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The Ulster Medical Journal May 2022Medical research within the UK has continued to grow, most notably during the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years, which highlights the importance of disseminating... (Review)
Review
Medical research within the UK has continued to grow, most notably during the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years, which highlights the importance of disseminating relevant research findings. For all researchers involved in clinical trials and scientific research, the end goal of success is not completed following the publication of the research findings, but ultimately true impact and significance is achieved when such research has a role in developing clinical practice. Each year between 2.5 - 3 million scientific papers are published and the number continues to rise, therefore it is becoming increasingly difficult to ensure that published research has such a targeted impact as it must first get noticed. Increasing time commitments result in difficulties for clinicians keeping up-to-date with the current literature and in order to address this, journals and researchers have developed approaches to share peer-reviewed research with the wider research community in an effective and efficient manner. One such approach has been the introduction of the visual abstract which comprises of an infographic style format, coupled with a shortened, limited word summary of the research abstract detailing the key question, methodology, findings and take home message of the research study. The visual abstract has characteristics which enable it to be shared on social media platforms and in turn increase the interest and impact within the research community. Visual abstracts are being increasingly introduced within medical journals and organisations to help disseminate valuable research findings. This review focuses on visual abstracts, what they are, their history, structure and role within research dissemination and medical education.
Topics: Biomedical Research; COVID-19; Humans; Pandemics
PubMed: 35722208
DOI: No ID Found -
Evidence-based Complementary and... 2022Acupuncture clinical practice guidelines are authoritative medical recommendations developed by evaluating and integrating acupuncture-related evidence. However, their... (Review)
Review
Acupuncture clinical practice guidelines are authoritative medical recommendations developed by evaluating and integrating acupuncture-related evidence. However, their synthesis and dissemination are not integrated, and clinical practitioners require more credible effective evidence. The study aim was to systematically review problems disseminating acupuncture clinical practice guidelines to clinical practitioners, to facilitate evidence dissemination. This systematic review included searches of PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science, and four major Chinese electronic databases (CNKI, VIP, Wanfang Database, and SinoMed) from inception to October 26, 2021. Two independent reviewers screened the literature, extracted information, and evaluated the quality of included studies. A systematic review was subsequently performed. Eleven studies were reviewed: nine (81.8%) cross-sectional surveys and two (18.2%) systematic reviews. The evaluated clinical practice guidelines differed across studies; seven studies (63.6%) evaluated guidelines for a specific disease, one (9.1%) evaluated guidelines for acupuncture therapies (e.g., moxibustion and fire acupuncture), one (9.1%) evaluated US acupuncture guidelines and recommendations, and two (18.2%) did not describe the guideline content. The included studies used different evaluation indicators. Guideline dissemination problems included lack of guideline standardization, unclear target population, mismatch between guidelines and application environment, lack of reliable health economics evaluation, poor quality content of the recommendations, lack of linkage between recommendations and evidence, and disassociation of recommendations from clinical practice et al. The development and publishing of credible acupuncture clinical practice guidelines is urgently needed to improve the usability of guidelines and standardize and disseminate tools for analysing information to clinical practitioners and to help the domestic and international acupuncture community to apply evidence to practice. Recommendations for promoting the dissemination of acupuncture clinical practice guidelines are to define clinical events suitable for the target population, to develop recommendations relevant to clinical practice, to improve the evidence evaluation index system, and to further standardize the method and process of formulating guidelines.
PubMed: 35529926
DOI: 10.1155/2022/8334397 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2022Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive histiocytosis is a rare type of histiocytosis that could affect multiple systems in children and adults. 10 cases of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive histiocytosis is a rare type of histiocytosis that could affect multiple systems in children and adults. 10 cases of ALK-positive histiocytosis invading the central nervous system (CNS) have been reported. Herein, we report a case of ALK-positive histiocytosis invading the central nervous system and lungs and the details of follow-up of tumor dynamic changes during treatment.
CASE PRESENTATION
An 18-month-old boy was underweight and had slow growth of almost 3 months duration. The child could not stand and walk independently, and his language and intelligence development occurred later than those of his peers. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging revealed a giant suprasellar lesion with isosignal, measuring approximately 5.1× 3.6× 4.0 cm on T1-weighted imaging, with an obvious mass effect. Nodular, slightly low-signal shadows were also observed in the left temporal pole and left hippocampus, measuring approximately 1.0 cm × 0.7 cm× 0.5 cm and 0.9 cm× 0.8 cm × 0.5 cm on T1-weighted, respectively. The child underwent partial resection of the suprasellar lesion, and a diagnosis of ALK-positive histiocytosis was made histologically. Subsequently, the patient received chemotherapy (CHOP regimen) and anti-ALK therapy (crizotinib). The lesions were gradually shrinking without dissemination and the changes of intracranial and lung lesions were monitored with imaging during therapy. Unfortunately, the child died 8 months after the first surgery because of worsening intracranial infection.
CONCLUSION
ALK-positive histiocytosis may involve the central nervous system and disseminate intracranially. ALK-positive histiocytosis should be considered for the differential diagnosis of suprasellar lesions.
PubMed: 35359354
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.858939 -
Journal of Communication Disorders 2023A common complaint of people with aphasia and their families is their inability to find information about current aphasia treatment research (Hinckley, Boyle, Lombard &...
BACKGROUND
A common complaint of people with aphasia and their families is their inability to find information about current aphasia treatment research (Hinckley, Boyle, Lombard & Bartels-Tobin, 2014; Hinckley & El-Khouri, 2021). Plain language summaries, video summaries, and graphical summaries are three ways to disseminate research results that are more accessible to a broader audience. The purpose of this tutorial is to discuss the motivations for disseminating research in understandable ways, and to provide information and resources on how aphasia-friendly dissemination can be done.
METHOD
We report an overview of evidence on the importance of and characteristics of dissemination. Next, we provide specific characteristics and resources for producing plain language summaries, video summaries, and graphical abstracts. Finally, we conducted a systematic search for journals in the area of stroke rehabilitation after consultation with a research librarian. The publication webpages of each journal were inspected to gather information about whether and how the journal published plain language summaries, video summaries, or graphical abstracts. Editors were contacted as needed to complete the information. Sixty journals in stroke rehabilitation were identified, and a total of 43 journals (71%) publish video abstracts, graphical summaries, and/or plain language summaries either independently or through third-party platforms.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings are discussed in the context of the importance of making research consumer-friendly. We offer specific recommendations for aphasia researchers, and future directions for publishing research in ways that will have an impact on the broader public are suggested.
Topics: Humans; Aphasia; Language; Stroke Rehabilitation
PubMed: 37192574
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcomdis.2023.106338 -
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental... 2021Pre-metastatic niches provide favorable conditions for tumor cells to disseminate, home to and grow in otherwise unfamiliar and distal microenvironments. Tumor-derived... (Review)
Review
Pre-metastatic niches provide favorable conditions for tumor cells to disseminate, home to and grow in otherwise unfamiliar and distal microenvironments. Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles are now recognized as carriers of key messengers secreted by primary tumors, signals that induce the formation of pre-metastatic niches. Recent evidence suggests that tumor cells can disseminate from the very earliest stages of primary tumor development. However, once they reach distal sites, tumor cells can persist in a dormant state for long periods of time until their growth is reactivated and they produce metastatic lesions. In this new scenario, the question arises as to whether extracellular vesicles could influence the formation of these metastatic niches with dormant tumor cells? (here defined as "sleepy niches"). If so, what are the molecular mechanisms involved? In this perspective-review article, we discuss the possible influence of extracellular vesicles in early metastatic dissemination and whether they might play a role in tumor cell dormancy. In addition, we comment whether extracellular vesicle-mediated signals may be involved in tumor cell awakening, considering the possibility that extracellular vesicles might serve as biomarkers to detect early metastasis and/or minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring.
PubMed: 33738282
DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.625221 -
The American Journal of Bioethics : AJOB Oct 2022This paper considers the responsibilities of the FDA with regard to disseminating information about the benefits and harms of e-cigarettes. Tobacco harm reduction...
This paper considers the responsibilities of the FDA with regard to disseminating information about the benefits and harms of e-cigarettes. Tobacco harm reduction advocates claim that the FDA has been overcautious and has violated ethical obligations by failing to clearly communicate to the public that e-cigarettes are far less harmful than cigarettes. We argue, by contrast, that the FDA's obligations in this arena are more complex than they may appear at first blush. Though the FDA is accountable for informing the public about the health risks and benefits of products it regulates, it also has other roles (and attendant responsibilities) that inform when and how it should disseminate information. In addition to being a knowledge purveyor, it is also a knowledge producer, an advisor to the public, and a practical agent shaping the material conditions in which people make health-related choices. In our view, those other roles call for caution in the way the FDA interprets and communicates the available evidence.
Topics: Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Harm Reduction; Humans; Social Responsibility; Tobacco Products; United States; United States Food and Drug Administration
PubMed: 33871325
DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2021.1907478 -
BMC Public Health Apr 2023Dissemination is a critical element of the knowledge translation pathway, and a necessary step to ensure research evidence is adopted and implemented by key end users in... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Dissemination is a critical element of the knowledge translation pathway, and a necessary step to ensure research evidence is adopted and implemented by key end users in order to improve health outcomes. However, evidence-based guidance to inform dissemination activities in research is limited. This scoping review aimed to identify and describe the scientific literature examining strategies to disseminate public health evidence related to the prevention of non-communicable diseases.
METHODS
Medline, PsycInfo and EBSCO Search Ultimate were searched in May 2021 for studies published between January 2000 and the search date that reported on the dissemination of evidence to end users of public health evidence, within the context of the prevention of non-communicable diseases. Studies were synthesised according to the four components of Brownson and colleagues' Model for Dissemination of Research (source, message, channel and audience), as well as by study design.
RESULTS
Of the 107 included studies, only 14% (n = 15) directly tested dissemination strategies using experimental designs. The remainder primarily reported on dissemination preferences of different populations, or outcomes such as awareness, knowledge and intentions to adopt following evidence dissemination. Evidence related to diet, physical activity and/or obesity prevention was the most disseminated topic. Researchers were the source of disseminated evidence in over half the studies, and study findings/knowledge summaries were more frequently disseminated as the message compared to guidelines or an evidence-based program/intervention. A broad range of dissemination channels were utilised, although peer-reviewed publications/conferences and presentations/workshops predominated. Practitioners were the most commonly reported target audience.
CONCLUSIONS
There is a significant gap in the peer reviewed literature, with few experimental studies published that analyse and evaluate the effect of different sources, messages and target audiences on the determinants of uptake of public health evidence for prevention. Such studies are important as they can help inform and improve the effectiveness of current and future dissemination practices in public health contexts.
Topics: Public Health Systems Research; Noncommunicable Diseases; Humans; Public Health; Health Communication; Information Dissemination
PubMed: 37095484
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15622-x -
BMC Neurology May 2023Most individuals with access to the internet use social media platforms. These platforms represent an excellent opportunity to disseminate knowledge about management and...
Most individuals with access to the internet use social media platforms. These platforms represent an excellent opportunity to disseminate knowledge about management and treatment to the benefit of patients. The International Headache Society, The European Headache Federation, and The American Headache Society have electronic media committees to promote and highlight the organizations' expertise and disseminate research findings. A growing mistrust in science has made dealing with infodemics (i.e., sudden access to excessive unvetted information) an increasing part of clinical management. An increasing role of these committees will be to address this challenge. As an example, recent studies have demonstrated that the most popular online content on migraine management is not evidence-based and is disseminated by for-profit organizations. As healthcare professionals and members of professional headache organizations, we are obliged to prioritize knowledge dissemination. A progressive social media strategy is associated not only with increased online visibility and outreach, but also with a higher scientific interest. To identify gaps and barriers, future research should assess the range of available information on headache disorders in electronic media, characterize direct and indirect consequences on clinical management, and recognize best practice and strategies to improve our communication on internet-based communication platforms. In turn, these efforts will reduce the burden of headache disorders by facilitating improved education of both patients and providers.
Topics: Humans; United States; Headache Disorders; Social Media; Migraine Disorders; Health Personnel; Headache
PubMed: 37198539
DOI: 10.1186/s12883-023-03196-5 -
Cureus Oct 2022Blastomycosis is caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis, which is endemic in certain areas in North America. It usually causes lung infection, and it can disseminate to...
Blastomycosis is caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis, which is endemic in certain areas in North America. It usually causes lung infection, and it can disseminate to other organs in immunocompromised individuals. Common sites for dissemination include skin, central nervous system (CNS), and bone. Dermatological spread is the commonest site for extrapulmonary spread. The diagnosis can be easily missed due to nonspecific presentation and variable dermatological presentations. Treatment is necessary even if the patient has improvement in symptoms without previous treatment. We present a case of disseminated blastomycosis in a 40-year-old male without known risk factors that went undiagnosed for over a year.
PubMed: 36407244
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.30391 -
Microbiology Spectrum Aug 2023The Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi can cause a multitude of clinical manifestations because of its ability to disseminate into any organ system via...
The Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi can cause a multitude of clinical manifestations because of its ability to disseminate into any organ system via migration through soft tissue, the lymphatic system, and the circulatory system. The latter is believed to constitute the predominant pathway for dissemination to distal sites from the inoculating tick bite. In spite of its importance, the hematogenous dissemination process remains largely uncharacterized, particularly due to difficulties studying this process in a living host and the lack of an system that recapitulates animal infection. In the current work, we provide the first information regarding the stage of the vascular transmigration pathway where three important adhesins function during invasion of mouse knee joint peripheral tissue from postcapillary venules. Using intravital imaging coupled with genetic experiments employing sequential double infection, we show a complex temporal choreography of P66, decorin binding proteins (DbpA/B), and outer surface protein C (OspC) at discrete steps along the pathway of vascular escape, underscoring the importance of B. burgdorferi adhesins in hematogenous dissemination in the mouse knee joint and the complexity of vascular transmigration by a disseminating pathogen. Lyme disease is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted by a bite from an infected tick. Disease development involves a complex series of host-pathogen interactions as well as dissemination of the infecting organisms to sites distal to the original tick bite. The predominant pathway for this is believed to be hematogenous dissemination. The mechanism by which the spirochetes escape circulation is unknown. Here, using intravital microscopy, where the Lyme spirochete can be observed in a living mouse, we have studied the stage in the vascular escape process where each of three surface adhesins functions to facilitate escape of the spirochete from postcapillary venules to invade mouse knee joint peripheral tissue. A complex pattern of involvement at various locations in the multistage process is described using a unique experimental approach that is applicable to other disseminating pathogens.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Borrelia burgdorferi; Tick Bites; Adhesins, Bacterial; Lyme Disease; Borrelia burgdorferi Group
PubMed: 37255427
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01254-23