Walking to work: The role of walkability around the workplace in a Dutch adult commuting population.

Current evidence on neighborhood walkability and active commuting focuses on residential rather than workplace environment. This cross-sectional study investigated whether higher workplace walkability (WW) was associated with commute walking, both independently and together with residential walkability, using data from 6769 respondents of the 2017 Dutch national travel survey. In a fully adjusted logistic regression model, 10% increase in WW was associated with 32% higher odds of commute walking (Odds ratio (OR): 1.

Correlates of Internalized HIV Stigma: A Comprehensive Systematic Review.

Internalized HIV stigma is prevalent and research on internalized HIV stigma has increased during the past 10 years. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize research on internalized HIV stigma and relationships with various health-related variables in order to better inform the development of interventions aimed at reducing internalized HIV stigma. We reviewed 176 studies with a quantitative design reporting correlates that were peer-reviewed, published in English before January 2021, drawn from PubMed, PSYCHINFO, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Scopus.

Exploring culturally acceptable, nutritious, affordable and low climatic impact diet for Japanese diets: proof of concept of applying a new modelling approach using data envelopment analysis.

A future sustainable dietary pattern for Japanese is yet undefined. This study aimed to explore more sustainable Japanese diets that are nutritious, affordable and with low greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) and particular emphasis on cultural acceptability. A newly developed data envelopment analysis (DEA) diet model was applied to 4-d dietary record data among 184 healthy Japanese men and 185 women volunteers aged 21-69 years.

Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase in River Waters Collected from Two Cities in Ghana, 2018-2020.

Infections by Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase producing (ESBL-Ec) are on the increase in Ghana, but the level of environmental contamination with this organism, which may contribute to growing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), is unknown. Using the WHO OneHealth Tricycle Protocol, we investigated the contamination of (Ec) and ESBL-Ec in two rivers in Ghana (Odaw in Accra and Okurudu in Kasoa) that receive effluents from human and animal wastewater hotspots over a 12-month period. Concentrations of Ec, ESBL-Ec and percent ESBL-Ec/Ec were determined per 100 mL sample.

Community-Onset Infection in Hospitalized Patients in The Netherlands.

Background: infection (CDI) is increasingly reported in the community. The aim of this study was to analyze characteristics of hospitalized patients with community-onset CDI (CO-CDI).

Methods: In the Netherlands, 24 hospitals (university-affiliated and general hospitals) participate in the sentinel CDI surveillance program.

Nowcasting the Number of New Symptomatic Cases During Infectious Disease Outbreaks Using Constrained P-spline Smoothing.

During an infectious disease outbreak, timely information on the number of new symptomatic cases is crucial. However, the reporting of new cases is usually subject to delay due to the incubation period, time to seek care, and diagnosis. This results in a downward bias in the numbers of new cases by the times of symptoms onset towards the current day.

Reducing GHG emissions while improving diet quality: exploring the potential of reduced meat, cheese and alcoholic and soft drinks consumption at specific moments during the day.

Background: The typical Western diet is associated with high levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and with obesity and other diet-related diseases. This study aims to determine the impact of adjustments to the current diet at specific moments of food consumption, to lower GHG emissions and improve diet quality.

Methods: Food consumption in the Netherlands was assessed by two non-consecutive 24-h recalls for adults aged 19-69 years (n = 2102).

Ribotype 078 Clostridium difficile infection incidence in Dutch hospitals is not associated with provincial pig farming: Results from a national sentinel surveillance, 2009-2015.

Background: It has been suggested that the high incidence of ribotype 078 Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) in the Netherlands is related to pig farming.

Methods: We used data of hospitalised CDI patients (>2yrs of age) diagnosed between May 2009 and May 2015 in 26 hospitals participating in a national sentinel surveillance. We compared clinical and geographical characteristics of 078 CDI to other CDI.

Appropriate antibiotic use reduces length of hospital stay.

Objectives: To define appropriate antibiotic use in hospitalized adults treated for a bacterial infection, we previously developed and validated a set of six generic quality indicators (QIs) covering all steps in the process of antibiotic use. We assessed the association between appropriate antibiotic use, defined by these QIs, and length of hospital stay (LOS).

Methods: An observational multicentre study in 22 hospitals in the Netherlands included 1890 adult, non-ICU patients using antibiotics for a suspected bacterial infection.

Applicability of generic quality indicators for appropriate antibiotic use in daily hospital practice: a cross-sectional point-prevalence multicenter study.

The ability to monitor the appropriateness of hospital antibiotic use is a key element of an effective antibiotic stewardship program. A set of 11 generic quality indicators (QIs) was previously developed to assess the quality of antibiotic use in hospitalized adults treated for a bacterial infection. The primary aim of the current study was to assess the clinimetric properties of these QIs (nine process and two structure indicators) in daily clinical practice.

Marked Decrease in Rotavirus Detections Among Preschool Children Unvaccinated for Rotavirus in the Netherlands, 2014.

Rotavirus detection rates among preschool children sampled irrespective of symptoms during the rotavirus season (January-April) in the Netherlands were significantly lower in 2014 (0.6%) than in 2010 (11.2%), 2011 (6.

Cellular immune activity biomarker neopterin is associated hyperlipidemia: results from a large population-based study.

Background: Increased serum neopterin had been described in older age two decades ago. Neopterin is a biomarker of systemic adaptive immune activation that could be potentially implicated in metabolic syndrome (MetS). Measurements of waist circumference, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin as components of MetS definition, and plasma total neopterin concentrations were performed in 594 participants recruited in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).

Influenza-like Illness in Households with Children of Preschool Age.

Background: Influenza-like illness (ILI) is the leading cause of medical consultation amongst preschool children, who may contribute to spreading ILI-causing agents within the household. We aimed to determine the societal burden (incidence, health-care consumption and productivity loss) and correlates of ILI in households with preschool children.

Methods: A survey was performed in the Netherlands during October 2012 to October 2014.

Implementation of Out-of-Office Blood Pressure Monitoring in the Netherlands: From Clinical Guidelines to Patients' Adoption of Innovation.

Out-of-office blood pressure monitoring is promoted by various clinical guidelines toward properly diagnosing and effectively managing hypertension and engaging the patient in their care process. In the Netherlands, however, the Dutch cardiovascular risk management (CVRM) guidelines do not explicitly prescribe 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) and home BP measurement (HBPM). The aim of this descriptive study was to develop an understanding of patients' and physicians' acceptance and use of out-of-office BP monitoring in the Netherlands given the CVRM recommendations.

Nutrient patterns and their food sources in an International Study Setting: report from the EPIC study.

Background: Compared to food patterns, nutrient patterns have been rarely used particularly at international level. We studied, in the context of a multi-center study with heterogeneous data, the methodological challenges regarding pattern analyses.

Methodology/principal Findings: We identified nutrient patterns from food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study and used 24-hour dietary recall (24-HDR) data to validate and describe the nutrient patterns and their related food sources.

Drug-induced endoplasmic reticulum and oxidative stress responses independently sensitize toward TNFα-mediated hepatotoxicity.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is an important clinical problem. Here, we used a genomics approach to in detail investigate the hypothesis that critical drug-induced toxicity pathways act in synergy with the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) to cause cell death of liver HepG2 cells. Transcriptomics of the cell injury stress response pathways initiated by two hepatoxicants, diclofenac and carbamazepine, revealed the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress/translational initiation signaling and nuclear factor-erythroid 2 (NF-E2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2) antioxidant signaling as two major affected pathways, which was similar to that observed for the majority of ∼80 DILI compounds in primary human hepatocytes.

Reducing our environmental footprint and improving our health: greenhouse gas emission and land use of usual diet and mortality in EPIC-NL: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Food choices influence health status, but also have a great impact on the environment. The production of animal-derived foods has a high environmental burden, whereas the burden of refined carbohydrates, vegetables and fruit is low. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of greenhouse gas emission (GHGE) and land use of usual diet with mortality risk, and to estimate the effect of a modelled meat substitution scenario on health and the environment.

Environmental interventions in low-SES neighbourhoods to promote healthy behaviour: enhancing and impeding factors.

Background: Social and physical environments are important drivers of socioeconomic inequalities in health behaviour. Although many interventions aiming to improve such environments are being implemented in underprivileged neighbourhoods, implementation processes are rarely studied. Acquiring insight into successful implementation may improve future interventions.

Emergence of viral diseases: mathematical modeling as a tool for infection control, policy and decision making.

Mathematical modeling can be used for the development and implementation of infection control policy to combat outbreaks and epidemics of communicable viral diseases. Here an outline is provided of basic concepts and approaches used in mathematical modeling and parameterization of disease transmission. The use of mathematical models is illustrated, using the 2001 UK foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) epidemic, the 2003 global severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic, and human influenza pandemics, as examples.

Occupational exposures contribute to educational inequalities in lung cancer incidence among men: Evidence from the EPIC prospective cohort study.

The aim of this study is to investigate to what extent occupational exposures may explain socioeconomic inequalities in lung cancer incidence after adjusting for smoking and dietary factors. Analyses were based on a subsample of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC study), a prospective cohort. The analyses included 703 incident lung cancer cases among men in Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain and Greece.

Consumption of vegetables and fruit and the risk of bladder cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition.

Previous epidemiologic studies found inconsistent associations between vegetables and fruit consumption and the risk of bladder cancer. We therefore investigated the association between vegetable and fruit consumption and the risk of bladder cancer among participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. Data on food consumption and complete follow-up for cancer occurrence was available for a total of 478,533 participants, who were recruited in 10 European countries.

Reappraisal of biosafety risks posed by PERVs in xenotransplantation.

Donor materials of porcine origin could potentially provide an alternative source of cells, tissues or whole organs for transplantation to humans, but is hampered by the health risk posed by infection with porcine viruses. Although pigs can be bred in such a way that all known exogenous microorganisms are eliminated, this is not feasible for all endogenous pathogens, such as the porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) which are present in the germline of pigs as proviruses. Upon transplantation, PERV proviruses would be transferred to the human recipient along with the xenograft.