Mapping methods in careers research: A review and future research agenda

Based on recent developments in science mapping techniques, this chapter presents a review of methodologies that have been used in the field of career studies. We analyzed 831 methods sections from all published articles in five careers journals between 2014 and 2018 to uncover the key methodologies in the field. Our main conclusions are that quantitative methods dominate career studies, although the specific methods applied vary considerably between the clusters we revealed. Furthermore, we found that the methods used in career studies seem to be intricately linked to the discipline that the studies can be tied to, and the journals that publish these studies. We conclude the chapter with recommendations for future research, including the use of more long-term temporal designs, more exchange of knowledge and approaches between disciplines, and an awareness of existing norms and cultures in disciplines

Mapping methods in careers research: A review and future research agenda

Based on recent developments in science mapping techniques, this chapter presents a review of methodologies that have been used in the field of career studies. We analyzed 831 methods sections from all published articles in five careers journals between 2014 and 2018 to uncover the key methodologies in the field. Our main conclusions are that quantitative methods dominate career studies, although the specific methods applied vary considerably between the clusters we revealed. Furthermore, we found that the methods used in career studies seem to be intricately linked to the discipline that the studies can be tied to, and the journals that publish these studies. We conclude the chapter with recommendations for future research, including the use of more long-term temporal designs, more exchange of knowledge and approaches between disciplines, and an awareness of existing norms and cultures in disciplines

Alterations in cortisol and interleukin-6 secretion in patients with COVID-19 suggestive of neuroendocrine-immune adaptations

Purpose The beneficial effect of glucocorticoids in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is established, but whether adrenal cortisol secretion is impaired in COVID-19 is not fully elucidated. In this case-control study, we investigated the diurnal free bioavailable salivary cortisol secretion in COVID-19 patients. Methods Fifty-two consecutive COVID-19 patients-before dexamethasone treatment in cases required-recruited between April 15 to June 15, 2021, (NCT04988269) at Laikon Athens University-Hospital, and 33 healthy age- and sex-matched controls were included. Diurnal salivary cortisol (8 a.m., 12, 6, and 10 p.m.), plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and aldosterone, and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were assessed. Diurnal salivary dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and IL-6 were also assessed in subgroups of patients. Results Median CRP and IL-6 measurements were about sixfold higher in patients than controls (both p < 0.001) Morning salivary cortisol levels did not differ between the two groups, but patients exhibited higher median levels of evening and nocturnal salivary cortisol compared to controls [0.391 (0.054, 0663) vs. 0.081 (0.054, 0.243) mu g/dl, p < 0.001 and 0.183 (0.090, 0.834) vs. 0.054 (0.054, 0.332) mu g/dl, p < 0.001, respectively], resulting in higher time-integrated area under the curve (AUC) (4.81 +/- 2.46 vs. 2.75 +/- 0.810, respectively, p < 0.001). Circulating ACTH, DHEA, and aldosterone levels were similar in patients and controls. Serum IL-6, but not ACTH levels, was strongly correlated with nocturnal cortisol salivary levels (rho = 0.555, p < 0.001) in patients. Conclusions Increased evening and nocturnal but not morning cortisol secretion may occur in even clinically mild COVID-19. In the context of acute viral infection (COVID-19), IL-6 may partially replace ACTH as a stimulus of the glucocorticoidsecreting adrenal zonafasciculata without influencing the secretion of DHEA and aldosterone

Effect of clarithromycin in patients with suspected Gram-negative sepsis: results of a randomized controlled trial

A previous randomized study showed that clarithromycin decreases the risk of death due to ventilator-associated pneumonia and shortens the time until infection resolution. The efficacy of clarithromycin was tested in a larger population with sepsis. Six hundred patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome due to acute pyelonephritis, acute intra-abdominal infections or primary Gram-negative bacteraemia were enrolled in a double-blind, randomized, multicentre trial. Clarithromycin (1 g) was administered intravenously once daily for 4 days consecutively in 302 patients; another 298 patients were treated with placebo. Mortality was the primary outcome; resolution of infection and hospitalization costs were the secondary outcomes. The groups were well matched for demographics, disease severity, microbiology and appropriateness of the administered antimicrobials. Overall 28 day mortality was 17.1 (51 deaths) in the placebo arm and 18.5 (56 deaths) in the clarithromycin arm (P0.671). Nineteen out of 26 placebo-treated patients with septic shock and multiple organ dysfunctions died (73.1) compared with 15 out of 28 clarithromycin-treated patients (53.6, P0.020). The median time until resolution of infection was 5 days in both arms. In the subgroup with severe sepsis/shock, this was 10 days in the placebo arm and 6 days in the clarithromycin arm (P0.037). The cost of hospitalization was lower after treatment with clarithromycin (P0.044). Serious adverse events were observed in 1.3 and 0.7 of placebo- and clarithromycin-treated patients, respectively (P0.502). Intravenous clarithromycin did not affect overall mortality; however, administration shortened the time to resolution of infection and decreased the hospitalization costs