Association between bone shape and the presence of a fracture in patients with a clinically suspected scaphoid fracture.

Scaphoid fractures are difficult to diagnose with current imaging modalities. It is unknown whether the shape of the scaphoid bone, assessed by statistical shape modeling, can be used to differentiate between fractured and non-fractured bones. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the presence of a scaphoid fracture is associated with shape modes of a statistical shape model (SSM).

A trial-based economic evaluation of peppermint oil for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

Background: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent, chronic gastrointestinal disorder that imposes a substantial socioeconomic burden. Peppermint oil is a frequently used treatment for IBS, but evidence about cost-effectiveness is lacking.

Objective: We aimed to assess cost-effectiveness of small-intestinal release peppermint oil versus placebo in IBS patients.

Assessment of the healing of conservatively-treated scaphoid fractures using HR-pQCT.

Improving the clinical outcome of scaphoid fractures may benefit from adequate monitoring of their healing in order to for example identify complications such as scaphoid nonunion at an early stage and to adjust the treatment strategy accordingly. However, quantitative assessment of the healing process is limited with current imaging modalities. In this study, high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) was used for the first time to assess the changes in bone density, microarchitecture, and strength during the healing of conservatively-treated scaphoid fractures.

Long Non-Coding RNAs Involved in Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease to Steatohepatitis.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease and is characterized by different stages varying from benign fat accumulation to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) that may progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer. In recent years, a regulatory role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in NAFLD has emerged. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the still poorly understood lncRNA contribution to disease progression.

Development of the Gastrointestinal Dysfunction Score (GIDS) for critically ill patients - A prospective multicenter observational study (iSOFA study).

Background & Aims: To develop a five grade score (0-4 points) for the assessment of gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction in adult critically ill patients.

Methods: This prospective multicenter observational study enrolled consecutive adult patients admitted to 11 intensive care units in nine countries. At all sites, daily clinical data with emphasis on GI clinical symptoms were collected and intra-abdominal pressure measured.

A combination of fecal calprotectin and human beta-defensin 2 facilitates diagnosis and monitoring of inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) show a large overlap in clinical presentation, which presents diagnostic challenges. As a consequence, invasive and burdensome endoscopies are often used to distinguish between IBD and IBS. Here, we aimed to develop a noninvasive fecal test that can distinguish between IBD and IBS and reduce the number of endoscopies.

Attitudes towards a sensor-feedback technology in gait rehabilitation of patients after stroke.

Introduction: Intensive gait training is important for effective rehabilitation of people after stroke. "Stappy" is a sensor-feedback system that provides real-time feedback on the persons gait pattern/performance during training. The main aim of this study was to assess attitudes towards "Stappy" in people after stroke to practise walking performance independently at home.

Low-dose oral glucocorticoid therapy and risk of osteoporotic fractures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cohort study using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink.

Objectives: Clinical trials have shown that low-dose glucocorticoid therapy in patients with RA reduces bone loss in hands or hip, but the effect on osteoporotic fractures is not yet clear. Therefore, we investigated the use of low-dose oral glucocorticoids and risk of osteoporotic fractures among patients with RA.

Methods: This was a cohort study including patients with RA aged 50+ years from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink between 1997 and 2017.

Association between social network characteristics and prevalent and incident depression: The Maastricht Study.

Aims: Social network characteristics may provide a novel non-pharmaceutical target for the prevention of depression. We investigated the temporal association of a broad range of structural and functional social network characteristics with incident depressive symptoms over 5 years of follow-up.

Methods: We used data from The Maastricht Study, a population-based prospective cohort study (n=2,465, mean age 59.

Potential Contribution of Short Chain Fatty Acids to Hepatic Apolipoprotein A-I Production.

Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) is the major protein of high density lipoprotein (HDL) particles and has a crucial role in reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). It has been postulated that elevating production of de novo ApoA-I might translate into the formation of new functional HDL particles that could lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk via RCT. During inflammation, serum ApoA-I concentrations are reduced, which contributes to the development of dysfunctional HDL particles as Serum Amyloid A (SAA) overtakes the position of ApoA-I within the HDL particles.

Machine learning-based glucose prediction with use of continuous glucose and physical activity monitoring data: The Maastricht Study.

Background: Closed-loop insulin delivery systems, which integrate continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and algorithms that continuously guide insulin dosing, have been shown to improve glycaemic control. The ability to predict future glucose values can further optimize such devices. In this study, we used machine learning to train models in predicting future glucose levels based on prior CGM and accelerometry data.

A putative anti-inflammatory role for TRPM8 in irritable bowel syndrome-An exploratory study.

Background: Chronic and recurring pain is a characteristic symptom in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Altered signaling between immune cells and sensory neurons within the gut may promote generation of pain symptoms. As transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) agonists, such as L-menthol in peppermint oil, have shown to attenuate IBS pain symptoms, we began investigating potential molecular mechanisms.

Thiazolidinediones and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists and the Risk of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Cohort Study.

Background And Aims: Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are potential pharmacological treatment options for patients at risk of NAFLD. Therefore, we examined the association between the risk of NAFLD and the use of TZDs and GLP-1 receptor agonists compared with the use of sulfonylureas (SUs) and insulins. Additionally, we calculated the incidence of HCC in users of TZDs and GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Greater daily glucose variability and lower time in range assessed with continuous glucose monitoring are associated with greater aortic stiffness: The Maastricht Study.

Aims: CVD is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in individuals with diabetes. It is currently unclear whether daily glucose variability contributes to CVD. Therefore, we investigated whether glucose variability is associated with arterial measures that are considered important in CVD pathogenesis.

Habitual Intake of Dietary Advanced Glycation End Products Is Not Associated with Arterial Stiffness of the Aorta and Carotid Artery in Adults: The Maastricht Study.

Background: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), a heterogeneous group of bioactive compounds, are thought to contribute to arterial stiffness, which in turn is a causal factor in the pathogenesis of stroke, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. Whether AGEs derived from food also contribute to arterial stiffness is not clear.

Objectives: We investigated whether higher intake of dietary AGEs is associated with arterial stiffness.

Circadian misalignment disturbs the skeletal muscle lipidome in healthy young men.

Circadian misalignment, as seen in shift work, is associated with an increased risk to develop type 2 diabetes. In an experimental setting, we recently showed that a rapid day-night shift for 3 consecutive nights leads to misalignment of the core molecular clock, induction of the PPAR pathway, and insulin resistance in skeletal muscle of young, healthy men. Here, we investigated if circadian misalignment affects the skeletal muscle lipidome and intramyocellular lipid droplet characteristics, explaining the misalignment-induced insulin resistance.

Effect of exercise training interventions on energy intake and appetite control in adults with overweight or obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review examined the impact of exercise training interventions on energy intake (EI) and appetite control in adults with overweight/obesity (≥18 years including older adults). Articles were searched up to October 2019. Changes in EI, fasting appetite sensations, and eating behavior traits were examined with random effects meta-analysis, and other outcomes were synthesized qualitatively.

Propionate hampers differentiation and modifies histone propionylation and acetylation in skeletal muscle cells.

Protein acylation via metabolic acyl-CoA intermediates provides a link between cellular metabolism and protein functionality. A process in which acetyl-CoA and acetylation are fine-tuned is during myogenic differentiation. However, the roles of other protein acylations remain unknown.

Lifestyle interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour in clinical populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis of different strategies and effects on cardiometabolic health.

Cardiometabolic comorbidities are highly prevalent in clinical populations, and have been associated (partly) with their sedentary lifestyle. Although lifestyle interventions targeting sedentary behaviour (SB) have been studied extensively in the general population, the effect of such strategies in clinical populations is not yet clear. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effect of different lifestyle interventions on SB and cardiometabolic health in clinical populations.

Carotid stiffness is associated with retinal microvascular dysfunction-The Maastricht study.

Objective: This study investigated whether arterial stiffening is a determinant of subtle retinal microvascular changes that precede diabetic retinopathy.

Research Design And Methods: This study used cross-sectional data from the Maastricht Study, a type 2 diabetes-enriched population-based cohort study. We used multivariable linear regression analysis to investigate, in individuals without and with type 2 diabetes, the associations of carotid distensibility coefficient and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity with retinal microvascular diameters and flicker light-induced dilation and adjusted for cardiovascular and lifestyle risk factors.

The Effect of Bolus Vitamin D Supplementation on Distal Radius Fracture Healing: A Randomized Controlled Trial Using HR-pQCT.

Vitamin D is an important factor in bone metabolism. Animal studies have shown a positive effect of vitamin D supplementation on fracture healing, but evidence from clinical trials is inconclusive. A randomized controlled trial was performed to assess the effects of vitamin D supplementation on fracture healing using HR-pQCT-based outcome parameters.