Food & Biobased Research : topics 2012

Dit Engelstalige blad beschrijft aansprekende projecten die het onderzoeksinstituut Wageningen UR Food & Bioabased Research samen met haar partners uitvoert: van het terugdringen van voedselverspilling en slimme logistieke oplossingen, via voeding op maat, tot aan het gebruik van restproducten uit oliepalmplantages, biobased chemicaliën voor PET-flessen, en van productie van hoogwaardige groene materialen

Ondersteuning formulering onderzoeksagenda TKI BBE

De visies en strategieën van de drie TO2 instituten vertonen veel overeenkomsten, maar de onderzoeksagenda ‘s zijn in hoge mate complementair, zeker wanneer wordt ingezoomd op technologie-­‐ niveau. De drie TO2 instituten kunnen samen, thematisch gezien, alle belangrijke onderwerpen op het gebied van BBE met R&D activiteiten faciliteren. Een versterkte samenwerking tussen de TO2 instituten levert synergie-­‐mogelijkheden, waarmee hun positieve economische en maatschappelijke impact verder kan worden vergroot. In het algemeen geldt dat met de uitvoering van het Innovatiecontract Groene Groei binnen het werkpakket Bio­‐energie en Biobased chemicaliën een goede start is gemaakt. De andere 5 werkpakketten (Biobased materialen, Geïntegreerde bioraffinage, Teeltoptimalisatie en biomassaproductie, Terugwinning en hergebruik, en Economie, beleid en duurzaamheid) zijn echter slechts beperkt tot vrijwel niet van de grond gekomen. Dit wordt als suboptimaal gezien. Er is brede consensus dat de ontwikkeling van BBE concepten een integrale aanpak vanuit een waardeketenbenadering vereist: een holistische aanpak, gericht op een mix van biobased producten, die rekening houdt met de prioriteiten zoals ingegeven door de waarde-piramide

De ecopyramide : biomassa beter benutten

De Nederlandse overheid probeert duurzame ontwikkeling te vergroten. De ecopyramide is daarbij een middel. De ecopyramide is een concept waarin het gebruik van biomassa wordt geoptimaliseerd. De ecopyramide brengt in beeld welke aspecten moeten worden afgewogen bij de inzet van biomassa en in welke volgorde de producten moeten worden benut. Leidraad daarbij is het maximaal gebruik van de ordening van moleculen. Daarbij staat het gebruik van biomassa voor medicijnen en voedsel voorop, gevolgd door materialen, chemische grondstoffen, transportbrandstoffen en arbeid (elektriciteit) en tot slot warmte. Het achterliggende motief is de plicht om natuurproducten, gestolde zonne-energie, zo efficiënt mogelijk te gebruike

Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Pregabalin Treatment for Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: Findings from seven randomized, controlled trials across a range of doses

OBJECTIVE—To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of pregabalin across the effective dosing range, to determine differences in the efficacy of three times daily (TID) versus twice daily (BID) dosage schedules, and to use time-to-event analysis to determine the time to onset of a sustained therapeutic effect using data from seven trials of pregabalin in painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN)

T Cell Integrin Overexpression as a Model of Murine Autoimmunity

Integrin adhesion molecules have important adhesion and signaling functions. They also play a central role in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases. Over the past few years we have described a T cell adoptive transfer model to investigate the role of T cell integrin adhesion molecules in the development of autoimmunity. This report summarizes the methods we used in establishing this murine model. By treating murine CD4+ T cells with DNA hypomethylating agents and by transfection we were able to test the in vitro effects of integrin overexpression on T cell autoreactive proliferation, cytotoxicity, adhesion and trafficking. Furthermore, we showed that the ability to induce in vivo autoimmunity may be unique to the integrin lymphocyte function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1)

Muscle Loss Is Associated with Overall Survival in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Independent of Tumor Mutational Status and Weight Loss

Background: Survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) has been associated with tumor mutational status, muscle loss, and weight loss. We sought to explore the combined effects of these variables on overall survival. Materials and methods: We performed an observational cohort study, prospectively enrolling patients receiving chemotherapy for mCRC. We retrospectively assessed changes in muscle (using computed tomography) and weight, each dichotomized as >5% or ≤5% loss, at 3, 6, and 12 months after diagnosis of mCRC. We used regression models to assess relationships between tumor mutational status, muscle loss, weight loss, and overall survival. Additionally, we evaluated associations between muscle loss, weight loss, and tumor mutational status. Results: We included 226 patients (mean age 59 ± 13 years, 53% male). Tumor mutational status included 44% wild type, 42% RAS-mutant, and 14% BRAF-mutant. Patients with >5% muscle loss at 3 and 12 months experienced worse survival controlling for mutational status and weight (3 months hazard ratio, 2.66; p 5% muscle loss with BRAF-mutational status at 6 and 12 months. Weight loss was not associated with survival nor mutational status. Conclusion: Increased muscle loss at 3 and 12 months may identify patients with mCRC at risk for decreased overall survival, independent of tumor mutational status. Specifically, >5% muscle loss identifies patients within each category of tumor mutational status with decreased overall survival in our sample. Our findings suggest that quantifying muscle loss on serial computed tomography scans may refine survival estimates in patients with mCRC. Implications for practice: In this study of 226 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, it was found that losing >5% skeletal muscle at 3 and 12 months after the diagnosis of metastatic disease was associated with worse overall survival, independent of tumor mutational status and weight loss. Interestingly, results did not show a significant association between weight loss and overall survival. These findings suggest that muscle quantification on serial computed tomography may refine survival estimates in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer beyond mutational status

Impact of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia on patients’ quality of life: a patient-reported outcomes survey

Background: The impact of herpes zoster (HZ) and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) on patients’ quality of life (QoL) is currently poorly documented. Subjects and methods: Telephone interviews in Germany identified patients ≥50 years old with painful HZ diagnosed during the previous 5 years. Bespoke questions evaluated previous HZ episodes. Results: Of 11,009 respondents, 280 met the screening criteria, and 32 (11%) developed PHN. PHN was associated with significantly worse outcomes than HZ (all P < 0.05). Mean pain scores associated with PHN and HZ, respectively, were 7.1 and 6.2 (average) and 8.2 and 7.0 (worst). Many patients with PHN (91%) and HZ (73%) experienced problems with daily activities, including work, studies, housework, family and leisure activities. Mean pain interference scores in patients with PHN versus HZ were highest for sleep (6.5 versus 4.9), normal work (6.1 versus 4.4) and mood (5.9 versus 4.4). Most employed interviewees with PHN (70%) and HZ (64%) stopped work during the disease. Pain and QoL outcomes were not significantly different between all patients versus those diagnosed during the previous 12 months or between patients aged 50–59 years versus ≥60 years. Conclusions: HZ causes substantial pain, which seriously interferes with many aspects of daily life, particularly in patients with PHN

Dcas Supports Cell Polarization and Cell-Cell Adhesion Complexes in Development

Mammalian Cas proteins regulate cell migration, division and survival, and are often deregulated in cancer. However, the presence of four paralogous Cas family members in mammals (BCAR1/p130Cas, EFS/Sin1, NEDD9/HEF1/Cas-L, and CASS4/HEPL) has limited their analysis in development. We deleted the single Drosophila Cas gene, Dcas, to probe the developmental function of Dcas. Loss of Dcas had limited effect on embryonal development. However, we found that Dcas is an important modulator of the severity of the developmental phenotypes of mutations affecting integrins (If and mew) and their downstream effectors Fak56D or Src42A. Strikingly, embryonic lethal Fak56D-Dcas double mutant embryos had extensive cell polarity defects, including mislocalization and reduced expression of E-cadherin. Further genetic analysis established that loss of Dcas modified the embryonal lethal phenotypes of embryos with mutations in E-cadherin (Shg) or its signaling partners p120- and β-catenin (Arm). These results support an important role for Cas proteins in cell-cell adhesion signaling in development

The impact of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia on quality-of-life

International audienceBACKGROUND: The potentially serious nature of herpes zoster (HZ) and the long-term complication post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) are often underestimated. One in four people will contract herpes zoster in their lifetime, with this risk rising markedly after the age of 50 years, and affecting one in two in elderly individuals. Pain is the predominant symptom in all phases of HZ disease, being reported by up to 90% of patients. In the acute phase, pain is usually moderate or severe, with patients ranking HZ pain as more intense than post-surgical or labour pains. Up to 20% of patients with HZ develop PHN, which is moderate-to-severe chronic pain persisting for months or years after the acute phase. We review the available data on the effect of HZ and PHN on patients' quality-of-life. DISCUSSION: Findings show that HZ, and particularly PHN, have a major impact on patients' lives across all four health domains--physical, psychological, functional and social. There is a clear correlation between increasing severity of pain and greater interference with daily activities. Non-pain complications such as HZ ophthalmicus can increase the risk of permanent physical impairment. Some elderly individuals may experience a permanent loss of independence after an acute episode of HZ. Current challenges in the management of HZ and PHN are highlighted, including the difficulty in administering antiviral agents before pain becomes established and the limited efficacy of pain treatments in many patients. We discuss the clinical rationale for the HZ vaccine and evidence demonstrating that the vaccine reduces the burden of the disease. The Shingles Prevention Study, conducted among >38,000 people aged >or=60 years old, showed that the HZ vaccine significantly reduces the burden of illness and the incidence of both HZ and PHN. In the entire study population, zoster vaccination reduced the severity of interference of HZ and PHN with activities of daily living by two-thirds, as measured by two questionnaires specific to HZ. SUMMARY: A vaccination scheme may positively impact the incidence and course of HZ disease, thereby improving patients' quality-of-life