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Lopes R, Prasad MK. Beyond the promise: evaluating and mitigating off-target effects in CRISPR gene editing for safer therapeutics. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 11:1339189. [PMID: 38390600 PMCID: PMC10883050 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1339189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, CRISPR has revolutionized drug development due to its potential to cure genetic diseases that currently do not have any treatment. CRISPR was adapted from bacteria for gene editing in human cells in 2012 and, remarkably, only 11 years later has seen it's very first approval as a medicine for the treatment of sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia. However, the application of CRISPR systems is associated with unintended off-target and on-target alterations (including small indels, and structural variations such as translocations, inversions and large deletions), which are a source of risk for patients and a vital concern for the development of safe therapies. In recent years, a wide range of methods has been developed to detect unwanted effects of CRISPR-Cas nuclease activity. In this review, we summarize the different methods for off-target assessment, discuss their strengths and limitations, and highlight strategies to improve the safety of CRISPR systems. Finally, we discuss their relevance and application for the pre-clinical risk assessment of CRISPR therapeutics within the current regulatory context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Lopes
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Centre Basel, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
| | - Megana K Prasad
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Centre Basel, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
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Pagoto SL, Palmer L, Horwitz-Willis N. The Next Infodemic: Abortion Misinformation. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e42582. [PMID: 37140975 DOI: 10.2196/42582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines an infodemic as the proliferation of false or misleading information that leads to confusion, mistrust in health authorities, and the rejection of public health recommendations. The devastating impacts of an infodemic on public health were felt during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are now on the precipice of another infodemic, this one regarding abortion. On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization resulted in the reversal of Roe v. Wade, which had protected a woman's right to have an abortion for nearly 50 years. The reversal of Roe v. Wade has given way to an abortion infodemic that is being exacerbated by a confusing and rapidly changing legislative landscape, the proliferation of abortion disinformants on the web, lax efforts by social media companies to abate abortion misinformation, and proposed legislation that threatens to prohibit the distribution of evidence-based abortion information. The abortion infodemic threatens to worsen the detrimental effects of the Roe v. Wade reversal on maternal morbidity and mortality. It also comes with unique barriers to traditional abatement efforts. In this piece, we lay out these challenges and urgently call for a public health research agenda on the abortion infodemic to stimulate the development of evidence-based public health efforts to mitigate the impact of misinformation on the increased maternal morbidity and mortality that is expected to result from abortion restrictions, particularly among marginalized populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherry L Pagoto
- UConn Center for mHealth and Social Media, UConn Institute for Collaboration in Health, Interventions, and Policy, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Lindsay Palmer
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Nate Horwitz-Willis
- Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts, Boston, MA, United States
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Rasmussen DGK, Anstee QM, Torstenson R, Golding B, Patterson SD, Brass C, Thakker P, Harrison S, Billin AN, Schuppan D, Dufour JF, Andersson A, Wigley I, Shumbayawonda E, Dennis A, Schoelch C, Ratziu V, Yunis C, Bossuyt P, Karsdal MA. NAFLD and NASH biomarker qualification in the LITMUS consortium - Lessons learned. J Hepatol 2023; 78:852-865. [PMID: 36526000 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Biomarkers have the potential to accelerate drug development, as early indicators of improved clinical response, to improve patient safety, and for personalised medicine. However, few have been approved through the biomarker qualification pathways of the regulatory agencies. This paper outlines how biomarkers can accelerate drug development, and reviews the lessons learned by the EU IMI2-funded LITMUS consortium, which has had several interactions with regulatory agencies in both the US and EU regarding biomarker qualification in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Sharing knowledge of such interactions with the scientific community is of paramount importance to increase the chances of qualification of relevant biomarkers that may accelerate drug development, and thereby help patients, across disease indications. A qualified biomarker enables a decision to be made that all understand and support in a common framework.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Quentin M Anstee
- Translational & Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Torstenson
- Astrazeneca, Regulatory Affairs, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Bruno Golding
- Roche Diagnostics International, Rotkreuz, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Paresh Thakker
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc., 95 Hayden Avenue, Lexington, MA 02421, USA
| | - Stephen Harrison
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Detlef Schuppan
- Institute of Translational Immunology and Research Center for Immune Therapy, Mainz University Medical Center, 55131, Mainz, Germany; Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Vlad Ratziu
- Sorbonne University, Paris, France; Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Carla Yunis
- Global Product Development, Internal Medicine and Hospital, Pfizer Inc, Florida, USA
| | - Patrick Bossuyt
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Havaei F, MacPhee M, Ma A, Mao Y. Priority Nursing Populations for Mental Health Support Before and During COVID-19: A Survey Study of Individual and Workplace Characteristics. Can J Nurs Res 2023; 55:68-77. [PMID: 35581689 PMCID: PMC9118006 DOI: 10.1177/08445621221098833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nursing is a high-risk profession and nurses' exposure to workplace risk factors such as heavy workloads and inadequate staffing is well documented. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated nurses' exposure to workplace risk factors, further deteriorating their mental health. Therefore, it is both timely and important to determine nursing groups in greatest need of mental health interventions and supports. PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to provide a granular examination of the differences in nurse mental health across nurse demographic and workplace characteristics before and after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. METHODS This secondary analysis used survey data from two cross-sectional studies with samples (Time 1 study, 5,512 nurses; Time 2, 4,523) recruited from the nursing membership (∼48,000) of the British Columbia nurses' union. Data was analyzed at each timepoint using descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression. RESULTS Several demographic and workplace characteristics were found to predict significant differences in the number of positive screenings on measures of poor mental health. Most importantly, in both survey times younger age was a strong predictor of worse mental health, as was full-time employment. Nurse workplace health authority was also a significant predictor of worse mental health. CONCLUSIONS Structural and psychological strategies must be in place, proactively and preventively, to buffer nurses against workplace challenges that are likely to increase during the COVID-19 crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farinaz Havaei
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada,Farinaz Havaei, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, T201-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6 T 2B5.
| | - Maura MacPhee
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Andy Ma
- Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Yue Mao
- Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Al-Zubiedi SA, Younus M, Al-Khalidi S, Ekilo M, Alshammari TM. Pharmacovigilance regulatory actions by national pharmacovigilance centers in Arab countries following COVID-19 pandemic. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2023; 22:165-174. [PMID: 35915555 DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2022.2108398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pharmacovigilance (PV) activities were affected by COVID-19. Therefore, several health authorities around the world have issued guidelines and practices to ensure that PV activities are maintained and continued during the pandemic. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the preparedness and performance of national PV systems in 14 Arab countries. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This was a cross-sectional study that was conducted between July and October 2020. National PV centers in 18 Arab countries were invited to participate in this study. Descriptive analysis was used to summarize and present the results of this study. RESULTS Responses were obtained from 14 (77.8%) countries. Adverse events reporting was the main PV activity that was covered by PV guidelines and practices. National guidelines and practices covered other PV activities in 8 (57.14%) of the participating countries. Performance and practices of national PV centers vary considerably among participating countries during the pandemic. CONCLUSION The findings highlight the differences in preparedness and performance of different national PV centers in participating Arab countries. Improving digital infrastructure among participating countries could serve as a useful tool to minimize the impact of the pandemic on PV activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameh A Al-Zubiedi
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.,School of Pharmacy, University of Jordan Pharmacovigilance office, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Manal Younus
- Iraqi Pharmacovigilance Centre, Ministry of Health, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Sara Al-Khalidi
- Medication Safety Research Centre, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Thamir M Alshammari
- Medication Safety Research Centre, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,College of Pharmacy, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Abdellatif W, Ding J, Jalal S, Nguyen T, Khorshed D, Rybicki FJ, Ali IT, McInnes MDF, Khan NA, Shah S, Khosa F. Lack of Gender Disparity Among Administrative Leaders of Canadian Health Authorities. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2020; 29:1469-1474. [PMID: 32091966 DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2019.7852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Gender distribution within the managing bodies of the Canadian health authorities has not been studied despite their integral role in the health care system. The purpose of this study is to quantify gender differences and to craft a geographic gender analysis of such distribution. Methods: Retrospective data collection of all Canadian health authorities at the provincial, territorial, regional, and first nations levels was conducted. The dependent variable was gender, and other covariates, where applicable, included province/territory, region, leadership position, education (PhD or Master's), honorary degree, and primary occupation. Any member within the executive managing body or board of directors of a Canadian health authority was included, unless their gender could not be determined, in which case they were excluded. Results: Quantitative analysis of the 67 health authorities revealed 1346 individuals with identifiable gender (710 women; 636 men). Thematic distribution showed no significant difference in the gender distribution by provinces/territories (chi square = 14.248; p = 0.28), by leadership position (chi square = 1.88; p = 0.75), by education (chi square = 1.85; p = 0.17), or by primary occupation (chi square = 1.53; p = 0.46). Conclusion: The overall number of females exceeded that of males and there were no gender disparities. Critical analysis of probable causes was discussed. Further studies should be conducted to examine the policies and programs within the Canadian health authorities that successfully tackle the retention, recruitment, and promotion of females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waleed Abdellatif
- Radiology Department, University of British Columbia/Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jeffrey Ding
- Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Sabeena Jalal
- Department of Radiology, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Tribesty Nguyen
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | - Frank J Rybicki
- Department of Radiology, University of Ottawa and The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Ismail Tawakol Ali
- Department of Medical Imaging, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Nadia A Khan
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcomes Sciences, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Samad Shah
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Faisal Khosa
- Radiology Department, University of British Columbia/Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
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