Publications by authors named "Olthof E"

Background: Computer-assisted screening (CAS) shows equal performance compared to manual screening, although results are heterogeneous. Furthermore, using CAS may save costs through a potentially increased screening productivity of technicians, therefore also offering a solution for temporary and structural capacity shortage. We evaluated the circumstances under which CAS will be cost-effective compared to manual cytology triage in a primary HPV-based cervical screening programme.

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Loss to follow-up (LTFU) within cervical screening programmes can result in missed clinically relevant lesions, potentially reducing programme effectiveness. To examine the health impact of losing women during the screening process, we determined the proportion of women LTFU per step of the Dutch hrHPV-based screening programme. We then determined the probability of being LTFU by age, screening history and sampling method (self- or clinician-sampled) using logistic regression analysis.

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Background: Modern treatment guidelines for women with advanced cervical cancer recommend staging using 2-deoxy-2-[F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission computed tomography ([F]FDG-PET/CT). However, the risk of false-positive nodes and therapy-related adverse events requires caution in treatment planning. Using data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR), we estimated the impact of [F]FDG-PET/CT on treatment management in women with locally advanced cervical cancer, i.

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Aim: To investigate and compare overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and toxicity of women who underwent either chemoradiotherapy with or without prior lymph node debulking or upfront chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy and hyperthermia (triple therapy) for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) to identify a potential role for triple therapy.

Methods: Women with histologically proven LACC and with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2009 stage IB2 and IIA2 to IVA were included. Cox regression analyses were used for calculating hazard ratios and to adjust for confounding variables.

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Article Synopsis
  • A retrospective study evaluated the effectiveness of MRI, CT, and [F]FDG-PET-CT in detecting lymph node involvement in early-stage cervical cancer using data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry.
  • The study included 1676 patients evaluated with MRI, 926 with CT, and 379 with [F]FDG-PET-CT, finding that [F]FDG-PET-CT had the highest sensitivity for detecting nodal metastases at 80%, compared to 48% and 40% for MRI and CT, respectively.
  • While [F]FDG-PET-CT outperformed MRI and CT in sensitivity, MRI and CT had higher specificity, indicating that [F]FDG-PET
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Objectives: Organisation of a screening programme influences programme resilience to a disruption as COVID-19. Due to COVID-19, the Dutch human papillomavirus-based cervical screening programme was temporarily suspended. Afterwards, multiple measures have been taken to catch-up participation.

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Background: Many European countries offer organised population-based breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening programmes. Around age 55 and 60, Dutch women are invited to all three screening programmes. We examined the extent to which participation concurs and identified factors influencing concurrent participation.

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Objective: Treatment strategies for bulky lymph nodes in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer scheduled for definitive chemoradiation include nodal boosting with radiotherapy, surgical debulking, or both. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to compare survival and toxicity in patients receiving these treatments and to compare them with a group that received neither form of treatment.

Methods: Women diagnosed between January 2009 and January 2017 with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2009 stage IB2, IIA2-IVA cervical cancer with lymph nodes ≥1.

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Introduction: To establish the impact of the number of lymph node metastases (nLNM) and the lymph node ratio (LNR) on survival in patients with early-stage cervical cancer after surgery.

Material And Methods: In this nationwide historical cohort study, all women diagnosed between 1995 and 2020 with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2009 stage IA2-IIA1 cervical cancer and nodal metastases after radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy from the Netherlands Cancer Registry were selected. Optimal cut-offs for prognostic stratification by nLNM and LNR were calculated to categorize patients into low-risk or high-risk groups.

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Upon discovery of lymph node metastasis during radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy in early-stage cervical cancer, the gynaecologist may pursue one of two treatment strategies: abandonment of surgery followed by primary (chemo)radiotherapy (PRT) or completion of radical hysterectomy, followed by adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy (RHRT). Current guidelines recommend PRT over RHRT, as combined treatment is presumably associated with increased morbidity. However, this review of literature suggests there are no significant differences in survival and recurrence and total proportions of adverse events between treatment strategies.

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Correct identification of patients with lymph node metastasis from cervical cancer prior to treatment is of great importance, because it allows more tailored therapy. Patients may be spared unnecessary surgery or extended field radiotherapy if the nodal status can be predicted correctly. This review captures the existing knowledge on the identification of lymph node metastases in cervical cancer.

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Non-genotoxic carcinogens (NGTXCs) do not cause direct DNA damage but induce cancer via other mechanisms. In risk assessment of chemicals and pharmaceuticals, carcinogenic risks are determined using carcinogenicity studies in rodents. With the aim to reduce animal testing, REACH legislation states that carcinogenicity studies are only allowed when specific concerns are present; risk assessment of compounds that are potentially carcinogenic by a non-genotoxic mode of action is usually based on subchronic toxicity studies.

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Background: Angioedema is a condition of acute and extensive fluid accumulation in skin or mucosae due to increased blood vessel permeability. Angioedema can have several causes, including pregnancy.

Case Description: A healthy 33-year-old pregnant woman had acute, substantial swelling of the labia minora with no other symptoms.

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Assessment of genotoxic and carcinogenic potential is considered one of the basic requirements when evaluating possible human health risks associated with exposure to chemicals. Test strategies currently in place focus primarily on identifying genotoxic potential due to the strong association between the accumulation of genetic damage and cancer. Using genotoxicity assays to predict carcinogenic potential has the significant drawback that risks from non-genotoxic carcinogens remain largely undetected unless carcinogenicity studies are performed.

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Background: Saturated medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) as part of the parenteral lipid regimen (50% MCT and 50% long chain triglycerides (LCT)) activate the immune system in vitro. Fish oil (FO)-derived n-3 fatty acids (FA) inhibit saturated FA-induced immune activation via a toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 mediated mechanism. We hypothesized that effects of parenteral MCTs on immune cells involve TLR-4 signaling and that these effects are modulated by n-3 FA that are present in FO.

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Background: Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) patients depend on lipid emulsions as part of their parenteral nutrition regimen to provide essential fatty acids (EFAs). Mixed-oil sources are used in modern lipid emulsions to decrease the amount of proinflammatory EFAs, mainly linoleic acid, which is present in large amounts in soybean oil. It is unknown whether patients who fully depend on such mixed lipids have adequate EFA supply.

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Background & Aims: Exact data on Dutch patients with chronic intestinal failure (CIF) and after intestinal transplantation (ITx) have been lacking. To improve standard care of these patients, a nationwide collaboration has been established. Objectives of this study were obtaining an up-to-date prevalence of CIF and characterizing these patients using the specially developed multicenter web-based Dutch Registry of Intestinal Failure and Intestinal Transplantation (DRIFT).

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Article Synopsis
  • Patients on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) are prone to catheter-related complications such as infections and occlusions, and a previous study showed that taurolidine is more effective than heparin in preventing these issues.
  • A study comparing data from 212 HPN patients found that switching to taurolidine for catheter locking led to significantly lower rates of bloodstream infections (0.2/year) and occlusions (0.1/year) compared to heparin (1.1/year and 0.2/year, respectively).
  • The results indicate that taurolidine is a more effective catheter lock solution, effectively reducing both bloodstream infections and occlusions in patients on HPN, without any other procedural changes influencing the results
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Article Synopsis
  • A study demonstrated that a catheter lock solution with taurolidine significantly reduces catheter-related bloodstream infections in patients receiving home parenteral nutrition compared to heparin.
  • Researchers tested different formulations of taurolidine, including those with citrate and heparin, to see their effects on various pathogens known to affect treatment.
  • The findings showed that all taurolidine solutions effectively prevented the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi, with 2% taurolidine being the most effective, though the clinical relevance of minor differences among the formulations is still unclear.
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Background & Aims: Some home parenteral nutrition (HPN) patients develop catheter related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) despite using an anti-microbial catheter lock solution taurolidine. The aim of this study was to assess whether long-term use of taurolidine leads to selective growth of microorganisms with increased taurolidine minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs).

Methods: Bloodstream infections among 158 HPN patients with long-term taurolidine catheter locking were analyzed retrospectively.

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Background & Aims: It remains unclear whether impaired host defenses contribute to the increased risk for infectious complications seen in patients on home parenteral nutrition (HPN). The aim of this study was to compare the innate immune function of patients on olive oil-based HPN with that of healthy controls.

Methods: Innate immune functions and (anti-)oxidant balance were studied in 20 patients on olive oil-based HPN without an active underlying immune-mediated disease (Clinoleic(®), ≥ 6 months; >3 times/week), and 21 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

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