C’è una nuova mappa nel territorio genetico umano. E arriva da Roma. Un gruppo di ricercatori della Sapienza, guidati dalla biologa Simona Giunta, del dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie Charles…
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ICMJE Should Create a Certification Process to Identify Predatory Journals
To the Editor A recent Editorial by editors representing the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) highlighted the pressing issues surrounding predatory journals. Although the challenges posed by predatory journals are not new, they are becoming increasingly acute. Although some resources are in place to help counter their activities, we believe that the ICMJE could further address these issues. The ICMJE’s current practice of listing journals that self-declare adherence to the ICMJE recommendations may be exploited by predatory journals because this declaration does not guarantee adherence to the required standards.
Tumore del fegato, scoperto meccanismo di resistenza alle cure
Cellule cancerose modificano loro struttura per sfuggire farmaci
Synthesis of interventions using an interRAI tool to guide care management and assess intervention efficacy in older adults: protocol for a scoping review
Introduction
interRAI is a global collaboration of clinicians, researchers and policy-makers who have developed a suite of assessment tools to assess the health status and care needs of older adults in various settings (ie, home, long-term care, etc). We aim to determine how interRAI tools have been used as an intervention and to evaluate intervention efficacy in older adults (65+) across diverse healthcare settings. Importantly, given the deployment of interRAI primarily in high-income countries, we anticipate that the findings may have minimal relevance to low- and middle-income nations, where there is an immediate and urgent need for equity in geriatric assessment.
Methods and analysis
To be included, all studies must satisfy our inclusion criteria, outlined by the population (ie, older adults and/or individuals providing some element of care to older adults), intervention (ie, randomised or non-randomised), comparator (ie, with or without one) and outcome (ie, how the interRAI formed the basis of a study intervention). Our search strategy is based on previous reviews of interRAI tools, our research and clinical experience, and the expertise of a specialised librarian. In addition to PubMed, we will conduct our search without date or language restrictions in Scopus, Embase,Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Academic Search Premier and PsycInfo. Study screening will employ a team-based approach, with Kappa statistics >0.8 indicating ‘substantial’ agreement and an acceptable threshold. Data extraction will capture the study ID and design, as well as sample characteristics and outcomes. Reporting will adhere to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews, with findings presented graphically and narratively.
Ethics and dissemination
Ethics approval is not required. Our knowledge dissemination strategies include traditional research avenues (ie, manuscript publications). We will also create an infographic to disperse widely and leverage existing partnerships to provide community presentations.
Registration details
https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/BGJKP
Mortality risk associated with clinical signs of possible serious bacterial infection (PSBI) in young infants in Africa and Asia: protocol for a secondary pooled analysis
Introduction
The WHO’s Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) in young infants
Assessing the impact of novel social media policies in the USA restricting youth exposure to food and beverage advertisements: a protocol for a difference-in-difference study
Introduction
Social media is the most prominent source of online food and beverage advertisements (ads) seen by adolescents. Companies target adolescent social media users with ads that feature calorie-dense, nutrient-poor products, and exposure to ads drives poor diet and risk for future diet-related diseases. Black, Hispanic and lower socio-economic status youth are exposed to significantly more ads than White peers. Several state-level policies in the USA have passed restricting youth from accessing social media without parental approval, and some policies have banned advertising to youth. This protocol paper describes a current study that aims to understand the impact of such policies in two states, Louisiana and Texas, as they were among the first to be implemented with racially/ethnically diverse populations.
Methods and analysis
This study employs a repeated cross-sectional difference-in-difference design in which 700 youth ages 13–17 years are being recruited each year for 5 years (Louisiana n=175, Texas n=175, matched comparisons from other states n=350). Youth screen record their mobile devices for 60 minutes while they browse social media platforms (eg, TikTok, Instagram) or use the internet. They also complete a brief survey about a variety of topics (eg, health behaviours, mental health). Adolescents are compensated for screen recording ($75) and the survey ($25). Study team members are coding recordings for several characteristics, including media platforms used, appearances of food or beverages, and food or beverage type. We will estimate the impact of policies on food and beverage ads seen per hour using Ordinary Least Squares regression models and heterogeneity-robust standard errors clustered at the state level (by year and cumulatively). We will run additional models with interaction terms with income and race/ethnicity, separately, to test the role of the policies on health disparities.
Ethics and dissemination
Study procedures have been approved by the Institutional Review Board of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. We will distribute findings in peer-reviewed journals and at local and national conferences. To complement traditional dissemination pathways, we will create infographics to share with relevant community stakeholders. We will also share findings with policymakers in states that have passed or considered similar policies.
Informing family physician payment reform in Canada: protocol for a cross-provincial, multimethod study
Background
Amid growing concerns about primary care accessibility and the need to support longitudinal, community-based models of care, Canadian provinces have implemented major reforms to how family physicians are paid. These models share objectives of making longitudinal, community-based family practice more attractive and, to some degree, addressing long-standing disparities in pay between family medicine and other specialties. These new remuneration models require robust evaluation to guide improvements, future investments and planning.
Methods and analysis
We will conduct a multimethod study to explore physician perceptions and outcomes of these new models. First, we will complete semi-structured interviews with family physicians in British Columbia, Manitoba and Nova Scotia (provinces where a new blended compensation model has been introduced). Interviews will explore family physicians’ motivations for moving onto the blended compensation model; how the model has impacted their practice, administrative burden, visit length, capacity, changes to care coordination; and other areas of interest. Second, using provincial and national administrative datasets, we will assess the impact of these payment reforms on service volume, attachment/enrolment, continuity of care, and costs.
Ethics and dissemination
We have obtained cross-jurisdictional ethics approvals from Research Ethics British Columbia for the qualitative components and Nova Scotia Health for the quantitative components of this research. Harmonised ethics approvals have been obtained from additional institutions across all study regions. We will create summaries of findings of provincial and cross-provincial analyses and share them with relevant policymakers, physician associations and study participants. Our dissemination will also include traditional publications such as peer-reviewed articles, commentaries/editorials, and academic conferences.
Investigation of Poststroke Depression Following a Nucleus Accumbens Infarct in Mice
Stroke, Ahead of Print. BACKGROUND:Poststroke depression (PSD) affects ≈33% of individuals 1 year after a stroke. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a hub for emotional processing, reward, and mood regulation, has been linked to stress-induced depressive-like behaviors in male mice. Neurovascular alterations were also observed in postmortem tissue samples from men with a diagnosis of major depression. Thus, we aimed to investigate if BBB changes in the NAc could contribute to PSD pathophysiology.METHODS:Stereotaxic injection of ET-1 (endothelin-1), a potent vasoconstrictor, was performed in the NAc of male mice to create a focal brain stroke, and then, infarct size and localization were assessed and quantified. We subsequently evaluated transcriptomic and morphological effects of the infarct on BBB-related genes and cells in the NAc, particularly those known to be altered after stress exposure in mice or human depression. BBB integrity was assessed with a dextran dye, and magnetic resonance imaging scans were conducted before versus after the injection of Gadovist, a contrast agent. Last, a battery of behavioral tests related to depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors was performed to determine if an infarct in the NAc is sufficient to induce a PSD-like phenotype.RESULTS:Following ET-1 injection, ≈50% of the total lesion was observed in the NAc leading to BBB hyperpermeability in this brain area. BBB gene expression was impacted by ET-1, and also surgery alone and profiles were differentially regulated throughout time up to 14 days. Gliosis in the NAc was observed with increased reactivity of astrocytes and microglia. The effect of ET-1 on PSD-like symptoms was limited. However, body weight, sociability, and activity were affected by surgery with a more pronounced impact of ET-1 on social interactions compared with naive animals.CONCLUSIONS:While no clear PSD phenotype was observed following an ET-1–induced stroke in the NAc of male mice, our study shed light on the technical complexity of focal lesions in deep brain structures, an understudied phenomenon occurring in humans. We provide technical insights for the development of a mouse model of deep brain lesions, characterize its impact at molecular, cellular, and behavioral levels, and highlight the need to control for vascular alterations when performing stroke surgeries.
Unilateral Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders—Reply
In Reply We value Dr Moin’s feedback on our Viewpoint addressing inadequate documentation of UDNR orders. We agree with her about the ethical importance of transparently sharing when UDNR decisions are made and distinguishing between conflict and assent UDNR decisions. In our Viewpoint, we proposed that hospitals create a UDNR order and recommended that this order include a designation to document whether patients or surrogates actively oppose the UDNR decision. Including this designation within the UDNR order would distinguish between conflict UDNR decisions (active opposition is expressed) and assent UDNR decisions (active opposition is not expressed).
Strategic multimodal intervention in at-risk elderly Indians for prevention of dementia (SMRUTHI INDIA): a cohort multiple randomised controlled trial (cmRCT) protocol
Introduction
Treating modifiable risk factors of dementia may prevent or delay dementia cases by up to 40%. The ‘Strategic Multimodal Intervention in at-risk Elderly Indians for Prevention of Dementia (SMRUTHI INDIA)’ study will be conducted to establish a trial-ready cohort of elderly Indians who are at high risk of developing dementia.
Methods and analysis
The main aim of the study is to create and study a cohort of individuals at high risk of dementia in rural India, where we can do multiple intervention trials. The study uses the ‘Cohort Multiple Randomised Controlled Trial’ (cmRCT) design, which combines a cohort study with in-built provisions to do multiple randomised controlled trials. A large rural cohort of size 10 000 (four zones of India, through established Indian Council of Medical Research – Model Rural Health Research Units) will be followed systematically with yearly neuropsychological evaluation for 5 years (the current funding supports first 3000 participants). The study also proposes to design a multimodal ‘care bundle’ for the prevention of dementia, which is culturally tailored and context-specific to the Indian population. This intervention will undergo testing for feasibility in the hospital setting at the central coordinating site through a pilot randomised controlled trial (6 months, 30 participants). In parallel, the care bundle will be culturally and linguistically adapted and pilot-tested in 20 participants in each zone. The final curated care bundle (first intervention that is planned) will then be tested for efficacy in phase 2 of the SMRUTHI INDIA cmRCT cohort.
Ethics and dissemination
The study has received ethical clearance at the central coordinating site and at each of the four clinical sites by the Institute Research Committee of each site. The outcomes of the study will be disseminated to various target audiences, including research participants, general public, scientific community and policy makers through national and international conferences and events, social media, various community engagement activities and publication in peer-reviewed journals.
Trial registration number
The study protocol is registered in the Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI/2024/01/061172).
How do programme directors perceive trainee attrition? A qualitative focus group study in three Dutch teaching hospitals
Objective
To gain insight into programme directors’ (PDs’) perceptions of trainee attrition from postgraduate medical education (PGME), focusing on interactions between stakeholders within the learning environment and roles of PDs in the process leading to attrition.
Design, setting and participants
We performed a focus group study with 27 PDs from three Dutch teaching hospitals and analysed transcripts using template analysis.
Results
PDs identified attrition as a multilevel problem, in which personal, workplace and system-bound factors play a role. PDs mentioned balancing professional and personal responsibilities, in particular parenthood and high ambitions, as important trainee-related factors. PDs adopt different, at times conflicting, roles when guiding trainees, for example, assessor and mentor, and they struggle to balance these roles. They displayed various emotions when discussing attrition, varying from disappointment to frustration and anger, yet could also frame attrition positively as new opportunity. PDs used numerous resources to support trainees in difficulty, in a reactive rather than in a pro-active manner. A generation difference between faculty and trainees regarding work-life balance was mentioned as impeding mutual understanding. On the system level, PDs observed how implicit beliefs and negative interactions between actors in the learning environment impede trainees’ well-being.
Conclusions
PDs perceived trainee attrition as a multi-level problem that highlighted conflicting roles for the PD and evoked a wide range of emotions. The authors propose the following interventions: (1) address conflicting roles of PDs by reallocating specific tasks to other independent ‘third parties’, for example, professional coaching; (2) implement pro-active support for trainees unrelated to assessment; (3) create awareness of implicit assumptions of stakeholders and promote social belonging; (4) foster a supportive learning climate with clinical leaders as role models.
Hierarchical Composite Outcomes and Win Ratio Methods in Cardiovascular Trials: A Review and Consequent Guidance
Circulation, Volume 151, Issue 22, Page 1606-1619, June 3, 2025. The win ratio is a method for analyzing a hierarchical composite outcome. It has been most widely used in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in cardiovascular disease. We performed a review of cardiovascular RCTs using the win ratio published between January 2022 and July 2024. The aims were to summarize current use and to provide examples to illustrate effective use and communication. We identified 36 eligible RCTs, mainly in heart failure and ischemic heart disease. Intervention was pharmaceutical in 26, a procedure in 7, and treatment strategy in 3 trials. When outcomes were analyzed with both conventional composite end points or hierarchical analysis, the conclusions tended to be similar. The win ratio was often used to combine evidence from event outcomes and quantitative measures together in a hierarchical composite, as was done in 23 RCTs. It was also used to create a clinically more relevant measure in RCTs by recognizing the clinical priorities among event outcomes. Selected example RCTs illustrate how the clarity of win ratio findings can be improved by (1) complementing the win ratio (a relative measure) with the win difference, (2) identifying which components of a hierarchical composite drive the overall results, and (3) clearly prespecifying the outcomes and win ratio analysis to be used. We conclude with a set of recommendations for future use of hierarchical composite outcomes and the win ratio. When used wisely, the win ratio is a valuable tool in the analysis of RCTs.
A Decade of JAMA Oncology
Ten years ago, when we started JAMA Oncology, our goal was to create a journal that would be “one-stop shopping” for oncology clinical science. Our scope was to publish scientific discoveries and innovations that would have either immediate importance to the reader or have the potential to be practice changing within the next 5 years. Our north star was, and still is, science that impacts patient care. We reached out to the scientific community broadly with editors who were medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists. Over the years, we have cultivated a diverse group of authors and readers: physicians, PhD scientists, nurses, pharmacists, patients, and many others. This diverse community has given JAMA Oncology its edge—there is always some unique topic within our table of contents.
Validation and Feasibility of PETS-Stroke: A Patient-Reported Measure of Treatment Burden After Stroke
Stroke, Ahead of Print. BACKGROUND:Treatment burden is the workload of health care for people with long-term conditions and the impact on wellbeing. A validated measure of treatment burden for use as an outcome measure in stroke trials is needed. We adapted a patient-reported measure of treatment burden in multimorbidity, Patient Experience With Treatment and Self-Management (PETS), version 2.0, to create a stroke-specific measure, PETS-stroke, and examined its psychometric properties.METHODS:We conducted an observational cohort study. Stroke and transient ischemic attack survivors were recruited between February 2022 to June 2023 from 10 hospitals in the United Kingdom and through the Scottish Health Research Register. Participants completed the PETS-stroke questionnaire along with 3 other patient-reported measures (the Stroke Southampton Self-Management Questionnaire, the Satisfaction With Stroke Care Measure, and the Shortened Stroke Impact Scale). We performed confirmatory factor analysis to test the factor structure of the PETS-stroke. We assessed Spearman rank correlations between PETS-stroke and other patient-reported measures to determine convergent validity. An intraclass correlation coefficient was performed to assess test-retest reliability. Proportions of missing data along with feedback from qualitative interviews were used to determine feasibility. T-tests were conducted to examine variations in PETS-stroke scores based on multimorbidity and socioeconomic factors.RESULTS:Three hundred eighty-one participants were included (mean age, 68.2 [SD, 11.2] years; female, 43.3%). The best fit was achieved with a 9-factor structure, and internal consistency was good (Omega values, 0.729–0.921). The factor loadings for the individual indicator items across 8 of the 9 domains were moderate to strong. All domains of PETS-stroke showed moderate to strong correlations with at least one other patient-reported measure. Test-retest reliability was good for all domains (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.7). Qualitative feedback on feasibility was positive: participants found the questionnaire to be easy and quick to complete, and missing data were within acceptable limits for 7 domains. PETS-stroke scores significantly differed based on multimorbidity in 3 domains and in 8 domains based on socioeconomic status.CONCLUSIONS:Psychometric performance suggests that PETS-stroke is a valid and feasible measure of treatment burden after stroke.
PROtective ileoStomy versus ProtectivE colostomy in anterior Rectal resectIon: study protocol for a multicenter, open-label, randomised conTrolled studY (PROSPERITY)
Introduction
Loop ileostomy and loop colostomy are both used to form a protective stoma after anterior resection. Evidence regarding which of these two procedures is superior is lacking. Furthermore, no studies comparing changes in the microbiome after loop ileostomy or loop colostomy exist.
Methods and analysis
This multicentre, open-label, superiority, individually randomised controlled trial will include patients who undergo anterior rectal resection with primary anastomosis with a protective stoma. The exclusion criteria are patients who already have a stoma, technical inability to create either type of stoma, aged
Unlocking insights: exploring mammography beliefs among Teshie community mothers – a qualitative exploratory descriptive study
Background
Breast cancer is a global concern, especially for women of African descent, with rising cases in Ghana. While awareness and diagnostic screening have improved, studies in Ghana and many African countries have prioritised breast self-examinations, with limited focus on mammography.
Objective
Our study explores beliefs and attitudes towards mammography screening among mothers at Teshie Community in Ghana.
Methods
The study methodology was qualitative and an exploratory design was used. Convenience sampling was used to select 30 participants until saturation was reached. Indepth, one-on-one interviews were conducted with a semistructured interview guide with probes until saturation was reached. Then data were audiotaped audiotaped, transcribed and coded. Content analysis was done to generate themes and subthemes.
Findings
Most participants, 93%, had not undergone mammography screening. Only two individuals (7%) had experienced mammography screening. The study identified two major themes: beliefs and perceptions regarding mammography, and attitudes towards mammography screening. Participants generally displayed limited knowledge of mammography screening, along with mixed attitudes and varying degrees of motivation. Notably, many participants enjoyed strong spousal support for mammography screening.
Conclusion
It was recommended that nurses should create awareness of mammography to increase the knowledge of women and the general population about mammography, as this is believed to increase the uptake of mammography screening.