Maastricht University

About: Maastricht University is a education organization based out in Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 19263 authors who have published 53291 publications receiving 2266866 citations. The organization is also known as: Universiteit Maastricht & UM.

Gut microbiota composition and development of atopic manifestations in infancy: the KOALA Birth Cohort Study

Abstract: Background and aims: Perturbations in intestinal microbiota composition due to lifestyle changes may be involved in the development of atopic diseases. We examined gut microbiota composition in early infancy and the subsequent development of atopic manifestations and sensitisation. Methods: The faeces of 957 infants aged 1 month and participating in the KOALA Birth Cohort Study were analysed using quantitative real-time PCR. Information on atopic symptoms (eczema, wheeze) and potential confounders was acquired through repeated questionnaires. Total and specific IgE were measured in venous blood samples collected during home visits when the infant was 2 years old. During these home visits a clinical diagnosis of atopic dermatitis was made according to the UK-Working Party criteria. Results: The presence of Escherichia coli was associated with a higher risk of developing eczema (OR adj = 1.87; 95% CI 1.15 to 3.04), this risk being increased with increasing numbers of E coli (p for trend = 0.016). Infants colonised with Clostridium difficile were at higher risk of developing eczema (OR adj = 1.40; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.91), recurrent wheeze (OR adj = 1.75; 95% CI 1.09 to 2.80) and allergic sensitisation (OR adj = 1.54; 95% CI 1.02 to 2.31). Furthermore, the presence of C difficile was also associated with a higher risk of a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis during the home visit (OR adj = 1.73; 95% CI 1.08 to 2.78). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that differences in gut microbiota composition precede the development of atopy. Since E coli was only associated with eczema and C difficile was associated with all atopic outcomes, the underlying mechanisms explaining these association may be different.

Orthographic Depth and Its Impact on Universal Predictors of Reading A Cross-Language Investigation

Abstract: Alphabetic orthographies differ in the transparency of their letter-sound mappings, with English orthography being less transparent than other alphabetic scripts. The outlier status of English has led scientists to question the generality of findings based on English-language studies. We investigated the role of phonological awareness, memory, vocabulary, rapid naming, and nonverbal intelligence in reading performance across five languages lying at differing positions along a transparency continuum (Finnish, Hungarian, Dutch, Portuguese, and French). Results from a sample of 1,265 children in Grade 2 showed that phonological awareness was the main factor associated with reading performance in each language. However, its impact was modulated by the transparency of the orthography, being stronger in less transparent orthographies. The influence of rapid naming was rather weak and limited to reading and decoding speed. Most predictors of reading performance were relatively universal across these alphabetic languages, although their precise weight varied systematically as a function of script transparency.

Cold acclimation recruits human brown fat and increases nonshivering thermogenesis

Abstract: In recent years, it has been shown that humans have active brown adipose tissue (BAT) depots, raising the question of whether activation and recruitment of BAT can be a target to counterbalance the current obesity pandemic. Here, we show that a 10-day cold acclimation protocol in humans increases BAT activity in parallel with an increase in nonshivering thermogenesis (NST). No sex differences in BAT presence and activity were found either before or after cold acclimation. Respiration measurements in permeabilized fibers and isolated mitochondria revealed no significant contribution of skeletal muscle mitochondrial uncoupling to the increased NST. Based on cell-specific markers and on uncoupling protein-1 (characteristic of both BAT and beige/brite cells), this study did not show “browning” of abdominal subcutaneous white adipose tissue upon cold acclimation. The observed physiological acclimation is in line with the subjective changes in temperature sensation; upon cold acclimation, the subjects judged the environment warmer, felt more comfortable in the cold, and reported less shivering. The combined results suggest that a variable indoor environment with frequent cold exposures might be an acceptable and economic manner to increase energy expenditure and may contribute to counteracting the current obesity epidemic.

EBPG on Vascular Access

Abstract: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands, Nephrology, Dialysis and Intensive Care Unit; Lapeyronie University Hospital, Montpellier, France, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Helios Klinikum Wuppertal, University Hospital Witten/Herdecke, Germany, Medical Faculty University of Cologne, Medicine Clinic I, Hospital Merheim, Germany (retired), Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Ege University Medical Faculty, Izmir, Turkey, Departement de Nephrologie JE 2411–Denutrition des Maladies Chroniques, Hopital E Herriot, France, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands, Nephrology Department, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Cordoba, Spain, Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Bolognini Hospital, Seriate, Italy, Nephrology Unit, SM Annunziata Hospital, Florence, Italy, Department of Renal Medicine, St James’s University Hospital, Leeds, UK, Department of Nephrology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK (retired), Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University Hospital, Wurzburg, Germany, Department of Nephrology, Institute for Cardiovascular Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Nephrology Section, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium