Determinants of Physical Activity among Patients with Colorectal Cancer: From Diagnosis to 5 Years after Diagnosis.

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) is associated with higher quality of life and probably better prognosis among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. This study focuses on determinants of PA among CRC patients from diagnosis until 5 yr postdiagnosis.

Methods: Sociodemographic and disease-related factors of participants of two large CRC cohort studies were combined.

The Impact of the COVID Pandemic on the Incidence of Presentations with Cancer-Related Symptoms in Primary Care.

In the Netherlands, the onset of the coronavirus pandemic saw shifts in primary health service provision away from physical consultations, cancer-screening programs were temporarily halted, and government messaging focused on remaining at home. In March and April 2020, weekly cancer diagnoses decreased to 73% of their pre-COVID levels, and 39% for skin cancer. This study aims to explore the effect of the COVID pandemic on patient presentations for cancer-related symptoms in primary care in The Netherlands.

Quality of Life and Survival of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients Treated With Trifluridine-Tipiracil (QUALITAS).

Introduction: The RECOURSE trial demonstrated a modest benefit in overall survival (OS) for trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) versus placebo in pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. Unfortunately, quality of life (QoL) was not assessed. We evaluated QoL and survival of patients treated with FTD/TPI in daily practice.

Methodological aspects of a randomized within-patient concurrent controlled design for clinical trials in spine surgery.

Introduction: Randomized controlled trials are considered the highest level of evidence, but their feasibility in the surgical field is severely hampered by methodological and practical issues. Concurrent comparison between the experimental and control conditions within the same patient can be an effective strategy to mitigate some of these challenges and improve generalizability, mainly by the elimination of between-patient variability and reduction of the required sample size. This article aims (1) to describe the methodological aspects of a randomized within-patient controlled trial and (2) to quantify the added value of this design, based on a recently completed randomized within-patient controlled trial on bone grafts in instrumented lumbar posterolateral spinal fusion.

Exploring the relation between modelled and perceived workload of nurses and related job demands, job resources and personal resources; a longitudinal study.

Aim: Calculating a modelled workload based on objective measures. Exploring the relation between this modelled workload and workload as perceived by nurses, including the effects of specific job demands, job resources and personal resources on the relation.

Design: Academic hospital in the Netherlands.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone Levels and Risk of Cancer in Women.

Objectives: To examine if age-specific anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels are associated with cancer risk; and to investigate if age-related AMH trajectories differ between women who develop cancer and women who do not. More specifically, we examined associations with breast cancer, cancers in other tissues expressing AMH receptor AMHR2, and cancers in non-AMHR2-expressing tissues.

Study Design: We included longitudinal data from 3025 women in the prospective Doetinchem Cohort Study.

Anti-Müllerian hormone levels and risk of type 2 diabetes in women.

Aims/hypothesis: Given its role in ovarian follicle development, circulating anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is considered to be a marker of reproductive ageing. Although accelerated reproductive ageing has been associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, research on the relationship between AMH and type 2 diabetes risk is scarce. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether age-specific AMH levels and age-related AMH trajectories are associated with type 2 diabetes risk in women.

Five-Year Outcome of Laparoscopic Fundoplication in Pediatric GERD Patients: a Multicenter, Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common disease in children. When drug treatment fails, laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery (LARS) is considered. Short-term follow-up studies report high success rates; however, few studies report long-term results.

Informing metastatic colorectal cancer patients by quantifying multiple scenarios for survival time based on real-life data.

Reported median overall survival (mOS) in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients participating in systemic therapy trials has increased to over 30 months. It is uncertain whether trial results translate to real-life populations. Moreover, patients prefer presentation of multiple survival scenarios.

Increasing Fusion Rate Between 1 and 2 Years After Instrumented Posterolateral Spinal Fusion and the Role of Bone Grafting.

Study Design: Two-year clinical and radiographic follow-up of a double-blind, multicenter, randomized, intra-patient controlled, non-inferiority trial comparing a bone graft substitute (AttraX Putty) with autograft in instrumented posterolateral fusion (PLF) surgery.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare PLF rates between 1 and 2 years of follow-up and between graft types, and to explore the role of bone grafting based on the location of the PLF mass.

Summary Of Background Data: There are indications that bony fusion proceeds over time, but it is unknown to what extent this can be related to bone grafting.

Dexamethasone for the Prevention of a Pain Flare After Palliative Radiation Therapy for Painful Bone Metastases: The Multicenter Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled 3-Armed Randomized Dutch DEXA Study.

Purpose: After radiation therapy for painful bone metastases, up to 44% of patients report a pain flare (PF). Our study compared 2 dose schedules of dexamethasone versus placebo to prevent PF.

Methods And Materials: This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial allocated patients with painful bone metastases from solid tumors randomly to receive 8 mg dexamethasone before radiation therapy followed by 3 daily doses (group A), 8 mg dexamethasone followed by 3 doses of placebo (group B), or 4 doses of placebo (group C).

Efficacy of a Standalone Microporous Ceramic Versus Autograft in Instrumented Posterolateral Spinal Fusion: A Multicenter, Randomized, Intrapatient Controlled, Noninferiority Trial.

Study Design: in the rest of the article written as patient- and observer-blinded, multicenter, randomized, intrapatient controlled, noninferiority trial.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine noninferiority of a biphasic calcium-phosphate (AttraX® Putty) as a bone graft substitute for autograft in instrumented posterolateral fusion (PLF).

Summary Of Background Data: Spinal fusion with autologous bone graft is a frequently performed surgical treatment.

Balancing workload of nurses: Linear mixed effects modelling to estimate required nursing time on surgical wards.

Aim: Quantifying the relation between patient characteristics and care time and explaining differences in nursing time between wards.

Design: Academic hospital in the Netherlands. Six surgical wards, capacity 15-30 beds, 2012-2014.

Trajectory of body mass and skeletal muscle indices and disease progression in metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

Background: Knowledge of the evolution of BMI and skeletal muscle index (SMI) measurements during advanced cancer and their relationships with disease progression (PD) is relevant to improve the timing of interventions that may improve cachexia-associated outcomes.

Objectives: We investigated BMI and SMI trajectories and their associations with PD in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients during consecutive palliative systemic regimens.

Methods: In a secondary analysis of the primary CAIRO3 trial, we included 533 mCRC patients with BMI measurements repeated every 3 wk and 95 randomly selected patients with SMI measurements repeated every 9 wk.

Health-related quality of life in children after laparoscopic gastrostomy placement.

Introduction: A gastrostomy placement (GP) is an established treatment to provide enteral feeding in pediatric patients with feeding difficulties aiming to improve nutritional status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to evaluate HRQoL in children with severe feeding difficulties who have undergone GP.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed including 128 patients who had undergone laparoscopic GP (2004-2011).

The Effect of Gastrostomy Placement on Health-Related Quality of Life in Children.

Background And Purpose: A gastrostomy placement (GP) aims to improve nutritional status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children who require long-term enteral tube feeding. We evaluated the effect of GP on HRQoL.

Methods: A prospective, longitudinal cohort study was performed including patients referred for laparoscopic GP.

Barriers to ideal palliative care in multiple care settings: the nurses' point of view.

Background: Nurses and certified nursing assistants (CNA) have a crucial role in 24/7 continuity of palliative care for many vulnerable patients and families, however, their perspective has been largely omitted in reported barriers to palliative care.

Aim: To describe barriers to ideal palliative care that are specific to nurses and CNAs working in all care settings.

Methods: A cross-sectional, online survey was distributed to members of the Dutch Nurses' Association.

Skeletal muscle mass loss and dose-limiting toxicities in metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that severe skeletal muscle index (SMI) loss (sarcopenia) is associated with poor overall survival in metastatic colorectal cancer patients, but its mechanisms are unknown. We recently found, using data of the randomized phase 3 CAIRO3 study, that SMI loss was related with shorter time to disease progression and overall survival during first-line maintenance treatment with capecitabine + bevacizumab (CAP-B) or observation and during more intensive capecitabine + oxaliplatin + bevacizumab (CAPOX-B) reintroduction treatment. As a potential risk factor for reduced survival, we explored whether sarcopenia and SMI loss were associated with dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) during CAP-B and CAPOX-B.

Change in IQ in schizophrenia patients and their siblings: a controlled longitudinal study.

Background: Lower intelligence quotient (IQ) has frequently been reported in patients with schizophrenia. However, it is unclear whether IQ declines (further) after illness onset and what the familial contribution is to this change. Therefore, we investigate IQ changes during the course of illness in patients with non-affective psychosis, their siblings and controls.

Vitamin D intake, serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D and pulmonary function in paediatric patients with cystic fibrosis: a longitudinal approach.

Pancreatic-insufficient children with cystic fibrosis (CF) receive age-group-specific vitamin D supplementation according to international CF nutritional guidelines. The potential advantageous immunomodulatory effect of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) on pulmonary function (PF) is yet to be established and is complicated by CF-related vitamin D malabsorption. We aimed to assess whether current recommendations are optimal for preventing deficiencies and whether higher serum 25(OH)D levels have long-term beneficial effects on PF.

Pharyngeal electrical stimulation for early decannulation in tracheotomised patients with neurogenic dysphagia after stroke (PHAST-TRAC): a prospective, single-blinded, randomised trial.

Background: Dysphagia after stroke is common, especially in severely affected patients who have had a tracheotomy. In a pilot trial, pharyngeal electrical stimulation (PES) improved swallowing function in this group of patients. We aimed to replicate and extend this single-centre experience.

Outpatient antibiotic use in Dutch infants after 10-valent pneumococcal vaccine introduction: a time-series analysis.

Objective: This population-based cohort study assesses the impact of switching from a 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) to a 10-valent PCV on outpatient antibiotic use in Dutch infants, and whether geographical vaccination coverage modifies this association.

Setting And Participants: We extracted 2006-2013 anonymised antibiotic purchase data of 255 154 Dutch infants aged below 2 years from Achmea Health, a health insurance fund covering 28% of the national population.

Design And Main Outcome Measure: Changes in monthly antibiotic use from 2006-2011 (PCV7) to 2011-2013 (PCV10) were estimated using time-series analysis accounting for seasonality and autocorrelation.

Effectiveness of endoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia correction for clinically occult inguinal hernia (EFFECT): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Groin pain is a frequent complaint in surgical practice with an inguinal hernia being at the top of the differential diagnosis. The majority of inguinal hernias can be diagnosed clinically. However, patients with groin pain without signs of an inguinal hernia on anamnesis or physical examination provide a diagnostic challenge.