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Khodaie F, Lapevandani MM, Ebrahimi Y, Sahraian MA, Moghadasi AN, Ayoubi S, Goudarzi H, Paybast S, Kamyari N, Asgari N, Fujihara K, Heidari H, Eskandarieh S. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders registry system in Iran: Validity of data sets. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2024; 87:105685. [PMID: 38759423 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2024.105685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A targeted structure for recording, monitoring, and follow-up of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) is in demand. To obtain the correct and uniform standardized information registry system, it is necessary to use a data set that has good validity to help policy-makers systematically plan for improvements in the quality of care. The main goal of the present study was to develop a NMOSD data set for the national registry system in Iran (NMORI) and to evaluate the validity of the presented data set. METHODS The NMORI data set consisted of baseline characteristics, disease and exposure history, background and past medical history, diagnosis and treatment, clinical features, imaging, and para-clinical findings. The content validity was evaluated by 18 experts from Iran, Japan, and Denmark by scoring each of the questionnaire items in term of transparency, simplicity, and relevance. According to the points given, the content validity index (CVI) and content validity ratio (CVR) scores were calculated and compared with the critical limit. RESULTS The current study was designed as a 125-items data set which was considered valid. In terms of relevance 110 out of 125 items, simplicity 113 out of 125 items, and transparency 123 out of 125 items had Item-CVI>0.79. All Scale-level-CVI values were greater than 0.9, showing noticeable content validity. In this data set, 112 items had CVR > 0.49, which was considered an acceptable level of significance. CONCLUSION The implementing of NMORI is important in a developing country such as Iran with significant increasing prevalence of this disease. This registry facilitates a uniform and valid diagnosis and is considered valid for clinical investigation and epidemiological research on NMOSD. Scientists and healthcare policymakers can rely on a validated data set in order to have access to accurate data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faezeh Khodaie
- Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahsa Mohammadi Lapevandani
- Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yasamin Ebrahimi
- Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Sahraian
- Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abdorreza Naser Moghadasi
- Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeideh Ayoubi
- Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Houman Goudarzi
- Center for Medical Education and International Relations, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Sepideh Paybast
- Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Naser Kamyari
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran
| | - Nasrin Asgari
- Department of Neurology, Slagelse & Institute of Regional Health Research and Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Kazuo Fujihara
- Department of Multiple Sclerosis Therapeutics, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan; Multiple Sclerosis & Neuromyelitis Optica Center, Koriyama, Japan; Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hora Heidari
- Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sharareh Eskandarieh
- Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Grieve S, Brunner F, Cabral DF, Connett R, Hirata H, Iwasaki N, Nakagawa Y, Sagir A, Sousa G, Vatine JJ, Vaughan-Spickers N, Xu J, Buckle L, McCabe C. An international study to explore the feasibility of collecting standardised outcome data for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: recommendations for an international clinical research registry. Br J Pain 2023; 17:468-478. [PMID: 38107759 PMCID: PMC10722111 DOI: 10.1177/20494637231188333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a persistent pain condition with low prevalence. Multi-centre collaborative research is needed to attain sufficient sample sizes for meaningful studies. This international observational study: (1) tested the feasibility and acceptability of collecting outcome data using an agreed core measurement set (2) tested and refined an electronic data management system to collect and manage the data. Methods Adults with CRPS, meeting the Budapest diagnostic clinical criteria, were recruited to the study from 7 international research centres. After informed consent, a questionnaire comprising the core set outcome measures was completed: on paper at baseline (T1), and at 3 or 6 months (T2) using a paper or e-version. Participants and clinicians provided feedback on the data collection process. Clinicians completed the CRPS severity score at T1 and optionally, at T2. Ethical approval was obtained at each international centre. Results Ninety-eight adults were recruited (female n=66; mean age 46.6 years, range 19-89), of whom 32% chose to receive the T2 questionnaire in an electronic format. Fifty-five participants completed both T1 and T2. Eighteen participants and nine clinicians provided feedback on their data collection experience. Conclusion This study confirmed the questionnaire core outcome data are feasible and practicable to collect in clinical practice. The electronic data management system provided a robust means of collecting and managing the data across an international population. The findings have informed the final data collection tools and processes which will comprise the first international, clinical research registry and data bank for CRPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Grieve
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Bath, UK
- University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Danylo F Cabral
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Afrin Sagir
- Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | | | - Jean-Jacques Vatine
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Reuth Rehabilitation Hospital, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | | | - Jijun Xu
- Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Lisa Buckle
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Bath, UK
- University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
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Sazlina SG, Lee PY, Cheong AT, Hussein N, Pinnock H, Salim H, Liew SM, Hanafi NS, Abu Bakar AI, Ng CW, Ramli R, Mohd Ahad A, Ho BK, Mohamed Isa S, Parker RA, Stoddart A, Pang YK, Chinna K, Sheikh A, Khoo EM. Feasibility of supported self-management with a pictorial action plan to improve asthma control. NPJ Prim Care Respir Med 2022; 32:34. [PMID: 36127355 PMCID: PMC9486786 DOI: 10.1038/s41533-022-00294-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Supported self-management reduces asthma-related morbidity and mortality. This paper is on a feasibility study, and observing the change in clinical and cost outcomes of pictorial action plan use is part of assessing feasibility as it will help us decide on outcome measures for a fully powered RCT. We conducted a pre-post feasibility study among adults with physician-diagnosed asthma on inhaled corticosteroids at a public primary-care clinic in Malaysia. We adapted an existing pictorial asthma action plan. The primary outcome was asthma control, assessed at 1, 3 and 6 months. Secondary outcomes included reliever use, controller medication adherence, asthma exacerbations, emergency visits, hospitalisations, days lost from work/daily activities and action plan use. We estimated potential cost savings on asthma-related care following plan use. About 84% (n = 59/70) completed the 6-months follow-up. The proportion achieving good asthma control increased from 18 (30.4%) at baseline to 38 (64.4%) at 6-month follow-up. The proportion of at least one acute exacerbation (3 months: % difference -19.7; 95% CI -34.7 to -3.1; 6 months: % difference -20.3; 95% CI -5.8 to -3.2), one or more emergency visit (1 month: % difference -28.6; 95% CI -41.2 to -15.5; 3 months: % difference -18.0; 95% CI -32.2 to -3.0; 6 months: % difference -20.3; 95% CI -34.9 to -4.6), and one or more asthma admission (1 month: % difference -14.3; 95% CI -25.2 to -5.3; 6 months: % difference -11.9; 95% CI -23.2 to -1.8) improved over time. Estimated savings for the 59 patients at 6-months follow-up and for each patient over the 6 months were RM 15,866.22 (USD3755.36) and RM268.92 (USD63.65), respectively. Supported self-management with a pictorial asthma action plan was associated with an improvement in asthma control and potential cost savings in Malaysian primary-care patients.Trial registration number: ISRCTN87128530; prospectively registered: September 5, 2019, http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN87128530 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Shariff Ghazali Sazlina
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. .,Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing™), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.
| | - Ping Yein Lee
- UMeHealth Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Ai Theng Cheong
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Norita Hussein
- Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hilary Pinnock
- NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Respiratory Health (RESPIRE), Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Hani Salim
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Respiratory Health (RESPIRE), Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Su May Liew
- Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nik Sherina Hanafi
- Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Chiu-Wan Ng
- Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Rizawati Ramli
- Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Azainorsuzila Mohd Ahad
- Klinik Kesihatan Lukut, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
| | - Bee Kiau Ho
- Klinik Kesihatan Bandar Botanik, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Klang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Salbiah Mohamed Isa
- Klinik Kesihatan Bandar Botanik, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Klang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Richard A Parker
- Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit, Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Andrew Stoddart
- Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit, Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Yong Kek Pang
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Karuthan Chinna
- Faculty of Business and Management, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Aziz Sheikh
- NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Respiratory Health (RESPIRE), Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ee Ming Khoo
- Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Ramiller A, Mudie K, Seibert E, Whittaker S. The Facilitation of Clinical and Therapeutic Discoveries in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Related Diseases: A Protocol for the You + ME Registry Research Platform (Preprint). JMIR Res Protoc 2022; 11:e36798. [PMID: 35816681 PMCID: PMC9369615 DOI: 10.2196/36798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic, complex, heterogeneous disease that affects millions and lacks both diagnostics and treatments. Big data, or the collection of vast quantities of data that can be mined for information, have transformed the understanding of many complex illnesses, such as cancer and multiple sclerosis, by dissecting heterogeneity, identifying subtypes, and enabling the development of personalized treatments. It is possible that big data can reveal the same for ME/CFS. Objective This study aims to describe the protocol for the You + ME Registry, present preliminary results related to participant enrollment and satisfaction, and discuss the limitations of the registry as well as next steps. Methods We developed and launched the You + ME Registry to collect longitudinal health data from people with ME/CFS, people with long COVID (LC), and control volunteers using rigorous protocols designed to harmonize with other groups collecting data from similar groups of people. Results As of September 30, 2021, the You + ME Registry had over 4200 geographically diverse participants (3033/4339, 69.9%, people with ME/CFS; 833/4339, 19.2%, post–COVID-19 people; and 473/4339, 10.9%, control volunteers), with an average of 72 new people registered every week. It has qualified as “great” using a net promotor score, indicating registrants are likely to recommend the registry to a friend. Analyses of collected data are currently underway, and preliminary findings are expected in the near future. Conclusions The You + ME Registry is an invaluable resource because it integrates with a symptom-tracking app, as well as a biorepository, to provide a robust and rich data set that is available to qualified researchers. Accordingly, it facilitates collaboration that may ultimately uncover causes and help accelerate the development of therapies. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04806620; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04806620 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/36798
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elle Seibert
- Solve ME/CFS Initiative, Glendale, CA, United States
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Sood A, Kaur K, Mahajan R, Midha V, Singh A, Sharma S, Puri AS, Goswami B, Desai D, Pai CG, Peddi K, Philip M, Kochhar R, Nijhawan S, Bhatia S, Rao NS. Colitis and Crohn's Foundation (India): a first nationwide inflammatory bowel disease registry. Intest Res 2020; 19:206-216. [PMID: 32646197 PMCID: PMC8100380 DOI: 10.5217/ir.2019.09169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/Aims The national registry for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was designed to study epidemiology and prescribing pattern of treatment of IBD in India. Methods A multicenter, cross-sectional, prospective registry was established across four geographical zones of India. Adult patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn’s disease (CD) were enrolled between January 2014 and December 2015. Information related to demographics; disease features; complications; and treatment history were collected and analyzed. Results A total of 3,863 patients (mean age, 36.7 ± 13.6 years; 3,232 UC [83.7%] and 631 CD [16.3%]) were enrolled. The majority of patients with UC (n = 1,870, 57.9%) were from north, CD was more common in south (n = 348, 55.5%). The UC:CD ratio was 5.1:1. There was a male predominance (male:female = 1.6:1). The commonest presentation of UC was moderately severe (n = 1,939, 60%) and E2 disease (n = 1,895, 58.6%). Patients with CD most commonly presented with ileocolonic (n = 229, 36.3%) inflammatory (n = 504, 79.9%) disease. Extraintestinal manifestations were recorded among 13% and 20% of patients in UC and CD respectively. Less than 1% patients from both cohorts developed colon cancer (n = 26, 0.7%). The commonly used drugs were 5-aminosalicylates (99%) in both UC and CD followed by azathioprine (34.4%). Biologics were used in only 1.5% of patients; more commonly for UC in north and CD in south. Conclusions The national IBD registry brings out diversities in the 4 geographical zones of India. This will help in aiding research on IBD and improving quality of patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajit Sood
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India
| | - Kirandeep Kaur
- Department of Pharmacology, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India
| | - Ramit Mahajan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India
| | - Vandana Midha
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India
| | - Arshdeep Singh
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India
| | - Sarit Sharma
- Department of Community Medicine, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India
| | | | - Bhabhadev Goswami
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati, India
| | - Devendra Desai
- P. D. Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, India
| | - C Ganesh Pai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India
| | - Kiran Peddi
- Citizens Centre for Digestive Disorders, Hyderabad, India
| | | | - Rakesh Kochhar
- Department of Gastroenterology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Sandeep Nijhawan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sawai Man Singh Medical College, Jaipur, India
| | - Shobna Bhatia
- Department of Gastroenterology, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India
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Munung NS, Nembaware V, de Vries J, Bukini D, Tluway F, Treadwell M, Sangeda RZ, Mazandu G, Jonas M, Paintsil V, Nnodu OE, Balandya E, Makani J, Wonkam A. Establishing a Multi-Country Sickle Cell Disease Registry in Africa: Ethical Considerations. Front Genet 2019; 10:943. [PMID: 31649726 PMCID: PMC6795756 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most prevalent genetic conditions in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a chronic, lifelong disease often characterized by severe pain. However, SCD has received little investment terms of health research, though there is currently a growing pool of SCD data from health and research facilities in different countries. To facilitate research on SCD in Africa, the SickleInAfrica consortium has established a SickleInAfrica registry. The registry will store a systematic collection of longitudinal data from persons with SCD across sub-Saharan Africa, and currently, participants are being enrolled in Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania. In establishing this registry, the SickleInAfrica consortium decided to actively identify and anticipate possible ethical issues that may arise in the development and management of the registry. This was motivated, in part, by the near absence of well documented ethical issues for registry research in Africa, more-so for registries enrolling participants across multiple countries and for a genetic condition. The consortium aims to establish standards for the equitable use of data stored in the registry. This paper presents a comprehensive report on the ethical considerations that came up in setting up a genetic disease registry across multiple African countries and how they were addressed by the SickleInAfrica consortium. Major issues included: active involvement of patients in the initiation and management of the registry; questions of assent and re-consent; the importance of ensuring that fears of exploitation are not replicated in African–African research collaborations; and the importance of public engagement in the management of registries. Drawing on this experience, SickleInAfrica plans to set up an ethics helpdesk for genetic disease registries and research in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nchangwi Syntia Munung
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,SickleInAfrica Data Coordinating Centre (SADaCC), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Victoria Nembaware
- SickleInAfrica Data Coordinating Centre (SADaCC), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Division of Human Genetics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jantina de Vries
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Daima Bukini
- Sickle Cell Programme, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Furahini Tluway
- Sickle Cell Programme, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Marsha Treadwell
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, California, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, UCSF School of Medicine, California, United States
| | - Raphael Zozimus Sangeda
- Sickle Cell Programme, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.,Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Gaston Mazandu
- SickleInAfrica Data Coordinating Centre (SADaCC), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Division of Human Genetics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mario Jonas
- SickleInAfrica Data Coordinating Centre (SADaCC), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Division of Human Genetics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Vivian Paintsil
- Department of Child Health, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Obiageli E Nnodu
- Center for Sickle Cell Disease Research and Training, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Emmanuel Balandya
- Sickle Cell Programme, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Julie Makani
- Sickle Cell Programme, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ambroise Wonkam
- SickleInAfrica Data Coordinating Centre (SADaCC), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Division of Human Genetics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Jia J, Shi T. Towards efficiency in rare disease research: what is distinctive and important? SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2017. [PMID: 28639105 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-017-9099-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Characterized by their low prevalence, rare diseases are often chronically debilitating or life threatening. Despite their low prevalence, the aggregate number of individuals suffering from a rare disease is estimated to be nearly 400 million worldwide. Over the past decades, efforts from researchers, clinicians, and pharmaceutical industries have been focused on both the diagnosis and therapy of rare diseases. However, because of the lack of data and medical records for individual rare diseases and the high cost of orphan drug development, only limited progress has been achieved. In recent years, the rapid development of next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based technologies, as well as the popularity of precision medicine has facilitated a better understanding of rare diseases and their molecular etiology. As a result, molecular subclassification can be identified within each disease more clearly, significantly improving diagnostic accuracy. However, providing appropriate care for patients with rare diseases is still an enormous challenge. In this review, we provide a brief introduction to the challenges of rare disease research and make suggestions on where and how our efforts should be focused.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinmeng Jia
- The Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, the Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Tieliu Shi
- The Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, the Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
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