Barriers and facilitators to physical activity: A comparative analysis of transplant athletes competing in high intensity sporting events with other transplant recipients.

Background: There is widespread recognition that many transplant recipients struggle to become and remain physically active. However, some transplant recipients do undertake strenuous training and significant physical activity (PA) and participate in intensive sports.

Aim: This study sought to understand facilitators and barriers to be physically active for Transplant Athletes (TXA) compared to a group of Dutch transplantees.

Inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: Evolution of prognosis over 10 years of new emerging therapies.

Therapies for inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) include balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) and PH-specific medical therapy. This study compares survival and its predictors before and after the introduction of BPA. BPA was independently associated with survival; however, there was no difference in overall survival between the two cohorts.

Binary Soong grading as a predictor for flexor pollicis longus tendon rupture after distal radial fracture fixation: a retrospective study.

This retrospective cohort study evaluates the concordance between Soong grades classified from radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans and whether a Soong grade ≥1 is associated with flexor pollicis longus (FPL) injury and reoperation incidence. We included 181 patients with 185 dorsally displaced distal radial fractures treated with anterior locking plates. For the analysis of binary Soong grades, grade 0 was compared with grades 1 and 2.

Blood Biomarkers Predict 10-Year Clinical Outcomes in Adult Patients With Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: The adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) population is growing and risk prediction is important to predict adverse outcome and consult patients during their lifecourse.

Objectives: This study aims to describe the long-term prognostic value of blood biomarkers in ACHD.

Methods: In this prospective observational cohort study, 602 patients with moderate or complex ACHD were included (median age 32.

Prognostic value of the electrocardiogram in patients with bicuspid aortic valve disease.

Background: Identifying bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) patients at risk for cardiac events remains challenging and the role of the electrocardiogram (ECG) has not yet been described. Therefore, this study aims to describe ECG parameters in BAV patients, and investigate their prognostic value.

Methods: In this single-center prospective study patients with BAV without a prior aortic valve replacement (AVR) were included.

Coronary computed tomography angiography improves assessment of patients with acute chest pain and inconclusively elevated high-sensitivity troponins.

Objectives: To determine whether coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) can improve the diagnostic work-up of patients with acute chest pain and inconclusively high-sensitivity troponins (hs-troponin).

Methods: We conducted a prospective, blinded, observational, multicentre study. Patients aged 30-80 years presenting to the emergency department with acute chest pain and inconclusively elevated hs-troponins were included and underwent CCTA.

Clinical management and innovation in fracture non-union.

Introduction: With the introduction and continuous improvement in operative fracture fixation, even the most severe bone fractures can be treated with a high rate of successful healing. However, healing complications can occur and when healing fails over prolonged time, the outcome is termed a fracture non-union. Non-union is generally believed to develop due to inadequate fixation, underlying host-related factors, or infection.

Population-based incidence rates of 15 neuromuscular disorders: a nationwide capture-recapture study in the Netherlands.

Most neuromuscular disorders are rare, but as a group they are not. Nevertheless, epidemiological data of specific neuromuscular disorders are scarce, especially on the incidence. We applied a capture-recapture approach to a nationwide hospital-based dataset and a patients association-based dataset to estimate the annual incidence rates for fifteen neuromuscular disorders in the Netherlands.

Interference of lupus anticoagulant causing antiprothrombin and anti-beta-2-glycoprotein I antibodies on international normalized ratio measurements: comparative analysis of international normalized ratio methods.

Background: Life-long vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy is recommended as a standard of care in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients with thrombosis. Concerns have been raised about the validity of international normalized ratio (INR) measurements in lupus anticoagulant (LA)-positive APS patients because LA may interfere with phospholipid-dependent coagulation tests and could elevate INR measurements.

Objectives: Here, we aimed to determine the interference of antigen-specific monoclonal and isolated patient antibodies with LA activity on INR measurements.

Building Cross-sectoral Collaborations to Address Perinatal Health Inequities: Insights From the Dutch Healthy Pregnancy 4 All-3 Program.

Background: Addressing perinatal health inequities is the joint responsibility of professionals working for local governments, the medical, social, and public health sector. Cross-sectoral collaboration between these professionals is challenging. For such collaborations to succeed, a transition, ie, a fundamental shift in the dominant structure, culture, and practices at the systems level, is necessary.

Intra-arterial PSMA injection using hepatic arterial infusion pump in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a proof-of-concept study.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) targeted tracers show increased uptake in several malignancies, indicating a potential for peptide radioligand therapy. Intra-arterial injection of radiotracers can increase the therapeutic window. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of intra-arterial injection of [Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and compare tracer uptake after intrahepatic arterial injection and intravenous injection.

Long-term outcomes and predictors of vedolizumab persistence in ulcerative colitis.

Background: Long-term vedolizumab (VDZ) outcomes in real-world cohorts have been largely limited to 1-year follow-up, with few bio-naïve patients or objective markers of inflammation assessed.

Objectives: We aimed to assess factors affecting VDZ persistence including clinical, biochemical and faecal biomarker remission at 1, 3 and 5 years.

Design: We performed a retrospective, observational, cohort study.

Medical Malpractice in Neurosurgery: An Analysis of Claims in the Netherlands.

Background And Objectives: Studying malpractice claims is important to improve quality of health care and patient safety and to educate the individual healthcare providers. The objective of this study was to describe characteristics of neurosurgical claims in the Netherlands.

Methods: A nationwide retrospective observational study of neurosurgery-related claims closed by Centramed and MediRisk, 2 major insurance companies in the Netherlands, was performed.

Systematic Prostate Biopsy Versus Perilesional Sampling: If It Isn't Broke, Why Fix It?

The 2024 EAU-EANM-ESTRO-ESUR-ISUP-SIOG guidelines for prostate cancer recommend a targeted and perilesional biopsy (TPLBx) strategy for primary diagnosis. In comparison to the classical approach of combined targeted and systematic biopsy, TPLBx may reduce overdiagnosis of insignificant cancers and mitigate the grade shift associated with targeted biopsy.

Effect of COVID-19 lockdown on maternity care and maternal outcome in the Netherlands: a national quasi-experimental study.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns disrupted health care worldwide. High-income countries observed a decrease in preterm births during lockdowns, but maternal pregnancy-related outcomes were also likely affected. This study investigates the effect of the first COVID-19 lockdown (March-June 2020) on provision of maternity care and maternal pregnancy-related outcomes in the Netherlands.

Temporal changes in CT-derived fractional flow reserve in patients after heart transplantation.

Background: Adding functional information by CT-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRct) to coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and assessing its temporal change may provide insight into the natural history and physiopathology of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) in heart transplantation (HTx) patients. We assessed FFRct changes as well as CAV progression over a 2-year period in HTx patients undergoing serial CT imaging.

Methods: HTx patients from Erasmus MC and Mount Sinai Hospital, who had consecutive CCTAs 2 years apart were evaluated.

A Multiplex Assay for Fast PIK3CA Hotspot Mutation Characterization in a Single Specimen by 3-Color Digital PCR Analysis.

Background: Activating mutations in the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) gene have been detected often in solid tumors. Targeted therapy for mutant PIK3CA is now available in the clinic, making molecular diagnostics pivotal. Our aim was to design a multiplex digital PCR (dPCR) assay to evaluate the 4 most common PIK3CA hotspot mutations simultaneously to characterize and quantify these in liquid biopsies.

Recurrent treatment of refractory acute cellular rejection with alemtuzumab after lung transplantation.

We present an exceptional case of a lung transplant recipient successfully treated by multiple courses of alemtuzumab for refractory acute cellular rejection (ACR). The patient experienced multiple episodes of ACR following the transplantation procedure. Alemtuzumab was initiated as a third-line rejection treatment and was repeated 6 times.

Patient knowledge in anaesthesia: Psychometric development of the RAKQ-The Rotterdam anaesthesia Knowledge questionnaire.

The transition from in-person to digital preoperative patient education requires effective methods for evaluating patients' understanding of the perioperative process, risks, and instructions to ensure informed consent. A knowledge questionnaire covering different anaesthesia techniques and instructions could fulfil this need. We constructed a set of items covering common anaesthesia techniques requiring informed consent and developed the Rotterdam Anaesthesia Knowledge Questionnaire (RAKQ) using a structured approach and Item Response Theory.

Lower hair cortisol concentration in adolescent and young adult patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Q-Fever Fatigue Syndrome compared to controls.

Background: In patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), momentary cortisol concentrations in blood, urine, and saliva are lower compared to healthy controls. Long-term cortisol concentration can be assessed through hair, but it is unclear whether these concentrations are also lower. Additionally, it is unknown if lower cortisol extends to other patients suffering from persistent fatigue and how hair cortisol concentration (HCC) relates to fatigue levels.

Implementation of ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy schedules for breast cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands.

Background And Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an accelerated recommendation to use five-fraction radiotherapy schedules, according to the FAST- and FAST-Forward trial. In this study, trends in the use of different radiotherapy schedules in the Netherlands were studied, as well as the likelihood of receiving five fractions.

Materials And Methods: Data from the NABON Breast Cancer Audit-Radiotherapy and Netherlands Cancer Registry was used.

Perspective of obstetric care-providers on being involved in cervical cancer screening during antenatal care in the Netherlands.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine attitude of Dutch midwifes, gynecologists and general practitioners (GPs) towards involvement in antenatal cervical cancer screening (CCS) in the Netherlands.

Methods: In 2021, Dutch midwives, gynecologists, and GPs were offered a single digital questionnaire assessing perceived feasibility, benefits, and harms of antenatal CCS.

Results: A total of 6943 Questionnaires were send and response rate was 18% (N = 1260).

Exploring perceptions of vulnerability among women facing psychosocial adversity before, during and after pregnancy: A qualitative interview-study using thematic analysis.

Objective: The term 'vulnerable' is often used to describe women facing psychosocial adversity during pregnancy, implying a heightened risk of experiencing suboptimal pregnancy outcomes. While this label might facilitate the pathway to appropriate care, it can be perceived as stigmatizing by the women it intends to help, which could deter their interaction with healthcare services. This study explores how women facing psychosocial adversity before, during and after pregnancy perceive the concept of vulnerability and experience being labeled as such.

A Neuroradiologist's Guide to Operationalizing the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) Criteria Version 2.0 for Gliomas in Adults.

Radiographic assessment plays a crucial role in the management of patients with central nervous system (CNS) tumors, aiding in treatment planning and evaluation of therapeutic efficacy by quantifying response. Recently, an updated version of the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria (RANO 2.0) was developed to improve upon prior criteria and provide an updated, standardized framework for assessing treatment response in clinical trials for gliomas in adults.