521 research outputs found
Welke waarde hebben rundveerassen voor de Nederlandse burger?
In de Nederlandse en Europese melkveehouderij zijn lokale rundveerassen voor groot deel vervangen door het hoogproductieve Holstein Friesian melkveeras. Het Centrum voor Genetische Bronnen Nederland (CGN) van Wageningen UR heeft in het EURECA-project (mede gefinancierd door de Europese Commissie) onderzocht wat nodig is om lokale rundveerassen in stand te houden
Understanding Dutch practice nurses' adherence to evidence-based smoking cessation guidelines and their needs for web-based adherence support: results from semistructured interviews
Dectin-1 plays a redundant role in the immunomodulatory activities of β-glucan-rich ligands in vivo
Copyright © 2013 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Do current methods of measuring the impact of chronic pain on work reflect the experience of working-age adults? : An integrated mixed methods systematic narrative review
The authors would like to acknowledge contributions to the QUICK study by members of the study advisory group: Patrice Forget, Siladitya Bhattacharya, Peter Goadsby, Cathy Price, David Coggon, Maureen McAllister, Stephen Bevan. The work presented in this manuscript was funded by the Medical Research Council (grant MR/V020676/1).Peer reviewe
Holographic patient tracking after bed movement for augmented reality neuronavigation using a head-mounted display
Background: Holographic neuronavigation has several potential advantages compared to conventional neuronavigation systems. We present the first report of a holographic neuronavigation system with patient-to-image registration and patient tracking with a reference array using an augmented reality head-mounted display (AR-HMD). Methods: Three patients undergoing an intracranial neurosurgical procedure were included in this pilot study. The relevant anatomy was first segmented in 3D and then uploaded as holographic scene in our custom neuronavigation software. Registration was performed using point-based matching using anatomical landmarks. We measured the fiducial registration error (FRE) as the outcome measure for registration accuracy. A custom-made reference array with QR codes was integrated in the neurosurgical setup and used for patient tracking after bed movement. Results: Six registrations were performed with a mean FRE of 8.5 mm. Patient tracking was achieved with no visual difference between the registration before and after movement. Conclusions: This first report shows a proof of principle of intraoperative patient tracking using a standalone holographic neuronavigation system. The navigation accuracy should be further optimized to be clinically applicable. However, it is likely that this technology will be incorporated in future neurosurgical workflows because the system improves spatial anatomical understanding for the surgeon
A comparison of trauma scoring systems for trauma-related injuries presenting to a district-level urban public hospital in Western Cape, South Africa
CITATION: Mukonkole, S. N. et al. 2020. A comparison of trauma scoring systems for trauma-related injuries presenting to a district-level urban public hospital in Western Cape, South Africa. South African Journal of Surgery, 58(1):9-14, doi:10.17159/2078-5151/2020/v58n1a3116.The original publication is available at: http://www.scielo.org.zaBACKGROUND: Trauma is a major public health issue and has an extensive burden on the health system in South Africa. Many trauma scoring systems have been developed to estimate trauma severity and predict mortality. The prediction of mortality between different trauma scoring systems have not been compared at district-level health facilities in South Africa. The objective was to compare four trauma scoring systems (injury severity score (ISS), revised trauma score (RTS), Kampala trauma score (KTS), trauma and injury severity score (TRISS)) in predicting mortality in trauma-related patients presenting to a district-level hospital in Cape Town
METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all trauma patients managed in the resuscitation unit of Khayelitsha Hospital during a six-month period. Logistic regression was done, and empirical cut of points used to maximise sensitivity and specificity on receiver operating characteristic curves. The outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality
RESULTS: In total, 868 participants were analysed after 50 were excluded due to missing data. The mean (± SD) age was 28±11 years, 726 (83.6%) were males, and penetrating injuries (n = 492,56.6%) dominated. The mortality rate was 5.2% (n = 45). TRISS was the best mortality predictor (c-statistic 0.93, sensitivity 90%, specificity 87%). All scoring systems had overlapping confidence intervals
CONCLUSION: TRISS, ISS, RTS and KTS performed equivocally in predicting mortality in trauma-related patients managed at a district-level facility. The appropriate scoring system should be the simplest one which can be practically implemented and will likely differ between facilitiesPublisher's versio
The influence of 'significant others' on persistent back pain and work participation: a qualitative exploration of illness perceptions
Background
Individual illness perceptions have been highlighted as important influences on clinical outcomes for back pain. However, the illness perceptions of 'significant others' (spouse/partner/close family member) are rarely explored, particularly in relation to persistent back pain and work participation. The aim of this study was to initiate qualitative research in this area in order to further understand these wider influences on outcome.
Methods
Semi-structured interviews based on the chronic pain version of the Illness Perceptions Questionnaire-Revised were conducted with a convenience sample of UK disability benefit claimants, along with their significant others (n=5 dyads). Data were analysed using template analysis.
Results
Significant others shared, and perhaps further reinforced, claimants' unhelpful illness beliefs including fear of pain/re-injury associated with certain types of work and activity, and pessimism about the likelihood of return to work. In some cases, significant others appeared more resigned to the permanence and negative inevitable consequences of the claimant's back pain condition on work participation, and were more sceptical about the availability of suitable work and sympathy from employers. In their pursuit of authenticity, claimants were keen to stress their desire to work whilst emphasising how the severity and physical limitations of their condition prevented them from doing so. In this vein, and seemingly based on their perceptions of what makes a 'good' significant other, significant others acted as a 'witness to pain', supporting claimants' self-limiting behaviour and statements of incapacity, often responding with empathy and assistance. The beliefs and responses of significant others may also have been influenced by their own experience of chronic illness, thus participants lives were often intertwined and defined by illness.
Conclusions
The findings from this exploratory study reveal how others and wider social circumstances might contribute both to the propensity of persistent back pain and to its consequences. This is an area that has received little attention to date, and wider support of these findings may usefully inform the design of future intervention programmes aimed at restoring work participation
Sperm storage and mating in the deep-sea squid Taningia danae Joubin, 1931 (Oegopsida: Octopoteuthidae)
Preservation of the optic radiations based on comparative analysis of diffusion tensor imaging tractographyand anatomical dissection
Background Visualization of the precise course of the visual pathways is relevant to prevent damage that may inflict visual field deficits during neurosurgical resections. In particular the optic radiations (OR) are susceptible to such damage during neurosurgery. Cortical pathways can be mapped in vivo, by using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). Visualization of these pathways would be potentially helpful to prevent neurosurgical visual morbidity. In this study an anatomical dissection of the visual pathways was compared to DTI fiber tractography (DTI-FT) data of four human brains. The feasibility of a definition of a Safety Zone is investigated.Methods Four adult brains were dissected using Klingler’s fiber dissection method, which allowed preparation of the OR. Measurements before and after dissection were used to establish distances from the cortex to the OR. DTI-scans were also obtained from these brains to determine the same distances.Results Measurements from specific landmark points on the cortex to the lateral border of the OR were performed in four brains. Analysis through DTI tractography corresponded with the dissection results. Based on the combined results of both dissection and DTI-FT, we defined a quantitative surgical Safety Zone with respect to various anatomical landmarks (in particular the ventricle system)Conclusion We conclude that there is a good correlation between the visualizations of the optic pathways based on dissection and DTI. Furthermore, we conclude that defining a neurosurgical Safety Zone which could preserve the integrity of the OR during surgery, based on the combination of DTI-FT images and dissection is feasible
Resting energy expenditure in children at risk of hypothalamic dysfunction
Objective: Children with suprasellar brain damage are at risk of hypothalamic dysfunction (HD). HD may lead to decreased resting energy expenditure (REE). Decreased REE, however, is not present in all children with HD. Our aim was to assess which children suspect for HD have low REE, and its association with clinical severity of HD or radiological hypothalamic damage. Patients and methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed. Measured REE (mREE) of children at risk of HD was compared to predicted REE (pREE). Low REE was defined as mREE <90% of predicted. The mREE/pREE quotient was associated to a clinical score for HD symptoms and to radiological hypothalamic damage. Results: In total, 67 children at risk of HD (96% brain tumor diagnosis) with a mean BMI SDS of +2.3 ± 1.0 were included. Of these, 45 (67.2%) had low mREE. Children with severe HD had a significant lower mean mREE/pREE quotient compared to children with no, mild, or moderate HD. Mean mREE/pREE quotient of children with posterior hypothalamic damage was significantly lower compared to children with no or anterior damage. Tumor progression or tumor recurrence, severe clinical HD, and panhypopituitarism with diabetes insipidus (DI) were significant risk factors for reduced REE. Conclusion: REE may be lowered in children with hypothalamic damage and is associated to the degree of clinical HD. REE is, however, not lowered in all children suspect for HD. For children with mild or moderate clinical HD symptoms, REE measurements may be useful to distinguish between those who may benefit from obesity treatment that increases REE from those who would be better helped using other obesity interventions
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