Childhood Developmental Milestones and Risk of Adult Cerebrovascular Disease: The Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966.

Introduction: To the best of our knowledge, no previous studies have examined the relationship between childhood developmental milestones and risk of adulthood cerebrovascular disease (CeVD). We studied whether the risk of adult CeVD is associated with delayed attainment of motor and language milestones.

Methods: Within the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, a total of 11,688 persons were followed from birth to either death, moving abroad or 54 years of age.

Fetal Fraction of Cell-Free DNA in the Prediction of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: To assess the added value of fetal fraction of cell-free DNA in the maternal circulation in the prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Nationwide implementation study on non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT; TRIDENT-2 study).

Quality of life and functional outcome of rectal cancer patients: A prospective cohort study.

Aim: In the last decade, the Netherlands has implemented various diagnostic and treatment strategies to enhance rectal cancer outcomes. This study, using data from the Prospective Dutch ColoRectal Cancer (PLCRC) cohort, investigates whether these multidisciplinary advancements have translated into improved health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and functional outcomes for the general Dutch rectal cancer population.

Methods: Patients with Stage I-III rectal cancer enrolled in the PLCRC cohort were included.

Exploring transparent reporting and data availability in systematic reviews to identify subgroup evidence: imaging for suspected hepatocellular carcinoma in the non-cirrhotic liver.

We aim to illustrate the role of complete and transparent reporting coupled with access to data sourced from published systematic reviews, especially assisting in the identification of evidence for subgroups within the context of a rare disease. To accomplish this principle, we provide a real-world example encountered during the revision of the Dutch clinical practice guideline for hepatocellular carcinoma. Specifically, we retrieved insights from two Cochrane reviews to identify direct evidence concerning the diagnostic test accuracy of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for detecting hepatocellular carcinomas in suspected patients without liver cirrhosis.

Moderators and mediators of the association between the obesogenicity of neighbourhoods and weight status in Dutch adults.

This study aimed to assess sociodemographic, personality, and psychological moderators, and lifestyle behavioural mediators, of the association between obesogenicity of neighbourhoods and weight status in Dutch adults. This cross-sectional study used baseline data of 150,506 adult participants of the Lifelines study. To quantify obesogenicity of Dutch neighbourhoods, the Obesogenic Built Environment CharacterisTics (OBCT) index was used, calculated for 1000 m circular buffers around participant's residencies.

Reconceptualizing and Defining Exposomics within Environmental Health: Expanding the Scope of Health Research.

Background: Exposomics, the study of the exposome, is flourishing, but the field is not well defined. The term "exposome" refers to all environmental influences and associated biological responses throughout the lifespan. However, this definition is very similar to that of the term "environment"-the external elements and conditions that surround and affect the life and development of an organism.

Non-Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Risk of Chronic Diseases: An Umbrella Review of Meta-analyses of Prospective Cohort Studies.

Context: Several effects of non-sugar-sweetened beverage (NSSBs) intake on health outcomes have been reported; however, the evidence on the association between NSSBs intake and chronic diseases and mortality risk is still inconclusive.

Objective: This umbrella review aimed to summarize the evidence on the association between NSSBs intake and the risk of chronic diseases and mortality.

Data Sources: Embase, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane Central, and PubMed were searched up to September 2023 for relevant meta-analyses of observational prospective cohort studies.

Examining the psychometric properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 among young urban South African women.

Background: Valid, reliable, and easy-to-administer scales are crucial for identifying mental health conditions, especially in LMICs where such scales tend not to be validated. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the psychometric properties and factorial structure of the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 in a sample of young women in Soweto, South Africa.

Methods: The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were administered to 6028 women aged 18-28 years old.

Female participation, and sex-specific reporting practices, in polypill randomised controlled trials in the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: a secondary analysis of a systematic review.

Background: The polypill is an emerging strategy for the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease. We assessed the participation of females in randomised controlled trials evaluating polypills for prevention of cardiovascular disease and subsequent sex-specific analyses and reporting.

Methods: Cardiovascular polypill trials were identified through a systematic review.

Additional predictors of stroke and transient ischaemic attack in BEFAST positive patients in out-of-hours emergency primary care.

Introduction: In patients suspected of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), rapid triaging is imperative to improve clinical outcomes. For this purpose, balance-eye-face-arm-speech-time (BEFAST) items are used in out-of-hours primary care (OHS-PC). We explored the risk of stroke and TIA among BEFAST positive patients calling to the OHS-PC, and assessed whether additional predictors could improve risk stratification.

Early-Life Risk Factors for Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Carotid Stiffness in Adolescence.

Importance: Atherogenesis starts during childhood, making childhood and adolescence an important window of opportunity to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease later in life.

Objective: To identify early-life risk factors for preclinical atherosclerosis in adolescence.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study is part of the ongoing Wheezing Illness Study in Leidsche Rijn (WHISTLER) prospective birth cohort study, which includes 3005 healthy newborns born between December 2001 and December 2012 in the Leidsche Rijn area of Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Risk of Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Cancer: An Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis and Development of a Prediction Model.

Background:  About 7% of patients with cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (CAT) develop a recurrence during anticoagulant treatment. Identification of high-risk patients may help guide treatment decisions.

Aim:  To identify clinical predictors and develop a prediction model for on-treatment recurrent CAT.

Interviewing people on sensitive topics: challenges and strategies.

Interviewing participants on sensitive topics is challenging and requires carefully planned and executed strategies throughout the research process. Sensitive topics have the potential to cause distress to participants or researchers. In this methods paper, strategies for conducting interviews on sensitive topics are described, including choosing the appropriate interview approach, creating a safe and comfortable environment, building rapport, utilizing sensitive and open questioning, reflexivity of the researcher, and awareness of the potential therapeutic effect of the interviews on participants.

An exploration of available methods and tools to improve the efficiency of systematic review production: a scoping review.

Background: Systematic reviews (SRs) are time-consuming and labor-intensive to perform. With the growing number of scientific publications, the SR development process becomes even more laborious. This is problematic because timely SR evidence is essential for decision-making in evidence-based healthcare and policymaking.

Glycan-specific IgM is critical for human immunity to Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen, yet the immune factors that protect against infection remain elusive. High titers of opsonic IgG antibodies, achieved in preclinical animal immunization studies, have consistently failed to provide protection in humans. Here, we investigate antibody responses to the conserved S.

Nigeria sodium study 2023 policy meeting on dietary sodium reduction in Nigeria.

Background: In line with the WHO Global Action Plan's objective to achieve a 30% relative reduction in the mean population intake of sodium by 2025, the Nigeria Sodium Study (NaSS) team, which aimed to evaluate the implementation and scale-up of national sodium reduction programme, hosted a policy meeting May 22, 2023, in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. The aim was to deliberate on strategies for translating data on salt levels in food and dietary patterns, intending to strengthen sodium policies in Nigeria, with the ultimate goal of producing evidence-based information that can effectively guide strategies and policies for sodium reduction.

Methods: Policymakers from federal, state, and local government levels attended, as well as representatives from national and international universities and non-governmental organizations.