Intervention Fidelity in Mindfulness-Based Research and Practice: Developing Criteria to Acknowledge New Training Programs.

The field of mindfulness-based research and practice is expanding fast. This development calls for a careful evaluation of the merits and scientific underpinnings of newly developed mindfulness-based programs (MBP's). In this viewpoint, we describe a process initiated by two professional mindfulness teacher training organisations (the Dutch , VMBN, and the , BAMBA) to develop a framework for evaluating the integrity of newly developed MBP's.

Effectiveness and feasibility of a mindful leadership course for medical specialists: a pilot study.

Background: Medical specialists experience high levels of stress. This has an impact on their well-being, but also on quality of their leadership. In the current mixed method study, the feasibility and effectiveness of a course Mindful Leadership on burnout, well-being and leadership skills of medical specialists were evaluated.

How medical specialists experience the effects of a mindful leadership course on their leadership capabilities: a qualitative interview study in the Netherlands.

Objectives: Medical leaders are facing leadership challenges that ask for a leadership style that takes care of both themselves and their coworkers. Mindfulness may support this leadership style. We explored how a 'Mindful leadership for medical specialists' course affected medical specialists' leadership.

Mindful Leader Development: How Leaders Experience the Effects of Mindfulness Training on Leader Capabilities.

Mindfulness training is a novel method of leader development but contrary to its rising popularity, there is a scarcity of research investigating how mindfulness training may affect leader capabilities. To gain a better understanding of the potential of a new research field, qualitative research is advantageous. We sought to understand how senior leaders experience the impact of mindfulness training in their work lives and leadership ability.

A Workplace Mindfulness Intervention May Be Associated With Improved Psychological Well-Being and Productivity. A Preliminary Field Study in a Company Setting.

Mindfulness trainings are increasingly offered in workplace environments in order to improve health and productivity. Whilst promising, there is limited research on the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions in workplace settings. To examine the feasibility and effectiveness of a Workplace Mindfulness Training (WMT) in terms of burnout, psychological well-being, organizational and team climate, and performance.

Effect of a high-fat meal on the pharmacokinetics of 300-milligram posaconazole in a solid oral tablet formulation.

Posaconazole in oral suspension must be taken multiple times a day with food (preferably a high-fat meal) to ensure adequate exposure among patients. We evaluated the effect of food on the bioavailability of a new delayed-release tablet formulation of posaconazole at the proposed clinical dose of 300 mg once daily in a randomized, open-label, single-dose, two-period crossover study with 18 healthy volunteers. When a single 300-mg dose of posaconazole in tablet form (3 tablets × 100 mg) was administered with a high-fat meal, the posaconazole area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 72 h (AUC0-72) and maximum concentration in plasma (Cmax) increased 51% and 16%, respectively, compared to those after administration in the fasted state.

Pharmacokinetics and safety study of posaconazole intravenous solution administered peripherally to healthy subjects.

This study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of a posaconazole i.v. (intravenous) solution.

Posaconazole tablet pharmacokinetics: lack of effect of concomitant medications altering gastric pH and gastric motility in healthy subjects.

Posaconazole oral suspension is an extended-spectrum triazole that should be taken with food to maximize absorption. A new posaconazole tablet formulation has demonstrated improved bioavailability over the oral suspension in healthy adults in a fasting state. This study evaluated the effects of concomitant medications altering gastric pH (antacid, ranitidine, and esomeprazole) and gastric motility (metoclopramide) on the pharmacokinetics of posaconazole tablets.

Male hormonal contraception: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Background: This study was performed to assess spermatogenesis suppression and safety of a new combination of an etonogestrel (ENG) implant combined with testosterone undecanoate (TU) injections for male contraception. This is the first large placebo-controlled study for male hormonal contraception.

Design And Study Subjects: In this double-blind, multicenter study, we randomly assigned 354 healthy men to receive either a low- or high-release ENG implant sc combined with im TU injections (750 mg every 10 or 12 wk or 1000 mg every 12 wk) or placebo implant and injections.

Determinants of the rate and extent of spermatogenic suppression during hormonal male contraception: an integrated analysis.

Context: Male hormonal contraceptive methods require effective suppression of sperm output.

Objective: The objective of the study was to define the covariables that influence the rate and extent of suppression of spermatogenesis to a level shown in previous World Health Organization-sponsored studies to be sufficient for contraceptive purposes (< or =1 million/ml).

Design: This was an integrated analysis of all published male hormonal contraceptive studies of at least 3 months' treatment duration.

A multicentre study investigating subcutaneous etonogestrel implants with injectable testosterone decanoate as a potential long-acting male contraceptive.

Background: The combination of etonogestrel implants with injectable testosterone decanoate was investigated as a potential male contraceptive.

Methods: One hundred and thirty subjects were randomly assigned to three treatment groups, all receiving two etonogestrel rods (204 mg etonogestrel) and 400 mg testosterone decanoate either every 4 weeks (group I, n = 42), or every 6 weeks (group II, n = 51) or 600 mg testosterone decanoate every 6 weeks (group III, n = 37) for a treatment period of 48 weeks.

Results: One hundred and ten men completed 48 weeks of treatment.

Feasibility study for the centralized measurement of sperm concentration.

Despite several efforts to standardize methods of semen analysis, sperm count is known to be subject to large interlaboratory differences. This is especially a problem in multicentre clinical trial settings and protocols for the preparation of semen for centralized assessment of sperm concentration are suggested here. The stability of semen has been tested after fixation with formalin at different dilutions and at different temperatures for different sperm concentrations.

A multicenter phase IIb study of a novel combination of intramuscular androgen (testosterone decanoate) and oral progestogen (etonogestrel) for male hormonal contraception.

The effect of a novel combination of oral etonogestrel (ENG) and im testosterone decanoate (TD) on suppression of gonadotropins and spermatogenesis as a potential lead for male contraception was investigated. Healthy male volunteers were randomized into two groups receiving 300 microg ENG daily and 400 mg TD every 4 (n = 55) or 6 (n = 57) wk for 48 wk. At wk 48, all men except one in the 6-wk group suppressed sperm concentration to less than 1 million/ml.

A comparative study of breast cell proliferation during hormone replacement therapy: effects of tibolon and continuous combined estrogen-progestogen treatment.

Objective: To use the fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy technique to compare the effects of tibolone, conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and placebo on breast cell proliferation in postmenopausal women.

Methods: A total of 91 women were randomized to receive either estradiol 2 mg plus norethisterone acetate 1 mg (E2/NETA), tibolone 2.5 mg or placebo for 6 months in a prospective double-blind trial.

Effects of tibolone and continuous combined hormone replacement therapy on mammographic breast density.

Objective: Our purpose was to compare the effects of tibolone, continuous combined hormone replacement therapy, and placebo on mammographic breast density.

Study Design: A prospective, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study was performed. A total of 166 postmenopausal women were equally randomized to receive tibolone 2.

Assessment of exposure to solvents among hairdressers: reliability of a classification scheme and questionnaire.

Objectives: To assess the reliability of a classification scheme and interview questions to be used for retrospective expose assessment in a study on reproductive disorders among hairdressers. Based on the presence of an air cleaning device (yes or no) and setting waves (yes or no), this scheme divides hairdressers into groups with potentially high and low exposure to solvents. The reliability of this and other schemes was assessed.

Reproductive disorders among hairdressers.

To evaluate whether hairdressers have an increased risk of reproductive disorders, we conducted a historical cohort study in the Netherlands. Because exposure to reproduction toxic agents in hair salons may have changed over time, we studied two specific periods: conceptions in 1986-1988 and in 1991-1993. We ascertained 9,000 hairdressers and, as a comparison group, 9,000 clothing salesclerks from their respective trade associations.

Neurodevelopment in offspring of hairdressers.

The hypothesis that intrauterine exposure to hairdressers' chemicals adversely affects neurodevelopment of the offspring was investigated. Neurodevelopmental characteristics were analysed using a historical cohort study of reproductive disorders among hairdressers in The Netherlands. Because exposure in hair salons to agents toxic to reproductive processes might have changed over time, two specific study periods were examined: from 1986 to 1988 and from 1991 to 1993.

Monitoring and modelling of exposure to ethanol in hairdressing salons.

Personal exposure to solvents was studied among hairdressers in 28 salons in two regions during two seasons in The Netherlands. Ethanol was used as a marker for solvent exposure. Auxiliary data, such as salon and work characteristics, meteorological conditions and information on the presence of control measures, were collected during the measurements.

Reproductive disorders due to chemical exposure among hairdressers.

The evidence for reproductive disorders due to chemical exposure among hairdressers was evaluated. To this end, a literature study was conducted on Medline for the years 1985-1993. Reproductive disorders in humans were described for solvents such as ethanol and dichloromethane found mainly in hair sprays.