The outcome of treatment in differentiated thyroid cancer according to recommendations in current Dutch and American guidelines.

Objective: Assessment of treatment outcome in current de-escalation for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) according to the 2015 Dutch thyroid cancer guidelines (NL-15) and American Thyroid Association guidelines (ATA-15).

Design: Retrospectively, the recommendations of the NL-15 and ATA-15 guidelines were evaluated to estimate potentially adequate, under- and overtreatment of DTC in patients treated in the University Medical Center Groningen between 2007 and 2017.

Patients: A total of 240 patients with a cT1-T3aN0-1aM0 DTC fulfilled the inclusion criteria.

Shared-care survivorship program for testicular cancer patients: safe and feasible.

Background: Testicular cancer survivors are at risk for cardiovascular disease, often preceded by early development of cardiovascular risk factors due to chemotherapeutic treatment. Therefore, close collaboration between oncologists and primary care physicians (PCPs) is needed during follow-up to monitor and manage cardiovascular risk factors. We designed a shared-care survivorship program, in which testicular cancer patients visit both their oncologist and their PCP.

Postoperative external beam radiotherapy for locoregional control in iodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer.

Background: The role of postoperative external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in patients with residual iodine refractory-differentiated thyroid cancer (IR-DTC) is still inconclusive. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate locoregional control (LRC) and overall survival (OS), and potential side effects after postoperative EBRT for both microscopic and macroscopic non-radically resected, locally advanced IR-DTC.

Methods: Between 1990 and 2016, 49 patients with locally advanced IR-DTC received EBRT for microscopic (R1; n = 28) or macroscopic (R2; n = 21) locoregional residual disease.

Calcitonin testing for detection of medullary thyroid cancer in people with thyroid nodules.

Background: Thyroid nodules are very common in general medical practice, but rarely turn out to be a medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Calcitonin is a sensitive tumour marker for the detection of MTC (basal calcitonin). Sometimes a stimulation test is used to improve specificity (stimulated calcitonin).

The incidence of consecutive manifestations in Von Hippel-Lindau disease.

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an autosomal dominant rare tumor syndrome characterized by high penetrance. VHL mutation carriers develop numerous manifestations in multiple organs during life. The natural course of development of new and growth of existing VHL-related manifestations is still unclear.

Mapping heterogeneity in glucose uptake in metastatic melanoma using quantitative F-FDG PET/CT analysis.

Background: Metastatic melanoma patients can have durable responses to systemic therapy and even long-term survival. However, a large subgroup of patients does not benefit. Tumour metabolic alterations may well be involved in the efficacy of both targeted and immunotherapy.

Postoperative use of somatostatin analogs and mortality in patients with acromegaly.

Objective To assess the effect of somatostatin analogs (SSAs) on mortality in relation to disease control of acromegaly after pituitary surgery. Design A retrospective study in two large tertiary referral centers in The Netherlands. Methods Overall, 319 patients with acromegaly in whom pituitary surgery was performed as primary therapy between January 1980 and July 2017 were included.

Higher plasma GlycA, a novel pro-inflammatory glycoprotein biomarker, is associated with reduced life expectancy: The PREVEND study.

Objective: Elevated circulating levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers are associated with adverse health effects, but the extent to which enhanced low-grade inflammation influences remaining life expectancy (LE) is uncertain. GlycA is a novel pro-inflammatory marker. We determined effects of GlycA and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) on LE.

Clinical Applicability of Low Levels of Thyroglobulin Autoantibodies as Cutoff Point for Thyroglobulin Autoantibody Positivity.

Background: Thyroglobulin (Tg) is an established tumor marker in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). However, Tg assays can be subject to interference by autoantibodies against Tg (TgAbs). No clinical consensus exists on the cutoff value of TgAb positivity and its relationship to Tg assay interference.

Decreased mitochondrial respiration in aneurysmal aortas of Fibulin-4 mutant mice is linked to PGC1A regulation.

Aim: Thoracic aortic aneurysms are a life-threatening condition often diagnosed too late. To discover novel robust biomarkers, we aimed to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying aneurysm formation.

Methods And Results: In Fibulin-4R/R mice, the extracellular matrix protein Fibulin-4 is 4-fold reduced, resulting in progressive ascending aneurysm formation and early death around 3 months of age.

Self-monitoring physical activity with a smartphone application in cancer patients: a randomized feasibility study (SMART-trial).

Purpose: Evidence accumulates that an active lifestyle positively influences cancer treatment outcome. A "smartphone application" (app) such as "RunKeeper," to self-monitor physical activity (PA) might be helpful. This study aimed to examine whether using RunKeeper to increase self-reported PA is feasible in cancer patients and to evaluate patients' opinion about using RunKeeper in a 12-week program.

Predictors of adherence to exercise interventions during and after cancer treatment: A systematic review.

Objective: Exercise interventions benefit cancer patients. However, only low numbers of patients adhere to these interventions. This review aimed to identify predictors of exercise intervention adherence in patients with cancer, during and after multimodality cancer treatment.

Cholesterol delivery to the adrenal glands estimated by adrenal venous sampling: An in vivo model to determine the contribution of circulating lipoproteins to steroidogenesis in humans.

Background: Cholesterol, required for adrenal steroid hormone synthesis, is at least in part derived from circulating lipoproteins. The contribution of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) to adrenal steroidogenesis in humans is unclear.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the extent to which HDL and LDL are taken up by the adrenal glands using samples obtained during adrenal venous sampling (AVS).

The clinical value of regular thyroid function tests during amiodarone treatment.

Objective: Amiodarone is used for the maintenance of sinus rhythm in patients with arrhythmias, but thyroid dysfunction (amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) or amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism (AIH)) is a common adverse effect. As the onset of AIT and AIH may be unpredictable, the value of long-term regular monitoring of amiodarone treated patients for thyroid dysfunction is still uncertain.

Design: We retrospectively documented the frequency at which overt thyroid dysfunction was preceded by subclinical thyroid dysfunction.

Additional value of a high sensitive thyroglobulin assay in the follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Objective: Thyroglobulin (Tg) is an excellent tumour marker, as detectable or increasing Tg levels are highly indicative of persistent or recurrent differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). The clinical value of a highly sensitive (hs)-Tg assay in patients with DTC has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to investigate the additional value of unstimulated hs-Tg measurements (Tg-on) compared to stimulated IRMA-Tg measurements (Tg-off) in the follow-up of patients with DTC.

Calculating the optimal surveillance for head and neck paraganglioma in SDHB-mutation carriers.

Germline mutations of the gene encoding succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB) predispose to head-and-neck-paraganglioma (HNPGL), sympathetic PGL, pheochromocytoma and renal cell carcinoma for which regular surveillance is required. SDHB-associated tumors harbor germline and somatic mutations, consistent with Knudson's two-hit hypothesis. To assess the penetrance and optimal surveillance for different manifestations of SDHB mutation carriers.

89Zr-Bevacizumab PET Visualizes Disease Manifestations in Patients with von Hippel-Lindau Disease.

Unlabelled: Patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) are at risk to develop multiple tumors. The growth of lesions is unpredictable, and regular surveillance is critical for early treatment to control local damage. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) produced locally is supposed to play an important role in development of disease manifestations and is a target for antiangiogenic therapy with the monoclonal antibody bevacizumab.

Potential value of EUS in pancreatic surveillance of VHL patients.

Background: Patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease are prone to develop pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs). However, the best imaging technique for early detection of pNETs in VHL is currently unknown. In a head-to-head comparison, we evaluated endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and (11)C-5-hydroxytryptophan positron emission tomography ((11)C-5-HTP PET) compared with conventional screening techniques for early detection of pancreatic solid lesions in VHL patients.

Hydrocortisone Dose Influences Pain, Depressive Symptoms and Perceived Health in Adrenal Insufficiency: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: There is a major lack of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of hydrocortisone (HC) substitution therapy in patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of two different replacement doses of HC on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a RCT.

Methods: This RCT with a double-blind cross-over design was performed at the University Medical Center Groningen.

Bone Marrow Function After (131)I Therapy in Patients With Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma.

Objective: The primary objective was to evaluate the short- and long-term toxic effects of radioiodine ((131)I) therapy on bone marrow function in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) patients. The secondary objective was to define characteristics of patients at risk for impaired bone marrow function after (131)I treatment.

Patients And Methods: DTC patients treated with (131)I between 1989 and 2013 were included.

Recombinant TSH stimulated remnant ablation therapy in thyroid cancer: the success rate depends on the definition of ablation success--an observational study.

Introduction: Patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) are treated with (near)-total thyroidectomy followed by remnant ablation. Optimal radioiodine-131 (131I) uptake is achieved by withholding thyroid hormone (THW), pretreatment with recombinant human Thyrotropin Stimulating Hormone (rhTSH) is an alternative. Six randomized trials have been published comparing THW and rhTSH, however comparison is difficult because an uniform definition of ablation success is lacking.

Brain abnormalities on MRI in non-functioning pituitary adenoma patients treated with or without postoperative radiotherapy.

Background And Purpose: To assess and compare brain abnormalities on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in non-functioning pituitary macro-adenoma (NFA) patients treated with or without postoperative radiotherapy (RT).

Material And Methods: In 86 NFA patients, treated between 1987 and 2008 at the University Medical Center Groningen, white-matter lesions (WMLs), cerebral atrophy, brain infarctions and abnormalities of the temporal lobes and hippocampi were assessed on pre- and post-treatment MRI scans in patients treated with (n=47) or without RT.

Results: The median MRI follow-up time for RT patients was 10 (range 1-22) years and 5 (range 1-21) years in patients treated without RT.