Validation of a Semi-Quantitative Food-Frequency Questionnaire for Dutch Pregnant Women from the General Population Using the Method or Triads.

Objective: We aimed to validate a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for Dutch pregnant women, against three 24 h-recalls and blood concentrations of B-vitamins and fatty acids, using the method of triads.

Methods: We included 83 pregnant women from the general population of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, at a median gestational age of 15.6 weeks.

Women's excess unhealthy life years: disentangling the unhealthy life years gap.

Background: Compared to men, women live longer but have more years with disability. We assessed the contribution of gender differences in mortality and disability, total and by cause, to women's excess unhealthy life years (ULYs).

Methods: We used mortality data for France 2008 from Eurostat, causes of death from the CépiDc-INSERM-database; and disability and chronic conditions data from the French Disability Health Survey 2008-09.

Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins and methylprednisolone may significantly decrease loss of renal function in chronic-active antibody-mediated rejection.

Background: Chronic-active antibody mediated rejection (c-aABMR) is a major contributor to long-term kidney allograft loss. We conducted a retrospective analysis to establish the efficacy of treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) and pulse methylprednisolone (MP) of patients with c-aABMR.

Methods: Sixty-nine patients, in the period 2005-2017, with the diagnosis (suspicious for) c-aABMR that were treated with IVIG and MP were included.

Contribution of chronic conditions to disability in men and women in France.

Background: Women report more disability than men perhaps due to gender differences in the prevalence of diseases and/or in their disabling impact. We compare the contribution of chronic diseases to disability in men and women in France, using a disability survey conducted in both private households and institutions, and we also examine the effect of excluding the institutionalized population.

Methods: Data comprised 17 549 individuals age 50+, who participated in the 2008-09 French Disability Health Survey including people living in institutions.

Chronic-active antibody-mediated rejection with or without donor-specific antibodies has similar histomorphology and clinical outcome - a retrospective study.

Chronic-active antibody-mediated rejection (c-aABMR) is defined as histological evidence of chronic endothelial injury (cg), also known as transplant glomerulopathy, and either microvascular inflammation (MVI) or positivity for C4d. Importantly, the presence of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) is currently still mandatory for the diagnosis of c-aABMR. This retrospective study of 41 c-aABMR patients investigates whether cases suspicious for c-aABMR (DSA negative, n = 24) differ from cases of c-aABMR (DSA positive, n = 17) with respect to renal histology, allograft function and long-term graft survival.

No evidence found for an association between prednisone dose and FVC change in newly-treated pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Background: Prednisone is used as first-line therapy for pulmonary sarcoidosis. What dosing strategy has the best balance between effect and side-effects is largely unknown. We analyzed change in forced vital capacity (FVC) and weight during different prednisone doses used in daily practice for treatment naïve pulmonary sarcoidosis patients.

The equity impact of community women's groups to reduce neonatal mortality: a meta-analysis of four cluster randomized trials.

Background: Socioeconomic inequalities in neonatal mortality are substantial in many developing countries. Little is known about how to address this problem. Trials in Asia and Africa have shown strong impacts on neonatal mortality of a participatory learning and action intervention with women's groups.

Craniofacial and extracraniofacial anomalies in craniofacial microsomia: a multicenter study of 755 patients’.

Purpose: Craniofacial microsomia (CFM) is a congenital malformation of structures derived from the first and second pharyngeal arches leading to underdevelopment of the face. However, besides the craniofacial underdevelopment, extracraniofacial anomalies including cardiac, renal and skeletal malformation have been described. The aim of this study is to analyse a large population of patients with regard to demographics, typical phenotypes including craniofacial and extracraniofacial anomalies, and the correlations between the different variables of this condition.

Motor problems in children with neurofibromatosis type 1.

Background: Children with the neurogenetic disorder neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) often have problems with learning and behaviour. In both parent reports and neuropsychological assessment, motor problems are reported in approximately one third to one half of the children with NF1. Studies using broad motor performance test batteries with relatively large groups of children with NF1 are limited.

The effect of population-based mammography screening in Dutch municipalities on breast cancer mortality: 20 years of follow-up.

Long-term follow-up data on the effects of screening are scarce, and debate exists on the relative contribution of screening versus treatment to breast cancer mortality reduction. Our aim was therefore to assess the long-term effect of screening by age and time of implementation. We obtained data on 69,630 breast cancer deaths between 1980 and 2010 by municipality (N = 431) and age of death (40-79) in the Netherlands.

Behavioural disinhibition in the general population during the antiretroviral therapy roll-out in Sub-Saharan Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Improved life expectancy and reduced transmission probabilities due to ART may result in behavioural disinhibition - that is an increase in sexual risk behaviour in response to a perceived lower risk of HIV. We examined trends in sexual risk behaviour in the general population of sub-Saharan African countries 1999-2015.

Methods: We systematically reviewed scientific literature of sexual behaviour and reviewed trends in Demographic and Health Surveys.

'Fundamental causes' of inequalities in mortality: an empirical test of the theory in 20 European populations.

The 'fundamental causes' theory stipulates that when new opportunities for lowering mortality arise, higher socioeconomic groups will benefit more because of their greater material and non-material resources. We tested this theory using harmonised mortality data by educational level for 22 causes of death and 20 European populations from the period 1980-2010. Across all causes and populations, mortality on average declined by 2.

Multinomial additive hazard model to assess the disability burden using cross-sectional data.

Population aging is accompanied by the burden of chronic diseases and disability. Chronic diseases are among the main causes of disability, which is associated with poor quality of life and high health care costs in the elderly. The identification of which chronic diseases contribute most to the disability prevalence is important to reduce the burden.

Cervical cancer incidence after normal cytological sample in routine screening using SurePath, ThinPrep, and conventional cytology: population based study.

 To compare the cumulative incidence of cervical cancer diagnosed within 72 months after a normal screening sample between conventional cytology and liquid based cytology tests SurePath and ThinPrep. Retrospective population based cohort study. Nationwide network and registry of histo- and cytopathology in the Netherlands (PALGA), January 2000 to March 2013.

Variations in DNA methylation of interferon gamma and programmed death 1 in allograft rejection after kidney transplantation.

Background: The role of DNA methylation in the regulation of the anti-donor-directed immune response after organ transplantation is unknown. Here, we studied the methylation of two mediators of the immune response: the pro-inflammatory cytokine () and the inhibitory receptor () in naïve and memory CD8+ T cell subsets in kidney transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive medication. Both recipients experiencing an episode of acute allograft rejection (rejectors) as well as recipients without rejection (non-rejectors) were included.

Combination Therapy of Etanercept and Fumarates versus Etanercept Monotherapy in Psoriasis: A Randomized Exploratory Study.

Background: Biologics are a safe and efficacious therapy for psoriasis. The drug survival of biologics may be disappointing, primarily due to loss of efficacy. Therefore, safe combination treatments are sought to improve their clinical response.

Sirolimus for epilepsy in children with tuberous sclerosis complex: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To investigate whether mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) inhibitors could reduce seizure frequency in children with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).

Methods: Due to slow inclusion rate, target inclusion of 30 children was not reached. Twenty-three children with TSC and intractable epilepsy (age 1.

Performance indicators; the association between the quality of preventive care and the prevalence of hospital-acquired skin lesions in adult hospital patients.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the relation between the occurrence of pressure ulcers or incontinence dermatitis and the quality of preventive care provided.

Background: Performance measurements using indicators has become standard practice in recent years. The prevalence of pressure ulcers with or without incontinence dermatitis is widely used as an indicator of the quality of nursing care.

Changes in mortality inequalities over two decades: register based study of European countries.

Objective: To determine whether government efforts in reducing inequalities in health in European countries have actually made a difference to mortality inequalities by socioeconomic group.

Design: Register based study.

Data Source: Mortality data by level of education and occupational class in the period 1990-2010, usually collected in a census linked longitudinal study design.

Towards a standardised informed consent procedure for live donor nephrectomy: the PRINCE (Process of Informed Consent Evaluation) project-study protocol for a nationwide prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Informed consent is mandatory for all (surgical) procedures, but it is even more important when it comes to living kidney donors undergoing surgery for the benefit of others. Donor education, leading to informed consent, needs to be carried out according to certain standards. Informed consent procedures for live donor nephrectomy vary per centre, and even per individual healthcare professional.

Trends in socioeconomic inequalities in self-assessed health in 17 European countries between 1990 and 2010.

Background: Between the 1990s and 2000s, relative inequalities in all-cause mortality increased, whereas absolute inequalities decreased in many European countries. Whether similar trends can be observed for inequalities in other health outcomes is unknown. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of trends in socioeconomic inequalities in self-assessed health (SAH) in Europe between 1990 and 2010.

Inequalities in Alcohol-Related Mortality in 17 European Countries: A Retrospective Analysis of Mortality Registers.

Background: Socioeconomic inequalities in alcohol-related mortality have been documented in several European countries, but it is unknown whether the magnitude of these inequalities differs between countries and whether these inequalities increase or decrease over time.

Methods And Findings: We collected and harmonized data on mortality from four alcohol-related causes (alcoholic psychosis, dependence, and abuse; alcoholic cardiomyopathy; alcoholic liver cirrhosis; and accidental poisoning by alcohol) by age, sex, education level, and occupational class in 20 European populations from 17 different countries, both for a recent period and for previous points in time, using data from mortality registers. Mortality was age-standardized using the European Standard Population, and measures for both relative and absolute inequality between low and high socioeconomic groups (as measured by educational level and occupational class) were calculated.