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.

Long-term expanding human airway organoids for disease modeling

Abstract: Organoids are self-organizing 3D structures grown from stem cells that recapitulate essential aspects of organ structure and function. Here, we describe a method to establish long-term-expanding human airway organoids from broncho-alveolar resections or lavage material. The pseudostratified airway organoids consist of basal cells, functional multi-ciliated cells, mucus-producing secretory cells, and CC10-secreting club cells. Airway organoids derived from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients allow assessment of CFTR function in an organoid swelling assay. Organoids established from lung cancer resections and metastasis biopsies retain tumor histopathology as well as cancer gene mutations and are amenable to drug screening. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection recapitulates central disease features, dramatically increases organoid cell motility via the non-structural viral NS2 protein, and preferentially recruits neutrophils upon co-culturing. We conclude that human airway organoids represent versatile models for the in vitro study of hereditary, malignant, and infectious pulmonary disease.

Platelet activation and blood coagulation.

Abstract: Platelet activation and blood coagulation are complementary, mutually dependent processes in haemostasis and thrombosis. Platelets interact with several coagulation factors, while the coagulation product thrombin is a potent platelet-activating agonist. Activated platelets come in a procoagulant state after a prolonged elevation in cytosolic [Ca2+]i. Such platelets, e. g. when adhering to collagen via glycoprotein VI, expose phosphatidylserine (PS) at their outer surface and produce (PS-exposing) membrane blebs and microvesicles. Inhibition of aminophospholipid translocase and activation of phospholipid scramblase mediate the exposure of PS, whereas calpain-mediated protein cleavage leads to membrane blebbing and vesiculation. Surface-exposed PS strongly propagates the coagulation process by facilitating the assembly and activation of tenase and prothrombinase complexes. Factor IXa and platelet-bound factor Va support these activities. In addition, platelets can support the initiation phase of coagulation by providing binding sites for prothrombin and factor XI. They thereby take over the initiating role of tissue factor and factor VIIa in coagulation activation.

Institutions and the OLI paradigm of the multinational enterprise

Abstract: The prevailing ownership-based theories of the firm are increasingly being challenged by new forms of organising, as exemplified by the Asian network multinational enterprise (MNE). We believe that an institutional approach, that tries to bridge both the macro and micro levels of analysis, and that encompasses both formal and informal institutions, offers a promising way to advance our understanding of the different forms of the contemporary MNE. This paper introduces a theoretical framework that draws substantially on the work of Douglass North, and examines how an institutional dimension can be incorporated into the three components of the OLI paradigm.