Clinical importance of patient-reported outcome measures in severe asthma: results from U-BIOPRED.

Rationale: Knowledge about the clinical importance of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in severe asthma is limited.

Objectives: To assess whether and to what extent asthma exacerbations affect changes in PROMS over time and asthma-specific PROMs can predict exacerbations in adult patients with severe asthma in usual care.

Methods: Data of 421 patients with severe asthma (62% female; mean age 51.

The role of impella in the pre-procedural management of post-infarct ventricular septal defect: a systematic review.

Objectives: Post-infarct ventricular septal defect is a rare but devastating complication. Delayed treatment offers better outcomes than emergency surgery, but, when acute cardiogenic shock or unstable haemodynamics occur, temporary mechanical circulatory support may be needed to stabilize patients until treatment. The aim of our systematic review was to assess the outcomes of using Impella in this setting.

Reverse electrical remodelling after cardiac resynchronization therapy in a patient undergoing left bundle branch area pacing: a case report.

Background: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) has been introduced as an alternative to biventricular pacing in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Several studies describe echocardiographic reverse remodelling after LBBAP. Reverse electrical remodelling after LBBAP has not yet been described.

Interpretation of intra-operative strain differences in ascending thoracic aortic repair patients.

Local biaxial deformation plays a pivotal role in evaluating the tissue state of the ascending aorta and in driving intramural cell-mediated tissue remodeling. Unfortunately, the absence of anatomical markers on the ascending aorta presents challenges in capturing deformation. Utilizing our established intra-operative biaxial strain measurement method, we delineated local biaxial deformation characteristics in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass graft surgery recipients (n = 20), and Aortic Repair surgery patients (n = 47).

Reproducibility of three 6-min walk tests in patients with COPD referred for pulmonary rehabilitation.

Introduction And Objectives: The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is used to assess functional capacity in patients with COPD. A significant number of studies have shown that most patients walk further in a second 6MWT. Research on a further increase in the 6-min walk distance (6MWD) during a 3rd test performed in accordance with current guidelines has not been done.

The volume-outcome relation for pulmonary endarterectomy in chronic thrombo-embolic pulmonary hypertension.

Background: We conducted a volume-outcome (V-O) meta-analysis of PEA procedures for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), to objectively determine the minimum required annual case load that can define a high-volume centre.

Methods: Three electronic databases were systematically queried until May 1st, 2024. Centres were divided in volume tertiles (Ts).

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype distribution in Bangladeshi under-fives with community-acquired pneumonia pre-10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccination.

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequent causative pathogen of bacterial pneumonia in children worldwide. Bangladesh introduced the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) in their national immunization program for infants in 2015. We assessed its potential coverage in under-fives with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the years before PCV10 was introduced.

Improvement of the outcome of the saphenous vein graft when connected to the internal thoracic artery.

Background: Since 2000, we have been grafting the right coronary artery system (RCAs) using the proximal portion of the right internal thoracic artery (RITA) as the inflow of the saphenous vein graft (SVG) to increase the number of patients undergoing beating heart complete myocardial revascularization.

Methods: From 2000 to 2022, 928 consecutive patients underwent SVG on the RCAs. In 546 patients (58.

Self-reported compliance with infection prevention and control of healthcare workers in Dutch residential care facilities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Compliance of healthcare workers (HCWs) with infection prevention and control (IPC) is crucial to resident safety. Nevertheless, HCWs' compliance with IPC has not been previously studied in a disability care setting.

Objective: To assess levels of self-reported compliance with IPC among HCWs in residential care facilities (RCFs) for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs), and to assess whether IPC compliance varies among different professional groups.

Alternative Modes of Delivery in Pulmonary Rehabilitation: A Critical Appraisal of the Literature.

Purpose: This review presents an overview of the safety and efficacy of alternative modes of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Review Methods: We identified recently published systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and guidelines, as well as relevant studies, exploring the safety and effectiveness of community-based PR, home-based PR, telerehabilitation, and web-based rehabilitation in people with COPD. A narrative summary of the main findings is presented.

Prognostic value of hypoxaemic burden from overnight oximetry in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Aims: Nocturnal hypoxaemic burden, quantified as time spent with oxygen saturation below 90% (T90), is an established independent predictor of mortality in heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction. The prognostic value of T90 in HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is unknown. This study aims to determine the association of T90 with adverse outcomes in HFpEF.

Reliability of 24-h measurement of physical activity, sleep, and sedentary time in adult patients with asthma using a triaxial accelerometer.

Objective: Physical activity (PA), sleep, and sedentary time (SST) are important outcomes to monitor and to improve as part of patients' asthma management. This study aimed to assess the number of measurement days needed to reliably measure PA and SST. Secondly, the influence of external factors on the reliability of measuring PA and SST was studied.

Social networks and COVID-19 vaccination intention in Dutch middle-aged and older adults in 2020: Insights into individual, interpersonal, community, and societal determinants - The SaNAE study.

Background: Social networks, our social relationships, influence the spread of infectious diseases and preventive behaviors such as vaccination. Here, we aimed to assess which individual, interpersonal (social network characteristics), community and societal factors are associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination intention during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, prior to vaccine availability.

Methods: This cross-sectional study collected primary data from 5,001 community-dwelling adults aged 40 years and older in the Netherlands, using an online questionnaire from August and November 2020.

Does 18 Hz deep TMS benefit a different subgroup of depressed patients relative to 10 Hz rTMS? The role of the individual alpha frequency.

Both 10 Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as well as 18 Hz deep TMS (dTMS) constitute effective, FDA-approved TMS treatment protocols for depression. However, not all patients experience sufficient symptom relief after either of these protocols. Biomarker-guided treatment stratification could aid in personalizing treatment and thereby enhancing improvement.

Residents' perceptions of what makes feedback valuable in workplace-based learning: A discrete choice experiment.

Introduction: Research on feedback has shifted emphasis away from its 'delivery' to consideration of the interaction between individual learners and their 'feedback provider'. The complexity inherent in determining whether feedback is perceived as valuable by learners, however, can quickly overwhelm educators if every interaction must be considered completely idiosyncratic. We, therefore, require a better understanding of variability in the ways in which feedback is perceived.

The adipocyte apolipoprotein M is negatively associated with inflammation.

Obesity is associated with the development of local adipose tissue (AT) and systemic inflammation. Most adipokines are upregulated with obesity and have pro-inflammatory properties. Few are downregulated and possess beneficial anti-inflammatory effects.

Impact of a large-scale event on SARS-CoV-2 cases and hospitalizations in the Netherlands, carnival seasons 2022 and 2023.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the importance of understanding facilitators for disease transmission. Events such as Carnival, characterized by large gatherings and extensive social interactions, have the potential to become 'super spreading events' for respiratory infections. This paper aims to assess the impact of large gatherings on virus transmission, providing crucial insights for the development of effective public health strategies.

Reproductive tract complication risks following infections: a long-term prospective cohort study from 2008 to 2022.

Background: The clinical and public health relevance of widespread testing for asymptomatic (chlamydia) infections is under debate. To address uncertainties in screening programs, we estimate reproductive tract complication risks following asymptomatic and symptomatic chlamydia infections in a long-term prospective cohort.

Methods: A cohort of 5704 reproductive-age women recruited from a chlamydia screening study was followed for up to 14 years.

Fracture risk revisited: Bone mineral density T-score and fracture risk in type 2 diabetes.

Aim: To study the association between femoral neck (FN) bone mineral density (BMD) T-score and fracture risk in individuals with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Materials And Methods: We performed a single-centre retrospective cohort study using the Danish National Health Service. BMD of the FN was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.