Vascular ageing manifestations and hypertension in the community.

Objective: To investigate the association between joint manifestations of vascular ageing (VA) and hypertension.

Methods: We used baseline (2008-2012) and follow-up data (up to 2024) from the Paris Prospective Study III, a French cohort of 10,157 participants. Prevalent and incident hypertension were determined at baseline (blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg or on medication) and at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 years of follow-up (self-reported antihypertensive treatment).

Ischemia during exercise stress testing, an indication of coronary vasomotor dysfunction?

Background: Recently it has been suggested that coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) may explain the high false-positive rate of exercise electrocardiographic stress testing (EST). However, patients with angina but non-obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA) present with a broader spectrum of coronary vasomotor dysfunction (CVDys), namely coronary artery spasm (CAS), CMD or a combination of both. We aim to investigate the diagnostic value of EST for the entire CVDys spectrum.

Clinical validity of IntelliSpace Cognition digital assessment platform in mild cognitive impairment.

We evaluated a digital cognitive assessment platform, Philips IntelliSpace Cognition, in a case-control study of patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and cognitively normal (CN) older adults. Performance on individual neuropsychological tests, cognitive -scores, and Alzheimer's disease (AD)-specific composite scores was compared between the CN and MCI groups. These groups were matched for age, sex, and education.

Working toward Personalized Intervention Advice: A Survey Study on Preference Heterogeneity in Patients with Breast Cancer-Related Fatigue.

Unlabelled: Many breast cancer survivors experience cancer-related fatigue (CRF), and several interventions to treat CRF are available. One way to tailor intervention advice is based on patient preferences. In this study, we explore preference heterogeneity regarding between-attribute and within-attribute preferences.

Three-Dimensional Rotational Angiography to Guide Cardiac Catheterization in Critical Infants Below 5kg of Body Weight.

Background: Three-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA) is a promising advancement to guide cardiac catheterizations. It is used with restraint in critically ill infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) due to the lack of research conducted within this patient group.

Methods: Data of all infants with CHD and a body weight <5 kg who underwent cardiac catheterization with the use of 3DRA between November 2011 and April 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.

Retroperitoneal Soft Tissue Sarcoma and Kidney Autotransplantation: A Case Report.

Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are rare malignancies, with retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma (RPS) constituting 10%-15% of all STSs. RPS often presents late due to minimal early symptoms, typically requiring complete en-bloc resection for optimal survival outcomes. Achieving radical resection can be challenging due to the tumor's proximity to vital organs.

Taylor dispersion analysis and release studies of β-carotene-loaded PLGA nanoparticles and liposomes in simulated gastrointestinal fluids.

β-Carotene (βC), a natural carotenoid, is the most important and effective vitamin A precursor, known also for its antioxidant properties. However, its poor water solubility, chemical instability, and low bioavailability limit its effectiveness as an orally delivered functional nutrient. Nanoparticle encapsulation improves βC's bioaccessibility by enhancing its stability and solubility.

Treatment options for Achilles tendinopathy: a scoping review of preclinical studies.

Background: Achilles tendinopathy (AT) management can be difficult, given the paucity of effective treatment options and the degenerative nature of the condition. Innovative therapies for Achilles tendinopathy are therefore direly needed. New therapeutic developments predominantly begin with preclinical animal and in vitro studies to understand the effects at the molecular level and to evaluate toxicity.

Autonomy support in prenatal consultation: A quantitative observation study in maternity care.

Introduction: Maternity care professionals need to guide women through an increasing number of decision-making processes during pregnancy. Professionals tend to focus more on providing information than on decision support. According to the self-determination theory (SDT), professionals could help women make their own choices by fulfilling their three basic psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness through autonomy-supportive interactions.

Critical Steps in Shotgun Metagenomics-Based Diagnosis of Bloodstream Infections Using Nanopore Sequencing.

Shotgun metagenomics offers a broad detection of pathogens for rapid blood stream infection of pathogens but struggles with often low numbers of pathogens combined with high levels of human background DNA in clinical samples. This study aimed to develop a shotgun metagenomics protocol using blood spiked with various bacteria and to assess bacterial DNA extraction efficiency with human DNA depletion. The Blood Pathogen Kit (Molzym) was used to extract DNA from EDTA-whole blood (WB) and plasma samples, using contrived blood specimens spiked with bacteria for shotgun metagenomics diagnostics via Oxford Nanopore sequencing and PCR-based library preparation.

The PANDEM-2 Simulation Exercise: Training the Coordinated Response to a Large-Scale Pandemic in 2 European Public Health Emergency Operations Centers.

Objective: In the course of the EU funded Pandemic Preparedness and Response (PANDEM-2) project, a functional exercise (FX) was conducted to train the coordinated response to a large-scale pandemic event in Europe by using new IT solutions developed by the project. This report provides an overview of the steps involved in planning, conducting, and evaluating the FX.

Methods: The FX design was based on the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) simulation exercise cycle for public health settings and was carried out over 2 days in the German and Dutch national public health institutes (PHI), with support from other consortium PHIs.

Angiographic Characterization and Sex-Related Anatomical Differences of Atrial Coronary Arteries Anatomy-A Proposal of Systematic Classification.

Background: The coronary atrial circulation is the network of vessels that supply blood to the atria, originating from the left circumflex and right coronary arteries. Current descriptions of this arterial system are based on anatomical studies with a limited number of patients, predominantly male. In addition, there is a lack of consensus its angiographic nomenclature.

The Photoinduced Response of Antimony from Femtoseconds to Minutes.

As a phase change material (PCM), antimony exhibits a set of desirable properties that make it an interesting candidate for photonic memory applications. These include a large optical contrast between crystalline and amorphous solid states over a wide wavelength range. Switching between the states is possible on nanosecond timescales by applying short heating pulses.

Identifying genetic differences between bipolar disorder and major depression through multiple genome-wide association analyses.

Background: Accurate diagnosis of bipolar disorder (BPD) is difficult in clinical practice, with an average delay between symptom onset and diagnosis of about 7 years. A depressive episode often precedes the first manic episode, making it difficult to distinguish BPD from unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD).

Aims: We use genome-wide association analyses (GWAS) to identify differential genetic factors and to develop predictors based on polygenic risk scores (PRS) that may aid early differential diagnosis.

Beyond single-use: a systematic review of environmental, economic, and clinical impacts of endoscopic surgical instrumentation.

Background: The evolution of endoscopic surgery has introduced a multitude of instruments, available in both disposable and reusable variants, influencing practices across various surgical specialties. Instrument selection is complex, considering individual preferences and institutional factors such as costs, instrument performance, and factors related to cleaning and sterilization. Notably, environmental sustainability has gained prominence due to the threat of climate change.

Effectiveness of potent topical corticosteroids versus mild ones in primary care for children with moderate flare-ups of atopic dermatitis; results of a randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a potent topical corticosteroid (TCS) as an initial treatment in primary care for children with moderate flare-ups of atopic dermatitis (AD), compared to starting on a mild TCS.

Design: An observational prospective cohort study with an embedded pragmatic multicentre open-label randomised controlled trial.

Setting: A total of 53 general practices in the southwest of the Netherlands took part in the study.

Oral antihypertensive agents and diuretics in the management of hypertension in postpartum women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: In the puerperium, women with hypertensive disease of pregnancy remain at risk for maternal complications. The antihypertensive agent prescribed antepartum is usually continued postpartum; however, evidence regarding the most effective treatment is lacking. Therefore, we aimed to investigate which antihypertensive agent results in optimal treatment (both effectiveness and safety) of postpartum hypertension.

How patients and informal caregivers can be trained to effectively contribute to improved quality of healthcare services: action research on the development of the Dutch Patient As a Person Academy.

Objectives: Patient and public involvement is regarded as vital in fostering high-quality care. While involvement has clear societal advantages, it is still widely viewed as tokenistic and surrounded by issues of representation. This study aims to understand how patients and informal caregivers can be trained to effectively contribute to improved quality of healthcare services.

DIAMACC: protocol of a prospective diagnostic accuracy study of the maximal systolic acceleration to detect peripheral arterial disease in patients with diabetes-related foot ulceration in the Netherlands.

Introduction: Foot ulcers are one of the most serious complications of diabetes, leading to significant risks on amputation and mortality. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is an important factor for the development and the outcome of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). Although prompt and accurate detection of PAD is critical to reduce complications, its diagnosis can be challenging with currently used bedside tests (such as ankle-brachial index and toe pressure) due to medial arterial calcification.

Effect of multiple counselling contacts along the continuum of care on use of postpartum family planning in a cohort of Ethiopian women: a dose-response analysis.

Objective: Dose-response analysis of the effect of each additional contact where family planning (FP) was discussed during antenatal, delivery, postnatal or immunisation visits on the uptake of postpartum family planning (PPFP) within 12 months.

Design: A cohort where pregnant women were enrolled and reinterviewed approximately 12 months postpartum. Life table analyses examined differentials in probabilities of adopting contraception over 12 months postpartum by level of exposure to FP counselling.

Improving the accUracy of Referrals to the emerGency departmEnt of patieNts with chesT pain using the modified HEART score in Emergency Medical Transport (URGENT 2.0): protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Ischaemic heart disease is the single most common cause of death worldwide. Traditionally, distinguishing patients with cardiac ischaemia from patients with less alarming disease, in prehospital triage of chest pain, is challenging for both general practitioners and ambulance paramedics. Less than 20% of patients with chest pain, transferred to the emergency department (ED), have an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and the transportation and analysis at the ED of non-ACS patients result in substantial healthcare costs and a great patient burden.

Safe, effective and cost-effective oxygen saturation targets for children and adolescents with respiratory distress: protocol for a randomised controlled trial (OxyKids study).

Introduction: Little is known about the effectiveness and safety of oxygen saturation (SpO2) thresholds in children admitted with respiratory distress. The current 90%-94% threshold could lead to prolonged administration of supplemental oxygen, increased duration of hospital admissions, distress for children and families, and healthcare costs. To balance reducing unnecessary oxygen administration and preventing hypoxia, a lower SpO2 threshold of 88% for oxygen supplementation in children has been suggested.

Which clinical trial designs and statistical approaches have been used in assessments of orphan maintenance by the European Medicines Agency between 2012 and 2022? A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: In the European Union, a new orphan medicinal product must demonstrate 'significant benefit' over approved medicinal products targeting the same indication. To demonstrate a significant benefit, comparisons between the new product and the already approved medicinal products-either directly by a head-to-head comparison within a clinical trial or indirectly as a cross-trial comparison-are necessary. In this study, we investigate the types of trial designs and statistical approaches used for demonstrating a significant benefit of a new orphan medicinal product against approved comparators used between 2012 and 2022.

Harnessing the tumor microenvironment: targeted cancer therapies through modulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is integral to cancer progression, impacting metastasis and treatment response. It consists of diverse cell types, extracellular matrix components, and signaling molecules that interact to promote tumor growth and therapeutic resistance. Elucidating the intricate interactions between cancer cells and the TME is crucial in understanding cancer progression and therapeutic challenges.

Risk prediction tools for pressure injury occurrence: an umbrella review of systematic reviews reporting model development and validation methods.

Background: Pressure injuries (PIs) place a substantial burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Risk stratification of those who are at risk of developing PIs allows preventive interventions to be focused on patients who are at the highest risk. The considerable number of risk assessment scales and prediction models available underscores the need for a thorough evaluation of their development, validation, and clinical utility.