Identification of mineralocorticoid receptor target genes in the mouse hippocampus

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Surgeons’ preferences for using sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ

BACKGROUND: There is a large variation between Dutch hospitals in the use of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) in patients with a biopsy diagnosis of Ductal Carcinoma in Situ. The aim of our study was to investigate whether this variation might be explained by preferences of surgeons, organisational factors or the influence of patients preferences. METHODS: A cross-sectional web survey was conducted among 260 Dutch oncological/breast surgeons. Preferences of surgeons and the influence of the patients’ preferences were determined by means of best-worst scaling (BWS) of profile case scenarios and by ranking risk factors. The survey also explored organisational questions, the reported use of diagnostic techniques and influences on the decision. RESULTS: The BWS scenarios were completed by 57 surgeons. The most important reasons for performing SLNB were a suspected invasive component and DCIS grade 3. In the ranking, these were also the first and second most important factor, followed by the size of the lesion and a mass on mammogram. In 58% to 70% of the scenarios, the surgeons would not change their decisions on the use of SLNB if the patient’s chose differed. No organisational factor was significantly associated with the reported use of SLNB. CONCLUSION: The inter-hospital variation in the use of SLNB could not be attributed to organisational factors or surgeons’ preferences for risk factors. The risk factors that most surgeons reported as reasons for performing SLNB are consistent with the factors described in the Dutch treatment guideline for the use of SLNB

Anisotropic Superexchange for nearest and next nearest coppers in chain, ladder and lamellar cuprates

We present a detailed calculation of the magnetic couplings between nearest-neighbor and next-nearest-neighbor coppers in the edge-sharing geometry, ubiquitous in many cuprates. In this geometry, the interaction between nearest neighbor coppers is mediated via two oxygens, and the Cu-O-Cu angle is close to 90 degrees. The derivation is based on a perturbation expansion of a general Hubbard Hamiltonian, and produces numerical estimates for the various magnetic energies. In particular we find the dependence of the anisotropy energies on the angular deviation away from the 90 degrees geometry of the Cu-O-Cu bonds. Our results are required for the correct analysis of the magnetic structure of various chain, ladder and lamellar cuprates.Comment: 13 pages, Latex, 7 figure

5-year adherence to adjuvant endocrine treatment in Dutch women with early stage breast cancer:a population-based database study (2006-2016)

BACKGROUND: Hormonal receptor (HR) positive breast tumors are common. Adjuvant hormonal therapy (AHT) with tamoxifen or Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs) is beneficial depending on the stage of the tumor. Despite the fact that AHT has been shown to improve survival and recurrence, Dutch adherence rates, which were mostly dependent on Tamoxifen prescriptions until 2006, plummeted from 80% after one year to 50% after five years. Nonadherence with AHT reduces its effectiveness. This research presents more recent adherence statistics (from 2006 to 2016), on a larger sample (7,996 vs 1,451), as well as factors that influence AHT adherence. In addition to tamoxifen data, AIs are now included. OBJECTIVE: As low use of adjuvant endocrine therapy is a potentially important and modifiable risk factor for poor outcome, it is important to monitor the rate as an indicator of women's burden of disease and the direction of adherence trends. METHODS: The Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR) was used to find women with early-stage breast cancer who started AHT within a year of surgery and were linked to the PHARMO Database Network (n = 8,679). The Kaplan-Meier approach was used to measure AHT adherence five years after treatment was started, with a 60-day gap between refills as our primary outcome. Furthermore, the Medication Possession Rate (MPR) was determined using a cutoff of =80%. Analysis was performed on influential factors of adherence. RESULTS: The proportion of persistent women declined over time to reach 46.6% at the end of the fifth year and 53.3% of the women had a MPR =80% during the fifth year. Older and being diagnosed in 2006-2010 were associated with AHT adherence. CONCLUSION: Dutch 5-year AHT adherence appears to remain poor. Improving AHT adherence in HR+ breast cancer survivors is a critical medical need

Identification of an age-dependent biomarker signature in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders

Background: Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental conditions with symptoms manifesting before the age of 3, generally persisting throughout life and affecting social development and com

Associations of maternal folic acid supplementation and folate concentrations during pregnancy with foetal and child head growth: the Generation R Study

Purpose: Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy has been associated with a reduced risk of common neurodevelopmental delays in the offspring. However, it is unclear whether low folate status has effects on the developing brain. We evaluated the associations of maternal folic acid supplementation and folate concentrations during pregnancy with repeatedly measured prenatal and postnatal head circumference in the offspring. Methods: Within a population-based prospective cohort, we measured maternal plasma folate concentrations at approximately 13 weeks of gestation (90 % range 10.5–17.2) and assessed folic acid supplementation by questionnaire (2001–2005). Up to 11 repeated mea

The effectiveness of personalised surveillance and aftercare in breast cancer follow-up: a systematic review

Purpose: Breast cancer follow-up (surveillance and aftercare) varies from one-size-fits-all to more personalised approaches. A systematic review was performed to get insight in existing evidence on (cost-)effectiveness of personalised follow-up.Methods: PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane were searched between 01–01-2010 and 10–10-2022 (review registered in PROSPERO:CRD42022375770). The inclusion population comprised nonmetastatic breast cancer patients ≥ 18 years, after completing curative treatment. All intervention-control studies studying personalised surveillance and/or aftercare designed for use during the entire follow-up period were included. All review processes including risk of bias assessment were performed by two reviewers. Characteristics of included studies were described.Results: Overall, 3708 publications were identified, 64 full-text publications were read and 16 were included for data extraction. One study evaluated personalised surveillance. Various personalised aftercare interventions and outcomes were studied. Most common elements included in personalised aftercare plans were treatment summaries (75%), follow-up guidelines (56%), lists of available supportive care resources (38%) and PROs (25%). Control conditions mostly comprised usual care. Four out of seven (57%) studies reported improvements in quality of life following personalisation. Six studies (38%) found no personalisation effect, for multiple outcomes assessed (e.g. distress, satisfaction). One (6.3%) study was judged as low, four (25%) as high risk of bias and 11 (68.8%) as with concerns.Conclusion: The included studies varied in interventions, measurement instruments and outcomes, making it impossible to draw conclusions on the effectiveness of personalised follow-up. There is a need for a definition of both personalised surveillance and aftercare, whereafter outcomes can be measured according to uniform standards.</p