Changes in glucose-lowering drug use before and after cancer diagnosis in patients with diabetes.

Aim: This study explores the changes in glucose-lowering drug (GLD) use before and after cancer diagnosis among patients with diabetes.

Methods: New GLD users (1998-2011) living in the Dutch ECR-PHARMO catchment area were selected from the PHARMO Database Network (n=52,228). Those with a primary cancer diagnosis were considered cases (n=3281) and matched with eligible controls (n=12,891) without cancer during follow-up.

Statin Use After Diagnosis of Colon Cancer and Patient Survival.

Background & Aims: Statin use has been associated with a reduced incidence of colorectal cancer and might also affect survival of patients diagnosed with colon cancer. Statins are believed to inhibit Ras signaling and may also activate the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway in colorectal cancer cells. We investigated the effects of statins on overall survival of patients with a diagnosis of colon cancer, and whether their effects were associated with changes in KRAS or the BMP signaling pathways.

No association between metformin use and survival in patients with pancreatic cancer: An observational cohort study.

Several studies have suggested an association between use of metformin and an increased overall survival in patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, however with several important methodological limitations. The aim of the study was to assess the association between overall survival, pancreatic cancer, and metformin use.A retrospective cohort study of 1111 patients with pancreatic cancer was conducted using data from The Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organization (1998-2011).

Drug dispensings among elderly in the year before colon cancer diagnosis versus matched cancer-free controls.

What Is Known And Objective: The concomitant use of multiple drugs is common among the general population of elderly. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of which drugs are dispensed to elderly in the year before colon cancer diagnosis and to compare this with cancer-free controls.

Methods: Data from the Eindhoven Cancer Registry were linked to the PHARMO Database Network.

Impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment on glycaemic control among individuals with colorectal cancer using glucose-lowering drugs.

Aims: This study aims to evaluate the impact of cancer and its treatment on HbA1c values among individuals with colorectal cancer (CRC) using glucose-lowering drugs (GLDs).

Methods: Patients with primary CRC (1998-2011) were selected from the Eindhoven Cancer Registry and linked to the PHARMO Database Network including outpatient pharmacy and clinical laboratory data. Patients with more than 2 years of GLDs use prior to cancer diagnosis were included.

Are metformin, statin and aspirin use still associated with overall mortality among colorectal cancer patients with diabetes if adjusted for one another?

Background: Metformin, statin and aspirin use seem associated with decreased mortality in cancer patients, though, without adjusting for one another. Independent associations of these drugs with overall mortality after colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis within glucose-lowering drugs (GLDs) users were assessed.

Methods: Patients starting GLDs before CRC diagnosis (1998-2011) were selected from the Eindhoven Cancer Registry linked with the PHARMO Database Network.

Therapeutic Use of Music and Television in Neurocritical Care: A Practice Survey.

Introduction: Although health care providers often play music via radio, or play television, to calm and soothe patients, limited research is available to guide practice.

Method: This study used a 17-item practice survey that was distributed electronically to neurocritical care society members in July 2014. Responses were collated and analyzed using SAS (Version 9.

Impact of cancer on adherence to glucose-lowering drug treatment in individuals with diabetes.

Aims/hypothesis: Adherence to glucose-lowering drug (GLD) treatment regimens is crucial for metabolic control and improving prognosis. Because a diagnosis of cancer might have an impact on adherence to medication, this study explored changes in adherence to GLDs following a cancer diagnosis.

Methods: All new users of GLDs between 1998 and 2011 who lived in the Eindhoven Cancer Registry-PHARMO Database Network catchment area were selected.

Colorectal cancer, diabetes and survival: epidemiological insights.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with pre-existing diabetes have significantly lower rates of overall survival compared with patients without diabetes. Against this backdrop, the American Diabetes Association and American Cancer Society in 2010 reviewed the scientific literature concerning diabetes and cancer. One of the key issues identified for further investigation was the need for a better understanding of whether diabetes influences cancer prognosis above and beyond the prognosis conferred by each disease state independently.

The impact of comorbidity on Health-Related Quality of Life among cancer survivors: analyses of data from the PROFILES registry.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the difference in explained variance of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) between comorbidity, sociodemographic characteristics and cancer characteristics. This association was assessed among thyroid cancer, colorectal cancer, and (non-)Hodgkin's lymphoma patients.

Methods: Data from three large population-based surveys on survivors of thyroid cancer, colorectal cancer, and (non-)Hodgkin's lymphoma were used.

Diminishing differences in treatment between patients with colorectal cancer with and without diabetes: a population-based study.

Aims: An increasing number of oncologists will be confronted with individuals having diabetes and cancer. We assessed changes in patient-, tumour- and treatment-related variables in patients with colorectal cancer with and without diabetes.

Methods: All 17 170 cases of primary colorectal cancer between 1995 and 2010 in the South-Eastern Netherlands were included.

Effect of diabetes on endometrial cancer recurrence and survival.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of diabetes mellitus (DM) on cancer stage at diagnosis, cancer recurrence, and survival of endometrial cancer (EC) patients and the influence of the treatment of EC on glycaemic control, treatment, and complications of DM.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study all 1644 patients with EC newly diagnosed in 2000-2008 and recorded in the population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry (ECR) were included. In addition, from this total cohort a subcohort was selected for additional data collection and analyses, including 193 EC patients with DM and an age-matched sample of 195 EC patients without DM.

Vaccine independence, local competences and globalisation: lessons from the history of pertussis vaccines.

In the context of global vaccine politics 'vaccine independence' has been defined as the assumption of financial responsibility for vaccine procurement. This paper suggests 'the possibility of vaccine choice' as an alternative meaning for the term. How far does local competence in vaccine development and production provide that possibility? Coupled to the national vaccination programme, such competence enabled the Netherlands to make use of a polio vaccine (Inactivated Polio Vaccine, or IPV) that it was felt best met national needs even though the rest of the world had switched to the alternative attenuated vaccine (generally known as Oral Polio Vaccine, or OPV); by the 1970s IPV was no longer commercially available.