Adherence to Guideline-Recommended Therapy-Including Supervised Exercise Therapy Referral-Across Peripheral Artery Disease Specialty Clinics: Insights From the International PORTRAIT Registry.

Background Underuse of guideline-recommended therapy in peripheral artery disease (PAD) in administrative and procedural databases has been described, but reports on medically managed patients and referral to supervised exercise therapy (SET) in PAD are lacking. We aimed to document the use of PAD guideline-recommended therapy, including SET in patients with PAD symptoms consulting a specialty clinic across 3 countries. Methods and Results The 16-center PORTRAIT (Patient-Centered Outcomes Related to Treatment Practices in Peripheral Arterial Disease: Investigating Trajectories) registry enrolled 1275 patients with new or an exacerbation of PAD symptoms (2011-2015).

Less Invasive Surgery is Feasible in the Management of Traumatic Thoracolumbar Fractures in Isolated and Polytrauma Injury.

Background: Less invasive stabilization systems (LISSs) have gained popularity. However, limited quality of life (QOL) and clinical outcome data exist for trauma patients treated with LISSs. The objective of this study is to describe QOL and outcome for posterior percutaneous pedicle screw fixation in the management of traumatic thoracolumbar fractures.

Focusing on Good Responders to Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccination in General Hospital Patients Suspected for Immunodeficiency. A Decision Tree Based on the 23-Valent Pneumococcal IgG Assay.

Recently, the 23-valent IgG-assay was suggested as screening assay to identify responders to pneumococcal polysaccharide (PnPS)-vaccination with the serotype-specific assay as a second-line test. However, in a low pre-test probability general hospital setting predicting responders could be more valuable to reduce the number of samples needing serotyping. Serotype-specific PnPS antibody-assays were performed for suspected immunodeficiency in two Dutch general hospitals (Jeroen Bosch Hospital, 's-Hertogenbosch; Elisabeth Tweesteden Hospital, Tilburg).

ART in Europe, 2014: results generated from European registries by ESHRE: The European IVF-monitoring Consortium (EIM) for the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).

Study Question: What are the European trends and developments in ART and IUI in 2014 as compared to previous years?

Summary Answer: The 18th ESHRE report on ART shows a continuing expansion of both treatment numbers in Europe and more variability in treatment modalities resulting in a rising contribution to the birth rates in most participating countries.

What Is Known Already: Since 1997, ART data generated by national registries have been collected, analysed by the European IVF-monitoring (EIM) Consortium and reported in 17 manuscripts published in Human Reproduction.

Study Design, Size, Duration: Continuous collection of European data by the EIM for ESHRE.

Everyday cognitive failure and depressive symptoms predict fatigue in sarcoidosis: A prospective follow-up study.

Background: Fatigue is a major and disabling problem in sarcoidosis. Knowledge concerning correlates of the development of fatigue and possible interrelationships is lacking.

Objective: A conceptual model of fatigue was developed and tested.

Pharmacokinetics of favipiravir during continuous venovenous haemofiltration in a critically ill patient with influenza.

Favipiravir is a novel antiviral drug approved for influenza treatment in Japan. Little is known about favipiravir pharmacokinetics in critically ill patients. Here, we report a patient with influenza treated with favipiravir and undergoing continuous venovenous haemofiltration (CVVH) on the Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary hospital in the Netherlands.

The clinical utility of JC virus antibody index measurements in the context of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

In natalizumab-treated patients without previous immunosuppressive treatment, the JCV antibody index is used to stratify PML risk. A high index value indicates that the risk to develop PML is significantly elevated, although probably about 99% of patients with this index value will not develop PML. This minireview aimed to provide an overview of the basic virology and immunology relevant to understanding JCV infections in MS patients, with a focus on what is presently known about antibodies to JCV and how they could be of use to predict and diagnose PML.

Early predictors of outcome after mild traumatic brain injury (UPFRONT): an observational cohort study.

Background: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) accounts for most cases of TBI, and many patients show incomplete long-term functional recovery. We aimed to create a prognostic model for functional outcome by combining demographics, injury severity, and psychological factors to identify patients at risk for incomplete recovery at 6 months. In particular, we investigated additional indicators of emotional distress and coping style at 2 weeks above early predictors measured at the emergency department.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in patients treated with fumaric acid esters: a review of 19 cases.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare and potentially fatal condition caused by a brain infection with JC polyomavirus (JCV). PML develops almost exclusively in immunocompromised patients and has recently been associated with use of fumaric acid esters (FAEs), or fumarates. We reviewed the literature and the Dutch and European pharmacovigilance databases in order to identify all available FAE-associated PML cases and distinguish possible common features among these patients.

How do patients choose between active surveillance, radical prostatectomy, and radiotherapy? The effect of a preference-sensitive decision aid on treatment decision making for localized prostate cancer.

Purpose: To determine the effect of a decision aid (DA) on treatment preferences and to investigate which patient preferences are important for final treatment preferences. We also determined if the patient׳s treatment decision was influenced by the urologist׳s treatment preference.

Patients And Methods: Between August 2014 and July 2015, newly diagnosed patients with low-/intermediate-risk prostate cancer were offered to use a web-based DA after diagnosis.

Determination of the feasibility of a multicomponent intervention program to prevent delirium in the Intensive Care Unit: A modified RAND Delphi study.

Background: Delirium is common in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients and associated with poor outcome. In non-ICU patients a multicomponent intervention program with non-pharmacological interventions has shown to reduce delirium. Currently, there is insufficient evidence regarding the effects of such a program in ICU patients.

Help seeking behavior and onset-to-alarm time in patients with acute stroke: sub-study of the preventive antibiotics in stroke study.

Background: Patients with acute stroke often do not seek immediate medical help, which is assumed to be driven by lack of knowledge of stroke symptoms. We explored the process of help seeking behavior in patients with acute stroke, evaluating knowledge about stroke symptoms, socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, and onset-to-alarm time (OAT).

Methods: In a sub-study of the Preventive Antibiotics in Stroke Study (PASS), 161 acute stroke patients were prospectively included in 3 Dutch hospitals.

A novel points system to predict the prognosis of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.

Introduction: In this study we aimed to identify prognostic factors of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) and developed a scoring system to establish the prognosis.

Methods: We collected baseline clinical, electrophysiologic, and ultrasonographic data from 2 cohorts. The outcomes for all patients were determined on follow-up.

Etravirine Pharmacokinetics in HIV-Infected Pregnant Women.

Background: The study goal was to describe etravirine pharmacokinetics during pregnancy and postpartum in HIV-infected women.

Methods: IMPAACT P1026s and PANNA are on-going, non-randomized, open-label, parallel-group, multi-center phase-IV prospective studies in HIV-infected pregnant women. Intensive steady-state 12-h pharmacokinetic profiles were performed from 2nd trimester through postpartum.

TP53 mutated glioblastoma stem-like cell cultures are sensitive to dual mTORC1/2 inhibition while resistance in TP53 wild type cultures can be overcome by combined inhibition of mTORC1/2 and Bcl-2.

Background: Glioblastoma is the most malignant tumor of the central nervous system and still lacks effective treatment. This study explores mutational biomarkers of 11 drugs targeting either the RTK/Ras/PI3K, the p53 or the Rb pathway using 25 patient-derived glioblastoma stem-like cell cultures (GSCs).

Results: We found that TP53 mutated GSCs were approximately 3.

Reliability of the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale and a 4-point scale in evaluating linear facial surgical scars.

Background: In order to evaluate and improve aesthetic outcome for patients undergoing dermatological surgery, a reliable evaluation tool must be used. The 4-point scale and the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) were both developed for this purpose.

Objective: To compare the reliability of the POSAS scale with the 4-point scale for facial linear surgical scars and to assess the influence of different scar characteristics on the overall impression.

Predictors of fatigue in sarcoidosis: The value of exercise testing.

Background: Sarcoidosis patients often are troubled by dyspnea, exercise limitation, and fatigue. Many patients (up to 50-81%) suffer from sarcoidosis-associated fatigue. The etiology of fatigue in sarcoidosis is still unclear.

Poor symptom and performance validity in regularly referred Hospital outpatients: Link with standard clinical measures, and role of incentives.

We investigated the frequency of symptom validity test (SVT) failure and its clinical correlates in a large, heterogeneous sample of hospital outpatients referred for psychological assessment for clinical purposes. We studied patients (N=469), who were regularly referred for assessment to the psychology departments of five hospitals. Background characteristics, including information about incentives, were obtained with a checklist completed by the clinician.

Beneficial Effects of Early Enteral Nutrition After Major Rectal Surgery: A Possible Role for Conditionally Essential Amino Acids? Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives: To investigate direct postoperative outcome and plasma amino acid concentrations in a study comparing early enteral nutrition versus early parenteral nutrition after major rectal surgery. Previously, it was shown that a low plasma glutamine concentration represents poor prognosis in ICU patients.

Design: A preplanned substudy of a previous prospective, randomized, open-label, single-centre study, comparing early enteral nutrition versus early parenteral nutrition in patients at high risk of postoperative ileus after surgery for locally advanced or locally recurrent rectal cancer.

Consequences of Sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disorder of unknown cause(s). Less specific disabling symptoms, including fatigue and physical impairments, may have a major influence on the daily activities and the social and professional lives of the patients, resulting in a reduced quality of life. A multidisciplinary approach focusing on somatic and psychosocial aspects is recommended.