Clinical management of spinal metastases-The Dutch national guideline.

This article is a summary of the revised Dutch multidisciplinary evidence-based guideline 'Spinal metastases' (English translation available at: https://www.oncoline.nl/spinal-metastases) that was published at the end of 2015.

A systematic review of prognostic factors predicting survival in patients with spinal bone metastases.

Purpose: For the selection of treatment in patients with spinal bone metastases (SBM), survival estimation plays a crucial role to avoid over- and under-treatment. To aid clinicians in this difficult task, several prediction models have been developed, consisting of many different risk factors. The aim of this systematic review was to identify prognostic factors that are associated with survival in patients with SBM to support development of predictive models.

Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor in human abdominal aortic aneurysm disease.

Unlabelled: Essentials Patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) develop dense clots that are resistant to lysis. This study explores the role of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) in human AAA. There is evidence of chronically increased TAFI activation in patients with AAA.

Clinical Evaluation of the Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score in Patients Treated With Radiotherapy for Symptomatic Spinal Bone Metastases.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To determine the predictive value of the Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS) in a cohort of patients treated with radiotherapy for spinal bone metastases.

Summary Of Background Data: Assessment of spinal stability in metastatic disease is challenging and is mostly done by relying on clinical experience, in the absence of validated guidelines or an established predetermined set of risk factors.

Epidermal growth factor receptor mutations should be considered as a prognostic factor for survival of patients with pathological fractures or painful bone metastases from non-small cell lung cancer.

Aims: This study aims to assess first, whether mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Kirsten rat sarcoma (kRAS) genes are associated with overall survival (OS) in patients who present with symptomatic bone metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and secondly, whether mutation status should be incorporated into prognostic models that are used when deciding on the appropriate palliative treatment for symptomatic bone metastases.

Patients And Methods: We studied 139 patients with NSCLC treated between 2007 and 2014 for symptomatic bone metastases and whose mutation status was known. The association between mutation status and overall survival was analysed and the results applied to a recently published prognostic model to determine whether including the mutation status would improve its discriminatory power.

Secondary traumatic stress and secondary posttraumatic growth in a sample of Dutch police family liaison officers.

This study investigated secondary traumatic stress (STS) and secondary posttraumatic growth (SPG) in a sample of Dutch police family liaison officers (N = 224). Our study had two aims: (a) to identify potential risk and protective factors for STS and (b) to investigate the association between STS and SPG. None of the risk (caseload and a personal trauma history) and protective factors (age, work experience, and support by supervisors and coworkers) identified in previous research correlated with STS.

Rapid Test for Infliximab Drug Concentration Allows Immediate Dose Adaptation.

Objectives: Therapeutic drug monitoring of infliximab improves treatment outcomes, but available assays to monitor infliximab lack speed to implement treatment algorithms immediately. Our aim is to validate a rapid, lateral flow-based assay (LFA) for quantitative determination of infliximab and to assess thresholds associated with mucosal healing in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Methods: Samples (n=190) from 29 anti-tumor necrosis factor naive patients with ulcerative colitis starting infliximab induction therapy between June 2010 and February 2012 were prospectively collected.

Predictive Value of Six Prognostic Scoring Systems for Spinal Bone Metastases: An Analysis Based on 1379 Patients.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess and compare the predictive accuracy of six models designed to estimate survival of patients suffering from spinal bone metastases Just (SBMs).

Summary Of Background Data: On the basis of the estimated survival of patients with SBM, extent of treatment can be adjusted.

Thromboembolism as an important complication of inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a higher risk of developing thromboembolic events (TE) compared with the healthy population.

Aim: This study aimed to describe a cohort of IBD patients with a history of TE focusing on recurrence of TE, disease activity and IBD medication at the time of TE and surgery before TE.

Materials And Methods: In a retrospective monocentric cohort study, we included IBD patients in whom an arterial and/or venous TE occurred.

Identification of an inflammatory bowel disease patient with a deep vein thrombosis and an altered clot lysis profile.

Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by flares and remission, are prone to develop thrombosis. The mechanism behind this prothrombotic state is not completely understood but is definitely multifactorial and linked with excessive inflammation observed in these patients. So far, no biomarker exists to select among IBD patients those with and increased risk for thrombosis.

The Occurrence of Thrombosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Reflected in the Clot Lysis Profile.

Background: The occurrence of thromboembolic events (TE) is an important extraintestinal manifestation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to compare fibrinolysis and clot lysis parameters between (1) patients with IBD and healthy controls and (2) patients with IBD with TE (IBD + TE) and without TE (IBD - TE).

Methods: One hundred thirteen healthy controls and 202 patients with IBD, of which 84 patients with IBD + TE and 118 patients with IBD - TE, were included in this case-control study.

Short-term effect of infliximab is reflected in the clot lysis profile of patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a prospective study.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is recognized as an independent risk factor for thrombosis. First, we investigate whether the concentration of fibrinolysis inhibitors is increased in patients with IBD. Second, we investigate the effect of infliximab induction therapy on the hemostatic profile.

Molecular phenotype is associated with survival in breast cancer patients with spinal bone metastases.

To aid in therapy selection for patients with spinal bone metastases (SBM), predictive models have been developed. These models consider SBM from breast cancer a positive predictive factor, but do not take phenotypes based on estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) receptors into account. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether receptors are associated with survival, when the disease has progressed up to SBM.

An easy tool to predict survival in patients receiving radiation therapy for painful bone metastases.

Purpose: Patients with bone metastases have a widely varying survival. A reliable estimation of survival is needed for appropriate treatment strategies. Our goal was to assess the value of simple prognostic factors, namely, patient and tumor characteristics, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), and patient-reported scores of pain and quality of life, to predict survival in patients with painful bone metastases.

Active PAI-1 as marker for venous thromboembolism: case-control study using a comprehensive panel of PAI-1 and TAFI assays.

Background: Both activated Thrombin Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor (TAFI) and active Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) attenuate fibrinolysis and may therefore contribute to the pathophysiology of Venous ThromboEmbolism (VTE). Whether increased TAFI and/or PAI-1 concentrations are associated with VTE is unclear.

Objective: To study an association of impaired fibrinolysis and VTE using a comprehensive panel of in-house developed assays measuring intact TAFI, activation peptide of TAFI (AP-TAFI), PAI-1 antigen, endogenous PAI-1:t-PA complex (PAI-1:t-PA) and active PAI-1 levels in 102 VTE patients and in 113 healthy controls (HC).

Prognostic factors associated with survival in patients with symptomatic spinal bone metastases: a retrospective cohort study of 1,043 patients.

Background: Expected survival is a major factor influencing extent of treatment for symptomatic spinal bone metastases (SBM). Predictive models have been developed, but their use can lead to over- or undertreatment..

Risk factors for survival of 106 surgically treated patients with symptomatic spinal epidural metastases.

Purpose: Evaluation of risk factors for survival in patients surgically treated for symptomatic spinal epidural metastases (SEM).

Methods: One hundred and six patients who were surgically treated for symptomatic SEM in a 10-year period in two cooperatively working hospitals were retrospectively studied for nine risk factors: age, gender, site of the primary tumor, location of the symptomatic spinal metastasis, functional and neurologic status, the presence of visceral metastases and the presence of other spinal and extraspinal bone metastases. Analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, univariate log-rank tests and Cox-regression models.

Optimal intravertebral cement volume in percutaneous vertebroplasty for painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

Study Design: A prospective follow-up study.

Objective: Assessment of the relation between accomplishment of pain relief through percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) and the cemented fraction of the vertebral body and subsequent determination of the optimal intravertebral cement volume.

Summary Of Background Data: The mechanism of pain relief of PVP as a treatment modality for painful OVCFs remains unclear.

Is the bed capture enzyme immunoassay useful for surveillance in concentrated epidemics? The case of female sex workers in Indonesia.

Although the BED capture enzyme immunoassay (BED-CEIA) tends to over-estimate HIV incidence in general population epidemics, its limitations may be less relevant to some sub-populations in concentrated epidemics. This study assesses the plausibility of BED-CEIA estimates for female sex workers (FSWs) in Indonesia. Data were derived from a cross-sectional anonymous linked behavioral and biological surveillance survey.

HIV risk behavior among HIV-infected men who have sex with men in Bangkok, Thailand.

We assessed prevalence of sexually transmitted infection (STIs), sexual risk behaviors, and factors associated with risk behaviors among HIV-infected MSM attending a public STI clinic serving MSM in Bangkok, Thailand. Between October 2005-October 2007, 154 HIV-infected MSM attending the clinic were interviewed about sexual risk behaviors and evaluated for STIs. Patients were examined for genital ulcers and had serologic testing for syphilis and PCR testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea.

HIV, sexually transmitted infections, and sexual risk behavior among transgenders in Indonesia.

Behavioral surveillance was undertaken among 1,150 male-to-female transgenders (waria) in Java, Indonesia, 2007; samples were collected for HIV and STI testing (n = 748). Almost all waria had ever sold sex (median duration 10 years). Prevalence of HIV was 24.

Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and sexual risk behavior among female sex workers in nine provinces in Indonesia, 2005.

The objective of this study was to assess the sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevalence and sexual risk behavior among female sex workers (FSWs) in Indonesia. This cross-sectional 2005 study involved 2500 FSWs in nine provinces in Indonesia. Informed consent was obtained; behavioral and clinical data were collected.

Access to HIV testing for sex workers in Bangkok, Thailand: a high prevalence of HIV among street-based sex workers.

We offered voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for HIV and syphilis to women attending three public sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics in Bangkok, Thailand from May 2004 to June 2006. The testing was performed at either one of three STI clinics in Bangkok or at mobile VCT in the same area as the outreach activity. Six-hundred eighty-four women were tested.

Syphilis among female sex workers in Indonesia: need and opportunity for intervention.

Objective: To study the prevalence and factors associated with syphilis among female sex workers (FSWs) in Indonesia.

Methods: Direct and indirect FSWs were sampled in 10 major cities in Indonesia. A behavioural survey was conducted and samples obtained and tested for HIV (Bioline and Determine) and syphilis (RPR and Determine).