Tumor gene expression is associated with venous thromboembolism in patients with ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: In patients with pancreatic cancer, the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is high compared to other cancer types, suggesting that tumor-intrinsic features drive hypercoagulability. Tumor gene expression analysis may help unravel the pathogenesis of VTE in these patients and help to identify high-risk patients.

Aim: To evaluate the association between tumor gene expression patterns and VTE in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Direct factor Xa inhibitors and the risk of cancer and cancer mortality: A Danish population-based cohort study.

Background: Preclinical animal studies have suggested that myeloid cell-synthesized coagulation factor X dampens antitumor immunity and that rivaroxaban, a direct factor Xa inhibitor, can be used to promote tumor immunity. This study was aimed at assessing whether patients with atrial fibrillation taking direct factor Xa inhibitors have lower risk of cancer and cancer-related mortality than patients taking the direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran.

Methods And Findings: This nationwide population-based cohort study in Denmark included adult patients with atrial fibrillation and without a history of cancer, who started taking a factor Xa inhibitor or dabigatran between 2011 and 2015.

Venous Thromboembolism and Primary Thromboprophylaxis in Perioperative Pancreatic Cancer Care.

Recent studies have shown that patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) treated with neoadjuvant chemo(radio)therapy followed by surgery have an improved outcome compared to patients treated with upfront surgery. Hence, patients with PDAC are more and more frequently treated with chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting. PDAC patients are at a high risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE), which is associated with decreased survival rates.

TMS-evoked EEG potentials demonstrate altered cortical excitability in migraine with aura.

Migraine is associated with altered sensory processing, that may be evident as changes in cortical responsivity due to altered excitability, especially in migraine with aura. Cortical excitability can be directly assessed by combining transcranial magnetic stimulation with electroencephalography (TMS-EEG). We measured TMS evoked potential (TEP) amplitude and response consistency as these measures have been linked to cortical excitability but were not yet reported in migraine.

Current treatment practice of functional abdominal pain disorders in children: A multicenter survey.

Background: Approximately 90% of the children with chronic abdominal pain are diagnosed as having functional abdominal pain disorder (FAPD). The Dutch guideline "functional abdominal pain" provides a stepwise approach to treat FAPD. The aim of this survey was twofold first, to determine adherence to the Dutch guideline, and second to determine current management of FAPDs in clinical practice.

Mechanisms of thrombosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Patients with pancreatic cancer have a very high risk of both venous and arterial thrombosis compared with other cancers, caused by a tumour-driven hypercoagulable state. Better understanding of pancreatic cancer-associated prothrombotic and proinflammatory mechanisms opens the door to controlling prothrombotic states, ideally, without affecting the overall haemostasis. This narrative review brings together currently available evidence on epidemiology and pathogenesis of thrombotic complications in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Serum biomarkers for arterial calcification in humans: A systematic review.

Aim: To clarify the role of mediators of ectopic mineralization as biomarkers for arterial calcifications.

Methods: MEDLINE and Embase were searched for relevant literature, until January 4th 2022. The investigated biomarkers were: calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone, vitamin D, pyrophosphate, osteoprotegerin, receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL), fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), Klotho, osteopontin, osteocalcin, Matrix Gla protein (MGP) and its inactive forms and vitamin K.

Optimising diagnostics to discriminate complicated from uncomplicated appendicitis: a prospective cohort study protocol.

Introduction: Growing evidence is showing that complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis are two different entities that may be treated differently. A correct diagnosis of the type of appendicitis is therefore essential. The Scoring system of Appendicitis Severity (SAS) combines clinical, laboratory and imaging findings.

Editor's Choice - Randomised Clinical Trial of Supervised Exercise Therapy vs. Endovascular Revascularisation for Intermittent Claudication Caused by Iliac Artery Obstruction: The SUPER study.

Objective: International guidelines recommend supervised exercise therapy (SET) as primary treatment for all patients with intermittent claudication (IC), yet primary endovascular revascularisation (ER) might be more effective in patients with iliac artery obstruction.

Methods: This was a multicentre RCT including patients with IC caused by iliac artery stenosis or occlusion (NCT01385774). Patients were allocated randomly to SET or ER stratified for maximum walking distance (MWD) and concomitant SFA disease.

Cost Effectiveness of Endovascular Revascularisation vs. Exercise Therapy for Intermittent Claudication Due to Iliac Artery Obstruction.

Objective: To compare cost effectiveness of endovascular revascularisation (ER) and supervised exercise therapy (SET) as primary treatment for patients with intermittent claudication (IC) due to iliac artery obstruction.

Methods: Cost utility analysis from a restricted societal perspective and time horizon of 12 months. Patients were included in a multicentre randomised controlled trial (SUPER study, NCT01385774, NTR2648) which compared effectiveness of ER and SET.

Evaluation of low-dose aspirin in the prevention of recurrent spontaneous preterm labour (the APRIL study): A multicentre, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The recurrence rate of spontaneous preterm birth is high, and additional preventive measures are required. Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of low-dose aspirin compared to placebo in the prevention of preterm birth in women with a previous spontaneous preterm birth.

Re-Assessment in Patients with Suspected Acute Appendicitis.

The effect of diagnosing appendicitis at re-assessment on post-operative outcomes is not clear. This study aims to compare patients diagnosed with appendicitis at initial presentation versus patients who were diagnosed at re-assessment. Data from the Dutch SNAPSHOT appendicitis collaborative was used.

Disciplinary complaints concerning transgressive behaviour by healthcare professionals: an analysis of 5 years jurisprudence in the Netherlands.

Objectives: To study the frequency of observed cases of disciplinary law complaints concerning transgressive behaviour in Dutch healthcare by analysing disciplinary cases handled in Dutch disciplinary law.

Design: Retrospective review of complaints in the Dutch disciplinary law tribunals from the period 1 January 2015 to 1 January 2020.

Setting: Dutch healthcare.

Requirement of respiratory support in acute bronchiolitis in infants is linked to endothelial and neutrophil activation.

Background: Evidence shows that activation of pulmonary vascular endothelium and neutrophils are involved in the pathophysiology of acute bronchiolitis. We hypothesized that levels of markers of endothelial activation and leukocyte counts are associated with requirement and duration of respiratory support.

Methods: Thirty-four infants with bronchiolitis and eight controls were included.

Biologicals in childhood severe asthma: the European PERMEABLE survey on the .

Introduction: Severe asthma is a rare disease in children, for which three biologicals, anti-immunoglobulin E, anti-interleukin-5 and anti-IL4RA antibodies, are available in European countries. While global guidelines exist on who should receive biologicals, knowledge is lacking on how those guidelines are implemented in real life and which unmet needs exist in the field. In this survey, we aimed to investigate the and identify open questions in biological therapy of childhood asthma across Europe.

Arterial Thromboembolism in Cancer Patients: A Danish Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: The relation between cancer and arterial thromboembolism (ATE) remains unclear.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate ATE risk in cancer patients.

Methods: Danish registries were used to identify all cancer patients between 1997 and 2017, each matched to three cancer-free comparator individuals.

Population preference for treatment of uncomplicated appendicitis.

Background: Non-operative treatment of uncomplicated appendicitis is safe and increasing in popularity, but has other risks and benefits compared with appendicectomy. This study aimed to explore the preference of the general population regarding operative or antibiotic treatment of uncomplicated appendicitis.

Methods: In this prospective study, a clinical scenario and questionnaire were submitted to a panel comprising a sample of an average adult population.

Identification of anatomic risk factors for acute coronary events by optical coherence tomography in patients with myocardial infarction and residual nonflow limiting lesions: rationale and design of the PECTUS-obs study.

Introduction: In patients with myocardial infarction, the decision to treat a nonculprit lesion is generally based on its physiological significance. However, deferral of revascularisation based on nonischaemic fractional flow reserve (FFR) values in these patients results in less favourable outcomes compared with patients with stable coronary artery disease, potentially caused by vulnerable nonculprit lesions. Intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging allows for in vivo morphological assessment of plaque 'vulnerability' and might aid in the detection of FFR-negative lesions at high risk for recurrent events.

Barrett's esophagus surveillance in a prospective Dutch multi-center community-based cohort of 985 patients demonstrates low risk of neoplastic progression.

Background And Aims: Barrett's esophagus (BE) is accompanied by an increased risk of developing esophageal cancer. Accurate risk-stratification is warranted to improve endoscopic surveillance. Most data available on risk factors is derived from tertiary care centers or from cohorts with limited surveillance time or surveillance quality.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on incidence and severity of acute appendicitis: a comparison between 2019 and 2020.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease in the number of patients presenting with acute appendicitis was observed. It is unclear whether this caused a shift towards more complicated cases of acute appendicitis. We compared a cohort of patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic with a 2019 control cohort.

Associations of Body Mass Index with Ventilation Management and Clinical Outcomes in Invasively Ventilated Patients with ARDS Related to COVID-19-Insights from the PRoVENT-COVID Study.

We describe the practice of ventilation and mortality rates in invasively ventilated normal-weight (18.5 ≤ BMI ≤ 24.9 kg/m), overweight (25.

Second intravenous immunoglobulin dose in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome with poor prognosis (SID-GBS): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Treatment with one standard dose (2 g/kg) of intravenous immunoglobulin is insufficient in a proportion of patients with severe Guillain-Barré syndrome. Worldwide, around 25% of patients severely affected with the syndrome are given a second intravenous immunoglobulin dose (SID), although it has not been proven effective. We aimed to investigate whether a SID is effective in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome with a predicted poor outcome.

Viral causes of severe acute respiratory infection in hospitalized children and association with outcomes: A two-year prospective surveillance study in Suriname.

Background: Viruses are the most frequent cause of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) in children. It is currently unknown whether presence of a virus, the number of viruses, or type of virus, are associated with clinical outcomes of pediatric SARI in developing countries.

Methods: Between 2012 and 2014 nasopharyngeal swabs and demographic and clinical variables were prospectively collected for surveillance of viral causes of SARI in Surinamese children within 48 hours after hospitalization.

Serum Levels of Markers of Endothelial Activation Are Not Associated with a Positive Blood Culture in Surinamese Children with Suspected Severe Infection.

Background: Systemic serum levels of markers of endothelial activation are associated with infection. We hypothesize that levels of markers of endothelial activation are associated with the presence of a positive blood culture as a manifestation of a systemic infection in children with a suspected severe infection in Suriname.

Methods: In this prospective observational cohort study, children between 1 month and 18 years of age suspected of severe infection as assessed by the threating physician, and in whom laboratory testing and blood culturing was performed before start of intravenous antibiotic treatment, were recruited at the emergency department of the Academic Hospital Paramaribo, Suriname.