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Donix L, Linke D, Peitzsch C, Dubrovska A, Thomas C, Fuessel S, Erdmann K. Comparison of multiple approaches targeting the multidrug resistance protein ABCB1 to resensitize docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer cell lines. Eur Urol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/s0302-2838(22)00495-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Thomas C, Couch D, Wang B. p38-MAPK and JAK/STAT Pathway Inhibition Reduces Indoxyl Sulfate-Induced Impairment of Human Endothelial Cells. Heart Lung Circ 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2022.06.545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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von Stillfried S, Freeborn B, Windeck S, Boor P, Böcker J, Schmidt J, Tholen P, Röhrig R, Majeed R, Wienströer J, Bremer J, Weis J, Knüchel R, Breitbach A, Bülow RD, Cacchi C, Wucherpfennig S, Märkl B, Claus R, Dhillon C, Schaller T, Sipos E, Spring O, Braun G, Römmele C, Kling E, Kröncke T, Wittmann M, Hirschbühl K, Heppner FL, Meinhardt J, Radbruch H, Streit S, Horst D, Elezkurtaj S, Quaas A, Göbel H, Friemann J, Hansen T, Titze U, Lorenzen J, Reuter T, Woloszyn J, Baretton G, Hilsenbeck J, Meinhardt M, Pablik J, Sommer L, Holotiuk O, Meinel M, Esposito I, Crudele G, Seidl M, Mahlke N, Hartmann A, Haller F, Eichhorn P, Lange F, Amann KU, Coras R, Ingenwerth M, Rawitzer J, Schmid KW, Theegarten D, Gradhand E, Smith K, Wild P, Birngruber CG, Schilling O, Werner M, Acker T, Gattenlöhner S, Franz J, Metz I, Stadelmann C, Stork L, Thomas C, Zechel S, Ströbel P, Fathke C, Harder A, Wickenhauser C, Glatzel M, Matschke J, Krasemann S, Dietz E, Edler C, Fitzek A, Fröb D, Heinemann A, Heinrich F, Klein A, Kniep I, Lohner L, Möbius D, Ondruschka B, Püschel K, Schädler J, Schröder AS, Sperhake JP, Aepfelbacher M, Fischer N, Lütgehetmann M, Pfefferle S, Jonigk D, Werlein C, Domke LM, Hartmann L, Klein I, Schirmacher P, Schwab C, Röcken C, Langer D, Roth W, Strobl S, Rudelius M, Delbridge C, Kasajima A, Kuhn PH, Slotta-Huspenina J, Weichert W, Weirich G, Stock K, Barth P, Schnepper A, Wardelmann E, Evert K, Evert M, Büttner A, Manhart J, Nigbur S, Bösmüller H, Fend F, Granai M, Klingel K, Warm V, Steinestel K, Umathum VG, Rosenwald A, Vogt N, Kurz F. [Update on collaborative autopsy-based research in German pathology, neuropathology, and forensic medicine]. PATHOLOGIE (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 43:101-105. [PMID: 36114379 PMCID: PMC9483541 DOI: 10.1007/s00292-022-01117-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autopsies are a valuable tool for understanding disease, including COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS The German Registry of COVID-19 Autopsies (DeRegCOVID), established in April 2020, serves as the electronic backbone of the National Autopsy Network (NATON), launched in early 2022 following DEFEAT PANDEMIcs. RESULTS The NATON consortium's interconnected, collaborative autopsy research is enabled by an unprecedented collaboration of 138 individuals at more than 35 German university and non-university autopsy centers through which pathology, neuropathology, and forensic medicine autopsy data including data on biomaterials are collected in DeRegCOVID and tissue-based research and methods development are conducted. More than 145 publications have now emerged from participating autopsy centers, highlighting various basic science and clinical aspects of COVID-19, such as thromboembolic events, organ tropism, SARS-CoV‑2 detection methods, and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 at autopsy. CONCLUSIONS Participating centers have demonstrated the high value of autopsy and autopsy-derived data and biomaterials to modern medicine. The planned long-term continuation and further development of the registry and network, as well as the open and participatory design, will allow the involvement of all interested partners.
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Thomas C, Shilton S, Thomas C, Iye CM, Martínez-Pérez GZ. COVID-19 self-testing, a way to "live side by side with the coronavirus": Results from a qualitative study in Indonesia. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2:e0000514. [PMID: 36962512 PMCID: PMC10021662 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Alongside mass vaccination for COVID-19, sustainable diagnostic strategies for SARS-CoV-2 are needed to empower local communities and help them complement health authorities' efforts to end the pandemic in low- and middle-income countries. Indonesia is among the nations with an overstretched health system that may benefit from technological innovations, such as rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detection tests for self-testing, to detect asymptomatic cases and interrupt the transmission of the virus to healthy individuals. In mid-2021, we conducted a qualitative research study with the aim of understanding key decision-makers' values and preferences regarding the implementation of COVID-19 self-testing in Indonesia. This research received ethics approval from the Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya and used a thematic analysis approach to explore the insights expressed by healthcare workers, representatives of civil society, and potential self-testing implementers in three geographies: Jakarta, Banten, and North Sulawesi. Thirty semi-structured interviews and six focus group discussions were carried out. As per the informants' narratives, the Indonesian public might accept rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detection self-testing as a tool that will enable them to test for COVID-19 at their own convenience. Concerns were expressed that the public might doubt the reliability of self-testing kits if these were not properly regulated and if counterfeit kits were known to be on the market. Fear of stigma, isolation, and clinical care costs were perceived to be among the drivers for self-test users to not report a reactive result. These fears might be mitigated, as per the informants' opinions, by awareness raising, passing of regulations, and participatory engagement of a range of community actors, such as village officers. Decision-makers consider rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detection self-testing to be a welcomed screening tool that could contribute to ensuring earlier access to treatment and decrease transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Indonesia.
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O’Brian M, Carr CL, Thomas C, Dominguez AR, Mauskar M. Clinical characteristics and management of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis with haemodynamic instability. SKIN HEALTH AND DISEASE 2021; 1:e74. [PMID: 35663770 PMCID: PMC9060138 DOI: 10.1002/ski2.74] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Background Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is a severe pustular drug eruption with rare reports of haemodynamic instability. Objective To describe the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with AGEP‐associated haemodynamic instability. Methods This retrospective case series identified adult patients diagnosed with AGEP who had haemodynamic instability from November 2012 to February 2020 that were seen at two academic teaching hospitals with roles as a burn centre and tertiary referral centre at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX USA. Patients with a discharge diagnosis of AGEP that had haemodynamic instability during their eruption were included. Patients with a history of psoriasis, presentations thought to be a flare of generalized pustular psoriasis, or concurrent infection during eruption were excluded. AGEP with haemodynamic instability was characterized by degree of hypotension, dermatologic phenotype at time of dermatologic consultation, and management approach. Results This study included 19 patients with AGEP‐associated haemodynamic instability (mean age, 52 years; age range, 29–76 years; 11 (58%) female). Patients were classified on a spectrum of haemodynamic instability; three had sustained hypotension, 10 had hypotension with organ dysfunction, and six had shock. Patients with AGEP‐associated haemodynamic instability had a range of dermatologic phenotypes at initial consultation: subtle exanthematous eruption with minimal pustules, typical eruption with pustules and flexural predominance, and severe eruption with features of Stevens–Johnson syndrome. Both topical and systemic corticosteroids were used for treatment of several patients. Of the patients that required vasopressors and received systemic steroids, the majority were off vasopressors within 24 h of steroid initiation. Conclusion Approximately 22% of patients presenting with AGEP to a tertiary referral center had haemodynamic instability. Clinicians should be aware that dermatologic phenotype of AGEP at presentation does not correlate with development of haemodynamic instability.
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Lilley CM, Marin MJ, Wiencek J, Fu L, Wolniak K, Kanakis CE, Hermelin D, Scordino T, Thomas C, Mirza KM, Demas C. The Utility of PathElective.com as a Curricular Adjunct in Laboratory Medicine Education. Am J Clin Pathol 2021. [PMCID: PMC8574499 DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqab191.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction/Objective PathElective.com was founded as a means of combating stagnating resident and medical student education due to halting of in-person educational activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The site has since grown to be included in medical student and resident training programs at numerous institutions across the world, serving as a unique means of delivering high-quality and trackable laboratory medicine education. Methods/Case Report The PathElective website was developed using Squarespace, video lectures were recorded by each professor or sourced from openly available web resources incorporating virtual slides, reading assignments, or relevant podcasts at the course director’s discretion. Monthly website traffic data were obtained through Squarespace analytics for the first 11 months of the website being available (May 1, 2020, to April 22, 2021). Geographic and source data were obtained through deidentified IP address analysis built-in to Squarespace analytics. Students who registered to take the online courses were assessed before and after interacting with the course materials using a dual form crossover quiz design to prevent memorization of questions and assess comprehension. Quiz data were all anonymous and improvement was determined using a paired t-test. Comparisons between courses were made via percentage improvements. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) Over the tracking period, PathElective.com received 352,012 page views, 73,550 visits, 33,225 unique visitors, and accrued 5,815 registered users. Most of the visitors (72.8%) arrived at the site via a direct URL input, 14.9% through a search engine, and 10.6% through social media. Most visitors were from the US (43.8%) or India (11.9%). With a total of 1598 test pairs being analyzed from all clinical pathology modules, the average increase in score was 14.4% (95%, CI=10.3-18.6, p=0.0052). All courses experienced a statistically significant increase in scores except for Clinical Chemistry lesson 3.2 (7%, -1.8-15.9% CI, p=0.12). Courses were well received with a median satisfaction score was very satisfied in all six assessment categories. Conclusion PathElective.com is a free and effective means of enhancing clinical pathology training in medical education. Students liked the online format, the quality of the lectures, and course faculty, and felt they could get help if needed. An area of improvement for this platform would be the interaction with students on social media.
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Putz J, Thomas C. [Evaluating patients with cancer history prior to solid organ transplantation : Consensus statement of the American Society of Transplantation]. Urologe A 2021; 61:68-70. [PMID: 34618169 DOI: 10.1007/s00120-021-01685-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Green MJ, Watkeys OJ, Whitten T, Thomas C, Kariuki M, Dean K, Laurens KR, Harris F, Carr VJ. Increased incidence of childhood mental disorders following exposure to early life infection. Brain Behav Immun 2021; 97:376-382. [PMID: 34390804 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Early life exposure to infectious diseases confers risk for adult psychiatric disorders but relatively few human population studies have examined associations with childhood mental disorder. Here we examined the effects of exposure to maternal infection during pregnancy, and child infectious diseases in early childhood (birth to age 4 years), in relation to first mental disorder diagnosis (age 5-13 years). The study sample comprised 71,841 children represented in a population cohort of children in New South Wales, Australia, followed from birth to early adolescence via linkage of administrative registers. Childhood exposure to infectious disease was determined during the prenatal period (i.e., maternal infection during gestation), and in early childhood (between birth and age 4 years) using the NSW Ministry of Health Admitted Patients data collection. Days to first diagnosis with a mental disorder was determined from recorded diagnoses between age 5-13 years in the NSW Ministry of Health's Admitted Patients, Emergency Department and Mental Health Ambulatory data collections. While crude hazard ratios for both prenatal infection and childhood infection exposures indicated significantly earlier diagnosis with mental disorders associated with both of these risk factors, only childhood infection exposure was associated with higher adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for any diagnoses (aHR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.11-1.32), externalising disorders (aHR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.18-1.79) and developmental disorders (aHR = 1.82, 95% CI 1.49-2.22) when the effects of maternal and early childhood (age < 5 years) mental disorders were taken into account. Exposure to infectious diseases during early childhood, but not prenatal infection exposure, appears to be associated with earlier diagnosis of mental disorders in childhood.
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Groeben C, Koch R, Baunacke M, Flegar L, Borkowetz A, Thomas C, Huber J. [Trends in uro-oncological surgery in Germany-comparative analyses from population-based data]. Urologe A 2021; 60:1257-1268. [PMID: 34490495 PMCID: PMC8420844 DOI: 10.1007/s00120-021-01623-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Although urologic cancer represents a relevant health economic burden with about 100,000 new cases per year, hardly any knowledge exists about the structure and development of the corresponding uro-oncological interventions at the more than 400 urological surgical hospitals in Germany. Thus, we identified all cases of 5 major tumor surgery procedures in Germany from the DRG (diagnosis-related group) database of the Federal Statistical Office (prostatectomy, cystectomy, renal tumor surgery, retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy, penis surgery) from 2006-2013 (or 2016) by database query and investigated the influences of technical innovations, as well as guideline changes on the developments of case numbers. In addition, we analyzed the correlations between annual case numbers and perioperative outcomes. The results showed a clear correlation between case volume (and thus expertise) of a hospital and an improved perioperative outcome. Nevertheless, there is hardly any tendency towards centralization in these uro-oncological interventions. The development in the number of cases seems to depend more on the effect of advertising by means of technical innovations or the regional relation of the patients to a certain clinic. In the past, centrally controlled attempts to introduce minimum case numbers or voluntary certification of centers had little influence on the distribution of case numbers.
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Lees A, Betti R, Knauer JP, Gopalaswamy V, Patel D, Woo KM, Anderson KS, Campbell EM, Cao D, Carroll-Nellenback J, Epstein R, Forrest C, Goncharov VN, Harding DR, Hu SX, Igumenshchev IV, Janezic RT, Mannion OM, Radha PB, Regan SP, Shvydky A, Shah RC, Shmayda WT, Stoeckl C, Theobald W, Thomas C. Experimentally Inferred Fusion Yield Dependencies of OMEGA Inertial Confinement Fusion Implosions. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2021; 127:105001. [PMID: 34533333 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.127.105001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Statistical modeling of experimental and simulation databases has enabled the development of an accurate predictive capability for deuterium-tritium layered cryogenic implosions at the OMEGA laser [V. Gopalaswamy et al.,Nature 565, 581 (2019)10.1038/s41586-019-0877-0]. In this letter, a physics-based statistical mapping framework is described and used to uncover the dependencies of the fusion yield. This model is used to identify and quantify the degradation mechanisms of the fusion yield in direct-drive implosions on OMEGA. The yield is found to be reduced by the ratio of laser beam to target radius, the asymmetry in inferred ion temperatures from the ℓ=1 mode, the time span over which tritium fuel has decayed, and parameters related to the implosion hydrodynamic stability. When adjusted for tritium decay and ℓ=1 mode, the highest yield in OMEGA cryogenic implosions is predicted to exceed 2×10^{14} fusion reactions.
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Tagawa S, Sun M, Sartor O, Thomas C, Molina A, Sternberg C, Nanus D, Osborne J, Bander N. 600P Final results of phase I/II trial of fractionated dose 177Lu-PSMA-617 for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Ann Oncol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2021.08.1113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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Frizzelle M, Lalli N, Pediaditaki A, Thomas C, South C, Jagadeesan S, Adams E, van der Straeten R, Wiessler W, Lynn R. PH-0381 Creating and Validating a Distributed RapidPlan Head and Neck ‘Super-Model’. Radiother Oncol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/s0167-8140(21)07312-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Hölscher T, Baumann M, Kotzerke J, Wirth M, Thomas C, Zips D, Löck S, Krause M, Lohaus F. PO-1332 OLI-P trial: pattern of progression after radiotherapy in PSMA-PET positive METs of prostate cancer. Radiother Oncol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/s0167-8140(21)07783-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Huber J, Karschuck P, Koch R, Ihrig A, Krones T, Neisius A, Von Ahn S, Klopf C, Weikert S, Siebels M, Haseke N, Weißflog C, Baunacke M, Liske P, Tosev G, Benusch T, Schostak M, Stein J, Spiegelhalder P, Thomas C, Groeben C. Match of Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) and the urologists’ assessment in non-metastatic prostate cancer: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Eur Urol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/s0302-2838(21)01519-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Donix L, William D, Erb H, Peitzsch C, Dubrovska A, Thomas C, Fuessel S, Erdmann K. Cisplatin tolerance is elevated in mismatch repair deficient prostate cancer cell lines but independent of acquired resistance to irradiation or docetaxel. Eur Urol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/s0302-2838(21)00822-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Choi JW, Corcoran S, Wang B, Häupl B, Ceribelli M, Huang DW, Wright GW, Shaffer AL, Phelan JD, Scheich S, Yu X, Yang Y, Thomas C, Oellerich T, Staudt LM. TARGETING PROXIMAL BCR SIGNALING PATHWAY IN DIFFUSE LARGE B‐CELL LYMPHOMA. Hematol Oncol 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/hon.11_2879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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Flegar L, Baunacke M, Groeben C, Borkowetz A, Kraywinkel K, Eisenmenger N, Thomas C, Huber J. Treatment trends for muscle-invasive bladder cancer in Germany from 2006 to 2018: Increasing case numbers facilitate more high-volume centers. Eur Urol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/s0302-2838(21)01201-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Corp A, Thomas C, Adlam M. The cardiovascular effects of positive pressure ventilation. BJA Educ 2021; 21:202-209. [PMID: 34026273 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjae.2021.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
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Campillos-Llanos L, Thomas C, Bilinski É, Neuraz A, Rosset S, Zweigenbaum P. Lessons Learned from the Usability Evaluation of a Simulated Patient Dialogue System. J Med Syst 2021; 45:69. [PMID: 33999302 DOI: 10.1007/s10916-021-01737-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Simulated consultations through virtual patients allow medical students to practice history-taking skills. Ideally, applications should provide interactions in natural language and be multi-case, multi-specialty. Nevertheless, few systems handle or are tested on a large variety of cases. We present a virtual patient dialogue system in which a medical trainer types new cases and these are processed without human intervention. To develop it, we designed a patient record model, a knowledge model for the history-taking task, and a termino-ontological model for term variation and out-of-vocabulary words. We evaluated whether this system provided quality dialogue across medical specialities (n = 18), and with unseen cases (n = 29) compared to the cases used for development (n = 6). Medical evaluators (students, residents, practitioners, and researchers) conducted simulated history-taking with the system and assessed its performance through Likert-scale questionnaires. We analysed interaction logs and evaluated system correctness. The mean user evaluation score for the 29 unseen cases was 4.06 out of 5 (very good). The evaluation of correctness determined that, on average, 74.3% (sd = 9.5) of replies were correct, 14.9% (sd = 6.3) incorrect, and in 10.7% the system behaved cautiously by deferring a reply. In the user evaluation, all aspects scored higher in the 29 unseen cases than in the 6 seen cases. Although such a multi-case system has its limits, the evaluation showed that creating it is feasible; that it performs adequately; and that it is judged usable. We discuss some lessons learned and pivotal design choices affecting its performance and the end-users, who are primarily medical students.
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Smith R, Thomas C, Squires H, Götschi T, Kahlmeier S, Goyder E. The price of precision: trade-offs between usability and validity in the World Health Organization Health Economic Assessment Tool for walking and cycling. Public Health 2021; 194:263-269. [PMID: 33992906 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2021.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The widely used World Health Organization (WHO) Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) for walking and cycling quantifies health impacts in terms of premature deaths avoided or caused as a result of changes in active transport. This article attempts to assess the effect of incorporating 'life-years' as an impact measure to increase the precision of the model and assess the effect on the tool's usability. STUDY DESIGN This article is a methods paper, using simulation to estimate the effect of a methodological change to the HEAT 4.2 physical activity module. METHODS We use the widely used WHO HEAT for walking and cycling as a case study. HEAT currently quantifies health impacts in terms of premature deaths avoided or caused as a result of changes in active transport. We assess the effect of incorporating "duration of life gained" as an impact measure to increase the precision of the model without substantially affecting usability or increasing data requirements. RESULTS Compared with the existing tool (HEAT version 4.2), which values premature deaths avoided, estimates derived by valuing life-years gained are more sensitive to the age of the population affected by an intervention, with results for older and younger age groups being markedly different between the two methods. This is likely to improve the precision of the tool, especially where it is applied to interventions that affect age groups differentially. The life-years method requires additional background data (obtained and used in this analysis) and minimal additional user inputs; however, this may also make the tool harder to explain to users. CONCLUSIONS Methodological improvements in the precision of widely used tools, such as the HEAT, may also inadvertently reduce their practical usability. It is therefore important to consider the overall impact on the tool's value to stakeholders and explore ways of mitigating potential reductions in usability.
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Huang S, Zhang Z, Gambeta E, Xu SC, Thomas C, Godfrey N, Chen L, M'Dahoma S, Borgland SL, Zamponi GW. Dopamine Inputs from the Ventral Tegmental Area into the Medial Prefrontal Cortex Modulate Neuropathic Pain-Associated Behaviors in Mice. Cell Rep 2021; 31:107812. [PMID: 32579938 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is a brain region involved in the affective components of pain and undergoes plasticity during the development of chronic pain. Dopamine (DA) is a key neuromodulator in the mesocortical circuit and modulates working memory and aversion. Although DA inputs into the mPFC are known to modulate plasticity, whether and how these inputs affect pain remains incompletely understood. By using optogenetics, we find that phasic activation of DA inputs from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) into the mPFC reduce mechanical hypersensitivity during neuropathic pain states. Mice with neuropathic pain exhibit a preference for contexts paired with photostimulation of DA terminals in the mPFC. Fiber photometry-based calcium imaging reveals that DA increases the activity of mPFC neurons projecting to the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG). Together, our findings indicate an important role of mPFC DA signaling in pain modulation.
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Flatrès C, Roué JM, Picard C, Carausu L, Thomas C, Pellier I, Millot F, Gandemer V, Chantreuil J, Lorton F, Gras Le Guen C, Launay E. Investigation of primary immune deficiency after severe bacterial infection in children: A population-based study in western France. Arch Pediatr 2021; 28:398-404. [PMID: 33903000 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcped.2021.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infectious diseases are still an important cause of morbidity and mortality in high-income countries and may preferentially affect predisposed children, especially immunocompromised children. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of recommended immunological tests in children with community-onset severe bacterial infection (COSBI) admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit. We also assessed the frequency and described the typology of diagnosed primary immune deficiency (PID). METHODS We conducted a retrospective observational epidemiological study in six university hospitals in western France. All children from 1 month to 16 years of age admitted to hospital for bacterial meningitis, purpura fulminans, or meningococcal disease between August 2009 and January 2014 were included. We analyzed the frequency, type, and results of the immunological tests performed on children with meningitis, purpura fulminans, or a meningococcemia episode. RESULTS Among the 143 children included (144 episodes), 84 (59%) and 60 (41%) had bacterial meningitis and purpura fulminans or meningococcemia, respectively: 72 (50%) had immunological tests and 8% had a complete immunological investigation as recommended. Among the 72 children examined for PID, 11 (15%) had at least one anomaly in the immunological test results. Two children had a diagnosis of PID (one with C2 deficit and the other with C8 deficit) and seven other children had possible PID. Thus, the prevalence of a definite or possible diagnosis of PID was 12% among the children examined. CONCLUSION PID is rarely investigated after COSBI. We raise awareness of the need for immunological investigations after a severe infection requiring PICU admission.
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Harji D, Thomas C, Antoniou SA, Chandraratan H, Griffiths B, Henniford BT, Horgan L, Köckerling F, López-Cano M, Massey L, Miserez M, Montgomery A, Muysoms F, Poulose BK, Reinpold W, Smart N. A systematic review of outcome reporting in incisional hernia surgery. BJS Open 2021; 5:6220250. [PMID: 33839746 PMCID: PMC8038267 DOI: 10.1093/bjsopen/zrab006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The incidence of incisional hernia is up to 20 per cent after abdominal surgery. The management of patients with incisional hernia can be complex with an array of techniques and meshes available. Ensuring consistency in reporting outcomes across studies on incisional hernia is important and will enable appropriate interpretation, comparison and data synthesis across a range of clinical and operative treatment strategies. Methods Literature searches were performed in MEDLINE and EMBASE (from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2019) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. All studies documenting clinical and patient-reported outcomes for incisional hernia were included. Results In total, 1340 studies were screened, of which 92 were included, reporting outcomes on 12 292 patients undergoing incisional hernia repair. Eight broad-based outcome domains were identified, including patient and clinical demographics, hernia-related symptoms, hernia morphology, recurrent incisional hernia, operative variables, postoperative variables, follow-up and patient-reported outcomes. Clinical outcomes such as hernia recurrence rates were reported in 80 studies (87 per cent). A total of nine different definitions for detecting hernia recurrence were identified. Patient-reported outcomes were reported in 31 studies (34 per cent), with 18 different assessment measures used. Conclusions This review demonstrates the significant heterogeneity in outcome reporting in incisional hernia studies, with significant variation in outcome assessment and definitions. This is coupled with significant under-reporting of patient-reported outcomes.
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Huber J, Karschuck P, Groeben C, Thomas C, Praus F, Miernik A, Gratzke C, Alpers GW, Kriegmair M, Michel MS. Erratum zu: Empowerment für unsere Patienten. Gelebte Innovation im urologischen Alltag. Urologe A 2021; 60:521-522. [PMID: 33835208 DOI: 10.1007/s00120-021-01449-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Farragher J, Davis J, Polatajko H, Elliott M, Ravani P, Manns B, Thomas C, Hemmelgarn B. POS-572 EXPLORING THE LIFE PARTICIPATION EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE ON CHRONIC HEMODIALYSIS WHO PARTICIPATED IN AN ENERGY MANAGEMENT EDUCATION PROGRAM. Kidney Int Rep 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2021.03.601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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