Reliability parameters of the Timed 25-Foot-Walk (T25FW) in patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Lower walking speed is associated with greater Smallest Detectable Change.

Background: Reliability parameters of clinical measures should be sufficient in order to adequately monitor disease course and evaluate treatment in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of the Timed 25-Foot-Walk (T25FW) in patients with MS.

Methods: MS patients performed the T25FW twice with approximately one year in between.

Implications of the composite free flap harvest site on quality of life after head and neck surgery: a prospective series.

Quality of life (QOL) has become a primary determinant of the treatment outcome. There is a poor evidence base regarding the QOL implications of free flap harvest from the various different osseous composite donor sites. This prospective study assessed the impact of free flap harvest on QOL and compared QOL morbidity between fibula, scapula, and iliac crest (deep circumflex iliac artery; DCIA) donor sites in head and neck reconstructive surgery.

Stroke survivors' long-term participation in paid employment.

Background: Knowledge on long-term participation is scarce for patients with paid employment at the time of stroke.

Objective: Describe the characteristics and the course of participation (paid employment and overall participation) in patients who did and did not remain in paid employment.

Methods: Patients with paid employment at the time of stroke completed questions on work up to 30 months after starting rehabilitation, and the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation-Participation (USER-P, Frequency, Restrictions and Satisfaction scales) up to 24 months.

The trajectory of pain and pain intensity in the upper extremity after stroke over time: a prospective study in a rehabilitation population.

Purpose: To assess the presence of upper extremity pain after stroke over time and the course of its intensity in patients with persistent pain.

Materials And Methods: Patients with stroke completed a question on the presence of upper extremity pain (yes/no) and rated its intensity with a visual analogue scale (0-10) at 3, 18, and 30 months after starting multidisciplinary rehabilitation. The presence of upper extremity pain and its intensity over time were analysed with Generalized Estimating Equations models and Linear Mixed Models, respectively.

An objective analysis of composite free flap donor site morbidity in head and neck surgery: Prospective series.

Background: A poor evidence basis exists regarding the objective donor site morbidity associated with osseous free flap harvest. This study prospectively assessed the objective donor site morbidity associated with osseous free flap harvest for the fibula, scapula, and iliac crest (DCIA) donor sites.

Methods: A single-site, prospective cohort clinical research study was conducted.

The outcomes of a vocational rehabilitation and mentorship program in unemployed young adults with acquired brain injury.

Background: Persons with disabilities are at risk for unemployment with negative long-term consequences.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the process and outcomes of a novel vocational rehabilitation (VR) program based on the concept of mentorship.

Methods: Observational, retrospective study including unemployed young adults with acquired brain injury (ABI) taking part in a VR program including assessment, training, individual counselling and mentor support from volunteering professionals.

Patient Activation During the First 6 Months After the Start of Stroke Rehabilitation.

Objective: To examine patient activation from the start of stroke rehabilitation and its course up until the 6-month follow-up.

Design: Inception cohort study with a follow-up of 6 months.

Setting: Multidisciplinary rehabilitation facility.

Are There Differences in Long-Term Functioning and Recovery Between Hemorrhagic and Ischemic Stroke Patients Receiving Rehabilitation?

Objective: Previous research suggested better recovery in functioning of patients with hemorrhagic as compared to ischemic stroke. Now that more effective acute treatment for ischemic stroke, i.e.

Determining the minimal important change of the 6-minute walking test in Multiple Sclerosis patients using a predictive modelling anchor-based method.

Background: The minimal important change (MIC) of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is not clear for patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), hampering treatment evaluation. The aim of our study was therefore to determine the MIC of the 6MWT in MS patients.

Methods: MS patients did the 6MWT using the instruction to walk at comfortable speed twice with approximately one year in between.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Improves Self-Management Ability in Subjects With Obstructive Lung Disease.

Background: Optimizing self-management is a key element in multidisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with asthma or COPD. This observational study aimed to investigate the changes in self-management following pulmonary rehabilitation in subjects with chronic lung disease.

Methods: Data were prospectively and routinely gathered at initial assessment and discharge in subjects taking part in a 12-week multidisciplinary out-patient pulmonary rehabilitation program.

Effect of a comprehensive eRehabilitation intervention alongside conventional stroke rehabilitation on disability and health-related quality of life: A pre-post comparison.

Objective: To compare the effect on disability and quality of life, of conventional rehabilitation (control group) with individualized, tailored eRehabilitation intervention alongside conventional rehabilitation (Fast@home; intervention group), for people with stroke.

Methods: Pre-post design. The intervention comprised cognitive (Braingymmer®) and physical (Telerevalidatie®/Physitrack®) exercises, activity-tracking (Activ8®) and psycho-education.

Changes in the ability to participate in and satisfaction with social roles and activities in patients in outpatient rehabilitation.

Background: One of the main aims of rehabilitation is to improve participation. Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) item banks 'Ability to Participate in Social roles and Activities, (PROMIS-APS) and 'Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities' (PROMIS-SPS) are promising options to measure participation, but the literature on PROMIS measures of (satisfaction with) participation across diagnoses in rehabilitation is limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe levels of and changes in participation, as assessed with the PROMIS-APS and the PROMIS-SPS short forms, of patients in outpatient rehabilitation.

Fostering patient uptake of recommended health services and self-management strategies for musculoskeletal conditions: A Delphi study of clinician attributes.

Introduction: Successful management of musculoskeletal conditions depends on active patient engagement and uptake of recommended health services and self-management strategies. Clinicians have a strong influence on patient uptake behaviours. Both clinicians and educators need to recognise the clinician's influence on patient uptake as a specific clinical skillset to be professionally developed.

Physical activity, fatigue and sleep quality at least 6 months after mild traumatic brain injury in adolescents and young adults: A comparison with orthopedic injury controls.

Objectives: To compare physical activity (PA), fatigue and sleep quality in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) after mild TBI (mTBI) to persons of similar age after orthopedic injury (OI) on the longer term.

Setting: Follow-up at least 6 months after visiting the emergency department of one of 2 general hospitals.

Participants: Forty-nine patients aged 12-25 years (mean 18.

Comparison of the responsiveness of the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation (USER) and the Barthel Index in stroke patients.

Objective: To compare the responsiveness of the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation (USER) to the responsiveness of the Barthel Index in stroke patients in an inpatient rehabilitation facility.

Design: Observational study.

Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation facility.

Attention needed for cognitive problems in patients after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: an inventory about daily rehabilitation care.

Aim: Recent literature and Dutch guidelines for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) recommend screening for cognitive impairments and referral to cognitive rehabilitation when needed. The aim of this study is to assess the uptake of these recommendations for OHCA patients.

Method: An internet-based questionnaire was sent to 74 cardiologists and 143 rehabilitation specialists involved in rehabilitation of OHCA patients in the Netherlands.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors with cognitive impairments have lower exercise capacity.

Background: Hypoxic brain injury is described in up to 40% of survivors after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Besides cognitive impairments, lack of circulation may also affect exercise capacity. It is not known if exercise capacity of patients with cognitive impairments differs from other OHCA survivors.

Long-Term Outcomes of Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain.

Objectives: Evidence for the effectiveness of multidisciplinary rehabilitation for chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) has been reported but its outcomes in the longer term and in mixed groups of chronic pain patients are largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to describe the two-year outcomes of a 15-week multidisciplinary pain rehabilitation programme in patients with mixed CMP in terms of pain, activities, participation and healthcare usage.

Methods: Data were recorded routinely at admission, discharge, and at three, 12 and 24 months' follow-up for all consecutive patients with CMP referred to a rehabilitation programme over a 21-month period.

Problems in Functioning in Patients with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Admitted for Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation.

Background: Little is known about the extent to which improvements in various problem areas are attained after multidisciplinary rehabilitation program in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP).

Aim: To describe the pre- and postcontents of problems in functioning from the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) in terms of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in CMP patients following a 15-week rehabilitation program.

Methods: In all patients admitted to a rehabilitation program, the COPM was administered at admission and discharge.

High survival rate of 43% in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients in an optimised chain of survival.

Aims: Survival to hospital discharge after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) varies widely. This study describes short-term survival after OHCA in a region with an extensive care path and a follow-up of 1 year.

Methods: Consecutive patients ≥16 years admitted to the emergency department between April 2011 and December 2012 were included.

Multidisciplinary rehabilitation for chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain: results from daily practice.

Introduction: Evidence for the efficacy of a multi-component approach for chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain (CWP) has been reported, although the effects are overall moderate and this approach has rarely been investigated in real life.

Aim: The aim of the study was to describe the effects of a 15-week multidisciplinary pain rehabilitation programme on pain, activities and participation in patients with CWP.

Methods: The current retrospective study used data which were routinely gathered on all consecutive patients with CWP referred to a rehabilitation programme over a 21-month period.

Efficacy of poly[di(sodium carboxylatophenoxy)phosphazene] (PCPP) as mucosal adjuvant to induce protective immunity against respiratory pathogens.

Polyphosphazene polyelectrolyte, a potent new mucosal adjuvant candidate, was tested for its ability to elicit protective immunity against several respiratory diseases. Groups of mice were intranasally (i.n.

Functional significance of responsiveness to capacitating conditions in boar spermatozoa.

New methods are needed for rapid and sensitive assessment of sperm function. As the ability to fertilize an oocyte is acquired during the capacitation process, assessments of sperm function have to be performed under fertilizing conditions. In this study, we monitored the dynamics of the temporal response of sperm from ejaculates of both fertile and subfertile boars to capacitating conditions in vitro (responsiveness) by following the changes in the response to calcium ionophore treatment and in [Ca(2+)](i).

Detection of cooling-induced membrane changes in the response of boar sperm to capacitating conditions.

There is a need for methods of rapid and sensitive sperm function assessment. As spermatozoa are not able to fertilize an oocyte before having undergone a series of complex physiological changes collectively called capacitation, it is logical to assess sperm function under fertilizing conditions in vitro. In this study, the responsiveness of sperm to capacitating conditions in vitro was monitored by changes in sperm response to ionophore and by changes in the amount of intracellular calcium ions in stored boar semen.

Phosphate kinetics during different dialysis modalities.

Background: An abnormal serum phosphate concentration is common in acute renal failure patients, with a reported incidence of 65-80%. Phosphate removal and kinetics during intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) have been investigated, but there is no information on its kinetics during slow low-efficiency dialysis (SLED) and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).

Methods: Eight IHD, 8 SLED, and 10 continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) patients with a residual renal clearance of <4.