Geographical differences in perinatal health and child welfare in the Netherlands: Rationale for the healthy pregnancy 4 all-2 program

Background: Geographical inequalities in perinatal health and child welfare require attention. To improve the identification, and care, of mothers and young children at risk of adverse health outcomes, the HP4All-2 program was developed. The program consists of three studies, focusing on creating a continuum for risk selection and tailored care pathways from preconception and antenatal care towards 1) postpart

Twenty five years of azadirachtins (1986-2011)

Azadirachtins are known as phagorepellent natural products from seeds of the neem tree Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Meliaceae), which impede the development of larval insects and sterilize adults. The labors of the past three decades ultimatively lead to a chemical structure, which has been unanimously but independently elaborated by German, British and American authors. This structure is in force ever since 1985/87 and was ultimately confirmed by Veitch & al. in Ley’s group in Cambridge, England, through total synthesis. Its 25th birthday is presently being celebrated. Marrangin (=Azadirachtin L) was discovered in Gießen and chemically identified by Kalinowski and colleagues. It occurs in seeds of the marrango tree, Azadirachta excelsa (Jack) Jacobs. In some insect species but also in mites like Tetranychus urticae, its biological activity is significantly superior to azadirachtin A. The value of these biorational compounds, with their very low vertebrate toxicity, and their low toxicity today is globally recognized. Quite recently, azadirachtin and analogues gain acceptance in veterinary and human medicine

Giant cell glioblastoma in the cerebrum of a pembroke welsh corgi

A 6-year-old, neutered female Pembroke Welsh corgi was presented with a 1-month history of ataxia and panting. The clinical signs progressed until the dog became anorexic, obtunded and exhibited circling to the left. At necropsy examination, a mass was detected in the left forebrain, impinging on the cribriform plate. Microscopically, the mass was composed of sheets of round to pleomorphic neoplastic cells with vacuolated cytoplasm. Nuclear atypia, anisocytosis and anisokaryosis were common. Numerous bizarre, multinucleated giant cells containing 60 or more nuclei and giant mononuclear cells were present. The matrix contained abundant reticulin. Immunohistochemistry revealed the neoplastic cells uniformly to express vimentin, and a small number of neoplastic cells expressed glial fibrillary acid protein. A diagnosis of giant cell glioblastoma was made. Although well recognized in man, this tumour has been documented rarely in the veterinary literature