Background: Standard groin treatment in recurrent vulvar cancer consists of uni- or bilateral inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy (IFL), whereas in the primary setting women with selected unifocal... Show moreBackground: Standard groin treatment in recurrent vulvar cancer consists of uni- or bilateral inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy (IFL), whereas in the primary setting women with selected unifocal tumours will undergo a sentinel lymph node (SLN) procedure. The SLN procedure results in fewer short and long-term sequelae compared to IFL, but some concerns must first be considered. Lymph drainage of the vulvar region can be affected by a previous surgery, which might reduce the number of detectable SLN nodes (feasibility) but increase the chance of encountering aberrant lymph drainage patterns such as bilateral SLNs in lateral tumours or SLNs at unexpected locations. Therefore, the SLN procedure potentially carries a higher risk of groin recurrence if a tumour positive node is not retrieved, but may also improve outcomes for women with aberrant drainage patterns. Since the relative benefits and drawbacks of the SLN procedure are still unclear we will investigate the safety of the SLN procedure in women with a first recurrent vulvar cancer. In a simultaneously started registration study we prospectively gather information on women with a first recurrence of vulvar cancer ineligible for the SLN procedure.Method: In this prospective multicentre observational study all women with a first recurrence of vulvar cancer will be asked to consent to the collection of information on their diagnostics, treatment and outcome, and to complete quality of life and lymph oedema questionnaires. Women with unifocal tumours smaller than 4cm and unsuspicious groin nodes will be offered the SLN procedure, with follow-up every 3 months together with imaging at 6 and 12 months when the SLN is tumour negative. The primary outcome is groin recurrence within 2 years of initial surgery. A total of 150 women with negative SLNs will be required to demonstrate safety, a stopping rule will apply and an extensive statistical analysis has been designed.Discussion: Should the SLN procedure prove feasible and safe in recurrent vulvar cancer, it will be available for implementation in clinics worldwide. The inclusion of women ineligible for the SLN procedure in the current prospective study will help to bridge knowledge gaps and define future research questions. Show less
Boeschoten, S.A.; Boehmer, A.L.; Merkus, P.J.; Rosmalen, J. van; Jongste, J.C. de; Fraaij, P.L.A.; ... ; Hoog, M. de 2020
Rationale: Severe acute asthma (SAA) can be fatal, but is often preventable. We previously observed in a retrospective cohort study, a three-fold increase in SAA paediatric intensive care (PICU)... Show moreRationale: Severe acute asthma (SAA) can be fatal, but is often preventable. We previously observed in a retrospective cohort study, a three-fold increase in SAA paediatric intensive care (PICU) admissions between 2003 and 2013 in the Netherlands, with a significant increase during those years of numbers of children without treatment of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).Objectives: To determine whether steroid-naive children are at higher risk of PICU admission among those hospitalised for SAA. Furthermore, we included the secondary risk factors tobacco smoke exposure, allergic sensitisation, previous admissions and viral infections.Methods: A prospective, nationwide multicentre study of children with SAA (2-18 years) admitted to all Dutch PICUs and four general wards between 2016 and 2018. Potential risk factors for PICU admission were assessed using logistic regression analyses.Measurements and main results: 110 PICU and 111 general ward patients were included. The proportion of steroid-naive children did not differ significantly between PICU and ward patients. PICU children were significantly older and more exposed to tobacco smoke, with symptoms >1 week prior to admission. Viral susceptibility was not a significant risk factor for PICU admission.Conclusions: Children with SAA admitted to a PICU were comparable to those admitted to a general ward with respect to ICS treatment prior to admission. Preventable risk factors for PICU admission were >7 days of symptoms without adjustment of therapy and exposure to tobacco smoke. Physicians who treat children with asthma must be aware of these risk factors. Show less
Bechakra, M.; Nieuwenhoff, M.D.; Rosmalen, J. van; Groeneveld, G.J.; Huygen, F.J.P.M.; Zeeuw, C.I. de; ... ; Jongen, J.L.M. 2020
Consistent associations between the severity of neuropathic pain and cutaneous innervation have not been described. We collected demographic and clinical data, McGill Pain Questionnaires (MPQ) and... Show moreConsistent associations between the severity of neuropathic pain and cutaneous innervation have not been described. We collected demographic and clinical data, McGill Pain Questionnaires (MPQ) and skin biopsies processed for PGP9.5 and CGRP immunohistochemistry from patients with bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy (BiPN; n = 22), painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN; n = 16), chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy (CIAP; n = 16) and 17 age -matched healthy volunteers. Duration of neuropathic symptoms was significantly shorter in patients with BiPN in comparison with PDN and CLAP patients. BiPN was characterized by a significant increase in epidermal axonal swellings and upper dermis nerve fiber densities (UDNFD) and a decrease in subepidermal nerve fiber densities (SENFD) of PGP9.5-positive fibers and of PGP9.5 containing structures that did not show CGRP labeling, presumably non-peptidergic fibers. In PDN and CIAP patients, intraepidermal nerve fiber densities (IENFD) and SENFD of PGP9.5-positive and of non-peptidergic fibers were decreased in comparison with healthy volunteers. Significant unadjusted associations between LENFD and SENFD of CGRP-positive, i.e. peptidergic, fibers and the MPQ sensory-discriminative, as well as between UDNFD of PGP9.5-positive fibers and the MPQ evaluative/affective component of neuropathic pain, were found in BiPN and CIAP patients. No significant associations were found in PDN patients. Cutaneous innervation changes in BiPN confirm characteristic features of early, whereas those in CIAP and PDN are in line with late forms of neuropathic pathology. Our results allude to a distinct role for non-peptidergic nociceptors in BiPN and CIAP patients. The lack of significant associations in PDN may be caused by mixed ischemic and purely neuropathic pain pathology. Show less
Hoogd, S. de; Valkenburg, A.J.; Dongen, E.P.A. van; Daeter, E.J.; Rosmalen, J. van; Dahan, A.; ... ; Knibbe, C.A.J. 2019
Earlier reports of increased pain sensitivity 1 year after the use of remifentanil could not be confirmed in this randomised study using Quantitative Sensory Testing. This indicates that... Show moreEarlier reports of increased pain sensitivity 1 year after the use of remifentanil could not be confirmed in this randomised study using Quantitative Sensory Testing. This indicates that remifentanil plays a minor role in the development of chronic thoracic pain. Still, the relatively high incidence of chronic thoracic pain and its accompanying impact on quality of life remain challenging problems.\nBoth warm and cold detection, and pain thresholds, were not significantly different between the remifentanil and fentanyl groups 3 days and 12 months after surgery (P > 0.05). No significant predictors for altered pain sensitivity were identified.\nThe study was registered at EudraCT (ref: 2013-000201-23) and ClinicalTrials.gov (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02031016).\nThe clinical relevance of the suggested hyperalgesic effects of remifentanil is still unclear, especially in the long term.\nThe current study evaluated the impact of remifentanil on thermal thresholds 3 days and 12 months after surgery, measured with Quantitative Sensory Testing.\nA single-blind, randomised controlled trial.\nA tertiary care teaching hospital in The Netherlands, from 2014 to 2016.\nA total of 126 patients aged between 18 and 85 years, undergoing cardiothoracic surgery via sternotomy (coronary artery bypass grafts and/or valve replacement) were included. Exclusion criteria were BMI above 35 kg m, history of cardiac surgery, chronic pain conditions, neurological conditions, allergy to opioids or paracetamol, language barrier and pregnancy.\nPatients were allocated randomly to receive intra-operatively either a continuous remifentanil infusion or intermittent intra-operative fentanyl as needed in addition to standardised anaesthesia with propofol and intermittent intravenous fentanyl at predetermined time points.\nWarm and cold detection and pain thresholds 3 days and 12 months after surgery. In addition the use of remifentanil, presence of postoperative chronic pain, age, opioid consumption and pre-operative quality of life were tested as a predictor for altered pain sensitivity 12 months after surgery.\nCONCLUSION\nRESULTS\nTRIAL REGISTRATION\nBACKGROUND\nOBJECTIVE\nDESIGN\nSETTING\nPATIENTS\nINTERVENTIONS\nMAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Show less
Background. Belatacept, an inhibitor of the CD28-CD80/86 costimulatory pathway, allows for calcineurin-inhibitor free immunosuppressive therapy in kidney transplantation but is associated with a... Show moreBackground. Belatacept, an inhibitor of the CD28-CD80/86 costimulatory pathway, allows for calcineurin-inhibitor free immunosuppressive therapy in kidney transplantation but is associated with a higher acute rejection risk than ciclosporin. Thus far, no biomarker for belatacept-resistant rejection has been validated. In this randomized-controlled trial, acute rejection rate was compared between belatacept-and tacrolimus-treated patients and immunological biomarkers for acute rejection were investigated. Methods. Forty kidney transplant recipients were 1:1 randomized to belatacept or tacrolimus combined with basiliximab, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisolone. The 1-year incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection was monitored. Potential biomarkers, namely, CD8(+) CD28(-), CD4(+) CD57(+) PD1(-), and CD8(+) CD28(++) end-stage terminally differentiated memory T cells were measured pretransplantation and posttranspla(n)tation and correlated to rejection. Pharmacodynamic monitoring of belatacept was performed by measuring free CD86 on monocytes. Results. The rejection incidence was higher in belatacept-treated than tacrolimus-treated patients: 55% versus 10% (P = 0.006). All 3 graft losses, due to rejection, occurred in the belatacept group. Although 4 of 5 belatacept-treated patients with greater than 35 cells CD8(+) CD28(++) end-stage terminally differentiated memory T cells/mu L rejected, median pretransplant values of the biomarkers did not differ between belatacept-treated rejectors and nonrejectors. In univariable Cox regressions, the studied cell subsets were not associated with rejection-risk. CD86 molecules on circulating monocytes in belatacept-treated patients were saturated at all timepoints. Conclusions. Belatacept-based immunosuppressive therapy resulted in higher and more severe acute rejection compared with tacrolimus-based therapy. This trial did not identify cellular biomarkers predictive of rejection. In addition, the CD28-CD80/86 costimulatory pathway appeared to be sufficiently blocked by belatacept and did not predict rejection. Show less
Kenters, N.; Huijskens, E.G.W.; Wit, S.C.J. de; Sanders, I.G.J.M.; Rosmalen, J. van; Kuijper, E.J.; Voss, A. 2017
