The Role of Visual Abstracts in the Dissemination of Medical Research

Medical research within the UK has continued to grow, most notably during the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years, which highlights the importance of disseminating relevant research findings. For all researchers involved in clinical trials and scientific research, the end goal of success is not completed following the publication of the research findings, but ultimately true impact and significance is achieved when such research has a role in developing clinical practice. Each year between 2.5 - 3 million scientific papers are published and the number continues to rise, therefore it is becoming increasingly difficult to ensure that published research has such a targeted impact as it must first get noticed. Increasing time commitments result in difficulties for clinicians keeping up-to-date with the current literature and in order to address this, journals and researchers have developed approaches to share peer-reviewed research with the wider research community in an effective and efficient manner. One such approach has been the introduction of the visual abstract which comprises of an infographic style format, coupled with a shortened, limited word summary of the research abstract detailing the key question, methodology, findings and take home message of the research study. The visual abstract has characteristics which enable it to be shared on social media platforms and in turn increase the interest and impact within the research community. Visual abstracts are being increasingly introduced within medical journals and organisations to help disseminate valuable research findings. This review focuses on visual abstracts, what they are, their history, structure and role within research dissemination and medical education

Emerging Issues in Infective Endocarditis

Infective endocarditis, a serious infection of the endocardium of the heart, particularly the heart valves, is associated with a high degree of illness and death. It generally occurs in patients with altered and abnormal heart architecture, in combination with exposure to bacteria through trauma and other potentially high-risk activities involving transient bacteremia. Knowledge about the origins of endocarditis stems from the work of Fernel in the early 1500s, and yet this infection still presents physicians with major diagnostic and management dilemmas. Endocarditis is caused by a variety of bacteria and fungi, as well as emerging infectious agents, including Tropheryma whiplei, Bartonella spp., and Rickettsia spp. We review the evolution of endocarditis and compare its progression with discoveries in microbiology, science, and medicine

Group Assessments to Help Build Online Learning Communities in Biomedical Science Distance Learning Programmes

Introduction: Biomedical Science distance learning courses offer flexibility in study while in employment. Asynchronous and self-learning approaches are common within such courses and often student-student interaction is limited. The aims of this study were to establish learning communities, develop confidence in participating in online teamwork and foster an appreciation of transferable skills including digital capabilities through remote group activities. Materials and Methods: Two cohorts of students (n = 20/n = 21) were enrolled in a microbiology module of an IBMS accredited MSc distance learning course. Groups of 4–5 students produced a digital output relating to current global infection-related issues, namely, assignment 1, production of a slide deck, which peers could use as learning resources and assignment 2, a voiceover PowerPoint debate, and infographic, voting assessment and peer/self-marking. Students also prepared reflections using written format and a FlipGrid video-recording. A qualitative content analysis was conducted on reflections from all students. Students completed a pre- and post-assignment survey focused on the development of transferable skills for the biomedical sector. Results: Students’ skills and confidence increased following completion of the group assignment, as evident from the pre- and post-questionnaire responses, namely, possession of digital skills and digital creation abilities (29% v 83%), applying for jobs which require digital skills (54% v 89%), talking about examples of using digital media during job interviews (21% v 78%) and demonstration of creativity during assignment tasks (33% v 90%). Critical thinking was more commonly demonstrated during the debate in comparison to the slide deck activity (p = 0.001). The importance of developing digital skills, was higher following completion of the group activities (p = 0.03). Students reflected on the value of the group activities in relation to knowledge acquisition (85%, 86%), collegiality (70%, 71%), digital skills development (80%, 90%), the fact that the activities were enjoyable (70%, 67%) and the development of peer interaction and support (50%, 67%) in relation to assignment 1 and 2, respectively. Discussion: Increasingly digital technologies are being used in the healthcare sector resulting in updated HCPC Standards of Proficiency. This study highlights that virtual group activities promote the establishment of supportive learning communities and the development of transferable skills including digital capabilities for application within the biomedical science workplace

Identification and characterization of intervening sequences within 23S rRNA genes from more than 200 Campylobacter isolates from seven species including atypical campylobacters

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Identification and characterization of intervening sequences (IVSs) within 23S rRNA genes from <it>Campylobacter </it>organisms including atypical campylobacters were carried out using two PCR primer pairs, designed to generate helix 25 and 45 regions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Only <it>C. sputorum </it>biovar sputorum LMG7975 and fecalis LMG8531, LMG8534 and LMG6728 of a total of 204 <it>Campylobacter </it>isolates (n = 56 <it>C. jejuni</it>; n = 11 <it>C. coli</it>; n = 33 <it>C. fetus</it>; n = 43 <it>C. upsaliensis</it>; n = 30 <it>C. hyointestinalis</it>; n = 4 <it>C. sputorum </it>biovar sputorum; n = 5 <it>C. sputorum </it>biovar fecalis; n = 5 <it>C. sputorum </it>biovar paraureolyticus; n = 10 <it>C. concisus</it>; n = 7 <it>C. curvus</it>) were shown to carry IVSs in helix 25 region. <it>C. sputorum </it>biovar fecalis LMG8531 and LMG8534, interestingly, carried two different kinds of the 23S rRNA genes with and without the IVS, respectively. Consequently, in a total of 265 isolates of 269, including 65 <it>C. lari </it>isolates examined previously, the absence of IVSs was identified in the helix 25 region. In the helix 45 region, all the <it>C. hyointestinalis</it>, <it>C. sputorum </it>and <it>C. concisus </it>isolates were shown not to carry any IVSs. However, the 30 of 56 <it>C. jejuni </it>isolates (54%), 5 of 11 <it>C. coli </it>(45%), 25 of 33 <it>C. fetus </it>(76%), 30 of 43 <it>C. upsaliensis </it>(70%) and 6 of 7 <it>C. curvus </it>(90%) were shown to carry IVSs. In <it>C. jejuni </it>and <it>C. upsaliensis </it>isolates, two different kinds of the 23S rRNA genes were also identified to occur with and without IVSs in the helix 45 region, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Secondary structure models were also constructed with all the IVSs identified in the present study. In the purified RNA fractions from the isolates which carried the 16S or 23S rRNA genes with the IVSs, no 16S or 23S rRNA was evident, respectively.</p

Three Drinking-Water–Associated Cryptosporidiosis Outbreaks, Northern Ireland

Three recent drinking-water–associated cryptosporidiosis outbreaks in Northern Ireland were investigated by using genotyping and subgenotyping tools. One Cryptosporidium parvum outbreak was caused by the bovine genotype, and two were caused by the human genotype. Subgenotyping analyses indicate that two predominant subgenotypes were associated with these outbreaks and had been circulating in the community

Improving health literacy with mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) vaccination: comparison of the readability of MMR patient-facing literature and MMR scientific abstracts

BACKGROUND: Historically, there have been many factors that have influenced mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) vaccine uptake, including media bias, social/economic determinants, parental education level, deprivation and concerns over vaccine safety. Readability metrics through online tools are now emerging as a means for healthcare professionals to determine the readability of patient-facing vaccine information. The aim of this study was to examine the readability of patient-facing materials describing MMR vaccination, through employment of nine readability and text parameter metrics, and to compare these with MMR vaccination literature for healthcare professionals and scientific abstracts relating to MMR vaccination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subscription-based online Readable program (readable.com) was used to determine nine readability indices using various readability formulae: Established readability metrics (n = 5) (Flesch–Kinkaid Grade Level, Gunning Fog Index, SMOG Index, Flesch Reading Ease and New Dale-Chall Score), as well as Text parameters (n = 4) (sentence count, word count, number of words per sentence, number of syllables per word) with 47 MMR vaccination texts [patient-facing literature (n = 22); healthcare professional–focused literature (n = 8); scientific abstracts (n = 17)]. RESULTS: Patient-facing vaccination literature had a Flesch Reading Ease score of 58.4 and a Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level of 8.1, in comparison with poorer readability scores for healthcare professional literature of 30.7 and 12.6, respectively. MMR scientific abstracts had the poorest readability (24.0 and 14.8, respectively). Sentence structure was also considered, where better readability metrics were correlated with significantly lower number of words per sentence and less syllables per word. CONCLUSION: Use of these readability tools enables the author to ensure their research is more readable to the lay audience. Patient co-production initiatives would help to ensure that not only can the target audience read the literature, but that they understand the content. Increased patient-centric focus groups would give better insights into reasons for MMR-associated vaccine hesitation and vaccine refusal