Gender differences in the use of cardiovascular interventions in HIV-positive persons; the D:A:D Study

Peer reviewe

Mutations in SELENBP1, encoding a novel human methanethiol oxidase, cause extraoral halitosis

Selenium-binding protein 1 (SELENBP1) has been associated with several cancers, although its exact role is unknown. We show that SELENBP1 is a methanethiol oxidase (MTO), related to the MTO in methylotrophic bacteria, that converts methanethiol to H2O2, formaldehyde, and H2S, an activity not previously known to exist in humans. We identified mutations in SELENBP1 in five patients with cabbage-like breath odor. The malodor was attributable to high levels of methanethiol and dimethylsulfide, the main odorous compounds in their breath. Elevated urinary excretion of dimethylsulfoxide was associated with MTO deficiency. Patient fibroblasts had low SELENBP1 protein levels and were deficient in MTO enzymatic activity; these effects were reversed by lentivirus-mediated expression of wild-type SELENBP1. Selenbp1-knockout mice showed biochemical characteristics similar to those in humans. Our data reveal a potentially frequent inborn error of metabolism that results from MTO deficiency and leads to a malodor syndrome.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Metabolic phenotyping for discovery of urinary biomarkers of diet, xenobiotics and blood pressure in the INTERMAP Study: an overview

The etiopathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is multifactorial. Adverse blood pressure (BP) is a major independent risk factor for epidemic CVD affecting ~40% of the adult population worldwide and resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Metabolic phenotyping of biological fluids has proven its application in characterizing low-molecular-weight metabolites providing novel insights into gene-environmental-gut microbiome interaction in relation to a disease state. In this review, we synthesize key results from the INTERnational study of MAcro/micronutrients and blood Pressure (INTERMAP) Study, a cross-sectional epidemiologic study of 4680 men and women aged 40-59 years from Japan, the People's Republic of China, the United Kingdom and the United States. We describe the advancements we have made regarding the following: (1) analytical techniques for high-throughput metabolic phenotyping; (2) statistical analyses for biomarker identification; (3) discovery of unique food-specific biomarkers; and (4) application of metabolome-wide association studies to gain a better understanding into the molecular mechanisms of cross-cultural and regional BP differences

Greenhouse gas emissions in the Netherlands 1990-2013 : National Inventory Report 2015

In 2013 is de totale broeikasgasemissie van Nederland met ongeveer 0,2 procent gedaald ten opzichte van de emissie in 2012. Deze daling komt vooral door de afname van brandstofgebruik in de transportsector en de petrochemische industrie. De totale broeikasgasemissie in 2013 bedraagt 195,8 teragram (megaton of miljard kilogram) CO2 equivalenten. Ten opzichte van het basisjaar (221,1 Tg CO2 equivalenten) is dit een afname van ongeveer 11,5 procent. Beide getallen zijn exclusief de emissies afkomstig uit het soort landgebruik en de verandering daarin, zoals natuurontwikkeling of ontbossing (land use, land use change and forestry, LULUCF). Dit blijkt uit een inventarisatie van broeikasgasemissies die het RIVM op verzoek van het ministerie van Infrastructuur en Milieu (IenM) heeft opgesteld. Met deze inventarisatie voldoet Nederland aan de nationale rapportageverplichtingen voor 2015 van het Klimaatverdrag van de Verenigde Naties (UNFCCC)4 en van het Bewakingsmechanisme Broeikasgassen van de Europese Unie. De emissiecijfers zijn in absolute zin gewijzigd ten opzichte van eerdere rapportages omdat de nu gerapporteerde cijfers berekend zijn conform de nieuwste UNFCCC 2006 Guidelines. De inventarisatie bevat verder trendanalyses voor de emissies van broeikasgassen in de periode 1990-2013, een analyse van belangrijkste emissiebronnen (sleutelbronnen) evenals de onzekerheid in hun emissies. Daarnaast biedt de inventarisatie documentatie van de gebruikte berekeningsmethoden, databronnen en toegepaste emissiefactoren. Ten slotte bevat het een overzicht van het kwaliteitssysteem en de validatie van de emissiecijfers door de Nederlandse Emissieregistratie.Total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the Netherlands in 2013 decreased by approximately 0.2%, compared with 2012 emissions. This decrease was mainly the result of decreased fuel combustion in the transport sector and in the petrochemical industry. In 2013, total direct GHG emissions (excluding emissions from Land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF)) in the Netherlands amounted to 195.8 Tg CO2 eq. This is approximately 12% below the emissions in the base year2 (221.1 Tg CO2 eq). This report documents the Netherlands' 2015 annual submission of its GHG emissions inventory in accordance with the guidelines provided by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)3 and the European Union's Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Mechanism. Implementation of the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (IPCC, 2006) meant the presentation of the emissions data changed in comparison with previous submissions. The report includes explanations of observed trends in emissions; an assessment of the sources with the highest contribution to the national emissions (key sources) and the uncertainty in their emissions; an itemization of methods, data sources and emission factors (EFs) applied; and a description of the quality assurance system and the verification activities performed on the data.Ministerie van I&

Emissies van broeikasgassen tussen 1990 en 2014

alleen digitaal verschenenIn 2014 is de totale uitstoot van broeikasgassen van Nederland met ongeveer 4 procent gedaald ten opzichte van de emissie in 2013. Deze daling komt vooral doordat er als gevolg van de relatief warme winter minder brandstof is gebruikt. De totale emissie van broeikasgassen naar de lucht wordt uitgedrukt in CO2-equivalenten en bedroeg in 2014 187,1 miljard kilogram (megaton of teragram). Ten opzichte van het zogeheten Kyoto-basisjaar (223,8 miljard kilogram CO2-equivalenten) is dit een afname van ongeveer 16,4 procent. Dit basisjaar, dat afhankelijk van het broeikasgas 1990 of 1995 is, dient voor het Kyoto-protocol als referentie voor de uitstoot van broeikasgassen. De afname in de broeikasgasemissies wordt voor het grootste deel (78 procent) veroorzaakt doordat de emissies van methaan, distikstofoxide en gefluoreerde gassen (CH4, N2O en F-gassen) afnemen. De CO2-uitstoot is beduidend minder afgenomen (-3 procent ten opzichte van het basisjaar 1990). Dit blijkt uit een inventarisatie van broeikasgasemissies die het RIVM jaarlijks op verzoek van het ministerie van Infrastructuur en Milieu (IenM) opstelt. Met deze inventarisatie voldoet Nederland aan de nationale rapportageverplichtingen voor 2016 van het Klimaatverdrag van de Verenigde Naties (UNFCCC), van het Kyoto Protocol en van het Bewakingsmechanisme Broeikasgassen van de Europese Unie. De emissiecijfers uit brandstoffen zijn in absolute zin gewijzigd ten opzichte van eerdere rapportages om de Nederlandse cijfers beter te laten aansluiten bij de internationale definities. De inventarisatie bevat verder trendanalyses voor de emissies van broeikasgassen in de periode 1990-2014, een analyse van belangrijkste emissiebronnen ('sleutelbronnen'), evenals de onzekerheid in hun emissies. Daarnaast zijn in de inventarisatie de gebruikte berekeningsmethoden beschreven, evenals databronnen en gebruikte emissiefactoren. Ten slotte bevat het een overzicht van het kwaliteitssysteem en de validatie van de emissiecijfers door de Nederlandse Emissieregistratie.Total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the Netherlands in 2014 decreased by approximately 4.1%, compared with 2013 emissions. This decrease was mainly the result of decreased fuel combustion in all sectors as a result of the mild winter. In 2014, total GHG emissions (including indirect CO2 emissions and excluding emissions from Land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF)) in the Netherlands amounted to 187.1 Tg CO2 eq. This is approximately 16.4% below the emissions in the base year2 (223.8 Tg CO2 eq). This report documents the Netherlands' 2016 annual submission of its greenhouse gas emissions inventory in accordance with the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (IPCC, 2006) provided by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol and the European Union's Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Mechanism. The report includes explanations of observed trends in emissions; an assessment of the sources with the highest contribution to the national emissions (key sources) and the uncertainty in their emissions; an itemization of methods, data sources and emission factors (EFs) applied; and a description of the quality assurance system and the verification activities performed on the data.Directorate-General for the Environment and International Affair

Learning from failure - rationale and design for a study about discontinuation of randomized trials (DISCO study).

BACKGROUND: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) may be discontinued because of apparent harm, benefit, or futility. Other RCTs are discontinued early because of insufficient recruitment. Trial discontinuation has ethical implications, because participants consent on the premise of contributing to new medical knowledge, Research Ethics Committees (RECs) spend considerable effort reviewing study protocols, and limited resources for conducting research are wasted. Currently, little is known regarding the frequency and characteristics of discontinued RCTs. METHODS/DESIGN: Our aims are, first, to determine the prevalence of RCT discontinuation for specific reasons; second, to determine whether the risk of RCT discontinuation for specific reasons differs between investigator- and industry-initiated RCTs; third, to identify risk factors for RCT discontinuation due to insufficient recruitment; fourth, to determine at what stage RCTs are discontinued; and fifth, to examine the publication history of discontinued RCTs.We are currently assembling a multicenter cohort of RCTs based on protocols approved between 2000 and 2002/3 by 6 RECs in Switzerland, Germany, and Canada. We are extracting data on RCT characteristics and planned recruitment for all included protocols. Completion and publication status is determined using information from correspondence between investigators and RECs, publications identified through literature searches, or by contacting the investigators. We will use multivariable regression models to identify risk factors for trial discontinuation due to insufficient recruitment. We aim to include over 1000 RCTs of which an anticipated 150 will have been discontinued due to insufficient recruitment. DISCUSSION: Our study will provide insights into the prevalence and characteristics of RCTs that were discontinued. Effective recruitment strategies and the anticipation of problems are key issues in the planning and evaluation of trials by investigators, Clinical Trial Units, RECs and funding agencies. Identification and modification of barriers to successful study completion at an early stage could help to reduce the risk of trial discontinuation, save limited resources, and enable RCTs to better meet their ethical requirements

Lifestyle Triple P: a parenting intervention for childhood obesity

Background: Reversing the obesity epidemic requires the development and evaluation of childhood obesity intervention programs. Lifestyle Triple P is a parent-focused group program that addresses three topics: nutrition, physical activity, and positive parenting. Australian research has established the efficacy of Lifestyle Triple P, which aims to prevent excessive weight gain in overweight and obese children. The aim of the current randomized controlled trial is to assess the effectiveness of the Lifestyle Triple P intervention when applied to Dutch parents of overweight and obese children aged 4-8 years. This effectiveness study is called GO4fit