System-failing creativity in health care.

Introduction: Health care professionals often generate novel solutions to solve problems during day-to-day patient care. However, less is known about generating novel and useful (i.e.

Vector AutoRegressive Moving Average Models: A Review.

Vector AutoRegressive Moving Average (VARMA) models form a powerful and general model class for analyzing dynamics among multiple time series. While VARMA models encompass the Vector AutoRegressive (VAR) models, their popularity in empirical applications is dominated by the latter. Can this phenomenon be explained fully by the simplicity of VAR models? Perhaps many users of VAR models have not fully appreciated what VARMA models can provide.

Evaluation of efficiency and effectiveness of different recruitment strategies for the FINGER-NL multidomain lifestyle intervention trial via the Dutch Brain Research Registry.

Introduction: Recruitment of participants for intervention studies is challenging. We evaluated the effectiveness and efficiency of a participant recruitment campaign through an online registry for the FINGER-NL study, a multi-domain lifestyle intervention trial targeting cognitively healthy individuals aged 60-79 with dementia prevention potential. Additionally, we explored which recruitment strategy successfully reached individuals from underrepresented groups in research.

Pre-hospital ECPR cost analysis and cost effectiveness modelling study.

Background: The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is increasing. Prehospital ECPR (PH-ECPR) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) may improve both equity of access and outcomes but its cost effectiveness has yet to be determined.

Methods: Cost analyses of PH-ECPR was performed utilizing current PH-ECPR trial, NSW Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry (CAR), geospatial modelling and in-hospital costings data.

osteogenic and angiogenic effects of a family of natural origin PO-free bioactive glasses.

Bioactive glasses (BGs) belong to a group of ceramic biomaterials having numerous applications due to their excellent biocompatibility and bioactivity. Depending on their composition, properties of BGs can be finely tuned. In this study, we investigated both angiogenic and osteogenic properties of a novel family of BGs from the SiO-CaO-NaO system.

Anticoagulation in Patients With Device-Detected Atrial Fibrillation With and Without a Prior Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack: The NOAH-AFNET 6 Trial.

Background: Short and rare episodes of atrial fibrillation (AF) are commonly detected using implanted devices (device-detected AF) in patients with prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). The effectiveness and safety of oral anticoagulation in patients with prior stroke or TIA and device-detected AF but with no ECG-documented AF is unclear.

Methods And Results: This prespecified analysis of the NOAH-AFNET 6 (Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants in Patients With Atrial High Rate Episodes) trial with post hoc elements assessed the effect of oral anticoagulation in patients with device-detected AF with and without a prior stroke or TIA in the randomized, double-blind, double-dummy NOAH-AFNET 6 trial.

Elevated levels of citrullinated fibrinogen in patients with cancer.

Neutrophil released peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) converts arginine residues on plasma proteins into citrulline. Here, we developed an assay to quantify citrullinated fibrinogen. We employed a biotin-conjugated phenylglyoxal (biotin-phenylglyoxal (PG)) compound that selectively labels citrulline.

Microvascular Dysfunction and Whole-Brain White Matter Connectivity: The Maastricht Study.

Background: Microvascular dysfunction is involved in the development of various cerebral disorders. It may contribute to these disorders by disrupting white matter tracts and altering brain connectivity, but evidence is scarce. We investigated the association between multiple biomarkers of microvascular function and whole-brain white matter connectivity.

A maceration technique for soft plant tissue without hazardous chemicals.

Premise: Current methods for maceration of plant tissue use hazardous chemicals. The new method described here improves the safety of dissection and maceration of soft plant tissues for microscopic imaging by using the harmless enzyme pectinase.

Methods And Results: Leaf material from a variety of land plants was obtained from living plants and dried herbarium specimens.

Development of tools to facilitate the diagnosis of hereditary fructose intolerance.

Although hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) is an inborn error of fructose metabolism that classically presents at infancy, the diagnosis is often missed or delayed. In this study, we aimed to develop tools to facilitate the diagnosis of HFI. The intake of fructose-containing food products, that is, fruit, fruit juice and sugar-sweetened beverages, was assessed by a 3-day food diary in adult HFI patients ( = 15) and age, sex, and BMI-matched controls ( = 15).

Plasma ceramides relate to mild cognitive impairment in middle-aged men: The Maastricht Study.

Introduction: There is an urgent need for biomarkers identifying individuals at risk of early-stage cognitive impairment. Using cross-sectional data from The Maastricht Study, this study included 197 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 200 cognitively unimpaired individuals aged 40 to 75, matched by age, sex, and educational level.

Methods: We assessed the association of plasma sphingolipid and ceramide transfer protein (CERT) levels with MCI and adjusted for potentially confounding risk factors.

Young-onset dementia in memory clinics in the Netherlands: Study design and description of PRECODE-GP.

The disease trajectory and healthcare requirements of patients with young-onset dementia (YOD) differ from those of older patients. Accurate data about YOD is crucial to improve diagnosis and optimize care. PRECODE-GP aims to set up a prospective national database of patients with YOD to gain insight into the occurrence and characteristics of patients with YOD in memory clinics in the Netherlands.

Diagnostic Accuracy of the Standing Test in Adults Suspected for Congenital Long-QT Syndrome.

Background An elegant bedside provocation test has been shown to aid the diagnosis of long-QT syndrome (LQTS) in a retrospective cohort by evaluation of QT intervals and T-wave morphology changes resulting from the brief tachycardia provoked by standing. We aimed to prospectively determine the potential diagnostic value of the standing test for LQTS. Methods and Results In adults suspected for LQTS who had a standing test, the QT interval was assessed manually and automated.

Rationale and design of the ABOARD project (A Personalized Medicine Approach for Alzheimer's Disease).

Unlabelled: The key to stopping Alzheimer's disease (AD) lies in the pre-dementia stages, with the goal to stop AD before dementia has started. We present the rationale and design of the ABOARD (A Personalized Medicine Approach for Alzheimer's Disease) project, which aims to invest in personalized medicine for AD. ABOARD is a Dutch public-private partnership of 32 partners, connecting stakeholders from a scientific, clinical, and societal perspective.

Validation of the Fear and Avoidance of Memory Loss scale in community-based older adults.

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are among the most feared conditions. However, research around ADRD-specific fear and avoidance behaviors is lacking. Here, we validated a novel measure of fear and avoidance specific to memory loss, the Fear and Avoidance of Memory Loss (FAM) scale, and examined associations between fear avoidance and psychosocial functioning in older adults.

Following the 'hype': The role of leisure practices during 'homeland' visits in transnational youth's way of relating to Ghana.

Drawing on 17 months of ethnographic fieldwork in the Netherlands and Ghana, this paper combines 'return' mobilities literature and youth studies to analyse the role of leisure practices during 'homeland' visits in transnational youth's way of relating to Ghana when they are entering into adulthood. Using the notion of mobility trajectories, the paper shows that leisure practices facilitate young people's ability to establish and renew intimate transnational relationships with diasporic friends, and Ghana-based same-generation relatives and romantic partners. Differing from earlier stays in Ghana, young people expressed their emerging sense of independence by exploring alternative sides of the country with these peers, based on common interests and belonging to the same life-cycle cohort.

Parkinsonism in Genetic Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Systematic Review.

Background: With advances in clinical genetic testing, associations between genetic neurodevelopmental disorders and parkinsonism are increasingly recognized. In this review, we aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of reports on parkinsonism in genetic neurodevelopmental disorders and summarize findings related to genetic diagnosis, clinical features and proposed disease mechanisms.

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted in PubMed and Embase on June 15, 2021.

Urinary Sodium Excretion and Salt Intake Are Not Associated With Blood Pressure Variability in a White General Population.

Background Salt restriction may lower blood pressure variability (BPV), but previous studies have shown inconsistent results. Therefore, we investigated in an observational study and intervention trial whether urinary sodium excretion and salt intake are associated with 24-hour BPV. Methods and Results We used data from the cross-sectional population-based Maastricht Study (n=2652; 60±8 years; 52% men) and from a randomized crossover trial (n=40; 49±11 years; 33% men).

Abnormal cerebrospinal fluid levels of amyloid and tau are associated with cognitive decline over time in cognitively normal older adults: A monozygotic twin study.

Introduction: The contribution of genetic and environmental factors to the relation between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers and cognitive decline in preclinical Alzheimer's disease remains unclear. We studied this in initially cognitively normal monozygotic twins.

Methods: We included 122 cognitively normal monozygotic twins (51 pairs) with a follow-up of 4.

Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors in Patients With COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Led by the International Society of Hypertension.

Background Published randomized controlled trials are underpowered for binary clinical end points to assess the safety and efficacy of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi) in adults with COVID-19. We therefore performed a meta-analysis to assess the safety and efficacy of RASi in adults with COVID-19. Methods and Results MEDLINE, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.