Temporal trends in antimicrobial resistance of medically important pathogens on Curaçao.

Background: The Caribbean lacks recent comprehensive antimicrobial resistance data to inform clinicians and decision-makers. This study aims to provide a snapshot of susceptibility trends for pathogens on Curaçao, an island in the southern Caribbean.

Methods: We analyzed susceptibility data of bacterial pathogens isolated from samples submitted from patients attending general practitioners, outpatient clinics and those who were hospitalized between January 2018 and December 2023.

Cumulative incidence of chronic pain after visiting a Dutch emergency department with acute pain.

Background: Chronic pain is a substantial problem in modern healthcare resulting in health care overutilization. The cumulative incidence of developing chronic pain after visiting the emergency department with acute pain has been determined for specific patient groups only. If the cumulative incidence of chronic pain in emergency department patients with acute pain is high, more proactive measures are justified to limit development of chronic pain.

Understanding the Acid-Base Response to Respiratory Derangements: Finding, and Clinically Applying, the In Vivo Base Excess.

Objectives: To evaluate the base excess response during acute in vivo carbon dioxide changes.

Design: Secondary analysis of individual participant data from experimental studies.

Setting: Three experimental studies investigating the effect of acute in vivo respiratory derangements on acid-base variables.

Trends in Intermittent Scanning Continuous Glucose Monitoring Usage in The Netherlands-An Opportunity for Elderly Individuals with Diabetes.

Intermittent scanning continuous glucose monitoring (is-CGM) technology has gained widespread adoption and is known to improve glycemic control and quality of life for persons with diabetes. The elderly may lag behind in their adoption of the technology, which could be a potential avenue for improving quality of care. In this study, we investigated the adoption of is-CGM technology in the Dutch population, including effects of age.

The posterior condylar canal: An anatomical study on dry human skulls.

Background: The human skull contains various foramina, including the posterior condylar canal (PCC), which allows the passage of emissary veins. The PCC connects the jugular foramen to the condylar fossa and facilitates venous drainage between the jugular bulb and suboccipital venous plexus. Due to its variable size and location, the PCC can be mistaken for pathological structures, posing challenges during neurosurgical procedures.

[A woman with abdominal pain after anti-reflux surgery].

A 28-year-old female presented with acute abdominal pain three months after Nissen fundoplication surgery. Imaging revealed a diaphragmatic hernia, with an intra-thoracal colon, stomach and spleen. This highlights the importance of considering (incarcerated) diaphragmatic hernia as a potential complication post-Nissen fundoplication and the necessity of prompt diagnosis and surgical management.

Design issues with lutetium-177 PSMA-617 registration studies that bias the outcome of the experimental arm reflect an increasing misalignment of contemporary oncology trials with true patient benefit.

In the PSMAfore randomized controlled trial patients with chemotherapy naïve castrate resistant metastasized prostate cancer (CRPC) progressing after one line of a second-generation androgen receptor signaling inhibitor (ARSI) were randomized to the experimental arm of lutetium-177 PSMA-617 or the control arm of another ARSI. The trial showed an increase in the primary endpoint radiographic progression free survival in the experimental arm. Previously, the VISION trial led to the approval of lutetium-177 PSMA-617 in patients with CRPC progressing after at least 1 second generation ARSI and at least 1 line of chemotherapy with a taxane.

A 5-year natural history cohort of patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy determining disease progression and feasibility of clinical outcome assessments for clinical trials.

Introduction/aims: The number of clinical trials in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is expected to increase in the near future. There is a need for clinical outcome assessments (COAs) that can capture disease progression over the relatively short time span of a clinical trial. In this study, we report the natural progression of FSHD and determine the feasibility of COAs for clinical trials.

Impact of risk factors on the incidence of tunneled dialysis catheter infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Tunneled dialysis catheters (TDCs) are important for hemodialysis in patients awaiting a permanent surgical solution, kidney transplantation or without feasible surgical access. Infection of a TDC is a common and severe complication, which often requires removal of the TDC and causes high morbidity and mortality. To date, several risk factors for TDC infections have been reported.

Comprehensive four-year disease progression assessment of myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a heterogeneous neuromuscular disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness and myotonia. This study investigates the progression of muscular strength and function over a four-year period. Patients with DM1 were examined at baseline and four years later.

Pharmaceutical company funding of cancer patient advocacy organizations in the Netherlands.

Background: Financial conflicts of interest (FCOI) of medical professionals and associated organizations with pharmaceutical companies (pharma) might contribute to the use of low value oncological treatments. Value criteria for oncological drug approvals in the Netherlands have recently become more stringent leading to objections by cancer patient advocacy organizations (cPAOs). Considering the importance of cPAOs input in cancer patient care we analyzed whether pharma funding of cPAOs occurs in the Netherlands.

Patient satisfaction and patient accessibility in a small fiber neuropathy diagnostic service in the Netherlands: A single-center, prospective, survey-based cohort study.

Introduction: Small fiber neuropathy (SFN) is a common cause of neuropathic pain in peripheral neuropathies. Good accessibility of diagnostics and treatment is necessary for an accurate diagnosis and treatment of SFN. Evidence is lacking on the quality performance of the diagnostic SFN service in the Netherlands.

Development, validation and feasibility of a Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire for evaluating the quality performance of a diagnostic small fibre neuropathy service: A qualitative study.

Introduction And Aim: Small fibre neuropathy (SFN) is a peripheral neuropathy, leading to neuropathic pain and autonomic dysfunction. An evidence-based standardized patient diagnostic SFN service has been implemented in the Netherlands for improving patient-centred SFN care. However, the quality of care of this diagnostic SFN service has never been assessed from a patient perspective.

Heterotopic Ossification of Bilateral Hips Post-COVID-19 and Prolonged Immobilization: A Case Report.

Case: A 43-year-old healthy man developed hip pain post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) immobilization. Imaging confirmed bilateral bridging heterotopic ossification (HO) of the hips, Brooker Class IV. Bilateral HO caused functional arthrodesis (45° flexion: -20° internal rotation).

Pharmaceutical Industry Payments to Medical Oncologists in the Netherlands: Trends and Patterns Provided by an Open-Access Transparency Data Set.

Purpose: Health care expenditure related to oncologic treatments is skyrocketing although many treatments offer marginal, if any, clinical benefit. Financial conflicts of interest (fCOI) resulting from pharmaceutical industry (pharma) payments to physicians is increasingly recognized as a predictive factor for regulatory board approval and guideline incorporation of low-value treatments. We sought to study the extent to which pharma payments to medical oncologists occur in the Netherlands, the amount of money involved, and whether these occur more frequently and are higher for key opinion leaders (KOLs).

Novel PUF60 variant suggesting an interaction between Verheij and Cornelia de Lange syndrome: phenotype description and review of the literature.

Verheij syndrome [VRJS; OMIM 615583] is a rare autosomal dominant neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by distinct clinical features, including growth retardation, intellectual disability, cardiac, and renal anomalies. VRJS is caused by deletions of chromosome 8q24.3 or pathogenic variants in the PUF60 gene.

Can we build better? Challenges with geospatial and financial accessibility in the Caribbean. Illustrative case.

Background: Within the Caribbean, Curaçao provides a neurosurgical hub to other Dutch Caribbean islands. At times, the inefficiency of neurosurgical referrals leads to unsatisfactory patient outcomes in true emergency cases.

Observations: This article reports an illustrative case of a patient in need of emergency neurosurgical care, who was referred to a tertiary health institution in Curaçao.

Peripheral Pain Captured Centrally: Altered Brain Morphology on MRI in Small Fiber Neuropathy Patients With and Without an SCN9A Gene Variant.

The current study aims to characterize brain morphology of pain as reported by small fiber neuropathy (SFN) patients with or without a gain-of-function variant involving the SCN9A gene and compare these with findings in healthy controls without pain. The Neuropathic Pain Scale was used in patients with idiopathic SFN (N = 20) and SCN9A-associated SFN (N = 12) to capture pain phenotype. T1-weighted, structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were collected in patients and healthy controls (N = 21) to 1) compare cortical thickness and subcortical volumes and 2) quantify the association between severity, quality, and duration of pain with morphological properties.

Untoward global effects of current guideline formulation of stereotactic radiotherapy for symptomatic brain metastases by international medical societies.

The quality of evidence leading to new oncological treatments suffers shortcomings, as has recently been addressed for drug approvals. In this 'Personal view', we evaluate the unintended effects of adopting stereotactic radiosurgery as the standard of care for patients with limited number of symptomatic brain metastases and favourable prognostic factors in international guidelines in view of the limitations in the evidence of efficacy and effectiveness, with special focus on countries with relatively limited resources.

A COVID-19 vaccination program for high-risk children aged 12-17 years in Curacao.

Objective: This study aimed to describe and critically evaluate the COVID-19 vaccination program for high-risk children in Curacao and provide information about important factors such as parents' vaccination hesitancy and effective strategies for communicating and delivering information about vaccination.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. It was important to identify children aged 12-17 years who were at high risk of severe COVID-19 infection because of the limited medical facilities on the island; children considered to be at high risk were those with diseases such as obesity, hypertension or diabetes mellitus type 2.