DELirium treatment with Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (DELTES): study protocol for a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled trial.

Introduction: Delirium, a clinical manifestation of acute encephalopathy, is associated with extended hospitalisation, long-term cognitive dysfunction, increased mortality and high healthcare costs. Despite intensive research, there is still no targeted treatment. Delirium is characterised by electroencephalography (EEG) slowing, increased relative delta power and decreased functional connectivity.

Inter- and Intrarater Agreement of CT Brain Calcification Scoring in Primary Familial Brain Calcification.

Background And Purpose: The total calcification score (TCS) is a visual rating scale to measure primary familial brain calcification (PFBC)-related calcification severity on CT. We investigated the inter- and intrarater agreement of a modified TCS.

Materials And Methods: Patients aged ≥18 years with PFBC or Fahr syndrome who visited the outpatient clinic of a Dutch academic hospital were included.

Reframing Communication about Fall Prevention Programs to Increase Older Adults' Intentions to Participate.

Introduction: Falls and fall-related injuries in community-dwelling older adults are a growing global health concern. Despite effective exercise-based fall prevention programs (FPPs), low enrollment rates persist due to negative connotations associated with falls and aging. This study aimed to investigate whether positive framing in communication leads to a higher intention to participate in an FPP among community-dwelling older adults.

Infectious Diseases and Basal Ganglia Calcifications: A Cross-Sectional Study in Patients with Fahr's Disease and Systematic Review.

It is unclear whether patients with basal ganglia calcifications (BGC) should undergo infectious disease testing as part of their diagnostic work-up. We investigated the occurrence of possibly associated infections in patients with BGC diagnosed with Fahr's disease or syndrome and consecutively performed a systematic review of published infectious diseases associated with BGC. In a cross-sectional study, we evaluated infections in non-immunocompromised patients aged ≥ 18 years with BGC in the Netherlands, who were diagnosed with Fahr's disease or syndrome after an extensive multidisciplinary diagnostic work-up.

The Association between Intracranial Calcifications and Symptoms in Patients with Primary Familial Brain Calcification.

(1) Background: Primary Familial Brain Calcification (PFBC) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by bilateral calcifications of the basal ganglia and other intracranial areas. Many patients experience symptoms of motor dysfunction and cognitive disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the amount and location of intracranial calcifications with these symptoms.

The effects of etidronate on brain calcifications in Fahr's disease or syndrome: rationale and design of the randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind CALCIFADE trial.

Background: Fahr's disease and syndrome are rare disorders leading to calcification of the small arteries in the basal ganglia of the brain, resulting in a wide range of symptoms comprising cognitive decline, movement disorders and neuropsychiatric symptoms. No disease-modifying therapies are available. Studies have shown the potential of treatment of ectopic vascular calcifications with bisphosphonates.

Association between perioperative statin treatment and short-term clinical outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Studies have found statin treatment to be associated with improved 1-year survival after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), suggesting pleiotropic effects of statins on preventing perioperative complications. Statin treatment is not associated with postoperative cardiovascular complications or mortality; however, other postoperative complications have not been investigated.

Aim: To explore whether preoperative statin treatment is associated with a lower short-term risk of mortality, readmission and major postoperative complications in older patients undergoing TAVI.

Symptomatic benefits of testosterone treatment in patient subgroups: a systematic review, individual participant data meta-analysis, and aggregate data meta-analysis.

Background: Testosterone replacement therapy is known to improve sexual function in men younger than 40 years with pathological hypogonadism. However, the extent to which testosterone alleviates sexual dysfunction in older men and men with obesity is unclear, despite the fact that testosterone is being increasingly prescribed to these patient populations. We aimed to evaluate whether subgroups of men with low testosterone derive any symptomatic benefit from testosterone treatment.

Impact of geriatric co-management on outcomes in hospitalised cardiology patients aged 85 and over.

Objective: Cardiovascular disease and frailty are common among the population aged 85+. We hypothesised these patients might benefit from geriatric co-management, as has been shown in other frail patient populations. However, there is limited evidence supporting geriatric co-management in older, hospitalised cardiology patients.

The association between preoperative multidisciplinary team care and patient outcome in frail patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of preoperative multidisciplinary team (MDT) care on perioperative management and outcomes of frail patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Background: Frail patients are at increased risk for complications and poor functional outcome after cardiac surgery. In these patients, preoperative MDT care may improve outcomes.

Advanced glycation end products for preoperative frailty screening in older cardiac surgery patients.

Background: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are potential biomarkers of biological age. Skin Auto Fluorescence (SAF) can assess AGEs non-invasively. We evaluated the association of SAF levels with frailty and its predictive ability for adverse outcomes in older cardiac surgery patients.

Cohort profile: the Utrecht Cardiovascular Cohort-Second Manifestations of Arterial Disease (UCC-SMART) Study-an ongoing prospective cohort study of patients at high cardiovascular risk in the Netherlands.

Purpose: The Utrecht Cardiovascular Cohort-Second Manifestations of Arterial Disease (UCC-SMART) Study is an ongoing prospective single-centre cohort study with the aim to assess important determinants and the prognosis of cardiovascular disease progression. This article provides an update of the rationale, design, included patients, measurements and findings from the start in 1996 to date.

Participants: The UCC-SMART Study includes patients aged 18-90 years referred to the University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands, for management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or severe cardiovascular risk factors.

Hyperpolypharmacy is a predictor of mortality after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation.

Background: The prevalence of (hyper)polypharmacy in patients on left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support and its effect on clinical outcomeis unknown. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence of (hyper)polypharmacy in LVAD patients and evaluate its association with mortality and complications.

Materials And Methods: 210 patients aged ≥40 years who received a primary LVAD implantation between 2011 and 2019 were included for analysis.

A meta-analysis on the role older adults with cancer favour in treatment decision making.

Introduction: In the complex setting of oncological treatment decision making, balancing professional guidance while respecting patient involvement can be a challenge. We set out to assess the role adults with cancer favour in treatment decision making (TDM), including differences across age groups and change over time.

Materials And Methods: A systematic search was performed in MEDLINE and Embase, for studies on role preference of (older) adults with cancer in oncological treatment decision making.

The impact of surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy on health-related quality of life in patients with colon cancer: Changes at group level versus individual level.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate changes in health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) 1 year after surgical treatment in patients with primary resectable colon cancer and to assess whether changes at group level differ from changes at individual level. In addition, we assess which characteristics are associated with a decline of HR-QoL.

Methods: Patients with primary resectable colon cancer who received surgical treatment and adjuvant chemotherapy if indicated were selected from the Prospective Dutch ColoRectal Cancer cohort (PLCRC).

Prevalence and Association of Basal Ganglia Calcifications and Depressive Symptoms in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment or Dementia.

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between basal ganglia calcification (BGC) and depressive symptoms within older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia.

Methods: For this cross-sectional study, we included patients with MCI or dementia who visited the memory clinic between April 2009 and April 2015. All patients underwent a standard diagnostic workup, including assessment of depressive symptoms with the Geriatric Depression Scale and computed tomography imaging of the brain.

The impact of frailty on adverse outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement in older adults: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an effective alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement for patients who are at increased surgical risk. Consequently, frailty is common in patients undergoing TAVR.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the impact of frailty on outcomes following TAVR.

Serum biomarkers for arterial calcification in humans: A systematic review.

Aim: To clarify the role of mediators of ectopic mineralization as biomarkers for arterial calcifications.

Methods: MEDLINE and Embase were searched for relevant literature, until January 4th 2022. The investigated biomarkers were: calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone, vitamin D, pyrophosphate, osteoprotegerin, receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL), fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), Klotho, osteopontin, osteocalcin, Matrix Gla protein (MGP) and its inactive forms and vitamin K.

[Fall prevention in older adults: what if the physician's and the patient's risk evaluation vary?].

Falls may lead to functional impairment, fear of falling, decreased quality of life, high health care costs and mortality. A case of an older adult presented in this article, illustrates the multifactorial nature of risk of falling and fall prevention strategies. Recently, meta-analyses were performed to determine the effectiveness of interventions to prevent falls and to explore the effect of intervention components in reducing fear of falling.

Adverse cardiovascular events and mortality in men during testosterone treatment: an individual patient and aggregate data meta-analysis.

Background: Testosterone is the standard treatment for male hypogonadism, but there is uncertainty about its cardiovascular safety due to inconsistent findings. We aimed to provide the most extensive individual participant dataset (IPD) of testosterone trials available, to analyse subtypes of all cardiovascular events observed during treatment, and to investigate the effect of incorporating data from trials that did not provide IPD.

Methods: We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials including IPD.