Erratum to: Methods for evaluating medical tests and biomarkers

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s41512-016-0001-y.]

Erratum to: Methods for evaluating medical tests and biomarkers

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s41512-016-0001-y.]

Evidence synthesis to inform model-based cost-effectiveness evaluations of diagnostic tests: a methodological systematic review of health technology assessments

Background: Evaluations of diagnostic tests are challenging because of the indirect nature of their impact on patient outcomes. Model-based health economic evaluations of tests allow different types of evidence from various sources to be incorporated and enable cost-effectiveness estimates to be made beyond the duration of available study data. To parameterize a health-economic model fully, all the ways a test impacts on patient health must be quantified, including but not limited to diagnostic test accuracy. Methods: We assessed all UK NIHR HTA reports published May 2009-July 2015. Reports were included if they evaluated a diagnostic test, included a model-based health economic evaluation and included a systematic review and meta-analysis of test accuracy. From each eligible report we extracted information on the following topics: 1) what evidence aside from test accuracy was searched for and synthesised, 2) which methods were used to synthesise test accuracy evidence and how did the results inform the economic model, 3) how/whether threshold effects were explored, 4) how the potential dependency between multiple tests in a pathway was accounted for, and 5) for evaluations of tests targeted at the primary care setting, how evidence from differing healthcare settings was incorporated. Results: The bivariate or HSROC model was implemented in 20/22 reports that met all inclusion criteria. Test accuracy data for health economic modelling was obtained from meta-analyses completely in four reports, partially in fourteen reports and not at all in four reports. Only 2/7 reports that used a quantitative test gave clear threshold recommendations. All 22 reports explored the effect of uncertainty in accuracy parameters but most of those that used multiple tests did not allow for dependence between test results. 7/22 tests were potentially suitable for primary care but the majority found limited evidence on test accuracy in primary care settings. Conclusions: The uptake of appropriate meta-analysis methods for synthesising evidence on diagnostic test accuracy in UK NIHR HTAs has improved in recent years. Future research should focus on other evidence requirements for cost-effectiveness assessment, threshold effects for quantitative tests and the impact of multiple diagnostic tests

Semillas de girasol, lino, chía y sésamo. Compuestos nutricionales y su efecto sobre la salud

Fil: Estelles, Andrea. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Escuela de Nutrición, Argentina.Fil: Gómez, Melisa Stephanie. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Escuela de Nutrición, Argentina.Fil: Parra Martinez, Facundo Javier. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Escuela de Nutrición, Argentina.Fil: Romero, Ariel José. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Escuela de Nutrición, Argentina.Fil: López, Laura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Escuela de Nutrición, Argentina.Las semillas oleaginosas toman protagonismo nuevamente en las comidas, gracias a un nuevo paradigma nutricional cuya tendencia se dirige hacia el consumo de alimentos más saludables y con un menor grado de procesamiento. El presente trabajo relevó información cuali-cuantitativa para un conocimiento más profundo de las semillas oleaginosas más vendidas. El trabajo de campo realizado en 41 puntos de expendio reveló que las semillas más vendidas fueron las de girasol, chía, lino y sésamo, por lo que, se realizó una investigación bibliográfica sobre las mismas. A través de la búsqueda en 68 artículos científicos, se logró recopilar información sobre el origen de las distintas semillas mencionadas y su composición química, lo cual reveló los compuestos más importantes en cada una de ellas.Oilseeds take prominence again in meals, thanks to a new nutritional paradigm whose trend is towards the consumption of healthier foods and with a lesser degree of processing. The present work revealed qualitative-quantitative information for a deeper knowledge of the best-selling oilseeds. The fieldwork carried out in 41 points of sale revealed that the most sold seeds were those of sunflower, chia, flax and sesame, therefore, the bibliographic research was carried out on them

Melatonin Protects Against Endometriosis via Regulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 and an Apoptotic Pathway.

The role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in endometriosis, a gynecological disease of women, is unclear. The study investigated the activity of MMP-3 and its interplay with MMP-9 during the onset of endometriosis. Additionally, the importance of MMP-3 on the apoptotic pathway in endometriosis and effect of melatonin thereon were investigated. A Significant increase in the activity of MMP-3 with the severity of endometriosis in human was observed which was found similar in mice also. During the early phase of endometriosis, MMP-3 but not MMP-9 was increased and associated with the expression of transcription factor, c-Fos. Moreover, urokinase plasminogen activator and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-3 were involved in MMP-3 regulation during endometriosis. Furthermore, MMP-3 activity that was parallel to c-Fos expression in endometriosis was reduced by melatonin pretreatment as characterized by diminished activator protein (AP)-1 DNA-binding activity. Because decreased apoptosis is an explanation for the perpetuation of endometriosis, we tested the role of melatonin on apoptotic pathway in preventing endometriosis. Significant regression of glandular epithelium was observed in melatonin-treated when compared to untreated mice. Melatonin treatment increased apoptotic cells in endometriotic zones. This was related to reduced Bcl-2 expression along with increased Bax expression and caspase-9 activation. In summary, early induction of MMP-3 was distinct from MMP-9 during endometriosis, which was regulated by c-Fos and TIMP-3. Melatonin suppressed MMP-3 activity and amplified apoptosis while regressing endometriosis through a caspase-3 mediated pathway. Thus, melatonin may be a therapeutic agent for resolving endometriosis

Erratum to: Methods for evaluating medical tests and biomarkers

The original MEMTAB Abstracts in Diagnostic and Prognostic Research contains the incorrect year on individual abstracts in the PDF [1].“Diagnostic and Prognostic Research 2016” under the correspondence line should therefore have been written as “Diagnostic and Prognostic Research 2017” as the journal did not launch until 2017

Open data from the first and second observing runs of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo

Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo are monitoring the sky and collecting gravitational-wave strain data with sufficient sensitivity to detect signals routinely. In this paper we describe the data recorded by these instruments during their first and second observing runs. The main data products are gravitational-wave strain time series sampled at 16384 Hz. The datasets that include this strain measurement can be freely accessed through the Gravitational Wave Open Science Center at http://gw-openscience.org, together with data-quality information essential for the analysis of LIGO and Virgo data, documentation, tutorials, and supporting software