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Cancer Causes & Control : CCC Sep 2023Partnerships between researchers and community members and organizations can offer multiple benefits for research relevance and dissemination. The goal of this project...
PURPOSE
Partnerships between researchers and community members and organizations can offer multiple benefits for research relevance and dissemination. The goal of this project was to build infrastructure to create bidirectional relationships between University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center (UWCCC) researchers and community educators in the Division of Extension, which connects the knowledge and resources of the university to communities across the state.
METHODS
This project had three aims: (1) create linkages with Extension; (2) establish an in-reach program to educate and train researchers on the science of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE); and (3) identify and facilitate collaborative projects between scientists and communities. Survey and focus group-based needs assessments were completed with both researchers and Extension educators and program activity evaluations were conducted.
RESULTS
Most Extension educators (71%) indicated a strong interest in partnering on COE projects. UWCCC faculty indicated interest in further disseminating their research, but also indicated barriers in connecting with communities. Outreach webinars were created and disseminated to community, a "COE in-reach toolkit" for faculty was created and a series of "speed networking" events were hosted to pair researchers and community. Evaluations indicated the acceptability and usefulness of these activities and supported continuation of collaborative efforts.
CONCLUSION
Continued relationship and skill building, along with a sustainability plan, is critical to support the translation of basic, clinical, and population research to action in the community outreach and engagement context. Further incentives for faculty should be explored for the recruitment of basic scientists into community engagement work.
Topics: Humans; Surveys and Questionnaires; Research Personnel; Neoplasms; Community-Institutional Relations; Program Evaluation
PubMed: 37247136
DOI: 10.1007/s10552-023-01725-8 -
BMB Reports Aug 2019Using tunneling nanotubes (TNTs), various pathological molecules and viruses disseminate to adjacent cells intercellularly. Here, we show that the intracellular invasion...
Using tunneling nanotubes (TNTs), various pathological molecules and viruses disseminate to adjacent cells intercellularly. Here, we show that the intracellular invasion of Mycoplasma hyorhinis induces the formation of actin- and tubulin-based TNTs in various mammalian cell lines. M. hyorhinis was found in TNTs generated by M. hyorhinis infection in NIH3T3 cells. Because mycoplasma-free recipient cells received mycoplasmas from M. hyorhinis-infected donor cells in a mixed co-culture system and not a spatially separated co-culture system, direct cell-to-cell contact via TNTs was necessary for the intracellular dissemination of M. hyorhinis. The activity of Rac1, which is a small GTP binding protein, was increased by the intracellular invasion of M. hyorhinis, and its pharmacological and genetic inhibition prevented M. hyorhinis infection-induced TNT generation in NIH3T3 cells. The pharmacological and genetic inhibition of Rac1 also reduced the cell-to-cell dissemination of M. hyorhinis. Based on these data, we conclude that intracellular invasion of M. hyorhinis induces the formation of TNTs, which are used for the cell-to-cell dissemination of M. hyorhinis. [BMB Reports 2019; 52(8): 490-495].
Topics: Animals; Cell Communication; Mice; Mycoplasma hyorhinis; NIH 3T3 Cells; Nanotubes
PubMed: 30673584
DOI: 10.5483/BMBRep.2019.52.8.243 -
Trials Jul 2017Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) is associated with an increased risk of perinatal mortality and morbidity. Several treatment interventions have been described for...
BACKGROUND
Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) is associated with an increased risk of perinatal mortality and morbidity. Several treatment interventions have been described for TTTS, including fetoscopic laser surgery, amnioreduction, septostomy, expectant management, and pregnancy termination. Over the last decade, fetoscopic laser surgery has become the primary treatment. The literature to date reports on many different outcomes, making it difficult to compare results or combine data from individual studies, limiting the value of research to guide clinical practice. With the advent and ongoing development of new therapeutic techniques, this is more important than ever. The development and use of a core outcome set has been proposed to address these issues, prioritising outcomes important to the key stakeholders, including patients. We aim to produce, disseminate, and implement a core outcome set for TTTS.
METHODS
An international steering group has been established to oversee the development of this core outcome set. This group includes healthcare professionals, researchers and patients. A systematic review is planned to identify previously reported outcomes following treatment for TTTS. Following completion, the identified outcomes will be evaluated by stakeholders using an international, multi-perspective online modified Delphi method to build consensus on core outcomes. This method encourages the participants towards consensus 'core' outcomes. All key stakeholders will be invited to participate. The steering group will then hold a consensus meeting to discuss results and form a core outcome set to be introduced and measured. Once core outcomes have been agreed, the next step will be to determine how they should be measured, disseminated, and implemented within an international context.
DISCUSSION
The development, dissemination, and implementation of a core outcome set in TTTS will enable its use in future clinical trials, systematic reviews and clinical practice guidelines. This is likely to advance the quality of research studies and their effective use in order to guide clinical practice and improve patient care, maternal, short-term perinatal outcomes and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET), 921 Registered on July 2016. International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), CRD42016043999 . Registered on 2 August 2016.
Topics: Clinical Protocols; Consensus; Delphi Technique; Endpoint Determination; Female; Fetofetal Transfusion; Humans; Pregnancy; Research Design; Stakeholder Participation; Systematic Reviews as Topic; Treatment Outcome; Twin Studies as Topic
PubMed: 28709445
DOI: 10.1186/s13063-017-2042-0 -
Journal of Public Health Policy Jun 2021Since COVID-19 emerged, a plethora of misinformation has undermined the public's ability to identify reliable sources of accurate information. To identify the range of...
Since COVID-19 emerged, a plethora of misinformation has undermined the public's ability to identify reliable sources of accurate information. To identify the range of methods governments used to address COVID-19 misinformation, we conducted a content analysis of international media and evaluated government actions in light of international law, which protects freedom of expression and calls on governments to guarantee this fundamental right even during a pandemic or other emergency. We identified five categories of government activities: (1) disseminating and increasing access to accurate information; (2) restricting access to accurate information; (3) disseminating disinformation, false information, and misinformation; (4) addressing commercial fraud; and (5) criminalizing expression. The goal of addressing COVID-19 misinformation is best served by protecting expression, disseminating factual information, ensuring strong protections for whistleblowers, and supporting an independent media environment. Conversely, governments undermine public health when they create a state of uncertainty and violate human rights.
Topics: COVID-19; Communication; Consumer Health Information; Federal Government; Fraud; Humans; Information Dissemination; Pandemics; Public Health; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 33510401
DOI: 10.1057/s41271-020-00270-x -
Cancer Control : Journal of the Moffitt... 2022Despite the benefits of genetic counseling and testing (GCT), utilization is particularly low among African American (AA) women who exhibit breast cancer features that...
OBJECTIVES
Despite the benefits of genetic counseling and testing (GCT), utilization is particularly low among African American (AA) women who exhibit breast cancer features that are common in BRCA-associated cancer. Underutilization is especially problematic for AA women who are more likely to die from breast cancer than women from any other race or ethnicity. Due to medical mistrust, fear, and stigma that can be associated with genetic services among racial/ethnic minorities, reliance on trusted social networks may be an impactful strategy to increase dissemination of knowledge about hereditary cancer risk. Informed by the social cognitive theory, the purpose of this study is to determine: 1) which AA patients diagnosed with breast cancer and with identified hereditary risk are sharing information about hereditary risk with their networks; 2) the nature of the information dissemination; and 3) if personal GCT experiences is associated with dissemination of information about hereditary risk.
METHODS
Among consented participants (n = 100) that completed an interview administered using a 202-item questionnaire consisting of open- and closed-ended questions, 62 patients were identified to be at higher risk for breast cancer. Descriptive statistics, bivariable chi-square, Pearson's exact tests, and regression analyses were conducted to examine differences in characteristics between high-risk participants who disseminated hereditary risk information and participants who did not.
RESULTS
Among high-risk participants, 25 (40%) indicated they had disseminated information about hereditary risk to at least one member in their family/friend network and 37 (60%) had not. Receipt of both provider recommendations and receipt of GCT services was associated with greater odds of disseminating information about hereditary risk with networks, OR = 4.53, 95%CI [1.33, 15.50], p = .02.
CONCLUSION
Interventions that increase self-efficacy gained through additional personalized knowledge and experience gained through provider recommendations and by undergoing GCT may facilitate information dissemination among social/familial networks.
Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Delivery of Health Care; Female; Genetic Counseling; Genetic Testing; Humans; Information Dissemination; Trust
PubMed: 35658635
DOI: 10.1177/10732748221104666 -
JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting Jun 2023There is a need to disseminate evidence-based parenting interventions for adolescent externalizing concerns. Although family-based treatments have demonstrated efficacy...
BACKGROUND
There is a need to disseminate evidence-based parenting interventions for adolescent externalizing concerns. Although family-based treatments have demonstrated efficacy for such concerns, they have limitations and challenges when disseminated in the community. Behavioral-based parenting techniques form an integral part of well-established, family-based interventions for adolescent behavioral problems and are ideal for dissemination through coupling with smartphone technology. Despite the vast number of "parent" apps currently available in commercial markets, there is a dearth of reviews focused on evaluating mobile health apps through the lens of behavioral parenting training (BPT).
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to conduct a systematic review of commercial mobile health apps for parents to increase effective parenting skills that include behavioral components.
METHODS
A search of the Google Play and Apple App Stores identified 57 apps that were included in the review and coded for availability, popularity, and infrastructure. In total, 89% (51/57) of them were sufficiently functional to be assessed for app design quality (engagement, functionality, esthetics, and information), and 53% (30/57) proceeded to the final evaluation of level of adherence to BPT principles.
RESULTS
In total, 57 apps met the initial inclusion criteria. Accessibility was high across these apps given that 44% (25/57) were available on both the Google Play and Apple App Stores and 68% (39/57) were free of charge. However, privacy concerns were addressed inconsistently among the apps. App design quality was average across the included apps, and apps with positive user star ratings or a high number of downloads received higher ratings on app design quality. In contrast, the identified apps largely fell short in providing BPT components adequately and with high interactivity, with low levels of adherence to BPT (mean 20.74%, SD 11%) across all commercial apps evaluated. Commercially popular apps did not show higher levels of adherence to BPT. Overall, a moderate relationship between app design quality and adherence to BPT was found. App features that have been found to increase user engagement, such as gamification and individualization, were only observed in a small minority of apps. Overall, there was a lack of focus on teenage development.
CONCLUSIONS
Future app developers hoping to increase the dissemination of BPT should aim for free and accessible apps that balance high-quality design features (eg, simple esthetics, interactivity, and individualization) with content consistent with BPT principles. They should also consider key issues that are inconsistently addressed in current apps, including privacy and teenage development. Future app developments will likely benefit from multisector (industry and academic) collaboration throughout the design process and involving end users (ie, parents) during different stages of app development.
PubMed: 37261886
DOI: 10.2196/43626 -
BMJ Open Sep 2020Obstacles to successful settlement-social isolation, language hardship, issues with employment, housing questions, transportation, barriers to health, education and...
Activities and programmes that support the emotional wellness and well-being of refugees, immigrants and other newcomers within settlement agencies: a scoping review protocol.
INTRODUCTION
Obstacles to successful settlement-social isolation, language hardship, issues with employment, housing questions, transportation, barriers to health, education and government service access-all potentially play a role in emerging physical and mental health problems. The objective of this scoping review is to map the available evidence in order to provide an overview of the services and resources offered to refugees, immigrants and other newcomers by settlement agencies to support emotional wellness and well-being.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS
The protocol to be followed for this scoping review is based on the Joanna Briggs Institute to provide a map of the current and emergent literature, and examine the extent, range and nature of this literature. The proposed scoping review will also identify the gaps in research pertaining to the emotional wellness of refugees, immigrants and other newcomers as well as summarise and disseminate research findings and provide direction for future reviews. Key databases for this scoping review include APA PsycINFO, Medline, Embase, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature Plus, Academic Search Complete, and Education Research Complete. The database search start and end dates for this scoping review will be from inception to July 2020. The article searches will take place between August and October 2020.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION
Ethics is not required as the research will not involve human or animal subjects. The research is a scoping review, and thus relies on published and grey literature studies and documents. The findings of this proposed scoping review will be disseminated through future publications as well as presentations to relevant stakeholders, including immigrant serving agencies. We anticipate that this scoping review will identify gaps in research pertaining to the emotional wellness of refugees, immigrants and other newcomers. The results of this review will be the first comprehensive recent survey of emotional wellness practices employed by settlement agencies.
Topics: Emigrants and Immigrants; Humans; Mental Health; Organizations; Peer Review; Refugees; Research Design
PubMed: 32938589
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033377 -
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023As a pandemic emerges, information on epidemic prevention disseminates among the populace, and the propagation of that information interacts with the proliferation of...
As a pandemic emerges, information on epidemic prevention disseminates among the populace, and the propagation of that information interacts with the proliferation of the disease. Mass media serve a pivotal function in facilitating the dissemination of epidemic-related information. Investigating coupled information-epidemic dynamics, while accounting for the promotional effect of mass media in information dissemination, is of significant practical relevance. Nonetheless, in the extant research, scholars predominantly employ an assumption that mass media broadcast to all individuals equally within the network: this assumption overlooks the practical constraint imposed by the substantial social resources required to accomplish such comprehensive promotion. In response, this study introduces a coupled information-epidemic spreading model with mass media that can selectively target and disseminate information to a specific proportion of high-degree nodes. We employed a microscopic Markov chain methodology to scrutinize our model, and we examined the influence of the various model parameters on the dynamic process. The findings of this study reveal that mass media broadcasts directed towards high-degree nodes within the information spreading layer can substantially reduce the infection density of the epidemic, and raise the spreading threshold of the epidemic. Additionally, as the mass media broadcast proportion increases, the suppression effect on the disease becomes stronger. Moreover, with a constant broadcast proportion, the suppression effect of mass media promotion on epidemic spreading within the model is more pronounced in a multiplex network with a negative interlayer degree correlation, compared to scenarios with positive or absent interlayer degree correlation.
PubMed: 37372271
DOI: 10.3390/e25060927 -
Journal of Anesthesia, Analgesia and... Mar 2024Dissemination of medical practice and scientific information through social media (SoMe) by clinicians and researchers is increasing. Broad exposure of information can... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Dissemination of medical practice and scientific information through social media (SoMe) by clinicians and researchers is increasing. Broad exposure of information can promote connectivity within the scientific community, overcome barriers to access to sources, increase debate, and reveal layperson perspectives and preferences. On the other hand, practices lacking scientific evidence may also be promoted, laypeople may misunderstand the professional message, and clinician may suffer erosion of professional status. The aim of this project was to enhance awareness and advise the anesthesia community and clinicians at large about the potential risks advocate for responsible use of SoMe to disseminate information related to medical practices and knowledge.
METHODS
A modified Delphi process with prespecified consensus criteria was conducted among a multidisciplinary panel of experts, including anesthesiologists-intensivists, clinical psychologists, and forensic medicine specialists. Six items were identified: Ethics and deontological principles, the practice of sharing information via social media, legal aspects, psychological aspects, self-promotion, and criteria for appropriate dissemination. Statements and rationales were produced and subjected to blinded panelists' votes. After reaching consensus, a document was written which then underwent external review by experts uninvolved in the consensus process. The project was promoted by the Italian Society of Anesthesia Analgesia Resuscitation and Intensive Care (SIAARTI).
RESULTS
Twelve statements were produced, and consensus was achieved for all. The panel concluded that the general principles guiding dissemination of professional information via SoMe must remain in line with the general principles of ethics, deontology, and scientific validity that guide the medical profession and science in general. Professional equity must be maintained while communicating via SoMe. Medical practices lacking support by scientific evidence should not be disseminated. Patients' informed consent must be obtained before dissemination of information, images, or data. Self-promotion must not be prioritized over any of these principles.
CONCLUSIONS
When sharing medical practices and scientific information on SoMe, healthcare professionals are advised to act conscientiously and ethically. Local regulations should be adhered to. Institutional training on the potential risks and proper of SoMe for such purpose may contribute to preservation of professional integrity.
PubMed: 38504319
DOI: 10.1186/s44158-024-00157-3 -
Gut Microbes 2022species are the most prevalent cause of invasive fungal infections, of which is the most common. Translocation across the epithelial barrier into the bloodstream by... (Review)
Review
species are the most prevalent cause of invasive fungal infections, of which is the most common. Translocation across the epithelial barrier into the bloodstream by intestinal-colonizing cells serves as the main source for systemic infections. Understanding the fungal mechanisms behind this process will give valuable insights on how to prevent such infections and keep in the commensal state in patients with predisposing conditions. This review will focus on recent developments in characterizing fungal translocation mechanisms, compare what we know about enteric bacterial pathogens with , and discuss the different proposed hypotheses for how enters and disseminates through the bloodstream immediately following translocation.
Topics: Humans; Candida albicans; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Intestines
PubMed: 36503341
DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2022.2154548