The association between shift work and sick leave: a systematic review.

Shift work is associated with a number of negative health outcomes, although it is not known whether it is associated with sick leave. This systematic review therefore aimed to determine whether an association exists between shift work and sick leave. A systematic literature search was conducted in six databases on observational studies.

Changes in insurance physicians' attitudes, self-efficacy, intention, and knowledge and skills regarding the guidelines for depression, following an implementation strategy.

Introduction: To improve guideline adherence by insurance physicians (IPs), an implementation strategy was developed and investigated in a randomized controlled trial. This implementation strategy involved a multifaceted training programme for a group of IPs in applying the guidelines for depression. In this study we report the impact of the implementation strategy on the physicians' attitude, intention, self-efficacy, and knowledge and skills as behavioural determinants of guideline adherence.

Effectiveness of a worksite lifestyle intervention on vitality, work engagement, productivity, and sick leave: results of a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: A worksite lifestyle intervention aiming to improve lifestyle behaviors could be an effective tool to keep older workers vital, and thereby prolong their labor participation. Therefore, this study evaluates the effectiveness of such an intervention on vitality, work engagement, productivity and sick leave.

Methods: In a randomized controlled trial design, 367 workers (control group: N=363) received a 6-month intervention, which included two weekly guided group sessions: one yoga and one workout, as well as one weekly session of aerobic exercising, without face-to-face instruction, and three individual coach visits aimed at changing workers' lifestyle behavior by goal setting, feedback, and problem-solving strategies.

The incidence of second tumours and mortality in pituitary adenoma patients treated with postoperative radiotherapy versus surgery alone.

Background And Purpose: To assess and compare the incidence of intra- and extracranial tumours and mortality in pituitary adenoma patients treated with postoperative radiotherapy and surgery alone.

Patients And Methods: A total of 462 pituitary adenoma patients were treated between 1959 and 2008 at the University Medical Center Groningen in The Netherlands. Postoperative radiotherapy was administered on indication in 236 patients.

Vasopressin, copeptin, and renal concentrating capacity in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease without renal impairment.

Background And Objectives: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most prevalent hereditary renal disease, characterized by cyst formation in the kidneys leading to end stage kidney failure. It is clinically acknowledged that ADPKD patients have impaired urine concentrating capacity, but the mechanism behind this observation is unknown.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: Fifteen ADPKD patients (estimated GFR ≥60 ml/min per 1.

Functional imaging in hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia after gastric bypass surgery for morbid obesity.

Context: Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) has been increasingly reported. It is induced by β-cell hyperplasia often referred to as nesidioblastosis. Positron emission tomography (PET) with [11C]-5-hydroxytryptophan ((11)C-HTP) and 6-[18F]fluoro-3,4-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine ((18)F-DOPA) has been successfully applied to image neuroendocrine tumors.

Observed differences in upper extremity forces, muscle efforts, postures, velocities and accelerations across computer activities in a field study of office workers.

This study, a part of the PRedicting Occupational biomechanics in OFfice workers (PROOF) study, investigated whether there are differences in field-measured forces, muscle efforts, postures, velocities and accelerations across computer activities. These parameters were measured continuously for 120 office workers performing their own work for two hours each. There were differences in nearly all forces, muscle efforts, postures, velocities and accelerations across keyboard, mouse and idle activities.

The identification of job opportunities for severely disabled sick-listed employees.

Background: Work disability is a major problem for both the worker and society. To explore the work opportunities in regular jobs of persons low in functional abilities, we tried to identify occupations low in task demands. Because of the variety of functional abilities and of the corresponding work demands, the disabled persons need to be classified by type of disability in a limited number of subgroups.

Intracoronary infusion of mononuclear cells after PCI-treated myocardial infarction and arrhythmogenesis: is it safe?

To reduce long-term morbidity after revascularised acute myocardial infarction, different therapeutic strategies have been investigated. Cell therapy with mononuclear cells from bone marrow (BMMC) or peripheral blood (PBMC) has been proposed to attenuate the adverse processes of remodelling and subsequent heart failure. Previous trials have suggested that cell therapy may facilitate arrhythmogenesis.

Comparison between three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for quantification of left ventricular volumes and function.

Aims: We evaluated the accuracy of three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) to evaluate left ventricular (LV) volumes, ejection fraction (EF), and global circumferential strain (CS) in comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a healthy population.

Methods And Results: A total of 45 out of 50 consecutive healthy subjects (38 males, age 45 ± 15 years) successfully underwent both 3DSTE and MRI on the same day. Three-dimensional echocardiography data sets were analysed using speckle tracking to measure LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes, EF, and global CS.

Developing a framework for assessing muscle effort and postures during computer work in the field: the effect of computer activities on neck/shoulder muscle effort and postures.

The present study, a part of the PROOF (PRedicting Occupational biomechanics in OFfice workers) study, aimed to determine whether trapezius muscle effort was different across computer activities in a field study of computer workers, and also investigated whether head and shoulder postures were different across computer activities. One hundred twenty participants were measured continuously for two hours each while performing their own computer work. Keyboard activities were associated with the highest intensity of left and right trapezius muscle efforts, and mouse activities were associated with the smallest variability in left and right trapezius muscle efforts.

The economic evaluation of a participatory ergonomics programme to prevent low back and neck pain.

This study was an economic evaluation conducted alongside a cluster randomised controlled trial with a follow-up of 12 months. The aim was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit of the Stay@Work Participatory Ergonomics programme (PE) compared to a control group (no PE). In total, 37 departments (n=3047 workers) were randomised into either the intervention (PE) or control group (no PE).

VIP in construction: systematic development and evaluation of a multifaceted health programme aiming to improve physical activity levels and dietary patterns among construction workers.

Background: The prevalence of both overweight and musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in the construction industry is high. Many interventions in the occupational setting aim at the prevention and reduction of these health problems, but it is still unclear how these programmes should be designed. To determine the effectiveness of interventions on these health outcomes randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are needed.

A systematic review of the cost-effectiveness of worksite physical activity and/or nutrition programs.

Objective: The aim of this study was to appraise and summarize the evidence on the cost-effectiveness of worksite physical activity and/or nutrition programs.

Methods: We searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, SportDiscus, PsycInfo, NIOSHTIC-2, NHSEED, HTA, and Econlit for studies published up to 14 January 2011. Additionally, we searched for articles by reviewing references, searching authors' databases, and contacting authors of included studies.

A worksite vitality intervention to improve older workers' lifestyle and vitality-related outcomes: results of a randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a worksite vitality intervention on vigorous physical activity (VPA), fruit intake, aerobic capacity, mental health and need for recovery after work among older hospital workers (ie, 45 years and older).

Methods: The 6-month intervention was evaluated using a randomised controlled trial design. Workers who were randomised to the intervention group (n=367; control: n=363) received the Vital@Work intervention containing (1) a Vitality Exercise Program (VEP) combined with (2) three visits to Personal Vitality Coach.

Quality of life is impaired in association with the need for prolonged postoperative therapy by somatostatin analogs in patients with acromegaly.

Objective: To assess the influence of long-acting somatostatin analogs (SSTA) after initial pituitary surgery on long-term health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in relation to disease control in patients with acromegaly.

Design: This is a cross-sectional study in two tertiary referral centers in The Netherlands.

Patients And Methods: One hundred and eight patients with acromegaly, in whom transsphenoidal (n=101, 94%) or transcranial (n=7, 6%) surgery was performed.

Cardiac involvement with amyloidosis: mechanisms of disease, diagnosis and management.

The amyloidoses represent a group of clinical disorders of diverse etiologies that have as a common pathophysiologic denominator the deposition of misfolded protein based amyloid fibrils in the interstitial space of various organs. They are uncommon diseases with protean clinical presentations. Cardiac involvement is the determining factor for a patient's prognosis.

Perceived muscular tension predicts future neck-shoulder and arm-wrist-hand symptoms.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate if perceived muscular tension predicts future neck-shoulder symptoms and arm-wrist-hand symptoms in symptomfree office workers.

Methods: Data were used of a prospective cohort of 1951 office workers with a follow-up duration of 2 years (the Prospective Research On Musculoskeletal disorders among Office workers (PROMO) study). Perceived muscular tension and covariates were measured using self-report at baseline and at 1-year follow-up.

An implementation strategy to improve the guideline adherence of insurance physicians: an experiment in a controlled setting.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a newly developed implementation strategy for the insurance medicine guidelines for depression in the Netherlands. We hypothesized that an educational intervention would increase the insurance physicians' (IPs) guideline adherence in a controlled setting.

Methods: Forty IPs were allocated in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to an intervention group (IG) (n = 21) and a control group (CG) (n = 19).

Meeting the challenges of implementing an intervention to promote work ability and health-related quality of life at construction worksites: a process evaluation.

Objective: To evaluate the process of a prevention program among construction workers.

Methods: The program consisted of training sessions of a physical therapist and an empowerment trainer, and a Rest-Break Tool. Data on seven process items were collected by means of questionnaires and interviews.

Cognitive performance after postoperative pituitary radiotherapy: a dosimetric study of the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex.

Objective: The hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) are important for memory and executive functioning and are known to be sensitive to radiotherapy (RT). Radiation dosimetry relates radiation exposure to specific brain areas. The effects of various pituitary RT techniques were studied by relating detailed dosimetry of the hippocampus and PFC to cognitive performance.