Microbewerking met behulp van lasers

Het bewerken van materialen met behulp van lasers staat momenteel enorm in de belangstelling, en terecht. De ontwikkeling van bestaande en nieuwe typen lasers staat alles behalve stil. Ontwikkelingen bevinden zich met name in het gebied van hogere vermogens, betere bundelkwaliteit en hogere bewerkingsnauwkeurigheden. In dit artikel wordt ingegaan op de microbewerkingen die realiseerbaar zijn met behulp van lasers

Probiotics: immunomodulation and evaluation of safety and efficacy.

The intake of probiotics has been associated with beneficial effects on the immune system, such as improved disease resistance and diminished risk of allergies. This review gives an overview of the immunomodulatory effects of probiotics investigated with in vitro assays, experimental animal models, and clinical trials, and explores possible mechanisms underlying the immunomodulatory effects. Immunomodulation, however, is not always beneficial and might induce detrimental effects; therefore, a scheme is proposed for benefit-risk assessment of immunomodulation by probiotics. Within this scheme, expert judgment based on data derived from a panel of in vitro assays, animal models, and clinical trials should lead to conclusions on efficacy and safety aspects of probiotics

Mirror Visual Feedback for Phantom Pain: International Experience on Modalities and Adverse Effects Discussed by an Expert Panel: A Delphi Study

Background: MVF (mirror therapy) is practised worldwide in very different ways to alleviate phantom pain; no study has compared these variations yet or researched risk and harm. Objectives: To establish usage and justification of a generally accepted MVF treatment plan after amputation, to explore occurrence and handling of side effects, and to increase knowledge on contributing factors. Methods: Experiential knowledge of 13 experienced practitioners from six countries and five professions was explored with a three round Delphi technique. Results: Experience with the use of five different treatment plans was described of which one has never been mentioned in the literature: an intense one-off plan where the illusion was carefully set up before the patient was left to the experience with no interference, resolving pain as well as side effects. In the four known treatment plans, the expectations of response time varied which influenced the definition of responders/non-responders, the set-ups, control and use of material reflected the professional background of the practitioners. Contraindications were also defined according to the professional confidence to deal with the side effects. Side effects were reported including emotional reactions, pain increase, sensory changes, freezing of the phantom limb, and dizziness and sweating. The attitude toward and the handling of side effects varied in patients as in practitioners according to their professional background. A tool to fine-tune the experience was reported with covering the limb during therapy. Full consensus was reached on several treatment modalities. Conclusion: The results suggest that the different treatment plans suit different patients and practitioners. Matching these could enhance effectiveness and compliance. Knowledge about side effects needs to inform treatment decisions. These findings triggered the development of a MVF gateway to guide patients to the treatment plan for their needs and collect data from the practitioners to enhance neuroscientific understanding and inform practice

A systematic review investigating interventions that can help reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in children leading to changes in body fatness

Background Both the prevalence of childhood obesity and the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) have increased globally. The present review describes interventions that reduce the consumption of SSBs in children and determines whether this leads to subsequent changes in body fatness. Methods Three databases were searched from 2000 to August 2013. Only intervention control trials, ≥6 months in duration, which aimed to reduce the consumption of SSBs in >100 children aged 2–18 years, and reporting changes in body fatness, were included. The quality of selected papers was assessed. Results Eight studies met inclusion criteria. Six interventions achieved significant (P < 0.05) reductions in SSB intake, although this was not always sustained. In the two interventions providing replacement drinks, significant differences in body mass index (12- or 18-month follow-up) were reported (P = 0.001 and 0.045). The risk of being overweight/obesity was reduced (P < 0.05) in three of the five education programmes but in one programme only for girls who were overweight at baseline and in one programme only for pupils perceived to be at greater risk at baseline. In the one study that included both provision of water and education, the risk of being overweight was reduced by 31% (P = 0.04) in the intervention group. Conclusions The evidence suggests that school-based education programmes focusing on reducing SSB consumption, but including follow-up modules, offer opportunities for implementing effective, sustainable interventions. Peer support and changing the school environment (e.g. providing water or replacement drinks) to support educational programmes could improve their effectiveness. Home delivery of more suitable drinks has a big impact on reducing SSB consumption, with associated reductions in body weight

Mechanisms of Hexachlorobenzene-induced Adverse Immune Effects

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is an environmental pollutant that can induce adverse immune effects in humans and rats. Brown Norway rats (BN) appeared to be very susceptible to HCB-induced immune effects. Oral exposure causes inflammatory skin and lung lesions, enlarged spleen and lymph nodes (LN) and elevated humoral responses. Although the immunopathological effects induced by HCB are investigated comprehensively, the exact mechanisms involved are unknown. Experiments described in this thesis were performed to obtain more insight in the mechanisms underlying HCB-induced adverse immune effects, both on a cellular and molecular level. The immunomodulatory effects of the oxidative metabolites tetrachlorohydroquinone (TCHQ) and tetrachlorobenzoquinone (TCBQ) were assessed. Therefore, these metabolites were studied in the mouse reporter antigen popliteal lymph node assay (RA-PLNA) with TNP-Ficoll as a RA. In this assay an isotype switch to IgG1 indicates that the chemical injected is able to form neoantigens that can stimulate T cells. Both TCHQ and TCBQ induced an isotype switch to IgG1 and were thus capable of providing neoantigen-specific T cell help. Furthermore, this response was compound-specific as was shown in a secondary PLNA. In addition, gene expression profiles with DNA microarray analysis in BN rats were obtained. Transcriptome profiling was done in spleen, mesenteric lymph node (MLN), thymus, blood, liver and kidney. Data confirmed known effects of HCB such as stimulatory effects on the immune system and induction of enzymes involved in drug metabolism, porphyria and the reproductive system. New findings include the upregulation of genes encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines, antioxidants, acute phase proteins, mast cell markers, complement, chemokines, and cell adhesion molecules. In general, gene expression data provide evidence that HCB induces a systemic inflammatory response, accompanied by oxidative stress and an acute phase response. The role of T cells in HCB-induced immunotoxic effects was investigated further by using the Cyclosporin A (CsA). This immunosuppressive drug decreases peripheral T cell numbers and inhibit T cell activation. CsA treatment delayed the development of HCB-induced skin lesions and prevented the increase in spleen weight slightly. Furthermore, increase in ALN weight, lung eosinophilia and humoral responses were prevented completely by in HCB-exposed rats treated with CsA. Macrophage infiltration was independent of T cells and macrophages seem also important. Therefore, the relationship between macrophages and T cells was further investigated. Co-administration of clodronate-liposomes was used to eliminate macrophages in HCB-exposed rats. Results indicated that macrophages played an important role in HCB-induced skin lesions, in particular in the aggravation of skin lesions. Also, HCB-induced lung eosinophilia and elevation of anti-ssDNA IgM antibodies were less pronounced after depletion of macrophages. To obtain information on events that occur in the initiation phase a kinetic study was performed. This revealed that both skin and lung pathology were early inflammatory events. Furthermore, macrophage infiltrations in the spleen seemed to precede the increase in spleen weight. Remarkably, studies performed to further assess the functional role and specificity of T cells induced by HCB did not provide any evidence for the presence of T cells specific for TCBQ. Moreover, HCB-induced immune effects could not be adoptively transferred to naive recipients