Preferences of young adults on the development of a new digital add-on alcohol intervention for depression treatment: A qualitative study

Aim: To explore the preferences of young adults with regard to the development of a new digital add-on alcohol intervention to complement depression treatment. Methods: This qualitative study included young adults (18–35 years) with experience of either problematic alcohol use or depression or both (n = 29). Two rounds of focus groups were conducted, with two focus groups in each round. All focus groups were recorded, transcribed and analysed deductively and inductively on the basis of qualitative content analysis of the intervention type, features and design. Results: Young adults preferred a mobile health application with a clear and simple objective and navigation which was also accessible on a computer. With regard to intervention features, participants indicated a preference for in-depth, gain-framed information on alcohol use and a main feature enabling them to record their alcohol use and mood, which would be rewarded. Other preferences included personal goal-setting and monitoring, an activity list, experience stories, peer contact, guidance from experts by experience or volunteers and receiving notifications from the application. In terms of design, participants preferred short, animated videos and animation figure illustrations to complement written text. Moreover, participants rated the design of the intervention as highly important, yet very personal. Generally, participants preferred a light pastel colour scheme. Once again, participants indicated a need for a clear dashboard using pictograms to reduce the amount of text and fast, easy-to-use navigation. Conclusion: The preferences indicated by young adults with regard to the intervention type, features and design may enhance the development of a new digital add-on alcohol intervention to complement depression treatment

Computed tomography findings after radiofrequency ablation in locally advanced pancreatic cancer

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to provide a systematic evaluation of the computed tomography(CT) findings after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in locally advanced pancreatic cancer(LAPC). Methods: Eighteen patients with intra-operative RFA-treated LAPC were included in a prospective case series. All CT-scans performed prior to RFA and 1 week and 3 months of post-RFA, according to standard regimen, were assessed by two radiologists in consensus, using standardized radiological scoring lists. Results: 51 CT-scans were assessed. One week after RFA, the ablation zone was visible in all patients as a (partially) sharply defined (83%), heterogeneous area (94%). At 3 months of follow-up, the ablation zone was completely invaded by tumor in 67% of patients and still present, but decreased in 33%. In two patients (11%), local thrombosis and/or occlusion of the superior mesenteric vein occurred. The occlusions persisted without clinical consequences and the thrombosis disappeared. A peripancreatic fluid collection was visible 1 week after RFA in 3 patients, wherein the ablation zone extended ventrally outside of the pancreas. Conclusions: Directly after RFA for LAPC, a well-defined ablation zone is visible on CT-imaging. This ablation zone is usually replaced by tumor ingrowth after 3 months. Moreover, the ablation zone regularly included vascular structures, with rare asymptomatic venous occlusion or thrombosis and without adverse effects on arteries

Computed tomography findings after radiofrequency ablation in locally advanced pancreatic cancer

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to provide a systematic evaluation of the computed tomography(CT) findings after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in locally advanced pancreatic cancer(LAPC). Methods: Eighteen patients with intra-operative RFA-treated LAPC were included in a prospective case series. All CT-scans performed prior to RFA and 1 week and 3 months of post-RFA, according to standard regimen, were assessed by two radiologists in consensus, using standardized radiological scoring lists. Results: 51 CT-scans were assessed. One week after RFA, the ablation zone was visible in all patients as a (partially) sharply defined (83%), heterogeneous area (94%). At 3 months of follow-up, the ablation zone was completely invaded by tumor in 67% of patients and still present, but decreased in 33%. In two patients (11%), local thrombosis and/or occlusion of the superior mesenteric vein occurred. The occlusions persisted without clinical consequences and the thrombosis disappeared. A peripancreatic fluid collection was visible 1 week after RFA in 3 patients, wherein the ablation zone extended ventrally outside of the pancreas. Conclusions: Directly after RFA for LAPC, a well-defined ablation zone is visible on CT-imaging. This ablation zone is usually replaced by tumor ingrowth after 3 months. Moreover, the ablation zone regularly included vascular structures, with rare asymptomatic venous occlusion or thrombosis and without adverse effects on arteries

Hoogbegaafdheid: Het label voorbij

Item does not contain fulltextKinderen en jongeren labelen als 'hoogbegaafd' leidt tot misverstanden en is strijdig met actuele psychologische inzichten. De psychologische diversiteit onder 'hoogbegaafden' is indrukwekkender dan de overeenstemming en er is onvoldoende empirische steun voor 'hoogbegaafdheid' als afzonderlijke categorie. Feitelijk is het (nog) onduidelijk wat 'hoogbegaafdheid' precies is en identificatie van 'hoogbegaafdheid' door een intelligentietest alleen is niet mogelijk. Met deze stellingen willen we onderzoek naar 'hoogbegaafdheid' niet ontmoedigen, maar veel meer de nodige ruimte geven. We blijven voorstanders van het gebruik van een aangepast (leerstof)aanbod. Het stoppen met het labelen biedt wellicht meer kansen voor kinderen die op cognitief gebied sterk afwijken van het gemiddelde in hun directe omgeving, groep of klas. Wij richten de aandacht niet op een statisch label ('hoogbegaafdheid'), maar accentueren het psychologisch proces, waarin kinderen hun vermogen en talent kunnen ontwikkelen naar een expertniveau. Dit door adequate stimulering en de actieve inspanning van deze kinderen zelf.6 p

Pollen tube taxol dependent structures co-assemble with neuronal HMW MAPs (MAP2)

Pollen tube microtubules (MTs) are as dynamic as animal MTs and they may interact with plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, mitocondria and a variety of cytoplasmic proteins. Bridges connecting MTs to each other and to membranes have been documented in pollen tubes by electron microscopy; however, the biochemical and molecular nature of these linkages is not known. In other cell types interaction between organelles and MTs require the participation of Microtubule-Associated Proteins (MAPs) that bridge the cytoskeleton to these organelles. Although biochemical documentation of such bridging MAPs in plant cells is lacking, it is reasonable to assume, by analogy with the animal systems, that specialized MAPs regulate MTs polymerization and dynamic in pollen tube. As a first step toward testing this hypothesis, the ability of Nicotiana tabacum pollen tube taxol-stabilized MTs to bind mammalian brain High Molecular Weight MAPs (HMWMAPs)(MAP2) was tested. This association analysis revealed the presence of mammalian MAP2-binding sites on pollen tube taxol-induced structures suggesting that the association presumably occurs at conserved domains on the tubulin molecules