The design of a feedback report on students' writing processes

Feedback in schrijfvaardigheidsonderwijs gaat over de kwaliteit van teksten en moet leerlingen helpen hun schrijfvaardigheid verder te ontwikkelen. Jochem Aben, Brenda van den Broek, Nina Vandermeulen, Elke van Steendam en Gert Rijlaarsdam ontwikkelden voor leerlingen in 4 en 5 vwo een feedbackrapport over hun schrijfproces, dat het schrijfgedrag van leerlingen in kaart brengt als zij op de computer een tekst schrijven op basis van bronnen. Het feedbackrapport beoogt gestuurde zelfstudie: de leerlingen worden via uitleg en toepassingsopdrachten vertrouwd gemaakt met hun schrijfprocesgegevens en aangezet tot analyse en verandering. Een test van het rapport in een kleinschalige studie wees uit dat het leerlingen inderdaad in staat stelt zelfstandig concrete acties te formuleren om hun schrijfproces te verbeteren.Feedback in schrijfvaardigheidsonderwijs gaat overde kwaliteit van teksten en moet leerlingen helpen hunschrijfvaardigheid verder te ontwikkelen. Dat zal vooreen deel betekenen dat zij hun schrijfproces andersaan moeten pakken: de betere hardloopcoach zegt zijnpupillen immers niet dát, maar hóe zij harder moetenlopen. In het voortgezet onderwijs is schrijfprocesfeedbacknog niet bekend. In die lacune proberen wijte voorzien door voor leerlingen een feedbackrapportte ontwikkelen dat over hun schrijfproces gaat: hetbeschrijft het schrijfgedrag van leerlingen als zij opde computer een tekst schrijven op basis van bronnen.We genereerden zulke rapporten voor ruim 500 leerlingenuit 4- en 5-vwo op 35 scholen. Die leerlingenschreven ieder vier teksten, zodat ze ook inzicht kregenin de mate waarin hun processen variëren over taken.Het feedbackrapport beoogt gestuurde zelfstudie: deleerlingen worden via uitleg en toepassingsopdrachtenvertrouwd gemaakt met hun schrijfprocesgegevensen aangezet tot analyse en verandering. We testten hetrapport in een kleinschalige studie met drie leerlingen.Het bleek dat het leerlingen inderdaad in staatstelt zelfstandig concrete acties te formuleren om hunschrijfproces te verbeteren

Lipoxin A4 and interleukin-8 levels in cystic fibrosis sputum after antibiotherapy

AbstractAntibiotics are largely prescribed for cystic fibrosis (CF) respiratory exacerbations. Effects of antibiotics on the inflammatory profile of the patients have been shown but remain controversial. Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) is a lipid mediator, reported to play a central role in resolving airway inflammation. The aim of the study was to investigate the consequences of antibiotherapy on LXA4 and IL-8 levels in CF patients' airways.MethodsEighteen CF patients (7 females, median age 20, range 8 to 47 years) consecutively admitted at the CF center of Montpellier for antibiotics during pulmonary exacerbation, were enrolled. Before and after antibiotics, all patients underwent spirometry (FEV1 and FVC), bacterial cultures and cell counts in sputa. IL-8 and LXA4 concentrations were determined in sputum samples by the median of immunometric assays.ResultsAs previously reported, after antibiotics therapy, FEV1 and FVC significantly improved. While neutrophil cell counts and IL-8 levels decreased, the LXA4 levels significantly increased after antibiotics therapy and were inversely correlated with IL-8 levels.In conclusion, we reported a correlation between antibiotics treatments and inflammatory markers in CF sputum. Our data provide evidences for a novel effect of antibiotics increasing the concentration of the anti-inflammatory lipid mediator LXA4

Looking back, looking forward: Methodological challenges and future directions in research on persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities

Within the context of the Special Interest Research Group (SIRG) on Persons with Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities (PIMD), researchers often discuss the methodological problems and challenges they are confronted with. The aim of the current article was to give an overview of these challenges. The challenges are centred on six topics. These reflect the main components of a study's design: (a) participant demarcation, (b) participant recruitment, (c) data collection and instruments, (d) data analysis, (e) ethics/including the “voice” of persons with PIMD and (f) theoretical models. Next, to describing the specific challenges, possible solutions and pathways to address them are discussed. These are illustrated by recent studies by the authors and other researchers in the field. The current contribution wants to stimulate further discussion and ex-change of ideas, and the development of creative research techniques

Influence of germline variations in drug transporters ABCB1 and ABCG2 on intracerebral osimertinib efficacy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND: Central nervous system (CNS) metastases are present in approximately 40% of patients with metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated ( EGFRm+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor osimertinib is a substrate of transporters ABCB1 and ABCG2 and metabolized by CYP3A4. We investigated relationships between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) ABCB1 3435C>T, ABCG2 421C>A and 34G>A, and CYP3A4∗22 and CNS treatment efficacy of osimertinib in EGFRm+ NSCLC patients. METHODS: Patients who started treatment with osimertinib for EGFRm+ NSCLC between November 2014 and June 2021 were included in this retrospective observational multicentre cohort study. For patients with baseline CNS metastases, the primary endpoint was CNS progression-free survival (CNS-PFS; time from osimertinib start until CNS disease progression or death). For patients with no or unknown baseline CNS metastases, the primary endpoint was CNS disease-free survival (CNS-DFS; time from osimertinib start until occurrence of new CNS metastases). Relationships between SNPs and baseline characteristics with CNS-PFS and CNS-DFS were studied with competing-risks survival analysis. Secondary endpoints were relationships between SNPs and PFS, overall survival, severe toxicity, and osimertinib pharmacokinetics. FINDINGS: From 572 included patients, 201 had baseline CNS metastases. No SNP was associated with CNS-PFS. Genotype ABCG2 34GA/AA and/or ABCB1 3435CC --present in 35% of patients-- was significantly associated with decreased CNS-DFS (hazard ratio 0.28; 95% CI 0.11-0.73; p = 0.009) in the multivariate analysis. This remained significant after applying a Bonferroni correction and internal validation through bootstrapping. ABCG2 421CA/AA was related to more severe toxicity (27.0% versus 16.5%; p = 0.010). INTERPRETATION: ABCG2 34G>A and ABCB1 3435C>T are predictors for developing new CNS metastases during osimertinib treatment, probably because of diminished drug levels in the CNS. ABCG2 421C>A was significantly related with the incidence of severe toxicity. Pre-emptive genotyping for these SNPs could individualize osimertinib therapy. Addition of ABCG2 inhibitors for patients without ABCG2 34G>A should be studied further, to prevent new CNS metastases during osimertinib treatment. FUNDING: No funding was received for this trial