Pulmonary function in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: an explorative study of a wearable smart shirt as a measurement instrument.

Purpose: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) presents various challenges, including respiratory symptoms that impact pulmonary function. This study aims to explore the feasibility of using a smart shirt for continuous monitoring of lung volumes and heart rate during routine activities in AIS patients.

Methods: A single-center exploratory feasibility study was conducted with AIS patients aged 16-22 years with a thoracic curvature of ≥ 30 degrees and absence of respiratory comorbidities.

Diagnostic accuracy of the Dutch version of the 4AT for delirium detection in a mixed patient population and setting.

Background: Delirium is an acute disturbance in attention, awareness and cognition. Immediate detection in older adults is recommended because delirium is associated with adverse outcomes. The 4 'A's Test (4AT) is a short screening instrument for delirium.

Incidental Adrenal Nodules in Patients Without Known Malignancy: Prevalence of Malignancy and Utility of Washout CT for Characterization-A Multiinstitutional Study.

Washout CT is commonly used to evaluate indeterminate adrenal nodules, although its diagnostic performance is poorly established in true adrenal incidentalomas. The purpose of this study was to compare, in patients without a known malignancy history, the prevalence of malignancy for incidental adrenal nodules with unenhanced attenuation more than 10 HU that do and do not show absolute washout of 60% or more, thereby determining the diagnostic performance of washout CT for differentiating benign from malignant incidental adrenal nodules. This retrospective six-institution study included 299 patients (mean age, 57.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of dynamic bracing versus standard care alone in patients suffering from osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: protocol for a multicentre, two-armed, parallel-group randomised controlled trial with 12 months of follow-up.

Introduction: Patients with osteoporosis may suffer from a fracture after minimal trauma. Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) are among the most common fractures, often leading to substantial pain. There is a need for evidence-based conservative treatment to aid in the management of OVCFs.

Pulmonary symptoms in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a systematic review to identify patient-reported and clinical measurement instruments.

Study Design: Systematic review.

Purpose: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a deformity of the trunk and chest and can cause a spectrum of pulmonary symptoms. However, no standardized measurement instrument exists.

Standard set of network outcomes for traumatic spinal cord injury: a consensus-based approach using the Delphi method.

Study Design: Consensus study.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to define a standardized (network) outcomes set for traumatic spinal cord injury (t-SCI), covering the patient journey from acute to chronic rehabilitation phase, including patient-relevant outcomes, adequate measurement instruments, as well as case-mix and risk factors.

Setting: Acute Spinal Cord Injury (ASCI) Unit Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

Adding non-contrast and delayed phases increases the diagnostic performance of arterial CTA for suspected active lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Objectives: When assessing for lower gastrointestinal bleed (LGIB) using CTA, many advocate for acquiring non-contrast and delayed phases in addition to an arterial phase to improve diagnostic performance though the potential benefit of this approach has not been fully characterized. We evaluate diagnostic accuracy among radiologists when using single-phase, biphasic, and triphasic CTA in active LGIB detection.

Method And Materials: A random experimental block design was used where 3 blinded radiologists specialty trained in interventional radiology retrospectively interpreted 96 CTA examinations completed between Oct 2012 and Oct 2017 using (1) arterial only, (2) arterial/non-contrast, and (3) arterial/non-contrast/delayed phase configurations.

Supine Traction Versus Prone Bending Radiographs for Assessing the Curve Flexibility in Spinal Deformity.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: No consensus exists among surgeons on which radiologic method to prefer for the assessment of curve flexibility in spinal deformity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the difference in curve correction on supine traction radiographs versus prone side bending radiographs.

Clinical relevance of occipital condyle fractures.

Context: No consensus about classification, treatment, and clinical relevance of occipital condyle fractures (OCFs) exists.

Aims: The aim of the study was to determine radiological, clinical, and functional outcome of OCFs and thereby determine its clinical relevance.

Settings And Design: This was a retrospective analysis of a prospective follow-up study.

Screening instruments for cognitive impairment in older patients in the Emergency Department: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: cognitive impairment is highly prevalent among older patients attending the Emergency Department (ED) and is associated with adverse outcomes.

Methods: we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of cognitive screening instruments to rule out cognitive impairment in older patients in the ED. A comprehensive literature search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and CENTRAL.

[Dysphagia caused by osteophytes of the cervical spine].

Background: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a systemic condition characterised by ossification of the ligaments around the spinal column due to unknown aetiology. This is often asymptomatic, but it can cause dysphagia in rare cases.

Case Description: A 64-year-old man was referred to the ENT department with progressive dysphagia symptoms he had had for years.

The Natural History of Progression in Adult Spinal Deformity: A Radiographic Analysis.

Study Design: Historical cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate progression in the coronal and sagittal planes in nonsurgical patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of nonsurgical ASD patients between 2005 and 2017 was performed.

Long - Term survivorship and clinical and radiological follow - up of the primary uncemented Delta III reverse shoulder prosthesis.

Background: Purpose of this study was to evaluate the long - term survivorship and clinical and radiological results of a primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) performed with uncemented stems.

Methods: From 2001 until 2006 61 primary uncemented RTSAs were implanted, which were included in a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Range of motion, functional scores and radiological follow - up was obtained.

[Factors influencing the referral of nursing home patients to the hospital].

Introduction: Hospitalisation may cause negative effects on elderly patients. Therefore, it is important that referral and admission of older nursing home patients is well-considered. The aim of this study is to investigate the factors that affect the decision making process.

[Factors influencing professional decision making on acute hospital referral in the case of elderly patients with cognitive impairment among general practitioners (GPs) in The Netherlands: a qualitative study].

Background: Elderly patients with cognitive impairment have a limited life expectancy and are often acutely admitted to the hospital. Hospitalization can negatively affect their quality of life. More knowledge on considerations prior to these referrals is needed to improve care for these patients.

Hospital at Home care for older patients with cognitive impairment: a protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial.

Introduction: An acute hospital admission is a stressful life event for older people, particularly for those with cognitive impairment. The hospitalisation is often complicated by hospital-associated geriatric syndromes, including delirium and functional loss, leading to functional decline and nursing home admission. Hospital at Home care aims to avoid hospitalisation-associated adverse outcomes in older patients with cognitive impairment by providing hospital care in the patient's own environment.

Dried blood spots from finger prick facilitate therapeutic drug monitoring of adalimumab and anti-adalimumab in patients with inflammatory diseases.

Aims: Development of a self-sampling method for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of biologicals will enhance TDM implementation in routine care and pharmacokinetic knowledge. The aim of this study was to compare adalimumab and anti-adalimumab antibody (ADA) concentration measurements in dried blood spots (DBS) obtained from finger prick with measurements in serum obtained via venepuncture, from patients with rheumatic inflammatory diseases.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 161 consecutive patients were included.

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Biopharmaceuticals May Benefit From Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Modeling.

Biopharmaceuticals, especially monoclonal antibodies, have been increasingly used to treat several chronic inflammatory diseases. Due to the complexity of their pharmacokinetics and concentration-effect relationship, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) has been used to optimize their dosing regimen. Up to date, several decisional algorithms have been developed to provide tools for monoclonal antibodies' therapeutic drug monitoring.

The effect of radiotherapy, and radiotherapy combined with bisphosphonates or RANK ligand inhibitors on bone quality in bone metastases. A systematic review.

Purpose: The role of radiotherapy in stabilizing metastatic bones is unclear. This systematic review assessed the effects of (1) radiotherapy, (2) radiotherapy combined with bisphosphonates, and (3) radiotherapy combined with RANK ligand (RANKL) inhibitors on bone quality and bone strength in bone metastases originating from solid tumors.

Methods: Pubmed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were searched.

Developing a Therapeutic Range of Adalimumab Serum Concentrations in Management of Psoriasis: A Step Toward Personalized Treatment.

Importance: Adalimumab has proven to be effective in suppressing psoriasis disease activity and is administered in a standard dose.

Objective: To establish a therapeutic range for adalimumab trough levels in the treatment of plaque-type psoriasis, leading to a more personalized treatment.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A multicenter, prospective, observational, daily practice cohort study conducted at an academic hospital with affiliated secondary care hospitals in Belgium (cohort 1) and 2 academic hospitals in the Netherlands (cohort 2).

Structural biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid within 24 h after a traumatic spinal cord injury: a descriptive analysis of 16 subjects.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Objectives: To characterize the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of glial fibrillary acidic protein, neuron specific enolase (NSE), S-100β, tau and neurofilament heavy chain (NFH) within 24 h of an acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), and to correlate these concentrations with the baseline severity of neurologic impairment as graded by the American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale (AIS).

Methods: A lumbar puncture was performed to obtain CSF from 16 acute traumatic SCI patients within 24 h post injury.

The Dutch hospital standardised mortality ratio (HSMR) method and cardiac surgery: benchmarking in a national cohort using hospital administration data versus a clinical database.

Objective: To compare the accuracy of data from hospital administration databases and a national clinical cardiac surgery database and to compare the performance of the Dutch hospital standardised mortality ratio (HSMR) method and the logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation, for the purpose of benchmarking of mortality across hospitals.

Methods: Information on all patients undergoing cardiac surgery between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2010 in 10 centres was extracted from The Netherlands Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery database and the Hospital Discharge Registry. The number of cardiac surgery interventions was compared between both databases.

Key findings towards optimising adalimumab treatment: the concentration-effect curve.

Objective: To determine a concentration-effect curve of adalimumab in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients taking into account the effect of methotrexate (MTX) on concentration and effect and to identify a therapeutic range for adalimumab concentrations.

Methods: In a prospective observational cohort study, 221 consecutive patients with RA were treated with 40 mg adalimumab subcutaneously every other week. The relationship between adalimumab trough level and clinical efficacy after 28 weeks of follow-up was determined in a concentration-effect curve.

Including post-discharge mortality in calculation of hospital standardised mortality ratios: retrospective analysis of hospital episode statistics.

Objectives: To assess the consequences of applying different mortality timeframes on standardised mortality ratios of individual hospitals and, secondarily, to evaluate the association between in-hospital standardised mortality ratios and early post-discharge mortality rate, length of hospital stay, and transfer rate.

Design: Retrospective analysis of routinely collected hospital data to compare observed deaths in 50 diagnostic categories with deaths predicted by a case mix adjustment method.

Setting: 60 Dutch hospitals.