-
Farmacia Hospitalaria : Organo Oficial... 2023Develop an App to use in healthcare practice, with updated and accurate information on the handling of medications in patients with dysphagia or deglution disorders, as...
OBJECTIVE
Develop an App to use in healthcare practice, with updated and accurate information on the handling of medications in patients with dysphagia or deglution disorders, as well as their compatibility with food and thickeners.
METHODS
The development of the Deglufarm® App was based on the CRONOS, Nutrition and Techno working groups of the Sociedad Española de Farmacia Hospitalaria. A group of specialist pharmacists was created from different care areas for patients with dysphagia. The creation of Deglufarm® consisted of several stages: selection of active drugs, literature review, content development, design (an expert company in App design was contacted), testing, launch, content update and follow-up.
RESULTS
Deglufarm® is available for Android and IOS free of charge from July 2022. It has been tested among the members of the research group and collaborators, Currently, 540 monographs of active drugs have been reviewed and registered in Deglufarm. The first version is aimed at healthcare professionals.
CONCLUSIONS
Deglufarm® is an easy tool to consult, with the most current evidence on handling the medicines it contains.
Topics: Humans; Mobile Applications; Deglutition Disorders; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Pharmacists; Health Personnel
PubMed: 37758640
DOI: 10.1016/j.farma.2023.08.002 -
Applications in Plant Sciences 2024Plant trait data are essential for quantifying biodiversity and function across Earth, but these data are challenging to acquire for large studies. Diverse strategies...
PREMISE
Plant trait data are essential for quantifying biodiversity and function across Earth, but these data are challenging to acquire for large studies. Diverse strategies are needed, including the liberation of heritage data locked within specialist literature such as floras and taxonomic monographs. Here we report FloraTraiter, a novel approach using rule-based natural language processing (NLP) to parse computable trait data from biodiversity literature.
METHODS
FloraTraiter was implemented through collaborative work between programmers and botanical experts and customized for both online floras and scanned literature. We report a strategy spanning optical character recognition, recognition of taxa, iterative building of traits, and establishing linkages among all of these, as well as curational tools and code for turning these results into standard morphological matrices.
RESULTS
Over 95% of treatment content was successfully parsed for traits with <1% error. Data for more than 700 taxa are reported, including a demonstration of common downstream uses.
CONCLUSIONS
We identify strategies, applications, tips, and challenges that we hope will facilitate future similar efforts to produce large open-source trait data sets for broad community reuse. Largely automated tools like FloraTraiter will be an important addition to the toolkit for assembling trait data at scale.
PubMed: 38369975
DOI: 10.1002/aps3.11563 -
The Journal of Applied Laboratory... Jul 2023Glycated albumin (GA) is a short-term measure of glycemic control. Several studies have demonstrated an inverse association between body mass index (BMI) and GA, which...
BACKGROUND
Glycated albumin (GA) is a short-term measure of glycemic control. Several studies have demonstrated an inverse association between body mass index (BMI) and GA, which may affect its performance as a biomarker of hyperglycemia. We investigated cross-sectional associations between GA and multiple measures of adiposity, and compared its performance as a glycemic biomarker by obesity status, in a nationally representative sample of US adults.
METHODS
We measured GA in adults from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Separately in adults with and without diabetes, we assessed associations of GA with adiposity measures (BMI, waist circumference, trunk fat, total body fat, and fat mass index) in sex-stratified multivariable regression models. We compared sensitivity and specificity of GA to identify elevated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), by obesity status.
RESULTS
In covariate-adjusted regression models, all adiposity measures were inversely associated with GA in adults without diabetes (β=-0.48 to -0.22%-point GA per 1 SD adiposity measure; n = 9750) and with diabetes (β=-1.73 to -0.92%-point GA per SD). Comparing adults with vs without obesity, GA exhibited lower sensitivity (43% vs 54%) with equivalent specificity (99%) to detect undiagnosed diabetes (HbA1c ≥ 6.5%). Among adults with diagnosed diabetes (n = 1085), GA performed well to identify above-target glycemia (HbA1c ≥ 7.0%), with high specificity (>80%) overall but lower sensitivity in those with vs without obesity (81% vs 93%).
CONCLUSIONS
Inverse associations between GA and adiposity were present in people with and without diabetes. GA is highly specific but may not be sufficiently sensitive for diabetes screening in adults with obesity.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Adiposity; Nutrition Surveys; Glycated Hemoglobin; Cross-Sectional Studies; Obesity; Serum Albumin; Diabetes Mellitus; Biomarkers
PubMed: 36998214
DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfad004 -
AMIA ... Annual Symposium Proceedings.... 2023In 2021, the Association of American Medical Colleges published Telehealth Competencies Across the Learning Continuum, a roadmap for designing telemedicine curricula and...
In 2021, the Association of American Medical Colleges published Telehealth Competencies Across the Learning Continuum, a roadmap for designing telemedicine curricula and evaluating learners. While this document advances educators' shared understanding of telemedicine's core content and performance expectations, it does not include turn-key-ready evaluation instruments. At the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine, we developed a year-long telemedicine curriculum for third-year medical and second-year physician assistant students. We used the AAMC framework to create program objectives and instructional simulations. We designed and piloted an assessment rubric for eight AAMC competencies to accompany the simulations. In this monograph, we describe the rubric development, scores for students participating in simulations, and results comparing inter-rater reliability between faculty and standardized patient evaluators. Our preliminary work suggests that our rubric provides a practical method for evaluating learners by faculty during telemedicine simulations. We also identified opportunities for additional reliability and validity testing.
Topics: Humans; Reproducibility of Results; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; Telemedicine; Students; Curriculum; Students, Medical
PubMed: 38222442
DOI: No ID Found -
Biologicals : Journal of the... Aug 2023Humane Society International India (HSI India) organized and facilitated a workshop on the 'Future of Target Animal Batch Safety Test (TABST) and Laboratory Animal Batch...
Humane Society International India (HSI India) organized and facilitated a workshop on the 'Future of Target Animal Batch Safety Test (TABST) and Laboratory Animal Batch Safety Test (LABST) in the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) Monographs'. The workshop hosted key Indian regulators from the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), industry representatives from the Indian Federation of Animal Health Companies (INFAH), Asian Animal Health Association (AAHA), and international experts representing the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines (EDQM), the International Cooperation on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products (VICH), and multinational veterinary products manufacturers. The workshop was organized to encourage a bidirectional flow of information and to discuss the deletion of TABST and LABST from the veterinary vaccine monographs in the IP. This workshop was built from the symposium held by Humane Society International on the 'Global Harmonization of Vaccine Testing Requirements' held in 2019. This report details the outcomes of the workshop with proposed activities to be taken up as part of the next steps for the elimination or waiving of these tests.
Topics: Animals; Vaccines; International Cooperation; Reference Standards; Animals, Laboratory; India
PubMed: 37244127
DOI: 10.1016/j.biologicals.2023.101665 -
Journal, Genetic Engineering &... Oct 2023Microsatellites are important markers for livestock including ducks. The development of microsatellites is expensive and labor-intensive. Meanwhile, the in silico...
BACKGROUND
Microsatellites are important markers for livestock including ducks. The development of microsatellites is expensive and labor-intensive. Meanwhile, the in silico approach for mining for microsatellites became a practicable alternative. Therefore, the current study aimed at comparing whole-genome and chromosome-wise microsatellite mining approaches in Muscovy and Mallard ducks and testing the transferability of markers between them. The GMATA software was used for the in silico study, and validation was performed using 26 primers.
RESULTS
The total number of the detected microsatellites using chromosome-wise was 250,053 and 226,417 loci compared to 260,059 and 238,462 loci using whole genome in Mallards and Muscovies. The frequencies of different motifs had similar patterns using the two approaches. Dinucleotide motifs were predominant (> 50%) in both Mallards and Muscovies. The amplification of the genomes revealed an average number of alleles of 5.08 and 4.96 in Mallards and Muscovies. One locus was monographic in Mallards, and two were monomorphic in Muscovies. The average expected heterozygosity was higher in Muscovy than in Mallards (0.45 vs. 0.43) with no significant difference between the two primer sets, which indicated the usefulness of cross-species amplification of different primers.
CONCLUSION
The current study developed a whole-genome SSR panel for ducks for the first time, and the results could prove that using chromosome-wise mining did not generate different results compared to the whole-genome approach.
PubMed: 37856056
DOI: 10.1186/s43141-023-00556-z -
Planta Medica Jul 2023Medicinal cannabis and respective products have been available in EU member states as single-patient prescriptions without regular marketing authorizations for a couple...
Medicinal cannabis and respective products have been available in EU member states as single-patient prescriptions without regular marketing authorizations for a couple of years. The Netherlands was the first member state to realize this; in the meantime other member states have followed. Today, aside from the Netherlands, Germany is the most important market for such products. The regulatory framework for the approval of medicinal cannabis and its distribution to patients in the EU member states is, however, not harmonized at all, and there are distinct national regulations. Regarding the quality of such products, the general requirements for herbal medicinal products as defined in the European Pharmacopoeia, national pharmacopoeias, and the EMA guidance documents in place beside GMP requirements in the EU are applicable. However, for a couple of aspects, every EU member state follows its own interpretation of these requirements. To facilitate free distribution of such products between EU member states in future and to harmonize requirements for quality and GMP, an EU-wide approach is needed. As a first step, this should be realized by implementing monographs for cannabis medicinal products in the European Pharmacopoeia.
Topics: Medical Marijuana; European Union; Herbal Medicine; Plants, Medicinal; Phytotherapy
PubMed: 35338476
DOI: 10.1055/a-1808-9708 -
Environment International Oct 2023The World Health Organization is coordinating an international project aimed at systematically reviewing the evidence regarding the association between radiofrequency... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
The World Health Organization is coordinating an international project aimed at systematically reviewing the evidence regarding the association between radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure and adverse health effects. Within the project, 6 topics have been prioritized by an expert group, which include reproductive health outcomes.
OBJECTIVES
According to the protocol published in 2021, a systematic review and meta-analyses on the adverse effects of RF-EMF exposure during pregnancy in offspring of experimental animals were conducted.
METHODS
Three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus and EMF Portal) were last searched on September 8 or 17, 2022. Based on predefined selection criteria, the obtained references were screened by two independent reviewers. Studies were included if they met the following criteria: 1) original, sham controlled experimental study on non-human mammals exposed in utero, published in peer-reviewed journals, 2) the experimental RF-EMF exposure was within the frequency range 100 kHz-300 GHz, 3) the effects of RF-EMF exposure on fecundity (litter size, embryonic/fetal losses), on the offspring health at birth (decrease of weight or length, congenital malformations, changes of sex ratio) or on delayed effects (neurocognitive alterations, female infertility or early-onset cancer) were studied. Study characteristics and outcome data were extracted by two reviewers. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) guidelines. Study results were pooled in a random effects meta-analysis comparing average exposure to no-exposure and in a dose-response meta-analysis using all exposure doses, after exclusion of studies that were rated at "high concern" for RoB. Subgroup analyses were conducted for species, Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) and temperature increase. The certainty of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach.
RESULTS
Eighty-eight papers could be included in this review. Effects on fecundity. The meta-analysis of studies on litter size, conducted at a whole-body average SAR of 4.92 W/kg, did not show an effect of RF-EMF exposure (MD 0.05; 95% CI -0.21 to 0.30). The meta-analysis of studies on resorbed and dead fetuses, conducted at a whole-body average SAR of 20.26 W/kg, showed a significant increase of the incidence in RF-EMF exposed animals (OR 1.84; 95% CI 1.27 to 2.66). The results were similar in the dose-response analysis. Effects on the offspring health at birth. The meta-analysis of studies on fetal weight, conducted at a whole-body average SAR of 9.83 W/kg, showed a small decrease in RF-EMF exposed animals (SMD 0.31; 95% CI 0.15 to 0.48). The meta-analysis of studies on fetal length, conducted at a whole-body average SAR of 4.55 W/kg, showed a moderate decrease in length at birth (SMD 0.45; 95% CI 0.07 to 0.83). The meta-analysis of studies on the percentage of fetuses with malformations, conducted at a whole-body average SAR of 6.75 W/kg, showed a moderate increase in RF-EMF exposed animals (SMD -0.45; 95% CI -0.68 to -0.23). The meta-analysis of studies on the incidence of litters with malformed fetuses, conducted at a whole-body average SAR of 16.63 W/kg, showed a statistically significant detrimental RF-EMF effect (OR 3.22; 95% CI 1.9 to 5.46). The results were similar in the dose-response analyses. Delayed effects on the offspring health. RF-EMF exposure was not associated with detrimental effects on brain weight (SMD 0.10; 95% CI -0.09 to 0.29) and on learning and memory functions (SMD -0.54; 95% CI -1.24 to 0.17). RF-EMF exposure was associated with a large detrimental effect on motor activity functions (SMD 0.79; 95% CI 0.21 to 1.38) and a moderate detrimental effect on motor and sensory functions (SMD -0.66; 95% CI -1.18 to -0.14). RF-EMF exposure was not associated with a decrease of the size of litters conceived by F2 female offspring (SMD 0.08; 95% CI -0.39 to 0.55). Notably, meta-analyses of neurobehavioural effects were based on few studies, which suffered of lack of independent replication deriving from only few laboratories.
DISCUSSION
There was high certainty in the evidence for a lack of association of RF-EMF exposure with litter size. We attributed a moderate certainty to the evidence of a small detrimental effect on fetal weight. We also attributed a moderate certainty to the evidence of a lack of delayed effects on the offspring brain weight. For most of the other endpoints assessed by the meta-analyses, detrimental RF-EMF effects were shown, however the evidence was attributed a low or very low certainty. The body of evidence had limitations that did not allow an assessment of whether RF-EMF may affect pregnancy outcomes at exposure levels below those eliciting a well-known adverse heating impact. In conclusion, in utero RF-EMF exposure does not have a detrimental effect on fecundity and likely affects offspring health at birth, based on the meta-analysis of studies in experimental mammals on litter size and fetal weight, respectively. Regarding possible delayed effects of in utero exposure, RF-EMF probably does not affect offspring brain weight and may not decrease female offspring fertility; on the other hand, RF-EMF may have a detrimental impact on neurobehavioural functions, varying in magnitude for different endpoints, but these last findings are very uncertain. Further research is needed on the effects at birth and delayed effects with sample sizes adequate for detecting a small effect. Future studies should use standardized endpoints for testing prenatal developmental toxicity and developmental neurotoxicity (OECD TG 414 and 426), improve the description of the exposure system design and exposure conditions, conduct appropriate dosimetry characterization, blind endpoint analysis and include several exposure levels to better enable the assessment of a dose-response relationship.
PROTOCOL REGISTRATION AND PUBLICATION
The protocol was published in Pacchierotti et al., 2021 and registered in PROSPERO CRD42021227746 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=227746).
Topics: Pregnancy; Animals; Female; Electromagnetic Fields; Fetal Weight; Reproduction; Fertility; Mammals
PubMed: 37729852
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108178 -
Turkish Journal of Pharmaceutical... Aug 2023Various pure rosemary essential oil containing commercial products are in demand for their health-promoting and cosmetic claims in Türkiye. Although they are natural...
OBJECTIVES
Various pure rosemary essential oil containing commercial products are in demand for their health-promoting and cosmetic claims in Türkiye. Although they are natural and harmless, they should be in compliance with European Pharmacopoeia (EP) criteria. Therefore, in this study, 15 rosemary oil samples sold in pharmacies, herbal shops, and online platforms in Türkiye were investigated in terms of "Rosemary Oil" EP 10.0. monograph criteria. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the current quality status of rosemary essential oils in the Turkish market.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Appearance, fatty oils and resinified essential oils, relative density, refractive index, optical rotation, and acid value tests were performed according to EP 10.0 and compared with the given standards. In addition, thin layer chromatography (TLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis were conducted on all samples for advanced understanding of their phytochemical profile and harmony with EP standards.
RESULTS
Fifteen pure rosemary oil-containing products from the Turkish market were evaluated. All of the samples were licensed as cosmetic products in Türkiye the Ministry of Health. 83.1 to 96.9% of the ingredients of all samples were determined GC-MS analysis. Results demonstrated that none of the samples from the Turkish rosemary essential oil market fully complied with the EP rosemary oil monograph standards.
CONCLUSION
Considering our data, it was revealed that enhanced regulations and auditing mechanisms are needed to improve the quality of products. When the difference between the sources of purchase is assessed, pharmacies are still better locations to obtain such products.
PubMed: 37606010
DOI: 10.4274/tjps.galenos.2022.78010 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Jul 2023Systematic review and evaluation of the mechanistic evidence only recently been instituted in cancer hazard identification step of decision-making. One example of...
Ten Years of Using Key Characteristics of Human Carcinogens to Organize and Evaluate Mechanistic Evidence in IARC Monographs on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans: Patterns and Associations.
Systematic review and evaluation of the mechanistic evidence only recently been instituted in cancer hazard identification step of decision-making. One example of organizing and evaluating mechanistic evidence is the Key Characteristics approach of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans. The Key Characteristics of Human Carcinogens were proposed almost 10 years ago and have been used in every IARC Monograph since 2015. We investigated the patterns and associations in the use of Key Characteristics by the independent expert Working Groups. We examined 19 Monographs (2015-2022) that evaluated 73 agents. We extracted information on the conclusions by each Working Group on the strength of evidence for agent-Key Characteristic combinations, data types that were available for decisions, and the role mechanistic data played in the final cancer hazard classification. We conducted both descriptive and association analyses within and across data types. We found that IARC Working Groups were cautious when evaluating mechanistic evidence: for only ∼13% of the agents was strong evidence assigned for any Key Characteristic. Genotoxicity and cell proliferation were most data-rich, while little evidence was available for DNA repair and immortalization Key Characteristics. Analysis of the associations among Key Characteristics revealed that only chemical's metabolic activation was significantly co-occurring with genotoxicity and cell proliferation/death. Evidence from exposed humans was limited, while mechanistic evidence from rodent studies was often available. Only genotoxicity and cell proliferation/death were strongly associated with decisions on whether mechanistic data was impactful on the final cancer hazard classification. The practice of using the Key Characteristics approach is now well-established at IARC Monographs and other government agencies and the analyses presented herein will inform the future use of mechanistic evidence in regulatory decision-making.
PubMed: 37503163
DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.11.548354