Effects of reasoned treatment decision-making on parent-related outcomes: Results from a video-vignette experiment in neonatal care.

Objective: To examine the effects of clinicians' provision of (un)reasonable arguments on parent-related outcomes in neonatal (intensive) care (NICU), starting from the NICU Communication Framework.

Methods: A video-vignette experiment, in which we systematically varied clinicians' use of (reasonable, unreasonable, no) argumentation across two non-acute and two acute decision-making scenarios (3×4 design). Reasonable arguments were medically appropriate and constructive reasons to support the treatment plan, as defined by an expert panel.

Human driven climate change increased the likelihood of the 2023 record area burned in Canada.

In 2023, wildfires burned 15 million hectares in Canada, more than doubling the previous record. These wildfires caused a record number of evacuations, unprecedented air quality impacts across Canada and the northeastern United States, and substantial strain on fire management resources. Using climate models, we show that human-induced climate change significantly increased the likelihood of area burned at least as large as in 2023 across most of Canada, with more than two-fold increases in the east and southwest.

Imidazoles and Quaternary Ammonium Compounds as Effective Therapies against (Multidrug-Resistant) Bacterial Wound Infections.

Background/objectives: The rise and spread of antimicrobial resistance complicates the treatment of bacterial wound pathogens, further increasing the need for newer, effective therapies. Azoles such as miconazole have shown promise as antibacterial compounds; however, they are currently only used as antifungals. Previous research has shown that combining azoles with quaternary ammonium compounds yields synergistic activity against fungal pathogens, but the effect on bacterial pathogens has not been studied yet.

Communication and information about complementary medicine in a Dutch oncology setting: Interviewing patients and providers on their experiences and needs.

Background: Complementary medicine such as yoga, massage and art therapy has become increasingly popular among patients with cancer. However, the topic remains under-discussed during oncology consultations: patients seem hesitant to disclose complementary medicine use, and healthcare providers lack resources to discuss complementary medicine. This study aims to gain an understanding of how to improve communication and information provision in oncological settings about complementary medicine by assessing the experiences and needs of patients and healthcare providers.

Interprofessional contact with conventional healthcare providers in oncology: a survey among complementary medicine practitioners.

Background: Half of all patients with cancer use complementary medicine. Given the benefits and risks associated with complementary medicine use, contact between complementary medicine practitioners and conventional healthcare providers (oncologists, nurses) is important for monitoring the health and well-being of mutual patients with cancer. Research on occurrence of such interprofessional contact is scarce.

Optimizing placebo and minimizing nocebo effects through communication: e-learning and virtual reality training development.

Background: The effects of many treatments in healthcare are determined by factors other than the treatment itself. Patients' expectations and the relationship with their healthcare provider can significantly affect treatment outcomes and thereby play a major role in eliciting placebo and nocebo effects. We aim to develop and evaluate an innovative communication training, consisting of an e-learning and virtual reality (VR) training, for healthcare providers across all disciplines, to optimize placebo and minimize nocebo effects through healthcare provider-patient communication.

Thermostable in vitro transcription-translation compatible with microfluidic droplets.

Background: In vitro expression involves the utilization of the cellular transcription and translation machinery in an acellular context to produce one or more proteins of interest and has found widespread application in synthetic biology and in pharmaceutical biomanufacturing. Most in vitro expression systems available are active at moderate temperatures, but to screen large libraries of natural or artificial genetic diversity for highly thermostable enzymes or enzyme variants, it is instrumental to enable protein synthesis at high temperatures.

Objectives: Develop an in vitro expression system operating at high temperatures compatible with enzymatic assays and with technologies that enable ultrahigh-throughput protein expression in reduced volumes, such as microfluidic water-in-oil (w/o) droplets.

Quality of life after immune suppressive therapy in aplastic anemia.

Acquired aplastic anemia (AA) is a rare form of immune-mediated bone marrow failure, which can result in life-threatening infections or bleeding if left untreated. Treatment consists of either immune suppressive therapy (IST) or allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT). While considerable research has been published regarding survival, response rate and toxicity of both treatments, knowledge on the impact on quality of life (QoL) is scarce.

Effects of prognostic communication strategies on emotions, coping, and appreciation of consultations: An experimental study in advanced cancer.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate effects of prognostic communication strategies on emotions, coping, and appreciation of consultations in advanced cancer.

Methods: For this experimental study, we created 8 videos of a scripted oncological consultation, only varying in prognostic communication strategies. Disease-naive individuals ( = 1036) completed surveys before and after watching 1 video, while imagining being the depicted cancer patient.

Open communication between patients and relatives about illness & death in advanced cancer-results of the eQuiPe Study.

Objective: To assess the degree of openness of communication about illness and death between patients with advanced cancer and their relatives during the last three months of the patient's life, and its association with relatives' characteristics and bereavement distress.

Methods: We used data from bereaved relatives of patients with advanced cancer from the prospective, longitudinal, multicenter, observational eQuipe study. Univariate and multivariable linear regression analyses were used to assess the association between the degree of openness of communication (measured using the validated Caregivers' Communication with patients about Illness and Death scale), the a priori defined characteristics of the relatives, and the degree of bereavement distress (measured using the Impact of Event Scale).

Effects of Prognostic Communication Strategies on Prognostic Perceptions, Treatment Decisions and End-Of-Life Anticipation in Advanced Cancer: An Experimental Study among Analogue Patients.

Context: Evidence-based guidance for oncologists on how to communicate prognosis is scarce.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of prognostic communication strategies (prognostic disclosure vs. communication of unpredictability vs.

Glycoprotein non-metastatic protein B (GPNMB) plasma values in patients with chronic visceral acid sphingomyelinase deficiency.

Acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD) is a rare LSD characterized by lysosomal accumulation of sphingomyelin, primarily in macrophages. With the recent availability of enzyme replacement therapy, the need for biomarkers to assess severity of disease has increased. Glycoprotein non-metastatic protein B (GPNMB) plasma levels were demonstrated to be elevated in Gaucher disease.

Guideline recommendations on minimal blood vessel diameters and arteriovenous fistula outcomes.

Objective: Clinical guidelines provide recommendations on the minimal blood vessel diameters required for arteriovenous fistula creation but the evidence for these recommendations is limited. We compared vascular access outcomes of fistulas created in agreement with the ESVS Clinical Practice Guidelines (i.e.

Towards optimal use of antithrombotic therapy of people with cancer at the end of life: A research protocol for the development and implementation of the SERENITY shared decision support tool.

Background: Even though antithrombotic therapy has probably little or even negative effects on the well-being of people with cancer during their last year of life, deprescribing antithrombotic therapy at the end of life is rare in practice. It is often continued until death, possibly resulting in excess bleeding, an increased disease burden and higher healthcare costs.

Methods: The SERENITY consortium comprises researchers and clinicians from eight European countries with specialties in different clinical fields, epidemiology and psychology.

Methodological innovations to strengthen evidence-based serious illness communication.

Background/objective: A growing population of those affected by serious illness, prognostic uncertainty, patient diversity, and healthcare digitalization pose challenges for the future of serious illness communication. Yet, there is paucity of evidence to support serious illness communication behaviors among clinicians. Herein, we propose three methodological innovations to advance the basic science of serious illness communication.

Effect of Clinician-Expressed Empathy in Advanced Cancer on Different Ethnic Groups: Results from an Experimental Video-Vignette Study.

In advanced cancer, clinician-expressed empathy can improve patients' psychological outcomes. It remains unknown whether all patients benefit equally from empathy. To explore whether the effect of clinician-expressed empathy on patients' psychological outcomes is moderated by patient ethnicity.

Ultrahigh-Throughput Enzyme Engineering and Discovery in Compartments.

Novel and improved biocatalysts are increasingly sourced from libraries via experimental screening. The success of such campaigns is crucially dependent on the number of candidates tested. Water-in-oil emulsion droplets can replace the classical test tube, to provide compartments as an alternative screening format, containing genotype and phenotype and enabling a readout of function.

Using expert opinion rounds to develop valid and realistic manipulations for experimental video-vignette research: Results from a study on clinicians' (un)reasonable argumentative support for treatment decisions in neonatal care.

Objective: To develop valid and realistic manipulations for video-vignette research using expert opinion rounds, in preparation of an experimental study on clinicians' (un)reasonable argumentative support for treatment decisions in neonatal care.

Methods: In three rounds, N = 37 participants (parents/clinicians/researchers) provided feedback on four video-vignette scripts and completed listing, ranking, and rating exercises to determine which (un)reasonable arguments clinicians may provide to support treatment decisions.

Results: Round 1: participants deemed the scripts realistic.

Good versus bad news consultations in advanced breast cancer: the role of empathy in information recall - an observational study.

Objective: We explored, in advanced breast cancer, whether: (1) patients recall less information following bad versus good news consultations; (2) empathy has a greater effect on recalled information following bad versus good news consultations.

Methods: Observational study using audio-recorded consultations. Participants' recall of provided information about treatment options, aims/positive effects and side-effects was assessed.

Quality of recovery after day care surgery with app-controlled remote monitoring: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The majority of surgical interventions are performed in day care and patients are discharged after the first critical postoperative period. At home, patients have limited options to contact healthcare providers in the hospital in case of severe pain and nausea. A smartphone application for patients to self-record pain and nausea when at home after day care surgery might improve patient's recovery.