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BackgroundImproving the use (eg, initial visit and revisits) of Internet-delivered interventions to promote healthy lifestyles such as non-smoking is one of the largest challenges in the field of eHealth. Prompts have shown to be effective in stimulating reuse of Internet-delivered interventions among adults and adolescents. However, evidence concerning effectiveness of prompts to promote reuse of a website among children is still scarce. ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to investigate (1) whether prompts are effective in promoting reuse of an intervention website containing information on smoking prevention for children, (2) whether the content of the prompt is associated with its effect in terms of reuse, and (3) whether there are differences between children who do or do not respond to prompts. MethodsThe sample of this cluster-randomized study consisted of 1124 children (aged 10-11 years) from 108 Dutch primary schools, who were assigned to the experimental group of an Internet-delivered smoking prevention intervention study. All participants completed a Web-based questionnaire on factors related to (non-)smoking. Schools were randomized to a no-prompt group (n=50) or a prompt group (n=58). All children could revisit the intervention website, but only the children in the prompt group received email and SMS prompts to revisit the website. Those prompt messages functioned as a teaser to stimulate reuse of the intervention website. Reuse of the website was objectively tracked by means of a server registration system. Repeated measures analysis of variance and linear regression analysis were performed to assess the effects of prompts on website reuse and to identify individual characteristics of participants who reuse the intervention website. ResultsChildren in the prompt group reused the intervention website significantly more often compared to children in the no-prompt group (B=1.56, P

Lucienne woke early to unaccustomed light flooding the room, despite the curtains. Snow! The snow beckoned to her, as in days gone by. Lucienne rose. René was sleeping, the monumental [...]

They were going to operate on Linette. Her husband René was panicked. For the first time in five years they'd spent the night apart. All night long, he wandered the [...]

Background: Identifying the cause of recurrent or persisting pain after posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) is essential for establishing optimal treatment. In this study, we evaluate patients after PLIF surgery by 18F-fluoride PET/CT scans and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Methods: A total of 36 PLIF patients were included. Sixty minutes after intravenous injection of 18F-fluoride, PET/CT scanning was performed. Bone graft ingrowth, subsidence, screw loosening and damage of facet joints were scored by quantifying the level of bone metabolism of the vertebral endplates in the disc spaces, around screws and around the facet joints on the PET scans. Results: In contrast to asymptomatic patients, symptomatic patients showed abnormal PET values around pedicle screws and/or facet joints and at the lower endplates of the disc spaces, identifying a possible source of pain. On CT, no significant differences between these two groups were found. Conclusion: The PET/CT findings appeared to correlate better with symptoms on PROMs compared to CT findings alone. When interpreting 18F-fluoride PET/CT findings after PLIF surgery, one should realize bone metabolism in the disc spaces of the operated segments and around pedicle screws or facet joint changes during follow-up, reflecting natural recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To study if functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the peroneal nerve, which activates dorsiflexion, can improve body functions, activities, and participation and could be an effective alternative treatment in individuals with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Method: A randomized cross‐over trial was performed in 25 children with unilateral spastic CP (classified in Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I and II) aged 4 to 18 years (median age at inclusion 9 years 8 months, interquartile range = 7 years–13 years 8 months), 15 patients were male. The study consisted of two 12‐week blocks of treatment, that is, conventional treatment (ankle foot orthosis [AFO] or adapted shoes) and FES, separated by a 6‐week washout period. Outcome measures included the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS), the Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life questionnaire, and a three‐dimensional gait analysis. Results: Eighteen patients completed the trial. The proportion of GAS goals achieved was not significantly higher in the FES versus the conventional treatment phase (goal 1 p = 0.065; goal 2 p = 1.00). When walking while stimulated with FES, ankle dorsiflexion during mid‐swing decreased over time (p = 0.006, average decrease of 4.8° with FES), with a preserved increased ankle range of motion compared to conventional treatment (p < 0.001, mean range of motion with FES +10.1° compared to AFO). No changes were found in the standard physical examination or regarding satisfaction with orthoses and feelings about the ability to dress yourself. In four patients, FES therapy failed; in 12 patients FES therapy continued after the trial. Interpretation: FES is not significantly worse than AFO; however, patient selection is critical, and a testing period and thorough follow‐up are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic lower back pain caused by intervertebral disc degeneration and osteoarthritis (OA) are highly prevalent chronic diseases. Although pain management and surgery can alleviate symptoms, no disease-modifying treatments are available. mRNA delivery could halt inflammation and degeneration and induce regeneration by overexpressing anti-inflammatory cytokines or growth factors involved in cartilage regeneration. Here, we investigated poly(amidoamine)-based polymeric nanoparticles to deliver mRNA to human joint and intervertebral disc cells. Human OA chondrocytes, human nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, human annulus fibrosus (AF) cells, fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and M1-like macrophages were cultured and transfected with uncoated or PGA-PEG-coated nanoparticles loaded with EGFP-encoding mRNA. Cell viability and transfection efficiency were analyzed for all cell types. Nanoparticle internalization was investigated in FLS and M1-like macrophages. No significant decrease in cell viability was observed in most conditions. Only macrophages showed a dose-dependent reduction of viability. Transfection with either nanoparticle version resulted in EGFP expression in NP cells, AF cells, OA chondrocytes and FLS. Macrophages showed internalization of nanoparticles by particle–cell co-localization, but no detectable expression of EGFP. Taken together, our data show that poly (amidoamine)-based nanoparticles can be used for mRNA delivery into cells of the human joint and intervertebral disc, indicating its potential future use as an mRNA delivery system in OA and IVDD, except for macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]