| 1. |
- van Meel, Evelien R., et al.
(author)
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Early-life respiratory tract infections and the risk of school-age lower lung function and asthma: a meta-analysis of 150 000 European children
- 2022
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In: European Respiratory Journal. - : EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY SOC JOURNALS LTD. - 0903-1936 .- 1399-3003. ; 60:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Early-life respiratory tract infections might affect chronic obstructive respiratory diseases, but conclusive studies from general populations are lacking. Our objective was to examine if children with early-life respiratory tract infections had increased risks of lower lung function and asthma at school age. Methods We used individual participant data of 150 090 children primarily from the EU Child Cohort Network to examine the associations of upper and lower respiratory tract infections from age 6 months to 5 years with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC, forced expiratory flow at 75% of FVC (FEF75%) and asthma at a median (range) age of 7 (4-15) years. Results Children with early-life lower, not upper, respiratory tract infections had a lower school-age FEV1, FEV1/FVC and FEF75% (z-score range: -0.09 (95% CI -0.14- -0.04) to -0.30 (95% CI -0.36- -0.24)). Children with early-life lower respiratory tract infections had a higher increased risk of school-age asthma than those with upper respiratory tract infections (OR range: 2.10 (95% CI 1.98-2.22) to 6.30 (95% CI 5.64-7.04) and 1.25 (95% CI 1.18-1.32) to 1.55 (95% CI 1.47-1.65), respectively). Adjustment for preceding respiratory tract infections slightly decreased the strength of the effects. Observed associations were similar for those with and without early-life wheezing as a proxy for early-life asthma. Conclusions Our findings suggest that early-life respiratory tract infections affect development of chronic obstructive respiratory diseases in later life, with the strongest effects for lower respiratory tract infections.
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| 2. |
- Caron, Bénédicte, et al.
(author)
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IOIBD Recommendations for Clinical Trials in Ulcerative Proctitis : the PROCTRIAL Consensus
- 2022
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In: Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. - : Elsevier. - 1542-3565 .- 1542-7714. ; 20:11, s. 2169-2627.e1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Clinical trials evaluating biologics and small molecules in patients with ulcerative colitis are predominantly excluding ulcerative proctitis. The objective of the PROCTRIAL (Definition and endpoints for ulcerative PROCtitis in clinical TRIALs) initiative was to develop consensus statements for definitions, inclusion criteria, and endpoints for the evaluation of ulcerative proctitis in adults.METHODS: Thirty-five international experts held a consensus meeting to define ulcerative proctitis, and the endpoints to use in clinical trials. Based on a systematic review of the literature, statements were generated, discussed, and approved by the working group participants using a modified Delphi method. Consensus was defined as at least 75% agreement among voters.RESULTS: The group agreed that the diagnosis of ulcerative proctitis should be made by ileocolonoscopy and confirmed by histopathology, with the exclusion of infections, drug-induced causes, radiation, trauma, and Crohn's disease. Ulcerative proctitis was defined as macroscopic extent of lesions limited to 15 cm distance from the anal verge in adults. Primary and secondary endpoints were identified to capture response of ulcerative proctitis to therapy. A combined clinical and endoscopic primary endpoint for the evaluation of ulcerative proctitis disease activity is proposed. Secondary endpoints which should be evaluated include endoscopic remission, histological remission, mucosal healing, histologic endoscopic mucosal improvement, disability, fecal incontinence, urgency, constipation, and health-related quality of life.CONCLUSION: In response to the need for guidance on the design of clinical trials in patients with ulcerative proctitis, the PROCTRIAL consensus provides recommendations on the definition and endpoints for ulcerative proctitis clinical trials.
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| 3. |
- Heidenreich, Kaja, 1973-, et al.
(author)
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UK consultants’ experiences of the decision-making process around referral to intensive care : an interview study
- 2021
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In: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 11:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: The decision whether to initiate intensivecare for the critically ill patient involves ethical questions regarding what is good and right for the patient. It isnot clear how referring doctors negotiate these issuesin practice. The aim of this study was to describe and understand consultants’ experiences of the decision- making process around referral to intensive care.Design: Qualitative interviews were analysed according to a phenomenological hermeneutical method.Setting and participants: Consultant doctors (n=27) from departments regularly referring patients to intensive care in six UK hospitals.Results: In the precarious and uncertain situation of critical illness, trust in the decision-making process is needed and can be enhanced through the way in which the process unfolds. When there are no obvious right or wrong answers as to what ought to be done, how the decision is made and how the process unfolds is morally important. Through acknowledging the burdensome doubts in the process, contributing to an emerging, joint understanding of the patient’s situation, and respondingto mutual moral duties of the doctors involved, trust in the decision-making process can be enhanced and a shared moral responsibility between the stake holding doctors can be assumed.Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of trust in the decision-making process and how the relationships between the stakeholding doctors are crucial to support their moral responsibility for the patient. Poor interpersonal relationships can damage trust and negatively impact decisions made on behalf of a critically ill patient. Forthis reason, active attempts must be made to foster good relationships between doctors. This is not only important to create a positive working environment, but a mechanism to improve patient outcomes.
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| 4. |
- Leibovitzh, Haim, et al.
(author)
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Immune response and barrier dysfunction-related proteomic signatures in preclinical phase of Crohn's disease highlight earliest events of pathogenesis
- 2023
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In: Gut. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 0017-5749 .- 1468-3288. ; 72:8, s. 1462-1471
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: The measure of serum proteome in the preclinical state of Crohn's disease (CD) may provide insight into biological pathways involved in CD pathogenesis. We aimed to assess associations of serum proteins with future CD onset and with other biomarkers predicting CD risk in a healthy at-risk cohort.DESIGN: In a nested case-control study within the Crohn's and Colitis Canada Genetics Environment Microbial Project (CCC-GEM) cohort, which prospectively follows healthy first-degree relatives (FDRs), subjects who developed CD (n=71) were matched with four FDRs remaining healthy (n=284). Using samples at recruitment, serum protein profiles using the Olink Proximity Extension Assay platform was assessed for association with future development of CD and with other baseline biomarkers as follows: serum antimicrobial antibodies (AS: positive antibody sum) (Prometheus); faecal calprotectin (FCP); gut barrier function using the fractional excretion of lactulose-to-mannitol ratio (LMR) assay.RESULTS: We identified 25 of 446 serum proteins significantly associated with future development of CD. C-X-C motif chemokine 9 (CXCL9) had the highest OR with future risk of CD (OR=2.07 per SD, 95% CI 1.58 to 2.73, q=7.9e-5), whereas matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein had the lowest OR (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.66, q=0.02). Notably, CXCL9 was the only analyte significantly associated with all other CD-risk biomarkers with consistent direction of effect (FCP: OR=2.21; LMR: OR=1.67; AS: OR=1.59) (q<0.05 for all).CONCLUSION: We identified serum proteomic signatures associated with future CD development, reflecting potential early biological processes of immune and barrier dysfunction.
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| 6. |
- Reinke, Beth A, et al.
(author)
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Diverse aging rates in ectothermic tetrapods provide insights for the evolution of aging and longevity
- 2022
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In: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science. - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 376:6600, s. 1459-1466
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Comparative studies of mortality in the wild are necessary to understand the evolution of aging; yet, ectothermic tetrapods are underrepresented in this comparative landscape, despite their suitability for testing evolutionary hypotheses. We present a study of aging rates and longevity across wild tetrapod ectotherms, using data from 107 populations (77 species) of nonavian reptiles and amphibians. We test hypotheses of how thermoregulatory mode, environmental temperature, protective phenotypes, and pace of life history contribute to demographic aging. Controlling for phylogeny and body size, ectotherms display a higher diversity of aging rates compared with endotherms and include phylogenetically widespread evidence of negligible aging. Protective phenotypes and life-history strategies further explain macroevolutionary patterns of aging. Analyzing ectothermic tetrapods in a comparative context enhances our understanding of the evolution of aging.
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| 7. |
- Shannon, Oliver M., et al.
(author)
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Mediterranean diet adherence is associated with lower dementia risk, independent of genetic predisposition : findings from the UK Biobank prospective cohort study
- 2023
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In: BMC Medicine. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1741-7015. ; 21:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The identification of effective dementia prevention strategies is a major public health priority, due to the enormous and growing societal cost of this condition. Consumption of a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) has been proposed to reduce dementia risk. However, current evidence is inconclusive and is typically derived from small cohorts with limited dementia cases. Additionally, few studies have explored the interaction between diet and genetic risk of dementia.METHODS: We used Cox proportional hazard regression models to explore the associations between MedDiet adherence, defined using two different scores (Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener [MEDAS] continuous and Mediterranean diet Pyramid [PYRAMID] scores), and incident all-cause dementia risk in 60,298 participants from UK Biobank, followed for an average 9.1 years. The interaction between diet and polygenic risk for dementia was also tested.RESULTS: Higher MedDiet adherence was associated with lower dementia risk (MEDAS continuous: HR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.65-0.91; PYRAMID: HR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.73-1.02 for highest versus lowest tertiles). There was no significant interaction between MedDiet adherence defined by the MEDAS continuous and PYRAMID scores and polygenic risk for dementia.CONCLUSIONS: Higher adherence to a MedDiet was associated with lower dementia risk, independent of genetic risk, underlining the importance of diet in dementia prevention interventions.
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| 8. |
- van Huizen, Astrid M., et al.
(author)
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International eDelphi Study to Reach Consensus on the Methotrexate Dosing Regimen in Patients With Psoriasis
- 2022
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In: JAMA dermatology. - : American Medical Association (AMA). - 2168-6068 .- 2168-6084. ; 158:5, s. 561-561
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Importance A clear dosing regimen for methotrexate in psoriasis is lacking, and this might lead to a suboptimal treatment. Because methotrexate is affordable and globally available, a uniform dosing regimen could potentially optimize the treatment of patients with psoriasis worldwide.Objective To reach international consensus among psoriasis experts on a uniform dosing regimen for treatment with methotrexate in adult and pediatric patients with psoriasis and identify potential future research topics.Design, Setting, and Participants Between September 2020 and March 2021, a survey study with a modified eDelphi procedure that was developed and distributed by the Amsterdam University Medical Center and completed by 180 participants worldwide (55 [30.6%] resided in non-Western countries) was conducted in 3 rounds. The proposals on which no consensus was reached were discussed in a conference meeting (June 2021). Participants voted on 21 proposals with a 9-point scale (1-3 disagree, 4-6 neither agree nor disagree, 7-9 agree) and were recruited through the Skin Inflammation and Psoriasis International Network and European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology in June 2020. Apart from being a dermatologist/dermatology resident, there were no specific criteria for participation in the survey. The participants worked mainly at a university hospital (97 [53.9%]) and were experienced in treating patients with psoriasis with methotrexate (163 [91.6%] had more than 10 years of experience).Main Outcomes and Measures In a survey with eDelphi procedure, we tried to reach consensus on 21 proposals. Consensus was defined as less than 15% voting disagree (1-3). For the consensus meeting, consensus was defined as less than 30% voting disagree.Results Of 251 participants, 180 (71.7%) completed all 3 survey rounds, and 58 participants (23.1%) joined the conference meeting. Consensus was achieved on 11 proposals in round 1, 3 proposals in round 2, and 2 proposals in round 3. In the consensus meeting, consensus was achieved on 4 proposals. More research is needed, especially for the proposals on folic acid and the dosing of methotrexate for treating subpopulations such as children and vulnerable patients.Conclusions and Relevance In this eDelphi consensus study, consensus was reached on 20 of 21 proposals involving methotrexate dosing in patients with psoriasis. This consensus may potentially be used to harmonize the treatment with methotrexate in patients with psoriasis.
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| 9. |
- Zhou, Wei, et al.
(author)
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Global Biobank Meta-analysis Initiative : Powering genetic discovery across human disease
- 2022
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In: Cell Genomics. - : Elsevier. - 2666-979X. ; 2:10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Biobanks facilitate genome-wide association studies (GWASs), which have mapped genomic loci across a range of human diseases and traits. However, most biobanks are primarily composed of individuals of European ancestry. We introduce the Global Biobank Meta-analysis Initiative (GBMI)-a collaborative network of 23 biobanks from 4 continents representing more than 2.2 million consented individuals with genetic data linked to electronic health records. GBMI meta-analyzes summary statistics from GWASs generated using harmonized genotypes and phenotypes from member biobanks for 14 exemplar diseases and endpoints. This strategy validates that GWASs conducted in diverse biobanks can be integrated despite heterogeneity in case definitions, recruitment strategies, and baseline characteristics. This collaborative effort improves GWAS power for diseases, benefits understudied diseases, and improves risk prediction while also enabling the nomination of disease genes and drug candidates by incorporating gene and protein expression data and providing insight into the underlying biology of human diseases and traits.
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