33 research outputs found

    Exploring recruitment, willingness to participate, and retention of low-SES women in stress and depression prevention

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    Contains fulltext : 90907.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Background Recruitment, willingness to participate, and retention in interventions are indispensable for successful prevention. This study investigated the effectiveness of different strategies for recruiting and retaining low-SES women in depression prevention, and explored which sociodemographic characteristics and risk status factors within this specific target group are associated with successful recruitment and retention. Methods The process of recruitment, willingness to participate, and retention was structurally mapped and explored. Differences between women who dropped out and those who adhered to the subsequent stages of the recruitment and retention process were investigated. The potential of several referral strategies was also studied, with specific attention paid to the use of GP databases. Results As part of the recruitment process, 12.1% of the target population completed a telephone screening. The most successful referral strategy was the use of patient databases from GPs working in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Older age and more severe complaints were particularly associated with greater willingness to participate and with retention. Conclusions Low-SES women can be recruited and retained in public health interventions through tailored strategies. The integration of mental health screening within primary care might help to embed preventive interventions in low-SES communities.8 p

    Efficacy of Lactobacillus casei Shirota for patients with irritable bowel syndrome

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    BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Meta-analyses point to a modest but significant effect of probiotics on symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We aimed to assess the effect of the probiotic Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) on symptoms and quality of life in IBS patients in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: IBS patients (Rome II) between 18 and 65 years of age were included. The study consisted of an 8-week intervention period in which the participants received probiotic (LcS) or placebo twice daily, followed by an 8-week follow-up period. Symptom diaries and quality of life were scored at weeks 0, 8 and 16. The primary outcome parameter was a decrease of at least 30% in a composite mean symptom score (MSS) at week 8 on the basis of an intention-to-treat analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-nine individuals (67% women) were included in the probiotic group and 41 individuals (71% women) were included in the placebo group. After the intervention period, the mean relative improvement did not reach 30% for MSS or any individual symptom score. After follow-up (week 16), a mean improvement of at least 30% was achieved for MSS in the probiotic group, but no significant difference was found between both treatment groups (mean+/-SD: 34+/-7%; 13+/-8%, P=0.06). CONCLUSION: After probiotic treatment with LcS, no improvement of 30% in MSS was observed after 8 weeks

    Assessment of the relation between initial culprit vessel patency in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction and endothelial function

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    To assess whether better endothelial function increases the likelihood of patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) having initially patent culprit vessels. Clinical data on the relation between endothelial function and culprit vessel patency in STEMI patients are scarce. In this prospective cohort study in 71 patients with STEMI, endothelial function was non-invasively assessed by use of the reactive hyperaemia peripheral artery tonometry (RH-PAT) method at four to six weeks after the primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). The RH-PAT index measured on average 1.90±0.58. In patients with patent culprit vessels before PPCI (n=33, 46.5%), endothelial function was significantly better than in patients with occluded vessels (n=38, 53.5%) (RH-PAT index 2.08±0.34 vs. 1.75±0.35; p <0.007). Compared to patients with normal endothelial function, the patients with severe endothelial dysfunction had a fivefold higher risk of presenting with an occluded culprit vessel (OR 5.1, 95% CI: 1.8-14.2). Logistic regression analysis revealed that this relation between endothelial function and vessel patency became even stronger after adjustment for potential confounders (adjusted OR 7.1, 95% CI: 2.1-23.6). In this series of patients with acute STEMI, better endothelial function was independently associated with a higher likelihood of presenting with an initially patent culprit vesse

    Three-year clinical outcome in all-comers with “silent” diabetes, prediabetes, or normoglycemia, treated with contemporary coronary drug-eluting stents: From the BIO-RESORT Silent Diabetes study

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    Background: Patients with coronary disease may have unknown diabetes or prediabetes. We evaluated 3-year outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with contemporary drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients with silent diabetes, prediabetes, and normoglycemia. Methods: All BIO-RESORT trial (NCT01674803) participants without known diabetes, enrolled at our center, were invited for oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT) and measurements of fasting plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Results: OGTT detected silent diabetes in 68 (6.9%), prediabetes in 132 (13.4%), and normoglycemia in 788 (79.8%) of all 988 study participants. Follow-up was available in 986 (99.8%) patients. The main endpoint target vessel failure (TVF: cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction [MI], or target vessel revascularization) differed between groups (14.8, 9.9, and 5.6%; p =.002), driven by MI during the first 48 hr and by cardiac death (p <.001; p =.026). Between 48 hr and 3-years, there was no significant between-group difference in TVF, target vessel MI, and target vessel revascularization. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that silent diabetes was independently associated with TVF (adjusted HR: 2.52, 95%-CI: 1.26–5.03). An alternative diagnostic approach—HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose—detected silent diabetes and prediabetes in 33 (3.3%) and 217 (22.0%) patients, and normoglycemia in 738 (74.7%); TVF rates were 12.1, 7.9, and 6.0% (p =.23). Conclusion: In patients without known diabetes, abnormal glucose metabolism by OGTT was independently associated with higher 3-year TVF rates after PCI with contemporary DES. This difference was driven by periprocedural MI and cardiac death. After the first 48 hr, the rates of TVF, target vessel MI, and target vessel revascularization were low and did not differ significantly between metabolic groups

    Efficacy and Safety of Peppermint Oil in a Randomized Double-blind Trial of Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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    Background & Aims: Peppermint oil is frequently used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), despite a lack of evidence for efficacy from high-quality controlled trials. We studied the efficacy and safety of small-intestinal–release peppermint oil in patients with IBS and explored the effects of targeted ileocolonic-release peppermint oil. Methods: We performed a double-blind trial of 190 patients with IBS (according to Rome IV criteria) at 4 hospitals in The Netherlands from August 2016 through March 2018; 189 patients were included in the intent-to-treat analysis (mean age, 34.0 years; 77.8% female; 57.7% in primary care), and 178 completed the study. Patients were randomly assigned to groups given 182 mg small-intestinal–release peppermint oil, 182 mg ileocolonic-release peppermint oil, or placebo for 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was abdominal pain response, as defined by the US Food and Drug Administration: at least a 30% decrease in the weekly average of worst daily abdominal pain compared with baseline in at least 4 weeks. The co-primary endpoint was overall relief of IBS symptoms, as defined by the European Medicines Agency. Secondary endpoints included abdominal pain, discomfort, symptom severity, and adverse events. Results: Abdominal pain response did not differ significantly between the peppermint oil and placebo groups: 29 of 62 patients in the small-intestinal–release peppermint oil group had a response (46.8%, P =. 170 vs placebo), 26 of 63 patients in the ileocolonic-release peppermint oil group had a response (41.3%, P =. 385 vs placebo), and 22 of 64 patients in the placebo group had a response (34.4%). We did not find differences among the groups in overall relief (9.7%, P =. 317 and 1.6%, P =. 351 vs 4.7% for placebo). The small intestinal peppermint oil did, however, produce greater improvements than placebo in secondary outcomes of abdominal pain (P =. 016), discomfort (P =. 020), and IBS severity (P =. 020). Adverse events, although mild, were more common in both peppermint oil groups (P <. 005). Conclusions: In a randomized trial of patients with IBS, we found that neither small-intestinal–release nor ileocolonic-release peppermint oil (8 weeks) produced statistically significant reductions in abdominal pain response or overall symptom relief, when using US Food and Drug Administration/European Medicines Agency recommended endpoints. The small-intestinal–release peppermint oil did, however, significantly reduce abdominal pain, discomfort, and IBS severity. These findings do not support further development of ileocolonic-release peppermint oil for treatment of IBS. Clinicaltrials.gov, Number: NCT02716285

    Efficacy and Safety of Peppermint Oil in a Randomized Double-blind Trial of Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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    Background & Aims: Peppermint oil is frequently used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), despite a lack of evidence for efficacy from high-quality controlled trials. We studied the efficacy and safety of small-intestinal–release peppermint oil in patients with IBS and explored the effects of targeted ileocolonic-release peppermint oil. Methods: We performed a double-blind trial of 190 patients with IBS (according to Rome IV criteria) at 4 hospitals in The Netherlands from August 2016 through March 2018; 189 patients were included in the intent-to-treat analysis (mean age, 34.0 years; 77.8% female; 57.7% in primary care), and 178 completed the study. Patients were randomly assigned to groups given 182 mg small-intestinal–release peppermint oil, 182 mg ileocolonic-release peppermint oil, or placebo for 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was abdominal pain response, as defined by the US Food and Drug Administration: at least a 30% decrease in the weekly average of worst daily abdominal pain compared with baseline in at least 4 weeks. The co-primary endpoint was overall relief of IBS symptoms, as defined by the European Medicines Agency. Secondary endpoints included abdominal pain, discomfort, symptom severity, and adverse events. Results: Abdominal pain response did not differ significantly between the peppermint oil and placebo groups: 29 of 62 patients in the small-intestinal–release peppermint oil group had a response (46.8%, P =. 170 vs placebo), 26 of 63 patients in the ileocolonic-release peppermint oil group had a response (41.3%, P =. 385 vs placebo), and 22 of 64 patients in the placebo group had a response (34.4%). We did not find differences among the groups in overall relief (9.7%, P =. 317 and 1.6%, P =. 351 vs 4.7% for placebo). The small intestinal peppermint oil did, however, produce greater improvements than placebo in secondary outcomes of abdominal pain (P =. 016), discomfort (P =. 020), and IBS severity (P =. 020). Adverse events, although mild, were more common in both peppermint oil groups (P <. 005). Conclusions: In a randomized trial of patients with IBS, we found that neither small-intestinal–release nor ileocolonic-release peppermint oil (8 weeks) produced statistically significant reductions in abdominal pain response or overall symptom relief, when using US Food and Drug Administration/European Medicines Agency recommended endpoints. The small-intestinal–release peppermint oil did, however, significantly reduce abdominal pain, discomfort, and IBS severity. These findings do not support further development of ileocolonic-release peppermint oil for treatment of IBS. Clinicaltrials.gov, Number: NCT02716285

    Risk factors of work disability in patients with inflammatory bowel disease - A Dutch nationwide web-based survey Work disability in inflammatory bowel disease

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    Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with high costs to society. Few data on the impact of IBD on work disability and potential predictive factors are available. Aim: To assess the prevalence of and predictive factors for work disability in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: A web-based questionnaire was sent out in seven university hospitals and seven general hospitals in the Netherlands. Initially, 3050 adult IBD patients were included in this prospective, nationwide cohort study, whereof 2629 patients were within the working-age (18-64 years). We used the baseline questionnaire to assess the prevalence rates of work disability in CD and UC patients within working-age. Prevalence rates were compared with the Dutch background population using age- and sex-matched data obtained from Statistics Netherlands. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent demographicand disease-specific risk factors for work disability. Results: In CD, 18.3% of patients was fully disabled and 8.8% partially disabled, compared to 9.5% and 5.4% in UC patients (p <0.01), respectively. Compared to Dutch controls, the prevalence was significantly higher, especially in CD patients. Higher age, low education, depression, chronic back pain, joint manifestations and typical disease-related risk factors such as penetrating disease course and surgery in the past were all found to be associated with work disability. Conclusion: We report high work disability rates in a large sample of IBD patients in the Netherlands. CD patients suffer more frequently from work disability than UC patients. A combination of demographic and disease-related factors is predictive of work disability. (C) 2013 European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

    Self-reported Disability in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Largely Determined by Disease Activity and Illness Perceptions

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    Background:The inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) disability index has recently been introduced to measure patients' physical, psychological, familial, and social limitations associated with IBD. We assessed factors related to self-reported disability and the relationship between disability and direct health care costs.Methods:A large cohort of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) was prospectively followed for 2 years by 3 monthly web-based questionnaires. At 2 years, patients completed the IBD disability index, with lower score indicating more disability. Linear regression analysis was used to examine the impact of demographics, clinical characteristics, and illness perceptions on self-reported disability. Trends in direct health care costs across the disability severity groups minimal, mild, moderate, and severe, were tested.Results:A total of 554 patients with CD and 424 patients with UC completed the IBD disability index (response rate, 45%). Both clinical characteristics and illness perceptions significantly contributed to self-reported disability (45%-47%, P = 0.000 and 8%-12%, P = 0.000, respectively). Patients with CD scored lower on the self-reported IBD disability index than patients with UC (0.255 versus 3.890, P <0.000), indicating more disability in patients with CD. Factors independently associated with higher self-reported disability rates were increased disease activity, illness identity (higher number of symptoms attributed to IBD), and stronger emotional response. Disease duration and disease phenotype were not associated with self-reported disability. Direct health care costs increased with the worsening of self-reported disability (P = 0.000).Conclusions:More disability was reported by patients with CD than by UC. Self-reported disability in IBD was mainly determined by clinical disease activity and illness perceptions but not by disease duration or disease phenotype
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