European journal of clinical investigation
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Sep 2021
Acetyl-CoA-driven respiration in frozen muscle contributes to the diagnosis of mitochondrial disease.
Freezing human biopsies is common in clinical practice for storage. However, this technique disrupts mitochondrial membranes, hampering further analyses of respiratory function. To contribute to laboratorial diagnosis of mitochondrial diseases, this study sought to develop a respirometry approach using O2k (Oroboros Ins.) to measure the whole electron transport chain (ETC) activity in homogenates of frozen skeletal muscle biopsies. ⋯ We present preliminary data on a simple, low cost and reliable procedure to measure respiratory function in whole homogenates of frozen skeletal muscle biopsies, contributing to diagnosis of mitochondrial diseases in humans.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Sep 2021
Building a competitive infrastructure to support clinical research in healthcare institution.
Clinical research is becoming increasingly popular in Europe at a growth rate much higher than expected, especially in Benelux. Although traditionally thought to be the purview of academic health centres, clinical research to evaluate new drugs, devices and medical practices is being done more and more in healthcare organizations with little or no academic affiliation. ⋯ Some infrastructure challenges (insufficient engagement, regulatory and administrative barriers) and possible courses of action (standardized procedures, training and centralization) will be discussed.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Sep 2021
The use of semi-compliant versus non-compliant balloon systems for predilatation during the implantation of self-expandable transcatheter aortic valves: Data from the VIenna CardioThOracic Aortic Valve RegistrY (VICTORY).
This study aimed to evaluate the differences in outcome arising from the use of semi-compliant (SCB) versus non-compliant balloon (NCB) systems for predilatation during self-expanding transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). ⋯ While the balloon compliance did not affect the procedural mortality, device success or the rate of paravalvular leakage, the use of semi-compliant balloons for predilatation during TAVR should be investigated in larger randomized trials in the light of the lower rates of postdilatation and conversion to open surgery compared to their non-compliant counterparts.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Sep 2021
Characteristics of gestational diabetes subtypes classified by oral glucose tolerance test values.
In clinical practice, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is treated as a homogenous disease but emerging evidence suggests that the diagnosis of GDM possibly comprises different metabolic entities. In this study, we aimed to assess early pregnancy characteristics of gestational diabetes mellitus entities classified according to the presence of fasting and/or post-load hyperglycaemia in the diagnostic oral glucose tolerance test performed at mid-gestation. ⋯ Women with fasting hyperglycaemia, especially those with combined hyperglycaemia, showed an unfavourable metabolic phenotype already at early gestation. Therefore, categorization based on abnormal oral glucose tolerance test values provides a practicable basis for clinical risk stratification.