Infective Endocarditis in Belgium: Prospective Data in Adults from the ESC EORP European Endocarditis Registry.

(1) Background: infective endocarditis (IE) is a significant health concern associated with important morbidity and mortality. Only limited, often monocentric, retrospective data on IE in Belgium are available. This prospective study sought to assess the clinical characteristics and outcomes of Belgian IE patients in the ESC EORP European endocarditis (EURO-ENDO) registry; (2) Methods: 132 IE patients were identified based on the ESC 2015 criteria and included in six tertiary hospitals in Belgium; (3) Results: The average Belgian IE patient was male and 62.

End-of-Life Care in the Last Three Months before Death in Older Patients with Cancer in Belgium: A Large Retrospective Cohort Study Using Data Linkage.

This study aims to describe end-of-life (EOL) care in older patients with cancer and investigate the association between geriatric assessment (GA) results and specialized palliative care (SPC) use. Older patients with a new cancer diagnosis (2009-2015) originally included in a previous multicentric study were selected if they died before the end of follow-up (2019). At the time of cancer diagnosis, patients underwent geriatric screening with Geriatric 8 (G8) followed by GA in case of a G8 score ≤14/17.

Long-term health-care utilisation in older patients with cancer and the association with the Geriatric 8 screening tool: a retrospective analysis using linked clinical and population-based data in Belgium.

Background: Little evidence is available on the long-term health-care utilisation of older patients with cancer and whether this is associated with geriatric screening results. We aimed to evaluate long-term health-care utilisation among older patients after cancer diagnosis and the association with baseline Geriatric 8 (G8) screening results.

Methods: For this retrospective analysis, we included data from three cohort studies for patients (aged ≥70 years) with a new cancer diagnosis who underwent G8 screening between Oct 19, 2009 and Feb 27, 2015, and who survived more than 3 months after G8 screening.

Linking clinical and population-based data in older patients with cancer in Belgium: Feasibility and clinical outcomes.

Introduction: Geriatric screening and geriatric assessment (GS/GA) have proven their benefits in the care for older patients with cancer. However, less is known about the predictive value of GS/GA for outcomes. To research this, clinical data on GS/GA can be enriched with population-based data.

Outcomes in patients with cardiac amyloidosis undergoing heart transplantation: the eurotransplant experience.

Background: When advanced heart failure occurs in cardiac amyloidosis, prognosis is poor. In this setting heart transplantation (HTX) is a treatment option for selected patients. We here present the results of post-transplantation outcomes in cardiac amyloidosis within the Eurotransplant area, investigating possible predictors of survival.

Incidence of falls and fall-related injuries and their predictive factors in frail older persons with cancer: a multicenter study.

Background: Falls and fall-related injuries are a major public health problem. Data on falls in older persons with cancer is limited and robust data on falls within those with a frailty profile are missing. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence and predictive factors for falls and fall-related injuries in frail older persons with cancer.

Risk-based versus GFR threshold criteria for nephrology referral in chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure are global health problems associated with morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs, with unequal access to kidney replacement therapy between countries. The diversity of guidelines concerning referral from primary care to a specialist nephrologist determines different outcomes around the world among patients with CKD where several guidelines recommend referral when the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is <30 mL/min/1.73 m regardless of age.

Functional status in older patients with cancer and a frailty risk profile: A multicenter observational study.

Introduction: Functional status (FS) and frailty are significant concerns for older adults, especially those with cancer. Data on FS (Activities of Daily Living [ADL]; Instrumental Activities of Daily Living [IADL]) and its evolution during cancer treatment in older patients and a frailty risk profile are scarce. Therefore, this study examines FS and its evolution in older patients with cancer and a frailty risk profile and investigates characteristics associated with functional decline.

Performance of creatinine-based equations to estimate glomerular filtration rate in White and Black populations in Europe, Brazil and Africa.

Background: A new Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation without the race variable has been recently proposed (CKD-EPIAS). This equation has neither been validated outside USA nor compared with the new European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) and Lund-Malmö Revised (LMREV) equations, developed in European cohorts.

Methods: Standardized creatinine and measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR) from the European EKFC cohorts (n = 13 856 including 6031 individuals in the external validation cohort), from France (n = 4429, including 964 Black Europeans), from Brazil (n = 100) and from Africa (n = 508) were used to test the performances of the equations.

Combination of Enzymes and Rutin to Manage Osteoarthritis Symptoms: Lessons from a Narrative Review of the Literature.

Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder affecting over 300 million people worldwide. It typically affects the knees and the hips, and is characterized by a loss in normal joint movement, stiffness, swelling, and pain in patients. The current gold standard therapy for osteoarthritis targets pain management using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Proceedings of the Second Curing Coma Campaign NIH Symposium: Challenging the Future of Research for Coma and Disorders of Consciousness.

This proceedings article presents actionable research targets on the basis of the presentations and discussions at the 2nd Curing Coma National Institutes of Health (NIH) symposium held from May 3 to May 5, 2021. Here, we summarize the background, research priorities, panel discussions, and deliverables discussed during the symposium across six major domains related to disorders of consciousness. The six domains include (1) Biology of Coma, (2) Coma Database, (3) Neuroprognostication, (4) Care of Comatose Patients, (5) Early Clinical Trials, and (6) Long-term Recovery.

51Cr-EDTA plasma clearance in children: One, two, or multiple samples?

Plasma disappearance curves using multiple blood samples are a recognized reference method for measuring glomerular filtration rate (GFR). However, there is no consensus on the protocol for this type of measurement. A two-compartment model is generally considered acceptable for the mathematical description of the concentration-time decay curve.

Recurrence and Outcome of Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Glomerulonephritis After Kidney Transplantation.

Introduction: Recurrence of anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) glomerulonephritis in the kidney graft is a rare event, described in limited reports. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in a large cohort of patients with long follow-up, the risk of recurrence of anti-GBM disease, the risk factors associated with clinical recurrence, and the long-term patient and graft survival.

Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective study.

Collecting New Peak and Intermediate Infliximab Levels to Predict Remission in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Background: The loss of response to infliximab is a challenge for clinicians in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Mounting evidence suggests that therapeutic drug monitoring at induction may predict remission during maintenance. The aim of the study was to improve predictive models of remission by exploring new peak and intermediate infliximab measurements during induction.

Unplanned hospitalizations in older patients with cancer: Occurrence and predictive factors.

Background: This study aims to investigate the occurrence of unplanned hospitalizations in older patients with cancer and to determine predictive factors.

Methods: A prospective Belgian multicentre (n = 22), observational cohort study was performed. Patients ≥70 years with a malignant tumor were included.

Consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy due to α-aminoadipic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency.

Pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy (PDE-ALDH7A1) is an autosomal recessive condition due to a deficiency of α-aminoadipic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, which is a key enzyme in lysine oxidation. PDE-ALDH7A1 is a developmental and epileptic encephalopathy that was historically and empirically treated with pharmacologic doses of pyridoxine. Despite adequate seizure control, most patients with PDE-ALDH7A1 were reported to have developmental delay and intellectual disability.