Exploration of the difference in incidence of renal replacement therapy in elderly patients in Flanders and the Netherlands--a comparison of referral policy.

Background: The incidence of renal replacement therapy (RRT) among patients aged ≥65 years is much higher in Flanders, the Dutch speaking region of Belgium, than in the Netherlands. We studied whether differences in referral policy to nephrologists by primary care physicians (PCPs) and specialists between Flanders and the Netherlands may play a role.

Methods: A vignette study was performed among 329 PCPs and 96 specialists in Flanders and compared to the vignette study that was conducted among 209 PCPs and 162 specialists in the Netherlands.

Exploration of the difference in incidence of renal replacement therapy between Flanders and the Netherlands--investigation of explanatory variables.

Aim: This study investigates the difference in the incidence of renal replacement therapy (RRT) between Flanders and the Netherlands and possible explanations for this difference.

Methods: End-stage renal disease incidence data were obtained from the European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA). Additional sources were the National Institute of Statistics (NIS), the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) health data and the WHO Health For All database (WHO-HFA).

Haplotype-based analysis of ulcerative colitis risk loci identifies both IL2 and IL21 as susceptibility genes in Han Chinese.

Background: The incidence of ulcerative colitis (UC) varies between Western and Eastern ethnicities. A distinct genetic background may play a role in the differences. Until now, very little was known of the UC genetics in Asian populations.

Prevalence of chronic health conditions in children with intellectual disability: a systematic literature review.

A systematic review of the prevalence rates of chronic health conditions in populations of children with intellectual disability was provided. We identified 2,994 relevant studies by searching Medline, Cinahl, and PsycINFO databases from 1996 to 2008. We included the 31 studies that had sufficient methodological quality.

Malignant transformation of perianal and enterocutaneous fistulas is rare: results of 17 years of follow-up from The Netherlands.

Objective: Malignant transformation of fistulas has been observed, particularly in perianal fistulas in Crohn's disease (CD) patients. The prevalence of adenocarcinoma in enterocutaneous fistulas and non-CD-related fistulas, however, is unknown. We investigated adenocarcinoma originating from perianal and enterocutaneous fistulas in both CD patients and non-CD patients from nine large, mostly tertiary referral, hospitals in The Netherlands.

Functional characterization of mutations in the myosin Vb gene associated with microvillus inclusion disease.

Objectives: Microvillus inclusion disease (MVID) is a rare autosomal recessive enteropathy characterized by intractable diarrhea and malabsorption. Recently, various MYO5B gene mutations have been identified in patients with MVID. Interestingly, several patients with MVID showed only a MYO5B mutation in 1 allele (heterozygous) or no mutations in the MYO5B gene, illustrating the need to further functionally characterize the cell biological effects of the MYO5B mutations.

Effects of active and passive smoking on Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in a cohort from a regional hospital.

Objective: Smoking is detrimental for Crohn's disease (CD), but beneficial for ulcerative colitis (UC). Earlier, we studied the effects of active and passive smoking in CD and UC patients from a university hospital. This study was conducted to assess the same effects in patients from a regional hospital.

Active and passive smoking behaviour and cessation plans of patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Background: Smoking is a remarkable risk factor in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with negative effects on Crohn's disease (CD) and positive effects on ulcerative colitis (UC). This makes different changes in smoking behaviour after diagnosis between CD and UC likely. Changes in active smoking, cessation plans and passive smoking were studied in IBD patients.

Small bowel preservation for intestinal transplantation: a review.

Intestinal transplantation has become the therapy of choice for patients with intestinal failure and life-threatening complications from total parenteral nutrition. Results, however, remain inferior as compared with other transplant types with the quality of the organ graft as the most important factor of outcome after transplantation. The intestine is extremely sensitive to ischemia.

[Guideline 'Diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease in adults'. II. Special situations and organisation of medical care].

The Dutch national practice guideline 'Diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in adults' describes the multidisciplinary approach for adult patients with (suspected) IBD, recommended following analysis of the literature according to the principles of evidence based guideline development. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are associated with temporary or permanent extra-intestinal disorders: reactive inflammatory conditions, associated conditions, and those arising as a consequence of long standing, inflammatory, intestinal disease. Treatment is aimed first at the IBD disease process and subsequently at the specific extra-intestinal conditions if complaints persist.

[Guideline 'Diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease in adults'. I. Diagnosis and treatment].

The Dutch national practice guideline 'Diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in adults' describes the multidisciplinary approach for adult patients with (suspected) IBD, recommended following analysis of the literature according to the principles of evidence based guideline development. The symptoms on first presentation of a patient with IBD are mainly connected with the localisation and severity of the disease and less with the resulting diagnosis 'Crohn's disease' or 'ulcerative colitis'. There is no test by which the diseases can be distinguished with certainty.

Histomorphometric analysis reveals reduced bone mass and bone formation in patients with quiescent Crohn's disease.

Background & Aims: Crohn's disease (CD) is associated with an increased prevalence of osteoporosis, but the pathogenesis of this bone loss is only partly understood. We assessed bone structure and remodeling at the tissue level in patients with quiescent CD. We also investigated the roles of osteocyte density and apoptosis in CD-associated bone loss.

Phase I, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study of NI-0401 (a fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody) in patients with moderate to severe active Crohn's disease.

Background: NI-0401 is a fully human monoclonal antibody, which binds to the CD3 subunit of the T-cell receptor, causing modulation of T-cell activity. We investigated the safety and the ability to modulate the TCR-CD3 complex of NI-0401 in patients with active Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, multicenter, dose-escalating trial was conducted in CD patients age 18-70 years, a Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) of 220-450, and detectable levels of C-reactive protein.

Dietary heme adversely affects experimental colitis in rats, despite heat-shock protein induction.

Objective: Research on dietary modulation of inflammatory bowel disease is in its infancy. Dietary heme, mimicking red meat, is cytotoxic to colonic epithelium and thus may aggravate colitis. Alternatively, heme-induced colonic stress might also result in potential protective heat-shock proteins (HSPs).

Reduced ischemia-reoxygenation injury in rat intestine after luminal preservation with a tailored solution.

Background: The intestine is extremely sensitive to ischemic preservation and reoxygenation injury. Current vascular perfusion and cold storage with University of Wisconsin (UW) solution neglect the intestinal lumen and the ongoing mucosal metabolism during hypothermia. This study was designed to test the effects of luminal preservation with an alternative preservation solution in addition to the common vascular flush with UW solution on graft viability after preservation and ex vivo reoxygenation.

A job-related fitness test for the Dutch police.

Background: The variety of tasks that characterize police work highlights the importance of being in good physical condition.

Aims: To take a first step at standardizing the administration of a job-related test to assess a person's ability to perform the physical demands of the core tasks of police work. The principal research questions were: are test scores related to gender, age and function and are test scores related to body mass index (BMI) and the number of hours of physical exercise?

Methods: Data of 6999 police officers, geographically spread over all parts of The Netherlands, who completed a physical competence test over a 1 year period were analysed.

Limited concordance between teachers, parents and healthcare professionals on the presence of chronic diseases in ID-adolescents.

Evidence on teachers' knowledge about somatic and mental chronic diseases among ID-adolescent compared to the knowledge parents and healthcare professionals have, is limited. The aim of this study is: (1) to assess the knowledge of teachers on the presence of chronic diseases in ID-adolescents; (2) to compare teachers with parents and healthcare professionals and parents with healthcare professionals regarding the knowledge on the presence of chronic diseases in ID-adolescents. We obtained data on 1044 ID-adolescents attending secondary schools, fully covering one region of the Netherlands.

Cytomegalovirus infection increases the risk for inflammatory bowel disease.

This letter discusses the paper by Onyeagocha et al published in the November 2009 issue of the AJP.

Prevalence of chronic diseases in adolescents with intellectual disability.

Valid community-based data on the prevalence of chronic diseases in adolescents (12-18 years) with intellectual disability (ID-adolescents) are scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence rates and the nature of chronic diseases in a population of ID-adolescents and to compare them with the rates among adolescents in the general population. Therefore, we obtained data on 1083 ID-adolescents attending secondary schools, day care centers or living in residential centers fully covering one region of The Netherlands.

Emotional and behavioural problems in adolescents with intellectual disability with and without chronic diseases.

Background: Adolescents with intellectual disability (ID) (ID-adolescents) and adolescents with chronic diseases are both more likely to have emotional and behavioural problems. The aim of this study was to assess the association between chronic diseases in ID-adolescents and emotional and behavioural problems in a large school-based sample.

Methods: We obtained data on 1044 ID-adolescents, aged 12-18 years, attending secondary schools in the Netherlands.

Accepting or declining dialysis: considerations taken into account by elderly patients with end-stage renal disease.

Background: Elderly patients with end-stage renal disease have to make a difficult decision whether or not to start dialysis. This study explores the considerations taken into account by these patients in decision-making regarding renal replacement therapy.

Method: In-depth interviews were conducted to gain an enhanced understanding of the considerations in treatment decision-making.

Differences in genetic background between active smokers, passive smokers, and non-smokers with Crohn's disease.

Objectives: Smoking behavior and genetic variations are important factors for the development of Crohn's disease (CD), but studies investigating the interaction between smoking and genetic background are scarce. We studied allelic associations of 19 confirmed variants located in 14 CD-associated genes or loci, in CD patients stratified for active smoking at diagnosis and passive smoking in childhood.

Methods: Genotyping data of 19 CD-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were available for 310 CD patients and 976 controls.

Pervasive developmental disorder behavior in adolescents with intellectual disability and co-occurring somatic chronic diseases.

Evidence on the association between somatic chronic diseases in ID-adolescents and the full range of pervasive developmental disorder behavior (PDD behavior) is scarce. The aim of the present study is to assess the association between somatic chronic diseases in ID-adolescents and mild PDD behavior. We obtained data on 1044 ID-adolescents, aged 12-18, attending secondary schools in the Netherlands.