Factors associated with COVID-19 autumn 2022 booster uptake in the Netherlands among older adults aged ≥ 60 years and younger adults with chronic conditions.

Background: A booster with bivalent COVID-19 vaccine was offered in the Netherlands in autumn, 2022. We aimed to investigate vaccine uptake during the autumn 2022 booster round among the population subgroups at risk for severe COVID-19 that were specifically targeted by this campaign: the medical risk group aged 18-59 years and individuals ≥ 60 years. We calculated booster uptake in both populations and analyzed determinants of booster uptake among those who had received at least one prior COVID-19 vaccination.

Effectiveness of Immunization Products Against Medically Attended Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection: Generic Protocol for a Test-Negative Case-Control Study.

Monitoring the real-life effectiveness of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) products is of major public health importance. This generic protocol for a test-negative design study aims to address currently envisioned approaches for RSV prevention (monoclonal antibodies and vaccines) to study effectiveness of these products among target groups: children, older adults, and pregnant women. The generic protocol approach was chosen to allow for flexibility in adapting the protocol to a specific setting.

Effectiveness of Vaccines and Monoclonal Antibodies Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Generic Protocol for Register-Based Cohort Study.

Several immunization products are currently being developed against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for children, pregnant females, and older adults, and some products have already received authorization. Therefore, studies to monitor the effectiveness of these products are needed in the following years. To assist researchers to conduct postmarketing studies, we developed a generic protocol for register-based cohort studies to evaluate immunization product effectiveness against RSV-specific and nonspecific outcomes.

Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in The Netherlands: A Nationwide Registry-Based Study.

By September 2022, the uptake of at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the Dutch adult population was 84%. Ecological studies have indicated a lower uptake in certain population groups. We aimed to investigate determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the Netherlands at individual level to evaluate and optimize implementation of the vaccination program and generate hypotheses for research on drivers of, and barriers to, vaccination.

Effect of COVID-19 vaccination on mortality by COVID-19 and on mortality by other causes, the Netherlands, January 2021-January 2022.

Background: We aimed to estimate vaccine effectiveness (VE) against COVID-19 mortality, and to explore whether an increased risk of non-COVID-19 mortality exists in the weeks following a COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Methods: National registries of causes of death, COVID-19 vaccination, specialized health care and long-term care reimbursements were linked by a unique person identifier using data from 1 January 2021 to 31 January 2022. We used Cox regression with calendar time as underlying time scale to, firstly, estimate VE against COVID-19 mortality after primary and first booster vaccination, per month since vaccination and, secondly, estimate risk of non-COVID-19 mortality in the 5 or 8 weeks following a first, second or first booster dose, adjusting for birth year, sex, medical risk group and country of origin.

Radioembolization-Induced Changes in Hepatic [F]FDG Metabolism in Non-Tumorous Liver Parenchyma.

Background: [18F]FDG-PET/CT is increasingly used for response assessments after oncologic treatment. The known response criteria for [18F]FDG-PET/CT use healthy liver parenchyma as the reference standard. However, the [18F]FDG liver metabolism results may change as a result of the given therapy.

Dose-response relationship after yttrium-90-radioembolization with glass microspheres in patients with neuroendocrine tumor liver metastases.

Background: In radioembolization, response is achieved through the irradiation and damaging of tumor DNA. For hepatic metastases of neuroendocrine tumors, a dose-response relationship has not been established yet. This study assesses whether increasing tumor-absorbed doses lead to increased response rates.

Dose-Response and Dose-Toxicity Relationships for Glass Y Radioembolization in Patients with Liver Metastases from Colorectal Cancer.

Radioembolization based on personalized treatment planning requires established dose-response and dose-toxicity relationships. The aim of this study was to investigate dose-response and dose-toxicity relationships in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) treated with glass Y-microspheres. All CRLM patients treated with glass Y-microspheres in our institution were retrospectively analyzed.

Use of an anti-reflux catheter to improve tumor targeting for holmium-166 radioembolization-a prospective, within-patient randomized study.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate whether the use of an anti-reflux catheter improves tumor targeting for colorectal cancer patients with unresectable, chemorefractory liver metastases (mCRC) treated with holmium-166 (Ho)-radioembolization.

Materials And Methods: In this perspective, within-patient randomized study, left and right hepatic perfusion territories were randomized between infusion with a Surefire® anti-reflux catheter or a standard microcatheter. The primary outcome was the difference in tumor to non-tumor (T/N) activity distribution.

Mode of progression after radioembolization in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases.

Background: Radioembolization is an established treatment modality in colorectal cancer patients with liver-dominant disease in a salvage setting. Selection of patients who will benefit most is of vital importance. The aim of this study was to assess response (and mode of progression) at 3 months after radioembolization and the impact of baseline characteristics.

Evaluation of the Safety and Feasibility of Same-Day Holmium-166 -Radioembolization Simulation and Treatment of Hepatic Metastases.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of same-day treatment, including the simulation procedure for assessment of intrahepatic and extrahepatic distribution of the microspheres, with holmium-166 (Ho)-radioembolization.

Materials And Methods: This was a secondary analysis of patients included in the 4 prospective studies (HEPAR I, HEPAR II, HEPAR PLuS, and SIM) on Ho-radioembolization. The technical success rate of the same-day treatment protocol, defined as the number of patients who completed the same-day treatment, was measured.

Dose-Effect Relationships of Ho Radioembolization in Colorectal Cancer.

Radioembolization is a treatment option for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with inoperable, chemorefractory hepatic metastases. Personalized treatment requires established dose thresholds. Hence, the aim of this study was to explore the relationship between dose and effect (i.

Quality of life in patients with liver tumors treated with holmium-166 radioembolization.

Holmium-166 radioembolization is a palliative treatment option for patients with unresectable hepatic malignancies. Its influence on quality of life has not been evaluated yet. Since quality of life is very important in the final stages of disease, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of holmium-166 radioembolization on quality of life.

The Efficacy of Coil Embolization to Obtain Intrahepatic Redistribution in Radioembolization: Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of coil embolization to obtain intrahepatic redistribution in patients undergoing radioembolization.

Materials And Method: All patients treated with radioembolization at our institute were retrospectively analyzed, and all cases in which a tumor-feeding vessel was coil-embolized were selected. Two nuclear medicine physicians visually assessed the effect of redistribution.

First Evidence for a Dose-Response Relationship in Patients Treated with Ho Radioembolization: A Prospective Study.

Ho-microspheres have recently been approved for clinical use for hepatic radioembolization in the European Union. The aim of this study was to investigate the absorbed dose-response relationship and its association with overall survival for Ho radioembolization in patients with liver metastases. Patients treated in the HEPAR I and II studies who underwent an F-FDG PET/CT scan at baseline, a posttreatment Ho SPECT/CT scan, and another F-FDG PET/CT scan at the 3-mo follow-up were included for analysis.

Holmium-166 Microsphere Radioembolization of Hepatic Malignancies.

Holmium microspheres have recently become available in the European market as the third type of microspheres for radioembolization of unresectable liver malignancies. Holmium microspheres come with a dedicated administration system, and since these microspheres contain holmium-166 (Ho) instead of yttrium-90, unique dosing and imaging possibilities have become available as well. In addition, a scout dose of Ho microspheres (Conformité Européenne mark is now granted and not pending anymore) can be used instead of Tc-macroaggragated albumin during the preparatory angiography procedure.

Hepatobiliary Imaging in Liver-directed Treatments.

Hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBS) is an emerging tool in the assessment of hepatic function. This nuclear imaging technique can be used to calculate both global and regional liver function. It has proven to be the most reliable way of assessing the distribution of liver function, especially in patients with impaired liver function due to, for example, cirrhosis or after chemotherapy.

Open epididymal spermatozoa aspiration for obstructive azoospermia.

In men suffering from obstructive azoospermia (OA), surgical sperm retrieval (SR) can be performed for use with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Several techniques of surgical SR exist, with various results. In our facility, we have developed the open epididymal spermatozoa aspiration (OESA) procedure.

What are the odds? Prostate metastases to ureter and peritoneum.

In patients with prostate cancer, metastases mostly develop in bone, lung, liver, pleura and adrenal glands. Prostate carcinoma metastases to the ureter are very rare, and the peritoneum is an even rarer site of prostate metastases. We present two cases of ureteral metastases of prostate cancer, of which one patient also developed malignant ascites and peritoneal metastases.