Reporting quality of music intervention research in healthcare: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION: Concomitant with the growth of music intervention research, are concerns about inadequate intervention reporting and inconsistent terminology, which limits validity, replicability, and clinical application of findings. OBJECTIVE: Examine reporting quality of music intervention research, in chronic and acute medical settings, using the Checklist for Reporting Music-based Interventions. In addition, describe patient populations and primary outcomes, intervention content and corresponding interventionist qualifications, and terminology. METHODS: Searching MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, HealthSTAR, and PsycINFO we identified articles meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria for a five-year period (2010-2015) and extracted relevant data. Coded material included reporting quality across seven areas (theory, content, delivery schedule, interventionist qualifications, treatment fidelity, setting, unit of delivery), author/journal information, patient population/outcomes, and terminology. RESULTS: Of 860 articles, 187 met review criteria (128 experimental; 59 quasi-experimental), with 121 publishing journals, and authors from 31 countries. Overall reporting quality was poor with <50% providing information for four of the seven checklist components (theory, interventionist qualifications, treatment fidelity, setting). Intervention content reporting was also poor with <50% providing information about the music used, decibel levels/volume controls, or materials. Credentialed music therapists and registered nurses delivered most interventions, with clear differences in content and delivery. Terminology was varied and inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS: Problems with reporting quality impedes meaningful interpretation and cross-study comparisons. Inconsistent and misapplied terminology also create barriers to interprofessional communication and translation of findings to patient care. Improved reporting quality and creation of shared language will advance scientific rigor and clinical relevance of music intervention research

Targeted long-read sequencing reveals clonally expanded HBV-associated chromosomal translocations in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Chronic HBV; Clonal expansion; Targeted sequencingVHB crónico; Expansión clónica; Secuenciación dirigidaVHB crònic; Expansió clonal; Seqüenciació dirigidaBackground & Aims HBV infects over 257 million people worldwide and is associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Integration of HBV DNA into the host genome is likely a key driver of HCC oncogenesis. Here, we utilise targeted long-read sequencing to determine the structure of HBV DNA integrations as well as full isoform information of HBV mRNA with more accurate quantification than traditional next generation sequencing platforms. Methods DNA and RNA were isolated from fresh frozen liver biopsies collected within the GS-US-174-0149 clinical trial. A pan-genotypic panel of biotinylated oligos was developed to enrich for HBV sequences from sheared genomic DNA (∼7 kb) and full-length cDNA libraries from poly-adenylated RNA. Samples were sequenced on the PacBio long-read platform and analysed using a custom bioinformatic pipeline. Results HBV-targeted long-read DNA sequencing generated high coverage data spanning entire integrations. Strikingly, in 13 of 42 samples (31%) we were able to detect HBV sequences flanked by 2 different chromosomes, indicating a chromosomal translocation associated with HBV integration. Chromosomal translocations were unique to each biopsy sample, suggesting that each originated randomly, and in some cases had evidence of clonal expansion. Using targeted long-read RNA sequencing, we determined that upwards of 95% of all HBV transcripts in patients who are HBeAg-positive originate from cccDNA. In contrast, patients who are HBeAg-negative expressed mostly HBsAg from integrations. Conclusions Targeted lso-Seq allowed for accurate quantitation of the HBV transcriptome and assignment of transcripts to either cccDNA or integration origins. The existence of multiple unique HBV-associated inter-chromosomal translocations in non-HCC CHB patient liver biopsies suggests a novel mechanism with mutagenic potential that may contribute to progression to HCC

Student Perspectives of Affordability for Workforce Onboarding

Affordability is often a high priority within organizations as many organizations strive to maximize output capabilities while minimizing the cost of operations. In order to operate with affordability as an organizational goal, members must work together as a cohesive unit to ensure processes and behaviors reflect this goal. While those further along in their careers may be more familiar with organizational aspects such as organizational goals, organizational culture, and organizational climate, those with limited experience may not be aware of these fundamentally important concepts. The goal of the current study was to examine perceptions of affordability given by currently employed students in order to understand how those in the exploration stage of their career view affordability in organizations. Students from The University of Alabama in Huntsville (N = 143) responded to a survey featuring both free response and Likert-type questions regarding currently held beliefs surrounding affordability and organizational culture. Results from this study indicated that students are often unaware of the concept of organizational culture and climate, and this lack of familiarity may potentially lead to organization members distancing themselves from understanding their individual impact to organizational processes. In addition, students view affordability in terms of budgets and funding, often not taking into consideration organizational behaviors that may indirectly influence the overall affordability of a project or program. These perceptions may be used to inform organizations of how best to tailor onboarding processes in order to familiarize newly hired organization members with their individual impact to an organization as well as their role within a larger organizational unit

Antitumor activity and safety of the PARP inhibitor rucaparib in patients with high grade ovarian carcinoma and a germline or somatic BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation: integrated analysis of data from Study 10 and ARIEL2

Objective: An integrated analysis was undertaken to characterize the antitumor activity and safety profile of the oral poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor rucaparib in patients with relapsed high-grade ovarian carcinoma (HGOC). Methods: Eligible patients from Study 10 (NCT01482715) and ARIEL2 (NCT01891344) who received a starting dose of oral rucaparib 600 mg twice daily (BID) with or without food were included in these analyses. The integrated efficacy population included patients with HGOC and a deleterious germline or somatic BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) mutation who received at least two prior chemotherapies and were sensitive, resistant, or refractory to platinum-based chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed confirmed objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included duration of response (DOR) and progression-free survival (PFS). The integrated safety population included patients with HGOC who received at least one dose of rucaparib 600 mg BID, irrespective of BRCA1/2 mutation status and prior treatments. Results: In the efficacy population (n = 106), ORR was 53.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 43.8–63.5); 8.5% and 45.3% of patients achieved complete and partial responses, respectively. Median DOR was 9.2 months (95% CI, 6.6–11.6). In the safety population (n = 377), the most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) were nausea, asthenia/fatigue, vomiting, and anemia/hemoglobin decreased. The most common grade ≥ 3 treatment-emergent AE was anemia/hemoglobin decreased. Treatment-emergent AEs led to treatment interruption, dose reduction, and treatment discontinuation in 58.6%, 45.9%, and 9.8% of patients, respectively. No treatment-related deaths occurred. Conclusions: Rucaparib has antitumor activity in advanced BRCA1/2-mutated HGOC and a manageable safety profile

Adaptacion cultural de Latinos en comunidad C, MO : perspectivas de los miembros de las comunidades inmigrantes y de acogida

Proposito del estudio: Entender las perspectivas de los Latinos y miembros de la comunidad de acogida sobre la integracion de los inmigrantes Latinos en las comunidades rurales del medio-oeste del pais. Metas del estudio: Este estudio es parte de un proyecto de participacion en accion mas amplio, que examina que estrategias contribuyen al logro de la integracion de los inmigrantes latinos en las comunidades rurales en las que viven y trabajan.Includes bibliographical references

Perspectivas de comunidades imigrantes y de acogida sobre la adaptacion cultural de Latinos en comunidad B, MO

Proposito del estudio: Entender las perspectivas de Latinos y miembros de la comunidad de acogida sobre la integracion de imigrantes Latinos en comunidades rurales en el medio-oeste del pais.Includes bibliographical references

Spurring Maritime Innovation in Annapolis

Final project for URSP708: Community Planning Studio (Fall 2016). University of Maryland, College Park.In 1987, the City of Annapolis created Maritime Zoning Regulations, delineating four zones along Annapolis’ waterfront: Maritime Conservation District, Mixed Maritime District, Maritime Industrial District, and Maritime Eastport. The districts are designed to provide incentives to the maritime industry, while offering flexibility to property owners who wish to implement higher-value uses that would add to the success of the district. With over 250 businesses and organizations related to boat servicing and supplies, boating instruction, brokerage, chartering, insurance, marinas, and other maritime needs, Annapolis remains a major center for recreational boaters along the East Coast. However, the recession of 2007-2009 caused the worst economic decline for Annapolis’ maritime industry since 1932. Maritime businesses continue to face rising land costs and rent, resulting in fewer new maritime businesses locating in the City. The Fall 2016 Community Planning Studio class was tasked with reviewing previous economic studies of Annapolis’ maritime industry and updating the studies’ recommendations with new approaches. Our Studio class examined ways to revitalize the City’s maritime industry, focusing especially on how innovation-driven economic development tools could be applied in Annapolis. The following report synthesizes our research and proposes several recommendations that the City may implement in the short-, medium-, and long-term.Anne Arundel County & Annapoli