The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper 1: In all instances mentioning “2 kG·m−1”, these gradients should be replaced by “770 G·m−1 (WCM 62081992) and 740 G·m−1 (WCM ...62083545)”: Abstract, page 1, line 4; Chapter 1 ...
In 2012 Coey proposed a theory on the mechanism of magnetic water treatment based on the gradient of the applied field rather than its absolute strength. We tested this theory by measuring the effect ...of very weak field magnets (≤ 10 G) containing strong magnetic inhomogeneities (ΔB = 770 G·m−1 (WCM 62081992) and 740 G·m−1 (WCM 62083545)) on tap water samples by the use of electric impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and laser scattering. Our results show an increased formation of nm-sized prenucleation clusters (dynamically ordered liquid like oxyanion polymers or “DOLLOPs”) due to the exposure to the magnetic field and thus are consistent with Coey’s theory which is therefore also applicable to very weak magnetic fields as long as they contain strong gradients.
Recent developments in the field of ultrasound (US) contrast agents have demonstrated that these encapsulated microbubbles can not only be used for diagnostic imaging but may also be employed as ...therapeutic carriers for localized, targeted drug or gene delivery. The exact mechanisms behind increased uptake of therapeutic compounds by US-exposed microbubbles are still not fully understood. Therefore, we studied the effects of stably oscillating SonoVue microbubbles on relevant parameters of cellular and intercellular permeability, i.e., reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis, calcium permeability, F-actin cytoskeleton, monolayer integrity and cell viability using live-cell fluorescence microscopy. US was applied at 1-MHz, 0.1MPa peak-negative pressure, 0.2% duty cycle and 20Hz pulse repetition frequency to primary endothelial cells. We demonstrated increased membrane permeability for calcium ions, with an important role for H(2)O(2). Catalase, an extracellular H(2)O(2) scavenger, significantly blocked the influx of calcium ions. Further changes in ROS homeostasis involved an increase in intracellular H(2)O(2) levels, protein nitrosylation and a decrease in total endogenous glutathione levels. In addition, an increase in the number of F-actin stress fibers and F-actin cytoskeletal rearrangement were observed. Furthermore, US-exposed microbubbles significantly affected endothelial monolayer integrity, but importantly, disrupted cell-cell interactions were restored within 30min. Finally, cell viability was not affected. In conclusion, these data provide more insight in the interactions between US, microbubbles and endothelial cells, which is important for understanding the mechanisms behind US and microbubble-enhanced uptake of drugs or genes.
Background
Specimen‐driven intraoperative assessment of the resection margins provides immediate feedback if an additional excision is needed. However, relocation of an inadequate margin in the wound ...bed has shown to be difficult. The objective of this study is to assess a reliable method for accurate relocation of inadequate tumor resection margins in the wound bed after intraoperative assessment of the specimen.
Methods
During oral cavity cancer surgery, the surgeon placed numbered tags on both sides of the resection line in a pair‐wise manner. After resection, one tag of each pair remained on the specimen and the other tag in the wound bed. Upon detection of an inadequate margin in the specimen, the tags were used to relocate this margin in the wound bed.
Results
The method was applied during 80 resections for oral cavity cancer. In 31 resections an inadequate margin was detected, and based on the paired tagging an accurate additional resection was achieved.
Conclusion
Paired tagging facilitates a reliable relocation of inadequate margins, enabling an accurate additional resection during the initial surgery.
Oncological applications of Raman spectroscopy have been contemplated, pursued, and developed at academic level for at least 25 years. Published studies aim to detect pre-malignant lesions, detect ...cancer in less invasive stages, reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies and guide surgery towards the complete removal of the tumour with adequate tumour resection margins. This review summarizes actual clinical needs in oncology that can be addressed by spontaneous Raman spectroscopy and it provides an overview over the results that have been published between 2007 and 2017. An analysis is made of the current status of translation of these results into clinical practice. Despite many promising results, most of the applications addressed in scientific studies are still far from clinical adoption and commercialization. The main hurdles are identified, which need to be overcome to ensure that in the near future we will see the first Raman spectroscopy-based solutions being used in routine oncologic diagnostic and surgical procedures.
Als gevolg van de wetswijziging die in werking is getreden met ingang van boekjaar 2016 zijn diverse vrijstellingen die Titel 9 Boek 2 BW geeft vervallen voor organisaties van openbaar belang ...(OOB's). Dit was mede aanleiding om nader te kijken naar de enkelvoudige jaarrekening van OOB's, bijvoorbeeld omdat daarin thans geen verkorte winst-en-verliesrekening meer is toegestaan. In de praktijk lijkt dit echter slechts beperkt aanvullende informatie op te leveren. Daarnaast is gekeken naar de waarderingsgrondslagen van deelnemingen in de enkelvoudige jaarrekening; hieruit blijkt dat toepassing van Combinatie 3 waarbij de waarderingsgrondslagen van de geconsolideerde jaarrekening worden gebruikt, veruit het meest voorkomt. Ondanks dat bij de presentatie van deelnemingen zowel nettovermogenswaarde als de equity method voorkomen, waarbij de omschrijving niet altijd duidelijk is, is in de enkelvoudige en geconsolideerde jaarrekening het vermogen en resultaat normaliter steeds gelijk.
Various C‐terminally truncated amyloid β peptides (Aβ) are linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of Aβ38, Aβ40, and Aβ42 were measured by ...enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay in 30 patients with AD and 26 control subjects. CSF Aβ42 levels was decreased in patients with AD, whereas CSF Aβ38 and Aβ40 levels were similar in patients with AD and control subjects. All three Aβ peptides were interrelated, particularly CSF Aβ38 and Aβ40. Diagnostic accuracy of CSF Aβ42 concentrations was not improved by applying the ratios of CSF Aβ42 to Aβ38 or Aβ40. Ann Neurol 2005;58:139–142
Intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) is a recently developed technique for assessment of myocardial perfusion. Up to now, many studies have demonstrated that the sensitivity and ...specificity of qualitative assessment of myocardial perfusion by MCE in patients with acute and chronic ischemic heart disease are comparable with other techniques such as cardiac scintigraphy and dobutamine stress echocardiography. Furthermore, quantitative parameters of myocardial perfusion derived from MCE correlate well with the current clinical standard for this purpose, positron emission tomography. Myocardial contrast echocardiography provides a promising and valuable tool for assessment of myocardial perfusion. Although MCE has been primarily performed for medical research, its implementation in routine clinical care is evolving. This article is intended to give an overview of the current status of MCE.
For vaccination strategies and adoptive immunotherapy purposes, immature dendritic cells (DC) can be generated from adherent monocytes using GM-CSF and IL-4. Presently, the only clinically applicable ...method to induce stable maturation of DC is the use of supernatants of activated monocytes (monocyte-conditioned medium (MCM)). MCM contains an undefined mixture of cytokines and is difficult to standardize. Here we report that stable maturation of DC can be simply induced by the addition of polyriboinosinic polyribocytidylic acid (poly(I:C)), a synthetic dsRNA clinically applied as an immunomodulator. Poly(I:C)-treated DC show a mature phenotype with high expression levels of HLA-DR, CD86, and the DC maturation marker CD83. This mature phenotype is retained for 48 h after cytokine withdrawal. In contrast to untreated DC, poly(I:C)-treated DC down-regulate pinocytosis, produce high levels of IL-12 and low levels of IL-10, induce strong T cell proliferation in a primary allo MLR, and effectively present peptide Ags to HLA class I-restricted CTL. In conclusion, we present a simple methodology for the preparation of clinically applicable mature DC.
This was a double-blind, randomized, prospective study comparing the effects of nebivolol and atenolol on systolic diastolic left ventricular function in patients with essential hypertension. A ...significant difference was seen in stroke volume between these 2 drugs. The blood pressure lowering effect of atenolol was strongly related to cardiac output and heart rate reduction. The blood pressure lowering effect of nebivolol was related to a reduction in peripheral resistance and an increase in stroke volume with preservation of cardiac output. This preservation of cardiac output, together with a reduced peripheral resistance, may be potentially important in treating heart failure.
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