Self-reported compliance with infection prevention and control of healthcare workers in Dutch residential care facilities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Compliance of healthcare workers (HCWs) with infection prevention and control (IPC) is crucial to resident safety. Nevertheless, HCWs' compliance with IPC has not been previously studied in a disability care setting.

Objective: To assess levels of self-reported compliance with IPC among HCWs in residential care facilities (RCFs) for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs), and to assess whether IPC compliance varies among different professional groups.

Infection prevention and control in Dutch general practices before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for pandemic preparedness and seasonal respiratory epidemics: a qualitative study on lessons learned.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a re-evaluation of infection prevention and control (IPC) in general practices, highlighting the need for comprehensive IPC implementation. This study aimed to evaluate healthcare workers' (HCWs) experiences and perspectives regarding IPC in general practices before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its implications for post-pandemic IPC implementation.

Methods: This qualitative study involved semi-structured, in-depth interviews during two time periods: (1) prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (July 2019-February 2020), involving 14 general practitioners (GPs) and medical assistants; and (2) during the COVID-19 pandemic (July 2022-February 2023), including 22 GPs and medical assistants.

Perceived barriers and facilitators to infection prevention and control in Dutch residential care facilities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Adequate implementation of infection prevention and control (IPC) in residential care facilities (RCFs) for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) is crucial to safeguarding this vulnerable population. Studies in this field are scarce. This study aimed to identify perceived barriers to and facilitators of IPC among professionals working in these settings, along with recommendations to improve IPC, to inform the development of targeted interventions.

Behavioural determinants shaping infection prevention and control behaviour among healthcare workers in Dutch general practices: a qualitative study reflecting on pre-, during and post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Since the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, awareness of infection prevention and control (IPC) has increased in primary care settings. This study aimed to examine behavioural determinants shaping IPC behaviour pre-, during, and post-pandemic among healthcare workers (HCWs) in general practices, to inform optimised IPC in primary care.

Methods: For this qualitative study, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted during two study periods: (1) pre-COVID-19 pandemic: July 2019-February 2020, with 14 general practitioners (GPs) and medical assistants, and (2) during the COVID-19 pandemic: July 2022-February 2023, with 22 GPs and medical assistants.

Psychosocial determinants associated with healthcare workers' self-reported compliance with infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in Dutch residential care facilities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Background: Healthcare workers' (HCWs) compliance with infection prevention and control (IPC) is crucial to reduce the infection transmission risk. However, HCWs' compliance with IPC in residential care facilities (RCFs) for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) is known to be suboptimal. Therefore, this study examined sociodemographic and psychosocial determinants associated with IPC non-compliance in this setting, to inform IPC policy and promotion programmes for adequate IPC behaviour.

Facility- and ward-level factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks among residents in long-term care facilities: A retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Yet, the reasons why certain LTCFs are affected more by outbreaks are poorly understood. This study aimed to identify the facility- and ward-level factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks among LTCF residents.

The Role of Lamins in the Nucleoplasmic Reticulum, a Pleiomorphic Organelle That Enhances Nucleo-Cytoplasmic Interplay.

Invaginations of the nuclear membrane occur in different shapes, sizes, and compositions. Part of these pleiomorphic invaginations make up the nucleoplasmic reticulum (NR), while others are merely nuclear folds. We define the NR as tubular invaginations consisting of either both the inner and outer nuclear membrane, or only the inner nuclear membrane.

Barriers and facilitators to infection prevention and control in Dutch psychiatric institutions: a theory-informed qualitative study.

Background: The unique characteristics of psychiatric institutions contribute to the onset and spread of infectious agents. Infection prevention and control (IPC) is essential to minimise transmission and manage outbreaks effectively. Despite abundant studies regarding IPC conducted in hospitals, to date only a few studies focused on mental health care settings.

Barriers and facilitators to infection prevention and control in Dutch residential care facilities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A theory-informed qualitative study.

Background: Care institutions are recognised to be a high-risk setting for the emergence and spread of infections and antimicrobial-resistant organisms, which stresses the importance of infection prevention and control (IPC). Accurate implementation is crucial for optimal IPC practice. Despite the wide promotion of IPC and research thereof in the hospital and nursing home setting, similar efforts are lacking in disability care settings.

A qualitative study exploring barriers to adequate uptake of antenatal care in pre-conflict Syria: low cost interventions are needed to address disparities in antenatal care.

Background: Syria has made progress in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity before the conflict in 2011. Despite the improvement in antenatal care (ANC) coverage and patterns of use, analyses of national surveys demonstrated wide regional variations in uptake, timing and number of visits even after controlling for women's socio-demographic characteristics. This study compares two governorates: Latakia, where uptake of ANC was high and Aleppo, where uptake of ANC was low to highlight the barriers to women's adequate uptake of ANC that existed in Syria pre-conflict.

A tool for measuring burden in activities and participation of clients with acquired brain injury: the FINAH-instrument.

Primary Objective: The objective of this study was to design an instrument to screen for burden in the daily life of both the client with acquired brain injury (ABI) and their nonprofessional caregiver.

Research Design: Exploratory research Methods and Procedures: Based on a survey amongst stakeholder organizations, the FINAH-instrument is designed as a digital self-assessment questionnaire, based on ICF-framework. A test survey of the FINAH instrument is conducted on both clients, nonprofessional caregivers and healthcare professionals.

Mental health and offending in older people: Future directions for research.

Background: The number of older people and their proportion of the prison population in high-income countries is increasing substantially. This pattern is mirrored by the age profile in forensic hospital services, and both trends seem counter to the age-crime curve concept. How do we understand this and what are the mental health needs of this growing group?

Aim: The aim of this review is to identify existing research robust enough to inform policy and practice in relation to mental health in older offenders and the knowledge gaps that should drive future research.

Growing older in secure mental health care: the user experience.

Background: The proportion of older adults using secure forensic psychiatric services is rising. Research is needed to examine the experience of older service users and evidence how adult services can adapt to meet their needs.

Aim: To explore user experiences of being an older adult in secure forensic services.

A mixed methods analysis of factors affecting antenatal care content: A Syrian case study.

Background: Maternity care services provide critical interventions aimed at improving maternal and newborn health. In this study, we examined determinants of antenatal care (ANC) content in Syria, together with changes over time.

Methods: We analysed two national surveys conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics in Damascus (PAPFAM 2001 and MICS 2006).

Cytoplasmic localization of PML particles in laminopathies.

There is growing evidence that laminopathies, diseases associated with mutations in the LMNA gene, are caused by a combination of mechanical and gene regulatory distortions. Strikingly, there is a large variability in disease symptoms between individual patients carrying an identical LMNA mutation. This is why classical genetic screens for mutations appear to have limited predictive value for disease development.

Repetitive disruptions of the nuclear envelope invoke temporary loss of cellular compartmentalization in laminopathies.

The nuclear lamina provides structural support to the nucleus and has a central role in nuclear organization and gene regulation. Defects in its constituents, the lamins, lead to a class of genetic diseases collectively referred to as laminopathies. Using live cell imaging, we observed the occurrence of intermittent, non-lethal ruptures of the nuclear envelope in dermal fibroblast cultures of patients with different mutations of lamin A/C.

Increased plasticity of the nuclear envelope and hypermobility of telomeres due to the loss of A-type lamins.

Background: The nuclear lamina provides structural support to the nucleus and has a central role in defining nuclear organization. Defects in its filamentous constituents, the lamins, lead to a class of diseases collectively referred to as laminopathies. On the cellular level, lamin mutations affect the physical integrity of nuclei and nucleo-cytoskeletal interactions, resulting in increased susceptibility to mechanical stress and altered gene expression.

Disturbed nuclear orientation and cellular migration in A-type lamin deficient cells.

The nuclear lamina and the cytoskeleton form an integrated structure that warrants proper mechanical functioning of cells. We have studied the correlation between structural alterations and migrational behaviour in fibroblasts with and without A-type lamins. We show that loss of A-type lamins causes loss of emerin and nesprin-3 from the nuclear envelope, concurring with a disturbance in the connection between the nucleus and the cytoskeleton in A-type lamin-deficient (lmna -/-) cells.

Role of nuclear lamina-cytoskeleton interactions in the maintenance of cellular strength.

The response of individual cells to cellular stress is vital for cellular functioning. A large network of physically interconnected cellular components, starting from the structural components of the cells' nucleus, via cytoskeleton filaments to adhesion molecules and the extracellular matrix, constitutes an integrated matrix that functions as a scaffold allowing the cell to cope with mechanical stress. Next to a role in mechanical properties, this network also has a mechanotransductional function in the response to mechanical stress.

[Simplified appendectomy without stump embedding. Experiences of 20 years conventional and 5 years laparoscopic application].

Since 1975, the Department of Surgery in the Grevenbroich Community Hospital (Germany) has applied a simplified technique of open appendectomy. The inhouse modified procedure without stump embedding has been performed in 3,448 cases to date. The same approach has been used in 1,463 laparoscopic appendectomies since 1991.

[Indications for appendectomy using the so-called "3-day rule". 10 years' experiences].

Since January 1981, the so-called "3-day principle" in cases of suspected appendicitis has been applied in order to render the indications for surgery more precise. The retrospective analysis of a total of 1877 appendectomies performed between 1981 and 1990 demonstrated that the majority of histologically definite cases of acute appendicitis had been surgically treated on the day of admission to hospital. Furthermore, a second peak of histologically evident cases of acute appendicitis was seen with non-characteristic symptoms on the 3rd day.

Analgesia and sedation in neonatal intensive care using fentanyl by continuous infusion.

To determine the effects of fentanyl in newborn and premature infants, we compared two groups of 20 newborn and premature babies under artificial ventilation for severe respiratory distress syndrome: a prospective group receiving fentanyl for analgesic and sedation and a historical control group, who did not receive fentanyl. Fentanyl serum levels during steady state were determined by radioimmunoassay. Average time of infusion was 86 +/- 47 h with a mean dosage of 0.

[Analgesia and sedation in neonatal-pediatric intensive care].

In pediatric intensive care, analgesia and sedation has become increasingly important for newborns as well as prematures in recent years. However, its importance is frequently not well recognized and sedation is confounded with analgesia. In our intensive-care unit (ICU), fentanyl and midazolam have proved to be useful.