SOSORT consensus paper: school screening for scoliosis. Where are we today?

This report is the SOSORT Consensus Paper on School Screening for Scoliosis discussed at the 4th International Conference on Conservative Management of Spinal Deformities, presented by SOSORT, on May 2007. The objectives were numerous, 1) the inclusion of the existing information on the issue, 2) the analysis and discussion of the responses by the meeting attendees to the twenty six questions of the questionnaire, 3) the impact of screening on frequency of surgical treatment and of its discontinuation, 4) the reasons why these programs must be continued, 5) the evolving aim of School Screening for Scoliosis and 6) recommendations for improvement of the procedure

DESIGN CALCULATIONS FOR EMBEDDED RAIL IN ASPHALT

In built-up areas, embedded rail structures have more advantages than conventional paved-in tramways. In the Netherlands, embedded rail structures are constructed solely of cement-bound concrete. These structures perform perfectly under both road and rail traffic and have significantly reduced noise and vibration in the tramway environment. Cement-bound concrete is, however, not applicable in all circumstances. To expand the applicability of embedded rail, the possibilities of embedded rail in asphalt (ERIA) were investigated. Cement-filled, porous asphalt was considered as the bitumen-bound alternative for cement-bound concrete. To determine if ERIA is feasible, the study first examined the stresses and strains that develop in cement-filled porous asphalt and in the bedding mass. The stresses and strains were determined for representative road and rail traffic loading by numerous finite element models. For both the asphalt and bedding mass, material design requirements were calculated. The mechanical properties of the materials were then studied to determine whether or not the materials comply with the design requirements and are suitable for application in this new type of embedded rail structure

Risk analysis of extended pancreas donor selection criteria

Introduction: The success of pancreas transplantation, in combination with a stable number of available allografts has resulted in an increasing waiting list. This study investigated donor potential by expanding age and Body Mass Index (BMI) criteria. Methods: All reported donors in the Netherlands between 2013 and 2017 were analysed. Risk assessment of extended criteria donors was done by in-depth analysis of donor reports and calculation of the Pancreas Donor Risk Index (PDRI). The PDRI of these extended criteria donors was compared to standard criteria donors to evaluate the increased risk on graft failure. Results: A total of 1273 donors were reported. Of these donors, 405 donors were reported as pancreas donor, of which 93 (23%) pancreata were transplanted. Extending age criterion with 5 years could result in additional 40 Donation after Brain Death donors and 37 Donation after Circulatory Death donors reported. In 24 (31%) extended age criteria donors the PDRI was below the upper limit of currently transplanted pancreata. Extending BMI criteria to 35 kg/m2 could result in an additional 19 (6%) donors reported. Conclusions: Extending BMI criteria could result in a slight increase of reported donors. Extending age criteria increased significantly the number of reported donors. In 24 (31%) of the older donors the PDRI showed a reduced risk compared to currently transplanted pancreata. This study suggest that, if other risk factors are absent, pancreata of extended age and/or BMI criteria donors should be considered for transplantation

Immune Monitoring of Islet and Pancreas Transplant Recipients

Transplantation and autoimmunit