Offense related characteristics and psychosexual development of juvenile sex offenders

Objective:  

This article reports on offense related characteristics and the psychosexual development in subgroups of juvenile sex offenders as measured by the Global Assessment Instrument for Juvenile Sex Offenders (GAIJSO). The predictive validity of these characteristics for persistent (sexual) offensive behavior in subgroups of juvenile sex offenders was investigated.     

Macrophage response to high number of titanium particles is cytotoxic and COX-2 mediated and it is not affected by the particle's endotoxin content or the cleaning treatment

Periprosthetic osteolysis is a progressive deterioration of bone around prostheses resulting primarily from the presence of wear debris. Particulate material, number, and their interactions with environmental factors play important roles in macrophage activation around implants. We have previously shown that macrophages cultured in the presence of high numbers of cleaned titanium (Ti) particles released significant amounts of PGE? that is potentially detrimental for bone. Cleaning of particles has become routine in most studies of macrophage/particle interactions as contaminating endotoxin elicits a macrophage cytokine response and since numerous studies have suggested that endotoxins may be present on implant materials. However, the strenuous cleaning procedure itself represents a possible source of other contaminants (such as material by-products) that may be relevant to the prostanoid response of macrophages. To analyze this hypothesis, the macrophage response to high numbers of cleaned Ti particles was compared to that of unclean particles and to particles that were subjected to a short version of the cleaning procedure. It was found that neither the high amount of endotoxin on the unclean particles nor the duration of the cleaning procedure had an effect on the release of PGE? and the decrease in cell viability in response to high number of Ti particles. Evidence of a possible relationship between these two variables is presented.     

Critical appraisal of the revised Ghent criteria for diagnosis of Marfan syndrome

Radonic T, de Witte P, Groenink M, de Bruin‐Bon RACM, Timmermans J, Scholte AJH, van den Berg MP, Baars MJH, van Tintelen JP, Kempers M, Zwinderman AH, Mulder BJM. Critical appraisal of the revised Ghent criteria for diagnosis of Marfan syndrome. Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a connective tissue disorder with major features in cardiovascular, ocular and skeletal systems. Recently, diagnostic criteria were revised where more weight was given to the aortic root dilatation. We applied the revised Marfan nosology in an established adult Marfan population to define practical repercussions of novel criteria for clinical practice and individual patients. Out of 180 MFS patients, in 91% (n = 164) the diagnosis of MFS remained. Out of 16 patients with rejected diagnosis, four patients were diagnosed as MASS (myopia, mitral valve prolapse, borderline non‐progressive aortic root dilatation, skeletal findings and striae) phenotype, three as ectopia lentis syndrome and in nine patients no alternative diagnosis was established. In 13 patients, the diagnosis was rejected because the Z‐score of the aortic root was <2, although the aortic diameter was larger than 40 mm in six of them. In three other patients, the diagnosis of MFS was rejected because dural ectasia was given less weight in the revised nosology. Following the revised Marfan nosology, the diagnosis of MFS was rejected in 9% of patients, mostly because of the absence of aortic root dilatation defined as Z‐score ≥2. Currently used Z‐scores seem to underestimate aortic root dilatation, especially in patients with large body surface area (BSA). We recommend re‐evaluation of criteria for aortic root involvement in adult patients with a suspected diagnosis of MFS.