A multicenter, randomized, dose-finding study of mechanochemical ablation using ClariVein and liquid polidocanol for great saphenous vein incompetence.

Background: The purpose of the present study was to identify the ideal polidocanol (POL) concentration for mechanochemical ablation (MOCA) of the great saphenous vein (GSV) using the ClariVein system (Merit Medical, South Jordan, Utah).

Methods: We performed a multicenter, randomized, controlled, single-blind trial with a follow-up period of 6 months. Patients with symptomatic primary truncal GSV incompetence were randomized to MOCA + 2% POL liquid (2% group) or MOCA + 3% POL liquid (3% group).

Long-term effects of motherfit group therapy in pre-(MOTHERFIT1) and post-partum women (MOTHERFIT2) with stress urinary incontinence compared to care-as-usual: study protocol of two multi-centred, randomised controlled trials.

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is highly prevalent during pregnancy and after delivery. It is often associated with a failing pelvic floor, sphincteric and/or supportive system. Pelvic-floor-muscle training (PFMT) peri-partum has been proven effective for up to 1 year post-partum; however, its long-term effects are unknown.

Does sinus rhythm conversion after cardiac surgery affect postoperative health- related quality of life?

Background: We investigated the impact and the predictive value of sinus rhythm at 12 months (SR12) on subscales of three different HrQoL questionnaires: SF-36., EuroQoL and MFI 20.

Methods: Data of 125 cardiac surgery patients with pre-operative AF from our previous randomized trial were used.

An overview of the most commonly used venous quality of life and clinical outcome measurements.

Background: Modern medicine should no longer rely solely on technical success to evaluate treatments. The treatment of venous disease has seen many new developments, insights, and treatment modalities. Combining clinical scores with quality of life (QoL) outcome measurements is becoming the new norm for evaluation of treatments.

The relation between clinical scores and quality-of-life in long-term follow-up.

Introduction: Quality-of-life and severity scores are both popular measures in medicine. For deep venous obstruction, the VEINES-QOL/Sym and venous clinical severity score (VCSS) are widely used. Combining a patient-reported outcome with a clinical severity score should give a more sensitive outcome for treatment results.

Factors influencing postpartum women's willingness to participate in a preventive pelvic floor muscle training program: a web-based survey.

Objective: Pregnancy and delivery are the most prominent risk factors for the onset of pelvic floor injuries and - later-on - urinary incontinence. Supervised pelvic floor muscle training during and after pregnancy is proven effective for the prevention of urinary incontinence on the short term. However, only a minority of women do participate in preventive pelvic floor muscle training programs.

Erythrocytapheresis versus phlebotomy in the maintenance treatment of HFE hemochromatosis patients: results from a randomized crossover trial.

Background: Phlebotomy is standard maintenance treatment of patients with hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). Erythrocytapheresis, which selectively removes red blood cells, provides a new, potentially more effective treatment option. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of erythrocytapheresis over phlebotomy for maintenance therapy in patients with HH.

Introducing an integrated intermediate care unit improves ICU utilization: a prospective intervention study.

Background: Improvement of appropriate bed use and access to intensive care (ICU) beds is essential in optimizing utilization of ICU capacity. The introduction of an intermediate care unit (IMC) integrated in the ICU care may improve this utilization.

Method: In a before-after prospective intervention study in a university hospital mixed ICU, the impact of introducing a six-bed mixed IMC unit supervised and staffed by ICU physicians was investigated.

Effect of supervised exercise therapy for intermittent claudication in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Background: Primary treatment for patients with intermittent claudication is exercise therapy. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a frequently occurring comorbidity in patients with intermittent claudication, and in these patients, exercise tolerance is decreased. However, there is little literature about the increase in walking distance after supervised exercise therapy (SET) in patients with both intermittent claudication and DM.

Psychological and psychiatric factors as predictors for success in sacral neuromodulation treatment.

Unlabelled: What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is a well-established treatment for patients with chronic LUTS. The selection of eligible candidates could be improved by identifying factors that can predict a successful response. In the present study, we evaluated the role of various psychological and psychiatric factors in relation to SNM treatment.

Early loss of peritubular capillaries after kidney transplantation.

Inflammation, interstitial fibrosis (IF), and tubular atrophy (TA) precede chronic transplant dysfunction, which is a major cause of renal allograft loss. There is an association between IF/TA and loss of peritubular capillaries (PTCs) in advanced renal disease, but whether PTC loss occurs in an early stage of chronic transplant dysfunction is unknown. Here, we studied PTC number, IF/TA, inflammation, and renal function in 48 patients who underwent protocol biopsies.

During IVF treatment patient preference shifts from singletons towards twins but only a few patients show an actual reversal of preference.

Background: Knowledge of patients' preferences for elective single embryo transfer (eSET) or double embryo transfer (DET) and for singletons or twins is of great importance in counselling for embryo transfer (ET) strategies. In this study, the stability of IVF patients' preferences over time for either a healthy single child or healthy twins was measured and we investigated which factors could explain preference shifts.

Methods: Infertile women (n = 177) who participated in an RCT comparing one cycle eSET with one cycle DET were included.

The effect of pulse rate changes on the clinical outcome of sacral neuromodulation.

Purpose: We evaluated the effect of pulse rate changes on the clinical response to and stimulation related pain symptoms of sacral neuromodulation treatment.

Materials And Methods: In this pilot study we evaluated the effect of 4 pulse rates, including 5.2, 10, 21 and 40 Hz, in patients with a suboptimal response to sacral neuromodulation.

Bone metabolic activity in hyperostosis cranialis interna measured with 18F-fluoride PET.

Purpose: (18)F-Fluoride PET/CT is a relatively undervalued diagnostic test to measure bone metabolism in bone diseases. Hyperostosis cranialis interna (HCI) is a (hereditary) bone disease characterised by endosteal hyperostosis and osteosclerosis of the skull and the skull base. Bone overgrowth causes entrapment and dysfunction of several cranial nerves.

Health-related quality of life after fast-track treatment results from a randomized controlled clinical equivalence trial.

Purpose: This randomized clinical equivalence trial was designed to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after fast-track treatment for low-risk coronary artery bypass (CABG) patients.

Methods: Four hundred and ten CABG patients were randomly assigned to undergo either short-stay intensive care treatment (SSIC, 8 h of intensive care stay) or control treatment (care as usual, overnight intensive care stay). HRQoL was measured at baseline and 1 month, and one year after surgery using the multidimensional index of life quality (MILQ), the EQ-5D, the Beck Depression Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.

Using EQ-5D in children with asthma, rheumatic disorders, diabetes, and speech/language and/or hearing disorders.

Objectives: This study explores several variables of the EQ-5D child version, a multi-attribute utility instrument, in children with chronic conditions.

Methods: A convenience sample was selected from hospital outpatient records and school records. The sample included children aged 7-18 years with the following chronic conditions: asthma, rheumatic disorders, diabetes, and speech/language and/or hearing disorders.

Recurrence and functional results after open versus conventional laparoscopic versus robot-assisted laparoscopic rectopexy for rectal prolapse: a case-control study.

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate recurrence and functional outcome of three surgical techniques for rectopexy: open (OR), laparoscopic (LR), and robot-assisted (RR). A case-control study was performed to study recurrence after the three operative techniques used for rectal procidentia. The secondary aim of this study was to examine the differences in functional results between the three techniques.

The effectiveness of nurse-led telemonitoring of asthma: results of a randomized controlled trial.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects on, and the relationship between, asthma symptoms, asthma-specific quality of life and medical consumption of a nurse-led telemonitoring intervention compared with regular care in asthma in the Netherlands.

Methods: One hundred and nine asthmatic outpatients (56 children; 53 adults) were randomly assigned to the treatment arms (12-month follow-up). The control group received regular outpatient care, while the intervention group used an asthma monitor with modem at home with an asthma nurse as the main caregiver.

Prediction of peak pressure from clinical and radiological measurements in patients with diabetes.

Background: Various structural and functional factors of foot function have been associated with high local plantar pressures. The therapist focuses on these features which are thought to be responsible for plantar ulceration in patients with diabetes. Risk assessment of the diabetic foot would be made easier if locally elevated plantar pressure could be indicated with a minimum set of clinical measures.

Changes in hospital costs after introducing an intermediate care unit: a comparative observational study.

Introduction: The high cost of critical care resources has resulted in strategies to reduce the costs of ruling out low-risk patients by developing intermediate care units (IMCs). The aim of this study was to compare changes in total hospital costs for intensive care patients before and after the introduction of an IMC at the University Hospital Maastricht.

Methods: The design was a comparative longitudinal study.

The functional, metabolic, and anabolic responses to exercise training in renal transplant and hemodialysis patients.

Background: Exercise intolerance is common in hemodialysis (HD) and renal transplant (RTx) patients and is related to muscle weakness. Its pathogenesis may vary between these groups leading to a different response to exercise. The aim of the study was to compare intrinsic muscular parameters between HD and RTx patients and controls, and to assess the response to exercise training on exercise capacity and muscular structure and function in these groups.