Muon Spin Relaxation Studies of Magnetic-Field-Induced Effects in High-TcT_{c} Superconductors

Muon spin relaxation ($\mu$SR) measurements in high transverse magnetic fields ($\parallel \hat c$) revealed strong field-induced quasi-static magnetism in the underdoped and Eu doped (La,Sr)$_{2}$CuO$_{4}$ and La$_{1.875}$Ba$_{0.125}$CuO$_{4}$, existing well above $T_{c}$ and $T_{N}$. The susceptibility-counterpart of Cu spin polarization, derived from the muon spin relaxation rate, exhibits a divergent behavior towards $T \sim 25$ K. No field-induced magnetism was detected in overdoped La$_{1.81}$Sr$_{0.19}$CuO$_{4}$, optimally doped Bi2212, and Zn-doped YBa$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{7}$.Comment: 4 pages, 4 color figure

Long-term survival after hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy using mitomycin C or oxaliplatin in colorectal cancer patients with synchronous peritoneal metastases:A nationwide comparative study

Objectives: In the Netherlands, limited variability exists in performance of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) among centers treating colorectal peritoneal metastases (PM), except for the intraperitoneal drug administration. This offers a unique opportunity to investigate any disparities in survival between the two most frequently used HIPEC regimens worldwide: mitomycin C (MMC) and oxaliplatin.Methods: This was a comparative, population-based cohort study of all Dutch patients diagnosed with synchronous colorectal PM who underwent CRS-HIPEC between 2014 and 2017. They were retrieved from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Main outcome was overall survival (OS). The effect of the intraperitoneal drug on OS was investigated using multivariable Cox regression analysis.Results: In total, 297 patients treated between 2014 and 2017 were included. Among them, 177 (59.6%) received MMC and 120 (40.4%) received oxaliplatin. Only primary tumor location was different between the two groups: more left-sided colon in the Oxaliplatin group (47.5% vs. 33.3%, respectively, p=0.048). The 1-, 2- and 3-year OS were 84.6% vs. 85.8%, 61.6% vs. 63.9% and 44.7% vs. 53.5% in patients treated with MMC and oxaliplatin, respectively. Median OS was 30.7 months in the MMC group vs. 46.6 months in the oxaliplatin group (p=0.181). In multivariable analysis, no influence of intraperitoneal drug on survival was observed (adjusted HR 0.77 [0.53-1.13]).Conclusions: Long-term survival between patients treated with either MMC or oxaliplatin during CRS-HIPEC was not significantly different. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd, BASO similar to The Association for Cancer Surgery, and the European Society of Surgical Oncology. All rights reserved.</p

Non-adherence to antimicrobial treatment guidelines results in more broad-spectrum but not more appropriate therapy

Mortality in patients admitted with sepsis is high and the increasing incidence of infections with multiresistant bacteria is a worldwide problem. Many hospitals have local antimicrobial guidelines to assure effective treatment and limit the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, thereby reducing the selection of resistant bacteria. We evaluated adherence to the antimicrobial treatment guidelines of our hospital in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with sepsis and assessed the in vitro susceptibility of isolated pathogens to the guideline-recommended treatment and the prescribed treatment. We included all adult patients with a known or suspected infection and two or more extended systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria. Patients who did not receive antimicrobial treatment, presented with infections not included in the guidelines, or had more than one possible focus of infection were excluded. A total of 276 ED visits (262 patients) were included. Guideline-concordant treatment was prescribed in 168 visits (61%). In the case of guideline-disconcordant treatment, 87% was more broad-spectrum than guideline-recommended treatment. A microbiological diagnosis was established in 96 visits (35%). The susceptibility of the pathogens isolated from patients treated with guideline-concordant treatment (n = 68) and guideline-disconcordant treatment (n = 28) to guideline-recommended treatment (91% versus 89%) and to prescribed treatment (91% versus 93%) was similar (p = 0.77 and p = 0.79, respectively). In conclusion, non-adherence to the guidelines occurred frequently and resulted in more broad-spectrum empirical therapy. This did not result in a higher rate of susceptibility of the isolated pathogens to the prescribed empirical therapy

Women on boards and firm performance

This study investigates the financial performance of Dutch companies both with and without women on their boards. The analysis extends earlier methods used in research by Catalyst (The bottom line: corporate performance and women's representation on boards, 2007) and McKinsey (Women matter. Gender diversity, a corporate performance driver. McKinsey & Company, USA, 2007), two studies that are often cited in the literature, although, each has a number of methodological shortcomings. This article adds to the international debate, which is often normative, through examining 99 listed companies in the Dutch Female Board Index. Our results show that firms with women directors perform better than those without women on their boards

Traditional management of ear, nose and throat (ENT) diseases in Central Kenya

Diseases of ear, nose and throat (ENT) often have serious consequences including hearing impairment, and emotional strain that lower the quality of life of patients. In Kenya, upper respiratory infections are among the most common infections encountered in outpatient facilities. Some of these infections are becoming difficult to control because some of the causing microorganisms have acquired antibiotic resistance and hence the need to develop new drugs with higher efficacy. Ethnobotanical studies have now been found to be instrumental in improving chances of discovering plants with antimicrobial activity in new drug development. In Kenya the majority of local people are turning to herbal remedies for primary health care needs. In most cases the sources of these remedies are undocumented and the knowledge about them passed orally form generation to generation, hence under threat of disappearing with current rates of modernisation. This study explored the traditional remedies used in managing various ENT diseases in seven districts of the Central Province of Kenya. The most common ENT conditions managed using traditional therapies include: common cold, cough, tonsillitis, otitis-media, chest pains and asthma. The results indicate that 67 species belonging to 36 plant families were utilized in this region. These plants were of varying habits; herbs (37.3%), shrubs (34.4%), trees (25.4%) as well as some grasses and sedges (3%). The traditional preparations were found to be made mainly from leaves (49%), roots (20.5%) and barks (12.5%). For each of the ENT conditions multiple species are utilized mainly as individual preparations but occasionally as polyherbal concoctions. In the case of common cold for example, 30 different species are used. Plants reported in this survey are important candidates for antimicrobial tests against ENT disease causing micro-organisms, especially those with antibiotic resistance

Why psychiatry is different - challenges and difficulties in managing a nosocomial outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in hospital care

Objective: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was officially declared a pandemic in March 2020. Many cases of COVID-19 are nosocomial, but to the best of our knowledge, no nosocomial outbreaks on psychiatric departments of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been reported in Europe. The different nature of psychiatry makes outbreak management more difficult. This study determines which psychiatry specific factors contributed to a nosocomial outbreak taking place in a psychiatric department. This will provide possible interventions in future outbreak management. Method: A case series describing a nosocomial outbreak in a psychiatric department of an acute care hospital in the Netherlands between March 13, 2020 and April, 14 2020. The outbreak was analyzed by combining data from standardized interviews, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and whole genome sequencing (WGS). Results: The nosocomial outbreak in which 43% of staff of the psychiatric department and 19% of admitted patients were involved, was caused by healthcare worker (HCW)-to-HCW transmissions, as well as patient-to-HCW-to-patient transmission. We identified four aspects associated with the mental health care system which might have made our department more susceptible to an outbreak. Conclusions: Infection control measures designed for hospitals are not directly applicable to psychiatric departments. Psychiatric patients should be considered a high-risk group for infectious diseases and customized measures should be designed and implemented. Extra attention for psychiatric departments is necessary during a pandemic as psychiatric HCWs are less familiar with outbreak management. Clear communication and governance is crucial in correctly implementing these measures

Psychometric Evaluation of the Arabic Version of the Spiritual Well-Being Scale on a Sample of Jordanian Arab Christians

This paper assesses the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS) in an Arab Christian sample by analyzing its internal structure. A convenience sample of 340 Arab Christians was recruited from the adult community population of northern Jordan. Data were collected through a self-completion, anonymous questionnaire distributed through church and community groups. Principal Components factor analysis, non-parametric bivariate statistics, and Cronbach's alpha were used to assess the psychometric properties of the total scale and its subscales. The findings broadly supported the factor structure of the SWBS in other Arab samples in that the scale consists of three factors, representing positive existential well-being, affiliation, and alienation subscales. In conclusion, these preliminary findings suggest that the Arabic version of the SWBS can be used as an instrument to measure levels of spiritual well-being in Arab Christian populations. </jats:p