AbstractBackground Qualitative research explores complex phenomena encountered by clinicians, health care providers, policy makers and consumers. Although partial checklists are available, no ...consolidated reporting framework exists for any type of qualitative design. Objective To develop a checklist for explicit and comprehensive reporting of qualitative studies (indepth interviews and focus groups). Methods We performed a comprehensive search in Cochrane and Campbell Protocols, Medline, CINAHL, systematic reviews of qualitative studies, author or reviewer guidelines of major medical journals and reference lists of relevant publications for existing checklists used to assess qualitative studies. Seventy-six items from 22 checklists were compiled into a comprehensive list. All items were grouped into three domains: (i) research team and reflexivity, (ii) study design and (iii) data analysis and reporting. Duplicate items and those that were ambiguous, too broadly defined and impractical to assess were removed. Results Items most frequently included in the checklists related to sampling method, setting for data collection, method of data collection, respondent validation of findings, method of recording data, description of the derivation of themes and inclusion of supporting quotations. We grouped all items into three domains: (i) research team and reflexivity, (ii) study design and (iii) data analysis and reporting. Conclusions The criteria included in COREQ, a 32-item checklist, can help researchers to report important aspects of the research team, study methods, context of the study, findings, analysis and interpretations.
Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is a high-spatial-resolution 3D gradient-echo MR imaging technique with phase postprocessing that accentuates the paramagnetic properties of blood products such ...as deoxyhemoglobin, intracellular methemoglobin, and hemosiderin. It is particularly useful for detecting intravascular venous deoxygenated blood as well as extravascular blood products. It is also quite sensitive to the presence of other substances such as iron, some forms of calcification, and air. We have used this technique in the past several years to study a wide variety of pediatric neurologic disorders. We present a review with selected case histories to demonstrate its clinical usefulness in the improvement of the following: 1) detection of hemorrhagic lesions seen in various conditions, including traumatic brain injury and coagulopathic or other hemorrhagic disorders; 2) detection of vascular malformations such as cavernous angiomas, telangiectasias, or pial angiomas associated with Sturge-Weber syndrome; 3) demonstration of venous thrombosis and/or increased oxygen extraction in the setting of infarction, hypoxic/anoxic injury, or brain death; 4) delineation of neoplasms with hemorrhage, calcification, or increased vascularity; and 5) depiction of calcium or iron deposition in neurodegenerative disorders. SWI has provided new understanding of some of these disease processes. It is hoped that as SWI becomes more widely available, it will provide additional diagnostic and prognostic information that will improve the care and outcome of affected children.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) were discovered more than a decade ago as noncoding, single-stranded small RNAs (approximately 22 nucleotides) that control the timed gene expression pattern in Caenorhabditis ...elegans life cycle. A number of these evolutionarily conserved, endogenous miRNAs have been shown to regulate mammalian cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis. miRNAs are multispecific by nature. The individual miRNA is capable of modulating the expression of a network of mRNAs that it binds by imperfect sequence complementarity. Human cancers commonly exhibit an altered expression profile of miRNAs with oncogenic (miR-21, miR-106a and miR-155) or tumor-suppressive (let-7, miR-15a/16, miR-34a and miR-143/145) activity. As consistent with the natural function of miRNAs in specifying cellular phenotype, miRNA-based cancer gene therapy offers the theoretical appeal of targeting multiple gene networks that are controlled by a single, aberrantly expressed miRNA. Reconstitution of tumor-suppressive miRNA, or sequence-specific knockdown of oncogenic miRNAs by 'antagomirs,' has produced favorable antitumor outcomes in experimental models. We discuss pending issues that need to be resolved prior to the consideration of miRNA-based experimental cancer gene therapy. These include the need for definitive mRNA target validation, our incomplete understanding of rate-limiting cellular components that impact the efficiency of this posttranscriptional gene-silencing phenomenon, the possibility for nonspecific immune activation and the lack of a defined, optimal mode of delivery.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder, and poses threats to human health worldwide. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been suggested to play important roles in ...the pathophysiology of T2D. In this study, we explored the role of miR-3666 in T2D. miR-3666 was significantly down-regulated in the serum of T2D patients when compared to that of healthy volunteers, and miR-3666 expression level was negatively correlated with blood glucose levels of T2D patients. Overexpression of miR-3666 inhibited cell proliferation, reduced insulin secretion, and promoted cell apoptosis of pancreatic β-cell line (INS-1 cells). On the other hand, knockdown of miR-3666 had the opposite effects in INS-1 cells. The bio-informatics analysis using TargetScan revealed that adiponectin (ADIPOQ) was a downstream target of miR-3666, and the interaction between miR-3666 and ADIPOQ was validated by luciferase reporter assay. In addition, miR-3666 negatively regulated the mRNA and protein expression of ADIPOQ. Overexpression of ADIPOQ promoted insulin secretion after glucose stimulation, promoted cell proliferation, inhibited cell apoptosis, and partially abolished the effects of miR-3666 overexpression on insulin secretion, cell proliferation, and cell apoptosis of INS-1 cells. In conclusion, our results revealed that miR-3666 inhibited pancreatic cell proliferation, reduced insulin sensitivity, and promoted apoptosis by targeting ADIPOQ.
A Nationwide Nitrogen Deposition Monitoring Network (NNDMN) containing 43 monitoring sites was established in China to measure gaseous NH3, NO2, and HNO3 and particulate NH4+ and NO3− in air and/or ...precipitation from 2010 to 2014. Wet/bulk deposition fluxes of Nr species were collected by precipitation gauge method and measured by continuous-flow analyzer; dry deposition fluxes were estimated using airborne concentration measurements and inferential models. Our observations reveal large spatial variations of atmospheric Nr concentrations and dry and wet/bulk Nr deposition. On a national basis, the annual average concentrations (1.3–47.0 μg N m−3) and dry plus wet/bulk deposition fluxes (2.9–83.3 kg N ha−1 yr−1) of inorganic Nr species are ranked by land use as urban > rural > background sites and by regions as north China > southeast China > southwest China > northeast China > northwest China > Tibetan Plateau, reflecting the impact of anthropogenic Nr emission. Average dry and wet/bulk N deposition fluxes were 20.6 ± 11.2 (mean ± standard deviation) and 19.3 ± 9.2 kg N ha−1 yr−1 across China, with reduced N deposition dominating both dry and wet/bulk deposition. Our results suggest atmospheric dry N deposition is equally important to wet/bulk N deposition at the national scale. Therefore, both deposition forms should be included when considering the impacts of N deposition on environment and ecosystem health.
Purpose of Review
This review aimed to identify and describe evidence published in the past 3 years from trials of psychosocial support programs for children and adolescents affected by natural ...disasters.
Recent Findings
Previous reviews have indicated these programs are beneficial overall. Positive impacts were documented in school-based programs conducted by trained teachers and paraprofessionals with stronger effects achieved by more qualified professionals.
Summary
The review found supporting evidence for positive impacts of post-disaster psychosocial programs. However, the strength of evidence is limited due to heterogeneity in interventions and evaluations. The stepped care model was found to be useful in differentiating between programs and level of available evidence. Hobfoll’s five essential elements of mass trauma intervention provide an additional means of guiding program content and assessments, particularly for universal programs. Identified gaps in evidence included groups likely to be at most risk: preschool children, ethnically diverse groups, those with disability, and social disadvantage. There were promising indications of program benefits for groups with repeated exposure to natural disasters.
PDF
