97 research outputs found
Editorial: Women and leadership in higher education learning and teaching
In this Special Issue Harvey and Jones state âIt is time for women academics to accept the challenge â to rightfully claim their leadershipâ. We recognise the many women who have challenged the system, and those whose efforts have been thwarted. We encourage women and men to work together to break down the barriers of gender, race, culture, and religion, so that our current and next generation of female academics can rightfully claim their leadership. This Special Issue is an important step to bringing to light these challenges for women and the changes required to grow and support women in leadership in higher education teaching and learning
Transatlantic collection of health informatics competencies
The electronic collection, processing and management of information is becoming increasingly important in healthcare. Because of the nature of the healthcare provision and delivery process, where the health, safety and quality of human lives are impacted on a daily basis, it is critical that those who work in the field are competent and able to perform all clinical, administrative, research and technology-impacted facets of their roles.The United States and the European Union have been working to encourage broader and more effective use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) within healthcare. The development, use and governance of ICT within healthcare, often called health informatics, requires a number of competences which need to be identified and integrated into relevant skills assessment, education and training. Ultimately, this will help produce a more proficient and a more confident mobile health informatics-empowered workforce.A structured set of health information technology and eHealth implementation competences was collected in a co-operation project by voluntary experts in USA and European Union. The project took a deliberately broad starting point, seeking and reviewing an extensive range of related competencies. The skills cover the following domains of professions working with health information technology: direct patient care; administrative; engineering/information, communication, and technology (ICT); informatics; and research and biomedicine. The aggregation of over one thousand competencies was classified to a baseline set of skills and four levels of expertise in 33 focus areas according to Bloomâs taxonomy. The data set also contains definitions of 268 âtypicalâ professional roles. The use of the collection of competencies is supported by an open access web tool through which all the competencies can be searched through a query mechanism.The limitation of this work is that only the Acute Care segment of roles and competencies impacted by ICT was evaluated within the scope of this project, however, this subset of other care settings such as ambulatory, rehabilitative care, surgery, and others serves as a representative set of roles and competencies within the health care field as well as a being an important proof of concept for future usefulness of the work if extended beyond its current span. This project has made a contribution to the potential improvement of workforce mobility internationally
Steric Determinants of Pt/DNA Interactions and Anticancer Activity
Studies directed at establishing the structural features that control Pt/DNA interactions and
the anticancer activity of Pt drugs are described. [1H, 15N]-HSQC 2D NMR spectroscopic
studies of the reactions of cisplatin with oligonucleotides containing ApG and GpA binding
sites reveal dramatic differences in the rates of formation of monofunctional adducts at the
two sites. When the reactant is cis-[Pt(NH3)2(OH2)2]2+ no such differences are observed
suggesting that outer-sphere interactions between the reactant and the oligonucleotide may
play a substantial role in determining the rates. Rates of closure to the bifunctional adducts
are similar to those observed for cisplatin. Studies of the adduct profiles formed by sterically
bulky and/or optically active complexes reveal that steric interactions play a major role in
mediating the binding of Pt(ll) to DNA but that hydrogen bonds play less of a role. In vitro cytotoxic activities for these complexes do not always follow the trends that would be
expected on the basis of the adduct profiles
Serosorting Is Associated with a Decreased Risk of HIV Seroconversion in the EXPLORE Study Cohort
Background: Seroadaptation strategies such as serosorting and seropositioning originated within communities of men who have sex with men (MSM), but there are limited data about their effectiveness in preventing HIV transmission when utilized by HIV-negative men. Methodology/Principal Findings: Data from the EXPLORE cohort of HIV-negative MSM who reported both seroconcordant and serodiscordant partners were used to evaluate serosorting and seropositioning. The association of serosorting and seropositioning with HIV seroconversion was evaluated in this cohort of high risk MSM from six U.S. cities. Serosorting was independently associated with a small decrease in risk of HIV seroconversion (OR = 0.88; 95%CI, 0.81â0.95), even among participants reporting $10 partners. Those who more consistently practiced serosorting were more likely to be white (p = 0.01), have completed college (p =,0.0002) and to have had 10 or more partners in the six months before the baseline visit (p = 0.01) but did not differ in age, reporting HIV-infected partners, or drug use. There was no evidence of a seroconversion effect with seropositioning (OR 1.02, 95%CI, 0.92â1.14). Significance: In high risk HIV uninfected MSM who report unprotected anal intercourse with both seroconcordant and serodiscordant partners, serosorting was associated with a modest decreased risk of HIV infection. To maximize any potential benefit, it will be important to increase accurate knowledge of HIV status, through increased testing frequency
Community oncologists\u27 perceptions and utilization of large-panel genomic tumor testing.
PURPOSE: Large-panel genomic tumor testing (GTT) is an emerging technology with great promise but uncertain clinical value. Previous research has documented variability in academic oncologists\u27 perceptions and use of GTT, but little is known about community oncologists\u27 perceptions of GTT and how perceptions relate to clinicians\u27 intentions to use GTT.
METHODS: Community oncology physicians (N =â58) participating in a statewide initiative aimed at improving access to large-panel GTT completed surveys assessing their confidence in using GTT, attitudes regarding the value of GTT, perceptions of barriers to GTT implementation, and future intentions to use GTTs. Descriptive and multivariable regression analyses were conducted to characterize these perceptions and to explore the relationships between them.
RESULTS: There was substantial variability in clinicians\u27 perceptions of GTT. Clinicians generally had moderate confidence in their ability to use GTT, but lower confidence in patients\u27 ability to understand test results and access targeted treatment. Clinicians had positive attitudes regarding the value of GTT. Clinicians\u27 future intentions to use GTT were associated with greater confidence in using GTT and greater perceived barriers to implementing GTT, but not with attitudes about the value of GTT.
CONCLUSIONS: Community oncologists\u27 perceptions of large-panel genomic tumor testing are variable, and their future intentions to use GTT are associated with both their confidence in and perceived barriers to its use, but not with their attitudes towards GTT. More research is needed to understand other factors that determine how oncologists perceive and use GTT in clinical practice
Efficiency and safety of varying the frequency of whole blood donation (INTERVAL): a randomised trial of 45 000 donors
Background:
Limits on the frequency of whole blood donation exist primarily to safeguard donor health. However, there is substantial variation across blood services in the maximum frequency of donations allowed. We compared standard practice in the UK with shorter inter-donation intervals used in other countries.
Methods:
In this parallel group, pragmatic, randomised trial, we recruited whole blood donors aged 18 years or older from 25 centres across England, UK. By use of a computer-based algorithm, men were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to 12-week (standard) versus 10-week versus 8-week inter-donation intervals, and women were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to 16-week (standard) versus 14-week versus 12-week intervals. Participants were not masked to their allocated intervention group. The primary outcome was the number of donations over 2 years. Secondary outcomes related to safety were quality of life, symptoms potentially related to donation, physical activity, cognitive function, haemoglobin and ferritin concentrations, and deferrals because of low haemoglobin. This trial is registered with ISRCTN, number ISRCTN24760606, and is ongoing but no longer recruiting participants.
Findings:
45â263 whole blood donors (22â466 men, 22â797 women) were recruited between June 11, 2012, and June 15, 2014. Data were analysed for 45â042 (99·5%) participants. Men were randomly assigned to the 12-week (n=7452) versus 10-week (n=7449) versus 8-week (n=7456) groups; and women to the 16-week (n=7550) versus 14-week (n=7567) versus 12-week (n=7568) groups. In men, compared with the 12-week group, the mean amount of blood collected per donor over 2 years increased by 1·69 units (95% CI 1·59â1·80; approximately 795 mL) in the 8-week group and by 0·79 units (0·69â0·88; approximately 370 mL) in the 10-week group (p<0·0001 for both). In women, compared with the 16-week group, it increased by 0·84 units (95% CI 0·76â0·91; approximately 395 mL) in the 12-week group and by 0·46 units (0·39â0·53; approximately 215 mL) in the 14-week group (p<0·0001 for both). No significant differences were observed in quality of life, physical activity, or cognitive function across randomised groups. However, more frequent donation resulted in more donation-related symptoms (eg, tiredness, breathlessness, feeling faint, dizziness, and restless legs, especially among men [for all listed symptoms]), lower mean haemoglobin and ferritin concentrations, and more deferrals for low haemoglobin (p<0·0001 for each) than those observed in the standard frequency groups.
Interpretation:
Over 2 years, more frequent donation than is standard practice in the UK collected substantially more blood without having a major effect on donors' quality of life, physical activity, or cognitive function, but resulted in more donation-related symptoms, deferrals, and iron deficiency.
Funding:
NHS Blood and Transplant, National Institute for Health Research, UK Medical Research Council, and British Heart Foundation
A patient perspective of the impact of medication side effects on adherence: results of a cross-sectional nationwide survey of patients with schizophrenia
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Antipsychotic medications often have a variety of side effects, however, it is not well understood how the presence of specific side effects correlate with adherence in a real-world setting. The aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between these variables among community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data were analyzed from a 2007-2008 nationwide survey of adults who self-reported a diagnosis of schizophrenia and were currently using an antipsychotic medication (N = 876). The presence of side effects was defined as those in which the patient reported they were at least "somewhat bothered". Adherence was defined as a score of zero on the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. To assess the relationship between side effects and adherence, individual logistic regression models were fitted for each side effect controlling for patient characteristics. A single logistic regression model assessed the relationship between side effect clusters and adherence. The relationships between adherence and health resource use were also examined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A majority of patients reported experiencing at least one side effect due to their medication (86.19%). Only 42.5% reported complete adherence. Most side effects were associated with a significantly reduced likelihood of adherence. When grouped as side effect clusters in a single model, extra pyramidal symptoms (EPS)/agitation (odds ratio (OR) = 0.57, p = 0.0007), sedation/cognition (OR = 0.70, p = 0.033), prolactin/endocrine (OR = 0.69, p = 0.0342), and metabolic side effects (OR = 0.64, p = 0.0079) were all significantly related with lower rates of adherence. Those who reported complete adherence to their medication were significantly less likely to report a hospitalization for a mental health reason (OR = 0.51, p = 0.0006), a hospitalization for a non-mental health reason (OR = 0.43, p = 0.0002), and an emergency room (ER) visit for a mental health reason (OR = 0.60, p = 0.008).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Among patients with schizophrenia, medication side effects are highly prevalent and significantly associated with medication nonadherence. Nonadherence is significantly associated with increased healthcare resource use. Prevention, identification, and effective management of medication-induced side effects are important to maximize adherence and reduce health resource use in schizophrenia.</p
Evaluating a team-based approach to research capacity building using a matched-pairs study design
Background: There is a continuing need for research capacity building initiatives for primary health care professionals. Historically strategies have focused on interventions aimed at individuals but more recently theoretical frameworks have proposed team-based approaches. Few studies have evaluated these new approaches. This study aims to evaluate a team-based approach to research capacity building (RCB) in primary health using a validated quantitative measure of research capacity in individual, team and organisation domains
Activity of Bdellovibrio Hit Locus Proteins, Bd0108 and Bd0109, Links Type IVa Pilus Extrusion/Retraction Status to Prey-Independent Growth Signalling
Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus are facultatively predatory bacteria that grow within gram-negative prey, using pili to
invade their periplasmic niche. They also grow prey-independently on organic nutrients after undergoing a reversible
switch. The nature of the growth switching mechanism has been elusive, but several independent reports suggested
mutations in the hit (host-interaction) locus on the Bdellovibrio genome were associated with the transition to preyindependent
growth. Pili are essential for prey entry by Bdellovibrio and sequence analysis of the hit locus predicted
that it was part of a cluster of Type IVb pilus-associated genes, containing bd0108 and bd0109. In this study we have
deleted the whole bd0108 gene, which is unique to Bdellovibrio, and compared its phenotype to strains containing
spontaneous mutations in bd0108 and the common natural 42 bp deletion variant of bd0108. We find that deletion of
the whole bd0108 gene greatly reduced the extrusion of pili, whereas the 42 bp deletion caused greater pilus
extrusion than wild-type. The pili isolated from these strains were comprised of the Type IVa pilin protein; PilA.
Attempts to similarly delete gene bd0109, which like bd0108 encodes a periplasmic/secreted protein, were not
successful, suggesting that it is likely to be essential for Bdellovibrio viability in any growth mode. Bd0109 has a
sugar binding YD- repeat motif and an N-terminus with a putative pilin-like fold and was found to interact directly with
Bd0108. These results lead us to propose that the Bd0109/Bd0108 interaction regulates pilus production in
Bdellovibrio (possibly by interaction with the pilus fibre at the cell wall), and that the presence (and possibly retraction
state) of the pilus feeds back to alter the growth state of the Bdellovibrio cell. We further identify a novel small RNA
encoded by the hit locus, the transcription of which is altered in different bd0108 mutation background
After surgery: the effects of life-saving caesarean sections in Burkina Faso:BMC Pregnancy Childbirth
Background
In African countries, caesarean sections are usually performed to save mothers and babiesâ lives, sometimes in extremis and at considerable costs. Little is known about the health and lives of women once discharged after such surgery. We investigated the long-term effects of life-saving caesarean section on health, economic and social outcomes in Burkina Faso.
Methods
We conducted a 4Â year prospective cohort study of women and their babies using mixed methods. The quantitative sample was selected in seven hospitals and included 950 women: 100 women with a caesarean section associated with near-miss complication (life-saving caesareans); 173 women with a vaginal birth associated with near-miss complication; and 677 women with uncomplicated vaginal childbirth. Structured interviews were conducted at 3Â months, 6Â months, 12Â months and 3 and 4Â years postpartum. These were supplemented by medical record data on delivery and physical examinations at 6 and 12Â months postpartum. The lives and experiences of 21 women were documented ethnographically. Data were analysed with multivariable logistic regressions, using survival analysis and thematic analysis.
Results
The physical effects of life-saving caesareans appeared to be similar to women who had an uncomplicated childbirth, although 55Â % of women with life-saving caesareans had another caesarean in their next pregnancy. The negative effects were generally economic, social and reproductive when compared to vaginal births, including increased debts (AORâ=â3.91 (1.46â10.48) and sexual violence (AORâ=â4.71 (1.04â21.3)) and lower fertility (AORâ=â0.44 (0.24â0.80)) 4Â years after life-saving caesareans. In the short and medium term, women with life-saving caesareans appeared to suffer increased psychological distress compared to uncomplicated births. They were more likely to use contraceptives (AORâ=â5.95 (1.53â23.06); 3Â months). Mortality of the index child was increased in both near-miss groups, independent of delivery mode. Ethnographic data suggest that these consequences are significant for Burkinabe women, whose well-being and social standing are mostly determined by their fertility, marriage strength and family links.
Conclusions
Life-saving caesareans have broad consequences beyond clinical sequelae. The recent policy to subsidise emergency obstetric care costs implemented in Burkina Faso should help avoid the majority of catastrophic costs, shown to be problematic for women undergoing emergency caesarean section
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