Tryptic peptide analysis of protein binders in works of art by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Comprehension of the materials, such as binding media, used by artists is of uttermost importance in restoration and in art historical studies. The most frequently used binders are drying oils and proteins; in this study focus is placed on proteins. Most actual methods for protein binder identification are based on complete hydrolyzation of the protein matter into its amino acids and separation/detection with gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after derivatization. Because amino acids itself are not characteristic for a protein, identification is often based on the relative amount of 7 stable amino acids. In the current study a proteomics approach was used, in which the proteins were digested enzymatically into peptides using trypsin before being separated and detected by liquid chromatography – electronspray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Mascot (Matrix Science) was used to analyze the resulting data and for protein identification. This way, amino acid sequences could be studied that retain much more information about the proteins, their degradation and pigment-binder interactions. The protein content of homemade paint samples was extracted using different methods and analysed to select the best extraction strategy based on the number of peptides that were identified. A large dataset of 4 binders (animal glue, egg yolk, egg white and casein), mixed with 10 common pigments with different chemical properties was used to study the influence of pigments on the extraction method. Analytical characteristics of the selected method were determined. Finally the method was applied to historic paint samples. The results were compared with those obtained by traditional amino acid analysis methods

Determining the Minimal Clinical Important Difference for Medication Quantification Scale III and Morphine Milligram Equivalents in Patients with Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Funding: This study was supported by Medtronic Europe Sàrl through an independent research grant. Medtronic was not involved in the collection and analysis of the data or in writing the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The Influence of Missing Data on Disabilities in Patients Treated with High-Dose Spinal Cord Stimulation: A Tipping Point Sensitivity Analysis

New waveforms have changed the field of Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) to optimize therapy outcomes, among which is High-Dose SCS (HD-SCS). Missing observations are often encountered when conducting clinical trials in this field. In this study, different approaches with varying assumptions were constructed to evaluate how conclusions may be influenced by these assumptions. The aim is to perform a tipping point sensitivity analysis to evaluate the influence of missing data on the overall conclusion regarding the effectiveness of HD-SCS on disability. Data from the Discover study were used, in which 185 patients with Failed Back Surgery Syndrome were included. Disability was evaluated before SCS and after 1, 3 and 12 months of HD-SCS. During the second, third and fourth visit, data from 130, 114 and 90 patients were available, respectively. HD-SCS resulted in a significant decrease in disability scores based on the analysis of observed data and with multiple imputations. The tipping point sensitivity analysis revealed that the shift parameter was 17. Thus, the conclusion concerning the time effect under a “missing at random” mechanism is robust when the shift parameter for the disability score is 17. From a clinical point of view, a shift of 17 points on disability is not very plausible. Therefore we tend to consider the conclusions drawn under “missing at random” as being robust.</jats:p

Landscape Capacity and Social Attitudes towards Wind Energy Projects in Belgium

The present energy crisis and the awareness of the human impact on climate change have boosted the public debate on the accelerated deployment of renewable energy sources. The objective of this research project is to analyse and assess the landscape capacity and social attitudes towards wind energy parks in Belgium, especially in non-urban and non-industrial sites. This research project starts from the observation that a sustainable production of energy, relying on renewable resources, should go hand in hand with a sustainable societal support for the use of these renewable sources. Experiences from neighbouring countries showed that the societal support depends of the regional landscape capacity and the social attitudes towards wind energy parks. In this research project both quantitative and qualitative research techniques will be used to: (1) measure the landscape capacity in relation to the location of wind energy parks in Belgium, (2) to gain insight in the way attitudes towards wind energy parks are socially constructed and reproduced.Les évolutions globales récentes, comme le prix croissant des matières premières et la conscientisation du réchauffement climatique, engendrent un intérêt important envers les sources d’énergies renouvelables. Ceci s’harmonise bien avec la nouvelle quête d’un équilibre entre les besoins économiques, environnementaux et sociaux de la société, également appelé développement durable. Ces trois piliers concernent également les projets éoliens. Il ressort des expériences dans les pays voisins que ce sont surtout les aspects sociaux (réactions des riverains) et environnementaux (impact paysager) des projets éoliens qui retiennent l’attention. C’est pourquoi nous voulons examiner quels sont les paysages adaptés aux projets éoliens en Belgique (aspect environnemental) et comment ces projets sont perçus par les citoyens belges dans différents contextes (aspect social).Lacsawe

Biopsychosocial rehabilitation in the working population with chronic low back pain:a concept analysis

OBJECTIVE: To identify the essential attributes of biopsychosocial rehabilitation for chronic low back pain in the working population.DESIGN: A concept analysis was conducted according to the 8-step method of Walker and Avant. This framework provides a clear concept and theoretical and operational definitions.METHODS: Five databases were searched, followed by a systematic screening. Subsequently, attributes, illustrative cases, antecedents, consequences and empirical referents were formulated.RESULTS: Of the 3793 studies identified, 42 unique references were included. Eleven attributes were identified: therapeutic exercise, psychological support, education, personalization, self-management, participation, follow-up, practice standard, goal-setting, social support, and dietary advice. Subsequently, illustrative cases were described. Antecedents, such as motivation, preparedness and a multidisciplinary team, were found, together with consequences such as decreased pain, less sick-leave and increased function and work status. Finally, examples of empirical referents were given.CONCLUSION: This study identified the attributes that are necessary to develop biopsychosocial rehabilitation intervention programmes for chronic low back pain. The defined concept of biopsychosocial rehabilitation for chronic low back pain may serve as a solid base to further develop and apply interventions. Future research should focus on the objectification of biopsychosocial rehabilitation and conceptualization regarding how personalization is done.</p

Biopsychosocial rehabilitation in the working population with chronic low back pain:a concept analysis

OBJECTIVE: To identify the essential attributes of biopsychosocial rehabilitation for chronic low back pain in the working population.DESIGN: A concept analysis was conducted according to the 8-step method of Walker and Avant. This framework provides a clear concept and theoretical and operational definitions.METHODS: Five databases were searched, followed by a systematic screening. Subsequently, attributes, illustrative cases, antecedents, consequences and empirical referents were formulated.RESULTS: Of the 3793 studies identified, 42 unique references were included. Eleven attributes were identified: therapeutic exercise, psychological support, education, personalization, self-management, participation, follow-up, practice standard, goal-setting, social support, and dietary advice. Subsequently, illustrative cases were described. Antecedents, such as motivation, preparedness and a multidisciplinary team, were found, together with consequences such as decreased pain, less sick-leave and increased function and work status. Finally, examples of empirical referents were given.CONCLUSION: This study identified the attributes that are necessary to develop biopsychosocial rehabilitation intervention programmes for chronic low back pain. The defined concept of biopsychosocial rehabilitation for chronic low back pain may serve as a solid base to further develop and apply interventions. Future research should focus on the objectification of biopsychosocial rehabilitation and conceptualization regarding how personalization is done.</p

Biopsychosocial rehabilitation in the working population with chronic low back pain:a concept analysis

OBJECTIVE: To identify the essential attributes of biopsychosocial rehabilitation for chronic low back pain in the working population.DESIGN: A concept analysis was conducted according to the 8-step method of Walker and Avant. This framework provides a clear concept and theoretical and operational definitions.METHODS: Five databases were searched, followed by a systematic screening. Subsequently, attributes, illustrative cases, antecedents, consequences and empirical referents were formulated.RESULTS: Of the 3793 studies identified, 42 unique references were included. Eleven attributes were identified: therapeutic exercise, psychological support, education, personalization, self-management, participation, follow-up, practice standard, goal-setting, social support, and dietary advice. Subsequently, illustrative cases were described. Antecedents, such as motivation, preparedness and a multidisciplinary team, were found, together with consequences such as decreased pain, less sick-leave and increased function and work status. Finally, examples of empirical referents were given.CONCLUSION: This study identified the attributes that are necessary to develop biopsychosocial rehabilitation intervention programmes for chronic low back pain. The defined concept of biopsychosocial rehabilitation for chronic low back pain may serve as a solid base to further develop and apply interventions. Future research should focus on the objectification of biopsychosocial rehabilitation and conceptualization regarding how personalization is done.</p

Biopsychosocial rehabilitation in the working population with chronic low back pain:a concept analysis

OBJECTIVE: To identify the essential attributes of biopsychosocial rehabilitation for chronic low back pain in the working population.DESIGN: A concept analysis was conducted according to the 8-step method of Walker and Avant. This framework provides a clear concept and theoretical and operational definitions.METHODS: Five databases were searched, followed by a systematic screening. Subsequently, attributes, illustrative cases, antecedents, consequences and empirical referents were formulated.RESULTS: Of the 3793 studies identified, 42 unique references were included. Eleven attributes were identified: therapeutic exercise, psychological support, education, personalization, self-management, participation, follow-up, practice standard, goal-setting, social support, and dietary advice. Subsequently, illustrative cases were described. Antecedents, such as motivation, preparedness and a multidisciplinary team, were found, together with consequences such as decreased pain, less sick-leave and increased function and work status. Finally, examples of empirical referents were given.CONCLUSION: This study identified the attributes that are necessary to develop biopsychosocial rehabilitation intervention programmes for chronic low back pain. The defined concept of biopsychosocial rehabilitation for chronic low back pain may serve as a solid base to further develop and apply interventions. Future research should focus on the objectification of biopsychosocial rehabilitation and conceptualization regarding how personalization is done.</p

Does motor cortex engagement during movement preparation differentially inhibit nociceptive processing in patients with chronic whiplash associated disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy controls? An experimental study

Background: Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and chronic whiplash associated disorders (cWAD) present a reduced ability to activate central descending nociceptive inhibition after exercise, compared to measurements before exercise. It was hypothesised that a dysfunctional motor-induced inhibition of nociception partly explains this dysfunctional exercise-induced hypoalgesia. This study investigates if engagement of the motor system during movement preparation inhibits nociception-evoked brain responses in these patients as compared to healthy controls (HC). Methods: The experiment used laser-evoked potentials (LEPs) during three conditions (no task, mental task, movement preparation) while recording brain activity with a 32-channel electroencephalogram in 21 patients with cWAD, 20 patients with CFS and 18 HC. Two-factor mixed design Analysis of variance were used to evaluate differences in LEP amplitudes and latencies. Results: No differences in N1, N2, N2P2, and P2 LEP amplitudes were found between the HC, CFS, and cWAD groups. After nociceptive stimulation, N1, N2 (only at hand location), N2P2, and P2 LEP amplitudes significantly decreased during movement preparation compared to no task (within group differences). Conclusion: Movement preparation induces a similar attenuation of LEPs in patients with CFS, patients with cWAD and HC. These findings do not support reduced motor-induced nociceptive inhibition in these patients

Functional magnetic resonance imaging : cerebral function alterations in subthreshold and suprathreshold spinal cord stimulation

Peer reviewedPublisher PD