Publications by authors named "Jacqueline Limpens"
Article Synopsis
- Obesity is linked to vitamin D deficiency, but previous studies on vitamin D supplementation's effects on weight have been inconsistent.
- This study aimed to review and analyze data from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) involving calcitriol (active vitamin D) to see its impact on body weight and related metrics.
- The analysis of 411 participants found that calcitriol supplementation does not significantly affect body weight or other weight-related measures compared to a placebo group.
Article Synopsis
- The study evaluates the effectiveness of first-trimester versus second-trimester prenatal ultrasounds in detecting fetal structural anomalies in low-risk pregnant women.
- It compares the accuracy of a single second-trimester scan to a combination of first- and second-trimester scans in identifying these anomalies before 24 weeks of gestation.
- Methodology included a comprehensive literature search and analysis of various studies, with findings based on a meta-analysis of results from 87 studies involving over 7 million fetuses.
Article Synopsis
- Prenatal factors like maternal stress, infection, and nutrition can influence fetal brain development and potentially increase the risk of dementia later in life, prompting a systematic review of existing studies.
- A total of 68 studies were analyzed, focusing on factors like maternal and paternal age, birth order, season of birth, and prenatal exposures, with results indicating that less optimal birth environments correlated with higher dementia risk.
- The review concluded that certain prenatal factors, particularly those linked to unfavorable environments, are associated with increased dementia risk, and highlighted the need for further research to clarify causal relationships while considering confounding factors like socioeconomic status.
Article Synopsis
- - Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a severe pregnancy condition resulting in intense nausea and vomiting, which can cause undernutrition and poor maternal weight gain, potentially leading to adverse outcomes for the baby.
- - A systematic review of 61 studies involving over 20 million participants found that HG significantly raises the risks of preterm birth, low birth weight, the need for neonatal resuscitation, NICU admission, and placental abruption.
- - The study also indicated that HG is associated with lower instances of very high birth weights (>4000g) and stillbirths, suggesting a complex relationship between HG and various perinatal outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- * The research focuses on the role of circulating proteins, particularly adipokines and other inflammatory proteins from adipose tissue, in both existing and newly diagnosed cases of AF.
- * Findings indicate that inflammatory proteins from fat tissue are often elevated in people with AF and obesity, while common adipokines show little connection to AF occurrence.
Objective: Given that many studies report on a limited spectrum of adverse events of transvaginal cervical cerclage for preventing preterm birth, but are not powered to draw conclusions about its safety, the objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review with pooled risk analyses of perioperative complications and compare characteristics on the basis of indication for cerclage in singleton pregnancies.
Data Sources: Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and the prospective trial registers ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform were searched from inception to April 2020.
Article Synopsis
- Maternal obesity during pregnancy is linked to changes in heart structure and function in offspring, potentially increasing their risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
- A systematic review analyzed 13 studies and found that fetuses of obese mothers exhibited reduced heart function and thicker heart walls, with these traits continuing into infancy.
- There is a need for further long-term studies on how maternal obesity affects heart health in older children, as current research primarily focuses on younger age groups.
Article Synopsis
- - Older patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) may still face issues like physical decline and increased mortality, even if the surgery is successful.
- - A systematic review found that low muscle strength and poor physical performance (like slow walking speed or difficulty in mobility tests) were linked to higher long-term death rates after TAVI.
- - The review highlighted the need for future studies to explore ways to improve muscle strength and physical performance in older patients to potentially enhance their outcomes post-surgery.
Risk of preterm birth for placenta previa or low-lying placenta and possible preventive interventions: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Charlotte H J R Jansen Charlotte E van Dijk C Emily Kleinrouweler Jacob J Holzscherer Anouk C Smits Jacqueline C E J M Limpens
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne)
September 2022
Article Synopsis
- The study aims to investigate the risk of preterm birth in women with placenta previa or low-lying placenta at various gestational ages and evaluate preventive interventions.
- A comprehensive search identified 34 studies, revealing that women with placenta previa had higher rates of preterm birth compared to those with low-lying placentas; specific percentages of preterm births were reported for various gestational cut-offs.
- Preventive measures like intramuscular progesterone and cerclage showed promise in prolonging pregnancies for women at risk, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions.
Article Synopsis
- Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a pregnancy condition marked by severe nausea and vomiting, leading to potential nutritional deficiencies in mothers and health issues in their children.
- The review examined various studies to determine the long-term effects of HG on children's health after birth, analyzing data from nearly 1.8 million offspring.
- Findings indicated associations between HG and increased risks of anxiety disorders, sleep problems, testicular cancer in males up to 40 years old, and heightened occurrences of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder in offspring.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates the relationship between surgical methods (Mohs micrographic surgery vs. wide local excision) and outcomes (recurrence and survival) for Merkel cell carcinoma treatment.
- - A comprehensive literature search resulted in the inclusion of 19 case series and 12 cohort studies, concluding that there are no significant differences in outcomes between the two surgical options or different excision margins.
- - Ultimately, the findings suggest that both surgical approaches have similar recurrence and survival rates for Merkel cell carcinoma, indicating that the choice of method may not impact patient outcomes.
Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH), right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) are commonly present in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) and known to impair prognosis. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the prognostic value of PH, RV function, and TR on mortality after transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR).
Methods: A systematic search was performed to identify studies investigating PH, RV function, or TR in patients who underwent TMVR.
Unlabelled: The aim was to reflect on the unexpected finding of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the neonate (PPHN) and pulmonary hypertension in infants born within the Dutch STRIDER trial, its definition and possible pathophysiological mechanisms. The trial randomly assigned pregnant women with severe early-onset fetal growth restriction to sildenafil 25 mg three times a day versus placebo. Sildenafil use did not reduce perinatal mortality and morbidity, but did result in a higher rate of neonatal pulmonary hypertension (PH).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFShort-term outcomes of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors for fetal growth restriction: a study protocol for a systematic review with individual participant data meta-analysis, aggregate meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis.
Jessica Liauw Katie Groom Wessel Ganzevoort Christian Gluud Christopher J D McKinlay Jacqueline Limpens
Syst Rev
December 2021
Article Synopsis
- Early onset fetal growth restriction due to placental insufficiency can seriously harm both mothers and babies, prompting research into the potential benefits of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors like sildenafil.
- The STRIDER Consortium is conducting multiple randomized trials to assess the effectiveness of sildenafil in improving outcomes for pregnancies affected by fetal growth restriction, ultimately aiming to gather stronger evidence on its benefits.
- A comprehensive systematic review will analyze existing trials and data, focusing on critical outcomes such as infant survival, gestational age at birth, and assessing the risk of bias in the included studies.
Background: Atopic eczema (AE), also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes significant burden. Phototherapy is sometimes used to treat AE when topical treatments, such as corticosteroids, are insufficient or poorly tolerated.
Objectives: To assess the effects of phototherapy for treating AE.
Article Synopsis
- Genetic variants linked to cardiomyopathies (CMPs) are common and can lead to sudden cardiac death, especially in young athletes, prompting concerns about participation in competitive sports.
- Research suggests that these genetic variants might initially enhance physical performance in young individuals while potentially damaging heart function later.
- A review of a limited number of studies found that individuals with CMP-related genetic variants demonstrated superior abilities in running speed, endurance, and muscle force compared to those without such variants, implying a potential role in athlete selection.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to investigate how oestrogen and oestrogen deprivation affect vaginal wound healing, particularly after prolapse surgery, which can impact future surgery success.
- A systematic review identified 14 original studies, with 11 included in a meta-analysis, highlighting that oestrogen significantly improves various wound healing metrics in women and female animals.
- The findings indicate that oestrogen therapy positively influences vaginal wound healing, suggesting potential benefits for surgical outcomes, and calls for more research in this area.
Aim: Before the introduction of new biomaterials for prolapse surgery, animal studies on the host response are required. Unfortunately, large variation in study design hampers obtaining an overview of the safety and efficacy, and translation to clinical practice. Our aim is to systematically review the literature on all outcome measures describing the host response in animal studies assessing the biocompatibility of urogynecologic surgical mesh implants for prolapse surgery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis affects approximately one million people annually, causing painful skin lesions and potentially serious disfigurement, highlighting an urgent need for effective treatments.
- Current treatment options carry significant side effects, prompting a review of allylamine drugs like terbinafine, which are considered safer alternatives, including for pregnant patients.
- The review identified 22 relevant studies, concluding that allylamine monotherapy lacks sufficient evidence of efficacy for these types of leishmaniasis, with further research needed to explore its potential and optimal use.
Article Synopsis
- * A systematic review of existing literature identified a range of tracheal anomalies in DS children, including conditions like tracheomalacia and tracheal stenosis, which occur more frequently than in non-DS children.
- * The study suggests that children with DS require more surgical interventions for tracheal issues, and medical evaluations for airway obstruction symptoms should include thorough diagnostic imaging and potential surgical options depending on the severity of the anomalies.
Article Synopsis
- The review aimed to investigate whether asymptomatic vaginal colonization by Candida spp affects pregnancy outcomes, particularly focusing on preterm birth.
- A systematic search of various medical databases was conducted, including studies on pregnant women with asymptomatic Candida colonization and related pregnancy outcomes.
- The results showed no significant difference in preterm birth rates between women with Candida and those without, suggesting that asymptomatic Candida colonization may not be linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- A systematic review evaluated the validity and measurement properties of outcome measurement instruments (OMIs) used in port wine stain (PWS) treatment, uncovering significant concerns about their reliability and effectiveness.
- The review included 8 studies but found that most OMIs had inadequate development and lacked thorough evaluations of their content validity and other important metrics.
- Overall, the evidence suggested that the available OMIs have varying degrees of quality, with many lacking essential studies on responsiveness and inter-rater reliability.
Article Synopsis
- Feeding preterm infants with their mother's milk can lead to fewer health issues and better brain development, prompting research into the beneficial components of human milk for developing nutritional supplements.
- This systematic review aimed to summarize the bioactive factors studied in randomized controlled trials for preterm infant nutrition and to highlight ongoing clinical trials.
- A total of 17 bioactive factors were examined in 26 studies, but further high-quality research is needed to confirm their effectiveness before they can be widely used in medical practice, with three large trials currently underway on enteral insulin and vitamin A.
Article Synopsis
- Vasopressors and inotropes are commonly used to improve blood flow during cardiogenic shock caused by acute myocardial infarction, but their effect on patient mortality is unclear.
- A systematic review of 19 studies, including 2478 patients, indicated that these treatments did not significantly reduce mortality compared to control groups; the quality of evidence was deemed low.
- There was a potential trend showing levosimendan may improve outcomes, but overall, the study suggests more rigorous research is needed to determine the actual impact of these medications on mortality in this patient population.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigated the variety of outcome measures used in port wine stain (PWS) research to identify inconsistencies that hinder treatment comparisons and meta-analyses.
- - A total of 85 studies with over 3,300 patients were reviewed, revealing 46 different clinical efficacy scoring systems, with only 44% of studies being comparable due to this variability.
- - The authors concluded that creating a consensus-based core outcome set is essential for improving future PWS research and clinical practices, especially given the limited number of high-quality trials.