Improving adherence to an online intervention for low mood with a virtual coach: study protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (iCBT) is more effective when it is guided by human support than when it is unguided. This may be attributable to higher adherence rates that result from a positive effect of the accompanying support on motivation and on engagement with the intervention. This protocol presents the design of a pilot randomized controlled trial that aims to start bridging the gap between guided and unguided interventions.

Ferritin measurement IN Donors-Effectiveness of iron Monitoring to diminish iron deficiency and low haemoglobin in whole blood donors (FIND'EM): study protocol for a stepped wedge cluster randomised trial.

Background: Blood donors are at risk for reduced iron stores, because of which donor iron monitoring received increased attention in the last decade. Despite the importance for donor health, international consensus on an appropriate policy for iron monitoring is lacking. Therefore, we conduct a trial to evaluate to what extent ferritin-guided donation intervals are effective in increasing haemoglobin and ferritin levels, decreasing low-haemoglobin deferral, increasing donor return and improving the health of whole blood donors in the Netherlands.

BokSmart rugby safety education courses are associated with improvements in behavioural determinants in attending coaches and referees: presurvey-postsurvey study.

Background/aim: BokSmart is a nationwide injury prevention programme that aims to reduce players' injury risk mainly through education of coaches and referees in mandatory biennial education courses. These courses are held throughout each rugby season. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess whether these courses were associated with improvements in attendees' behavioural determinants.

Cardiac rehabilitation is associated with greater improvements in psychological health following coronary artery bypass graft surgery when compared with percutaneous coronary intervention.

Following coronary revascularization, patients treated with coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) have lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events when compared with those treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We compared changes in cardiovascular risk factors, such as psychological and cardiometabolic health indicators, among patients who completed cardiac rehabilitation (CR) following CABG and PCI. Longitudinal records of 278 patients who completed an outpatient CR program following CABG or PCI were analyzed.

Infective endocarditis in the Netherlands: current epidemiological profile and mortality : An analysis based on partial ESC EORP collected data.

Introduction: Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with a high in-hospital and long term mortality. Although progress has been made in diagnostic approach and management of IE, morbidity and mortality of IE remain high. In the latest European guidelines, the importance of the multi-modality imaging in diagnosis and follow up of IE is emphasized.

CSF total and oligomeric α-Synuclein along with TNF-α as risk biomarkers for Parkinson's disease: a study in LRRK2 mutation carriers.

Background: Asymptomatic carriers of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene mutations constitute an ideal population for discovering prodromal biomarkers of Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, we aim to identify CSF candidate risk biomarkers of PD in individuals with LRRK2 mutation carriers.

Methods: We measured the levels of CSF total- (t-), oligomeric (o-) and phosphorylated S129 (pS129-) α-syn, total-tau (tTau), phosphorylated threonine 181 tau (pTau), amyloid-beta 40 (Aβ-40), amyloid-beta-42 (Aβ-42) and 40 inflammatory chemokines in symptomatic (n = 23) and asymptomatic (n = 51) LRRK2 mutation carriers, subjects with a clinical diagnosis of PD (n = 60) and age-matched healthy controls (n = 34).

Axial Spondyloarthritis in the Era of Precision Medicine.

In axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), the first treatment step is generally a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and if insufficient, a biologic is added. Currently, most evidence is available of the biologic tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors. In patients who have achieved sustained low disease activity, tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor tapering is considered, although standardized tapering schedules are lacking.

Impact of discordance between patient's and evaluator's global assessment on treatment outcomes in 14 868 patients with spondyloarthritis.

Objectives: To assess the impact of 'patient's minus evaluator's global assessment of disease activity' (ΔPEG) at treatment initiation on retention and remission rates of TNF inhibitors (TNFi) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients across Europe.

Methods: Real-life data from PsA and axSpA patients starting their first TNFi from 11 countries in the European Spondyloarthritis Research Collaboration Network were pooled. Retention rates were compared by Kaplan-Meier analyses with log-rank test and by Cox regression, and remission rates by χ2 test and by logistic regression across quartiles of baseline ΔPEG, separately in female and male PsA and axSpA patients.

Correction to: Guidelines for the management of myocardial infarction/injury with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA): a position paper from the Dutch ACS working group.

Correction to: Neth Heart J 2019 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-019-01344-6 The reference to the term acute coronary syndrome with normal or near-normal (non-obstructive) coronary arteries (ACSNNOCA) from Manolis et al.

Guidelines for the management of myocardial infarction/injury with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA): a position paper from the Dutch ACS working group.

Patients with myocardial infarction and non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA), defined as angiographic stenosis <50%, represent a conundrum given the many potential underlying aetiologies. Possible causes of MINOCA can be subdivided into coronary, myocardial and non-cardiac disorders. MINOCA is found in up to 14% of patients presenting with an acute coronary syndrome.

Diplopia in Parkinson's disease: visual illusion or oculomotor impairment?

Introduction: Approximately 20% of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) experience diplopia; however, the cause of the diplopia is unclear. We aimed to explore the association of diplopia, and its subtypes, with oculomotor abnormalities, impaired vision, and visual hallucinations, in patients with PD.

Methods: This exploratory study included 41 PD patients, recruited from two general hospitals, of whom 25 had diplopia and 16 did not have diplopia, as well as 23 healthy controls (HCs).

CD31-positive microvessel density within adenomas of Lynch Syndrome patients is similar compared to adenomas of non-Lynch patients.

 Microsatellite instability accelerates colorectal cancer development in patients with Lynch syndrome (LS). Previous research showed that virtual chromoendoscopy increases detection of adenomas during colonoscopy surveillance of patients with LS. Because previous research revealed that Lynch patients have an increased vascular network in the oral mucosa, we hypothesized that increased vascularization of LS-associated adenomas is the cause of better detection with virtual chromoendoscopy.

Questionnaire survey on cardiologists' view and management of coronary microvascular disease in clinical practice.

Objective: We aimed to assess the opinion of Dutch cardiologists on coronary microvascular disease (CMD) and its management in clinical practice, and to assess the need for a CMD guideline among Dutch cardiologists.

Methods: We developed an online questionnaire including different aspects of CMD which was reviewed by an expert panel. The questionnaire was distributed by e‑mail among all members of the Dutch Society of Cardiology.

Botox treatment in patients with chronic functional anorectal pain: experiences of a tertiary referral proctology clinic.

Background: Anorectal pain is a symptom which may have both structural and functional causes, and can, sometimes, develop into a chronic pain syndrome. Functional causes in particular are challenging to treat when conservative treatment measures fail. Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) can be applied to relax the anal sphincter and/or levator ani muscle to break the vicious circle of pain and contraction.

Common mechanisms and holistic care in atherosclerosis and osteoporosis.

Cardiovascular (CV) disease and osteoporosis (OP) have become increasing challenges in the aging population and even more in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathies, and systemic lupus erythematosus. In this review, we discuss how the epidemiology and pathogenesis of CV events and OP are overlapping. Smoking, diabetes mellitus, physical inactivity as conventional risk factors as well as systemic inflammation are among the modifiable risk factors for both CV events and bone loss.

The daily practice of (suspected) coeliac disease management by general practitioners: A qualitative approach.

Background: General practitioners (GPs) play a crucial role in diagnosing coeliac disease (CD). However, data on GP management of (suspected) CD patients is sparse.

Objectives: To provide insights into the daily practice of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of CD by GPs.