Using the Robson Classification to Explain the Fluctuations in Cesarean Section.

Purpose: As the rate of cesarean sections (CS) continues to rise in Flanders (northern part of Belgium), it is important to understand the reasons behind this evolution and to find ways to achieve appropriate CS rates. For this analysis, we categorized CS changes between 1992 and 2016, applying the Robson 10-Group Classification System (TGCS). We also applied the TGCS to analyze the information of the only clinics where between 2008 and 2016, the absolute CS rate had fallen by more than two percent.

Differences in triage and medical confidentiality between prisons of Belgium and the Netherlands.

: The aim of this study is to describe the opinions of prison doctors, and to compare the primary health care in prisons between Belgium and the Netherlands.: Structured interviews, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, were conducted with prison doctors in Dutch-speaking prisons in Flanders/Belgium and in the Netherlands. Two investigators analysed the content of the interviews and discussed each individual interview.

Speech Characteristics in Female Students Training to Be Speech-Language Pathologists.

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the speech characteristics regarding speech intelligibility, voice, articulation, and fluency in future speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Additionally, in 31 SLP students the differences in speech characteristics between the first bachelor and the master year were measured.

Participants And Methods: The data of the screening assessments of 600 future SLPs (mean age: 18.

Mohs micrographic surgery for basal cell carcinoma: evaluation of the indication criteria and predictive factors for extensive subclinical spread.

Background: The incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is rising and BCC treatment has an important impact on healthcare budget. Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) has the highest 5-year cure rate but is an expensive technique.

Objectives: To study the indication criteria for MMS, using a series of 1062 patients treated for facial BCCs between 1998 and 2011.

Effects of Whole Body Vibration in Patients With COPD.

Background: Whole body vibration training (WBVT) improves muscle force in healthy subjects. Resistance training (RT) is an important component of a pulmonary program.

Aim: To investigate the effects of either 12 weeks WBVT or RT, both provided after 15 min of aerobic training as warming up.

Internal Spermatic Vein Insufficiency in Varicoceles: A Different Entity in Adults and Adolescents?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether phlebographic features can be used to discriminate adult from adolescent varicocele.

Materials And Methods: Left and right internal spermatic venograms of 191 adolescents (< 17 years) and 224 adults (≥ 25 years) were anonymized and evaluated. Phlebographic radioanatomic features (valves, duplications, collaterals, and classifications) were compared and analyzed with univariate tests.

Rehabilitation in patients with radically treated respiratory cancer: A randomised controlled trial comparing two training modalities.

Introduction: The evidence on the effectiveness of rehabilitation in lung cancer patients is limited. Whole body vibration (WBV) has been proposed as an alternative to conventional resistance training (CRT).

Methods: We investigated the effect of radical treatment (RT) and of two rehabilitation programmes in lung cancer patients.

Impact of Vagal Nerve Stimulation on Objective Vocal Quality, a Pilot Study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) on the vocal quality using the dysphonia severity index (DSI). It was hypothesized that the objective vocal quality and other vocal characteristics are disordered in comparison with an age- and gender-matched control group. In addition, the acoustic vocal parameters were compared during three conditions: at rest, during normal stimulation, and raised stimulation.

Articulation and oromyofunctional behavior in children seeking orthodontic treatment.

Objectives: The purpose of this controlled study is to document articulation and oromyofunctional behavior in children seeking orthodontic treatment. In addition, relations between malocclusions, articulation, and oromyofunctional behavior are studied.

Materials And Methods: The study included 56 children seeking orthodontic treatment.

A short dermoscopy training increases diagnostic performance in both inexperienced and experienced dermatologists.

Dermoscopy is a clinical tool known to improve the early detection of melanoma and other malignancies of the skin, but only for experienced users. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of short (3-hour) dermoscopy training sessions in both residents and practicing dermatologists. The training improved diagnostic accuracy for both melanocytic and nonmelanocytic neoplasms of the skin and the observed effect was the highest for residents but was also significant for more experienced practicing dermatologists.

Analysis of potential factors affecting microbiological cultures in tissue donors during procurement.

During the procurement of musculoskeletal grafts contamination may occur. As this might be detrimental for the acceptor, it is important to know which variables influence this occurrence and to alter procurement protocols accordingly. From 2004 to 2012 we gathered information on 6,428 allografts obtained from 291 donors.

The effect of radical treatment and rehabilitation on muscle mass and strength: a randomized trial in stages I-III lung cancer patients.

Objectives: Little is known about the impact of an oncological treatment on muscle mass and strength in patients with lung cancer and the impact of a subsequent rehabilitation program. This study investigates the effect of radical treatment and post-treatment pulmonary rehabilitation on muscle mass and strength in patients with lung cancer and the relationship between muscle mass and strength.

Methods: Lung cancer patients, candidate for radical treatment, were randomly (2:1) allocated after radical treatment to either standard follow up (CON) or a 12-week rehabilitation training program (RT).

Tolerance of glue embolization under local anesthesia in varicoceles: a comparative study of two different cyanoacrylates.

Purpose: To find out whether in varicocele embolization the copolymer cyanoacrylate glue (NBCA-MS) has a better patient tolerance compared to the monomer n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA).

Materials And Methods: N=112 insufficient spermatic veins (left sided N=84, right sided N=28) diagnosed in N=83 adult males were prospectively randomized for blinded embolization with either NBCA N=54 (Histoacryl) or with NBCA-MS N=58 (Glubran2). Before, during and up to one week after embolization, patient discomfort was assessed by a standardized pain scale.

Evaluation of clinical pharmacist recommendations in the geriatric ward of a Belgian university hospital.

Objective: To evaluate the type, acceptance rate, and clinical relevance of clinical pharmacist recommendations at the geriatric ward of the Ghent university hospital.

Methods: The clinical pharmacist evaluated drug use during a weekly 2-hour visit for a period of 4 months and, if needed, made recommendations to the prescribing physician. The recommendations were classified according to type, acceptance by the physician, prescribed medication, and underlying drug-related problem.

Drug interactions and adverse drug reactions in the older patients admitted to the emergency department.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate drug interactions and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in the older patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) and to characterize risk factors.

Methods: In 80 patients aged 65 years and older medication history and ED drug administration were analysed. Medical records were analysed for ADRs by an expert panel which also evaluated their avoidability and causality.

Azithromycin for prevention of exacerbations in severe asthma (AZISAST): a multicentre randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Patients with severe asthma are at increased risk of exacerbations and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI). Severe asthma is heterogeneous, encompassing eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic (mainly neutrophilic) phenotypes. Patients with neutropilic airway diseases may benefit from macrolides.

Measuring the nursing workload per shift in the ICU.

Purpose: In the intensive care unit (ICU) different strategies and workload measurement tools exist to indicate the number of nurses needed. The gathered information is always focused on manpower needed per 24 h. However, a day consists of several shifts, which may be unequal in nursing workload.

In vitro validation and reliability study of electromagnetic skin sensors for evaluation of end range of motion positions of the hip.

There is growing evidence that femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a probable risk factor for the development of early osteoarthritis in the nondysplastic hip. As FAI arises with end range of motion activities, measurement errors related to skin movement might be higher than anticipated when using previously reported methods for kinematic evaluation of the hip. We performed an in vitro validation and reliability study of a noninvasive method to define pelvic and femur positions in end range of motion activities of the hip using an electromagnetic tracking device.

The use of hypnosedative drugs in a university hospital: has anything changed in 10 years?

Aim: Our goal was to investigate the use of hypnosedatives (HSs) before and during hospitalization, explore the relationship between their use and various demographic and clinical variables, and compare the results with data from a similar 2000 study with particular interest in adherence to hospital formulary guidelines.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational survey of 326 hospitalized patients recruited from ten wards of the Ghent University Hospital, Gent, Belgium, with a patient interview and by evaluating medical and nursing files.

Results: In 30.

What do standard radiography and clinical examination tell about the shoulder with cuff tear arthropathy?

Background: This study evaluates the preoperative conventional anteroposterior radiography and clinical testing in non-operated patients with cuff tear arthropathy. It analyses the radiological findings in relation to the status of the rotator cuff and clinical status as also the clinical testing in relation to the rotator cuff quality. The aim of the study is to define the usefulness of radiography and clinical examination in cuff tear arthropathy.

Citrulline levels in a paediatric age group: does measurement on dried blood spots have additional value?

Background: Citrulline is considered to be a marker of absorptive enterocyte mass. Citrulline levels can be measured in plasma or dried blood spot (DBS) samples. The purpose of this study is to calculate reference intervals for plasma and DBS citrulline concentrations in children and to examine the effect of age and gender.

Seizures and epilepsy in patients with a posterior circulation infarct.

Seizures occur mainly in patients with cortical infarcts in the anterior circulation. Those related to a posterior circulation infarct (POCI) are considered rare. This study investigated the characteristics of patients with seizures related to a POCI.

Radiographic analysis of extracorporeally irradiated autografts.

Objective: To analyse the long-term radiographic findings of intercalary, pure osteoarticular, and composite bone grafts in patients with primary bone sarcoma who were treated by reimplantation of the bone as an orthotopic autograft.

Materials And Methods: For this observational clinical study, 107 patients who presented with 108 malignant or locally aggressive benign bone tumours were treated by resection, extracorporeal irradiation (300 Gy), and reimplantation and fixation of the autograft. Bone healing features were evaluated with the International Society of Limb Salvage (ISOLS) graft evaluation method, which assesses fusion, resorption, fracture, graft shortening, fixation, subluxation, joint narrowing, and subchondral bone.