Publications by authors named "Ljm Smits"

Objective: This study evaluates the effectiveness of calcium supplementation as a preventive measure for pregnant women with insufficient calcium intake, examining adherence to the recommended 1000 mg daily intake and identifying influencing factors.

Methods: A survey (Expect cohort II, n = 823) evaluated calcium adherence among pregnant women, followed by interviews with sixteen purposefully selected participants. Verbatim transcripts were independently analyzed to identify key themes.

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Most published prediction models for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) were poorly reported, at high risk of bias, and heterogeneous in model performance. To tackle methodological challenges faced in previous prediction studies, we investigated whether model updating and extending improves mortality prediction, using the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as a proxy. All COVID-19 patients admitted to seven ICUs in the Euregio-Meuse Rhine during the first pandemic wave were included.

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Introduction: Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is a relatively rare yet aggressive malignancy, primarily affecting regions of East and Southeast Asia. This study aims at providing an up-to-date quantification of the association between cigarette smoking and NPC risk, overall and by histological subsites.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies on the association between cigarette smoking and NPC risk published up to May 2023.

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Introduction: Tobacco-related diseases have a substantial economic impact in terms of medical expenses, loss of productivity, and premature death. Tobacco use is estimated to be responsible for more than 90000 deaths each year in Italy. We aimed to evaluate the annual direct economic impact on the National Health System of hospitalizations attributable to tobacco smoking in Italy.

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Background: Continuous support during labor has many benefits including lower use of obstetrical interventions. However, implementation remains limited. Insights into birth outcomes and peripartum costs are essential to assess whether continuous care by a maternity care assistant is a potentially (cost) effective program to provide for all women.

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Objective: Current obstetric guidelines for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) vary in fluid resuscitation management. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of fluid management on coagulation parameters in early PPH.

Methods: We performed a multicenter, randomized trial.

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Background: Low-dose aspirin treatment reduces the risk of preeclampsia among high-risk pregnant women. Internationally, several first-trimester risk-calculation methods are applied.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the costs and benefits of different first-trimester preeclampsia risk estimation algorithms: EXPECT (an algorithmic prediction model based on maternal characteristics), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (a checklist of risk factors), and the Fetal Medicine Foundation (a prediction model using additional uterine artery Doppler measurement and laboratory testing) models, coupled with low-dose aspirin treatment, in comparison with no risk assessment.

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Article Synopsis
  • Preeclampsia is a serious condition affecting pregnant women, and the study aimed to explore if calcium-based antacids and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) could lower its risk.
  • The study involved over 9,000 pregnant women and analyzed their use of these medications at different stages of pregnancy to see if there were any associations with late-onset preeclampsia.
  • Ultimately, the results indicated that neither calcium-based antacids nor PPIs were effective in reducing the risk of late-onset preeclampsia during pregnancy.
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Objectives: Many prediction models for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been developed. External validation is mandatory before implementation in the intensive care unit (ICU). We selected and validated prognostic models in the Euregio Intensive Care COVID (EICC) cohort.

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Objectives: To evaluate the effect of incorporating calcium advice into early pregnancy counseling on calcium intake during pregnancy in the Netherlands.

Methods: A multicenter prospective before-after cohort study was conducted introducing risk-based care including calculating individual pre-eclampsia risk. Part of the intervention was to incorporate calcium advice into routine counseling.

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Rupture of a vulnerable carotid plaque is an important cause of ischemic stroke. Prediction models can support medical decision-making by estimating individual probabilities of future events, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide detailed information on plaque vulnerability. In this review, prediction models for medium to long-term (>90 days) prediction of recurrent ischemic stroke among patients on best medical treatment for carotid stenosis are evaluated, and the emerging role of MRI of the carotid plaque for personalized ischemic stroke prediction is discussed.

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Background: Evidence for optimal hemostatic resuscitation in postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is lacking. Liberal fluid administration may result in acidosis, hypothermia and coagulopathy.

Objective: We hypothesize that in early PPH a restrictive fluid administration results in less progression to moderate PPH.

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Objective: The best screening strategy for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains a topic of debate. Several organizations made a statement in favor of universal screening, but the volume of oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) required may burden healthcare systems. As a result, many countries still rely on selective screening using a checklist of risk factors, but reported diagnostic characteristics vary.

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Background: Pre-eclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Early identification of women at risk during pregnancy is required to plan management. Although there are many published prediction models for pre-eclampsia, few have been validated in external data.

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Objective: To review and appraise the validity and usefulness of published and preprint reports of prediction models for diagnosing coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) in patients with suspected infection, for prognosis of patients with covid-19, and for detecting people in the general population at increased risk of covid-19 infection or being admitted to hospital with the disease.

Design: Living systematic review and critical appraisal by the COVID-PRECISE (Precise Risk Estimation to optimise covid-19 Care for Infected or Suspected patients in diverse sEttings) group.

Data Sources: PubMed and Embase through Ovid, up to 1 July 2020, supplemented with arXiv, medRxiv, and bioRxiv up to 5 May 2020.

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Background: Obstetric health care relies on an adequate antepartum risk selection. Most guidelines used for risk stratification, however, do not assess absolute risks. In 2017, a prediction tool was implemented in a Dutch region.

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Introduction: We performed an independent validation study of all published first trimester prediction models, containing non-invasive predictors, for the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, the clinical potential of the best performing models was evaluated.

Material And Methods: Systemically selected prediction models from the literature were validated in a Dutch prospective cohort using data from Expect Study I and PRIDE Study.

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Introduction: Low-dose aspirin (LDA) prophylaxis has been shown to reduce women's preeclampsia risk. Evidence regarding LDA adherence rates of pregnant women is based almost exclusively on clinical trials, giving a potentially biased picture. Moreover, these studies do not report on determinants of adherence.

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Background: Satisfaction of pregnancy and childbirth is an important quality measure of maternity care. Satisfaction questionnaires generally result in high scores. However, it has been argued that dissatisfaction relies on a different construct.

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. Despite improved management, preeclampsia remains an important cause of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. Low-dose aspirin (LDA) lowers the risk of preeclampsia.

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Study Question: Do embryo culture media used during an IVF/ICSI treatment have an effect on cognitive development of singleton IVF children at 9 years of age?

Summary Answer: Cognitive development of children born after culture in two different embryo culture media is comparable.

What Is Known Already: Previously, we have shown that the culture medium used in an IVF/ICSI treatment affects birthweight and weight at 2 years of age after alternating assignment to embryo culture in either K-SCICM (Cook) or G1™ Version 3 (Vitrolife). Children with low birthweight are known to have an increased risk for learning disabilities.

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Purpose: Adequate calcium intake during pregnancy is of major importance for the health of both mother and fetus. Up to date, evidence on the prevalence of inadequate calcium intake among pregnant women is sparse for Western countries, and it is unknown to what extent inadequate dietary calcium intake is adequately balanced by supplement use. The objective of this study was to estimate calcium intake from diet and supplement use during the early pregnancy in The Netherlands.

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Background: The effect of vitamin B-12 from different animal foods on vitamin B-12 biomarker status has not previously been evaluated in pregnant women.

Objective: We examined the association of vitamin B-12 intake from dairy, meat, fish (including shellfish), and eggs with circulating concentrations of vitamin B-12 biomarkers and with the presence of vitamin B-12 deficiency in 1266 pregnant women participating in the KOALA Birth Cohort Study.

Methods: Blood samples were collected in weeks 34-36 of pregnancy, and vitamin B-12 intake from foods and supplements was estimated with a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ).

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