methods collected determinants include SOFA-score, Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), number and timing of ICU procedures and limitation of care, Katz Activities of Daily Living (ADL) dependence score. HRQoL was assessed at 3 months after ICU admission with the Euro-QoL-5D-5L questionnaire. An outcome of ≥4 on any of Euro-QoL-5D-5L domains was considered unfavourable. Results in total 3,140 patients from 14 European countries were included in this study. Three months after inclusion, 1,224 patients (39.0%) were alive and the EQ-5D-5L from was obtained. The CFS was associated with an increased odds ratio for an unfavourable HRQoL outcome after 3 months; OR 1.15 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.71–1.87) for CFS 2 to OR 4.33 (95% CI: 1.57–11.9) for CFS ≧ 7. The Katz ADL was not statistically significantly associated with HRQoL after 3 months. Conclusions in critically ill old intensive care patients suffering from COVID-19, the CFS is associated with the subjectively perceived quality of life. The CFS on admission can be used to inform patients and relatives on the risk of an unfavourable qualitative outcome if such patients survive