Selection of subjects for investigation of host factors affecting drug response: A method to identify new pharmacogenetic conditions

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to determine the extent of interest in international electives among prospective otolaryngology residents and to determine whether the availability of international electives affected students' interest in ranking a particular residency program. Methods A 3-part survey was given to all medical students enrolled in the 2008 otolaryngology match via the Electronic Residency Application Service. Part 1 elicited demographic information. Part 2 explored general interest in international rotations. Part 3 involved ranking several factors affecting students' choice of residency programs. This survey was developed at our institution, with no formal validation. Participation was anonymous and voluntary. Results A total of 307 students entered the otolaryngology match, and 55 surveys (18%) were completed. Twenty-five of 55 students (55%) had completed an international elective during or prior to medical school, and 51 of 55 respondents (93%) had a “strong” or “very strong” desire to participate in an international elective during residency; 48 of 55 students (87%) had a “strong” or “very strong” desire to participate in international surgical missions after residency. Future practice goals had no correlation with interest in international rotations, either during or after residency training. Respondents ranked 8 factors that had an impact on residency program selection in the following order of importance: operative experience, location, lifestyle, research opportunities, didactics, international electives, prestige of program, and salary. Conclusion Interest in international medicine among prospective otolaryngologists was high in this subset of respondents but did not appear to affect residency program selection.

Download Full-text

Influence of Patient Age on Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotypes Causing Invasive Disease

Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology ◽

10.1128/cdli.8.3.556-559.2001 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 556-559 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Jaime Inostroza ◽

Ana Maria Vinet ◽

Gloria Retamal ◽

Pedro Lorca ◽

Gonzalo Ossa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Age Groups ◽

Invasive Disease ◽

Bacterial Virulence ◽

Host Factors ◽

Invasive Infection ◽

Age Group ◽

Southern Chile ◽

Age Related ◽

Sterile Site ◽

Selection Of

ABSTRACT All clinical S. pneumoniae specimens isolated from patients with invasive or sterile-site infections admitted to one regional general hospital in southern Chile were collected during a 5-year period (February 1994 to September 1999). A total of 247 strains belonging to 50 serotypes were isolated in this survey: 69 in patients under 5 years of age, 129 in patients 5 to 64 years old, and 49 from patients 65 years and older. Eight serotypes were identified in all age groups, while all other serotypes were found exclusively in one age group or in patients over 4 years of age. Serotype 3 was never found in patients under 5 years old, and serotype 14 was not found in patients >64 years of age. There was no difference in the serotypes causing infection in each one of the 5 years of the survey. Our results suggest that both bacterial virulence factors and host factors play an important role in the selection of S. pneumoniae serotypes causing invasive infection. Possible host factors include age-related differences in the immune response. Comparative studies with other areas of the world may help to further understanding of our observations in southern Chile.

Download Full-text

Factors affecting nest-site selection of Sabine's Gulls in the eastern Canadian Arctic

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z05-107 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 83 (9) ◽

pp. 1240-1245 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Iain J Stenhouse ◽

H Grant Gilchrist ◽

William A Montevecchi

Keyword(s):

Site Selection ◽

Nest Site ◽

Nest Site Selection ◽

Breeding Habitat ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Invertebrate Prey ◽

Terrestrial Invertebrate ◽

Individual Fitness ◽

Sabine’S Gull ◽

Selection Of

The selection of breeding habitat is of prime importance for individual fitness. Among birds, natural selection should favour the ability to recognize and select habitat suitable for nesting and rearing chicks. This study compares the characteristics of Sabine's Gull, Xema sabini (Sabine, 1819), nest sites with random points across a coastal tundra environment on Southampton Island, Nunavut, Canada. The availability of terrestrial invertebrate prey was also examined among habitats. Sabine's Gull nests were nonrandomly distributed in relation to vegetation, substrate, and proximity to water. Gulls nested within approximately 1 km of the coastline and selected sites with the greatest proportions of moss and standing water (i.e., they nested close to the edge of small freshwater ponds near shore). However, there were no detectable differences in characteristics between successful and unsuccessful nests within preferred habitat. The dynamics of terrestrial invertebrate prey communities varied between years, but the volume of invertebrates in Sabine's Gull nesting habitat was intermediate between the most productive habitats and the least productive habitats in both years. However, nest-site selection in Sabine's Gulls may also be influenced by the availability of aquatic invertebrates (not examined in this study) and their proximity to the marine coastline, where chicks are taken to be reared.

Download Full-text

Using rational and emotional appeals in online advertisements for Muslim customers

Journal of Islamic Marketing ◽

10.1108/jima-07-2012-0039 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 97-124 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Mehdi Behboudi ◽

Hossein Vazifehdoust ◽

Kobra Najafi ◽

Mina Najafi

Keyword(s):

Latent Variables ◽

Online Advertising ◽

Product Involvement ◽

Content Type ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Advertising Appeals ◽

Emotional Appeals ◽

Advertising Strategies ◽

Larger Sample ◽

Selection Of

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to verify the factors affecting the use of emotional and rational appeals in online advertising among Muslim customers in Iran. Design/methodology/approach – By reviewing the literature of advertising appeals and developing a comprehensive theoretical model, the effect of rational and emotional appeals on online advertising was examined. Expert questionnaire was administered to verify the validity of collected features. The Student's t-test was utilized to analyze the data collected from 271 participants. Findings – Five latent variables, namely user type, product involvement, e-lifestyle, advertising strategies, and internet motives were examined to explain factors affecting online advertising appeals among Muslim customers in Iran. It was found that “advertising strategies” and “user type” are the most effective factors influencing Muslims customers in developing an online advertising campaign. Research limitations/implications – The sample of this study was Iranian experts and it is necessary to conduct a survey with a larger sample size. Originality/value – This study provides insights into factors affecting the selection of emotional and rational appeals in Muslims countries. Moreover, it reports the primary columns of online advertising appeals.

Download Full-text