Maastricht University

Severity at the Gates: Or Why Prevention is the Aim of Reproductive Genetic Carrier Screening

Reproductive autonomy is usually described as the aim of publicly funded reproductive genetic carrier screening. I argue that this misdescribes the practice. These programs do not include conditions because any information might support choice. They include them because severity...

Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) are associated with distinct clinical phenotypes two years after SARS-CoV-2 infection: A data-driven approach

It is important to determine whether the persistent cognitive and fatigue complaints, as part of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), are associated with underlying patterns and specific symptoms clusters. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate symptom clus...

Debt Aversion: Theory and Measurement

ABSTRACT We propose a model of debt aversion and conduct an experiment with real debt and saving contracts to jointly elicit debt aversion and preferences over time, risk, and intertemporal losses. We find that 89% of participants are debt averse, which strongly influences their...

Home-based geriatric rehabilitation after shortened inpatient rehabilitation: cost-effectiveness analysis of the “Better@Home” multicentre prospective cohort study with a matched historical control group

PURPOSE: Geriatric rehabilitation (GR) is facing increased demand due to population ageing. Home-based GR could reduce reliance on resource-intensive inpatient care. However, evidence is limited regarding the cost-effectiveness of home-based GR. The aim of this study is to assess...

Chronic Ultrasound (‘Emotional’) Stress in Mice Exacerbates Colitis Through GSK3β-Mediated Neuroimmune Dysregulation and Is Ameliorated by Probiotic Intervention

Background: Growing evidence supports a bidirectional relationship between ‘emotional’ (psychological) stress and intestinal inflammation. ‘Emotional stress’, a form of stress that is triggered by negative information and experiences of non-physical nature, is an established risk...

From quality to value: linking product and system perspectives in the plastic packaging ecosystem

This study investigates value in the plastic packaging ecosystem. Previously, we identified the quality perceptions of technical actors, such as polymer producers, converters and recyclers. Using semi-structured interviews, we now extend this by focusing on value for broader ecos...

Hemocytometric Parameters Associated with Bacterial and Viral Etiology in COPD Exacerbations: An Exploratory Analysis

Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (ECOPD) are often triggered by bacterial and viral infections, yet current diagnostic methods are time-consuming and biomarkers (e.g. C-reactive protein (CRP)) show limited accuracy in differentiating between these triggers....

Global Incidence of All-Cause Dementia

Importance Global dementia incidence estimates are limited by underrepresentation of low- and middle-income countries and heterogeneous analytic methods. Due to these limitations, true understanding of the global dementia landscape remains incomplete. Objective To identify dement...

Construction of personal health knowledge graphs for clinical data harmonization in breast cancer

Integrating heterogeneous personal health data and maintaining clinical registries for breast cancer management is labor-intensive. This study presents an AI-powered virtual assistant transforming identifiable breast cancer patient data into interoperable personal health knowledg...

Controlling high-temperature exposure and product selectivity in pulsed microwave plasma methane coupling

Plasma can couple methane to higher hydrocarbons thereby providing opportunities for carbon circularity. Efficiency and control over ethylene and acetylene selectivity versus undesired soot formation are keys to success and the result of a delicate balance between reactor tempera...

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers as an Indirect Sensing Approach for Bacillus cereus Detection

Abstract Bacterial endospores are a major challenge in food safety due to their high resistance and potential to cause spoilage and foodborne illness. Current detection methods can be labor-intensive and require specialized instrumentation. A low-cost, label-free thermal sensing...

β-Catenin Knockout in the Olfactory Bulb and Hippocampus Reveals Dual Roles in Olfactory Discrimination and Working Memory

Mice rely heavily on their sense of smell to provide crucial environmental information. The intricate organization of neural circuits within the olfactory bulb (OB) and the communication across the OB-hippocampus network in mice underpin their ability to discriminate and adapt to...

Neuromonitoring of perioperative microembolization and its association with postoperative stroke after carotid endarterectomy

Abstract Purpose This study aims to assess whether perioperative microembolization can identify patients at risk for postoperative stroke. Methods A total of 257 carotid endarterectomy procedures in 254 patients were analyzed (154 symptomatic, 103 asymptomatic). Neuromonitoring,...

Against the Odds? Lessons from Establishing a Clinician Educator Career Track in a Non-Academic Medical Centre

Teaching and learning are often positioned as secondary to patient care, research, and leadership. In non-academic medical centres (NAMCs), this can make it difficult to justify investments in faculty development, as educational activities may be perceived as peripheral, even dis...

Plasma metabolomics reveals candidate biomarkers associated with individual treatment response in psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a clinically heterogeneous inflammatory disease for which optimal treatment selection remains unclear. Robust biomarkers that predict treatment response and identify patient-specific factors to inform treatment choice could advance precision medicine...

From silence to sharing: A six-month prospective study on adult disclosure of childhood sexual abuse

Background Disclosure of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is often assumed to be beneficial. However, prospective research examining outcomes associated with disclosure remains scarce, limiting evidence-based guidance for adults considering disclosure. Objective The primary aim was t...

Development and Validation of a Resting Metabolic Rate Equation for Elite Cyclists

Purpose: Accurate determination of energy expenditure (EE) in elite endurance athletes is critical for personalised nutrition strategies aimed at maintaining health and optimising performance. The resting metabolic rate (RMR) constitutes a large portion of daily EE, but existing...

Foundational Fracture: Failing to Reform the World Trade Organization in an Age of Geopolitics

ABSTRACT The World Trade Organization (WTO) is at the crossroads, with a principal challenge raised to the organization by the United States in 2025 and a series of related, largely unsuccessful reform attempts over the last several years. To shed new light on why recent WTO refo...

Untimely follow-up after cervical cancer screening: A qualitative study among healthcare providers in Flanders (Belgium)

Background Cervical cancer remains a global health burden despite being largely preventable through vaccination, screening, and timely treatment. Delays in follow-up after abnormal screening undermine the effectiveness of organized cervical cancer screening programmes. In Flander...

Digital solutions for tackling mental health in cancer patients and their families: The ALTHEA project

Despite advances in cancer treatment, the growing global cancer burden underscores the need for comprehensive and supportive care to address the needs of patients and their families. However, access to psycho-oncological support remains often limited across healthcare systems. Th...