COVID-19 prediction models should adhere to methodological and reporting standards.

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Prevalence and Predictors of Uncontrolled Asthma in Children Referred for Asthma and Other Atopic Diseases.

Background: Uncontrolled asthma in children is still highly prevalent despite the availability of effective asthma treatment. We investigated 1) the prevalence of uncontrolled asthma among children referred for asthma and referred for atopic diseases other than asthma (ie food allergy, allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis) to secondary care; and 2) the predictors associated with uncontrolled asthma.

Methods: All children (4 to 18 years) referred for asthma or atopic diseases other than asthma to 8 secondary care centers in The Netherlands were invited to an electronic portal (EP).

Epidural-Related Fever and Maternal and Neonatal Morbidity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: While epidural analgesia (EA) is associated with maternal fever during labor, the impact on the risk for maternal and/or neonatal sepsis is unknown.

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effect of epidural-related intrapartum fever on maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Methods: OVID MEDLINE, OVID Embase, the Cochrane Library, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials, and clinical trial registries were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCT) and observational cohort studies from inception to November 2018.

Predictive accuracy of the Post-Stroke Depression Prediction Scale: A prospective binational observational study.

Background: Depression after a stroke is a common complication that negatively influences stroke rehabilitation. Early identification, followed by adequate treatment of depression, improves recovery from stroke. To support early identification, the Post-stroke Depression Prediction Scale (DePreS) was developed to predict in the first week after stroke, the risk of depression in the second month.

Exploring survivor perceptions of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in Nigeria through the health belief model.

Background: In Nigeria, hypertensive disorders have become the leading cause of facility-based maternal mortality. Many factors influence pregnant women's health-seeking behaviors and perceptions around the importance of antenatal care. This qualitative study describes the care-seeking pathways of Nigerian women who suffer from pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.

Effects of an over-the-counter lactic-acid containing intra-vaginal douching product on the vaginal microbiota.

Background: Over-the-counter intra-vaginal lactic-acid containing douches are marketed as vaginal hygiene products that support optimal vaginal pH balance. We report the effect of a commercially available douche (Etos®) on the vaginal microbiota (VM) in a prospective study.

Results: Twenty-five healthy women were recruited through advertisements in 2015-2017 (ethical approval: METC-2014_413) and followed over three menstrual cycles.

Perceived triggers of asthma impair quality of life in children with asthma.

Background: Data on the impact of the number and nature of perceived asthma triggers on health-related quality of life (HRQL) in children are scarce.

Objective: To investigate the impact of perceived asthma triggers on both asthma-specific and generic HRQL in children.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among children (7-18 years) with asthma in secondary and tertiary care.

Elaboration of Consensus Clinical Endpoints to Evaluate Antimicrobial Treatment Efficacy in Future Hospital-acquired/Ventilator-associated Bacterial Pneumonia Clinical Trials.

Background: Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP and VABP, respectively) are important for the evaluation of new antimicrobials. However, the heterogeneity in endpoints used in RCTs evaluating treatment of HABP/VABP may puzzle clinicians. The aim of this work was to reach a consensus on clinical endpoints to consider in future clinical trials evaluating antimicrobial treatment efficacy for HABP/VABP.

Perspectives of parents and nurses on the content validity of the Family Empowerment Scale for parents of children with a chronic condition: A mixed-methods study.

Background: Insight into parental empowerment is important to understanding the impact of health care policy and to supporting and strengthening parents in the care of their child. The Family Empowerment Scale (FES) is a valid 24-item instrument that measures parental empowerment. It was originally developed for parents of children with emotional disabilities.

Feasibility of a nurse-led intervention for the early management of depression after stroke in hospital.

Aim: To explore the feasibility of the Post-Stroke Depression toolkit in terms of fidelity and acceptability in daily nursing practice.

Background: Depression after stroke is common and influences patients' recovery significantly. Although stroke guidelines recommend early depression screening and treatment, depressive symptoms remain unrecognized.

Long-term outcome of coronary artery dilatation in Kawasaki disease.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis syndrome with a high incidence of coronary aneurysms in untreated children. The majority of aneurysms resulting from KD are known to regress with time.

Aims: This study aimed to determine the course and outcome of coronary artery dilatation in patients with KD and ascertain whether there are any differences in the outcomes in the different branches.

Adverse Effects of Amoxicillin for Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Primary Care: Secondary and Subgroup Analysis of a Randomised Clinical Trial.

A European placebo-controlled trial of antibiotic treatment for lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) conducted in 16 primary care practices networks recruited participants between November 2007 and April 2010, and found adverse events (AEs) occurred more often in patients prescribed amoxicillin compared to placebo. This secondary analysis explores the causal relationship and estimates specific AEs (diarrhoea, nausea, rash) due to amoxicillin treatment for LRTI, and if any subgroup is at increased risk of any or a specific AE. A total of 2061 patients were randomly assigned to amoxicillin (1038) and placebo (1023); 595 (28%) were 60 and older.

Intraprofessional collaboration and learning between specialists and general practitioners during postgraduate training: a qualitative study.

Background: During postgraduate training, general practitioners and other specialists must learn how to deliver shared care to patients; however, the development of formal intraprofessional education is often hampered by curricular constraints. Delivering shared care in everyday work provides trainees with opportunities for informal learning from, about and with one another.

Methods: Twelve semi-structured interviews were undertaken with trainee general practitioners and specialists (internal medicine or surgery).

Impact of Early-Onset Acute Otitis Media on Multiple Recurrences and Associated Health Care Use.

Objective: To quantify the critical age period of first episode of acute otitis media (AOM) and its consequences for AOM recurrences and AOM health care use.

Study Design: Children enrolled in the Wheezing-Illnesses-STudy-LEidsche-Rijn cohort with at least 1 episode of AOM documented in their primary care health record before 2 years of age were followed until 6 years of age. Data on episodes of AOM and associated primary care consultations, antibiotic prescriptions, and specialist referrals were retrieved.

Poor Performance Among Trainees in a Dutch Postgraduate GP Training Program.

Background And Objectives: Poor performance among trainees is an important issue, for patient safety and economic reasons. While early identification might enhance remediation measures, we explored the frequency, nature, and risk factors of poor performance in a Dutch postgraduate general practitioner (GP) training program.

Methods: All trainees who started the GP training between 2005 and 2007 were included.

The effect of visual feedback and training in auditory-perceptual judgment of voice quality.

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of visual feedback on rating voice quality severity level and the reliability of voice quality judgment by inexperienced listeners. For this purpose two training programs were created, each lasting 2 hours. In total 37 undergraduate speech-language therapy students participated in the study and were divided into a visual plus auditory-perceptual feedback group (V + AF), an auditory-perceptual feedback group (AF), and a control group with no feedback (NF).

Cardiovascular manifestations of HIV infection in children.

Background: HIV infection in children is now considered as a chronic condition, in which various non-infectious complications may occur, including those affecting the developing cardiovascular system. As children are expected to survive well into adulthood, understanding childhood as well as potential future cardiovascular complications is of major importance.

Methods And Results: We reviewed published literature on childhood cardiac manifestations and longer term effects of pediatric HIV infection on the cardiovascular system.

The importance of short-term off-target effects in estimating the long-term renal and cardiovascular protection of angiotensin receptor blockers.

Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) have multiple effects that may contribute to their efficacy on renal/cardiovascular outcomes. We developed and validated a risk score that incorporated short-term changes in multiple risk markers to predict the ARB effect on renal/cardiovascular outcomes. The score was used to predict renal/cardiovascular risk at baseline and at month 6 in the ARB treatment arm of the Reduction of Endpoints in NIDDM (noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) with the Angiotensin II Antagonist Losartan (RENAAL) trial.

Modeling the transmission risk of emerging infectious diseases through blood transfusion.

Background: A timely risk assessment is desired to guide decisions on preventive transfusion safety measures during emerging infectious disease (EID) outbreaks. The European Up-Front Risk Assessment Tool (EUFRAT) model was developed to provide quantitative transmission risk estimates of EIDs through blood transfusion.

Study Design And Methods: The generic model comprises five sequential steps to estimate the infection risks in the blood transfusion chain: 1) the prevalence of infection in the donor population, 2) the risk of obtaining infected donations, 3) infected components, 4) infected blood products, and 5) the risk of transmitting the infection to recipients.

Is pacifier use a risk factor for acute otitis media? A dynamic cohort study.

Background: Recently, the use of a pacifier has been identified as a risk factor for acute otitis media (AOM). The studies performed so far, however, suffer from methodological limitations.

Objective: To study whether pacifier use increases the risk of AOM.

Increasing levels of TNFalpha are associated with increased brain perfusion.

Objective: Recent reports of animal models have shown that growth factors have stimulating effect on brain perfusion via the development of blood vessels. However, studies on the effect of growth factors on brain perfusion in humans are lacking. The aim of our study was to prospectively investigate in humans the relation between growth factors and brain perfusion.

Patient characteristics do not predict poor glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes patients treated in primary care.

Many diabetic patients in general practice do not achieve good glycaemic control. The aim of this study was to assess which characteristics of type 2 diabetes patients treated in primary care predict poor glycaemic control (HbA1c > or = 7%). Data were collected from the medical records.