University Nijmegen Research Articles

A critical review of the psychometric properties of the Nijmegen Questionnaire for hyperventilation syndrome

The Nijmegen Questionnaire is commonly used by physiotherapists and other health professionals in clinical and research settings. This outcome measure was developed by researchers at the Nijmegen University in the Netherlands as a screening tool for the hyperventilation syndrome in the 1980s. However, the literature that supports the efficacy of its use is scarce. This paper examines the evidence in relation to the conceptual basis, validity, and reliability of the Nijmegen Questionnaire. A systematic review of the literature was carried out to identify studies that are related to the above measurement properties for the questionnaire. Studies identified were evaluated for their methodological qualities using the COSMIN checklist. The clinical utility of this instrument is also discussed. Issues associated with the development and validating process of this outcome measure are identified. There is also a lack of evidence in cultural validation given that the Nijmegen Questionnaire was developed in the Netherlands. While this is the only questionnaire currently available that is designed specifically for the screening of hyperventilation syndrome, administrators need to be aware of the issues identified in relation to validity and reliability when interpreting the results. Applying more robust validating processes to establish the efficacy of the Nijmegen Questionnaire appears to be a priority for researchers to improve the quality of health services for individuals suffering from hyperventilation syndrome.

Asynchronous telemedicine applications in rehabilitation of acquired speech-language disorders in neurologic patients

Asynchronous telemedicine applications in rehabilitation of acquired speech-language disorders in neurologic patients Lilian Beijer,1 Toni Rietveld2 1Sint Maartenskliniek, 2Centre of Language Studies, Radboud University of Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands Abstract: In this time of an aging population in the Western world and a concomitant need for cost reduction, there is an obvious need for innovative health care delivery. One of the consequences is that a growing number of telemedicine applications are emerging in different health care domains. Also in the area of speech-language (SL) disorders, particularly neurogenic disorders, telemedicine is rapidly gaining interest. In this paper, we place applications for neurogenic SL disorders in a telemedicine taxonomy in order to establish common features along the dimensions of functionality, application, and technology, and their components. Thus, we aim at identifying common features in a wide variety of telemedicine applications and to establish common interests of stakeholders in health care for classified groups of telemedicine applications. This may facilitate decision-making with regard to expansion of innovative products, and give directions to measures needed for upscaling and structural embedding of feasible and effective SL telemedicine applications in health care. Common interests of stakeholders in health care, established using telemedicine taxonomy, is a key factor in decision-making with regard to which telemedicine applications should be given priority for genuine utilization. Priorities of health care institutions, patients, and reimbursement companies are also leading for researchers aiming at solid scientific evidence for the beneficial effects of target applications. That is, although research results tend to indicate the potential of telemedicine in the area of SL pathology, the alleged benefits of most applications have not been confirmed according to the accepted standards for clinical outcome testing as yet. Methodologic obstacles and the lack of adequate speech materials and suitable outcome measures for efficacy and effectiveness testing partially account for this. From the perspective of scientific evidence, the benefits of asynchronous SL telemedicine applications concern data storage and data analyses. To facilitate implementation of telemedicine, there is a call for development of information and communication technology infrastructures that allow feasible applications which meet requirements with regard to licensure and medical privacy laws. For applications with evidence for beneficial effects, we are challenged to develop new business models that apply to a new health care environment. Keywords: telemedicine, speech, language, disorders, rehabilitation&nbsp

Editorial introductions

Editorial introductions

Editorial introductions

Current Opinion in Lipidology was launched in 1990. It is part of a successful series of review journals whose unique format is designed to provide a systematic and critical assessment of the literature as presented in the many primary journals. The field of lipidology is divided into six sections that are reviewed once a year. Each section is assigned a Section Editor, a leading authority in the area, who identifies the most important topics at that time. Here we are pleased to introduce the Section Editors for this issue. SECTION EDITORS Anton F. StalenhoefAnton F. StalenhoefDr Anton F. Stalenhoef is Emeritus Professor of Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands, and until the end of last year, head of the Section Vascular Medicine of the Department of Internal Medicine. Anton Stalenhoef received his MD degree at the Radboud University of Nijmegen, the Netherlands in 1974. He trained in internal medicine at the University Medical Centre Nijmegen, and qualified as internist in 1979. Following his clinical training, he received his PhD in lipid metabolism in 1982. Dr Stalenhoef continued his research as Visiting Professor at UCSF, San Francisco, USA, between 1982 and 1983. Since 1984 he has been on the faculty of the University Medical Center St. Radboud, Nijmegen, Department of Medicine, first as associated professor and from 1997 as Professor of Medicine. He was named as the first Clinical Investigator of the Dutch Heart Foundation (from 1988 to 1992). His research is in the area of atherosclerosis, lipoprotein metabolism, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and cytokines and inflammation. Dr Stalenhoef has (co-) authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications in international journals. He has been member of several Dutch and European scientific societies, Dutch Health Council and a variety of scientific advisory councils, including Dutch Heart Foundation and Dutch Research Council. He was member of the Executive Committee of the European Atherosclerosis Society (2005–2008) and has been the Chairman of the EAS 2007 Helsinki Scientific Program Committee. In June 2006 he was named Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. He was Editor-in-Chief of the Netherlands Journal of Medicine (2005–2008). John J.P. KasteleinJohn J.P. KasteleinJohn J.P. Kastelein is Professor of Medicine at the Department of Vascular Medicine at the Academic Medical Center (AMC) of the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where he holds the Strategic Chair of Genetics of Cardiovascular Disease. He received his medical degree in Amsterdam in 1980 where he subsequently received specialty training in internal medicine. Then, between 1986 and 1988, he was trained in medical genetics, lipidology and molecular biology at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, under the guidance of Prof.Dr M.R. Hayden. In 1997 and 1998 he served a visiting Professorship at the Center for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Upon his return to the Netherlands, he was awarded a doctorate (Cum Laude) and in 1989 he founded the Lipid Research Clinic at the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam, which is currently serving as a tertiary referral centre for over 5000 patients each year and has become part of the department of Vascular Medicine. The most important concept in Dr Kastelein's research career is the “extreme genetics” approach. This approach teaches that the study of rare human disorders that are associated with premature coronary disease have broader relevance for the understanding of the etiology of heart disease in general and will yield therapeutic targets that are valid for all patients. Professor Kastelein's current research interests can be found in the etiology, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolaemia and low HDL cholesterol, all conditions associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Dr Kastelein was president of the Dutch Atherosclerosis Society (DAS) and chairs the National Scientific Committee on Familial Hypercholesterolemia (EHC). He also is a member of the Royal Dutch Society for Medicine & Physics, the Council for Basic Science of the American Heart Association and the European Atherosclerosis Society. He also is a boardmember of the International Task Force for CHD Prevention and was recently appointed to the Executive Board of the International Atherosclerosis Society (IAS) and is a recognized world leader in the significance of lipoprotein metabolism for the development of atherosclerotic vascular disease. He has published over 700 research papers in peer reviewed journals, including Nature Genetics, Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA and Circulation and has a Hirsch index of 73 and his total citations are at 22847 in October 2011.

Prodromal symptoms and early detection of Parkinson's disease in general practice: a nested case-control study.

Timely diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD), facilitating early intervention, depends largely on the GP's awareness of early symptomatology. For general practice, it is unknown which prodromal symptoms (symptoms preceding the typical motor symptoms of PD) demand the GP's alertness. To assess prodromal symptoms that should alert the GP to the possibility of PD in primary care patients. A nested case-control study was carried out in a population of approximately 12000 patients registered in the Continuous Morbidity Registration database affiliated with the University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands. The database pools subject data from four primary care practices. The subjects comprised all 86 patients diagnosed with PD between 1972 and 2007, and 78 controls, matched by sex, age, socioeconomic status and primary care practice. The primary measures of outcome were the prodromal symptoms presenting in the two years prior to the diagnosis of PD. The number (and type) of referrals and diagnostic tests were also assessed. In the two-year period prior to diagnosis, PD patients more often presented with functional somatic symptoms, constipation, hyperhidrosis and sleep disorders than controls. Patients also more frequently experienced more than one prodromal symptom and were more often referred within the primary care team or to a medical specialist. Prodromal symptoms of PD are encountered in general practice. GPs should be alert when patients present with multiple prodromal symptoms in a two-year period, especially considering the benefits of early intervention, and the future possibilities for disease-modifying therapy.

A Brief History of USNCB: Motivation and Formation

A Brief History of USNCB: Motivation and Formation

In Memoriam: Harry Meinardi (February 20, 1932-December 20, 2013)

In Memoriam: Harry Meinardi (February 20, 1932-December 20, 2013)

Remembering Roger F. C. Brown: A Personal Note on the Development of Pyrolysis as a Synthetic and Mechanistic Technique in Organic Chemistry

Remembering Roger F. C. Brown: A Personal Note on the Development of Pyrolysis as a Synthetic and Mechanistic Technique in Organic Chemistry

Roger F. C. Brown Memorial Issue

Roger F. C. Brown Memorial Issue

Editorial introductions

Editorial introductions

Editorial introductions

Current Opinion in Lipidology was launched in 1990. It is part of a successful series of review journals whose unique format is designed to provide a systematic and critical assessment of the literature as presented in the many primary journals. The field of lipidology is divided into six sections that are reviewed once a year. Each section is assigned a Section Editor, a leading authority in the area, who identifies the most important topics at that time. Here we are pleased to introduce the Section Editors for this issue. SECTION EDITORS Anton F. StalenhoefAnton F. StalenhoefDr Anton F. Stalenhoef is Emeritus Professor of Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands, and until the end of last year, head of the Section Vascular Medicine of the Department of Internal Medicine. Anton Stalenhoef received his MD degree at the Radboud University of Nijmegen, the Netherlands in 1974. He trained in internal medicine at the University Medical Centre Nijmegen, and qualified as internist in 1979. Following his clinical training, he received his PhD in lipid metabolism in 1982. Dr Stalenhoef continued his research as Visiting Professor at UCSF, San Francisco, USA, between 1982 and 1983. Since 1984 he has been on the faculty of the University Medical Center St. Radboud, Nijmegen, Department of Medicine, first as associated professor and from 1997 as Professor of Medicine. He was named as the first Clinical Investigator of the Dutch Heart Foundation (from 1988 to 1992). His research is in the area of atherosclerosis, lipoprotein metabolism, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and cytokines and inflammation. Dr Stalenhoef has (co-) authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications in international journals. He has been member of several Dutch and European scientific societies, Dutch Health Council and a variety of scientific advisory councils, including Dutch Heart Foundation and Dutch Research Council. He was member of the Executive Committee of the European Atherosclerosis Society (2005–2008) and has been the Chairman of the EAS 2007 Helsinki Scientific Program Committee. In June 2006 he was named Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. He was Editor-in-Chief of the Netherlands Journal of Medicine (2005–2008). John J.P. KasteleinJohn J.P. KasteleinJohn J.P. Kastelein is Professor of Medicine at the Department of Vascular Medicine at the Academic Medical Center (AMC) of the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where he holds the Strategic Chair of Genetics of Cardiovascular Disease. He received his medical degree in Amsterdam in 1980 where he subsequently received specialty training in internal medicine. Then, between 1986 and 1988, he was trained in medical genetics, lipidology and molecular biology at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, under the guidance of Prof.Dr M.R. Hayden. In 1997 and 1998 he served a visiting Professorship at the Center for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Upon his return to the Netherlands, he was awarded a doctorate (Cum Laude) and in 1989 he founded the Lipid Research Clinic at the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam, which is currently serving as a tertiary referral centre for over 5000 patients each year and has become part of the department of Vascular Medicine. The most important concept in Dr. Kastelein's research career is the “extreme genetics” approach. This approach teaches that the study of rare human disorders that are associated with premature coronary disease have broader relevance for the understanding of the etiology of heart disease in general and will yield therapeutic targets that are valid for all patients. Professor Kastelein's current research interests can be found in the etiology, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolaemia and low HDL cholesterol, all conditions associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Dr. Kastelein was president of the Dutch Atherosclerosis Society (DAS) and chairs the National Scientific Committee on Familial Hypercholesterolemia (EHC). He also is a member of the Royal Dutch Society for Medicine & Physics, the Council for Basic Science of the American Heart Association and the European Atherosclerosis Society. He also is a boardmember of the International Task Force for CHD Prevention and was recently appointed to the Executive Board of the International Atherosclerosis Society (IAS) and is a recognized world leader in the significance of lipoprotein metabolism for the development of atherosclerotic vascular disease. He has published over 700 research papers in peer reviewed journals, including Nature Genetics, Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA and Circulation and has a Hirsch index of 73 and his total citations are at 22847 in October 2011.

Schillebeeckx and Third Cinema: Causing the Signs of the Times to Speak

I teach the Schillebeeckx course here at the Catholic Theological Union, and an important part of the Day 1 lesson is how to pronounce the Dutch theologian’s name correctly—“Sh-kill-a-bakes.” As difficult as his name is to pronounce let alone spell, it is his actual written legacy that not a few have found to be a bit of a challenge to read. During my doctoral research in the former Catholic University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands (now renamed Radboud University) from 2000 to 2004, I had my own reservations and struggles with Schillebeeckx’s formidable corpus of works. Over a couple of months, however, a breakthrough ensued, and the texts finally began to “speak” to me. I was hearing the voice of someone who is trying to initiate a conversation about God because he is in conversation with God. And meaningfully, as someone who was born and raised in the Philippines, I was also beginning to hear the voice of a prophetic theologian preaching the

Schillebeeckx and Interreligious Dialogue: An Asian Perspective

My association with Edward Schillebeeckx, O.P., is very much linked to my going to the University of Nijmegen to pursue doctoral studies. While there I was alerted to the impact Schillebeeckx had made on the university in particular and on the Netherlands and Europe and the world of theology in general. The beginning of my studies in 2000 coincided with the release of the Vatican document Dominus Iesus. And since I was already for some years involved in the ministry of interreligious dialogue in Asia, it was of particular significance to me, especially the critical stance it took toward religious pluralism. I thus decided it would become the primary topic of my research agenda. I was then introduced to my supervisor, Prof. Wilhelm Dupre, who was a good friend of Schillebeeckx. He

Editorial introductions

Editorial introductions

The Southern Dutch Dialect Dictionaries

The article on the three dictionaries of the southern Dutch dialects is divided into two parts. In the first part Joep Kruijsen (University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands) treats the history of the <i>Woordenboek van de Brabantse Dialecten</i> (<i>Dictionary of the Brabant Dialects</i>), the <i>Woordenboek van de Limburgse Dialecten</i> (<i>Dictionary of the Limburg Dialects</i>) and the <i>Woordenboek van de Vlaamse Dialecten</i> (<i>Dictionary of the Flemish Dialects</i>), three dictionaries which together record the vocabulary of the southern Dutch dialects. He describes the plan and method of collection and presentation. Because of the systematic arrangement (introduced by Weijnen) the three dictionaries are unique in Dutch and international lexicography. They combine a dictionary with a word atlas. In the second part of the article Jacques van Keymeulen (University of Ghent, Belgium) deals with a number of new methodological developments which were introduced following the start of the publication of part III General Vocabulary (apart from Part I Agricultural Terminology and Part II Nonagricultural Terminologies). After the institution of REWO (Regionale Woordenboeken), a coordinating body for the three dictionaries within the Dutch Language Union, and because of the introduction of sophisticated software, the databases can be combined to give a survey of the whole of the southern Dutch language area.<b>Keywords:</b> lexicography, onomasiology, dialect geography, language variation, phonology, historical linguistics, dictionary, regional dictionary, word atlas, cartography, general vocabulary, agrarian terminology, terminology of traditional crafts, dialect, traditional dialect, flemish, brabant dialect, limburg dialect, dutch, the netherlands, belgium, french flanders, methodology, systematical arrangement, automation, database, user groups, usefulness

The Netherlands – Reorganising the Dutch Judiciary

Leny E. de Groot-van Leeuwen (University of Utrecht / University of Nijmegen, the Netherlands) describes the plan of reorganisation for the Judiciary in the Netherlands formulated in the light of changing public views and circumstances. Published in the Letter from … section of Amicus Curiae - Journal of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and its Society for Advanced Legal Studies. The Journal is produced by the Society for Advanced Legal Studies at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London.

The Netherlands – Contingency fees entering the Dutch legal system

Leny E. de Groot-van Leeuwen (University of Utrecht and University of Nijmegen) comments on discussions amongst legal professionals in the Netherlands on the status of contingency fees (“no cure, no pay”). Published in the Letter from … section of Amicus Curiae - Journal of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and its Society for Advanced Legal Studies. The Journal is produced by the Society for Advanced Legal Studies at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London.

Editorial introductions

Current Opinion in Lipidology was launched in 1990. It is part of a successful series of review journals whose unique format is designed to provide a systematic and critical assessment of the literature as presented in the many primary journals. The field of lipidology is divided into six sections that are reviewed once a year. Each section is assigned a Section Editor, a leading authority in the area, who identifies the most important topics at that time. Here we are pleased to introduce the Section Editors for this issue. Section Editors Anton F. StalenhoefAnton F. StalenhoefDr Anton F. Stalenhoef is Professor of Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, and Head of the Section Vascular Medicine of the Department of Internal Medicine. Anton Stalenhoef received his MD degree at the Radboud University of Nijmegen, the Netherlands in 1974. He trained in internal medicine at the University Medical Centre Nijmegen, and qualified as internist in 1979. Following his clinical training, he received his PhD in lipid metabolism in 1982. Dr Stalenhoef continued his research as Visiting Professor at UCSF, San Francisco in 1982–1983. Since 1984 he has been on the faculty of the University Medical Center St. Radboud, Nijmegen, Department of Medicine, first as associated professor and from 1997 as Professor of Medicine. He was named as the first Clinical Investigator of the Dutch Heart Foundation (1988–1992). His research is in the area of atherosclerosis, lipoprotein metabolism, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and cytokines and inflammation. Dr Stalenhoef has (co-) authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications in international journals. He has been member of several Dutch and European scientific societies, Dutch Health Council and a variety of scientific advisory councils, including Dutch Heart Foundation and Dutch Research Council. He was member of the Executive Committee of the European Atherosclerosis Society (2005–2008) and has been the Chairman of the EAS 2007 Helsinki Scientific Program Committee. In June 2006 he was named Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. He was Editor-in-Chief of the Netherlands Journal of Medicine (2005–2008). John J.P. KasteleinJohn J.P. KasteleinJohn J.P. Kastelein, M.D. Ph.D is Professor of Medicine and Chairman of the Department of Vascular Medicine at the Academic Medical Center (AMC) of the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where he holds the Strategic Chair of Genetics of Cardiovascular Disease. He received his medical degree in Amsterdam in 1980 where he subsequently received specialty training in internal medicine. Then he was trained in medical genetics, lipidology and molecular biology at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver under the guidance of Prof. Dr M.R. Hayden. Upon his return to the Netherlands was awarded a doctorate (Cum Laude) and he founded the Lipid Research Clinic at the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam, which is currently serving as a tertiary referral centre for over five thousand patients each year. In 1997 and 1998 he served a visiting professorship at the Center for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Since then, he has set up a foundation for the active identification of patients with classical familial hypercholesterolaemia in the Netherlands, for which he currently holds a position in the board of directors. He is President of the Dutch Atherosclerosis Society (DAS) as well as the National Scientific Committee on Familial Hypercholesterolemia (EHC). He is a member of the Royal Dutch Society for Medicine & Physics, the Council for Basic Science of the American Heart Association and the European Atherosclerosis Society. He also is a board member of the International Task Force for CHD Prevention. He was also awarded an Established Investigatorship of the Dutch Heart Foundation. Besides the scientific programmes aimed at the etiology of atherogenesis, Dr Kastelein also serves on a number of executive and steering committees of large intervention studies, including the IDEAL, TNT, CAPTIVATE, ENHANCE, ILLUMINATE, JUPITER, RADIANCE and numerous others. Prof. Kastelein has published over 580 research papers in peer reviewed journals. Studies on the TNT (2005), RADIANCE 1 (2007), ENHANCE (2008) and JUPITER (2008) are published in the New England Journal of Medicine, IDEAL (2006) in JAMA and RADIANCE 2 (2007) in the Lancet. Professor Kastelein's major research interests lie in the molecular basis of hypertriglyceridaemia, hypercholesterolaemia and low/high HDL cholesterol. He and his team have in especially in collaboration with Prof. Dr M.R. Hayden, been personally involved in the identification and characterization of patients with mutations in the LDL receptor, apoB, apoAI, ABCA1, LCAT, CETP, and LPL.

Factors for conversion between human and automatic read‐outs of CDMAM images

According to the European protocol for the quality control of the physical and technical aspects of mammography screening (EPQCM) image quality of digital mammography devices has to be assessed using human evaluation of the CDMAM contrast-detail phantom. This is accomplished by the determination of threshold thicknesses of gold disks with different diameters (0.08-2 mm) and revealed to be very time consuming. Therefore a software solution based on a nonprewhitening matched filter (NPW) model was developed at the University of Nijmegen. Factors for the conversion from automatic to human readouts have been determined by Young et al. [Proc. SPIE 614206, 1-13 (2006) and Proc. SPIE 6913, 69131C1 (2008)] using a huge amount of data of both human and automatic readouts. These factors depend on the observer groups and are purely phenomenological. The authors present an alternative approach to determine the factors by using the Rose observer model. Their method uses the Rose theory which gives a relationship between threshold contrast, diameter of the object and number of incident photons. To estimate the conversion factors for the five diameters from 0.2 to 0.5 mm they exposed with five different current-time products which resulted in 25 equations with five unknowns. The theoretical conversion factors (in dependence of the diameters) amounted to be 1.61 ± 0.02 (0.2 mm diameter), 1.67 ± 0.02 (0.25 mm), 1.85 ± 0.02 (0.31 mm), 2.09 ± 0.02 (0.4 mm), and 2.28 ± 0.02 (0.5 mm). The corresponding phenomenological factors found in literature are 1.74 (0.2 mm), 1.78 (0.25 mm), 1.83 (0.31 mm), 1.88 (0.4 mm), and 1.93 (0.5 mm). They transferred the problem of determining the factors to a well known observer model which has been examined for many years and is also well established. This method reveals to be reproduceable and produces factors comparable to the phenomenological ones.

Early Infantile Electroencephalography in Patients with Spina Bifida*

The aim of this prospective study was to assess the prognostic value of electroencephalography in infants born with spina bifida.31 infants with spina bifida born between 2002 and 2007 at the Radboud Nijmegen University Medical Centre were evaluated and followed for 2½ years. Electroencephalography (EEG) was performed during the first 8 weeks after birth. EEG recordings were all within normal limits and showed no abnormalities. 3 of the 31 children showed mild mental disability and major physical disabilities at the age of 30 months. Single Infantile EEG recordings are of limited prognostic value for infants born with spina bifida. Serial EEG recordings in combination with other clinical or neurophysiological investigations might ameliorate the contributing predictive value of neonatal EEG.