Critical roles of endogenous glucocorticoids for disease tolerance in malaria

During malaria, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is activated and glucocorticoid (GC) levels are increased, but their essential roles have been largely overlooked. GCs are decisive for systemic regulation of vital processes such as immune responses, vascular function, and metabolism, which are crucial in malaria. Here, we introduce GCs in general, followed by their versatile roles for disease tolerance in malaria. A complementary comparison is provided with their role in sepsis. Finally, potential translational implications are considered. The failed clinical trials of dexamethasone against cerebral malaria in the past have diminished the interest in GCs in malaria. However, the issue of relative corticosteroid insufficiency has barely been explored in malaria patients, but may hold promise for a better understanding and treatment of specific malaria complications

Taming the neutrophil : Balance between anti‐parasite defence and pathogenesis

Non peer reviewedPublisher PD

Evaluations of end of life with dementia by families in Dutch and U.S. nursing homes

BACKGROUND: The End-of-Life in Dementia (EOLD) scales comprise the most specific set of instruments developed for evaluations of patients' end of life by their families. It is not known whether the EOLD scales are useful for cross-national comparisons. METHODS: We used a mortality follow-back design in multi-center studies in the Netherlands (pilot study 2005-2007) and the U.S.A. (1999), and we compared EOLD Satisfaction With Care (SWC; last three months of life), Symptom Management (SM; last three months) and Comfort Assessment in Dying (CAD) scores for 54 Dutch and 76 U.S. nursing home residents. RESULTS: SWC total scores did not differ significantly between the Dutch and U.S. studies (31.9, SD 4.7 versus 30.4, SD 6.1), but three of ten items were rated more favorable for Dutch residents, as were SM total scores (29.1, SD 9.2 versus 20.4, SD 10.6). CAD total scores did not differ (32.0, SD 5.4 versus 30.5, SD 5.9, respectively), but the "well-being" subscale was rated more favorably for Dutch residents. Results were similar after adjustment for demographics and dementia severity. CONCLUSION: The Dutch families rated end of life with dementia in nursing homes as somewhat better than did U.S. families. Although differences were small, the observed patterns were consistent. This suggests validity of the SM and CAD to assess differences in quality of dying and possible sensitivity to differences between countries or time frames. Larger, simultaneous, cross-national studies are needed to confirm usefulness of the scales and to detect areas which need improvement in the respective countrie

Platinum promotion of Au/Al2O3 catalysts for glycerol oxidation: activity, selectivity and deactivation

Gold has been demonstrated as a possible catalyst for oxidation reactions. Some evidence for a possible promotion effect of platinum has also been recorded. The influence of platinum as promoter for Au/γ-Al2O3 prepared via anionic ion-exchange for the oxidation of glycerol was investigated in a batch reactor at 60°C. It is inferred that the addition of platinum reduces the catalytic activity and the rate of deactivation, resulting in an overall higher final conversion of glycerol with increasing platinum loading. The addition of platinum to the catalyst favours the formation of the desired product, glyceric acid

Physically active lessons in schools: A systematic review and meta-analysis of effects on physical activity, educational, health and cognition outcomes

Objective: This review provides the first meta-analysis of the impact of physically active lessons on lesson-time and overall physical activity (PA), as well as health, cognition and educational outcomes. // Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled studies. Six meta-analyses pooled effects on lesson-time PA, overall PA, in-class educational and overall educational outcomes, cognition and health outcomes. Meta-analyses were conducted using the metafor package in R. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool for risk of bias. // Data sources: PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, ERIC and Web of Science, grey literature and reference lists were searched in December 2017 and April 2019. // Studies eligibility criteria: Physically active lessons compared with a control group in a randomised or non-randomised design, within single component interventions in general school populations. // Results: 42 studies (39 in preschool or elementary school settings, 27 randomised controlled trials) were eligible to be included in the systematic review and 37 of them were included across the six meta-analyses (n=12 663). Physically active lessons were found to produce large, significant increases in lesson-time PA (d=2.33; 95% CI 1.42 to 3.25: k=16) and small, increases on overall PA (d=0.32; 95% CI 0.18 to 0.46: k=8), large, improvement in lesson-time educational outcomes (d=0.81; 95% CI 0.47 to 1.14: k=7) and a small improvement in overall educational outcomes (d=0.36; 95% CI 0.09 to 0.63: k=25). No effects were seen on cognitive (k=3) or health outcomes (k=3). 25/42 studies had high risk of bias in at least two domains. // Conclusion: In elementary and preschool settings, when physically active lessons were added into the curriculum they had positive impact on both physical activity and educational outcomes. These findings support policy initiatives encouraging the incorporation of physically active lessons into teaching in elementary and preschool setting

A Scalable Implementation for Human-Friendly URIs

Abstract. In the Web, Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs) are used to name resources. The most common form of URI, the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) has, unfortunately, some scalability problems. In this paper, we proposes the use of Human-Friendly Names (HFNs) to solve these scalability problems. HFNs are high-level names that allow (human) users to easily deal with names. We also describes a scalable HFN-to-URL resolution mechanism. This mechanism is based on the existing Domain Name System (DNS) and the Globe Location Service. To gain experience and validate our ideas, we have implemented our HFN resolution scheme

Over hijgerigheid en lange adem : een verkenning van de relatie tussen toezicht en media

Burgers krijgen elke dag een omvangrijke stroom informatie te verwerken, door de mensen die ze spreken, bij de activiteiten die ze ondernemen, of door de indrukken die ze opdoen. Een deel van de informatie krijgen ze via de media; niet direct van anderen, maar via mediale platforms of kanalen. Mensen lezen kranten, zien nieuwsprogramma’s, lezen tijdschriften, bekijken nieuwssites, krijgen gratis kranten in het openbaar vervoer, ontvangen berichten uit hun sociale netwerk, et cetera. Soms vertellen mensen hun in kranten of televisieuitzendingen over gebeurtenissen of laten ze hen zien wat henzelf opgevallen is; of ze nemen via smartphones, computers, tablets of andere dragers van digitale nieuwsberichten kennis van wat elders gebeurt. Informatie alom. De informatiesamenleving is een accurate duiding voor onze tijd; niet zozeer omdat we informatie meer dan ooit gebruiken of benutten, maar omdat informatie meer dan ooit letterlijk overal is en in een ongekende veelheid

High frequency nonlinear scattering from a micrometer to submicrometer sized lipid encapsulated contrast agent

An experimental lipid encapsulated contrast agent comprised substantially of micrometer to submicrometer diameter bubbles was evaluated for its capacity to produce nonlinear scattering in response to high transmit frequencies. Agent characterization experiments were conducted at transmit frequencies of 20 and 30 MHz with bandwidths of 5, 15 and 25% using a broadband focused PVDF transducer. The presence of subharmonic energy was observed for all bandwidths at a wide range of pressures (0.49 to 5.7 MPa and 0.45 to 4.5 MPa for the 20 and 30 MHz cases, respectively). Distinct ultraharmonics were observed only in the 5% bandwidth cases. Second harmonic energy was also present, but this was at least partly due to nonlinear propagation, as indicated by linear scatterer signals. Evidence of destruction was found only at higher peak negative pressures (e.g., >2 MPa for 30 MHz 5% bandwidth pulse). The results suggest that small lipid bubble formulations may be useful for the purposes of high frequency nonlinear contrast imaging. (E-mail: [email protected]