FAANG, establishing metadata standards, validation and best practices for the farmed and companion animal community

The Functional Annotation of ANimal Genomes (FAANG) project aims, through a coordinated international effort, to provide high quality functional annotation of animal genomes with an initial focus on farmed and companion animals. A key goal of the initiative is to ensure high quality and rich supporting metadata to describe the project's animals, specimens, cell cultures and experimental assays. By defining rich sample and experimental metadata standards and promoting best practices in data descriptions, deposition and openness, FAANG champions higher quality and reusability of published datasets. FAANG has established a Data Coordination Centre, which sits at the heart of the Metadata and Data Sharing Committee. It continues to evolve the metadata standards, support submissions and, crucially, create powerful and accessible tools to support deposition and validation of metadata. FAANG conforms to the findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) data principles, with high quality, open access and functionally interlinked data. In addition to data generated by FAANG members and specific FAANG projects, existing datasets that meet the main—or more permissive legacy—standards are incorporated into a central, focused, functional data resource portal for the entire farmed and companion animal community. Through clear and effective metadata standards, validation and conversion software, combined with promotion of best practices in metadata implementation, FAANG aims to maximise effectiveness and inter‐comparability of assay data. This supports the community to create a rich genome‐to‐phenotype resource and promotes continuing improvements in animal data standards as a whole.

Investigation of health perspectives of those with physical disabilities: the role of spirituality as a determinant of health

PURPOSE

To identify key determinants of health and the process of health attainment for people with musculoskeletal disabilities.

METHOD

Focus groups of people with musculoskeletal disorders, including 30 members and their five trained facilitators, provided data. Discussed were 'What is health for you?' and 'What has helped, or would help you achieve this health?' Delphi-structured analysis identified health themes and a health process model was developed with the facilitators comprising the expert panel.

RESULTS

Health was perceived as centred on relationships that required a spiritual awareness for a strong and resilient identity. The Self Attributes Model developed portrays the processes perceived to be required for health.

CONCLUSIONS

Although physical, social and psychological interventions are essential aspects of health intervention, by themselves they are not sufficient. Also required for health is a strong resilient self resulting from interaction and connection with other people and the natural world. Moreover, development of such an identity requires a spiritual world-view comprising an acknowledgement of the essence of self and focus upon the nature of the connection of this essence with all other aspects of life. Further research is required to advance understanding of the process by which this occurs for people with chronic disorders.

Laser endometrial ablation with the neodynium: yttrium-aluminium garnet (Nd-YAG) laser: a review of ninety consecutive patients

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effectiveness of laser endometrial ablation in women with dysfunctional bleeding.

DESIGN

A retrospective analysis of 90 patients.

SETTING

Department of Gynaecology, King George Hospital, Barley Lane, Goodmayes, Essex IG3 8YB, U:K.

SUBJECTS

Ninety patients with dysfunctional uterine bleeding who were hysteroscopically suitable for laser endometrial ablation.

INTERVENTIONS

Endometrial laser ablations using the neodynium-yttrium-garnet laser at 70 watts power output.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Patient satisfaction/dissatisfaction at 6 months follow-up and response to repeat ablation.

RESULTS

A total of 117 procedures were carried out on the 90 patients. There was one suspected perforation which was not confirmed at subsequent hysterectomy and one primary hemorrhage which required tamponade with Foley catheter. There were three cases of fluid overload with no clinical evidence of fluid over-load syndrome. All five major complications occurred in the first six months or 'learning phase' of the study. During this period, there were proportionately more treatment failures after one attempt (52.8% versus 42.6%) than the second six months of the study. Overall, 53.3% of the patients were satisfied with the initial ablation and 73.3% were satisfied after repeat ablations.

CONCLUSION

Endometrial laser ablation is a major advance in the management of dysfunctional uterine bleeding, especially in patients who would otherwise have had a hysterectomy.

Hypnosis and weight reduction: which is the cart and which is the horse?

Hypnosis has often been described as a useful adjunctive treatment for excess weight. However, the literature shows that very few controlled studies have been conducted in this realm, and none have incorporated the key variables of either the hypnosis components or the weight-reduction components. In this paper I offer a brief review of the literature on hypnosis for weight reduction, present weight-reduction outcome data, outline variables common to people with chronic weight problems, and I offer suggestions for future uses of hypnosis within a comprehensive approach to weight reduction rather than as the primary treatment. Suggestions are also made concerning the multiple opportunities for future research using hypnosis in the substance-abuse field.

The use of indirect hypnotic suggestions for insomnia arising from generalized anxiety: a case report

This case report concerns an aggressive, independent, and financially successful businessman who suffered with insomnia within the context of generalized anxiety disorder. The hypnotherapy included indirect suggestions for the insomnia delivered through the vehicle of metaphorical stories designed as an indirect intervention for the generalized anxiety. The client's perception of the problem was clarified and respected, but the choice of intervention strategy was designed to indirectly suggest more global changes. The creative changes made by the client were positive and enduring at 2-year follow-up.

Glans condom drainage system

A form-fitting glans condom has been developed for use in small uncircumcised males with neurogenic bladders to avoid the problems inherent with diapers. The method to make the glans condom and early successful use in 19 of 33 patients are noted.