2022, Article / Letter to editor (International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, vol. 17, iss. 10, (2022), pp. 1489-1498)PURPOSE: To evaluate the predictive value of a (non-)sport-specific test battery on the future success of young cyclists, test scores were compared with competition performances 2-3 years later. METHODS: Three motor coordination, 5 physical performance, and 2 cycling-specific measurements were collected in 111 U15 (13.0-14.9 y) and 67 U17 (15.0-16.9 y) male road cyclists. In addition, maturity status, relative age, and competition history were assessed. National and provincial competition results 2-3 years later, in the U17year2 and U19year2 categories, were submitted to 2 separate 4-stage hierarchical regressions. RESULTS: The results of the model of the U15 group revealed that maturity, relative age, competition history, motor coordination, physical performance, and cycling-specific performance accounted for 22.6% of the variance in competitive success. For the U15 category, only maturity and motor coordination were significant predictors of competitive success in the U17year2 category. Maturity and motor coordination each uniquely explained ±5% of the variance. However, for the U17 group-neither motor coordination, physical performance, nor cycling-specific performance could predict competitive success in the U19year2 category. CONCLUSIONS: The current study underlines the importance of general motor coordination as a building block necessary for optimal development in youth cycling. However, considering the lack of predictive value from the U17 category onward, other features may determine further development of youth athletes. Nevertheless, it is questioned why athletes need to possess a minimum level of all physical, motor coordination, and cycling-specific characteristics to experience success and enjoyment in their sport.
2022, Article / Letter to editor (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY, vol. 41, iss. 4, (2022), pp. 263-275)Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in infants, and toddlers and vaccines are not yet available. A pediatric RSV vaccine (ChAd155-RSV) is being developed to protect infants against RSV disease. The ChAd155-RSV vaccine consists of a recombinant replication-deficient chimpanzee-derived adenovirus (ChAd) group C vector engineered to express the RSV antigens F, N, and M2-1. The local and systemic effects of three bi-weekly intramuscular injections of the ChAd155-RSV vaccine was tested in a repeated-dose toxicity study in rabbits. After three intramuscular doses, the ChAd155-RSV vaccine was considered well-tolerated. Changes due to the vaccine-elicited inflammatory reaction/immune response were observed along with transient decreases in platelet count without physiological consequences, already reported for other adenovirus-based vaccines. In addition, the biodistribution and shedding of ChAd155-RSV were also characterized in two studies in rats. The distribution and persistence of the ChAd155-RSV vaccine candidate was consistent with other similar adenovector-based vaccines, with quantifiable levels of ChAd155-RSV observed at the injection site (muscle) and the draining lymph nodes up to 69 days post administration. The shedding results demonstrated that ChAd155-RSV was generally not detectable in any secretions or excreta samples. In conclusion, the ChAd155-RSV vaccine was well-tolerated locally and systemically.
2022, Article / Letter to editor (International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, (2022))Athletes are exposed to various psychological and physiological stressors, such as losing matches and high training loads. Understanding and improving the resilience of athletes is therefore crucial to prevent performance decrements and psychological or physical problems. In this review, resilience is conceptualized as a dynamic process of bouncing back to normal functioning following stressors. This process has been of wide interest in psychology, but also in the physiology and sports science literature (e.g. load and recovery). To improve our understanding of the process of resilience, we argue for a collaborative synthesis of knowledge from the domains of psychology, physiology, sports science, and data science. Accordingly, we propose a multidisciplinary, dynamic, and personalized research agenda on resilience. We explain how new technologies and data science applications are important future trends (1) to detect warning signals for resilience losses in (combinations of) psychological and physiological changes, and (2) to provide athletes and their coaches with personalized feedback about athletes' resilience.
2022, Article / Letter to editor (Health Equity, vol. 6, iss. 1, (2022), pp. 40-48)Purpose: Appointment attendance is critical in monitoring health and well-being of children. Low income Medicaid-insured families with newborns often experience social risks that may affect attendance. This project sought to characterize social risk factors present at first newborn visits predictive of future appointment nonattendance. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of minority and Medicaid-insured population at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children using a standardized social risk screener administered at first newborn visits as part of routine clinical care. In total, 720 survey responses between December 2016 and June 2017 were correlated with electronic health record-derived sociodemographic and appointment attendance data in the first 6 months of life. Nonattendance included missed and canceled appointments. Caregiver-reported social risk factors were included as covariates in linear regressions predicting proportion nonattendance outcomes. Results: Newborn caregivers identified many social risk factors including mental health diagnoses (14%), lack of child care support (45%), and food insecurity (9%). Approximately 74% had nonattendance with 41% missing or canceling a quarter or more appointments. Number of siblings (p<0.01) and maternal age (p<0.01) were most predictive for nonattendance, respectively. Other social risks were not significant except for maternal mental health (p=0.01) among those identifying number of risk factors above cohort average (16%). Conclusion: Screening of newborns at first medical visits can be used to characterize social risks. Most social risk factors at first visits were not strongly predictive of nonattendance, although our results suggested associations between non-attendance and maternal demographics, mental health and household makeup.
2022, Article / Letter to editor (Population Health Management, vol. 25, iss. 2, (2022), pp. 172-177)Comprehensive social risk screening has become standard practice in primary care. Evidence is lacking, however, on whether and how interventions provided for positive screens are being utilized. This study aimed to create a standardized follow-up process to evaluate caregiver perspective and usage of community resources provided during well-child visits. Follow-up calls were made to families with positive screens for food insecurity (FI) and/or utility insecurity (UI) (nn=n347). Phone interviews assessed resource usage, effectiveness, influence on stress level, and current insecurity status. Caregiver responses regarding barriers to resource usage were inductively analyzed and developed into major themes. The sample included 228 (65.7%) families with positive screens for FI and 166 (47.8%) families screening positive for UI. Of those who completed interviews (nn=n108), 77 (71.3%) caregivers recalled being provided resources during their child's visit with only 33 (42.9%) reporting use of those resources. Twelve (36.4%) of those caregivers who used the resources confirmed that their insecurity was still a concern. Five major themes for barriers to resource usage emerged: (1) improved situation, (2) perception, (3) access barriers, (4) conflicting priorities, and (5) too busy/overwhelmed. The majority of caregivers (95.7% of asked) noted that their insecurity caused increased stress with 70.5% acknowledging decreased stress levels after discussion with a provider. Integrating caregiver input through a standardized follow-up protocol into provided interventions for screened social risks can improve not only the quality and effectiveness of provided resources, but also provide insight into the impact of those interventions on insecurity from the caregiver perspective.
2022, Article in monograph or in proceedings (Sustainability and maritime energy use: a q-method research among maritime sustainability managers, pp. 326-352)
2022, Article / Letter to editor (International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, (2022))This study examined the influence of both anthropometric and physical performance determinants on the likelihood to be selected to progress through a talent identification and development programme in young tennis. Data were collected in 538 young tennis players (323 males and 215 females) from 6 age categories (U8-U13). A principal component analysis was used to generate one anthropometric determinant (based on body height, body weight and maturity offset) and four physical performance determinants: speed and agility (based on 5 m sprint, 20 m sprint and 505 change of direction test); jumping power (based on standing broad jump and standing broad jump in series); motor coordination (based on balancing backwards and jumping sideways) and tennis ball control (based on a throw and catch test and hold tennis ball up test). For all determinants, tertiles were generated for every age category and both sexes separately. Univariate binary logistic regressions were performed to examine the influence of each determinant on the chances to be selected to progress in the talent identification and development programme. Significant odds ratios were found for all included anthropometric and physical performance determinants (p < 0.05), ranging from 0.26 to 7.50 in the male young tennis players and from 0.18 to 6.87 in the female young tennis players. The included determinants influenced selection chances mostly in the early age categories (U8-U10) as opposed to the later age categories (U11-U13). Future research should examine the influence of additional determinants (such as tennis (match-play) performance) on the selection chances to progress through a talent identification and development programme.
2022, Article / Letter to editor (Supportive Care in Cancer, (2022))Nutritional intervention is an essential part of cancer treatments. Research and clinical evidence in cancer have shown that nutritional support can reduce length of hospitalisation, diminish treatment-related toxicity, and improve nutrient intake, quality of life, and physical function. Nutritional intervention can improve outcomes and help patients in the successful completion of oncological treatments by preventing malnutrition. Malnutrition is a very common hallmark in patients with cancers. Almost one-fourth of cancer patients are at risk of dying because of the consequences of malnutrition, rather than cancer itself. Patients with digestive cancers are at higher risk of suffering malnutrition due to the gastrointestinal impairment caused by their disease. They are at high nutritional risk by definition, yet the majority of them have insufficient or null access to nutritional intervention.Inadequate resources are dedicated to implementing nutritional services in Europe. Universal access to nutritional support for digestive cancer patients is not a reality in many European countries. To change this situation, health systems should invest in qualified staff to reinforce or create nutritional teams' experts in digestive cancer treatments. We aim to share the patient community's perspective on the status and the importance of nutritional intervention. This is an advocacy manuscript presenting data on the topic and analysing the current situations and the challenges for nutrition in digestive cancers. It highlights the importance of integrative nutrition in the treatment of digestive cancers and advocates for equitable and universal access to nutritional intervention for all patients.
2022, Article / Letter to editor (JBI EVIDENCE IMPLEMENTATION, vol. 20, iss. 1, (2022), pp. 21-32)Objectives: Our aim was to incorporate body composition assessment (BCA) into dietetic department procedures using interventions tailored to previously identified barriers and enablers. Introduction: BCA is recommended as part of routine malnutrition assessment and follow-up but is not yet part of usual care. Methods: Evidence-informed strategies to overcome barriers and enablers were operationalized and delivered as three overarching interventions: upskilling (professional development strategy), modelling and reducing fear of change (Clinical Champion project), and embedding as usual practice (departmental integration). Process evaluation assessed intervention fidelity. A survey assessed utilization of BCA devices, (perceived) competency, and attitudes of clinical dietitians towards BCA before and after interventions. Results: Two of the three elements were incorporated as planned (upskilling and embedding as usual practice), with one element (modelling and reducing fear of change) modified through iterative processes. The Clinical Champion project ran for 12 rather than 6 months, and resulted in the majority of champions confident with their skills, completing BCA within their daily clinical workload and feeling BCA was useful. Pre-surveys and post-surveys within the department of 26 dietitians showed a marked reduction in most perceived barriers and improved recognition of enablers across all theoretical framework domains; with a large proportion of 'not applicable' responses given for many barriers at follow-up. Conclusion: This evidence-informed implementation strategy successfully integrated BCA into dietitians' practice and departmental processes highlighting direction for future service changes. Continual assessment of barriers and success of integration into routine workloads is required to facilitate this.
2022, Article / Letter to editor (European Journal of Sport Science, (2022), pp. 1-10)HighlightsRunning with a musical rhythm that is higher than the preferred cadence leads to an increased running cadence, without increasing heartrate and running speed.This cadence remains elevated for at least three to five weeks after the music intervention period.All individuals showed a practically relevant increase in cadence during and after the intervention.
2022, Article / Letter to editor (Clinical Nutrition, vol. 41, iss. 5, (2022), pp. 1102-1111)BACKGROUND & AIMS: The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria require validation in various clinical populations. This study determined the prevalence of malnutrition in people with cancer using all possible diagnostic combinations of GLIM etiologic and phenotypic criteria and determined the combinations that best predicted mortality and unplanned hospital admission within 30 days. METHODS: The GLIM criteria were applied, in a cohort of participants from two cancer malnutrition point prevalence studies (N = 2801), using 21 combinations of the phenotypic (≥5% unintentional weight loss, body mass index [BMI], subjective assessment of muscle stores [from PG-SGA]) and etiologic (reduced food intake, inflammation [using metastatic disease as a proxy]) criteria. Machine learning approaches were applied to predict 30-day mortality and unplanned admission. RESULTS: We analysed 2492 participants after excluding those with missing data. Overall, 19% (n = 485) of participants were malnourished. The most common GLIM combinations were weight loss and reduced food intake (15%, n = 376), and low muscle mass and reduced food intake (12%, n = 298). Machine learning models demonstrated malnutrition diagnosis by weight loss and reduced muscle mass plus either reduced food intake or inflammation were the most important combinations to predict mortality at 30-days (accuracy 88%). Malnutrition diagnosis by weight loss or reduced muscle mass plus reduced food intake was most important for predicting unplanned admission within 30-days (accuracy 77%). CONCLUSIONS: Machine learning demonstrated that the phenotypic criteria of weight loss and reduced muscle mass combined with either etiologic criteria were important for predicting mortality. In contrast, the etiologic criteria of reduced food intake in combination with weight loss or reduced muscle mass was important for predicting unplanned admission. Understanding the phenotypic and etiologic criteria contributing to the GLIM diagnosis is important in clinical practice to identify people with cancer at higher risk of adverse outcomes.
2021, Article in monograph or in proceedings (We hebben afgesproken dat…..”: hoe verantwoorden zorgprofessionals hun handelen in rapportages?)Van een gesprek met een cliënt naar een verslag: voor veel zorgverleners is rapporteren in het Elektronisch Cliënten Dossier (ECD) een dagelijkse noodzakelijke taak. Rapportages zijn een belangrijk instrument in de verantwoordingspraktijk van zorgprofessionals wat betreft kwaliteitsbewaking, evaluatie, en coördinatie (De Graaf et al., 2017: 11). Onderzoek geeft aan dat de rapportages lang niet altijd voldoen aan de gestelde eisen en dat er ruimte voor verbetering is in de scholing en training van schriftelijke communicatieve competenties van zorgprofessionals (Nelson & Weatherald, 2014). In deze verkennende studie stond dan ook de vraag centraal:
Hoe verantwoorden zorgverleners in de rapportages hun professionele handelen in de zorg aan de cliënt?
2021, Article / Letter to editor (Int J Environ Res Public Health, vol. 18, iss. 10, (2021))Understanding motivation for exercise can be helpful in improving levels of physical activity. The Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale (PALMS) measures distinct goal-oriented motivations. In this study selected measurement properties of the Dutch version (PALMS-D) are determined. Forward-backward translation was used for cross-cultural adaptation. Construct validity of the PALMS-D was assessed in five subsamples completing the PALMS-D and the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-3). The study population consisted of five samples recruited from different populations; samples consisted of runners, hockey players, soccer players, participants in medical fitness, and a sedentary group of young adults with low activity. A total of 733 participants completed the questionnaire: 562 athletes and 171 non-athletes. Exploratory for Analysis confirmed the original eight factors. Internal consistency of the subscales was high, except for Others' expectations. The a priori determined hypotheses related to differences between athletes participating in different sports were confirmed, as well as the hypothesis related to differences between amateur athletes, patients in medical fitness, and non-active participants. It was concluded that the Dutch version of the PALMS is an acceptable questionnaire with which to evaluate the individual motivation of athletes in the Netherlands, and discriminates between different leisure athletes, patients in medical fitness, and non-active youths.
2020, Article / Letter to editor (Nutrients, vol. 12, iss. 3, (2020))Nutrition is one of the modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia, and is therefore highly relevant in the context of prevention. However, knowledge of dietary quality in clinical populations on the spectrum of AD dementia is lacking, therefore we studied the association between dietary quality and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and controls. We included 357 participants from the NUDAD project (134 AD dementia, 90 MCI, 133 controls). We assessed adherence to dietary guidelines (components: vegetables, fruit, fibers, fish, saturated fat, trans-fat, salt, and alcohol), and cognitive performance (domains: memory, language, visuospatial functioning, attention, and executive functioning). In the total population, linear regression analyses showed a lower vegetable intake is associated with poorer global cognition, visuospatial functioning, attention and executive functioning. In AD dementia, lower total adherence to dietary guidelines and higher alcohol intake were associated with poorer memory, a lower vegetable intake with poorer global cognition and executive functioning, and a higher trans-fat intake with poorer executive functioning. In conclusion, a suboptimal diet is associated with more severely impaired cognition-this association is mostly attributable to a lower vegetable intake and is most pronounced in AD dementia.