Translational Research Design: Collaborating with Stakeholders for Program Evaluation

In this article, the authors examine researcher collaboration with stakeholders in the context of a translational research approach used to evaluate an elementary school program. The authors share their experiences as evaluators of this particular program to demonstrate how collaboration with stakeholders evolved when a translational research approach was applied to program evaluation. Beginning with a review of literature regarding stakeholder participation in evaluation and other qualitative research, the article reflects on a method for conceptualizing participant involvement and collaboration within the translational framework. The relationship between researchers and stakeholders is articulated according to this method. We interpose these descriptions with their alignment to Petronio’s (2002, 2007) five types of practical validity for translational research. The paper ends with a consideration of what was learned throughout the evaluation process, including both successes and challenges, by means of the translational model

Elevation in liver enzymes are associated with increased IL-2 and may predict severe outcomes of dengue virus infection in a Sri Lankan cohort [Poster Abstract]

This is an open access article under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)Background: A synergistic effect of host genetic factors, host immunity and the virulence of dengue viruses (DENV) contribute to the pathogenesis of DENV infections. In severe DENV infections, the hepatic transaminase AST level increases more than the hepatic transaminase ALT. IL-2 and TNF- are both elevated in DENV infection as a part of the body’s early response to infection. The objective was to assess the correlation between changes in IL-2 and TNF- levels with changes in liver enzymes in dengue patients with varying clinical severity. Methods & Materials: A total of 67 DENV infected patients (DF=24 and DHF=43) either confirmed by ELISA or RT-PCR from July 2011 to February 2012 from General Hospital Kandy were selected for the IL-2 and TNF- evaluation using a single analyte ELISArray (Qiagen, Germany). Clinical, haematological parameters and hepatic transaminases (AST and ALT) were recorded on admission. Five mL of blood was collected from DENV suspected patients on fever days 5 or less (onset of fever was considered as day 1). Results: Of the patients, 47.76% (n=32) showed AST: ALT >2. AST: ALT mean ±SD among DF was 1.64±0.74 U/L while it was 3.18± 4.50 U/L for DHF/DSS patients. No significant correlation was noted between AST: ALT and TNF- and also with IL-2. A significant positive linear correlation was observed between AST and IL-2 levels (r= 0.31 p = 0.01) and also between ALT and IL-2 levels (r= 0.27 p = 0.02). No significant correlation was noted between AST and TNF- and ALT and IL-2. Conclusion: Almost half of our study population showed AST: ALT>2 indicating acute changes in liver function and the potential for liver derangement due to DENV infection. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the IL-2 with AST and ALT levels, although no correlation was noted between AST and ALT with TNF - . The positive correlations between elevations of AST and ALT with IL-2, and the association of higher levels of these factors in DHF/DSS compared with DF suggest that these measurements may be useful predictors for the progression of DENV infection to severe DF/DHF

Critical Theory and Catholic Social Teaching: A Research Framework for Catholic Schools

In this article, the authors share findings from an ethnographic study drawn from an evaluation of an after-school program directed by a Catholic diocese to meet the educational needs of children attending urban Catholic schools. The authors used critical research methods within the context of Catholic social teaching (CST) as a theoretical framework for the data presented in this article. Two themes emerged during this data collection and analysis. The first theme, student interactions, describes the helpful ways that students engaged with each other during the after-school program, and also the manner in which students exhibited a need for greater supports. The second theme, staff-student and staff-families interactions, explains how staff members connected with students in the after-school program, and their families and experiences. The focus on relationships emerged as an explicit connection to the CST themes of care, solidarity, and community within the after-school program sites. These findings have implications for researchers and educators working in Catholic and/or urban schools, or their respective after-school programs. Résumé Dans cet article, les auteurs évoquent les conclusions d’une étude ethnographique tirée de l’évaluation d’un programme d’activités après les cours organisé par un diocèse catholique pour répondre aux besoins éducatifs des enfants fréquentant des écoles catholiques en milieu urbain. Les auteurs ont utilisé des méthodes de recherche critique dans le contexte de la doctrine sociale de l’Église catholique (DSE) pour servir de cadre théorique aux données présentées dans cet article. Deux thèmes sont ressortis pendant le recueil des données et l’analyse. Le premier thème, les interactions parmi les élèves, décrit les moyens efficaces par lesquels ils sont entrés en relation au cours du programme d’activités après les cours, et de quelle manière des élèves ont montré qu’ils avaient besoin d’être davantage aidés. Le deuxième thème, les interactions personnel – élèves, personnel - familles, explique comment les membres du personnel ont communiqué avec les élèves au cours du programme d’activités après les cours, et avec leurs familles, et ce qu’ils ont ressenti. Le fait de se concentrer sur les relations entre les personnes est explicitement lié aux thèmes de la DSE, le souci des autres, la solidarité et l’appartenance à une communauté, sur les lieux des activités après les cours. Ces constatations ont des incidences pour les chercheurs et les éducateurs qui travaillent dans des écoles catholiques ou en milieu urbain, ou les programmes d’activités après les cours de ces établissements. Resumen En el presente artículo, los autores comparten hallazgos de un estudio etnográfico extraídos de una evaluación de un programa extraescolar dirigido por una diócesis católica para lograr las necesidades educativas de los niños que asisten a escuelas católicas. Los autores emplean métodos de investigación crítica en el contexto de la enseñanza social católica (ESC) como marco teórico para los datos presentados en este artículo. Durante la recolección y análisis de datos emergieron dos temas. El primero, las interacciones entre estudiantes, describe las maneras útiles de cómo se relacionaron los estudiantes durante el programa extraescolar y también el modo en el que los estudiantes mostraron la necesidad de mayor apoyo. El segundo tema, las interacciones estudiantes-personal y familias-personal, explican cómo el personal del centro se conectó con los estudiantes en el programa extraescolar, así como con sus familias y experiencias. El foco en las relaciones surgió como conexión explícita a los temas de la ESC de cuidado, solidaridad y comunidad en el centro del programa extraescolar. Estos hallazgos tienen implicaciones para los investigadores y educadores que trabajan en escuelas católicas y/o urbanas, o en sus respectivos programas extraescolares

Dengue Virus-Induced Inflammation of the Endothelium and the Potential Roles of Sphingosine Kinase-1 and MicroRNAs

Copyright © 2015 Amanda L. Aloia et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.One of the main pathogenic effects of severe dengue virus (DENV) infection is a vascular leak syndrome. There are no available antivirals or specific DENV treatments and without hospital support severe DENV infection can be life-threatening. The cause of the vascular leakage is permeability changes in the endothelial cells lining the vasculature that are brought about by elevated vasoactive cytokine and chemokines induced following DENV infection. The source of these altered cytokine and chemokines is traditionally believed to be from DENV-infected cells such as monocyte/macrophages and dendritic cells. Herein we discuss the evidence for the endothelium as an additional contributor to inflammatory and innate responses during DENV infection which may affect endothelial cell function, in particular the ability to maintain vascular integrity. Furthermore, we hypothesise roles for two factors, sphingosine kinase-1 and microRNAs (miRNAs), with a focus on several candidate miRNAs, which are known to control normal vascular function and inflammatory responses. Both of these factors may be potential therapeutic targets to regulate inflammation of the endothelium during DENV infection

Health-Related Quality of Life, Mental Health and Psychotherapeutic Considerations for Women Diagnosed with a Disorder of Sexual Development: Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Little is known about the long-term health-related quality of life (HRQL) and mental health outcomes for women diagnosed with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a disorder of sex development. Though recommendations for therapists exist, no research has empirically investigated women's experiences in therapy or their recommendations for therapy. Thus the purpose of the study was to investigate HRQL, mental health concerns of women with CAH, and patients' recommendations for therapists. A qualitative methodology, consensual qualitative research, was used to answer these questions. Eight women with CAH participated in the study. Results from their interviews revealed six domains: physical functioning, psychological functioning, interpersonal processes and relationships, healthcare experiences of women with CAH, recommendations for health care professionals, and systemic considerations. Domains were further broken down into categories with results yielding implications for both medical and mental health professionals and shedding light on issues related to normalcy, concerns both related and unrelated to CAH, sex, and gender, and highlighting effective supports and therapeutic interventions

Emerging infectious uveitis: Chikungunya, dengue, Zika and Ebola: A review

© 2018 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of OphthalmologistsRecently recognized forms of uveitis include intraocular inflammations that occur during or following one of several emerging infectious diseases: chikungunya fever, dengue, Zika virus disease and Ebola virus disease. Anterior, intermediate, posterior and pan‐uveitis have been described in individuals infected with chikungunya virus. Persons who contract dengue or Zika viruses also may develop different types of uveitis in the course of the infection: maculopathy is a common manifestation of dengue eye disease, and Zika eye disease may cause hypertensive anterior uveitis or mimic a white dot syndrome. Up to one‐third of Ebola survivors develop aggressive uveitis, which is frequently associated with vision loss and complicated by cataract. There are no specific anti‐viral drugs for these forms of uveitis, and thus treatment is largely supportive. In this article, we summarize the systemic infectious diseases and virology, and describe the clinical presentations, outcomes and management of emerging viral forms of uveitis

Clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of open and arthroscopic rotator cuff repair [the UK Rotator Cuff Surgery (UKUFF) randomised trial]

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Intracranial Injection of Dengue Virus Induces Interferon Stimulated Genes and CD8+ T Cell Infiltration by Sphingosine Kinase 1 Independent Pathways

Copyright: © 2017 Al-Shujairi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.We have previously reported that the absence of sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) affects both dengue virus (DENV) infection and innate immune responses in vitro. Here we aimed to define SK1-dependancy of DENV-induced disease and the associated innate responses in vivo. The lack of a reliable mouse model with a fully competent interferon response for DENV infection is a challenge, and here we use an experimental model of DENV infection in the brain of immunocompetent mice. Intracranial injection of DENV-2 into C57BL/6 mice induced body weight loss and neurological symptoms which was associated with a high level of DENV RNA in the brain. Body weight loss and DENV RNA level tended to be greater in SK1-/- compared with wildtype (WT) mice. Brain infection with DENV-2 is associated with the induction of interferon-β (IFN-β) and IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) expression including viperin, Ifi27l2a, IRF7, and CXCL10 without any significant differences between WT and SK1-/- mice. The SK2 and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) levels in the brain were unchanged by DENV infection or the lack of SK1. Histological analysis demonstrated the presence of a cellular infiltrate in DENV-infected brain with a significant increase in mRNA for CD8 but not CD4 suggesting this infiltrate is likely CD8+ but not CD4+ T-lymphocytes. This increase in T-cell infiltration was not affected by the lack of SK1. Overall, DENV-infection in the brain induces IFN and T-cell responses but does not influence the SK/S1P axis. In contrast to our observations in vitro, SK1 has no major influence on these responses following DENV-infection in the mouse brain

Accessing Healthcare: The Experience of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Maine

Previous research has revealed that children and adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are significantly more likely to have both unmet healthcare needs than those with other disabilities. In addition, they are more likely to have difficulty accessing primary or specialized medical care. Minority status, living in a rural location, and low income can exacerbate these disparities. Other obstacles to effective healthcare for individuals with ASD include the following: (1) severity of symptoms associated with ASD; (2) lack of knowledge or skill by medical practitioners; (3) lack of access to comprehensive healthcare supports or a medical home; and (4) lack of access to health insurance for needed supports and services. Individuals with ASD of all ages are likely to have a range of other medical and psychological conditions, making the need for comprehensive healthcare imperative. The University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (CCIDS), Maine’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, and the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council have published a research report, Accessing Healthcare: The Experience of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Maine (2014), that reveals promising positive trends, as well as areas of concern, in healthcare access for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders in Maine. The Maine Developmental Disabilities Council funded research to collect information about the experience of accessing healthcare from 85 parents of children with ASD and 22 adults with ASD or their guardians who live in Maine. A consultant conducted structured in-person interviews to collect the data and the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies’ primary researcher, Alan Kurtz, Ph.D. Candidate and Coordinator of Education and Autism, analyzed the method, data collected, and reported the results. Report co-authors include Angie Schickle, Margaret Carr, Marnie Bragdon-Morneault, Susan Russell, Debra Rainey, Jill Downs and Nancy Cronin

Co-infections with multiple dengue virus serotypes in patients from 3 different Provinces of Sri Lanka, a dengue hyper endemic country [Poster Abstract]

This is an open access article under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0