Category Archives: PLoS One

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Individual differences in satisfaction with activity-based work environments.
PLoS One. 2018;13(3):e0193878
Authors: Hoendervanger JG, Ernst AF, Albers CJ, Mobach MP, Van Yperen NW
Abstract
… Continue reading →

Increased fecal calprotectin levels in Crohn’s disease correlate with elevated serum Th1- and Th17-associated cytokines.

PLoS One. 2018;13(2):e0193202

Authors: Bourgonje AR, von Martels JZH, de Vos P, Faber KN, Dijkstra G

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patient-reported symptoms and endoscopic disease activity do not correlate well in Crohn’s disease (CD). This warrants the need for reliable biomarkers to early detect active intestinal inflammation. Currently, the fecal calprotectin level is the most commonly used biomarker for inflammatory activity in CD. However, the diagnostic accuracy of the fecal calprotectin level is not fully efficacious and diagnosis may be further improved by the identification of other biomarkers for active CD. Here, we studied the association of a variety of serum disease markers with fecal calprotectin levels in CD patients.
METHODS: 39 CD patients were included and subdivided into ‘normal’ (defined as < 200 mg/kg feces) and ‘increased’ (defined as > 200 mg/kg feces) fecal calprotectin level groups. Serum levels of 37 different cytokines, chemokines and markers for angiogenesis and vascular injury were quantified by an electrochemiluminescence multiplex assay (V-PLEX Human Biomarker 40-Plex Kit of Meso Scale Discovery ®). Correlations between individual biomarkers and the fecal calprotectin level were assessed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient (ρ).
RESULTS: A highly significant positive correlation was observed between the pro-inflammatory serum cytokines IFN-γ and CRP and fecal calprotectin levels (P < 0.01). Moreover, fecal calprotectin levels showed a significant positive correlation with IL-6, TNF-β, SAA and IL-17A (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: We show that a positive correlation exists between multiple serum Th1- and Th17-associated cytokines and the fecal calprotectin level. These cytokines and CRP may serve as additional biomarkers for determining disease activity and evaluating treatment response in CD. Ultimately, this may result in more efficient treatment of active disease in CD patients and prevention of complications.

PMID: 29466406 [PubMed – in process]

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Early intervention for subthreshold panic disorder in the Netherlands: A model-based economic evaluation from a societal perspective.

PLoS One. 2018;13(2):e0193338

Authors: Ophuis RH, Lokkerbol J, Hiligsmann M, Evers SMAA

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Panic disorder (PD) is associated with impaired functioning and reduced quality of life. In the Netherlands, almost 2% of the population experiences clinically relevant panic symptoms without meeting the diagnostic criteria for PD, which is referred to as subthreshold PD (STHPD). Evidence suggests that subthreshold mental disorders may have a similar impact on quality of life and functioning in comparison with full-blown mental disorders, which draws attention to the need for interventions for STHPD. These interventions are currently not systematically provided in clinical practice. This study aims to investigate the population cost-effectiveness of adding a CBT-based early intervention for adults with STHPD to the existing health care for people with PD in the Netherlands.
METHODS: A health-economic Markov model was constructed in order to compare quality adjusted life-years (QALYs) and societal costs of adding an early intervention to usual care for PD. The model compares usual care with an alternative program in which usual care is supplemented with a CBT-based early intervention. Input parameters for the model were derived from national sources and published literature where possible, and based on expert opinion otherwise. Probabilistic and deterministic sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate the uncertainty of the model input parameters.
RESULTS: On average, the added CBT-based early intervention was dominant in comparison with usual care, meaning that the early intervention yielded more QALYs at lower costs. At a willingness-to-pay threshold of €20,000 per QALY, the cost-effectiveness probability of the added early intervention was 98%. Sensitivity analyses showed that the results were robust.
CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that offering an early intervention in addition to usual care for PD is potentially cost-effective, but it should be further investigated to what extent trial results can be extrapolated to the level of the population before such interventions are implemented on a large scale.

PMID: 29466470 [PubMed – in process]

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The added value of a family-centered approach to optimize infants’ social-emotional development: A quasi-experimental study.
PLoS One. 2017;12(12):e0187750
Authors: Reijneveld SA, Hielkema M, Stewart RE, de Winter AF… Continue reading →

Resource utilization in lung cancer diagnostic procedures: Current use and budget consequences.

PLoS One. 2017;12(12):e0189251

Authors: Brinkhof S, Groen HJM, Siesling SS, IJzerman MJ

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study is to determine the current use of lung cancer diagnostic procedures in two large hospitals in the Netherlands, to explore deviations in guideline adherence between the hospitals, and to estimate the budget impact of the diagnostic work-up as well as the over- and underutilization.
MATERIALS & METHODS: A state transition model for the diagnostic pathway for lung cancer patients was developed using existing clinical practice guidelines (CPG) combined with a systematic literature. In addition to the CPGs depicting current practice, diagnostic utilization was gathered in two large hospitals representing an academic tertiary care hospital and a large regional teaching hospital for patients, who were selected from the Netherlands cancer registry.
RESULTS: The total population consisted of 376 patients with lung cancer. Not in all cases the guideline was followed, for instance in the usage of MR brain with stage III lung cancer patients (n = 70). The state-transition model predicts an average budget impact for the diagnostic pathway per patient estimated of € 2496 in the academic tertiary care hospital and € 2191 in the large regional teaching hospital.
CONCLUSION: The adherence to the CPG’s differed between hospitals, which questions the adherence to CPG’s in general. Adherence to CPG’s could lead to less costs in the diagnostic pathway for lung cancer patients.

PMID: 29216302 [PubMed – in process]

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Related Articles
Shoulder complaints in wheelchair athletes: A systematic review.
PLoS One. 2017;12(11):e0188410
Authors: Heyward OW, Vegter RJK, de Groot S, van der Woude LHV
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In … Continue reading →

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Feeling younger and identifying with older adults: Testing two routes to maintaining well-being in the face of age discrimination.
PLoS One. 2017;12(11):e0187805
Authors: Armenta BM, Stroebe K, Scheib… Continue reading →

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The effects of normal aging on multiple aspects of financial decision-making.
PLoS One. 2017;12(8):e0182620
Authors: Bangma DF, Fuermaier ABM, Tucha L, Tucha O, Koerts J
Abstract
OBJEC… Continue reading →

Electrically controlled cloud of bulk nanobubbles in water solutions.

PLoS One. 2017;12(7):e0181727

Authors: Postnikov AV, Uvarov IV, Lokhanin MV, Svetovoy VB

Abstract
Using different experimental techniques we visualize a cloud of gas in water that is produced electrochemically by the alternating polarity process. Liquid enriched with gas does not contain bubbles strongly scattering visible light but its refractive index changes significantly near the electrodes. The change of the refractive index is a collective effect of bulk nanobubbles with a diameter smaller than 200 nm. Any alternative explanation fails to explain the magnitude of the effect. Spatial structure of the cloud is investigated with the optical lever method. Its dynamics is visualised observing optical distortion of the electrode images or using differential interference contrast method. The cloud covers concentric electrodes, in a steady state it is roughly hemispherical with a size two times larger than the size of the electrode structure. When the electrical pulses are switched off the cloud disappears in less than one second. The total concentration of gases can reach very high value estimated as 3.5 × 1020 cm-3 that corresponds to an effective supersaturation of 500 and 150 for hydrogen and oxygen, respectively.

PMID: 28727812 [PubMed – in process]

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Related Articles
Net profit flow per country from 1980 to 2009: The long-term effects of foreign direct investment.
PLoS One. 2017;12(6):e0179244
Authors: Akkermans DHM
Abstract
AIM OF THE PAPER: The p… Continue reading →

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An investigation of emotion dynamics in major depressive disorder patients and healthy persons using sparse longitudinal networks.
PLoS One. 2017;12(6):e0178586
Authors: de Vos S, Wardenaar KJ, Bos E… Continue reading →

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Characterization of the Paenibacillus beijingensis DSM 24997 GtfD and its glucan polymer products representing a new glycoside hydrolase 70 subfamily of 4,6-α-glucanotransferase enzymes.

PLoS One. 2017;12(4):e0172622

Authors: Gangoiti J, Lamothe L, van Leeuwen SS, Vafiadi C, Dijkhuizen L

Abstract
Previously we have reported that the Gram-negative bacterium Azotobacter chroococcum NCIMB 8003 uses the 4,6-α-glucanotransferase GtfD to convert maltodextrins and starch into a reuteran-like polymer consisting of (α1→4) glucan chains connected by alternating (α1→4)/(α1→6) linkages and (α1→4,6) branching points. This enzyme constituted the single evidence for this reaction and product specificity in the GH70 family, mostly containing glucansucrases encoded by lactic acid bacteria (http://www.CAZy.org). In this work, 4 additional GtfD-like proteins were identified in taxonomically diverse plant-associated bacteria forming a new GH70 subfamily with intermediate characteristics between the evolutionary related GH13 and GH70 families. The GtfD enzyme encoded by Paenibacillus beijingensis DSM 24997 was characterized providing the first example of a reuteran-like polymer synthesizing 4,6-α-glucanotransferase in a Gram-positive bacterium. Whereas the A. chroococcum GtfD activity on amylose resulted in the synthesis of a high molecular polymer, in addition to maltose and other small oligosaccharides, two reuteran-like polymer distributions are produced by P. beijingensis GtfD: a high-molecular mass polymer and a low-molecular mass polymer with an average Mw of 27 MDa and 19 kDa, respectively. Compared to the A. chroooccum GtfD product, both P. beijingensis GtfD polymers contain longer linear (α1→4) sequences in their structure reflecting a preference for transfer of even longer glucan chains by this enzyme. Overall, this study provides new insights into the evolutionary history of GH70 enzymes, and enlarges the diversity of natural enzymes that can be applied for modification of the starch present in food into less and/or more slowly digestible carbohydrate structures.

PMID: 28399167 [PubMed – in process]

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Related Articles
Flavor pleasantness processing in the ventral emotion network.
PLoS One. 2017;12(2):e0170310
Authors: Dalenberg JR, Weitkamp L, Renken RJ, Nanetti L, Ter Horst GJ
Abstract
The ventral … Continue reading →

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Retro-Active Emotion: Do Negative Emotional Stimuli Disrupt Consolidation in Working Memory?

PLoS One. 2017;12(1):e0169927

Authors: Kandemir G, Akyürek EG, Nieuwenstein MR

Abstract
While many studies have shown that a task-irrelevant emotionally arousing stimulus can interfere with the processing of a shortly following target, it remains unclear whether an emotional stimulus can also retro-actively interrupt the ongoing processing of an earlier target. In two experiments, we examined whether the presentation of a negative emotionally arousing picture can disrupt working memory consolidation of a preceding visual target. In both experiments, the effects of negative emotional pictures were compared with the effects of neutral pictures. In Experiment 1, the pictures were entirely task-irrelevant whereas in Experiment 2 the pictures were associated with a 2-alternative forced choice task that required participants to respond to the color of a frame surrounding the pictures. The results showed that the appearance of the pictures did not interfere with target consolidation when the pictures were task-irrelevant, whereas such interference was observed when the pictures were associated with a 2-AFC task. Most importantly, however, the results showed no effects of whether the picture had neutral or emotional content. Implications for further research are discussed.

PMID: 28103267 [PubMed – in process]

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Deficits in Degraded Facial Affect Labeling in Schizophrenia and Borderline Personality Disorder.
PLoS One. 2016;11(6):e0154145
Authors: van Dijke A, van ‘t Wout M, Ford JD, Aleman A
Abstract
Although… Continue reading →