Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment for Hepatitis C Genotypes Uncommon in High-Income Countries:A Dutch Nationwide Cohort Study

Background. The majority of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are found in low- and middle-income countries, which harbor many region-specific HCV subtypes. Nevertheless, direct-acting antiviral (DAA) trials have almost exclusively been conducted in high-income countries, where mainly epidemically spread HCV subtypes are present. Recently, several studies have demonstrated suboptimal DAA efficacy for certain nonepidemic subtypes, which could hamper global HCV elimination. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate DAA efficacy in patients treated for a nonepidemic HCV genotype infection in the Netherlands. Methods. We performed a nationwide retrospective study including patients treated with interferon-free DAAs for an HCV genotype other than 1a/1b/2a/2b/3a/4a/4d. The genotype was determined by NS5B region phylogenetic analysis. The primary end point was SVR-12. If stored samples were available, NS5A and NS5B sequences were obtained for resistance-associated substitutions (RAS) evaluation. Results. We included 160 patients, mainly infected with nonepidemic genotype 2 (41%) and 4 (31%) subtypes. Most patients were from Africa (45%) or South America (24%); 51 (32%) were cirrhotic. SVR-12 was achieved in 92% (140/152) of patients with available SVR-12 data. Only 73% (8/11) genotype 3-infected patients achieved SVR-12, the majority being genotype 3b patients with 63% (5/8) SVR. Regardless of SVR, all genotype 3b patients had 30K and 31M RAS. Conclusions. (T)he DAA efficacy we observed in most nonepidemic genotypes in the Netherlands seems reassuring. However, the low SVR-12 rate in subtype 3b infections is alarming, especially as it is common in several HCV-endemic countries. Alongside earlier results, our results indicate that a remaining challenge for global HCV elimination is confirming and monitoring DAA efficacy in nonepidemic genotypes

Personality and Temperament Correlates of Pain Catastrophizing in Young Adolescents

Pain catastrophizing is generally viewed as an important cognitive factor underlying chronic pain. The present study examined personality and temperament correlates of pain catastrophizing in a sample of young adolescents (N = 132). Participants completed the Pain Catastrophizing Scale for Children, as well as scales for measuring sensitivity of the behavioral inhibition and behavioral activation systems (BIS-BAS), and various reactive and regulative temperament traits. Results demonstrated that BIS, reactive temperament traits (fear and anger-frustration), and perceptual sensitivity were positively related to pain catastrophizing, whereas regulative traits (attention control, inhibitory control) were negatively associated with this cognitive factor. Further, regression analyses demonstrated that only BIS and the temperamental traits of fear and perceptual sensitivity accounted for a unique proportion of the variance in adolescents’ pain catastrophizing scores

Access to EXCITE : a European infrastructure to promote electron and X-ray microscopy of earth materials

Understanding earth materials is essential for the creation of a sustainable, carbon-neutral society. Earth materials control the feasibility of subsurface energy storage, geothermal energy extraction, and are a source of critical elements for future-proof battery technologies. To tackle the current, pressing scientific questions related to sustainable development for a circular economy, there is an urgent need to make multi-scale, multi-dimensional characterisations of earth materials available to a broad spectrum of earth-science disciplines. Besides society-relevant topics, the properties of earth materials determine how the Earth works on the most fundamental level. To overcome this challenge, 15 European institutes joined forces to establish EXCITE, providing free-of-charge access to 24 state-of-the art microscopy and x-ray tomography facilities in Europe. EXCITE can help you gain insight into the processes governing the behavior of the Earth crust through microchemical analyses and 2D- to 4D imaging, and down to nanometer resolution. In particular, the EXCITE strategy integrates joint research programs with networking, training, and trans-national access activities, thereby enabling both academia and industry to answer critical questions in earth-materials science and technology. EXCITE is building a community of highly qualified earth scientists, develops correlative imaging technologies providing access to world-class facilities to particularly new and non-expert users that are often hindered from engaging in problem-solving microscopy of earth-materials. EXCITE is building a community of highly qualified earth scientists, develops correlative imaging technologies providing access to world-class facilities to particularly new and non-expert users that are often hindered from engaging in problem-solving microscopy of earth-materials. Access to EXCITE can be requested by applying to our bi-annual call. Interested? Have a look on the EXCITE website (https://excite-network.eu) – and apply

Fight INflammation to Improve outcome after aneurysmal Subarachnoid HEmorRhage (FINISHER) trial: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Rationale: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has high morbidity and mortality. While the primary injury results from the initial bleeding cannot currently be influenced, secondary injury through vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia worsens outcome and might be a target for interventions to improve outcome. To date, beside the aneurysm treatment to prevent re-bleeding and the administration of oral nimodipine, there is no therapy available, so novel treatment concepts are needed. Evidence suggests that inflammation contributes to delayed cerebral ischemia and poor outcome in SAH. Some studies suggest a beneficial effect of anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids, but there are no data from randomized controlled trials examining the efficacy of glucocorticoids. Therefore, current guidelines do not recommend the use of glucocorticoids in SAH. Aim: The Fight INflammation to Improve outcome after aneurysmal Subarachnoid HEmorRhage (FINISHER) trial aims to determine whether dexamethasone improves outcome in a clinically relevant endpoint in SAH patients. Methods and design: FINISHER is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical phase III trial which is testing the outcome and safety of anti-inflammatory treatment with dexamethasone in SAH patients. Sample size estimates: In all, 334 patients will be randomized to either dexamethasone or placebo within 48 h after SAH. The dexamethasone dose is 8 mg tds for days 1-7 and then 8 mg od for days 8-21. Study outcome: The primary outcome is the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 6 months, which is dichotomized to favorable (mRS 0-3) versus unfavorable (mRS 4-6). Discussion: The results of this study will provide the first phase III evidence as to whether dexamethasone improves outcome in SAH