Prevalence and Determinants of Elevated High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Concentrations in Belgian Children and Adolescents With Overweight or Obesity.

Background: Low-grade inflammation, indicated by elevated serum high-sensitivity CRP (hS-CRP), is commonly observed in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity. This study evaluated serum hS-CRP in relation to body fat parameters, lifestyle characteristics, and potential biological determinants (leptin, HDL cholesterol, and 25-OH vitamin D) in a Belgian population.

Methods: Anthropometric measurements, biochemical results, and lifestyle questionnaires were analyzed from 267 children and adolescents with overweight or obesity.

Combined Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation After Rescue Allocation: The Eurotransplant Experience: A Retrospective Multicenter Outcome Analysis.

Background: Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPKT) is the therapy of choice for selected patients with complicated type 1 diabetes mellitus and end-stage renal disease. Pancreas rescue allocation was implemented in Eurotransplant allocation algorithms to increase organ utilization, concurrently facilitating transplantation of supposedly inferior quality organs. The aim of this study was to examine whether outcomes of SPKT after rescue allocation, which can either be recipient-oriented extended allocation or competitive rescue allocation, were as good as after standard allocation.

Cracking the code of a correlate of protection against SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection in cancer patients.

The level of protection against SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections conferred by the presence of anti-S1 SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (IgGs) in cancer patients is still understudied. This work examines the existence of an anti-S1 immunoglobulin G (IgG) -based correlate of protection (CoP) established by prospectively collected observational data about breakthrough infections with different SARS-CoV-2 variants in a large cohort study with vaccinated cancer patients. 760 cancer patients were longitudinally followed-up, starting before first vaccination until six months after second booster.

Epicardial adipose tissue, myocardial remodelling and adverse outcomes in asymptomatic aortic stenosis: a post hoc analysis of a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Epicardial adipose tissue represents a metabolically active visceral fat depot that is in direct contact with the left ventricular myocardium. While it is associated with coronary artery disease, little is known regarding its role in aortic stenosis. We sought to investigate the association of epicardial adipose tissue with aortic stenosis severity and progression, myocardial remodelling and function, and mortality in asymptomatic patients with aortic stenosis.

Treatment modalities for patients with Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome Type II: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: Appropriate management of patients with Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome Type 2 (PSPS-T2) remains challenging. The need for robust evidence for treatment modalities is urgently pressing. The aim of this systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) is to compare different treatment modalities for patients with PSPS-T2 on pain intensity.

Pulsed field ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia, associated with substantial morbidity and a reduced quality of life. The current standard of care, transcatheter pulmonary vein isolation using thermal ablation techniques, provides symptom relief but carries a risk of collateral tissue damage. In recent years, pulsed field ablation, a nonthermal technique based on irreversible electroporation, has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional thermal ablation methods.

Redo ablation procedures to treat recurrent atrial arrhythmias via a pentaspline pulsed field ablation catheter: a prospective, multicenter experience.

Background: Patients undergoing atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation may require redo procedures involving pulmonary vein (PV) re-isolation and/or ablation of extra-PV sites. Pulsed field ablation (PFA) offers a highly selective energy source for cardiac tissue, with the potential to reduce collateral damage to adjacent structures. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of redo ablation using a pentaspline PFA system.

Mixed valvular heart disease: diagnosis and management.

Mixed valvular diseases (MVDs) are common but have received little attention in the literature, especially regarding the mitral valve (MV) and the right-sided cardiac valves. Whereas echocardiography plays a pivotal diagnostic role, the diagnosis is made difficult due to haemodynamic interactions that may invalidate common indices of severity used in isolated stenosis or regurgitation. The diagnostic strategy should aim at initially separately assessing stenosis and regurgitation, taking into account the diagnostic pitfalls, with complementary use of multimodality imaging in cases of persisting diagnostic uncertainties.

Tafamidis in octogenarians with wild-type transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis: an international cohort study.

Background And Aims: In real-world, wild-type transthyretin cardiomyopathy is increasingly diagnosed in patients ≥ 80 years old (octogenarians), although being underrepresented in randomized clinical trials. Specific data on natural course and outcome under tafamidis treatment in octogenarians are therefore scarce. The impact of tafamidis treatment on mortality in real-world wild-type transthyretin cardiomyopathy octogenarians was studied.

Analysis of the factors associated with sexual health improvement in patients who underwent surgical management for adult spine deformity.

Background: Spinal deformity can have a severe impact on the patient's sexual health. Eventually, this can lead to depression and relationship distress. Spinal surgical management is suggested to improve sexual function, however, the literature concerning these aspects is still scarce.

BIO101 in Sarcopenic Seniors at Risk of Mobility Disability: Results of a Double-Blind Randomised Interventional Phase 2b Trial.

Background: Sarcopenia is a progressive muscle disorder that may lead to mobility disability. No pharmaceutical interventions are currently available, and treatment relies on physical exercise and nutrition. The aim of SARA-INT was to investigate whether BIO101 (20-hydroxyecdysone), an activator of the MAS receptor, is safe and improves muscle function and physical performance of community dwelling older sarcopenic patients.

Neoadjuvant triplet immune checkpoint blockade in newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive primary adult brain tumor that rapidly recurs after standard-of-care treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. While immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies have transformed outcomes in many tumor types, particularly when used neoadjuvantly or as a first-line treatment, including in melanoma brain metastases, they have shown limited efficacy in patients with resected or recurrent GBM. The lack of efficacy has been attributed to the scarcity of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and low tumor mutation burden typical of GBM tumors, plus exclusion of large molecules from the brain parenchyma.

Shoulder Musculoskeletal Disorder Rehabilitation Using a Robotic Device Based on Electromyography (EMG) Biofeedback: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

: While shoulder injuries represent the musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) most encountered in physical therapy, there is no consensus on their management. In attempts to provide standardized and personalized treatment, a robotic-assisted device combined with EMG biofeedback specifically dedicated to shoulder MSDs was developed. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of an 8-week rehabilitation program (3 sessions a week) using a robotic-assisted device combined with EMG biofeedback (RA-EMG group) in comparison with a conventional program (CONV group) in patients presenting with shoulder MSDs.

Nutritional Care of Hospitalized Children in Belgium: A Follow-Up Survey.

: A 2014 survey showed nutritional management could be improved in Belgian pediatric departments. This follow-up survey aimed to: (1) list allied health resources/staffing in Belgian pediatric departments, (2) survey nutritional screening and follow-up, and (3) identify barriers. : A nationwide survey (February-April 2021) via national and regional pediatric associations.

Trophectoderm Biopsy: Present State of the Art.

Trophectoderm (TE) biopsy is at present the most widely used procedure for preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). At the blastocyst stage, more TE cells (five to seven) can be obtained for genetic analysis. While removing TE cells and not touching the inner cell mass (ICM), the procedure is less invasive.

APCAD Part 2: A Novel Method for Detection of Meiotic Aneuploidy in Preimplantation Embryos.

Preimplantation genetic testing methods to detect aneuploidy (PGT-A) based on genomewide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data were scarce and did not meet our needs. Hence, we developed a novel method for this purpose. After the raw B-allele frequency (rBAF) values of Single Nucleotide Polymorfisms (SNPs) are obtained from a sample of interest with SNP array, the BAF values for specific categories of SNPs (cBAF) are visualized separately.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Toxin-Producing and in Belgium.

: Despite a significant reduction in diphtheria incidence and mortality due to vaccination, antitoxin therapy and antibiotic treatments, a concerning resurgence is occurring in Europe. Resistance to penicillins and macrolides is emerging, resulting in a growing challenge for diphtheria management. This retrospective study aims to evaluate and compare antibiotic susceptibilities of both toxigenic and .

The influence of male smoking on success rates after IVF/ICSI.

Objective: It has been established that male cigarette smoking has a negative effect on the semen quality and that it can induce DNA damage leading to worsening of reproductive outcomes. The aim of our large retrospective study is to determine the influence of male cigarette smoking on assisted reproduction, more specifically in IVF and ICSI outcomes.

Materials And Methods: Our study included all consecutive infertile couples (with a nonsmoking female partner) having their first IVF/ICSI cycle.

Prescriptions of CYP3A4- and P-gp inducers for patients on direct oral anticoagulants: Bridging the gap between epidemiology and patient management for optimal thromboembolic event prevention.

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are frequently used for the treatment and prevention of ischaemic stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Compared to vitamin K antagonists, DOACs have significant advantages, although their drug-drug interaction (DDI) profile may complicate drug efficacy and safety. This narrative review addresses the clinical challenges posed by these DDIs and the potential pharmacological alternatives and monitoring strategies available.

Improving effective antimicrobial resistance (AMR) prevention in ambulatory care: lessons from secondary appraisal of Belgian anti-infectious treatment care guidelines.

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been designated as a global threat by the World Health Organization. To combat AMR in Belgium, the Belgian Antibiotic Policy Coordination Committee (BAPCOC) has, among others, developed guidelines for the appropriate use of antimicrobials in the ambulatory practice. We aim to assess the current guidelines from an antimicrobial stewardship perspective and procide suggestions for improving the ambulatory antibiotic guidelines for first-line healthcare providers.

Validation of the Toronto Upper Gastrointestinal Cleaning Score in children.

Objectives: Gastroscopy is used to examine the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, but no validated method yet exists to assess the quality of mucosal visualization in children. Utilizing validated endoscopic scales can enhance study quality and standardization across centers. This study aimed to validate the existing Toronto Upper Gastrointestinal Cleaning Score (TUGCS) in pediatric patients.