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Background: Little is known about the extent of impairments in work and activities of daily life (ADL) in patients with psoriasis, and the influence of contextual factors such as disease-related characteristics and treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to assess these impairments in patients with psoriasis who started using biologicals/small molecule inhibitors. Methods: Using data from the prospective BioCAPTURE registry, we collected patient, disease, and treatment parameters, as well as work/ADL impairments at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Changes in impairment parameters and correlations between impairment and patient/disease characteristics were assessed using generalized estimating equations. Results: We included 194 patients in our analysis. After biological initiation, disease activity decreased significantly (PASI 11.2 at baseline versus 3.9 at 12 months, p<0.001). Work-for-pay in this cohort was lower than in the Dutch general population (53% versus 67%, p=0.01). In patients who had work-for-pay, presenteeism improved over time (5% at baseline versus 0% at 12months, p=0.04). Up to half of the patients reported impairments in ADL, which did not change over time. Associations between impairments and contextual factors varied, but all impairments were associated with worse mental/physical general functioning. Conclusion: Patients with psoriasis using biologicals are less likely to have work-for-pay. Treatment improves the work productivity of employed patients, but we were unable to detect changes in ADL performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manure storage is a source of methane. An option to mitigate methane emissions from manure storage is to collect the methane produced in the storage and feed it into a dispersion layer underground. In the soil above, the methane is subsequently oxidized by methanotrophic bacteria. A previous study indicated that the method seems technically and economically feasible with costs for emission reduction of methane of €1–4 per ton CO2‐eq. mitigated. The concept was demonstrated at a pilot facility next to a storage for manure digestate and proof of concept was achieved at field scale. It was technically simple to capture methane and feed it into a dispersion system at about 1 m below the surface. Indications exist, that part of the methane was oxidised in the soil. However actual methane oxidation could not be determined, because there are serious doubts whether all methane did enter the oxidation field. For actual applications, quantification of gas generation in manure and oxidation rate of the soil need to be improved, to design an oxidation field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In developed countries, cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death. Statins are abundantly prescribed to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease by lowering cholesterol. Genetic factors are thought to be partly responsible for the interindividual variation in the response to statins. This article reviews the most important studies conducted on pharmacogenetics of statins. Currently, there is no evidence to advocate pharmacogenetic testing before initiating therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In developed countries, cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death. Among other statins, pravastatin is abundantly prescribed to reduce risk of coronary artery disease by lowering cholesterol. Genetic factors are thought to be partly responsible for the interindividual variation in the response to pravastatin. This article reviews the most important studies conducted on the pharmacogenetics of pravastatin. Currently there is no evidence to advocate pharmacogenetic testing before initiating therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]