Weight loss predictability by plasma metabolic signatures in adults with obesity and morbid obesity of the DiOGenes study

Objective: Aim is to predict successful weight loss by metabolic signatures at baseline and to identify which differences in metabolic status may underlie variations in weight loss success. Methods: In DiOGenes, a randomized, controlled trial, weight loss was induced using a low calorie diet (800 kcal) for 8-weeks. Men (N5236) and women (N5431)...

Application of a point of care creatinine device for trend monitoring in kidney transplant patients: Fit for purpose?

Background: The StatSensor® Xpress-i™, a point-of-care system for blood creatinine measurement, offers patients the possibility of self-monitoring creatinine. In this study, the analytical performance of the StatSensor® for both detecting current renal function and monitoring renal (dys)function in kidney transplant patients was examined....

Patient experiences with self-monitoring renal function after renal transplantation: results from a single-center prospective pilot study

Background: After a kidney transplantation, patients have to visit the hospital often to monitor for early signs of graft rejection. Self-monitoring of creatinine in addition to blood pressure at home could alleviate the burden of frequent outpatient visits, but only if patients are willing to self-monitor and if they adhere to the self...

Drugs that reverse disease transcriptomic signatures are more effective in a mouse model of dyslipidemia

High-throughput omics have proven invaluable in studying human disease, and yet day-to-day clinical practice still relies on physiological, non-omic markers. The metabolic syndrome, for example, is diagnosed and monitored by blood and urine indices such as blood cholesterol levels. Nevertheless, the association between the molecular and the...

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 measured in urine from bladder cancer patients is an independent prognostic marker of poor survival

Introduction. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is an endopeptidase involved in various cellular processes, such as tumour development and metastatic spread. In biological samples, MMP-9 can occur as pro-MMP-9 and active MMP-9, or these factors complexed with the inhibitor TIMP-1. An assay, which can measure active and total MMP-9 in biological...

The Netherlands twin register biobank: A resource for genetic epidemiological studies

In 2004 the Netherlands Twin Register (NTR) started a large scale biological sample collection in twin families to create a resource for genetic studies on health, lifestyle and personality. Between January 2004 and July 2008, adult participants from NTR research projects were invited into the study. During a home visit between 7:00 and 10:00 am...

Influence of amifostine on the pharmacokinetics of cisplatin in cancer patients

The pharmacokinetics of cisplatin was investigated in 13 patients receiving 18 courses of cisplatin alone or in combination with amifostine to investigate the influence of amifostine (WR 2721; Ethyol) on the pharmacokinetics of cisplatin. Cisplatin was administered as a 1-h i.v. infusion, whereas amifostine was given i.v. over 15 min just before...

Pharmacokinetics of carboplatin with and without amifostine in patients with solid tumors

We showed previously that amifostine (WR 2721; Ethyol), a protector against carboplatin-induced toxicities, changed the pharmacokinetics of carboplatin in tumor-bearing nude mice. In the present study, the influence of amifostine on the pharmacokinetics of carboplatin was studied in patients when carboplatin was given in combination with three...