Publications
Innate Lymphoid Cells Are Required to Induce Airway Hyperreactivity in a Murine Neutrophilic Asthma Model KU Leuven
Rationale: Non-allergic asthma is driven by multiple endotypes of which neutrophilic and pauci-granulocytic asthma have been best established. However, it is still puzzling what drives inflammation and airway hyperreactivity (AHR) in these patients and how it can be treated effectively. Recently, a potential role of the innate immune system and especially the innate lymphoid cells (ILC) has been proposed. Objective: In this study, we ...
Multimodal in vivo Imaging of the Integrated Postnatal Development of Brain and Skull and Its Co-modulation With Neurodevelopment in a Down Syndrome Mouse Model KU Leuven
The brain and skeletal systems are intimately integrated during development through common molecular pathways. This is evidenced by genetic disorders where brain and skull dysmorphologies are associated. However, the mechanisms underlying neural and skeletal interactions are poorly understood. Using the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome (DS) as a case example, we performed the first longitudinal assessment of brain, skull and neurobehavioral ...
Phenotypic spectrum of the recurrent TRPM3 p.(Val837Met) substitution in seven individuals with global developmental delay and hypotonia KU Leuven
TRPM3 encodes a transient receptor potential cation channel of the melastatin family, expressed in the central nervous system and in peripheral sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia. The recurrent substitution in TRPM3: c.2509G>A, p.(Val837Met) has been associated with syndromic intellectual disability and seizures. In this report, we present the clinical and molecular features of seven previously unreported individuals, identified by ...
Overcome Double Trouble: Baloxavir Marboxil Suppresses Influenza Thereby Mitigating Secondary Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis KU Leuven
Influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (IAPA) is a global recognized superinfection in critically ill influenza patients. Baloxavir marboxil, a cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor, is a newly approved anti-influenza therapeutic. Although the benefits as a treatment for influenza are clear, its efficacy against an influenza-A. fumigatus co-infection has yet to be determined. We investigated the therapeutic effect of baloxavir marboxil in a ...
Radium-223 in patients with prostate specific antigen (PSA) progression and without clinical metastases following maximal local therapy: A pilot study. KU Leuven
BACKGROUND: Despite the curative intent of radical prostatectomy (RP) (+/- radiotherapy (RT)), 30% of the clinically localized prostate cancer (CaP) patients will develop rising PSA (prostate specific antigen). In absence of clinical recurrence, there is a lack of effective treatment strategies in order to control the disease at its earliest (micro)metastatic stage. The aim of this study was to assess safety, tolerability, and biochemical ...
Use of Micro-Computed Tomography to Visualize and Quantify COVID-19 Vaccine Efficiency in Free-Breathing Hamsters. KU Leuven
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has impacted the health of humanity after the outbreak in Hubei, China in late December 2019. Ever since, it has taken unprecedented proportions and rapidity causing over a million fatal cases. Recently, a robust Syrian golden hamster model recapitulating COVID-19 was developed in search for effective therapeutics and vaccine candidates. However, overt clinical disease symptoms were largely absent despite high levels of ...
The future of hospital quality of care policy: A multi-stakeholder discrete choice experiment in Flanders, Belgium. KU Leuven
BACKGROUND: Collaboration between policymakers, patients and healthcare workers in hospital quality of care policy setting can improve the integration of new initiatives. The aim of this study was to quantify preferences for various characteristics of a future quality policy in a broad group of stakeholders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 450 policymakers, clinicians, nurses, patient representatives and hospital board members in Flanders (Belgium) ...
Active surveillance for small renal masses in elderly patients does not increase overall mortality rates compared to primary intervention: a propensity score weighted analysis KU Leuven
BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to test the effect of active surveillance (AS) versus primary intervention (PI) on overall mortality (OM) in elderly patients diagnosed with SRM. METHODS: Elderly patients (75 years or older) diagnosed with SRMs (<4 cm) and treated with either PI (i.e. partial nephrectomy or kidney ablation) or AS between 2009 and 2018 were abstracted from the renal surgery in the elderly (RESURGE) and Delayed Intervention ...