Simulation enhanced distributed lag models for mortality displacement.

Distributed lag models (DLM) are attractive methods for dealing with mortality displacement, however their estimates can have substantial bias when the data is generated by a multi-state model. In particular DLMs are not valid for mortality displacement. Alternative methods are scarce and lack feasibility and validation.

Respiratory medication sales and urban air pollution in Brussels (2005 to 2011).

Background: We investigated the associations between daily sales of respiratory medication and air pollutants in the Brussels-Capital Region between 2005 and 2011.

Methods: We used over-dispersed Poisson Generalized Linear Models to regress daily individual reimbursement data of prescribed asthma and COPD medication from the social security database against each subject's residential exposure to outdoor particulate matter (PM10) or NO2 estimated, by interpolation from monitoring stations. We calculated cumulative risk ratios (RR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) for interquartile ranges (IQR) of exposure for different windows of past exposure for the entire population and for seven age groups.

Short-Term Effect of Pollen and Spore Exposure on Allergy Morbidity in the Brussels-Capital Region.

Belgium is among the European countries that are the most affected by allergic rhinitis. Pollen grains and fungal spores represent important triggers of symptoms. However, few studies have investigated their real link with disease morbidity over several years.

Direct cost saving potential in medication costs due to a reduction in outdoor air pollution for the Brussels Capital Region.

Introduction: The adverse health effects of exposure to air pollution have been well-established and include mortality, hospital admissions, emergency department visits, etc, but also less severe outcomes such as medication use and purchase. The economic impact, an additional motivator for policy, has been studied primarily for the more severe outcomes.

Methods: Purchase data of reimbursed medications typically prescribed for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, were obtained through the mandatory Belgian health insurance system.

High natural killer cell number might identify stroke patients at risk of developing infections.

Objective: To investigate early changes in leukocyte subsets and autonomic function as predictors of the development of poststroke infections.

Methods: We assessed the time course of leukocyte subsets in the blood of 59 patients with acute ischemic stroke. We divided the patients into 2 groups: those who developed infections during the first 7 days after stroke onset and those who did not.

Pulmonary disease in cystic fibrosis: assessment with chest CT at chest radiography dose levels.

Purpose: To investigate a computed tomographic (CT) protocol with iterative reconstruction at conventional radiography dose levels for the assessment of structural lung abnormalities in patients with cystic fibrosis ( CF cystic fibrosis ).

Materials And Methods: In this institutional review board-approved study, 38 patients with CF cystic fibrosis (age range, 6-58 years; 21 patients <18 years and 17 patients >18 years) underwent investigative CT (at minimal exposure settings combined with iterative reconstruction) as a replacement of yearly follow-up posteroanterior chest radiography. Verbal informed consent was obtained from all patients or their parents.

Determinants of medication use in a multi-ethnic population of pregnant women: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To investigate determinants of medication use among multi-ethnic pregnant women.

Methods: A total of 641 pregnant women participated in this cross-sectional study in a Brussels university hospital. A questionnaire was used to obtain data on socio-demographic characteristics and medication use.

High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing reveals alterations of intestinal microbiota in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Human intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the maintenance of host health by providing energy, nutrients, and immunological protection. Intestinal dysfunction is a frequent complaint in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients, and previous reports suggest that dysbiosis, i.e.

Comparison of the haemostatic properties of conventional monopolar and bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate in patients on oral anticoagulants.

Introduction: The aim of study is comparing the haemostatic properties of conventional monopolar resection (TURP) and bipolar transurethral resection in saline (TURIS) of the prostate in patients under chronic oral anticoagulants.

Material And Methods: Out of a cohort group of 550 endoscopic resections for bladder outlet obstruction, 176 patients on chronic oral anticoagulant therapy required endoscopic resection either by monopolar TURP or bipolar TURIS technology. Changes in haemoglobin, blood transfusion, and clot retention were compared between both groups.

An analysis of the decision-making process for single implant treatment in general practice.

Purpose: To study the frequency of and factors associated with the decision to perform single implant treatment after tooth extraction by general practitioners in a private, fee-for-service setting.

Material And Methods: One hundred practitioners with a general dental practice in Ghent were randomly selected. Clinicians were asked to fill in a study form for every single extraction they performed during an 8-week period.

Health behaviour and health awareness in infant mortality in the Gaza Strip.

Background: Infant death rate has declined over the past decades, yet remains high in Palestine. The topic of infant death is well researched and for the first time in Palestine. The objective of our study is to assess the level of awareness and health behaviour of mothers and how this behaviour has affected infant mortality.

Determinants of folic acid use in a multi-ethnic population of pregnant women: a cross-sectional study.

Aims: To investigate the possible differences in folic acid use and to identify the determinants of antenatal folic acid use among multi-ethnic pregnant women.

Methods: Three hundred and fifty pregnant women participated in this cross-sectional study in a university hospital in Brussels, Belgium. A questionnaire was used to obtain data on socio-demographic characteristics and folic acid use.

The value of a family history of sudden death in patients with diagnostic type I Brugada ECG pattern.

Aims: We sought to investigate the value of a family history of sudden death (SD) in Brugada syndrome (BS).

Methods And Results: Two hundred and eighty consecutive patients (mean age: 41 ± 18 years, 168 males) with diagnostic type I Brugada ECG pattern were included. Sudden death occurred in 69 (43%) of 157 families.

Bipolar versus monopolar technique for palliative transurethral prostate resection.

Introduction: The aim was to evaluate the postoperative morbidity and outcome of palliative endoscopic resections for relief of infravesical obstruction in prostate cancer patients with hormone deprivation therapy, and to investigate the added value of bipolar technology over conventional monopolar resections.

Material And Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 70 patients with prostate cancer under hormone deprivation therapy undergoing 75 endoscopic procedures, by either monopolar or bipolar technology, between August 2005 and March 2009 at a single institution. The analysis used outpatient, inpatient, and operative records, and observations of electrolyte changes in the serum, postoperative morbidity, and the overall results of palliative endoscopic resections.

Conventional monopolar resection or bipolar resection in saline for the management of large (>60 g) benign prostatic hyperplasia: an evaluation of morbidity.

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of bipolar transurethral resection in saline (TURIS) and conventional monopolar transurethral resection (TURP) in men with voiding difficulties due to high volume (>60g) benign prostatic hyperplasia. Between May 2005 and January 2009, 66 men with bladder outlet obstruction due to large benign hyperplasia (BPH) (>60 g) underwent transurethral resection, either by Olympus monopolar or Olympus bipolar TURIS technique. Perioperative and outcome data were recorded and compared.

Urethral strictures and bipolar transurethral resection in saline of the prostate: fact or fiction?

Purpose: To compare the incidence of urethral strictures after monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and bipolar transurethral resection in saline (TURIS) for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Patients And Methods: Between January 2005 and January 2009, 518 patients with symptomatic benign prostate hyperplasia underwent either monopolar or bipolar resection. In a randomized trial, the incidence of urethral strictures after both treatment modalities was analyzed.

Bipolar transurethral resection in saline: the solution to avoid hyponatraemia and transurethral resection syndrome.

Objective: To compare serum sodium changes and the incidence of transurethral resection (TUR) syndrome after monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and bipolar transurethral resection in saline (TURIS) for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Material And Methods: Between January 2005 and August 2009, 550 consecutive patients with symptomatic benign prostate hyperplasia underwent TURP, by either a monopolar or bipolar technique. Preoperative and postoperative blood parameters were analysed to compare preoperative and postoperative electrolyte concentrations.

Association of PPARgamma allelic variation, osteoprotegerin and abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Objective: We have previously demonstrated high concentrations of the glycoprotein osteoprotegerin (OPG) in biopsies of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), and demonstrated that ligation of the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) downregulates OPG in vitro and within a mouse model. The aims of this study were to assess the associations between circulating concentrations of OPG, polymorphisms of the gene encoding PPARgamma (PPARG), AAA presence and growth.

Design, Patients And Measurements: Two genetic polymorphisms in PPARG were assessed in 4227 men, 699 of whom had an AAA.

Robust cross-validation of linear regression QSAR models.

A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model is typically developed to predict the biochemical activity of untested compounds from the compounds' molecular structures. "The gold standard" of model validation is the blindfold prediction when the model's predictive power is assessed from how well the model predicts the activity values of compounds that were not considered in any way during the model development/calibration. However, during the development of a QSAR model, it is necessary to obtain some indication of the model's predictive power.

Statistical confidence for variable selection in QSAR models via Monte Carlo cross-validation.

A new variable selection wrapper method named the Monte Carlo variable selection (MCVS) method was developed utilizing the framework of the Monte Carlo cross-validation (MCCV) approach. The MCVS method reports the variable selection results in the most conventional and common measure of statistical hypothesis testing, the P-values, thus allowing for a clear and simple statistical interpretation of the results. The MCVS method is equally applicable to the multiple-linear-regression (MLR)-based or non-MLR-based quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models.

Benchmarking of QSAR models for blood-brain barrier permeation.

Using the largest available database of 328 blood-brain distribution (logBB) values, a quantitative benchmark was proposed to allow for a consistent comparison of the predictive accuracy of current and future logBB/quantitative structure-activity relationship (-QSAR) models. The usefulness of the benchmark was illustrated by comparing the global and k-nearest neighbors (kNN) multiple-linear regression (MLR) models based on the linear free-energy relationship (LFER) descriptors, and one non-LFER-based MLR model. The leave-one-out (LOO) and leave-group-out Monte Carlo (MC) cross-validation results (q(2) = 0.

Classification tree models for the prediction of blood-brain barrier passage of drugs.

The use of classification trees for modeling and predicting the passage of molecules through the blood-brain barrier was evaluated. The models were built and evaluated using a data set of 147 molecules extracted from the literature. In the first step, single classification trees were built and evaluated for their predictive abilities.

Mitomycin C and epirubicin: functional bladder damage in rats after repeat intravesical instillations.

Purpose: We studied functional damage in the bladder after intravesical administration of mitomycin C or epirubicin in rats.

Materials And Methods: A total of 40 rats were divided into 4 groups. Rats in 3 groups received intravesical instillations of mitomycin C, epirubicin or saline.

High prevalence of Mycoplasma infections among European chronic fatigue syndrome patients. Examination of four Mycoplasma species in blood of chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Prevalence of Mycoplasma species infections in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has been extensively reported in the scientific literature. However, all previous reports highlighted the presence of Mycoplasmas in American patients. In this prospective study, the presence of Mycoplasma fermentans, M.