Uitgeblust of opgestookt. De herontdekking van de hel.

Rede uitgesproken bij aanvaarding van de leerstoel Dogmatiek aan de PThU. Prof. Dr. Arnold Huijgen, 1 september 2023

CHILDLIKE REVERENCE AND TRUST: CALVIN AND THE HEIDELBERG CATECHISM ON PRAYER

Prayer is a central theme in both Calvin's Institutes and the Heidelberg Catechism, although it is a neglected theme in present-day dogmatics. The present article compares Calvin's and the Heidelberg Catechism's stance on prayer in the context of the renewal of prayer as an effect of the Reformation of the 16th century. Both emphasise the experiential character of prayer and the importance of God's promise. The discussion of 'Amen' serves as a grand finale to the Heidelberg Catechism. KEYWORDS: Calvin, Heidelberg Catechism, prayer, promise, Reformation, experience

Anabaptist Spirituality and the Heidelberg Catechism

Although the Anabaptists are not explicitly mentioned in the Heidelberg Catechism, it is generally acknowledged that the catechism influenced by the debates with the so-called radical reformation. This paper assesses Zacharias Ursinus’ Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism and the report of the 1571 Frankenthal disputation in order to get a clearer picture of this influence. It concludes that the implicit polemics against the Anabaptists regard the relationship between the Old and the New Testaments and Christology. The spirituality of the Heidelberg Catechism stresses the continuity between creation and recreation, between ‘Paradise Lost’ and ‘Paradise Regained’. Over against the restitution of the church it advocates its reformation and instead of a new creation it expects the redemption of the fallen world from the power of sin and death

The Problematic Character of Sola Scriptura

This article argues that the well-known phrase sola scriptura, that has become a shorthand for the orthodox protestant view of the authority of Scripture, is not or no longer adequate to express that view. It first highlights the origin of the triad sola scriptura, sola gratia, sola fide¸ and then argues that the expression is problematic because of the relationship between Scripture and tradition, the indispensableness of hermeneutics, the importance of general revelation for the understanding of Scripture, and the intrinsic relationship between the self-convincing nature of Scripture as God’s revelation and the witness of the Holy Spirit in the church in general and in the individual believers. Rather than from Scripture alone, protestant theology should be developed from Scripture as the primary and supreme authority, within the hermeneutical context of the confession of the Church of all ages, and in the acknowledgement that Scripture as such is insufficient without the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit

Interpretation of laboratory results after gastric bypass surgery: the effects of weight loss and time on 30 blood tests in a 5-year follow-up program

Background: Long-term follow-up with blood tests is essential for bariatric surgery to be a successful treatment for obesity and related co-morbidities. Adverse effects, deficiencies, and metabolic improvements need to be controlled. Objective: We investigated the effects of time and weight loss on laboratory results in each postoperative phase after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). Setting: Bariatric center of excellence, general hospital, Netherlands. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated results of 30 blood tests, preoperatively and at 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 5 years after LRYGB. The 2019 Dutch bariatric chart was used to define weight loss responses as outstanding (>p[percentile curve]+1 SD), average (p+1 SD to p−1 SD), and poor (<p−1 SD). Results are presented with fifth and 95th percentile cutoff values per blood test for each of these 3 weight loss responses at each of the 4 postoperative time intervals. We used ANOVA to determine mutual relations. Results: Results of 4835 patients were analyzed. Five-year follow-up was 58%. Blood levels of ferritin, mean-corpuscular-volume, thrombocytes, vitamin D, parathyroid-hormone, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), triglyceride, total-cholesterol, C-reactive-protein, gamma-glutamyl-transferase, alkaline-phosphatase, creatinine, vitamin B1, and total protein were related with weight loss response. All 30 blood tests were also related with time. For several blood tests, weight loss and time did not only influence median results, but also fifth and 95th percentile cutoff values. Many patients had better vitamin levels after the operation. We observed an increase of parathyroid-hormone and ongoing iron depletion up to 5 years post surgery. Conclusions: Presenting results of 30 routine blood tests, including cutoff values based on fifth and 95th percentile, grouped by weight loss response and postoperative time interval after gastric bypass surgery is new. The elaborate tables and graphs could serve as practical guide for proper interpretation of laboratory results in postbariatric surveillance. Results underline the need for long-term follow-up, including blood tests

Interpretation of laboratory results after gastric bypass surgery: the effects of weight loss and time on 30 blood tests in a 5-year follow-up program

Background: Long-term follow-up with blood tests is essential for bariatric surgery to be a successful treatment for obesity and related co-morbidities. Adverse effects, deficiencies, and metabolic improvements need to be controlled. Objective: We investigated the effects of time and weight loss on laboratory results in each postoperative phase after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). Setting: Bariatric center of excellence, general hospital, Netherlands. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated results of 30 blood tests, preoperatively and at 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 5 years after LRYGB. The 2019 Dutch bariatric chart was used to define weight loss responses as outstanding (>p[percentile curve]+1 SD), average (p+1 SD to p−1 SD), and poor (<p−1 SD). Results are presented with fifth and 95th percentile cutoff values per blood test for each of these 3 weight loss responses at each of the 4 postoperative time intervals. We used ANOVA to determine mutual relations. Results: Results of 4835 patients were analyzed. Five-year follow-up was 58%. Blood levels of ferritin, mean-corpuscular-volume, thrombocytes, vitamin D, parathyroid-hormone, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), triglyceride, total-cholesterol, C-reactive-protein, gamma-glutamyl-transferase, alkaline-phosphatase, creatinine, vitamin B1, and total protein were related with weight loss response. All 30 blood tests were also related with time. For several blood tests, weight loss and time did not only influence median results, but also fifth and 95th percentile cutoff values. Many patients had better vitamin levels after the operation. We observed an increase of parathyroid-hormone and ongoing iron depletion up to 5 years post surgery. Conclusions: Presenting results of 30 routine blood tests, including cutoff values based on fifth and 95th percentile, grouped by weight loss response and postoperative time interval after gastric bypass surgery is new. The elaborate tables and graphs could serve as practical guide for proper interpretation of laboratory results in postbariatric surveillance. Results underline the need for long-term follow-up, including blood tests

Risk Factors for Cholecystectomy After Laparoscopic Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass

Background: Patients who have undergone bariatric surgery are at risk for subsequent cholecystectomy. We aimed to identify risk factors for cholecystectomy after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study of patients who underwent LRYGB between 2013 and 2015. Cases underwent cholecystectomy because of biliary symptoms after LRYGB. For each case, two controls were selected without subsequent cholecystectomy. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors. Results: Between 2013 and 2015, 1780 primary LRYGBs were performed. We identified 233 (13.1%) cases who had undergone cholecystectomy after a median (IQR) of 12 (8–17) months, and 466 controls. Female gender (OR (95% CI) 1.83 (1.06–3.17)), Caucasian ethnicity (OR (95% CI) 1.82 (1.10–3.02)), higher percent total weight loss (%TWL) at 12 months (OR (95% CI) 1.06 (1.04–1.09)), and preoperative pain syndrome (OR (95% CI) 2.72 (1.43–5.18)) were significantly associated with an increased risk for cholecystectomy. Older age (OR (95% CI) 0.98 (0.96–0.99)) and preoperative statin use were associated with a reduced risk (OR (95% CI) 0.56 (0.31–1.00)). A dose-effect relationship was found between the intensity of preoperative statin and risk for cholecystectomy. Conclusions: In our study, higher %TWL and preoperative pain syndrome were associated with an increased risk for cholecystectomy besides the traditional risk factors female gender and Caucasian ethnicity. These factors can be used to identify high-risk patients, who might benefit from preventive measures. Whether statins can protect bariatric patients from developing gallstones should be investigated prospectively