Insights from genetically stratified analyses comparing subtypes of alcohol misuse.

In a recent publication, we applied a novel model to address phenotypic heterogeneity in genetic research on alcohol misuse by stratifying individuals based on their patterns of alcohol use behaviours and comorbid psychopathology. In this Commentary, we provide further descriptions of the subtypes of alcohol misuse that emerged from the empirical mixture modelling approach and present new results comparing these groups on sociodemographic characteristics and additional alcohol use outcomes. We take a broad perspective to discuss how these results fit with existing typologies of alcohol misuse and how the results inform future genetic research.

Impact of FDG-PET/CT and Laparoscopy in Staging of Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Cost Analysis in the Prospective Multicenter PLASTIC-Study.

Background: Unnecessary D2-gastrectomy and associated costs can be prevented after detecting non-curable gastric cancer, but impact of staging on treatment costs is unclear. This study determined the cost impact of F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) and staging laparoscopy (SL) in gastric cancer staging.

Materials And Methods: In this cost analysis, four staging strategies were modeled in a decision tree: (1) FDG-PET/CT first, then SL, (2) SL only, (3) FDG-PET/CT only, and (4) neither SL nor FDG-PET/CT.

Prospective multicentre study of indications for surgery in patients with idiopathic acute pancreatitis following endoscopic ultrasonography (PICUS).

Background: Cholecystectomy in patients with idiopathic acute pancreatitis (IAP) is controversial. A randomized trial found cholecystectomy to reduce the recurrence rate of IAP but did not include preoperative endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). As EUS is effective in detecting gallstone disease, cholecystectomy may be indicated only in patients with gallstone disease.

Investigating genetically stratified subgroups to better understand the etiology of alcohol misuse.

Alcohol misuse (AM) is highly prevalent and harmful, with theorized subgroups differing on internalizing and externalizing dimensions. Despite known heterogeneity, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are usually conducted on unidimensional phenotypes. These approaches have identified important genes related to AM but fail to capture a large part of the heritability, even with recent increases in sample sizes.

Erratum: Automatic textual description of colorectal polyp features: explainable artificial intelligence.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1055/a-2071-6652.].

Associations of schizophrenia with arrhythmic disorders and electrocardiogram traits: an in-depth genetic exploration of population samples.

Background: An important contributor to the decreased life expectancy of individuals with schizophrenia is sudden cardiac death. While arrhythmic disorders play an important role in this, the nature of the relation between schizophrenia and arrhythmia is not fully understood.

Methods: We leveraged summary-level data of large-scale genome-wide association studies of schizophrenia (53,386 cases 77,258 controls), arrhythmic disorders (atrial fibrillation, 55,114 cases 482,295 controls; Brugada syndrome, 2,820 cases 10,001 controls) and electrocardiogram traits (heart rate (variability), PR interval, QT interval, JT interval, and QRS duration, n=46,952-293,051).

Automatic textual description of colorectal polyp features: explainable artificial intelligence.

Computer-aided diagnosis systems (CADx) can improve colorectal polyp (CRP) optical diagnosis. For integration into clinical practice, better understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) by endoscopists is needed. We aimed to develop an explainable AI CADx capable of automatically generating textual descriptions of CRPs.

18F-Fludeoxyglucose-Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography and Laparoscopy for Staging of Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Multicenter Prospective Dutch Cohort Study (PLASTIC).

Importance: The optimal staging for gastric cancer remains a matter of debate.

Objective: To evaluate the value of 18F-fludeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography with computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) and staging laparoscopy (SL) in addition to initial staging by means of gastroscopy and CT in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This multicenter prospective, observational cohort study included 394 patients with locally advanced, clinically curable gastric adenocarcinoma (≥cT3 and/or N+, M0 category based on CT) between August 1, 2017, and February 1, 2020.

Optimizing cytological specimens of EUS-FNA of solid pancreatic lesions: A pilot study to the effect of a smear preparation training for endoscopy personnel on sample quality and accuracy.

Background: In the absence of rapid on-side pathological evaluation, endoscopy staff generally "smears" endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) specimens on a glass slide. As this technique is vulnerable to preparation artifacts, we assessed if its quality could be improved through a smear-preparation-training for endoscopy staff.

Methods: In this prospective pilot study, 10 endosonographers and 12 endoscopy nurses from seven regional EUS-centers in the Netherlands were invited to participate in a EUS-FNA smear-preparation-training.

Role of endoscopic ultrasonography in the diagnostic work-up of idiopathic acute pancreatitis (PICUS): study protocol for a nationwide prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Idiopathic acute pancreatitis (IAP) remains a dilemma for physicians as it is uncertain whether patients with IAP may actually have an occult aetiology. It is unclear to what extent additional diagnostic modalities such as endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) are warranted after a first episode of IAP in order to uncover this aetiology. Failure to timely determine treatable aetiologies delays appropriate treatment and might subsequently cause recurrence of acute pancreatitis.

Diagnostic yield and agreement on fine-needle specimens from solid pancreatic lesions : comparing the smear technique to liquid-based cytology.

 The traditional "smear technique" for processing and assessing endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is sensitive to artifacts. Processing and evaluation of specimens collected in a liquid medium, liquid-based cytology (LBC) may be a solution. We compared the diagnostic value of EUS-FNA smears to LBC in pancreatic solid lesions in the absence of rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE).

Evaluation of PET and laparoscopy in STagIng advanced gastric cancer: a multicenter prospective study (PLASTIC-study).

Background: Initial staging of gastric cancer consists of computed tomography (CT) and gastroscopy. In locally advanced (cT3-4) gastric cancer, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with CT (FDG-PET/CT or PET) and staging laparoscopy (SL) may have a role in staging, but evidence is scarce. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of PET and SL in addition to initial staging in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer.

Influence of BMI and smoking on IUI outcome with partner and donor sperm.

There is limited literature on the influence of smoking and BMI on success rates after intrauterine insemination (IUI). As a result of a prospective cohort study we could investigate data from 1401 IUI cycles with partner semen and 1264 IUI cycles with donor semen, primary outcome being clinical pregnancy rate (CPR). Univariate statistical analysis showed significant influence of female BMI on clinical pregnancy in the partner insemination group (CPR of 6,5%, 8%, 16,3% and 9,4% for a female BMI < 20, 20-24.

Motivations and attitudes of candidate sperm donors in Belgium.

Objective: To study the motivation and attitudes of a candidate sperm donor population in Belgium.

Design: Anonymous survey.

Setting: Tertiary referral infertility center.

Predictive factors influencing pregnancy rates after intrauterine insemination with frozen donor semen: a prospective cohort study.

The extent to which certain parameters can influence pregnancy rates after intrauterine insemination with frozen donor semen was examined prospectively. Between July 2011 and September 2015, 402 women received 1264 IUI cycles with frozen donor semen in a tertiary referral infertility centre. A case report form was used to collect data prospectively.

Predictive value of different covariates influencing pregnancy rate following intrauterine insemination with homologous semen: a prospective cohort study.

The aim was to examine the value of different covariates in the prediction of intrauterine insemination (IUI) success. Between July 2011 and September 2015, data from 1401 IUI cycles with homologous semen in 556 couples were collected prospectively, by questionnaire, in a tertiary referral infertility centre. Statistical analysis was performed using generalized estimating equations (GEEs).

Polarization Engineering in Photonic Crystal Waveguides for Spin-Photon Entanglers.

By performing a full analysis of the projected local density of states (LDOS) in a photonic crystal waveguide, we show that phase plays a crucial role in the symmetry of the light-matter interaction. By considering a quantum dot (QD) spin coupled to a photonic crystal waveguide (PCW) mode, we demonstrate that the light-matter interaction can be asymmetric, leading to unidirectional emission and a deterministic entangled photon source. Further we show that understanding the phase associated with both the LDOS and the QD spin is essential for a range of devices that can be realized with a QD in a PCW.

Alterations in serotonin metabolism in the irritable bowel syndrome.

Background: Alterations in serotonin (5-HT) metabolism have been postulated to play a role in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, previous reports regarding 5-HT metabolism in IBS are contradicting.

Aim: To compare platelet poor plasma (PPP) 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) levels and their ratio in a large cohort of IBS patients and healthy controls (HC), including IBS-subgroup analysis.

Efficacy of Lactobacillus casei Shirota for patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Background And Aims: Meta-analyses point to a modest but significant effect of probiotics on symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We aimed to assess the effect of the probiotic Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) on symptoms and quality of life in IBS patients in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study.

Materials And Methods: IBS patients (Rome II) between 18 and 65 years of age were included.

'Fertility Awareness-Based Methods' and subfertility: a systematic review.

Fertility awareness based methods (FABMs) can be used to ameliorate the likelihood to conceive. A literature search was performed to evaluate the relationship of cervical mucus monitoring (CMM) and the day-specific -pregnancy rate, in case of subfertility. A MEDLINE search revealed a total of 3331 articles.

Artificial insemination with donor sperm (AID): heterogeneity in sperm banking facilities in a single country (Belgium).

Due to the high inflow of foreign patients seeking cross-border reproductive care in Belgium and the increased number of lesbian couples and single women who call for artificial insemination with donor sperm (AID), Belgian sperm banks nowadays face a shortage in donor sperm. However, since there is no central registration system for sperm donors in Belgium, no figures are currently available supporting this statement. Therefore a study was performed to obtain a detailed overview of the sperm banking facilities in Belgium.