Dutch Brain Research Registry for study participant recruitment: Design and first results.

INTRODUCTION: The Dutch Brain Research Registry aims to facilitate online recruitment of participants for brain disease studies. METHODS: Registrants were primarily recruited through an online social media campaign. The registration process included a short questionnaire, which was subsequently used in the prescreening process to match participants to studies. RESULTS: In the first 18 months, 17,218 registrants signed up (58±11 years old, 78% female). Out of 34,696 study invitations that were sent, 36% were accepted by registrants, of which 50% to 84% were finally enrolled, resulting in 10,661 participants in 28 studies. Compared to non-participants, study participants were more often older, male, more highly educated, retired or unemployed, non-smoking, healthier, and more often had a family member with dementia. DISCUSSION: The Dutch Brain Research Registry facilitates effective matching of participants to brain disease studies. Participant factors related to study enrollment may reflect facilitators or barriers for participation, which is useful for improving recruitment strategies.

Exploring pelvic floor muscle activity in men with lower urinary tract symptoms.

AIM: We aimed to explore the utility of the Multiple Array Probe Leiden (MAPLe) device to assess pelvic floor muscle activity in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). METHODS: This was an observational cohort study performed at the urology outpatient department of a large teaching hospital in the Netherlands between April and October 2018. We recruited male patients referred for the assessment of LUTS, without a history of prostate surgery, if they had an International Prostate Symptom Score greater than or equal to 8. The MAPLe device was then used to assess the puborectalis, pubococcygeus, iliococcygeus, urogenital diaphragm, and the internal and external anal sphincters during three tasks: a rest period (1 minute), five maximum voluntary contractions (held for 3 seconds each), and three maximal endurance contractions (held for 15 seconds each). RESULTS: In total, 57 patients were included, 5 of which had diabetes mellitus. Muscle activity at rest was significantly lower than during either contraction task and did not differ between the muscle groups. By contrast, the external anal sphincter had significantly less activity than any other muscle group during the endurance task, and the internal anal sphincter and puborectalis had significantly less activity during the maximum voluntary contraction task. No association was found between pelvic floor muscle activity and LUTS severity during any task. CONCLUSION: Pelvic floor muscle activity and LUTS severity appear to be unrelated, but this does not completely exclude the possibility of muscle involvement in the development or experience of symptoms. Further research is needed.