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Stigmatization and perceived health status in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa: an observational multicenter study in Europe.
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318931.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access)INTRODUCTION: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) can severely affect the quality of life (QoL) and is linked to psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and reduced self-esteem. Stigmatization due to physical appearance may significantly contribute to the psychological burden and impact on QoL for HS patients. This study investigates the association between stigmatization, depression, anxiety, and health- and disease-related variables among HS patients in Europe. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This observational cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted across 22 dermatological outpatient clinics in 17 European countries. Data collected included sociodemographic variables, general health variables, disease-related variables, perceived stigmatization (PSQ), and mental health (PHQ-2, GAD-2). RESULTS: Of the 5487 dermatological patients, 142 (2.6%) were diagnosed with HS, and data from 135 patients (70.1% women, mean age 38.2 years) who completed the PSQ questionnaire were analyzed. Scores on the stigmatization measure indicated that significant stigmatization levels were present in the sample. Linear regression models revealed a significant relationship between stigmatization and both the duration of HS and the presence of itch. Similar findings were noted for the PSQ "confused/staring behavior" scale with depression. The PSQ "absence of friendly behavior" scale was inversely associated with general health status, whereas the "hostile behavior" scale was positively linked to depression. CONCLUSION: HS patients experience significant stigmatization linked to disease duration, itch, and depression. Comprehensive management, including screening for psychosocial co-morbidity, is essential, as is providing access to psychological interventions that support patients to both manage internal distress and the potential reactions of others
Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry of Ditellurides
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320650.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)11 p
A contest study to reduce attractiveness-based discrimination in social judgment
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312624.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)Discrimination in the evaluation of others is a key cause of social inequality around the world. However, relatively little is known about psychological interventions that can be used to prevent biased evaluations. The limited evidence that exists on these strategies is spread across many methods and populations, making it difficult to generate reliable best practices that can be effective across contexts. In the present work, we held a research contest to solicit interventions with the goal of reducing discrimination based on physical attractiveness using a hypothetical admissions task. Thirty interventions were tested across four rounds of data collection (total N > 20,000). Using a signal detection theory approach to evaluate interventions, we identified two interventions that reduced discrimination by lessening both decision noise and decision bias, while two other interventions reduced overall discrimination by only lessening noise or bias. The most effective interventions largely provided concrete strategies that directed participants’ attention toward decision-relevant criteria and away from socially biasing information, though the fact that very similar interventions produced differing effects on discrimination suggests certain key characteristics that are needed for manipulations to reliably impact judgment. The effects of these four interventions on decision bias, noise, or both also replicated in a different discrimination domain, political affiliation, and generalized to populations with self-reported hiring experience. Results of the contest for decreasing attractiveness-based favoritism suggest that identifying effective routes for changing discriminatory behavior is a challenge and that greater investment is needed to develop impactful, flexible, and scalable strategies for reducing discrimination.28 p
Role of inflammation and haemostasis on aetiology and prognosis in young patients with ischaemic stroke: Study protocol of the Observational Dutch Young Symptomatic StrokE study-EXTended (ODYSSEY-nEXT) - a multicentre prospective cohort study
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317756.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)INTRODUCTION: The cause of ischaemic stroke at a young age remains unknown in 30% of cases, highlighting the need to identify hidden causes and risk factors in young patients. Transient and chronic risk factors may interact with the inflammatory and haemostatic systems, potentially driving key mechanisms in the pathogenesis. The 'Observational Dutch Young StrokE study-Extended' (ODYSSEY-nEXT) aims to enhance our understanding of these complex interactions through detailed phenotyping of the immune and haemostatic system and explore their relationship with long-term prognosis. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The ODYSSEY-nEXT is a multicentre prospective controlled cohort study of patients aged 18-50 years with a first neuroimaging-proven ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack and healthy controls. We aim to include a total of 200 patients and 60 controls between January 2023 and January 2027. Blood samples will be collected within 72 hours after the index event and at 3 months to assess inflammatory and haemostatic markers. In a subgroup of 20 patients, whole blood analysis will be performed to investigate ex vivo immune cell functionality, the capacity of platelets to release granules and thrombin generation. All patients will complete a questionnaire about trigger and risk factors. Advanced intracranial and extracranial vessel wall imaging with MRI will be performed within a week. Long-term prognosis will be monitored through annual questionnaires about recurrent events for ten years. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Medical Ethical Committee region 'Oost-Nederland' (NL77518.091.21) and will adhere to the Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments. Participants have to provide written informed consent, but in cases where the patient cannot sign due to physical limitations as a result of the stroke, such as paresis, verbal consent is obtained from the patient and a legal representative will be asked to sign the consent form on their behalf. The findings of this study will be disseminated to healthcare professionals and the scientific community through peer-reviewed publications and to participants through accessible formats such as summary reports or newsletters. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05853796.6 p
Application of EUS or MRCP prior to ERCP in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis in clinical practice
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315641.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access
Liver cyst penetration of antibiotics at the target site of infection: a randomized pharmacokinetic trial.
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314664.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: The EASL cystic liver disease guideline states that drug penetration at the site of infection (liver cyst) is essential for successful treatment, but pharmacokinetic (PK) data on cyst penetration are limited. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate tissue penetration of four antibiotics in non-infected liver cysts and explores influencing factors. METHODS: We performed a prospective, randomized single-dose PK-study. Before percutaneous drainage of a non-infected liver cyst, an intravenous (IV) dose of either ciprofloxacin and piperacillin/tazobactam (group 1); or co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) and doxycycline (group 2) was given. Cyst fluid was collected during drainage. Blood samples were obtained before, during and after drainage (within 12 h). Drug concentrations were measured with a validated LC-MS/MS. Primary outcome was liver cyst penetration, defined as the cyst-fluid-to-plasma concentration ratio (%) expressed as median (IQR). RESULTS: We included 20 patients, and 21 liver cysts were drained (group 1: n = 11, group 2: n = 10). Median drained cyst volume was 700 mL. Median time between infusion and drainage was 139 min (IQR 120-188 min). Median cyst-fluid-to-plasma concentration ratio was 4.2% (IQR 1.6%-8.9%) for ciprofloxacin, 0.3% (IQR 0.0%-1.3%) for piperacillin, 0.2% (IQR 0.0%-1.3%) for tazobactam, 12.2% (IQR 6.3%-16.1%) for trimethoprim, 0.4% (IQR 0.2%-3.8%) for sulfamethoxazole and 1.6% (IQR 0.9%-2.3%) for doxycycline. Time between trimethoprim infusion and cyst drainage was correlated with increased cyst-fluid-to-plasma concentration ratio (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Trimethoprim and ciprofloxacin have the highest penetration ratios amongst antibiotics tested. We found that liver cyst penetration varies widely between drugs after a single IV dose. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: NTR8499The trial was originally registered in the Netherlands Trial Register (ID: NL7290), which was converted to the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform in 2022
Mapping the immune cell landscape of non-small cell lung cancer
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317874.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common subtype of lung cancer. In the Netherlands, 75% of diagnosed NSCLC patients do not survive the disease. This underscores the urgent need for new, effective treatment strategies. A recently introduced form of therapy is immunotherapy. Immunotherapy stimulates the body's own immune system to recognize and destroy tumour cells. This treatment has significantly improved the prognosis for a subset of patients. However, a large group of patients does not benefit from this therapy. To understand why immunotherapy is ineffective in these patients, it is crucial to study their immune system in more detail and compare it to that of patients for whom the therapy is effective. In this thesis, we have investigated two types of immunotherapy: checkpoint inhibition and DC therapy. Additionally, in patients who received checkpoint inhibition, we mapped various immune cells in and around the tumour.Radboud University, 22 april 2025Promotores : Heuvel, M. van den, Vries, I.J.M. de Co-promotores : Piet, B., Flórez-Grau, G.250 p
Catalysts for change: Pracademic roles and added value to social impact
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314116.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)The purpose of this paper is to illuminate the debate on pracademic roles and added values in driving social impact within the field of development studies. I draw on a case study of myself, self-identifying as a pracademic, and my extensive involvement with the Liliane Foundation, a Dutch NGO. In my study, I identify five primary pracademic roles: theory-to-practice mediator, diplomat, empathetic listener, communicator, and critical friend. These roles aim to make academic content (knowledge, research, theories) available, accessible, findable, and acceptable to practitioners. My findings illustrate that the capacity to perform academic roles to a large extent underlies the ability to perform pracademic roles, providing insights into the necessary competences required for the latter. I find that by fulfilling a combination of academic and pracademic roles, impact is created in four areas: capacity building, practice and decision-making, organisational credibility and reputation, and organisational learning.12 p
Data and Codes from 'Microbial photosynthesis mitigates carbon loss from northern peatlands under warming'
No full textItem does not contain fulltextThis file contains the main data used in the manuscript Microbial photosynthesis mitigates carbon loss from northern peatlands under climate warming. R codes and GEE codes used to make the main figures are also provided. Please read the READ_ME file for details
Between-hospital variation in biopsy indication for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma in the Dutch Quality Registry for Neurosurgery.
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318209.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)PURPOSE: This registry-based study aims to examine the variation in biopsy and resection indications for glioblastoma patients across Dutch hospitals and to identify patient- and hospital-related factors associated with the surgical treatment. METHODS: Data from all 7443 adults with first-time glioblastoma surgery at 12 hospitals were obtained from the prospective population-based Quality Registry Neurosurgery in the Netherlands between 2011 and 2021. Patients were stratified by either biopsy or resection. We analyzed variation in American Association of Anesthesiologist (ASA) classification, Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS), gender and age distribution between the different centers. Between-hospital variation in biopsy percentage was analyzed using a funnel plot. Logistic regression was used to identify associated patient- and hospital-related factors. RESULTS: In total, 32% of the newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients underwent a biopsy, with wide variations between the different centers (23-56%). Patients-related variables such as higher age or ASA classification and lower KPS were significantly associated with the indication for biopsy. After correction for these factors, between-hospital variation persisted, with two institutes performing more biopsies than expected and one less than expected. Median overall survival was 12.5 months (95% CI 12.2-12.9) in the resection group and 5.6 months (95% CI 5.1-6) in the biopsy group, with wide variations between the different centers. CONCLUSION: A substantial between-hospital variation in biopsy percentages was found. Patient factors (age, ASA classification and KPS) but also hospital factors (such as academic setting) impact surgical decisions. Variation persisted also after correction for potential confounders, indicating that other factors play a role in decision-making