Calendar 2009

BACKGROUND: Given the increase in skin cancer (SC) it seems inevitable that general practitioners (GPs) will play a larger role in SC care in the near future. OBJECTIVES: To obtain insights into the opinion of GPs with respect to their role in SC care, and their SC knowledge and skills. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was sent to GPs in the region of Nijmegen, the Netherlands. RESULTS: In total 268 GPs (49%) responded. An overwhelming majority were willing to extend their role in SC care. Furthermore, we noted the following results: (i) > 50% of GPs requested additional SC knowledge; (ii) GPs often treat actinic keratosis (AK) themselves, primarily with cryotherapy; (iii) > 50% would treat (low-risk) basal cell carcinoma (BCC) after additional training; (iv) only a few GPs are familiar with BCC guidelines; (v) the majority of patients with high-risk SC are referred to dermatologists; (vi) only a few GPs perform total body inspection and palpation of lymph nodes; and (vii) a large number of GPs inform their patients on risk factors in SC development. CONCLUSIONS: Most GPs are willing to extend their role in SC care; however, more training is requested and the usage of guidelines should be encouraged. Those willing to extend their role should focus on improving their clinical diagnosis of skin tumours, treatment of low-risk skin (pre)malignancies, including field-directed treatment of AK and noninvasive treatment of BCC, and on prevention

Topsector Agro&Food : 'Agro&Food: De Nederlandse groeidiamant'

Innovatiecontract van de Topsector Agri&Food. De Agro & Food sector is de motor van de Nederlandse economie en de nummer 1 in de wereld. In totaal genereert de sector €48 miljard aan toegevoegde waarde. Dat is goed voor bijna 10% van de Nederlandse economie en werkgelegenheid. Nederland heeft de meest succesvolle en innovatieve Agro & Food-bedrijven, beschikt over kennisinstellingen van wereldklasse en staat aan de Europese top van private investeringen

Seamount Subduction and Megathrust Seismicity: The Interplay Between Geometry and Friction

Subducting seamounts are recognized as one of the key features influencing megathrust earthquakes. However, whether they trigger or arrest ruptures remains debated. Here, we use analog models to study the influence of a single seamount on megathrust earthquakes, separating the effect of topography from that of friction. Four different model configurations have been developed (i.e., flat interface, high and low friction seamount, low friction patch). In our models, the seamount reduces recurrence time, interseismic coupling, and fault strength, suggesting that it acts as a barrier: 80% of the ruptures concentrate in flat regions that surround the seamount and only smaller magnitude earthquakes nucleate above it. The low-friction zone, which mimics the fluid accumulation or the establishment of fracture systems in natural cases, seems to be the most efficient in arresting rupture propagation in our experimental setting

Pulling up new chairs to the table: experiences of organising diversity and inclusion events during a pandemic

Young Women of Geosciences (YWOG) is a group at Utrecht University (the Netherlands) which aims to create an equal and inclusive working environment for all employees in the faculty of Geosciences. Now in our fourth year, with an expanding committee and increasing support from the faculty, we share some details and insights from events held during the pandemic. After several years of having primarily the same small group of people attending our events (i.e. “preaching to the choir”) our aim was to engage with more people in our faculty. We wanted to pull up new chairs to the table and hear new opinions and thoughts and so, our events were planned with this primary goal in mind. However, under changing and variable conditions due to the pandemic, the planning of events to promote diversity and inclusion became more of a challenge. We had to devise strategies to keep people engaged in diversity and inclusion topics while people became tired of online events, and were busy just dealing with the pandemic. Our primary success was a book giveaway and discussion where three books related to diversity and inclusion (some also with climate and environmental aspects) were given for free to 30 staff members. This was followed by an open online discussion about topics that arose in the books and how these issues were experienced in our own faculty. This session had the greatest number of male participants we have ever had at one of our events (despite all sessions always being open to all genders) and this led to great information sharing and discussions. We also organised two Wikipedia hackathons which aimed to improve information on Wikipedia about female and minority scientists. This event required a great deal of time and skill development which unfortunately many people were not able to commit to, which led to smaller numbers and less engagement than our book event. Overall, we managed to introduce new groups of people to our discussions and engage with a broader audience than in previous years, within a virtual environment. We attribute this in large part to attractive events and hard work on our communication strategy. We found that engagement in activities, particularly for new attendees, was highly dependent on time availability and concrete communication of details of the event. We frequently used social media to communicate about our events and significant growth of these channels in the virtual-only environment of lockdowns led to overall increased engagement. This was particularly the case on Twitter, where we have found active and supportive fellow networks to engage with, be inspired by, and inspire

PROGNOSTIC IMPLICATION OF THE MITRAL VALVE TENTING GEOMETRY IN PATIENTS WITH DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY: TRANSTHORACIC REAL-TIME 3D ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC STUDY

BACKGROUND: The pathogenic phospholamban R14del mutation causes dilated and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathies and is associated with an increased risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmias and end-stage heart failure. We performed a multicentre study to evaluate mortality, cardiac disease outcome, and risk factors for malignant ventricular arrhythmias in a cohort of phospholamban R14del mutation carriers. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using the family tree mortality ratio method in a cohort of 403 phospholamban R14del mutation carriers, we found a standardized mortality ratio of 1.7 (95% confidence interval, 1.4-2.0) with significant excess mortality starting from the age of 25 years. Cardiological data were available for 295 carriers. In a median follow-up period of 42 months, 55 (19%) individuals had a first episode of malignant ventricular arrhythmias and 33 (11%) had an end-stage heart failure event. The youngest age at which a malignant ventricular arrhythmia occurred was 20 years, whereas for an end-stage heart failure event this was 31 years. Independent risk factors for malignant ventricular arrhythmias were left ventricular ejection fraction <45% and sustained or nonsustained ventricular tachycardia with hazard ratios of 4.0 (95% confidence interval, 1.9-8.1) and 2.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.5-4.5), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Phospholamban R14del mutation carriers are at high risk for malignant ventricular arrhythmias and end-stage heart failure, with left ventricular ejection fraction <45% and sustained or nonsustained ventricular tachycardia as independent risk factors. High mortality and a poor prognosis are present from late adolescence. Genetic and cardiac screening is, therefore, advised from adolescence onwards