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Objective: To examine self-reported medication adherence and its association with illness perceptions, beliefs about medication and personality among thyroid cancer survivors. Methods: Individuals diagnosed with thyroid cancer between 1990 and 2008, as registered in the Eindhoven Cancer Registry, received our survey; 86% ( n  = 306) responded. Results: Many patients reported that they never forgot taking their medicines ( n  = 168; 56%), never altered the dose ( n  = 258; 88%), never stopped taking them ( n  = 291; 99%), never decided to miss a dose ( n  = 284; 97%) and never took less than instructed ( n  = 286; 97%). Fifty-two percent were classified as nonadherent; of which 14% intentional nonadherent only, 70% were nonintentional nonadherent only and 16% were both intentional and nonintentional nonadherent. Nonadherers were younger, more highly educated, more often employed, had a lower stage at diagnosis, and less often reported ≥2 comorbid conditions than adherers. Furthermore, their illness affected them more emotionally and they more often reported that their life would be impossible without their medicine. Logistic regression models showed that higher age, lower education and lower perceived necessity of medication was associated with better adherence while beliefs about medication, illness perceptions, and personality were not associated with adherence. Conclusions: Despite lifelong dependence on supplement therapy, 52% of thyroid cancer survivors were nonadherent.

Background: Sedentary behaviour (SB) is a potential risk factor for suboptimal bone deposition in youth., Results: Total SB was negatively associated with lower extremity bone outcomes, while no association was observed with total body bone outcomes. Insufficient evidence was found for an association between total SB and lumbar spine bone outcomes., Conclusion: This review highlights the heterogeneity of the available evidence and emphasizes the need for well-designed studies.

Objective: The objective of this study was to provide insight into the following: (a) the perceived level of, satisfaction with, and helpfulness of received information and unmet information needs among thyroid cancer (TC) survivors and (b) the relation between unmet information needs and impact of cancer (IOC)., Methods: All patients diagnosed with TC between 1990 and 2008, as registered in the Eindhoven Cancer Registry, received a survey on information provision (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Information module) and IOC., Results: Thyroid cancer survivors (n = 306; response rate = 86%) indicated to receive no or only a little information about different aspects of their disease (27-86%), medical tests (20-27%), treatment (21-90%), and aftercare (86-91%). Almost half of the survivors (47%) were not at all or a little satisfied with the amount of information received; 31% found the received information not or a little helpful; a third of the patients (34%) indicated that they wanted to receive more information (defined as unmet needs). TC survivors with unmet informational needs scored significantly higher on both the positive (mean 3.2 vs. 2.9) and negative IOC scale (mean 2.5 vs. 2.2) compared with survivors without unmet needs (p < 0.01). In multivariate linear regression analyses, unmet information needs were positively associated with all positive IOC scales except positive self-evaluation (betas ranging from 0.16 to 0.24; p < 0.05), and all negative IOC scales except for appearance concerns (betas ranging from 0.12 to 0.19; p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Thyroid cancer survivors experienced several areas of information provision as insufficient, suggesting room for improvement. Unmet information needs among TC survivors are associated with both positive and negative impacts of cancer., (Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Background: The aims of this study were (i) to obtain insight into the prevalence of fatigue among short- and long-term thyroid cancer (TC) survivors, by comparing a sample of TC survivors with an age- and sex-matched normative population, and (ii) to investigate which demographic, clinical, and TC-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL) characteristics were associated with fatigue., Methods: All patients found to have TC between 1990 and 2008, as registered in the Eindhoven Cancer Registry, received a cross-sectional survey on fatigue (Fatigue Assessment Scale), TC-specific HRQoL (THYCA-QoL), and psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). The fatigue scores were compared with those of an age- and sex-matched normative population (n=530). Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate the independent associations between clinical and demographic characteristics, TC-specific HRQoL, and psychological distress with fatigue., Results: Eighty-six percent (n=306) responded. TC survivors were more often classified as fatigued or very fatigued (short-term <5 years: 43%; long-term 5-10 years: 44%; long-term 10-15 years: 47%; long-term >15 years: 39%) compared to the normative population (25%; p<0.001). Anxiety (odds ratio (OR) 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.28) and depression (OR 1.43 [CI 1.22-1.68]) were associated with fatigue, as was also the case for TC-specific neuromuscular (OR 1.03 [CI 1.01-1.06]), concentration (OR 1.03 [CI 1.01-1.06]), and psychological TC-specific HRQoL (OR 1.06 [CI 1.02-1.10])., Conclusion: Short- and long-term TC survivors report higher levels of fatigue than an age- and sex-matched normative population do. Both TC-specific HRQoL and psychological distress were associated with fatigue.

Background: Given the longevity of thyroid cancer patients, any impairment in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) during the follow-up period is of considerable concern. Therefore, the first aim of this study was to assess (thyroid cancer specific) HRQoL among long-term thyroid cancer survivors and to compare this with the HRQoL of an age- and sex-matched normative population. Secondly, our aim was to investigate which clinical and socio-demographic characteristics and thyroid cancer specific problems were associated with HRQoL., Material and Methods: All patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer between 1990 and 2008, as registered in the Eindhoven Cancer Registry, received a survey on HRQoL (EORTC QLQ-C30) and disease-specific symptoms (THYCA-QoL). The scores were compared with age- and sex-matched cancer free controls (n = 800). A series of multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to investigate the independent associations between clinical, socio-demographic and thyroid cancer specific factors with HRQoL., Results: A total of 306 patients (86%) responded to the invitation. Thyroid cancer survivors had significantly lower scores on physical, role, emotional, cognitive and social functioning (p < 0.001) compared to the normative population after adjusting for comorbidities. Sympathetic problems [feeling chilly (52%), hot flushes (40%)], neuromuscular problems [cramp legs (43%) and pain joints/muscles (64%)] and abrupt attacks of fatigue (50%) were the most often reported thyroid cancer specific complaints. Thyroid cancer specific neuromuscular, concentration, sympathetic and psychological problems explained 41-58% of the variance in HRQoL. Clinical and socio-demographic factors explained a small part of the variance in (thyroid cancer specific) HRQoL (1-27%)., Conclusion: Long-term thyroid cancer survivors experience more symptoms and deteriorated HRQoL compared to the normative population. Thyroid cancer specific neuromuscular, sympathetic, concentration and psychological symptoms are stronger associated with HRQoL than clinical and socio-demographic factors alone. Awareness of these specific determinants of HRQoL could help health care practitioners to provide better supportive care.

Background: Treatment and follow-up care procedures of thyroid cancer impose great challenges on survivors and could potentially affect their health-related quality of life (HRQoL)., Methods: Two authors systematically reviewed the available literature on HRQoL of thyroid cancer survivors. A PubMed literature search for original articles published until February 2011 was performed. Twenty-seven articles, published between 1997 and 2010, which met the predefined inclusion criteria, were subjected to a quality checklist., Results: All selected studies, except one, were of adequate or good quality. Surgery had a negative impact on short-term HRQoL scores, but these scores returned to preoperational levels when time since surgery increased. Long-term thyroid hormone therapy (levothyroxine) can lead to abnormalities like hyperthyroidism. HRQoL was most affected during thyroid hormone withdrawal for radioiodine remnant ablation or follow-up procedures. The use of recombinant human thyroid stimulating hormone instead of hormone withdrawal leads to considerable improvements in HRQoL during follow-up testing. The results for (long-term) survivors were contradicting. While most (long-term) survivors report some specific long-lasting health problems, some studies found a lower HRQoL for thyroid cancer survivors compared with a healthy population or other reference groups, whereas other studies found similar HRQoL levels., Conclusion: This review indicates that thyroid cancer survivors generally have a similar or slightly worse HRQoL compared with the normative population; however, they report some specific medical problems after cancer treatment and follow-up tests, which have a direct negative impact on their current HRQoL and could affect their long-term HRQoL. Specific longitudinal survivorship studies are lacking., (© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

Insulinomas are rare neuroendocrine tumours of the pancreas which present with neuroglycopenic and autonomic symptoms induced by hypoglycemic periods. The onset is insidious. Because of atypical symptoms like temporary movement disorders and behavioural disturbances the diagnosis is often made at a late stage. We describe two patients with cyclic behavioural and movement disorders caused by already present but not recognised insulinomas. The treatment options are discussed, in which the most common surgical therapy is not always a first choice in elderly patients with comorbidity. With drug therapy patients can be free of symptoms for a longer period without any significant complications.

Background: Oxidative stress in diabetes increases lipid peroxidation, which stimulates the development of atherosclerosis., Methods: We investigated in a 3-month placebo-controlled study with 19 normocholesterolemic type 2 diabetic patients whether treatment with 10-mg atorvastatin influenced antioxidants and reduced LDL oxidizability, assessed by in vitro production of conjugated dienes after copper-induced LDL oxidation., Results: The lag phase, as a measure of the resistance of LDL to oxidation, did not change (62.8+/-8.2 respectively 59.6+/-9.7 min, p=n.s.), while conjugated dienes decreased (512+/-74 respectively 487+/-50 nmol, p=0.012). Plasma alpha-tocopherol and ubiquinol levels decreased, while their ratios to LDL cholesterol remained stable., Conclusions: Atorvastatin favourably influences some parameters of LDL oxidation. Whether this effect is clinically relevant remains to be determined.

Background: Macrovascular disease is the leading cause of death in diabetes. The increased risk of atherosclerosis in diabetes may be partly explained by increased lipid peroxidation., Methods: We assessed lipid peroxidation in subjects with type 2 diabetes with (n = 23) and without (n = 23) macrovascular complications versus healthy age-matched controls (n = 13). The diabetic groups were matched for glycemic control (mean HbA1c = 9%), and for age had similar known duration of diabetes., Results: Plasma TBARS were comparable between diabetic subjects with and without macrovascular complications (1.89 +/- 0.32 and 1.81 +/- 0.28 mumol/l) and elevated compared to healthy controls (1.64 +/- 0.26 mumol/l, p = 0.025). Ratios of IgG and IgM antibodies to oxidized vs. native LDL were comparable between diabetic subjects and controls, and also between diabetic subjects with or without macrovascular complications. The lag phase, an index of the resistance of LDL to oxidation, was significantly longer in diabetic patients with macrovascular complications (66 +/- 8 min) vs. those without macrovascular complications and controls (resp. 59 +/- 7 and 56 +/- 7 min, p < 0.05). An explanation may be the frequent use of drugs with possible antioxidant potential, e.g. beta-blocking agents, ACE-inhibitors and calcium entry blockers by these patients. Surprisingly, plasma vitamin E levels were higher in diabetic subjects., Conclusions: We found no evidence of increased lipid peroxidation in diabetic subjects with macrovascular complications, but an increased resistance to oxidation in this group, probably due to an altered antioxidant status. The increased TBARS level in diabetic subjects contrasts with the other indices of lipid peroxidation and may be related to prevalent hyperglycemia and should therefore be interpreted cautiously.

Shock of unknown origin may be due to mastocytosis, in which excessive release of mast cell mediators can cause severe systemic vasodilation. We describe a patient who experienced two life-threatening episodes of shock which appeared to be due to mastocytosis. Therapeutic options are discussed.

An increasing number of severe complications associated with the use of XTC is being reported. After 11 earlier case reports we describe an acute hepatitis due to occasional use of XTC in a 25-year-old woman.

Renal function was measured during the first 4 postnatal days in 9 preterm neonates (gestational age 26.2 to 31 wk) exposed to indomethacin during the last 2 days of pregnancy (group I). The data were compared to those obtained from nine control neonates (gestational age 28 to 34.5 wk) (group II). Five of the nine neonates in group I were markedly edematous at birth, none of group II were edematous. Urine production in group I was low (32.2 +/- 16.8 ml/kg.day on day 1 increasing to 68.6 +/- 21.4 ml/kg.day on day 4) and differed significantly from group II [75.2 +/- 26.8 ml/kg.day on day 1 increasing to 84.8 +/- 20.9 ml/kg.day on day 4 (p less than 0.001)]. Fluid intake was adapted to urine production when necessary. A continuous inulin infusion was started directly after admission and continued for 5 days. Renal function was evaluated for 3 consecutive days after at least 48 h of insulin infusion. The values of the inulin clearance, serum creatinine, urine osmolarity, osmolar clearance, and free water clearance were stable in both groups during the study period. Inulin clearance was lower in group I than in group II (p less than 0.001), whereas serum creatinine was higher in group I than in group II (p less than 0.0001). Urine osmolarity was higher in group I (p less than 0.01), whereas osmolar clearance and free water clearance were lower in group I (p less than 0.02, respectively, p less than 0.01). There was no difference in fractional sodium excretion between the groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)