Search

Introduction: This study examines adjective-noun order in code-switched constructions by heritage speakers of Spanish and Papiamento in the Netherlands. Given that Dutch differs from Spanish and Papiamento regarding the default position of the adjective, word order in the nominal domain creates a so-called "conflict site" in code-switching. Most accounts of word order patterns in code-switching focus on structural constraints, such as the matrix language or the strength of the EPP feature in Agr. Thus far, studies comparing the two models have not found compelling evidence for either of them., Methods: The present study takes a more comprehensive approach and considers several linguistic (matrix language, adjective language, and type of insertion) as well as extra-linguistic variables (e.g., age, age of onset, and patterns of exposure and use). Moreover, we compare heritage speakers of two different heritage languages that are linguistically similar (both Spanish and Papiamento exhibit postnominal adjectives), and share the same dominant societal language, but are likely to differ from each other in terms of certain sociolinguistic properties. 21 Spanish and 15 Papiamento heritage speakers (aged 7-54) in the Netherlands carried out a Director-Matcher task, aimed at eliciting nominal constructions containing switches., Results: The results show that either the ML or the language of the adjective, or both, are important predictors for word order, although the data cannot disentangle these two factors. Moreover, the type of insertion was found to play a role: word order patterns for noun insertions differed from other types of insertions. In addition, the two groups did not behave similarly: Papiamento speakers were more categorical in their preference for noun-adjective order when inserting Dutch nouns into their heritage language than the Spanish speakers were. Finally, there was a great deal of individual variation, which seemed to be related mostly to the age of the participants: children and teen participants behaved differently from adults., Discussion: These findings demonstrate that both linguistic and extra-linguistic play a role in determining how heritage speakers deal with conflict sites in the nominal domain. Particularly, the findings suggest that, at least for some communities and in some code-switching modes, children may need more time, or more input, too converge on adult-like code-switching norms., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 van Osch, Parafita Couto, Boers and Sterken.)

Purpose: To develop an evidence-based decision aid for parents of children with cancer and to help guide them in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for cancer care., Methods: This study had a mixed research design. The needs of parents were investigated by survey and focus group. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed on the effectiveness of CAM using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Clinical experts were interviewed and a decision aid on CAM treatment for pain was developed., Results: Parents emphasized the importance of reliable information on CAM, focusing primarily on communication and a broad spectrum of complaints related to cancer treatment. The decision aid on CAM for pain included five modalities based on 11 randomized control trials (RCTs): hypnotherapy, mind-body techniques, massage, healing touch, and music therapy. Meta-analysis could be performed on hypnotherapy, which significantly reduced cancer-related procedural pain compared with standard care (MD, - 1.37; 95% CI, - 1.60, - 1.15; P < 0.00001) and attention control (MD, - 1.13; 95% CI, - 1.34, - 0.94; P < 0.00001), and massage, demonstrating no effect on pain compared with standard care (MD, - 0.77; 95% CI, - 1.82, 0.28; P = 0.15). Research evidence and supplementary information from clinical practice and patient were incorporated in a website-based decision aid., Conclusions: An evidence-based decision aid was developed to support parents of children with cancer in making decisions about CAM for pain management. Next steps will be to expand the website to include additional childhood cancer-related complaints and to evaluate its use in practice.

Many children suffer from headaches. Since stress may trigger headaches, effective techniques to cope with stress are needed. We investigated the effectiveness of two mind-body techniques, transcendental meditation (TM) or hypnotherapy (HT), and compared them with progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) exercises (active control group). Children (9-18 years) suffering from primary headaches more than two times per month received either TM (N = 42), HT (N = 45) or PMR (N = 44) for 3 months. Primary outcomes were frequency of headaches and ≥ 50% reduction in headaches at 3 and 9 months. Secondary outcomes were adequate relief, pain coping, anxiety and depressive symptoms, somatisation and safety of treatment. Groups were comparable at baseline. Headache frequency was significantly reduced in all groups from 18.9 days per month to 12.5 and 10.5 at respectively 3 and 9 months (p < 0.001), with no significant differences between the groups. Clinically relevant headache reduction (≥ 50%) was observed in 41% and 47% of children at 3 and 9 months respectively, with no significant differences between the groups. No differences were observed in secondary outcome measures between the intervention groups. No adverse events were reported.Conclusion: All three techniques reduced primary headache in children and appeared to be safe.Trial registration: NTR 2955, 28 June 2011 ( www.trialregister.nl ) What is Known: • Stress may be an important trigger for both tension type headache and migraine in children. • Good data are lacking on the effect of transcendental meditation, hypnotherapy or progressive muscle relaxation as possible stress-reducing therapies in children with primary headaches. What is New: • Three non-pharmacological techniques, i.e., transcendental meditation, hypnotherapy and progressive muscle relaxation exercises, all result in a clinically significant reduction of headaches and use of pain medication. • No large differences between the three techniques were found, suggesting that children can choose either one of the three techniques based on personal preferences.

We present a 48-year-old woman with Parkinson's disease in whom carbidopa was added to Mucuna pruriens, resulting in marked motor improvement (documented on video and using MDS-UPDRS motor scores). This case report shows that adding a dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor (DDCI) to Mucuna pruriens could fit well in a personalized approach for patients who are reluctant to start levodopa. Meanwhile, larger trials with a longer follow-up are needed to establish the true effects and tolerability of Mucuna pruriens plus a DDCI.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of yoga added to standard care (SC) versus SC only, in women with breast cancer during chemotherapy., Design: A multicenter pragmatic, randomized controlled study., Settings/location: Three hospitals in the Netherlands., Subjects: Women with stage I-III breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy., Interventions: Women were randomized either to a program based on Dru Yoga, once a week yoga sessions for 12 weeks (N = 47), or SC only (N = 36)., Outcome Measures: Primary outcome fatigue (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory [MFI]; general fatigue) and secondary outcomes fatigue (MFI, Fatigue Quality List [FQL]), quality of life (30-item Quality of Life Questionnaire-C of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer [EORTC-QLQ-C-30]) and psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale [HADS], Impact of Events Scale [IES]) were measured at baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 6 months (T2) and analyzed on observed cases. Other outcomes were adequate relief, reintegration to work, and adverse events., Results: No significant differences were found in general fatigue at T1 (MFI: yoga; 14.6 ± 4.5 vs. SC; 14.2 ± 4.2, p = 0.987). Similar findings were observed for other fatigue (sub)scales of MFI and FQL and functional domains of EORTC. With respect to EORTCs symptom scales, women in the yoga group reported significantly less nausea and vomiting compared with SC at T2 (p = 0.004), but not at T1 (p = 0.807). Depressive symptoms were significantly lower with yoga at T1 (HADS: yoga; 4.7 ± 4.1 vs. SC; 5.1 ± 4.2, p = 0.031). More women in the yoga group experienced adequate relief compared with SC at T1 (yoga; 51% vs. SC; 19%) and had returned to work at T2 (yoga; 53% vs. SC; 23%). No adverse events were reported with yoga., Conclusions: A Dru-based yoga program failed to demonstrate a significant beneficial effect on fatigue. Possible favorable effects of the yoga program on nausea and vomiting and early return to work in breast cancer survivors warrant further research.

Background: The main goal of this randomized controlled single-blinded pilot study was to study whether, independent of weight loss, a Palaeolithic-type diet alters characteristics of the metabolic syndrome. Next we searched for outcome variables that might become favourably influenced by a Paleolithic-type diet and may provide new insights in the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the metabolic syndrome. In addition, more information on feasibility and designing an innovative dietary research program on the basis of a Palaeolithic-type diet was obtained., Methods: Thirty-four subjects, with at least two characteristics of the metabolic syndrome, were randomized to a two weeks Palaeolithic-type diet (n = 18) or an isoenergetic healthy reference diet, based on the guidelines of the Dutch Health Council (n = 14). Thirty-two subjects completed the study. Measures were taken to keep bodyweight stable. As primary outcomes oral glucose tolerance and characteristics of the metabolic syndrome (abdominal circumference, blood pressure, glucose, lipids) were measured. Secondary outcomes were intestinal permeability, inflammation and salivary cortisol. Data were collected at baseline and after the intervention., Results: Subjects were 53.5 (SD9.7) year old men (n = 9) and women (n = 25) with mean BMI of 31.8 (SD5.7) kg/m2. The Palaeolithic-type diet resulted in lower systolic blood pressure (-9.1 mmHg; P = 0.015), diastolic blood pressure (-5.2 mmHg; P = 0.038), total cholesterol (-0.52 mmol/l; P = 0.037), triglycerides (-0.89 mmol/l; P = 0.001) and higher HDL-cholesterol (+0.15 mmol/l; P = 0.013), compared to reference. The number of characteristics of the metabolic syndrome decreased with 1.07 (P = 0.010) upon the Palaeolithic-type diet, compared to reference. Despite efforts to keep bodyweight stable, it decreased in the Palaeolithic group compared to reference (-1.32 kg; P = 0.012). However, favourable effects remained after post-hoc adjustments for this unintended weight loss. No changes were observed for intestinal permeability, inflammation and salivary cortisol., Conclusions: We conclude that consuming a Palaeolithic-type diet for two weeks improved several cardiovascular risk factors compared to a healthy reference diet in subjects with the metabolic syndrome., Trial Registration: Nederlands Trial Register NTR3002.

This paper examined the effects of the combined product, Citrus e fructibus/Cydonia e fructibus (Citrus/Cydonia; Citrus and Cydonia: each 0.01 g/mL), and separate products of Citrus (0.01 g/mL) and Cydonia (0.01 g/mL) on the immunological pathways involved in seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from five healthy and five grass pollen-allergic donors were isolated and analyzed in vitro after polyclonal and allergen-specific stimulation of T cells in the presence of the three extracts. The analyses demonstrated acceptable cell survival with no signs of toxicity. Citrus mainly had a selective effect on reducing allergen-specific chronic inflammatory (TNF-α; Citrus compared to Cydonia and Citrus/Cydonia: -87.4 (P < 0.001) and -68.0 (P < 0.05), resp.) and Th2 pathway activity (IL-5; Citrus compared to Cydonia: -217.8 (P < 0.01); while, both Cydonia and Citrus/Cydonia mainly affected the induction of the allergen-specific Th1 pathway (IFN-γ; Cydonia and Citrus/Cydonia compared to Citrus: 3.8 (P < 0.01) and 3.0 (P < 0.01), resp.). Citrus and Cydonia demonstrated different working mechanisms in the treatment of SAR and the combination product did not demonstrate larger effects than the separate preparations. Further effectiveness and efficacy studies comparing the effects of the products on SAR in vivo are indicated.

Unlabelled: Background. Clinical experiences in vitro and clinical studies have demonstrated the curative potency and safety of Citrus/Cydonia compositum in seasonal allergic rhinitis treatment. Objectives. To compare the efficacy and safety of two routes of administration (nasal spray versus subcutaneous injections)., Methodology: Design. a national, randomised, comparative clinical trial with two parallel groups. Participants. 23 patients fulfilled the study requirements. Intervention. after a one- or two-week wash-out period, 23 patients were randomized, to a 6-week treatment period. Outcomes. immunological and symptom severity changes and safety. Immunologic outcome assessments were blinded to group assignment. 23 patients were randomized and from 22/23 patients (11 in each group) blood samples were analyzed before and after treatment. Conclusion. Both routes of administration demonstrate immunological and clinical effects, with larger inflammatory and innate immunological effects of the nasal spray route and larger allergen-specific clinical effects of the subcutaneous route, and are safe.

In the companion paper, we have outlined how relevant risk factors for falls can be identified using a systematic approach. Once identified, the underlying diseases and pattern of (usually multiple) risk factors guides the design of an individually tailored intervention program. Such intervention programs follow one or more of the following goals: (a) to treat the underlying disease; (b) to reduce or even eliminate the number of falls; (c) to prevent or minimise the associated injuries; and (d) tertiary prevention of fall-related disability, including immobilisation, muscle weakness, reduced fitness, osteoporosis, fear of falling and mortality. The successful results of various intervention studies underscores that falls should be regarded as a potentially treatable disorder in elderly persons. Such knowledge is important for clinicians, which could apply prevention strategies to individual patients with risk factors that are strongly associated with falls. In addition, prevention is important for health policy makers who aim to reduce falls in the general population by reducing or eliminating commonly present risk factors (even if they are only weakly associated with falls).

Falls severely threaten the health of elderly persons and pose high costs to the public health service. Unfortunately, falls are often regarded as unavoidable and untreatable features of aging. Therefore, many clinicians merely treat the physical injuries of a fall. However, falls and gait limitations are markers of underlying (sometimes otherwise subclinical) diseases that can be amenable to treatment. Moreover, falls and gait limitations herald the onset of repeated falls, physical decline, serious psychosocial consequences and a reduced survival. We review how clinically relevant risk factors can be traced by reviewing the medical notes, by careful history taking and by physical examination. The identified risk factors can serve as a template for the design of prevention strategies, which are discussed in the companion article.

To evaluate senile gait patterns in octogenarians and nonagenarians, we provided a standardized questionnaire on gait disabilities to 153 elderly subjects over 88 years of age. Subjects represented a relatively healthy subgroup of non-institutionalized residents who participated in a gerontological survey of all inhabitants of the city of Leiden who were 85 years or older. Of the 142 subjects who responded to this questionnaire, 87 persons (61%) claimed distinct diseases as a cause of gait impairment. Of the remaining 55 persons, 42 received a standardized gait assessment. Gait was classified as completely normal in 25 persons (18% of all responders), whereas in three other persons gait could not reliably be classified as either normal or abnormal. A wide spectrum of clear gait abnormalities-mainly with ataxic features-was encountered in the remaining 14 persons (10%). It is concluded that some elderly subjects have a mainly ataxic gait disturbance which seems unrelated to the presence of distinct diseases. Although additional investigations might still reveal underlying pathology in these subjects, their gait impairment may represent the "idiopathic senile gait disorder'. In addition, a relatively high number of very old community residents have a completely normal gait.