4,699 results match your criteria: "Universitair ziekenhuis[Affiliation]"

Article Synopsis
  • skIMIDs involve immune-mediated diseases that can affect skin and other organs, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary care to improve patient and healthcare practitioner (HCP) experiences.
  • There is a lack of clarity on how patients and HCPs perceive and measure their experiences with this type of care, despite its importance for treatment outcomes and satisfaction levels.
  • A review of 21 studies showed mixed results, with some reporting positive experiences with tailored IC models, while broader geographic studies indicated lower satisfaction levels, emphasizing the need for standardized measurement tools to better understand these experiences.
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The Artemis program and lunar gateway present an opportunity to advance NASA's presence away from Earth's orbit and back to the Moon. Astronauts will be faced with many dermatological challenges unique to the lunar environment, such as the surface material on the Moon. We used PubMed and Google Scholar to perform a literature review with articles related to the effects of lunar dust on skin collated and analyzed to assess the dermatological implications of these missions.

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Identification of health trajectories of patients with persistent spinal pain syndrome type 2 using latent class trajectory methods.

Eur J Pain

January 2025

PRISMATICS Lab (Predictive Research in Spine/Neuromodulation Management and Thoracic Innovation/Cardiac Surgery), Poitiers University Hospital, Poitiers, France.

Article Synopsis
  • Persistent spinal pain syndrome Type 2 (PSPS-T2) follows spinal surgery and has significant long-term effects, but research typically overlooks the ongoing nature of patient experiences.
  • The PREDIBACK study tracked 200 patients over one year, identifying two patterns of health trajectories: 'persistent low health' (63.1%) and 'improving health' (36.9%).
  • Factors like younger age, lower body mass index, and reduced pain intensity were linked to improved health outcomes, highlighting the potential of trajectory-based methods for better patient assessment and pain management.
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Local delivery of mRNA-based immunotherapy offers a promising avenue as it enables the production of specific immunomodulatory proteins that can stimulate the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells while limiting systemic exposure and toxicities. Here, we develop and employ lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) to intratumorally deliver an mRNA mixture encoding the cytokines interleukin (IL)-21 and IL-7 and the immunostimulatory molecule 4-1BB ligand (Triplet LNP). IL-21 synergy with IL-7 and 4-1BBL leads to a profound increase in the frequency of tumor-infiltrating CD8 T cells and their capacity to produce granzyme B and IFN-γ, leading to tumor eradication and the development of long-term immunological memory.

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Background/aim: Recurrence rates in early and locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain high despite curative treatment. Recently, the survival benefit of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in the (neo)adjuvant setting in patients with stage II-III NSCLC has been demonstrated. This study aimed to identify predisposing factors for disease recurrence to select patients who would benefit from multimodality treatment.

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In Vivo Mapping of Human Ventricular Fibrillation in Brugada Syndrome: The Role of Repolarization Heterogeneity.

Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol

December 2024

Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, European Reference Networks Guard-Heart (L.P., D.G.D.R., P.V., A. Sorgente, A.D.M., G.V., M.C.F., G.T., I.E., P.-A.C., I.O., G.B., A.A., E.S., G.P., J.S., A.G., P.B., G.B.C., A. Sarkozy, C.d.A.), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel-Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.

Article Synopsis
  • Brugada syndrome (BrS) is linked to dangerous heart rhythms called ventricular fibrillation (VF), and this study explores VF mapping using ECG imaging to understand the relationship between different VF mechanisms.* -
  • The researchers focused on patients diagnosed with BrS who experienced VF during a specific heart procedure, analyzing various heart rhythm maps to identify spatial correlations between repolarization gradients and VF triggers.* -
  • Results showed that most BrS patients had distinct "repolarization cliffs" that initiated VF, suggesting these cliffs could be important targets for treatment to prevent VF recurrence.*
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Article Synopsis
  • Blood pressure variability (BPV) may predict negative health outcomes (NHOs) in adults aged ≥65, but current standards for what constitutes high BPV are lacking.
  • * A systematic review of 49 studies found that high systolic BPV is associated with greater odds of cardiovascular disease and cerebral deterioration compared to mean blood pressure (mBP).
  • * The study suggests that high BPV and mean BP both have significant impacts on health, with BPV offering notable predictive value, and provides guidelines for identifying elevated BPV in clinical settings.
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Objective: We generated synthetic data starting from a population of two hundred thirty-eight adults SARS-CoV-2 positive patients admitted to the University Hospital of Brussels, Belgium, in 2020, utilizing a Conditional Tabular Generative Adversarial Network (CTGAN)-based technique with the aim of testing the performance, representativeness, realism, novelty, and diversity of synthetic data generated from a small patient sample. A Multidisciplinary Approach (TIMA) incorporates active participation from a medical team throughout the various stages of this process.

Methods: The TIMA committee scrutinized data for inconsistencies, implementing stringent rules for variables unlearned by the system.

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Importance: Correction of tricuspid regurgitation using tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER) in addition to guideline-directed optimized medical therapy (OMT) may improve clinical outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of T-TEER + OMT vs OMT alone in patients with severe, symptomatic tricuspid regurgitation.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Investigator-initiated, prospective, randomized (1:1) trial evaluating T-TEER + OMT vs OMT alone in adult patients with severe, symptomatic tricuspid regurgitation.

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Intestinal Carriage of Two Distinct -Carrying Strains by a Child with Uncomplicated Diarrhea.

Pathogens

November 2024

Department Clinical Biology, Laboratory of Microbiology and Infection Control, Belgian National Reference Centre for STEC/VTEC, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), 1090 Brussels, Belgium.

Two distinct -carrying () strains, isolated from a child with uncomplicated diarrhea fifteen weeks apart, were characterized by combining short- and long-read sequencing to compare their genetic relatedness. One strain was characterized as Shiga toxin-producing (STEC)/typical enteropathogenic (tEPEC) O63:H6 with a repertoire of virulence genes including , (α2-subtype), , and . The other STEC with serotype O157:H16, reported for the first time as -carrying in this study, possessed, in addition, (ε-subtype) and , amongst other virulence-related genes.

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Background: Three recent randomized controlled trials demonstrated that, in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), first-line pulmonary vein isolation with cryoballoon catheter ablation reduces atrial arrhythmia recurrence compared to initial antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of first-line cryoablation compared to first-line AADs from a German healthcare payer perspective.

Methods: Individual patient-level data from 703 participants with untreated PAF enrolled into three randomized clinical trials (Cryo-FIRST, STOP AF First and EARLY-AF) were used to derive parameters for the cost-effectiveness model (CEM).

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Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) induces immune tolerance, showing the highest success rate (>95%) for insect venom while a much lower chance for pollen allergy. However, the molecular switches leading to successful durable tolerance restoration remain elusive. The primary outcome of this observational study is the comprehensive immunological cellular characterization during the AIT initiation phase, whereas the secondary outcomes are the serological and Th2-cell-type-specific transcriptomic analyses.

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Comparison of Spinal Cord Stimulation, Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation, and Association of Both in Patients With Refractory Chronic Back and/or Lower Limb Neuropathic Pain: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Cross-Over Trial (BOOST-DRG Study).

Neuromodulation

February 2025

CHU de Poitiers, Predictive Research in Spine/Neuromodulation Management and Thoracic Innovation/Cardiac Surgery Lab, F-86000 Poitiers, France; Université de Poitiers and Université François Rabelais de Tours, Centre de Recherche sur la Cognition et l'Apprentissage, CNRS, F-86000 Poitiers, France. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRGS) are effective treatments for chronic pain after spinal surgery, and their combination (DUAL) may improve patient outcomes.
  • A study compared the effectiveness of SCS, DRGS, and DUAL in providing at least 50% pain relief over a three-month period, finding that all methods had similar responder rates at this point but allowed for better results when options were switched.
  • By the end of the 12-month follow-up, most patients showed significant clinical improvement, suggesting that personalized treatment through different stimulation options enhances pain management for chronic pain patients.
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Article Synopsis
  • Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a new treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) that shows strong safety and efficacy by specifically targeting heart muscle cells while sparing nearby tissues.
  • A meta-analysis comparing PFA with cryoballoon ablation (CRYO) found that PFA had higher procedural success rates and fewer complications, along with shorter procedural and fluoroscopy times.
  • However, there were no significant differences in major complications or freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias after one year between the two techniques.
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Background: We present a method to determine and visualise the functional centre of rotation (FCOR) of the hip during total hip arthroplasty using an augmented reality head mounted display (AR-HMD).

Methods: We developed software allowing a HoloLens to provide inside-out infrared tracking of markers affixed to cadaver femurs and 3D printed acetabuli. Two observers rotated 20 cadaver femurs twice in a matching cup, producing 80 measurements.

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Safety and Feasibility of Pulsed-Field Ablation in Patients With Mechanical Prosthetic Valves.

JACC Clin Electrophysiol

January 2025

Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel-Vrije Universiteit Brussel, European Reference Networks Guard-Heart, Brussels, Belgium.

Article Synopsis
  • Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a new technique for heart tissue treatment that targets heart cells directly without damaging nearby tissues, but using it with mechanical heart valves can be tricky due to potential interference.* -
  • This study involved 30 patients with mechanical heart valves undergoing PFA for atrial fibrillation, and it found no major complications, with normal valve function post-procedure.* -
  • While PFA seems safe for patients with mechanical valves, careful management of the catheter is crucial to prevent electromagnetic interference that could affect the treatment.*
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Dry Needling: A Possible Detrimental Treatment After Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Cureus

October 2024

Orthopaedics and Traumatology, AZ Sint-Lucas Gent, Gent, BEL.

This case study describes a severe and rare complication following the placement of a total hip prosthesis in a 59-year-old woman. During rehabilitation, a physiotherapist incorporated dry needling alongside conventional exercises. A large ulcer developed near the surgical scar, attributed to pyoderma gangrenosum.

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Background: Pain is reported in 66% of cancer patients with advanced disease. Adequate pain management is a cornerstone of comprehensive supportive cancer care.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess pain management in Oncology Units in Belgium.

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Preclinical evaluation of antigen-sensitive B7-H3-targeting nanobody-based CAR-T cells in glioblastoma cautions for on-target, off-tumor toxicity.

J Immunother Cancer

November 2024

Translational Oncology Research Center (TORC), Department of Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy (LMCT), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.

Background: Glioblastoma is the most common lethal primary brain tumor, urging evaluation of new treatment options. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells targeting B7 homolog 3 (B7-H3) are promising because of the overexpression of B7-H3 on glioblastoma cells but not on healthy brain tissue. Nanobody-based (nano)CARs are gaining increasing attention as promising alternatives to classical single-chain variable fragment-based (scFv)CARs, because of their single-domain nature and low immunogenicity.

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The future of midwifery care and education in Belgium: A discussion paper.

Midwifery

February 2025

KU Leuven, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Academic Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Kapucijnenvoer 7 blok g - box 7001, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; REALIFE Research Group, Research Unit Woman and Child, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49PB 805, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Background: Advanced education of midwives acting during the first 1000 days in life is key in optimum care provision for intergenerational health and wellbeing.

Aim: This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the current context of midwifery care and (inter)national trends in midwifery education. Gaps for optimizing midwifery education in Belgium are defined.

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Background: To prevent the transfer of embryos affected by monogenic conditions and/or chromosomal defects, preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) requires trophectoderm biopsy and cryopreservation. In 2-6% of biopsies, the diagnosis may be inconclusive due to DNA amplification failure or low-quality results. In these cases, a round of re-warming, re-biopsy, and re-cryopreservation is required to obtain a genetic diagnosis.

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Importance: Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of negligence claims in radiology. The objective of this document is to describe the specific main causes of errors in breast imaging and provide European Society of Breast Imaging (EUSOBI) recommendations to try to minimize these.

Observations: Technical failures represent 17% of all mammographic diagnostic negligence claims.

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Importance: Misdiagnosis in breast imaging can have significant implications for patients, healthcare providers, and the healthcare system as a whole.

Observations: Some of the potential implications of misdiagnosis in breast imaging include delayed diagnosis or false reassurance, which can result in a delay in treatment and potentially a worse prognosis. Misdiagnosis can also lead to unnecessary procedures, which can cause physical discomfort, anxiety, and emotional distress for patients, as well as increased healthcare costs.

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Background: With the next generation of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) -targeting therapies, such as antibody-drug conjugates, showing benefit in "HER2 low" and even "HER2 ultralow" patients, the need for novel methods to quantify HER2 expression accurately becomes even more important for clinical decision making. A HER2 PET/CT imaging assessment could evaluate HER2 positive disease locations while improving patient care, reducing the need for invasive biopsies. A single-domain antibody (sdAb)-based PET tracer could combine the high specificity of sdAbs with short-lived radionuclides such as fluorine-18 (F) and gallium-68 (Ga).

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