Publications by authors named "J J M Dekker"

Objectives: Knowledge about the long-term course and prognosis of persistent somatic symptoms (PSS) is important to improve clinical decision-making and guidance for patients with PSS. Therefore, we aimed to: (1) identify distinct 5-year trajectories of symptom severity, physical and mental functioning in adult patients with PSS and (2) explore patient characteristics associated with these trajectories.

Design: We used longitudinal data (seven measurements over a 5-year period) of the PROSPECTS study: a prospective cohort of adult patients with PSS.

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  • There is evidence suggesting that using stents or decompressing stomas before surgery for left-sided obstructive colon cancer (LSOCC) is safer than emergency surgery, particularly for patients aged 70 and older.
  • A study analyzing data from 2012 to 2020 showed a decrease in emergency resections, from 79.7% to 54.7%, with an increase in safer approaches like resection after stent or stoma.
  • Despite a national trend towards safer surgical methods, some hospitals still performed over 75% emergency resections, leading to higher mortality rates, emphasizing the need to follow updated guidelines for elderly patients.
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The immunologic consequences of using bactericidal versus bacteriostatic antibiotic treatments are unclear. We observed a bacteriostatic (growth halting) treatment was more protective than a bactericidal (bacteria killing) treatment in a murine peritonitis model. To understand this unexpected difference, we compared macrophage responses to bactericidal treated bacteria or bacteriostatic treated bacteria.

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  • This article discusses common questions and symptoms related to STDs that patients frequently raise with general practitioners and special clinics, emphasizing the importance of understanding sexual behavior in making accurate diagnoses.
  • It highlights the need for careful risk assessment and testing policies, particularly for high-risk individuals who should be tested for gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B, while also addressing the significance of early detection and treatment.
  • The use of PrEP is mentioned as a preventative measure against HIV, stressing that while it can enhance sexual health, consistent condom usage remains vital for STD prevention.
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Every cell must solve the problem of how to fold its genome. We describe how the folded state of chromosomes is the result of the combined activity of multiple conserved mechanisms. Homotypic affinity-driven interactions lead to spatial partitioning of active and inactive loci.

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