Insights into cultural and compliance challenges in type 2 diabetes care: A qualitative study of Moroccan and Belgian patients in Belgium.

Aims: To explore factors that may contribute to a possible reduced compliance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with a migrant (i.e. North African) background living in a western society.

Evaluating structure and content of parent-implemented early logopaedic intervention models following the three stages of communicative development in children with cleft lip and/or palate: Systematic literature review with narrative synthesis.

Background: The development of communication, speech and language follows three stages (development of the parent-child relationship, interactions and actual speech and language acquisition). Children born with cleft lip and/or palate are at increased risk of communicative problems while parents may be going through an emotionally difficult time. Early parent-implemented logopaedic intervention that supports both parents and child is important.

Patient-reported outcome measures on mental health and psychosocial factors in patients with Brugada syndrome.

Aims: Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a hereditary arrhythmic disease, associated with sudden cardiac death. To date, little is known about the psychosocial correlates and impacts associated with this disease. The aim of this study was to assess a set of patient-reported psychosocial outcomes, to better profile these patients, and to propose a tailored psychosocial care.

Threat through the Screen? Association between Proximity and/or Watching Media Coverage of a Terrorist Attack and Health.

Introduction: After terrorist attacks, media coverage of the attacks is extensive. There are some indications that there is an association between watching the media coverage and certain health reactions, both mental and somatic. Most studies occur in the United States and often months after the initial attack.

The Effect of Mental Health App Customization on Depressive Symptoms in College Students: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Mental health apps have shown promise in improving mental health symptoms, including depressive symptoms. However, limited research has been aimed at understanding how specific app features and designs can optimize the therapeutic benefits and adherence to such mental health apps.

Objective: The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of avatar customization on depressive symptoms and adherence to use a novel cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based mental health app.

Examining the Effectiveness of Gamification in Mental Health Apps for Depression: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Previous research showed that computerized cognitive behavioral therapy can effectively reduce depressive symptoms. Some mental health apps incorporate gamification into their app design, yet it is unclear whether features differ in their effectiveness to reduce depressive symptoms over and above mental health apps without gamification.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether mental health apps with gamification elements differ in their effectiveness to reduce depressive symptoms when compared to those that lack these elements.

Reporting of Palliative Sedation and Use of Opioids at the End of Life in a Belgian University Hospital: A Pilot Study.

Palliative sedation requires no formal registration in Belgium. For euthanasia, however, there are clear guidelines in certain countries, including mandatory registration and evaluation of cases. Official guidelines have been developed for palliative sedation, but research still shows unskilled use of sedation and unclear demarcation between palliative sedation and euthanasia.

Examining the effect of depressive symptoms on habit formation and habit-breaking.

Background And Objectives: Dysfunction in reward processing is a hallmark feature of depression. In the context of reinforcement learning, previous research has linked depression with reliance on simple habit-driven ('model-free') learning strategies over more complex, goal-directed ('model-based') strategies. However, the relationship between depression and habit-breaking remains an under-explored research area.

Association Between Feeling Threatened, Behaviour and Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression: Two and a Half Years After the Terrorist Attacks in Belgium.

Feeling threatened by terrorism can be associated with mental health problems and behavioural changes. However, few studies look at the association in the long-term. Using a survey, the population in Brussels, Belgium was studied using a representative database delivered by the national post service.

Risk-taking unmasked: Using risky choice and temporal discounting to explain COVID-19 preventative behaviors.

To reduce the spread of COVID-19 transmission, government agencies in the United States (US) recommended precautionary guidelines, including wearing masks and social distancing to encourage the prevention of the disease. However, compliance with these guidelines has been inconsistent. This correlational study examined whether individual differences in risky decision-making and motivational propensities predicted compliance with COVID-19 preventative behaviors in a sample of US adults (N = 404).

High incidence of Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and human-herpes virus-6 reactivations in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Background: Systemic reactivation of herpesviruses may occur in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and is associated with morbidity and mortality. Data on severe Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) and concomitant reactivation of herpesviruses are lacking.

Methods: We selected patients admitted to ICU for confirmed COVID-19 who underwent systematic testing for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and human-herpes virus-6 (HHV-6) DNAemia while in the ICU.

Neurophysiological Assessments During Continuous Sedation Until Death Put Validity of Observational Assessments Into Question: A Prospective Observational Study.

Introduction: In case of untreatable suffering at the end of life, continuous sedation until death (CSD) may be the only treatment option left. Because these patients cannot communicate anymore, caregivers have to rely on behavioral observation to assess the patient's comfort. Recently, however, a number of studies from the neurosciences have shown that sometimes consciousness and pain are undetectable with these traditional behavioral methods.

Dealing with cultural diversity in palliative care.

Palliative care is increasingly confronted with cultural diversity. This can lead to various problems in practice. In this perspective article, the authors discuss in more detail which issues play a role in culture-sensitive palliative care, why naive culturalism will not solve such problems and in which direction research into this aspect of care can be further elaborated.

Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-Secreting Staphylococcus aureus Pneumonia Complicating COVID-19.

Necrotizing pneumonia induced by Panton-Valentine leukocidin-secreting Staphylococcus aureus is a rare but life-threatening infection that has been described in patients after they had influenza. We report a fatal case of this superinfection in a young adult who had coronavirus disease.

Attitudes of Professional Caregivers and Family Members Regarding the Use of Monitoring Devices to Improve Assessments of Pain and Discomfort During Continuous Sedation Until Death.

Context: Assessing consciousness and pain during continuous sedation until death (CSD) by behavior-based observational scales alone has recently been put into question. Instead, the use of monitoring technology has been suggested to make more objective and reliable assessments. Insights into which factors influence attitudes toward using these monitoring devices in a context of CSD is a first step in formulating recommendations to inform future practice.

Accuracy of ventilator-associated events for the diagnosis of ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infections.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the concordance between ventilator-associated events (VAE) and ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infections (VA-LRTI), and their impact on outcome.

Methods: This retrospective study was performed in five 10-bed ICUs of a teaching hospital, during a 2-year period. Ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infections (VA-LRTI), including ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis (VAT) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) were prospectively diagnosed.

Questions and Emotions of Minors After Terrorist Attacks: A Qualitative Study Using Data from a Belgian Youth-Helpline.

Until now, there is little research on the experiences of indirectly exposed minors after terrorist attacks. This study sheds light on the emotions and questions of such indirectly exposed minors. A qualitative content analysis of secondary data gained from Awel, a youth-helpline, was performed until saturation.

Should we include monitors to improve assessment of awareness and pain in unconscious palliatively sedated patients? A case report.

Background: Awareness and pain during palliative sedation is typically assessed by observational scales, but the use of such scales has been put into question.

Case Presentation: A woman in her mid-80s was admitted to a palliative care unit, presenting with chronic lymphatic leukemia, depression, and a cerebrovascular accident, with right-sided hemiplegia and aphasia. The patient was unable to eat and was suffering from nausea and vomiting.

Impact of hyperoxemia on mortality in critically ill patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of hyperoxemia on mortality in critically ill patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

Methods: This observational study was performed in a 50-bed mixed intensive care unit (ICU) during a 1-year period. Quantitative microbiological confirmation was required for VAP diagnosis.

Association between feeling threatened by a terrorist attack and subjective health: a web survey a week after the attacks of 22 March 2016 in Belgium.

: The wave of terrorist attacks over the past years in Europe and other regions may cause problems such as anxiety and depressive symptoms. Some studies suggest that perceived threat might also trigger physical health problems. : To investigate the association between feeling threatened and subjective health during the week following a terrorist attack.