Demonstrating trustworthiness when collecting and sharing genomic data: public views across 22 countries

BACKGROUND

Public trust is central to the collection of genomic and health data and the sustainability of genomic research. To merit trust, those involved in collecting and sharing data need to demonstrate they are trustworthy. However, it is unclear what measures are most likely to demonstrate this.

METHODS

We analyse the 'Your DNA, Your Say' online survey of public perspectives on genomic data sharing including responses from 36,268 individuals across 22 low-, middle- and high-income countries, gathered in 15 languages. We examine how participants perceived the relative value of measures to demonstrate the trustworthiness of those using donated DNA and/or medical information. We examine between-country variation and present a consolidated ranking of measures.

RESULTS

Providing transparent information about who will benefit from data access was the most important measure to increase trust, endorsed by more than 50% of participants across 20 of 22 countries. It was followed by the option to withdraw data and transparency about who is using data and why. Variation was found for the importance of measures, notably information about sanctions for misuse of data-endorsed by 5% in India but almost 60% in Japan. A clustering analysis suggests alignment between some countries in the assessment of specific measures, such as the UK and Canada, Spain and Mexico and Portugal and Brazil. China and Russia are less closely aligned with other countries in terms of the value of the measures presented.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight the importance of transparency about data use and about the goals and potential benefits associated with data sharing, including to whom such benefits accrue. They show that members of the public value knowing what benefits accrue from the use of data. The study highlights the importance of locally sensitive measures to increase trust as genomic data sharing continues globally.

Global Public Perceptions of Genomic Data Sharing: What Shapes the Willingness to Donate DNA and Health Data?

Analyzing genomic data across populations is central to understanding the role of genetic factors in health and disease. Successful data sharing relies on public support, which requires attention to whether people around the world are willing to donate their data that are then subsequently shared with others for research. However, studies of such public perceptions are geographically limited and do not enable comparison. This paper presents results from a very large public survey on attitudes toward genomic data sharing. Data from 36,268 individuals across 22 countries (gathered in 15 languages) are presented. In general, publics across the world do not appear to be aware of, nor familiar with, the concepts of DNA, genetics, and genomics. Willingness to donate one's DNA and health data for research is relatively low, and trust in the process of data's being shared with multiple users (e.g., doctors, researchers, governments) is also low. Participants were most willing to donate DNA or health information for research when the recipient was specified as a medical doctor and least willing to donate when the recipient was a for-profit researcher. Those who were familiar with genetics and who were trusting of the users asking for data were more likely to be willing to donate. However, less than half of participants trusted more than one potential user of data, although this varied across countries. Genetic information was not uniformly seen as different from other forms of health information, but there was an association between seeing genetic information as special in some way compared to other health data and increased willingness to donate. The global perspective provided by our "Your DNA, Your Say" study is valuable for informing the development of international policy and practice for sharing genomic data. It highlights that the research community not only needs to be worthy of trust by the public, but also urgent steps need to be taken to authentically communicate why genomic research is necessary and how data donation, and subsequent sharing, is integral to this.

Trend of selected risk factors for hepatitis B infection among the drug addicts in Bangladesh: a five year statistics

The present retrospective study was conducted by review of records of last five years from 1996 to 2000, among 1497 drug addicts, admitted in a selected drug addicts treatment centre in Dhaka, with an aim to find out the trend of occurrence of hepatitis B infection among the drug addicts, as well as the trend of the risk factors. It was found from the study that during the period of five years, among the total drug addicts, sixty-nine addicts were found to be hepatitis B positive as determined by HBsAg status. The main contributing risk factors were found to be history of exposure to the commercial sex workers (CWS), injecting drug use (IDUs) and needle sharing. It was also found that the trend of hepatitis B infection was gradually falling down among the drug addicts probably due to reduction of the risk factors, especially the injection of drugs. It can be recommended that as a considerable portion of (NUDS) have shown evidence of hepatitis B infection, especially those who were using and sharing needles with others. Therefore, for protecting them from this dreadful infection, drug addicts should be counseled to avoid the above high risk behavior.

Non-syndromic mental retardation segregating with an apparently balanced t(1;17) reciprocal translocation through three generations

We describe a family in which non-syndromic mental retardation (MR) and an apparently balanced reciprocal translocation, t(1;17)(p36. 3;p11.2) segregates in eight individuals over three generations. Four children showed psychomotor developmental delay, reduced muscle tone, poor coordination, and learning difficulties. The affected adults had a varying range of behavioral problems and difficulties in social adjustment but no abnormal neurological signs. Most of them were functioning at the borderline learning difficulty level in intellectual abilities with additional specific difficulties in reading in two individuals. The Smith-Magenis and 1p36.3 deletion syndromes were excluded. We propose that this reciprocal translocation has disrupted an autosomal gene with an important function in cognitive development, and this family represents a unique resource for the molecular genetic study on non-syndromic MR.

Caroli's disease diagnosed in a child by MRCP

We describe a case of Caroli's disease associated with a choledochal cyst and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease in a child whose diagnosis was confirmed with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), after initial abnormalities were seen by ultrasonography. Invasive procedures such as liver biopsy or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were, therefore, not necessary. Recent radiological advances in the diagnosis of Caroli's disease with particular emphasis on MRCP are discussed.

Parturient haemoglobinuria in buffaloes--a review

Parturient haemoglobinuria is a disease of economic importance in buffalo rearing countries in general and in India, Pakistan and Egypt in particular. This study reviews the information on aetiology, epidemiology, clinical aspects and treatment of parturient haemoglobinuria in buffaloes. The body of literature reviewed suggests that phosphorus deficiency in the diet of affected animals plays a major role in causing this disease, although the precise mechanism involved is complex. The possible factors involved and their interplay, plus the clinical picture of affected animals and the results of different preventive and therapeutic regimes are discussed. The study also identifies areas for further research.

Gastric evacuation for acute ethanol intoxication in a three year old

A three year old girl presented in a deeply comatose state. She had drunk ethanol four hours previously and her blood ethanol concentration on arrival was 79.8 mmol/litre (3.69 g/litre). Because of her young age, high blood ethanol concentration, time since ingestion, and severe neurological depression on presentation, nasogastric aspiration of the stomach contents was performed and 4.2 g of ethanol were removed. She made an uneventful recovery.

Antiatherosclerotic effect of Lipotab Forte in cholesterol-fed rabbits

The effect of Lipotab Forte, a new polypharmaceutical herbal formulation developed on the principles of the Unani system of medicine, was investigated on the progression of atherosclerosis in cholesterol fed rabbits. Retardation of the progression of atherosclerosis was observed in animals treated with Lipotah Forte. The results were related to changes in the cholesterol content of aorta from the same animal. Blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels were greatly elevated in all rabbits on cholesterol feeding, but were significantly decreased by Lipotab Forte treatment. Lipotab Forte treatment also lowered aorta Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels from 79.72 (+/-5.70) to 24.9 (+/-2.04) nmol/g of wet tissue and reduced hepatic cholesterol significantly in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.

A comparison of the skeletal neuromuscular and autonomic ganglion-blocking potencies of five non-depolarizing relaxants

1 Results from in vitro experiments on the phrenic nerve-diaphragm and the hypogastric nerve-vas deferens preparations of the guinea-pig have been used to plot log concentration-effect curves for skeletal neuromuscular and ganglion blockade, respectively, for (+)-tubocurarine, pancuronium, alcuronium, gallamine and fazadinium (AH 8165). 2 From the log concentration-effect curves, EC50S and equipotent ratios were calculated. The order of neuromuscular blocking potency was pancuronium = alcuronium > (+)-tubocurarine > fazadinium = gallamine. The ratio EC50 for ganglion blockade/EC50 for neuromuscular blockade was 2.3 for fazadinium, 6.7 for (+)-tubocurarine, 22.9 for alcuronium, 24.3 for gallamine and 200.0 for pancuronium. 3 For pancuronium and gallamine there was a range of concentrations below those producing ganglion blockade at which the response of the vas deferens to hypogastric nerve stimulation was augmented. 4 The results are compared with some of those available in the literature, measured on other species by other methods.

Effect of ketamine on transmission in sympathetic ganglia

The effect of ketamine on sympathetic ganglion transmission has been studied using the guineapig isolated hypogastric nerve-vas deferens preparation. Ketamine produced a dose-dependent depression in the response to preganglionic stimulation (IC50 2.05 X 10--4 mol litre--1). No change in the response to postganglionic stimulation was recorded. The anti-cholinergic activity of ketamine was confirmed using the frog isolated rectus abdominis.

Comparative potency and speed of onset of fazadinium and d-tubocurarine

The potency and speed of onset of fazadinium and d-tubocurarine have been compared at three cumulative doses. Wtih thiopentone as the induction agent, the dose ratio fazadinium/d-tubocurarine ranged from 1.2 to 1.3 for single twitch reduction and from 1.1 to 1.2 for reduction of tetanus. The times taken for the development of 50% and 100% effect after each dose increment were not significantly different for the three doses of fazadinium and the 2nd and 3nd doses of d-tubocurarine. However, the 1st dose of d-tubocurarine was markedly slower than fazadinium to achieve a 50% and 100% effect.