Developing a data sharing framework: a case study

Purpose: The purpose of the research project was to examine the process of developing a data sharing framework between different public sector organizations. Design / methodology / approach: A two year case study of a data sharing project between a UK fire and rescue service, local council, NHS primary care trust and a police force was undertaken. Findings: It is important to carefully determine the requirements for data sharing, to establish data sharing agreements, to have secure arrangements for data sharing, and to ensure compliance with data protection legislation. Research limitations / implications: Data sharing between public sector organizations can operate effectively if appropriate care is taken when creating data sharing agreements between partner organizations. Practical implications: Data sharing can assist in reducing duplication of effort between public sector organizations, and can reduce costs and enable more co-ordinated provision of public services. Social implications: Data sharing can assist in identifying citizens who might otherwise have been overlooked to relevant organizations. Data sharing can also assist in reducing risks associated with individuals and promote more independent living. Originality / value: The detailed analysis of a data sharing case study identified the need for a systematic data sharing framework. Such a framework is proposed and illustrated with practical examples of specification, implementation and evaluation. Key words: Data sharing framework public sector management data protection legislatio

Improving healthcare system usability without real users: A semi-parallel design approach

Copyright © 2015 IGI Global. This paper describes an early stage usability study conducted on a prototype system designed to capture and analyse Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) activities. The system - PROMS 2.0, was developed by Bluespier for the trauma and orthopaedic department in Trafford Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom (UK). The Centre for Health and Social Care Informatics (CHaSCI), Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) examined the system without real users, identified potential usability issues and suggested possible solutions for improvements before final release by Bluespier. Three different approaches were adopted for evaluating user interface (UI) design without users. The first approach is the Cognitive Walkthrough (CW), a task-oriented technique capable of identifying issues through action sequence required to perform a task. The second approach is action analysis which predicts the time a skilled user would need to perform a task. The third approach is heuristic evaluation which tends to identify problems based on recognised standards. Results support the argument from relevant cognitive psychology theories and user-centric design principles that UI evaluation without real users is a useful tool in yielding rapid output for subsequent enhancement. It is concluded that semi-parallel design concept could be the key to timely delivery of software design projects

Endovascular stenting of a chronic ruptured type B thoracic aortic dissection, a second chance: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>We aim to highlight the need for awareness of late complications of endovascular thoracic aortic stenting and the need for close follow-up of patients treated by this method.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the first case in the English literature of an endovascular repair of a previously stented, ruptured chronic Stanford type B thoracic aortic dissection re-presenting with a type III endoleak of the original repair.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Endovascular thoracic stenting is now a widely accepted technique for the treatment of thoracic aortic dissection and its complications. Long term follow up is necessary to ensure that late complications are identified and treated appropriately. In this case of type III endoleak, although technically challenging, endovascular repair was feasible and effective.</p

Incidence of post myocardial infarction left ventricular thrombus formation in the era of primary percutaneous intervention and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors. A prospective observational study

BACKGROUND: Before the widespread use of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GP IIb/IIIa) left ventricular (LV) thrombus formation had been reported to complicate up to 20% of acute myocardial infarctions (AMI). The incidence of LV thrombus formation with these treatment modalities is not well known. METHODS: 92 consecutive patients with ST-elevation AMI treated with PCI and GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors underwent 2-D echocardiograms, with and without echo contrast agent, within 24–72 hours. RESULTS: Only 4/92 (4.3%) had an LV thrombus, representing a significantly lower incidence than that reported in the pre-PCI era. Use of contrast agents did not improve detection of LV thrombi in our study. CONCLUSION: The incidence of LV thrombus formation after acute MI, in the current era of rapid reperfusion, is lower than what has been historically reported

End-stage renal disease in young black males in a black-white population: longitudinal analysis of the Bogalusa Heart Study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Risk factors in childhood create a life-long burden important in the development of cardiovascular (CV) disease in adulthood. Many risk factors for CV disease (e.g., hypertension) also increase the risk of renal disease. However, the importance of childhood risk factors on the development of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is not well characterized.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The current observations include data from Bogalusa Heart Study participants who were examined multiple times as children between 1973 and 1988.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Through 2006, fifteen study participants subsequently developed ESRD in adulthood; seven with no known overt cause. Although the Bogalusa Heart Study population is 63% white and 37% black and 51% male and 49% female, all seven ESRD cases with no known overt cause were black males (p < 0.001). Mean age-adjusted systolic and diastolic blood pressure in childhood was higher among the ESRD cases (114.5 mmHg and 70.1 mmHg, respectively) compared to black (103.0 mmHg and 62.3 mmHg, respectively) and white (mean = 103.3 mmHg and 62.3 mmHg, respectively) boys who didn't develop ESRD. The mean age-adjusted body mass index in childhood was 23.5 kg/m²among ESRD cases and 18.6 kg/m²and 18.9 kg/m²among black and white boys who didn't develop ESRD, respectively. Plasma glucose in childhood was not significantly associated with ESRD.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data suggest black males have an increased risk of ESRD in young adulthood. Elevated body mass index and blood pressure in childhood may increase the risk for developing ESRD as young adults.</p

IL13 genetic polymorphisms, smoking, and eczema in women: a case-control study in Japan

Background: Several genetic association studies have examined the relationships between single nucleotidepolymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL13 gene and eczema, and have provided contradictory results. We investigated therelationship between the IL13 SNPs rs1800925 and rs20541 and the risk of eczema in Japanese young adultwomen.Methods: Included were 188 cases who met the criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies inChildhood (ISAAC) for eczema. Control subjects were 1,082 women without eczema according to the ISAACcriteria, who had not been diagnosed with atopic eczema by a doctor and who had no current asthma as definedby the European Community Respiratory Health Survey criteria. Adjustment was made for age, region of residence,number of children, smoking, and education.Results: The minor TT genotype of SNP rs1800925 was significantly associated with an increased risk of eczema inthe co-dominant model: the adjusted odds ratio was 2.19 (95% confidence interval: 1.03-4.67). SNP rs20541 was notrelated to eczema. None of the haplotypes were significantly associated with eczema. Compared with women withthe CC or CT genotype of SNP rs1800925 who had never smoked, those with the TT genotype who had eversmoked had a 2.85-fold increased risk of eczema, though the adjusted odds ratio was not statistically significant,and neither multiplicative nor additive interaction was statistically significant.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the IL13 SNP rs1800925 is significantly associated with eczema in Japaneseyoung adult women. We could not find evidence for an interaction between SNP rs1800925 and smoking withregard to eczema

Health Aspects of the Pre-Departure Phase of Migration

In the second article in a six-part PLoS Medicine series on Migration & Health, Brian Gushulak and Douglas MacPherson discuss the pre-departure phase of migration and the specific health risks and policy needs associated with this phase

Systemic mastocytosis associated with t(8;21)(q22;q22) acute myeloid leukemia

Although KIT mutations are present in 20–25% of cases of t(8;21)(q22;q22) acute myeloid leukemia (AML), concurrent development of systemic mastocytosis (SM) is exceedingly rare. We examined the clinicopathologic features of SM associated with t(8;21)(q22;q22) AML in ten patients (six from our institutions and four from published literature) with t(8;21) AML and SM. In the majority of these cases, a definitive diagnosis of SM was made after chemotherapy, when the mast cell infiltrates were prominent. Deletion 9q was an additional cytogenetic abnormality in four cases. Four of the ten patients failed to achieve remission after standard chemotherapy and seven of the ten patients have died of AML. In the two patients who achieved durable remission after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant, recipient-derived neoplastic bone marrow mast cells persisted despite leukemic remission. SM associated with t(8;21) AML carries a dismal prognosis; therefore, detection of concurrent SM at diagnosis of t(8;21) AML has important prognostic implications