scholarly journals Clinical tools and biomarkers to predict preeclampsia

EBioMedicine ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 103780
Author(s):  
Teresa M MacDonald ◽  
Susan P Walker ◽  
Natalie J Hannan ◽  
Stephen Tong ◽  
Tu'uhevaha J Kaitu'u-Lino
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Tools

Trends in Diagnosis for Active Tuberculosis Using Nanomaterials

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 1946-1959 ◽  
Author(s):  
Le Minh Tu Phan ◽  
Lemma Teshome Tufa ◽  
Hwa-Jung Kim ◽  
Jaebeom Lee ◽  
Tae Jung Park
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
Clinical Tools ◽  
Diagnostic Applications

Background:Tuberculosis (TB), one of the leading causes of death worldwide, is difficult to diagnose based only on signs and symptoms. Methods for TB detection are continuously being researched to design novel effective clinical tools for the diagnosis of TB.Objective:This article reviews the methods to diagnose TB at the latent and active stages and to recognize prospective TB diagnostic methods based on nanomaterials.Methods:The current methods for TB diagnosis were reviewed by evaluating their advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, the trends in TB detection using nanomaterials were discussed regarding their performance capacity for clinical diagnostic applications.Results:Current methods such as microscopy, culture, and tuberculin skin test are still being employed to diagnose TB, however, a highly sensitive point of care tool without false results is still needed. The utilization of nanomaterials to detect the specific TB biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity can provide a possible strategy to rapidly diagnose TB. Although it is challenging for nanodiagnostic platforms to be assessed in clinical trials, active TB diagnosis using nanomaterials is highly expected to achieve clinical significance for regular application. In addition, aspects and future directions in developing the high-efficiency tools to diagnose active TB using advanced nanomaterials are expounded.Conclusion:This review suggests that nanomaterials have high potential as rapid, costeffective tools to enhance the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for the accurate diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of TB. Hence, portable nanobiosensors can be alternative effective tests to be exploited globally after clinical trial execution.

scholarly journals Emotional skills for entrepreneurial success: the promise of entrepreneurship education and policy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maha Aly ◽  
David B. Audretsch ◽  
Heike Grimm
Keyword(s):  
Translational Research ◽  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activity ◽  
Entrepreneurial Success ◽  
Common Goal ◽  
Emotional Challenges ◽  
Emotional Skills ◽  
Clinical Tools

AbstractEntrepreneurship education and entrepreneurship policies have a common goal—to spur entrepreneurial activity and its impact on individuals, organizations, regions and countries. Despite the efforts of education and policy in equipping entrepreneurs with the skills, resources and competencies they need to thrive, rich and poignant research in the entrepreneurship literature highlights the daunting emotional challenges confronting entrepreneurs as they traverse the entrepreneurial journey. However, the insights, findings and conclusions from this literature have yet to find their way into providing entrepreneurs with the requisite emotional skills and tools needed to harness the opportunities afforded from entrepreneurship rather than succumb as a victim. This paper analyzes the potential for translational research to develop educational and policy approaches, along with clinical tools, methods and strategies to provide entrepreneurs with the skills and competencies for resilience in an entrepreneurial journey fraught with emotional landmines and challenges.

scholarly journals Quantifying Fetal Reprogramming for Biomarker Development in the Era of High-Throughput Sequencing

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 329
Author(s):  
Fu-Sheng Chou ◽  
Krystel Newton ◽  
Pei-Shan Wang
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Placental Insufficiency ◽  
Definitive Treatment ◽  
Optimal Timing ◽  
Hypertensive Disorders ◽  
Clinical Tools ◽  
Fetal Reprogramming ◽  
Offspring Health

Gestational hypertensive disorders continue to threaten the well-being of pregnant women and their offspring. The only current definitive treatment for gestational hypertensive disorders is delivery of the fetus. The optimal timing of delivery remains controversial. Currently, the available clinical tools do not allow for assessment of fetal stress in its early stages. Placental insufficiency and fetal growth restriction secondary to gestational hypertensive disorders have been shown to have long-term impacts on offspring health even into their adulthood, becoming one of the major focuses of research in the field of developmental origins of health and disease. Fetal reprogramming was introduced to describe the long-lasting effects of the toxic intrauterine environment on the growing fetus. With the advent of high-throughput sequencing, there have been major advances in research attempting to quantify fetal reprogramming. Moreover, genes that are found to be differentially expressed as a result of fetal reprogramming show promise in the development of transcriptional biomarkers for clinical use in detecting fetal response to placental insufficiency. In this review, we will review key pathophysiology in the development of placental insufficiency, existing literature on high-throughput sequencing in the study of fetal reprogramming, and considerations regarding research design from our own experience.

scholarly journals Comparing the characteristics and predicting the survival of patients with head and neck melanoma versus body melanoma: a population-based study

BMC Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuxin Ding ◽  
Runyi Jiang ◽  
Yuhong Chen ◽  
Jing Jing ◽  
Xiaoshuang Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Head And Neck ◽  
Health Management ◽  
External Validation ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Survival Prediction ◽  
Cancer Specific Survival ◽  
Cox Models ◽  
Lentigo Maligna Melanoma ◽  
Clinical Tools

Abstract Background Previous studies reported cutaneous melanoma in head and neck (HNM) differed from those in other regions (body melanoma, BM). Individualized tools to predict the survival of patients with HNM or BM remain insufficient. We aimed at comparing the characteristics of HNM and BM, developing and validating nomograms for predicting the survival of patients with HNM or BM. Methods The information of patients with HNM or BM from 2004 to 2015 was obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The HNM group and BM group were randomly divided into training and validation cohorts. We used the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate Cox models to identify independent prognostic factors. Nomograms were developed via the rms and dynnom packages, and were measured by the concordance index (C-index), the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration plots. Results Of 70,605 patients acquired, 21% had HNM and 79% had BM. The HNM group contained more older patients, male sex and lentigo maligna melanoma, and more frequently had thicker tumors and metastases than the BM group. The 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 88.1 ± 0.3% and 74.4 ± 0.4% in the HNM group and 92.5 ± 0.1% and 85.8 ± 0.2% in the BM group, respectively. Eight variables (age, sex, histology, thickness, ulceration, stage, metastases, and surgery) were identified to construct nomograms of CSS and OS for patients with HNM or BM. Additionally, four dynamic nomograms were available on web. The internal and external validation of each nomogram showed high C-index values (0.785–0.896) and AUC values (0.81–0.925), and the calibration plots showed great consistency. Conclusions The characteristics of HNM and BM are heterogeneous. We constructed and validated four nomograms for predicting the 3-, 5- and 10-year CSS and OS probabilities of patients with HNM or BM. These nomograms can serve as practical clinical tools for survival prediction and individual health management.

scholarly journals Outcome Prediction in Patients of Traumatic Brain Injury Based on Midline Shift on CT Scan of Brain

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shrikant Govindrao Palekar ◽  
Manish Jaiswal ◽  
Mandar Patil ◽  
Vijay Malpathak
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Head Injury ◽  
Ct Scan ◽  
Treatment Protocol ◽  
Emergency Setting ◽  
Midline Shift ◽  
Ct Head ◽  
Clinical Tools ◽  
Gcs Score

Abstract Background Clinicians treating patients with head injury often take decisions based on their assessment of prognosis. Assessment of prognosis could help communication with a patient and the family. One of the most widely used clinical tools for such prediction is the Glasgow coma scale (GCS); however, the tool has a limitation with regard to its use in patients who are under sedation, are intubated, or under the influence of alcohol or psychoactive drugs. CT scan findings such as status of basal cistern, midline shift, associated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and intraventricular hemorrhage are useful indicators in predicting outcome and also considered as valid options for prognostication of the patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), especially in emergency setting. Materials and Methods 108 patients of head injury were assessed at admission with clinical examination, history, and CT scan of brain. CT findings were classified according to type of lesion and midline shift correlated to GCS score at admission. All the subjects in this study were managed with an identical treatment protocol. Outcome of these patients were assessed on GCS score at discharge. Result Among patients with severe GCS, 51% had midline shift. The degree of midline shift in CT head was a statistically significant determinant of outcome (p = 0.023). Seventeen out of 48 patients (35.4%) with midline shift had poor outcome as compared with 8 out of 60 patients (13.3%) with no midline shift. Conclusion In patients with TBI, the degree of midline shift on CT scan was significantly related to the severity of head injury and resulted in poor clinical outcome.

scholarly journals P50 Exploring the Merits and Availability of Smartphone Applications Related to Melanoma

BJS Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jade Kabbani ◽  
Jamil Kabbani ◽  
Jade Kabbani
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Management ◽  
Literature Search ◽  
Patient Access ◽  
Smartphone Applications ◽  
App Store ◽  
Widespread Availability ◽  
Smartphone Use ◽  
Clinical Tools ◽  
Google Play ◽  
Privacy Issues

Abstract Background The increased use of smartphone applications across healthcare specialties has been particularly relevant in dermatology, with dermatology related applications widely available on mainstream application stores. We reviewed published literature regarding melanoma-related applications, and the number and types of such applications available for download. Methods A literature search of “dermatology”, “smartphone” and “melanoma” was conducted to identify publications assessing applications of interest. “Melanoma” was searched in Apple’s (iOS) “App Store” and Google’s “Google Play”, and application purposes and ratings were analysed. Results 54 of the 63 literature search results explored smartphone use in relation to melanoma, describing benefits including quicker patient access to care, reduced referrals and hence unnecessary consultations, and improved accessibility to information. However, concerns include insufficient image quality, privacy issues related to encryption, and diagnostic inaccuracy. Searches on the Google Play and iOS stores identified 249 and 51 apps respectively. 25% of Google Play results were categorised as clinical tools, 17% as educational, and 58% as recreational. The corresponding results for the App store were 92%, 6% and 2%. 81% of the educational apps and 92% of the clinical management apps related to dermatology and melanoma on Google Play, whereas all of the clinical management apps and 67% of the education apps on the App store were of relevance. Conclusion The results illustrate the widespread availability of applications related to melanoma, particularly for educational and clinical purposes. Standardising photographing techniques, improving diagnostic accuracy, and privacy issues are important aspects to consider and warrant further investigation.

scholarly journals Implementing interventions to reduce antibiotic use: a qualitative study in high-prescribing practices

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra J. Borek ◽  
◽  
Anne Campbell ◽  
Elle Dent ◽  
Christopher C. Butler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Antibiotic Prescribing ◽  
Prescribing Practices ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
Clinical Uncertainty ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Clinical Tools ◽  
The Many

Abstract Background Trials have shown that delayed antibiotic prescriptions (DPs) and point-of-care C-Reactive Protein testing (POC-CRPT) are effective in reducing antibiotic use in general practice, but these were not typically implemented in high-prescribing practices. We aimed to explore views of professionals from high-prescribing practices about uptake and implementation of DPs and POC-CRPT to reduce antibiotic use. Methods This was a qualitative focus group study in English general practices. The highest antibiotic prescribing practices in the West Midlands were invited to participate. Clinical and non-clinical professionals attended focus groups co-facilitated by two researchers. Focus groups were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Results Nine practices (50 professionals) participated. Four main themes were identified. Compatibility of strategies with clinical roles and experience – participants viewed the strategies as having limited value as ‘clinical tools’, perceiving them as useful only in ‘rare’ instances of clinical uncertainty and/or for those less experienced. Strategies as ‘social tools’ – participants perceived the strategies as helpful for negotiating treatment decisions and educating patients, particularly those expecting antibiotics. Ambiguities – participants perceived ambiguities around when they should be used, and about their impact on antibiotic use. Influence of context – various other situational and practical issues were raised with implementing the strategies. Conclusions High-prescribing practices do not view DPs and POC-CRPT as sufficiently useful ‘clinical tools’ in a way which corresponds to the current policy approach advocating their use to reduce clinical uncertainty and improve antimicrobial stewardship. Instead, policy attention should focus on how these strategies may instead be used as ‘social tools’ to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. Attention should also focus on the many ambiguities (concerns and questions) about, and contextual barriers to, using these strategies that need addressing to support wider and more consistent implementation.

scholarly journals Biomarkers of Angiogenesis and Neuroplasticity as Promising Clinical Tools for Stroke Recovery Evaluation

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 3949
Author(s):  
Lidia Wlodarczyk ◽  
Rafal Szelenberger ◽  
Natalia Cichon ◽  
Joanna Saluk-Bijak ◽  
Michal Bijak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Stroke Recovery ◽  
Clinical Scales ◽  
Recovery Processes ◽  
Recovery Potential ◽  
Current State ◽  
Standard Procedures ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Clinical Tools ◽  
Selection Of

Several key issues impact the clinical practice of stroke rehabilitation including a patient’s medical history, stroke experience, the potential for recovery, and the selection of the most effective type of therapy. Until clinicians have answers to these concerns, the treatment and rehabilitation are rather intuitive, with standard procedures carried out based on subjective estimations using clinical scales. Therefore, there is a need to find biomarkers that could predict brain recovery potential in stroke patients. This review aims to present the current state-of-the-art stroke recovery biomarkers that could be used in clinical practice. The revision of biochemical biomarkers has been developed based on stroke recovery processes: angiogenesis and neuroplasticity. This paper provides an overview of the biomarkers that are considered to be ready-to-use in clinical practice and others, considered as future tools. Furthermore, this review shows the utility of biomarkers in the development of the concept of personalized medicine. Enhancing brain neuroplasticity and rehabilitation facilitation are crucial concerns not only after stroke, but in all central nervous system diseases.

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