Heleen M. Staal

Dr. Heleen M. Staal

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

17Years (2010-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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12 April 2023 in Data in Brief
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
RSRachel Senden
Rachel Senden
RMRik G.J. Marcellis
Rik G.J. Marcellis
KMKenneth Meijer
Kenneth Meijer
PWPaul Willems
Paul Willems
TLTon Lenssen
Ton Lenssen
MWMarianne Witlox
Marianne Witlox
For clinical use, the processed data is also presented and visualized per age group (3-6 years, 7-8 years, 9-10 years, 11-12 years, ≥13 years). For each speed condition, spatiotemporal parameters, joint angles, joint moments and joint power for both legs are presented per age group. These data are presented in tables and visualized in waveforms and can serve as normative values for treadmill based 3D gait analyses. Data is available at OSF.io (DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/3XQEW).

1 June 2017 in Journal of Children's Orthopaedics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
JSJ. Stevens
J. Stevens
TWT. J. M. Welting
T. J. M. Welting
AWA. M. Witlox
A. M. Witlox
LRL. W. van Rhijn
L. W. van Rhijn
HSHeleen M. Staal
Heleen M. Staal
Purpose: Dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica (DEH) is a rare developmental disorder resulting in epiphyseal overgrowth. Based on histological appearance, it is often described as an osteochondroma or osteochondroma-like lesion, although clinical differences exist between DEH and osteochondromas. The aim of this study was to test whether DEH and osteochondromas are histologically identical diseases. Methods: Tissue samples of two age- and gender-matched cases with DEH and hereditary multiple exostoses were histologically compared. Sections were stained with Safranin-O for detection of proteoglycans and immunohistochemistry was performed for detection of collagen type II, collagen type X as a marker of hypertrophic chondrocytes and Sox9 as a marker of proliferative chondrocytes. Due to the rarity, descriptions of the included DEH patients were outlined. Results: Histologically, chondrocyte clusters in a fibrillary matrix, a thick disorganised cartilage cap and ossification centres with small amounts of unabsorbed cartilage, were observed in DEH. In contrast, cartilage organisation of osteochondromas displays characteristics of the normal growth plate. Collagen type II was clearly detected in the cartilaginous extracellular matrix in osteochondromas, while weak expression was observed in DEH. Collagen type X was not detected in DEH, while expressed in the matrix surrounding hypertrophic chondrocytes in osteochondromas. Sox9 staining was positive in hypertrophic chondrocytes in osteochondromas, while expressed in nuclei of chondrocyte clusters in DEH. Conclusion: Both morphological and immunohistological differences were observed in histological sections of DEH and osteochondromas. These results support the previously identified clinical, radiological and genetic differences and imply a different aetiology between DEH and osteochondroma formation.

22 June 2010 in BMC Neurology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
GVGeorges F Vles
Georges F Vles
JVJohan S Vles
Johan S Vles
MKMaarten van Kleef
Maarten van Kleef
JZJan van Zundert
Jan van Zundert
HSHeleen M. Staal
Heleen M. Staal
ALAnton J de Louw
Anton J de Louw
Cerebral palsy (CP) may cause severe spasticity, requiring neurosurgical procedures. The most common neurosurgical procedures are continuous infusion of intrathecal baclofen and selective dorsal rhizotomy. Both are invasive and complex procedures. We hypothesized that a percutaneous radiofrequency lesion of the dorsal root ganglion (RF-DRG) could be a simple and safe alternative treatment. We undertook a pilot study to test this hypothesis.

1 October 2015 in Journal of Children's Orthopaedics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
HSHeleen M. Staal
Heleen M. Staal
AGAnnemarie L. Goud
Annemarie L. Goud
HWHenk-Jan van der Woude
Henk-Jan van der Woude
MWMarianne Adhiambo Witlox
Marianne Adhiambo Witlox
SHS. John Ham
S. John Ham
LRLodewijk W. van Rhijn
Lodewijk W. van Rhijn
Background: Multiple ostechondromas (MO) is an autosomal dominant inherited disease caused by mutated exostosin genes. It mostly affects the long bones and can lead to growth disturbances, especially disproportionate short stature. Both the local effect on growth plates and the systemic influence of the gene disorder on growth mechanisms might explain the diminished stature. Purpose: The hypothesis of this study is that the diminished stature in adults with MO is due to a systemic influence, leading to early skeletal maturation and early closure of the growth plate. Therefore, in these patients the skeletal age in adolescence is hypothesized to be higher than the calendar age. Methods: Radiographs of the left hand were collected from 50 MO-affected children. The skeletal age was calculated using these radiographs according to the Greulich–Pyle bone scale and was compared to the calendar age at the time of radiography. Results: Children aged 3–12 years had a significantly lower skeletal age compared to their calendar age ( p = 0.030). Children aged 12–17 years had a significantly higher skeletal age ( p = 0.019), especially boys. Skeletal maturation in children with MO therefore differs from their peers. Conclusion: In this study, the skeletal age in younger children with MO is lower than their calendar age. For adolescents, particularly boys, this is reversed, suggesting an earlier or faster closure of the growth plates. These findings support a systemic influence of the gene defect on growth rate.

10 May 2022 in Children
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
NJNiels Jansen
Niels Jansen
RDRomy B. M. Dockx
Romy B. M. Dockx
AWAdhiambo M. Witlox
Adhiambo M. Witlox
SSSaartje Straetemans
Saartje Straetemans
HSHeleen M. Staal
Heleen M. Staal
Objective: The objective of this study is to create an overview of the possible aetiologies of windswept deformity and to emphasize the points of attention when presented with a case. Methods: A systematic search according to the PRISMA statement was conducted using PubMed, African Journals Online, Cochrane, Embase, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Articles investigating the aetiology of windswept deformity at the knee in children, and articles with windswept deformity as an ancillary finding were included. The bibliographic search was limited to English-language articles only. The level of evidence and methodological appraisal were assessed. Results: Forty-five articles discussing the aetiology of windswept deformity were included. A variety of aetiologies can be brought forward. These can be divided into the following groups: ‘Rickets and other metabolic disorders’, ‘skeletal dysplasias and other genetic disorders’, ‘trauma’ and ‘descriptive articles without specific underlying disorder’. With rickets being the largest group. Interestingly, in the group without a specific underlying disorder, all patients were from African descent, being otherwise healthy and presented with windswept deformity between two and three years of age. Conclusion: We have presented an overview that may help identify the underlying disorder in children with windswept deformity. A step-by-step guide for clinicians who see a child with windswept deformity is provided. Even though, according to the Oxford level of evidence, most articles have a low level of evidence.

20 February 2022 in Non-coding RNA Research
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
MSMandy M.F. Steinbusch
Mandy M.F. Steinbusch
Guus Gijsbertus Hubert van den AkkerGuus Gijsbertus Hubert van den Akker
Guus Gijsbertus Hubert van den Akker
ACAndy Cremers
Andy Cremers
AWAdhiambo M. Witlox
Adhiambo M. Witlox
HSHeleen M. Staal
Heleen M. Staal
TWTim Johannes Maria Welting
Tim Johannes Maria Welting
Ribosome biogenesis is integrated with many cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation and oncogenic events. Chondrogenic proliferation and differentiation require a high cellular translational capacity to facilitate cartilaginous extracellular matrix production. We here investigated the expression dynamics of factors involved in ribosome biogenesis during in vitro chondrogenic differentiation and determined whether protein translation capacity adapts to different phases of chondrogenic differentiation. SnoRNA expression during ATDC5 differentiation was analyzed by RNA sequencing of samples acquired from day 0 (progenitor stage), 7 (chondrogenic stage) and day 14 (hypertrophic stage). RT-qPCR was used to determine expression of fibrillarin, dyskerin, UBF-1, Sox9, Col2a1, Runx2, Col10a1 mRNAs and 18S, 5.8S and 28S rRNAs. Protein expression of fibrillarin, dyskerin and UBF-1 was determined by immunoblotting. Ribosomal RNA content per cell was determined by calculating rRNA RT-qPCR signals relative to DNA content (SYBR Green assay). Total protein translational activity was evaluated with a puromycilation assay and polysome profiling. As a result of initiation of chondrogenic differentiation (Δt0-t7), 21 snoRNAs were differentially expressed (DE). Hypertrophic differentiation caused DE of 23 snoRNAs (Δt7-t14) and 43 when t0 was compared to t14. DE snoRNAs, amongst others, target nucleotide modifications in the 28S rRNA peptidyl transferase center and the 18S rRNA decoding center. UBF-1, fibrillarin and dyskerin expression increased as function of differentiation and displayed highest fold induction at day 5–6 in differentiation. Ribosomal RNA content per cell was significantly increased at day 7, but not at day 14 in differentiation. Similar dynamics in translational capacity and monosomal ribosome fraction were observed during differentiation. The expression of a great number of ribosome biogenesis factors is altered during chondrogenic differentiation of ATDC5 cells, which is accompanied by significant changes in cellular translational activity. This elucidation of ribosome biogenesis dynamics in chondrogenic differentiation models enables the further understanding of the role of ribosome biogenesis and activity during chondrocyte cell commitment and their roles in human skeletal development diseases.