Vestibular Infant Screening-Rehabilitation (VIS-REHAB): protocol for a randomised controlled trial on Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) in vestibular-impaired children.

Introduction: A vestibular deficit can have a substantial impact on the overall development of children. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that vestibular-impaired problems are treated early and effectively through Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT). Although VRT is sufficiently proven and standardised in adults, there remains a lack of research examining its efficacy in children.

Robot-assisted Kidney Transplantation: The 8-year European Experience.

Background And Objective: Evidence regarding perioperative results and long-term functional outcomes of robotic-assisted kidney transplantation (RAKT) is limited. We evaluated perioperative surgical results and long-term functional outcomes of RAKT in patients receiving kidney transplants from living donors.

Methods: This retrospective analysis is based on a prospective multicenter cohort study conducted from July 2015 to October 2023 across ten European centers.

The use of the MK5 Mobility Classes to improve safe patient handling: a reliability study.

In health care, work-related musculoskeletal disorders are largely attributed to patient-handling tasks. Reliable assessments of patient mobility are imperative to mitigate the musculoskeletal burden on healthcare providers. This study explores the reliability of MK5 Mobility Classes, a patient mobility classification system.

First pass effect in patients with large core infarcts undergoing mechanical thrombectomy: subgroup analysis of the prospective international ASSIST registry.

Background: Studies have described a first pass effect (FPE) where patients with successful recanalization after one pass experience better outcomes. Few studies have evaluated this in patients with large core infarctions.

Objective: To determine whether patients with large core infarcts undergoing mechanical thrombectomy in which first pass reperfusion is achieved experience improved outcomes compared with those who undergo more than one pass.

Prevalence and management of hypertension in Turner syndrome: data from the International Turner Syndrome (I-TS) registry.

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is the commonest cause of death in Turner syndrome (TS) for which, arterial hypertension has a direct influence and is a key modifiable risk factor.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and patterns of hypertension diagnosis and management in adult patients with TS who are registered in a large international multicentre database (TS-HTN study).

Methods: Retrospective multi-centre observational study of patients aged ≥18 years, included in the I-TS (International-TS) registry (2020-2022) utilising registry and participating centre collected data.

Safety and efficacy of the therapeutic DNA-based vaccine VB10.16 in combination with atezolizumab in persistent, recurrent or metastatic HPV16-positive cervical cancer: a multicenter, single-arm phase 2a study.

Background: Second-line treatment options for persistent, recurrent or metastatic (r/m) cervical cancer are limited. We investigated the safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity of the therapeutic DNA-based vaccine VB10.16 combined with the immune checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab in patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)16-positive r/m cervical cancer.

Comprehensive Non-invasive Versus Invasive Approach to Evaluate Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy in Heart Transplantation: The CCTA-HTx Study.

Background: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is emerging as a valuable tool for noninvasive surveillance of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) in patients with heart transplant (HTx). We assessed the diagnostic performance of a comprehensive CCTA-based approach compared with the invasive reference, which includes invasive coronary angiography, intravascular ultrasound, and fractional flow reserve, for detecting CAV.

Methods: This was a multicenter prospective study including 37 patients with HTx who underwent CCTA, invasive coronary angiography, intravascular ultrasound, and fractional flow reserve.

Clinical pharmacology and pharmaceutical medicine - creation of a new specialist title for physicians in Belgium.

Belgium has a vibrant health eco-system, with world-class universities and hospitals, and a strong presence of pharmaceutical companies, resulting in a substantial contribution to drug development and a high number of clinical trials. Talent development is pivotal for further growth of this eco-system and to attract future professionals. Although physicians play an important role in this complex eco-system, with an estimated 400-450 Belgian physicians presently active in the field of the drug life cycle, Pharmaceutical Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology were not recognized as a speciality in Belgium until recently.

Towards faster quality control of personal radiation protective equipment using CT scout or a dedicated biplanar radiography device.

Quality control (QC) of personal radiation protective equipment (PRPE) is essential to detect tears and holes in the attenuating layers. Routinely, this QC is performed using fluoroscopy on a conventional X-ray table. However, such a QC procedure is laborious and time consuming.

Harmonizing measurement tools: examining the concurrent validity of the Daily Activity Behaviors Questionnaire compared to the ActiGraph to assess 24-hour movement behaviors among adults.

Purpose: An accurate assessment of time spent in 24-hour movement behaviors (24 h-MBs) is crucial in exploring health related associations. This study aims to evaluate the concurrent validity of the Daily Activity Behavior Questionnaire (DABQ) compared to the ActiGraph using absolute and relative indicators of validity.

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 105 adults (45 ± 13 y/o, 54% female).

Thrombosis, Translational Medicine, and Biomarker Research: Moving the Needle.

Arterial and venous thromboembolism are leading causes of morbidity and death worldwide. Despite significant advances in the diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment of thrombotic diseases over the past 3 decades, the adoption of findings stemming from translational biomarker research in clinical practice remains limited. Biomarkers provide an opportunity to enhance our understanding of pathophysiological processes and optimize treatment strategies.

Hippocampal avoidance prophylactic cranial irradiation (HA-PCI) for small cell lung cancer better preserves white matter networks compared to conventional PCI.

Background: Hippocampal avoidance during prophylactic cranial irradiation (HA-PCI) is proposed to reduce neurocognitive decline, while preserving the benefits of PCI. We evaluated whether (HA-)PCI induces changes in white matter (WM) microstructure and whether sparing the hippocampus has an impact on preserving brain network topology. Additionally, we evaluated associations between topological metrics with hippocampal volume and neuropsychological outcomes.

The potential of experience sampling methods in palliative care.

Background: Experience sampling methods typically involve multiple self-report assessments per day over consecutive days. Unlike traditional patient-reported outcome measures or interviews, such methods offer the possibility to capture the temporal fluctuations of experiences in daily environments, making them valuable for studying the daily lives of people with advanced illness. Yet, their use in palliative care research is limited.

Clinical outcome of curettage in atypical cartilaginous tumors of the long bones: a descriptive cohort study.

Background And Purpose:  Despite evolving management strategies for atypical cartilaginous tumors (ACT)-shifting from radical resection to intralesional curettage and "wait-and-scan" approaches-there remains no universal consensus on optimal treatment. We primarily aimed to evaluate disease-specific and progression-free survival following intralesional curettage and adjuvant phenol treatment of ACTs. Secondary aims included assessing surgical complications, the need for additional interventions, and an overview of long-term follow-up.

Assessing subaortic right ventricle function after atrial switch repair through myocardial work analysis.

Background: The Mustard and Senning operations for dextro-transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA) establish a biventricular physiology with a subaortic right ventricle (sRV). While prolonged QRS has been associated with worse prognosis in these patients, current echocardiographic tools fall short in adequately assessing the (mal)performance and function decline of the sRV during follow-up. The present study is the first to characterize Myocardial Work (MW) indices of the sRV in D-TGA patients after Mustard/Senning repair.

The cerebellum is involved in implicit motor sequence learning.

Background: Implicit motor sequence learning (IMSL) is a cognitive function that allows us to execute multiple movements in a specific sequential order and plays a crucial role in our daily functional activities. Although the role of the basal ganglia network in IMSL is well-established, the exact involvement of the cerebellar network is less clear.

Aim: Here, we aimed to address this issue by investigating the effects of cerebellar transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) on IMSL.

Atrial Tachyarrhythmias With Ultra-Rapid Ventricular Response and Sudden Death in Patients Without Structural Heart Disease.

Background: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is generally associated with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Supraventricular arrhythmias are an accepted cause of SCD in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and complex congenital heart disease. However, the role of atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATAs) in SCD in patients with structurally normal hearts is unclear.

Contribution of rare chromosome 22q11.2 copy number variants to non-syndromic bicuspid aortic valve.

Background: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital heart defect in adults, often leading to complications such as thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic stenosis. While BAV is frequently associated with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.

Does coiling of the proximal end of the ureteral stent affect stent-related symptoms?

Objective: To evaluate the impact of coiling of the proximal end of the ureteral stent on stent-related symptoms (SRS) in in subgroup of patients undergoing preoperative ureteral stenting preceding flexible retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS).

Materials And Methods: We performed a prospective comparative study including patients undergoing stent placement 7-10 days prior to RIRS. Patients were divided into 2 groups; in Group 1 coiling of proximal end of the DJ was present, while in Group 2 coiling was absent.

Can blood flow restriction therapy improve quality of life and function in dissatisfied knee arthroplasty patients?

Aims: Approximately 10% to 20% of knee arthroplasty patients are not satisfied with the result, while a clear indication for revision surgery might not be present. Therapeutic options for these patients, who often lack adequate quadriceps strength, are limited. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effect of a novel rehabilitation protocol that combines low-load resistance training (LL-RT) with blood flow restriction (BFR).

Simultaneous determination of cytosolic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activities by LC-MS/MS.

In recent years, pathogenic variants in ARS genes, encoding aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs), have been associated with human disease. Patients harbouring pathogenic variants in ARS genes have clinical signs partly unique to certain aaRSs defects, partly overlapping between the different aaRSs defects. Diagnosis relies mostly on genetics and remains challenging, often requiring functional validation of new ARS variants.

Integrating weightbearing CT findings into evaluation of conventional radiographs in progressive collapsing foot deformity.

Background: Progressive collapsing foot deformity (PCFD) remains challenging to treat. Surgical planning depends on the amount and complexity of the deformity, which requires accurate differentiation through precise imaging. Weightbearing CT (WBCT) imaging has enhanced the three-dimensional (3D) assessment of PCFD.