Buruli Ulcer in Traveler from Suriname,South America,to the Netherlands

We report Buruli ulcer in a man in the Netherlands. Phenotyping of samples indicate the Buruli pathogen was acquired in Suriname and activated by trauma on return to the Netherlands. Awareness of this disease by clinicians in non–Buruli ulcer–endemic areas is critical for identification.     

Myocardial perfusion imaging in humans by contrast echocardiography using polygelin colloid solution

This study evaluated the myocardial contrast effect and safety of polygelin colloid solution selectively injected into the coronary arteries in 25 patients during two-dimensional echocardiography. Six patients (group I) had selective intracoronary injections of nonagitated and 19 (group II) of hand-agitated polygelin colloid solution. Myocardial contrast was seen on two-dimensional echocardiographic cross sections in three patients of group I and in all patients of group II; in 16 patients it was also seen on M-mode echocardiograms. The contrast effect lasted for 15 to 60 seconds. The intensity of myocardial opacification was not significantly influenced by the amount of polygelin colloid solution injected, heart rate or cardiac size. The total number of contrast-enhanced segments after right and left coronary artery injections delineated the entire cross-sectional area in any given view. None of the patients developed symptoms during or immediately after the injections. One patient had transient second degree atrioventricular block after a right coronary wedge injection, one patient showed a QRS axis shift and two others had transient T wave changes. There were no aortic blood pressure changes and no significant serum enzyme (creatine kinase [CK], CK-MB fraction, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase) elevation or alterations of left ventricular function assessed echocardiographically. It is concluded that hand-agitated polygelin colloid solution is a useful and safe intracoronary contrast agent for delineating myocardial perfusion areas on two-dimensional echocardiography in humans.     

Brain deviations in adult obese-hyperglycemic mice (ob/ob)

In the brain of adult obese-hyperglycemic mice (ob/ob) deviations, such as reduced brain weight, diminished myelination, and reduced amount of DNA were found. These findings cannot be explained by hypothyroidism in adults since above mentioned deviations could only have been caused by a reduced thyroidal activity in the first weeks of postnatal life. Therefore, our data are in support of the earlier hypothesis of congenital hypothyroidism.     

Species of the nematode genus Amidostomum Railliet and Henry, 1909 in aquatic birds in the Netherlands

Summary The presence of gizzard worms belonging to the genus Amidostomum was studied in birds in the Netherlands during the period 1975–2003. Amidostomum acutum was found in Anatidae: Anas acuta, A. clypeata, A. crecca, A. penelope, A. platyrynchos, A. strepera, Aythya ferina, Ay. fuligula, Ay. marila, Bucephala clangula, Melanitta fusca, M. nigra, Tadorna tadorna, Somateria mollissima and Recurvirostra avocetta. No Amidostomum species were found in the following three species of Mergini: Mergus albellus, M. merganser and M. serrator. Amidostomum anseris was seen in Anser albifrons, A. fabalis, Branta bernicla and Branta leucopsis. Amidostomum cygni was detected in Cygnus bewickii and Cygnus olor, while Amidostomum fulicae was found in Fulica atra. The prevalence is only given for bird species where ten or more individuals had been investigated: Anas platyrhynchos (n = 14): 21.4 %; Melanitta nigra (n = 12): 91.7 %; Somateria mollissima (n = 117): 100 %; Anser albifrons (n = 11): 100 % and Cygnus olor (n = 10): 60 %. Based on the present results, much more attention should be paid to the systematics, the epidemiological pattern and the pathogenicity of worms of this genus.     

上海与阿姆斯特丹幽门螺杆菌感染性胃炎萎缩与肠化的对比研究

观察中国上海与荷兰阿姆斯特丹两地幽门螺杆菌（Ｈ．ｐｙｌｏｒｉ）感染性胃炎患者胃窦部粘膜萎缩与肠化的发生率及发生年龄的差异。方法：功能性消化不良伴Ｈ．ｐｙｌｏｒｉ感染的上海患者２６５例和阿姆斯特丹患者２６１例纳入研究。根据新悉尼分类法对患者治疗前胃窦粘膜标本的萎缩和肠化程度进行分级。结果：阿姆斯特丹患者的萎缩与肠化发生率（４２％和２６％）低于上海患者（５２％和３２％）,但仅萎缩的差异有统计学意义（Ｐ     

A comparison of treatment and outcomes of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma between Eastern and Western centers

Background

Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC) often requires extensive surgery which is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to compare an Eastern and Western PHC cohort in terms of patient characteristics, treatment strategies and outcomes including a propensity score matched analysis.

Disease Detection or Public Opinion Reflection? Content Analysis of Tweets,Other Social Media,and Online Newspapers During the Measles Outbreak in the Netherlands in 2013

Background

In May 2013, a measles outbreak began in the Netherlands among Orthodox Protestants who often refuse vaccination for religious reasons.

Objective

Our aim was to compare the number of messages expressed on Twitter and other social media during the measles outbreak with the number of online news articles and the number of reported measles cases to answer the question if and when social media reflect public opinion patterns versus disease patterns.

Methods

We analyzed measles-related tweets, other social media messages, and online newspaper articles over a 7-month period (April 15 to November 11, 2013) with regard to topic and sentiment. Thematic analysis was used to structure and analyze the topics.

Results

There was a stronger correlation between the weekly number of social media messages and the weekly number of online news articles (P<.001 for both tweets and other social media messages) than between the weekly number of social media messages and the weekly number of reported measles cases (P=.003 and P=.048 for tweets and other social media messages, respectively), especially after the summer break. All data sources showed 3 large peaks, possibly triggered by announcements about the measles outbreak by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment and statements made by well-known politicians. Most messages informed the public about the measles outbreak (ie, about the number of measles cases) (93/165, 56.4%) followed by messages about preventive measures taken to control the measles spread (47/132, 35.6%). The leading opinion expressed was frustration regarding people who do not vaccinate because of religious reasons (42/88, 48%).

Conclusions

The monitoring of online (social) media might be useful for improving communication policies aiming to preserve vaccination acceptability among the general public. Data extracted from online (social) media provide insight into the opinions that are at a certain moment salient among the public, which enables public health institutes to respond immediately and appropriately to those public concerns. More research is required to develop an automatic coding system that captures content and user’s characteristics that are most relevant to the diseases within the National Immunization Program and related public health events and can inform official responses.     

The effect of tobacco control policies on smoking prevalence and smoking-attributable deaths. Findings from the Netherlands SimSmoke Tobacco Control Policy Simulation Model

Aim To develop a simulation model projecting the effect of tobacco control policies in the Netherlands on smoking prevalence and smoking‐attributable deaths. Design, setting and participants Netherlands SimSmoke—an adapted version of the SimSmoke simulation model of tobacco control policy—uses population, smoking rates and tobacco control policy data for the Netherlands to predict the effect of seven types of policies: taxes, smoke‐free legislation, mass media, advertising bans, health warnings, cessation treatment and youth access policies. Measurements Outcome measures were smoking prevalence and smoking‐attributable deaths. Findings With a comprehensive set of policies, as recommended by MPOWER, smoking prevalence can be decreased by as much as 21% in the first year, increasing to a 35% reduction in the next 20 years and almost 40% by 30 years. By 2040, 7706 deaths can be averted in that year alone with the stronger set of policies. Without effective tobacco control policies, almost a million lives will be lost to tobacco‐related diseases between 2011 and 2040. Of those, 145 000 can be saved with a comprehensive tobacco control package. Conclusions Smoking prevalence and smoking‐attributable deaths in the Netherlands can be reduced substantially through tax increases, smoke‐free legislation, high‐intensity media campaigns, stronger advertising bans and health warnings, comprehensive cessation treatment and youth access laws. The implementation of these FCTC/MPOWER recommended policies could be expected to show similar or even larger relative reductions in smoking prevalence in other countries which currently have weak policies.