Photodynamic therapy for Barrett's oesophagus with use of 5-aminolevulinic acid

Barrett's oesophagus is a premalignant lesion of the oesophagus characterized by the presence of colunmar epithelium with intestinal metaplasia in the distal oesophagus. Oesophageal adenocarcinoma (the most rapidly increasing cancer in the Western world) is thought to originate from Barrett's oesophagus following a sequence from metaplasia through dysplasia to adenocarcinoma. To gain insight in the various aspects of Barrett's oesophagus, the state of the art of its pathophysiology, diagnosis and management is reviewed in Chapter 1, Part I, the general introduction of the thesis. Both endoscopic surveillance and oesophageal resection are recommended for patients with Barrett's oesophagus and high-grade dysplasia. Tins, however, is still controversial as the mortality and morbidity associated with oesophageal resection are considered to be high in view of a preneoplastic disease. Therefore, endoscopic ablation therapies, including photodynamic therapy, have been experimentally used to treat Barrett's oesophagus. The characteristics of the various endoscopic ablation therapies and their results are summarized in Chapter 2. The studies described in this thesis aim at making 5-aminolevulinic acidmediated photodynamic therapy clinically applicable for the endoscopic treatment of Barrett's oesophagus. For a better understanding of the experinlental chapters, Part I is completed with Chapter 3, outlining the fundamentals of 5-aminolevulic acid-based photodynamic therapy

Plasma protein kinase activity enhanced by interferon is found in platelets

AbstractA protein kinase activity analogous to that found in interferon-treated HeLa cells is detectable in human plasma rich in platelets. This kinase activity is manifested by the phosphorylation of an endogenous Mr 72 000 protein which could be conveniently assayed after partial purification on poly(G)—Sepharose. Here, we show that the protein kinase system in the plasma consists of at least 2 components. The protein kinase is found to be localised in the platelet whereas most of the substrate (the Mr 72 000 protein) is found free in the plasma and a fraction of it associated with the surface of platelets

Reproducibility of the Pleth Variability Index in premature infants

The aim was to assess the reproducibility of the Pleth Variability Index (PVI), developed for non-invasive monitoring of peripheral perfusion, in preterm neonates below 32 weeks of gestational age. Three PVI measurements were consecutively performed in stable, comfortable preterm neonates in the first 48 h of life. On each occasion, pulse oximeter sensors were attached to two different limbs for 5 min. Reproducibility was assessed with the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland–Altman analysis. A total of 25 preterm neonates were included. Inter-limb comparison showed fair to moderate ICC’s with 95%-confidence intervals (95%-CI). Left hand–right hand ICC = 0.498, 95%-CI (0.119–0.753); right foot–right hand ICC = 0.314 (−0.088–0.644); right foot–left foot ICC = 0.315 (−0.089–0.628). Intra-limb comparison showed fair to moderate ICC for right foot–right foot ICC = 0.380 (−0.014–0.677); and good ICC for right hand–right hand ICC = 0.646 (0.194–0.852). Bland–Altman plots showed moderate reproducibility of measurements between different limbs and of the same limb in consecutive time periods, with large biases and wide limits of agreement. The findings from this study indicate that PVI measurement is poorly reproducible when measured on different limbs and on the same limb in stable and comfortable preterm neonates

How are you coping?:Stress, coping, burnout, and aggression in forensic mental healthcare workers

IntroductionPerceived stress at work has been linked to several adverse outcomes in workers, including increased risk of burnout and aggression (e.g., anger and irritability). However, much remains unknown about factors that might mitigate the negative influences of perceived stress on workers' well-being. This study focusses on coping as a possible protective factor against perceived stress and its consequences in forensic mental healthcare workers. We aimed to identify which higher-order coping factors were present in this worker sample and to investigate whether these coping factors modify the associations between perceived stress and burnout or aggression.MethodsFor this observational survey study, 116 forensic mental healthcare workers completed questionnaires assessing changes in work situation since the start of COVID-19, perceived stress, coping, burnout symptoms, and aggression.ResultsResults from principal component analysis indicated that four higher-order coping factors could be distinguished: social support and emotional coping, positive cognitive restructuring, problem-focused coping, and passive coping. Higher perceived stress levels were associated with higher levels of both burnout and aggression in workers. Problem-focused coping was associated with less burnout symptoms in workers. Furthermore, positive cognitive restructuring was associated with less aggression in workers.DiscussionIn conclusion, problem-focused coping and positive cognitive restructuring may protect workers against burnout symptoms and aggression and these results may inform future studies on preventive interventions aimed at promoting worker's well-being

Ruimte voor de Rivier / Obstakelverwijdering Nederrijn Elst, Gemeente Rhenen: Toetsingsadvies over het milieueffectrapport

Contains fulltext : 103705.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)12 p

Eindverslag Rhizoctonia in bloemkool : projecten PPO-1234340, PRI-3300020 en PRI-4400034

Een oriënterende proef toonde aan dat bloemkoolpraktijkgronden verschillen in hun natuurlijke bodemweerbaarheid. Bekend is dat teeltmaatregelen en voorvruchten die weerbaarheid kunnen versterken of verzwakken. Eerder onderzoek op Zwaagdijk wees eveneens op een invloed van het type voorvrucht op de mate van R. solani aantasting in een volggewas bloemkool. Het is van belang te weten waarom er perceelsverschillen zijn in bodemweerbaarheid, of schade vooraf in te schatten is, of er bestrijding mogelijk is en of zaadcoating/pillering met biologische en/of chemische middelen schade door R. solani kan verminderen