Silicon Membranes for Smart Silicon Sensors .

The development of smart Si sensors which combine active circuitry and sensor on the same chip, has drawn attention in terms of miniaturisation and cost-effectiveness of microsensors. Interest in micromachining of Si to fabricate membranes derives from the need for inexpensive and more versatile sensors. This paper reports the results on fabrication of Si membranes by anisotropic etching of Si in EDP solution. Good quality membranes of 10 Nanometer thickness were fabricated. Infrared detector based on thermopile structure was realised on 50 Nanometer thick Si membrane using polysilicon and Al junctions. Thermo-emf generated at 150 °c is nearly 8 mv

Improving diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) patients: Results from the Dutch GIST Registry

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a rare mesenchymal malignancy in the gastrointestinal tract. Since the introduction of imatinib in 2002, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that targets Bcr-Abl, KIT and PDGFR, treatment of patients with advanced GIST has been spectacularly improved. In this rapidly evolving field, more insight is needed the treatment and follow-up of GIST patients. The focus for this thesis is on treatment strategies and follow-up in GIST patients in daily clinical practice using a large comprehensive multicenter database.A research grant for the Dutch GIST Registry was received from Novartis, Bayer, and Pfizer. Financial support by Pfizer for the publication of this thesis is gratefully acknowledged.LUMC / Geneeskund

Short-term outcomes of early intensive neurorehabilitation for prolonged disorders of consciousness:A prospective cohort study

Background: Advances in medical care have increased survival in people with severe brain injuries and with that the number of survivors with prolonged disorders of consciousness (PDOC) has increased. In the literature, early intensive neurorehabilitation (EIN) for people with PDOC is recommended to achieve the best possible outcomes. Objectives: To evaluate the frequency and extent of recovery of consciousness, mortality, complications, pain and discomfort, and medication during a nationwide EIN programme in people with PDOC after acquired brain injury. We hypothesized that level of consciousness would improve in half of people with PDOC. Methods: Prospective cohort study. People with PDOC aged 16 years and older admitted to the EIN department centralized in a single rehabilitation centre in the Netherlands (Libra Rehabilitation &amp; Audiology) were included. The EIN delivers a subacute medical level of care and rehabilitation for a maximum duration of 14 weeks. The outcome measures were level of consciousness (CRS-R), mortality, number of complications, medication and pain/discomfort (NCS-R). Results: Of the 104 people included, 68 % emerged to a minimal conscious state with command-following or higher during EIN and 44 % regained consciousness. Mortality during EIN was 6 %, and 50 % of deaths followed a non-treatment decision or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment. Almost all participants had at least 1 medical complication, leading to hospital readmission for 30 %. 73 % showed no pain or discomfort. During EIN, cardiovascular medication and analgesics were reduced by 15 %. Conclusions: During the EIN programme, a large percentage of people with PDOC regained at least a minimal conscious state or even consciousness. These outcomes and the frequent medical complications in these people suggest that intensive specialized care should be offered to all people with PDOC. The outcomes of this study might help health professionals to better inform the families of people with PDOC about the short-term prognosis of PDOC. Protocol registration number: The Dutch Trial Register, NL 8138.</p

Short-term outcomes of early intensive neurorehabilitation for prolonged disorders of consciousness:A prospective cohort study

Background: Advances in medical care have increased survival in people with severe brain injuries and with that the number of survivors with prolonged disorders of consciousness (PDOC) has increased. In the literature, early intensive neurorehabilitation (EIN) for people with PDOC is recommended to achieve the best possible outcomes. Objectives: To evaluate the frequency and extent of recovery of consciousness, mortality, complications, pain and discomfort, and medication during a nationwide EIN programme in people with PDOC after acquired brain injury. We hypothesized that level of consciousness would improve in half of people with PDOC. Methods: Prospective cohort study. People with PDOC aged 16 years and older admitted to the EIN department centralized in a single rehabilitation centre in the Netherlands (Libra Rehabilitation &amp; Audiology) were included. The EIN delivers a subacute medical level of care and rehabilitation for a maximum duration of 14 weeks. The outcome measures were level of consciousness (CRS-R), mortality, number of complications, medication and pain/discomfort (NCS-R). Results: Of the 104 people included, 68 % emerged to a minimal conscious state with command-following or higher during EIN and 44 % regained consciousness. Mortality during EIN was 6 %, and 50 % of deaths followed a non-treatment decision or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment. Almost all participants had at least 1 medical complication, leading to hospital readmission for 30 %. 73 % showed no pain or discomfort. During EIN, cardiovascular medication and analgesics were reduced by 15 %. Conclusions: During the EIN programme, a large percentage of people with PDOC regained at least a minimal conscious state or even consciousness. These outcomes and the frequent medical complications in these people suggest that intensive specialized care should be offered to all people with PDOC. The outcomes of this study might help health professionals to better inform the families of people with PDOC about the short-term prognosis of PDOC. Protocol registration number: The Dutch Trial Register, NL 8138.</p

Mannose 6-phosphate independent targeting of cathepsin D to lysosomes in HepG2 cells

FWN – Publicaties zonder aanstelling Universiteit Leide

Accelerometric assessment of different dimensions of natural walking during the first year after stroke

Objectives: To describe the course of walking behaviour over a period of 1 year after stroke, using accelerometry, and to compare 1-year data with those from a healthy group. Design: One-year follow-up cohort study. Subjects: Twenty-three stroke patients and 20 age-matched healthy subjects. Methods: Accelerometer assessments were made in the participants' daily environment for 8 h/day during the 1st (T1), 12th (T2) and 48th (T3) weeks after stroke, and at one timepoint in healthy subjects. Primary outcomes were: percentage of time walking and upright (amount); mean duration and number of walking periods (distribution); step regularity and gait symmetry (quality); and walking speed. Results: Time walking, time upright, and number of walking bouts increased during T1 and T2 (p 0.30). Mean duration of walking periods showed no significant improvements (p > 0.30) during all phases. Step regularity, gait symmetry and gait speed showed a tendency to increase consistently from T1 to T3. At T3, amount and distribution variables reached the level of the healthy group, but significant differences remained (p < 0.02) in step regularity and gait speed. Conclusion: In this cohort, different outcomes of walking behaviour showed different patterns and levels of recovery, which supports the multi-dimensional character of gait

Overview of effects of motor learning strategies in neurological and geriatric populations: a systematic mapping review

Systematic review protocol under review. Review Stage at time of this submission - Data analysis.This protocol was registered with the International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (INPLASY) on 14 March 2024 and was last updated on 14 March 2024.Regieorgaan SI

Optimal Training for Movement Acquisition and Transfer: Does ‘Externally-Focused' Visual Biofeedback Promote Implicit Motor Learning?

Copyright 2022 The Author(s). Context: Visual biofeedback has been shown to facilitate injury-resistant movement acquisition in adolescent athletes. Visual biofeedback is typically thought to foster implicit learning, by stimulating athletes to focus attention externally (on movement outcome). However, biofeedback may also induce explicit learning, if the athlete uses the visual information to consciously guide movement execution (using an internal focus). Objective: To determine the degree to which athletes report statements indicative of implicit or explicit motor learning after engaging in a visual biofeedback intervention. Design: Prospective cohort. Setting: 3D motion analysis laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Twenty-five adolescent female soccer athletes (15.9±0.9 yrs, 164.9±5.67 cm, 58.9±10.3 kg). Interventions: Standard six-week neuromuscular training intervention (three 90-minute sessions/week), with added visual biofeedback sessions (two sessions/week). For the biofeedback training, participants performed squatting and jumping movements while interacting with a visual rectangular stimulus that mapped key parameters associated with injury risk. After the last biofeedback session in each week, participants answered open-ended questions to probe learning strategies. Main Outcome Measures: Responses to the open-ended questions were categorized as “externally focused” (i.e., on movement outcome, suggestive of implicit learning), “internally focused” (i.e., on movement itself; suggestive of explicit learning), “mixed focus”, or “other.” Results: 171 open-ended responses were 25 collected. Most of the responses that could be categorized (39.2%) were externally focused (41.8%) followed by mixed (38.8%), and internally focused (19.4%). The frequency of external focus statements increased from week 1 (18%) to week 6 (50%). Conclusions: While most statements were externally focused (suggesting implicit learning), the relatively large proportion of internal/mixed focus statements suggests many athletes also engaged in explicit motor learning, especially in early practice sessions. Therefore, biofeedback may impact motor learning through a mixture of implicit/explicit learning