Decision-making in ADHD: sensitive to frequency but blind to the magnitude of penalty?

Background: Decision-making and reinforcement sensitivity were investigated in 23 children with ADHD and 20 healthy controls using a gambling paradigm.

Methods: Children were required to choose between three alternatives that carried (A) small rewards and small penalties (advantageous), (B) large rewards and increasing penalties and (C) small rewards and increasing penalties (both disadvantageous). Penalties increased either in frequency or magnitude in two independent conditions.

Predictors of adverse events following chiropractic care for patients with neck pain.

Objective: This study examines which variables may predict adverse events in subjects undergoing chiropractic treatment for neck pain.

Methods: This was a prospective, multi-center, cohort study. All new patients, 18 to 65 years of age with neck pain of any duration, who had not undergone chiropractic care or manual therapy in the prior 3 months, were eligible.

Tumor-volume changes after radiosurgery for vestibular schwannoma: implications for follow-up MR imaging protocol.

Background And Purpose: The outcome of radiosurgery for vestibular schwannoma (VS) is assessed by posttreatment measurement of tumor size and could be influenced by the timing and quality of the assessment. This study evaluates the volumetric changes of VS after radiosurgery and proposes a radiologic follow-up program.

Materials And Methods: Of 142 patients with VS treated with radiosurgery, we selected patients who were followed at least 3 times during a minimum of 32 months with a T1-weighted gadolinium-enhanced high-resolution 3D MR imaging examination identical to the pretreatment MR imaging.

School functioning in 8- to 18-year-old children born after in vitro fertilization.

The aim of this study was to examine the school functioning of 8- to 18-year-old children born after in vitro fertilization (IVF). We compared 233 children born after IVF to 233 matched control children born spontaneously from parents with fertility problems on measures of education level, general cognitive ability, school performance (need for extra help, repeating a grade, special education), and rates of learning and developmental disorders. No differences were found between IVF and control children on these measures of school functioning.

Cost-effectiveness of a workplace intervention for sick-listed employees with common mental disorders: design of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Considering the high costs of sick leave and the consequences of sick leave for employees, an early return-to-work of employees with mental disorders is very important. Therefore, a workplace intervention is developed based on a successful return-to-work intervention for employees with low back pain. The objective of this paper is to present the design of a randomized controlled trial evaluating the cost-effectiveness of the workplace intervention compared with usual care for sick-listed employees with common mental disorders.

Improving work style behavior in computer workers with neck and upper limb symptoms.

Introduction: The goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a group-based interactive work style intervention in improving work style behavior.

Methods: Computer workers with neck and upper limb symptoms were randomised into the work style group (WS, N = 152), the work style and physical activity group (WSPA, N = 156), or the usual care group (N = 158). Both intervention groups received the same work style intervention but the WSPA group also received a lifestyle physical activity intervention.

Predicting short-term disability progression in early multiple sclerosis: added value of MRI parameters.

Objective: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical parameters are associated with disease progression in multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study was to investigate whether adding MRI parameters to a model with only clinical parameters could improve these associations.

Methods: 89 patients (55 women) with recently diagnosed MS had clinical and MRI evaluation at baseline (time of diagnosis) and at follow-up after 2.

Reproducibility of the measurement of knee joint proprioception in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Objective: To estimate the inter- and intrarater reliability and agreement of instrumented knee joint proprioception measurement in subjects with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and healthy subjects; to assess the effect of variations in the measurement procedure on agreement parameters.

Methods: Proprioception was measured by a computer-controlled knee angular motion-detecting device in a movement-detecting task. The angular displacement between the starting position and the position at the instant of movement detection by the subject was recorded.

Assessing pain and pain-related fear in acute low back pain: what is the smallest detectable change?

Background: The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) and the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) are frequently used questionnaires for pain-related fear, and the visual analogue scale (VAS) is for pain.

Purpose: This study aims to determine the smallest detectable change (SDC) of these questionnaires in patients with acute low back pain (LBP), as well as ceiling and/or floor effects.

Results: The SDC for the TSK (scoring range: 17-68) was 9.

Validation of predictive equations for resting energy expenditure in adult outpatients and inpatients.

Background & Aims: When individual energy requirements of adult patients cannot be measured by indirect calorimetry, they have to be predicted with an equation. The aim of this study was to analyze which resting energy expenditure (REE) predictive equation was the best alternative to indirect calorimetry in adult patients.

Methods: Predictive equations were included when based on weight, height, gender and/or age.

Intercenter agreement of brain atrophy measurement in multiple sclerosis patients using manually-edited SIENA and SIENAX.

Purpose: To investigate intercenter agreement of brain volume (change) measurement in multiple sclerosis (MS) using structural image evaluation using normalization of atrophy (SIENA) and the cross-sectional version of SIENA (SIENAX) with additional manual editing to correct for inadequate brain extraction.

Materials And Methods: Baseline and follow-up T1-weighted MR images of 20 MS patients were dispatched to five centers. Each center performed fully-automated and manually-edited analyses for SIENAX, yielding normalized brain volume (NBV), and SIENA, yielding percentage brain volume change (PBVC).

Knee varus-valgus motion during gait--a measure of joint stability in patients with osteoarthritis?

Objective: To determine the validity of varus-valgus motion as a measure of knee joint stability by establishing the relationship of varus-valgus motion with muscle strength, joint proprioception, joint laxity and skeletal alignment in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Sixty-three patients with OA of the knee were tested. Varus-valgus motion was determined with a video-based optoelectronic gait analysis system.

Has the degree of contrast enhancement with MR imaging in laryngeal carcinoma added value to anatomic parameters regarding prediction of response to radiation therapy?

Background And Purpose: Our aim was to retrospectively investigate the prognostic significance of the degree of contrast enhancement in tumors and its additional value in previously considered MR imaging parameters with regard to local control of laryngeal cancer treated with radiation therapy (RT) alone.

Materials And Methods: Pretreatment MR images of 64 consecutive patients (54 men and 10 women, 43-80 years of age) with supraglottic and glottic cancer were retrospectively reviewed on clinical and previously considered MR imaging parameters such as tumor involvement of specific laryngeal anatomic subsites, including laryngeal cartilages, tumor volume, extralaryngeal tumor spread, and, in addition, the degree of contrast enhancement. Clinical and MR imaging parameters were associated with regard to local control at 2 years by using the Cox regression model.

Waiting for elective surgery: effect on physical problems and postoperative recovery.

Background: Long waiting times for elective surgery pose a threat to the quality of care. Our study aimed to assess (i) the physical symptoms and disabilities patients experience during the wait, (ii) the perceived improvements after surgery and (iii) whether problems increase during the wait or longer waits affect postoperative outcomes.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study with postoperative follow up was held among patients waiting for surgery of varicose veins (n = 176), inguinal hernia (n = 201) and gallstones (n = 128) in 27 hospitals.

The effectiveness of a work style intervention and a lifestyle physical activity intervention on the recovery from neck and upper limb symptoms in computer workers.

This study assessed the effectiveness of a single intervention targeting work style and a combined intervention targeting work style and physical activity on the recovery from neck and upper limb symptoms. Computer workers with frequent or long-term neck and upper limb symptoms were randomised into the work style group (WS, n=152), work style and physical activity group (WSPA, n=156), or usual care group (n=158). The WS and WSPA group attended six group meetings.

Visual Functioning Questionnaire: reevaluation of psychometric properties for a group of working-age adults.

Purpose: The Visual Functioning Questionnaire (VFQ-25) is one of the most widely used measures of vision-related quality of life. However, the questionnaire does not meet some psychometric quality criteria. The objectives of this study were first to obtain the factor structure of the VFQ-25, and second, to obtain interval scales by Rasch analysis.

Applying multilevel item response theory to vision-related quality of life in Dutch visually impaired elderly.

Purpose: Instead of applying the usual longitudinal methods to assess the outcome of low-vision rehabilitation services in terms of vision-related quality of life, a three-level Item Response Theory (IRT) method was proposed.

Methods: The translated Vision-Related Quality of Life Core Measure (VCM1) and Low Vision Quality Of Life (LVQOL) questionnaires were used in a nonrandomized follow-up study among elderly patients (n = 296) referred to two different low-vision rehabilitation services in the Netherlands. Factor analysis was performed on the matrix of polychoric correlations to investigate (uni-)dimensionality and to prepare both questionnaires for the multilevel IRT analyses.

The benefits outweigh the risks for patients undergoing chiropractic care for neck pain: a prospective, multicenter, cohort study.

Objective: This study describes both positive clinical outcomes and adverse events in patients treated for neck pain by a chiropractor.

Methods: This study was a prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study. Patients with neck pain of any duration who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were recruited in a practice-based study.

Waiting for elective general surgery: impact on health related quality of life and psychosocial consequences.

Background: Long waiting times for elective surgical treatment threaten timely care provision in several countries. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of waiting for elective general surgery on the quality of life and psychosocial health of patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study with postoperative follow-up was performed among patients on waiting lists for surgical treatment of varicose veins (n = 176), inguinal hernia (n = 201), and gallstones (n = 128) in 27 hospitals.

Variable selection under multiple imputation using the bootstrap in a prognostic study.

Background: Missing data is a challenging problem in many prognostic studies. Multiple imputation (MI) accounts for imputation uncertainty that allows for adequate statistical testing. We developed and tested a methodology combining MI with bootstrapping techniques for studying prognostic variable selection.

Magnetization transfer ratio measurement in multiple sclerosis normal-appearing brain tissue: limited differences with controls but relationships with clinical and MR measures of disease.

We investigated the magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) of normal-appearing white (NAWM) and grey matter (NAGM) in a relatively large group of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, and the relations of MTR changes with clinical disability. MTR was measured in 66 MS patients (12 PP, 35 RR, 19 SP) and 23 healthy controls, using a whole-brain 3D-FLASH technique corrected post-hoc for B1-induced variation. Histogram parameters of conservatively selected NAWM and cortical NAGM were analysed using Bonferroni-corrected ANOVA with age as covariate.

Varus-valgus motion and functional ability in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Objective: To assess the relationship between knee varus-valgus motion and functional ability, and the impact of knee varus-valgus motion on the relationship between muscle strength and functional ability in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.

Methods: Sixty-three patients with knee OA were tested. Varus-valgus motion was assessed by optoelectronic recording and three-dimensional motion analysis.

Prospective longitudinal study of gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy.

Objectives: To describe the course of gross motor function over 2 years in children with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 9 to 15 years, and to investigate its relationship with impairments and age.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Rehabilitation department of a university medical center in the Netherlands.

Eye size in retinoblastoma: MR imaging measurements in normal and affected eyes.

Purpose: To evaluate eye size retrospectively by using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to measure axial length (AL), equatorial diameter (ED), and eye volume (EV) in patients with retinoblastoma and to evaluate the possible effect of retinoblastoma on eye size.

Materials And Methods: Local ethics committee approval was obtained with waiver of informed consent. MR images of 100 patients with retinoblastoma (50 girls, 50 boys; mean age, 19 months; age range, 9 days to 68 months) were scored by one observer (AL, ED, EV, and tumor volume measurements), with a second observer reviewing all measurements.

MR imaging predictors of local control of glottic squamous cell carcinoma treated with radiation alone.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the prognostic significance of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-determined tumor parameters, especially the presence of cartilage invasion, regarding local control of glottic squamous cell carcinoma treated with radiation therapy (RT) alone.

Materials And Methods: The study was performed with the approval of our institutional review board; direct patient consent was waived. Pretreatment MR images of 118 patients aged 41-86 years (110 men, eight women) with glottic carcinoma treated with RT alone were reviewed for tumor involvement of specific laryngeal anatomic subsites (including laryngeal cartilage), tumor volume, and extralaryngeal tumor spread; these findings were compared with local control.