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Background/Objectives: Randomized controlled trials that deliver physical activity interventions have demonstrated benefits for older adults across numerous health outcomes. However, too little attention has been directed to ensuring that such trials are measuring patient-relevant outcomes. To support outcome selection for future trials, the objective of this study was to understand what outcomes related to their physical activity participation older adults find important. Methods: We conducted 12 semistructured interviews with adults aged 65 years and older and analyzed interview transcripts with a reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Older adults desired diverse outcomes from their physical activity participation, ranging from generic (e.g., quality of life) to specific (e.g., leg strength). Relevant outcomes were classified under five themes: physical, clinical, social, psychological, and overarching, each with respective subthemes. Conclusions: The outcomes that older adults found important were plentiful and rooted in a desire to improve their quality of life. Some of the outcome themes have been reported frequently in past trials (e.g., physical), but others have not (e.g., social). Future researchers should be aware of, and responsive to, the priorities of older adults when designing trials and defining outcomes. Significance/Implications: This study will help to improve outcome selection for future trials of physical activity with older adults. In alignment with a patient-oriented research philosophy, this study will also ground future outcome selection in the priorities of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to positively impact library and archives collections and services--enhancing reference, instruction, metadata creation, recommendations, and more. However, AI also has ethical implications. This paper presents an extensive literature and review analysis that examines AI projects implemented in library and archives settings, asking the following research questions: RQ1: How is artificial intelligence being used in libraries and archives practice? RQ2: What ethical concerns are being identified and addressed during AI implementation in libraries and archives? The results of this literature review show that AI implementation is growing in libraries and archives and that practitioners are using AI for increasingly varied purposes. We found that AI implementation was most common in large, academic libraries. Materials used in AI projects usually involved digitized and born digital text and images, though materials also ranged to include web archives, electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs), and maps. AI was most often used for metadata extraction and reference and research services. Just over half of the papers included in the literature review mentioned ethics or values related issues in their discussions of AI implementation in libraries and archives, and only one-third of all resources discussed ethical issues beyond technical issues of accuracy and human-in-the-loop. Case studies relating to AI in libraries and archives are on the rise, and we expect subsequent discussions of relevant ethics and values to follow suit, particularly growing in the areas of cost considerations, transparency, reliability, policy and guidelines, bias, social justice, user communities, privacy, consent, accessibility, and access. As AI comes into more common usage, it will benefit the library and archives professions to not only consider ethics when implementing local projects, but to publicly discuss these ethical considerations in shared documentation and publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The premise of research in human physiology is to explore a multifaceted system whilst identifying one or a few outcomes of interest. Therefore, the control of potentially confounding variables requires careful thought regarding the extent of control and complexity of standardisation. One common factor to control prior to testing is diet, as food and fluid provision may deviate from participants' habitual diets, yet a self-report and replication method can be flawed by under-reporting. Researchers may also need to consider standardisation of physical activity, whether it be through familiarisation trials, wash-out periods, or guidance on levels of physical activity to be achieved before trials. In terms of pharmacological agents, the ethical implications of standardisation require researchers to carefully consider how medications, caffeine consumption and oral contraceptive prescriptions may affect the study. For research in females, it should be considered whether standardisation between- or within-participants in regards to menstrual cycle phase is most relevant. The timing of measurements relative to various other daily events is relevant to all physiological research and so it can be important to standardise when measurements are made. This review summarises the areas of standardisation which we hope will be considered useful to anyone involved in human physiology research, including when and how one can apply standardisation to various contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Institutional discovery environments now serve as central resource databases for researchers in the academic environment. Over the last several decades, there have been numerous discovery layer research inquiries centering primarily on user satisfaction measures of discovery system effectiveness. This study focuses on the creation of a largely automated method for evaluating discovery layer quality, utilizing the bibliographic sources from student research projects. Building on past research, the current study replaces a semiautomated Excel Fuzzy Lookup Add-In process with a fully scripted R-based approach, which employs the stringdist R package and applies the Jaro-Winkler distance metric as the matching evaluator. The researchers consider the error rate incurred by relying solely on an automated matching metric. They also use Open Refine for normalization processes and package the tools together on an OSF site for other institutions to use. Since the R-based approach does not require special processing or time and can be reproduced with minimal effort, it will allow future studies and users of our method to capture larger sample sizes, boosting validity. While the assessment process has been streamlined and shows promise, there remain issues in establishing solid connections between research paper bibliographies and discovery layer use. Subsequent research will focus on creating alternatives to paper titles as search proxies that better resemble genuine information-seeking behavior and comparing undergraduate and graduate student interactions within discovery environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reflects on the paradigmatic assumptions and ideologies that have shaped algorithmic management research. We identify two sets of assumptions: one about the "ontology of algorithms" (which holds that human resource management [HRM] algorithms are non‐human entities with material agency) and one about the "ontology of management" that HRM algorithms afford (which understands algorithmic management as a form of control for maximizing economic/shareholder value). We explain how these core assumptions underpin existing research of HRM algorithms, causing blind spots that hinder new ways of understanding and studying algorithmic management. After identifying and unpacking the assumptions and blind spots, we offer avenues to overcome these blind spots, allowing for future research based on new ideological assumption grounds that will help move algorithmic management scholarship further in significant ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study contributes to the diversity literature by probing whether diversity papers are cited as frequently as nondiversity papers in management and industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology journals. Based on the stigma‐by‐association theory, I argue that as a result of their association with minority groups, diversity papers may be devalued and thus "othered" by scholars. Using a citation analysis of 46,930 papers published in 29 peer‐reviewed management and I/O psychology journals, I present empirical evidence in Study 1 that diversity papers were cited significantly less frequently than nondiversity papers. The authors' gender and institutional prestige, journal tier and domain, and year of publication were not moderators. In Study 2, I used a scenario experiment to demonstrate the stigma‐by‐association effect. The authors' gender demonstrated a significant moderating effect in this experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the University of Memphis, a team of librarians and library staff formed the Research Guides Redesign Team (RGRT) to redesign, organize, and evaluate the University Libraries' (UL) research guides. The purpose of the project was to ensure that the new design of the research guides homepage was intuitive to use. While it is impossible to ensure absolute usability for every user, this usability study attempts to eradicate the most common interface issues in community experiences at the University of Memphis. The RGRT conducted usability testing to evaluate the effectiveness of the new standardized format, grouped headings, and the appearance of the interface. The RGRT worked within the limitations of Springshare's software to create the design and then chose five users to complete various task scenarios. Upon analysis of the users' ability to complete the tasks, the RGRT discovered that overall, the design was effective, but they did make a few minor changes. This study describes the process and includes the original design, the new design, edits made after usability testing was conducted, and plans for future testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: As the start of the 10th Rugby Union World Cup approaches, performance staff will be working on the final elements of their teams' preparation. Much of this planning and preparation will be underpinned by the latest performance science research. In this invited commentary, we discuss contemporary performance science research in rugby union centered around 4 key performance domains. First, we outline a systematic approach to developing an overall understanding of the game demands and how performance staff can enhance the players' preparedness for competition. We then move on to outline our understanding of the training science domain, followed by a brief overview of effective recovery strategies at major tournaments. Finally, we outline research in the area of competition-day strategies and how they can positively impact players' readiness to compete. Conclusions: Evaluating a team's preparation for the Rugby Union World Cup can be achieved by mapping their performance plan based on the 4 domains outlined above. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop an in-depth understanding of spinal cord injury (SCI) researchers' barriers and facilitators to deciding to use 1) a partnered approach to research and, 2) systematically developed principles for guiding Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT) in spinal cord injury research (IKT Guiding Principles). Methods: Qualitative interview study with North American SCI researchers who were interested in using a partnered research approach. The research was conducted using an IKT approach, and interview data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Thirteen SCI researchers whose research focused on prevention, clinical, rehabilitation, and/or community SCI research were interviewed. Three themes were co-constructed with partners: 1) the principles are necessary but not sufficient for the implementation of a partnered approach to research; 2) relational capacity building is needed; and 3) institutional transformation is needed to value, resource, and support meaningful engagement. Conclusions: Supporting change that enables SCI researchers to adopt and implement the IKT Guiding Principles will require transformation at the individual (theme 1), relational (theme 2), and institutional levels (theme 3). Findings provide clear, practical, and tangible actions to promote change that can support meaningful engagement in the SCI Research System. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Providing researchers with clear, procedural information and strategies to use each of the Integrated Knowledge Translation Guiding Principles in practice can support the implementation of the principles and partnered research in rehabilitation-based research. Fostering and evaluating resources and initiatives that help researchers network, build connections, and receive mentorship could help spinal cord injury researchers partner more effectively. Academic, research, and funding systems must ensure their practices, structures, culture, and processes enable, value, resource, support, and/or incentivize partnered research to ensure the research being conducted is relevant and useful in addressing the needs and priorities of research users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sleep spindles have emerged as valuable biomarkers for assessing cognitive abilities and related disorders, underscoring the importance of their detection in clinical research. However, template matching-based algorithms using fixed templates may not be able to fully adapt to spindles of different durations. Moreover, inspired by the multiscale feature extraction of images, the use of multiscale feature extraction methods can be used to better adapt to spindles of different frequencies and durations. Methods: Therefore, this study proposes a novel automatic spindle detection algorithm based on elastic time windows and spatial pyramid pooling (SPP) for extracting multiscale features. The algorithm utilizes elastic time windows to segment electroencephalogram (EEG) signals, enabling the extraction of features across multiple scales. This approach accommodates significant variations in spindle duration and polarization positioning during different EEG epochs. Additionally, spatial pyramid pooling is integrated into a depthwise separable convolutional (DSC) network to perform multiscale pooling on the segmented spindle signal features at different scales. Results: Compared with existing template matching algorithms, this algorithm's spindle wave polarization positioning is more consistent with the real situation. Experimental results conducted on the public dataset DREAMS show that the average accuracy of this algorithm reaches 95.75%, with an average negative predictive value (NPV) of 96.55%, indicating its advanced performance. Conclusions: The effectiveness of each module was verified through thorough ablation experiments. More importantly, the algorithm shows strong robustness when faced with changes in different experimental subjects. This feature makes the algorithm more accurate at identifying sleep spindles and is expected to help experts automatically detect spindles in sleep EEG signals, reduce the workload and time of manual detection, and improve efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Scientific advancement, including the testing and licensing of new drugs, relies heavily on clinical trials with healthy individuals. The motivations of clinical trial participants have been discussed intensively, as some worry that financial compensation may distract from the intrinsic risk of clinical research. Herein, we investigated the motivations and decisional factors influencing SARS-CoV-2 clinical trial participants. Moreover, since most surveys are administered after clinical trial participation, we were interested in whether the results were tainted by recall bias. Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study. Participants were administered a survey on two occasions, once before and once after participation in a clinical trial. The primary outcomes were the motivations and decisional factors of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine trial participants and the difference between the surveys collected before and after clinical trial participation. Results: The survey response rate was 149/200 (75%). SARS-CoV-2 vaccine trial participants were mostly motivated by the desire to contribute to science and help others. Answers collected before and after the trial were not statistically different, indicating the absence of recall bias. Conclusion: The decision-making process of clinical trial participants is complex and multi-faceted. Previous studies have shown that clinical trial participants have mixed motivations but never to the extent reported in the current survey. Here, we present a theoretical framework that attempts to explain how different motivational factors may contribute to decision forming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Implementation Research Logic Model (IRLM) aids users in combining, organizing, and specifying the relationships between important constructs in implementation research. The goal of the IRLM is to improve the rigor, reproducibility, and transparency of implementation research projects. The article describing the IRLM was published September 25, 2020 (Implement Sci , Vol 15); it has since been highly cited and included as a required element in multiple funding opportunity announcements from federal agencies. The proliferation of IRLM use across dissemination and implementation research projects and practice provides an excellent opportunity to examine applications across a variety of different contexts. This protocol will result in a description of the impact of the IRLM on the field of dissemination and implementation science and guidance on refinements to the IRLM to increase its utility and impact through (1) a citation analysis, (2) a scoping review, and (3) user surveys and interviews. Methods and analysis: This protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping review reporting guidelines (PRISMA-ScR). We plan to conduct a citation search and analysis of the Smith et al. 2020 article and a scoping review. The review search will be conducted in Medline, Embase, CINAHL Complete, Cochrane Library, APA PsycINFO4, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection., and grey literature will be searched to identify studies that use alternative logic models for implementation research. A survey will be developed from the findings of the scoping review and administered to individuals who used the IRLM. Semi-structured interviews will then be conducted with a sample of survey respondents to provide an opportunity for sequential mixed-methods analysis to achieve a deeper understanding of needed IRLM refinements and recommendations. Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval for the scoping review and citation analysis is not applicable as only data from published literature will be used and no original data will be collected. For the survey, IRB will be completed once items are developed from the results of the scoping review and citation analysis. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and via online tools. Registration details: This protocol was registered with OSF, https://osf.io/y94bj (1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown a high prevalence of trauma and PTSD among patients with severe mental illness, but relatively few studies have examined the outcomes of PTSD treatment for this patient group. The aim of this case-series was to assess the feasibility of a Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) intervention for PTSD in people with psychosis. The study examined the possibilities and obstacles when treating this population within clinical settings. Patients were selected from four community mental health centers and were screened for traumatic experiences and symptoms of PTSD. A small group of eligible participants (n=7) received manualized TF-CBT adapted for patients with psychosis. Experienced therapists received training and supervision in the intervention. Symptoms of PTSD and psychosis were assessed at baseline and post-treatment along with quality of life, level of functioning, alliance, life events, engagement, suicidal ideation and adverse events. Treatment fidelity and the different combinations of treatment modules were monitored in regard to implementation. Three cases were selected as illustrative of the different treatment courses when implementing the TF-CBT intervention within this population. Detailed case descriptions were based on quantitative ratings and the therapists' experiences with the therapy. Results from the case series highlighted issues regarding toleration of treatment, large variation in psychopathology and the task of matching treatment needs with appropriate therapeutic techniques. The complexity of the patient group may affect treatment and clinical research studies. Lessons learned from this case series can contribute to the future development implementation and evaluation of trauma treatment for patients with psychosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The skull has long been an obstacle for transcranial ultrasound therapy and neuromodulation, leading to waveform distortion and focal points misalignment. In this work, we propose a dual-focus transcranial ultrasound focusing method for ex vivo human skulls to bridge this barrier, which is demonstrated by using a 2 MHz single-element transducer placed outside the occipital bone, coupled to a 3D-printed acoustic holographic lens. The experimental results show that the proposed method allows for achieving high-precision single- and dual-focus ultrasound focusing through human skulls with the maximum target registration error less than one wavelength in water. The in-target ratio spans a range from 72% to 92%, with an average of 80.7%, while the out-of-target ratio varies from 0% to 43.9%, with an average of 18.3%. Additionally, the focal spots are substantially free of the skull-induced distortion, closely matching the ideal ones, and maintain a clearly identifiable circular focus shape. The method opens up a route toward the subsequent applications in clinical research and may enable to implement transcranial ultrasound therapy and neuromodulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), and a growing number of studies support a potential link between the two disorders. Therefore, the objective of this study is to systematically map the knowledge structure surrounding this topic over the past and to summarize the current state of research and hot frontiers in the field. Methods: Data were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) starting from the beginning until December 31, 2023, focusing on articles and reviews in English. Bibliometric tools including Bibliometrix R, VOSviewer, and Microsoft Excel were utilized for data analysis. The analysis included citations, authors, institutions, countries, journals, author keywords, and references. Results: A total of 1,515 publications were identified, comprising 872 articles (57.56%) and 643 reviews (42.44%). The annual number of publications increased steadily, especially after 2013, with an R2 value of 0.978 indicating a strong upward trend. The USA was the leading country in terms of publications (734 articles), followed by China (162 articles) and the United Kingdom (77 articles). Meanwhile Boston University was the most productive institution. Collaborative networks show strong collaborative author links between the USA and the United Kingdom, as well as China. The analysis also showed that the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease was the most productive journal, while the article authored by McKee achieved the highest local citations value. The top three author keywords, in terms of occurrences, were "Alzheimer's disease," "traumatic brain injury," and "neurodegeneration." Thematic mapping showed a consolidation of research themes over time, decreasing from 11 main themes to 8. Emerging themes such as "obesity" and "diffusion tensor imaging" indicate new directions in the field. Conclusion: The research on AD after TBI has attracted a great deal of interest from scientists. Notably, the USA is at the forefront of research in this field. There is a need for further collaborative research between countries. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive overview of developments in TBI and AD research, highlighting key contributors, emerging topics, and potential areas for future investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To compare the likelihood of being prescribed an antidepressant in depressed individuals with and without type 2 diabetes. Methods: We performed a matched cohort study using primary care record data from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink. We used multivariable logistic regression to compare antidepressant prescribing during the first five years of starting oral antidiabetic medication to a comparison group without type 2 diabetes, matched based on GP practice, age and sex. We performed subgroup analyses stratified by sex, age and ethnicity. Results: People with type 2 diabetes and depression were 75% less likely to be prescribed an antidepressant compared to people with depression alone (odds ratio (OR) 0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.25 to 0.26). This difference was greater in males (OR 0.23, 95% CI, 0.22 to 0.24), people older than 56 years (OR 0.23, 95% CI, 0.22 to 0.24), or from a minoritised ethnic background (Asian OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.12–0.14; Black OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.09–0.14). Conclusions: There may be inequalities in access to antidepressant treatment for people with type 2 diabetes, particularly those who are male, older or from minoritised ethnic backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public and patient involvement (PPI) has been identified as an increasingly desired and, often, required component of trial methodology–leading to higher quality, more accessible and relevant clinical research, alongside increased recruitment, funding success and insight into research impact. However, despite the great variety of frameworks and checklists available for assessing PPI, most are limited with respect to important features (e.g. applicable in specific contexts only, fail to clarify what should be assessed and reported, lack the necessary comprehensiveness or are biased in favour of researcher reporting). Thus, the current research aimed to address such limitations through the development of a new checklist, the EPPIIC, through review, thematic analysis and 'meta-evaluation' in conjunction with PPI engagement. Upon completion of the EPPIIC, three thematic 'sub-scales' emerged: (1) Policy & Practice, (2) Participatory Culture and (3) Influence & Impact. All findings are presented and discussed in light of theory and research. Notably, findings recommend EPPIIC as a useful means of assessing PPI in future trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted an international cross-sectional survey of biomedical researchers' perspectives on the reproducibility of research. This study builds on a widely cited 2016 survey on reproducibility and provides a biomedical-specific and contemporary perspective on reproducibility. To sample the community, we randomly selected 400 journals indexed in MEDLINE, from which we extracted the author names and emails from all articles published between October 1, 2020 and October 1, 2021. We invited participants to complete an anonymous online survey which collected basic demographic information, perceptions about a reproducibility crisis, perceived causes of irreproducibility of research results, experience conducting reproducibility studies, and knowledge of funding and training for research on reproducibility. A total of 1,924 participants accessed our survey, of which 1,630 provided useable responses (response rate 7% of 23,234). Key findings include that 72% of participants agreed there was a reproducibility crisis in biomedicine, with 27% of participants indicating the crisis was "significant." The leading perceived cause of irreproducibility was a "pressure to publish" with 62% of participants indicating it "always" or "very often" contributes. About half of the participants (54%) had run a replication of their own previously published study while slightly more (57%) had run a replication of another researcher's study. Just 16% of participants indicated their institution had established procedures to enhance the reproducibility of biomedical research and 67% felt their institution valued new research over replication studies. Participants also reported few opportunities to obtain funding to attempt to reproduce a study and 83% perceived it would be harder to do so than to get funding to do a novel study. Our results may be used to guide training and interventions to improve research reproducibility and to monitor rates of reproducibility over time. The findings are also relevant to policy makers and academic leadership looking to create incentives and research cultures that support reproducibility and value research quality. There is growing interest in the reproducibility of research and ways to enhance transparency. This study uses an international survey of more than 1900 biomedical researchers to reveal the perceived causes of irreproducibility of research results, experience of conducting replication studies, and knowledge of relevant funding and training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: DNA damage induced by chemotherapy has duality. It affects the efficacy of chemotherapy and constrains its application. An increasing number of studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is highly effective in reducing side-effects induced by chemotherapy due to its natural, non-toxic and many sourced from food. Recent advancements have demonstrated survival rates are improved attributable to effective chemotherapy. DNA damage is the principal mechanism underlying chemotherapy. However, not all instances of DNA damage are beneficial. Chemotherapy induces DNA damage in normal cells, leading to side effects. It affects the efficacy of chemotherapy and constrains its application. Objectives: This review aims to summarize the dual nature of DNA damage induced by chemotherapy and explore how TCM can mitigate chemotherapy-induced side effects. Results: The review summarized the latest research progress in DNA damage caused by chemotherapy and the effect of alleviating side effects by TCM. It focused on advantages and disadvantages of chemotherapy, the mechanism of drugs and providing insights for rational and effective clinical treatment and serving as a basis for experiment. In this review, we described the mechanisms of DNA damage, associated chemotherapeutics, and their toxicity. Furthermore, we explored Chinese herb that can alleviate chemotherapy-induced side-effects. Conclusion: We highlight key mechanisms of DNA damage caused by chemotherapeutics and discuss specific TCM herbs that have shown potential in reducing these side effects. It can provide reference for clinical and basic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collagen is the most abundant protein found in humans and is fundamental to tissue structure and function. Collagen products used in biomedical research are primarily derived from mammals, and despite being mainly responsible for providing strength to native connective tissue, collagen hydrogels have comparatively low mechanical properties without the use of additional cross‐linking strategies. Alternative sources of collagen, like fish collagen, are emerging as key biomaterials in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM). By addressing cultural/religious concerns, ease of extraction, absence of mammalian‐derived allergens, and retention of functional motifs, fish collagen has many promising characteristics that make it a suitable alternative to mammalian collagen. Several physical and chemical cross‐linking strategies of fish collagen are explored to create more stable and resilient scaffolds for a variety of TERM applications. This comprehensive review explores how these modifications are optimized in fish collagen hydrogel systems. Herein, the use of fish collagen and their reported sources for TERM research, as well as the types of treatments (including sterilization) used to alter collagen structures and functions, are presented to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To critically examine the current state of machine learning (ML) models including patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) scores in cancer research, by investigating the reporting quality of currently available studies and proposing areas of improvement for future use of ML in the field. Methods: PubMed and Web of Science were systematically searched for publications of studies on patients with cancer applying ML models with PROM scores as either predictors or outcomes. The reporting quality of applied ML models was assessed utilizing an adapted version of the MI-CLAIM (Minimum Information about CLinical Artificial Intelligence Modelling) checklist. The key variables of the checklist are study design, data preparation, model development, optimization, performance, and examination. Reproducibility and transparency complement the reporting quality criteria. Results: The literature search yielded 1634 hits, of which 52 (3.2%) were eligible. Thirty-six (69.2%) publications included PROM scores as a predictor and 32 (61.5%) as an outcome. Results of the reporting quality appraisal indicate a potential for improvement, especially in the areas of model examination. According to the standards of the MI-CLAIM checklist, the reporting quality of ML models in included studies proved to be low. Only nine (17.3%) publications present a discussion about the clinical applicability of the developed model and reproducibility and only three (5.8%) provide a code to reproduce the model and the results. Conclusion: The herein performed critical examination of the status quo of the application of ML models including PROM scores in published oncological studies allowed the identification of areas of improvement for reporting and future use of ML in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reflecting sex and gender characteristics in biomedical research is critical to improving health outcomes and reducing adverse effects from medical treatments. This study investigates the impact of sex/gender-specific funding policies and journal editorial standards on the integration of sex/gender analysis in biomedical research publications. Using data from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries between 2000 and 2021, we assessed how these policies influenced research output in the fields of medicine and life sciences. Our findings show that countries with progressive funding policies and journals promoting sex/gender-based reporting have significantly improved research quality and publication rates. This highlights the importance of coordinated policy efforts and editorial practices in advancing integrated sex/gender research. We recommend continued global efforts from policymakers, funding bodies, and journals to embed sex/gender perspectives in scientific inquiry, ensuring more effective and equitable biomedical advancements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Coordination of governmental action is crowded with policies and programs that are highly interdependent, sometimes operating in silos if not contradicting each other. These dilemmas, or administrative quagmires, are heightened for older adults in general, but they are particularly problematic for marginalized older adults because these groups often require public assistance and support. This scoping review studies the coordination of governmental action on aging published in social science journals, focusing on 6 groups of marginalized older adults: those with histories of immigration, individuals with severe mental health problems, those who have had experiences of homelessness, formerly incarcerated individuals, members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community, and individuals living in a rural area. Research Design and Methods A 5-stage scoping review methodology was followed, and 53 articles (published between 2000 and 2022) from 5 social science databases were analyzed. Results The analysis revealed a limited number of contributions with coordination as a primary focus. Understandings of coordination varied but tended to examine structure, organization, and relationships between sectors. When coordination was the primary object of a study, it was often analyzed in 1 specific policy area or within a clinical setting along the lines of facilitating care coordination. Discussion and Implications This scoping review reveals a mutual neglect on the part of public administration and policy scholars toward marginalized older adults and a lack of public administration considerations on the part of scholars studying long-term care and social service programs for these marginalized older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds, especially the chick and hen, have been important biomedical research models for centuries due to the accessibility of the avian embryo and the early discovery of avian viruses. Comprehension of avian tumor virology was a milestone in basic cancer research, as was that of non-viral genesis, as it enabled the discovery of oncogenes. Furthermore, studies on avian viruses provided initial insights into Kaposi's sarcoma and EBV-induced diseases. However, the role of birds in human carcinogenesis extends beyond the realm of virology research. Utilization of CAM, the chorioallantoic membrane, an easily accessible extraembryonic tissue with rich vasculature, has enabled studies on tumor-induced angiogenesis and metastasis and the efficient screening of potential anti-cancer compounds. Also, the chick embryo alone is an effective preclinical in vivo patient-derived xenograft model, which is important for the development of personalized therapies. Furthermore, adult birds may also closely resemble human oncogenesis, as evidenced by the laying hen, which is the only animal model of a spontaneous form of ovarian cancer. Avian models may create an interesting alternative compared with mammalian models, enabling the creation of a relatively cost-effective and easy-to-maintain platform to address key questions in cancer biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical Scenario: Reaction time is integral in many tasks during work, sport, and life, thus, alterations in reaction time may impact performance and injury risk. There are various factors that can influence reaction time, such as the physical state of the individual, including their age or sex. When comparing males and females, there is a major physiological difference to their physical state as hormones fluctuate during menstrual cycle phases, which not only affects the reproductive system, but females may experience physiological, cardiovascular, respiratory, or metabolic changes throughout their menstrual cycle phases. Therefore, this goal of this critically appraised topic is to examine whether reaction time changes during menstrual cycle phases. Focused Clinical Question: In healthy, eumenorrheic females, does reaction time change from one menstrual cycle phase to other menstrual cycle phases? Summary ofKey Findings: Among the five studies evaluated in this CAT, all found significant changes to reaction time during phases of the menstrual cycle. Most studies found that reaction time was inversely related to sex hormone levels, indicating that phases with low hormone levels had longer reaction time than those phases with higher hormone levels; however, one study found reaction time to be prolonged or slower during the luteal phase, when hormone levels are higher. Clinical Bottom Line: Both auditory and visual reaction times vary across the menstrual cycle in healthy females with regular menstrual cycles (frequency and length). Given these findings, it is important to incorporate reaction time training across all phases of the menstrual cycle in female athletes. Strength of Clinical Recommendation: Based on the Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy, a Grade C is the strength of recommendation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Conducting mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) longitudinal studies across multiple sites is a challenging endeavor which has been made more challenging because of COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: This article briefly describes several concerns that need to be addressed during the conduct of research to account for COVID-19's impact. METHODS: The recent actions and steps taken by the Long-term Impact of Military-relevant Brain Injury Consortium (LIMBIC)-Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (CENC) researchers are reviewed. RESULTS: COVID-19's effects on the conduct of LIMBIC-CENC for the short-term and long-term were considered to ensure the study continued safely for participants and researchers. COVID-19 may have long-lasting health and especially neurological effects which may confound the quantitative and qualitative measures of this any comparable longitudinal studies. CONCLUSION: The recognition, understanding, and preparation of COVID-19's impact on a longitudinal military and veteran mTBI population is crucial to successfully conducting LIMBIC-CENC and similar neurological research studies. Developing a plan based on the best available information while remaining agile as new information about COVID-19 emerge, is essential. Research presented in this special issue underscores the complexity of studying long-term effects of mTBI, in a population exposed to and symptomatic from COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on several papers presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology held in 2024 in Chicago, Illinois is presented. Topics covered include the role of osimertinib in patients with non-small cell lung cancer harboring epidermal growth factor receptor mutations, treatment of oligometastatic colorectal cancer and treating esophageal cancer.

Background Best practices for clinical trials stipulate that statistical analysis plans (SAPs) need to be finalized before initiation of any analysis. However, there is limited guidance about when changes to SAPs are acceptable and how these changes should be incorporated into the research plan with appropriate documentation. Methods We conducted a survey of 12 pragmatic clinical trials (PCTs) in the Pain Management Collaboratory that evaluated nonpharmacological interventions for pain to assess the following SAP information: (1) location of statistical analysis details, (2) types of statistical analyses planned, (3) sponsor requirements, (4) templates used for development, (5) publication plan, (6) changes since trial launch, (7) process of documenting changes, and (8) process of updating the trial registry. Results All 12 PCTs provided details of their SAPs for the primary outcomes in the institutional review board–approved trial protocol; 8 included plans for secondary outcomes, and 6 included plans for tertiary/exploratory outcomes. Most PCTs made SAP changes after trial initiation, many as a result of COVID-19–related issues. Eleven of the PCTs were actively recruiting participants. Changes were made to sample size, study design, study arms, and analytical methods, all before the data lock/unblinding. In all cases, justification for the changes was documented in the trial protocol or SAP, signed off by the trial biostatistician and principal investigator, and reviewed/approved by an institutional review board, data and safety monitoring board, or sponsor. Conclusions We recommend that SAP changes can be acceptable up to the time of data lock/unblinding. To maintain full transparency and necessary rigor, clear documentation of such changes should include details, rationale, date(s) such changes were implemented, and evidence of approval by relevant oversight bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presbyopia is a common age-related visual impairment. With the aging of the population, the incidence of presbyopia is increasing globally, becoming a worldwide public health concern. Treatment options for presbyopia include optical lens correction, surgical intervention, and pharmacological therapy. Pharmacological treatments for presbyopia are non-invasive, reversible, and have emerged over the past decade. Following the US Food and Drug Administration's approval of 1.25% pilocarpine for presbyopia, the use of pilocarpine and its compound formulations has gained increased attention, with some drugs entering clinical phase II/III trials (www.clinicaltrials.gov). Therefore, this article primarily describes and analyzes the progress of research on the use of pilocarpine and its compound formulations for presbyopia, as well as the challenges that remain to be addressed. The optimal dosage form, the optimal concentration, the long-term safety, and patient compliance should be further explored, and there is a lack of multi-center evidence-based medicine research to support it. The aim of this article is to provide a reference for researchers to conduct further in-depth investigations in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since their inception in 1975, the Department of Veterans Affairs Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Centers (GRECCs) have served as incubators of innovation in geriatrics. Their contributions to the VA mission were last reviewed in 2012. Herein, we describe the continuing impact of GRECCs in research, clinical, and educational areas, focusing on the period between 2018 and 2022. GRECC research spans the continuum from bench to bedside, with a growing research portfolio notable for highly influential publications. GRECC education connects healthcare professions trainees and practicing clinicians, as well as Veterans and their caregivers, to engaging learning experiences. Clinical advancements, including age‐friendly care, span the continuum of care and leverage technology to link disparate geographical sites. GRECCs are uniquely positioned to serve older adults given their alignment with the largest integrated health system in the United States and their integration with academic health centers. As such, the GRECCs honor Veterans as they age by building VA capacity to care for the increasing number of aging Veterans seeking care from VA. GRECC advancements also benefit non‐VA healthcare systems, their academic affiliates, and non‐Veteran older adults. GRECCs make invaluable contributions to advancing geriatric and gerontological science, training healthcare professionals, and developing innovative models of geriatric care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The intersection of ageism and racism is underexplored in geriatric emergency medicine (GEM) research. Methods: We performed a scoping review of research published between January 2016 and December 2021. We included original emergency department‐based research focused on falls, delirium/dementia, medication safety, and elder abuse. We excluded manuscripts that did not include (1) original research data pertaining to the four core topics, (2) older adults, (3) subjects from the United States, and (4) for which full text publication could not be obtained. The primary objective was to qualitatively describe reporting about older adults' social identities in GEM research. Secondary objectives were to describe (1) the extent of inclusion of minoritized older adults in GEM research, (2) GEM research about health equity, and (3) feasible approaches to improve the status quo of GEM research reporting. Results: After duplicates were removed, 3277 citations remained and 883 full‐text articles were reviewed, of which 222 met inclusion criteria. Four findings emerged. First, race and ethnicity reporting was inconsistent. Second, research rarely provided a rationale for an age threshold used to define geriatric patients. Third, GEM research more commonly reported sex than gender. Fourth, research commonly excluded older adults with cognitive impairment and speakers of non‐English primary languages. Conclusion: Meaningful assessment of GEM research inclusivity is limited by inconsistent reporting of sociodemographic characteristics, specifically race and ethnicity. Reporting of sociodemographic characteristics should be standardized across different study designs. Strategies are needed to include in GEM research older adults with cognitive impairment and non‐English primary languages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe initial, current, and future aspects of complement activation and inhibition in the rare hematological disease paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). PNH is a rare but severe hematological disorder characterized by complement‐mediated intravascular hemolysis resulting in anemia and severe thrombosis. Insights into the complement‐mediated pathophysiology ultimately led to regulatory approval of the first‐in‐class complement inhibitor, eculizumab, in 2007. This anti‐complement C5 therapy resulted in the stabilization of many hematologic parameters and dramatically reduced the often fatal, coagulant‐resistant thrombotic events. Despite the remarkable clinical success, a substantial proportion of PNH patients experience suboptimal clinical responses during anti‐C5 therapy. We describe the identification and mechanistic dissection of four unexpected processes responsible for such suboptimal clinical responses: (1) pharmacokinetic and (2) pharmacodynamic intravascular breakthrough hemolysis, (3) continuing low‐level residual intravascular hemolysis, and (4) extravascular hemolysis. Novel complement therapeutics mainly targeting different complement proteins proximal in the cascade attempt to address these remaining problems. With five approved complement inhibitors in the clinic and many more being evaluated in clinical trials, PNH remains one of the complement diseases with the highest intensity of clinical research. Mechanistically unexpected breakthrough events occur not only with C5 inhibitors but also with proximal pathway inhibitors, which require further mechanistic elaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: As artificial intelligence (AI) takes an increasingly prominent role in health care, a growing body of research is being dedicated to its application in the investigation of communication sciences and disorders (CSD). This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview, serving as a valuable resource for researchers, developers, and professionals seeking to comprehend the evolving landscape of AI in CSD research. Method: We conducted a bibliometric analysis of AI-based research in the discipline of CSD published up to December 2023. Utilizing the Web of Science and Scopus databases, we identified 15,035 publications, with 4,375 meeting our inclusion criteria. Based on the bibliometric data, we examined publication trends and patterns, characteristics of research activities, and research hotspot tendencies. Results: From 1985 onwards, there has been a consistent annual increase in publications, averaging 16.51%, notably surging from 2012 to 2023. The primary communication disorders studied include autism, aphasia, dysarthria, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Noteworthy AI models instantiated in CSD research encompass support vector machine, convolutional neural network, and hidden Markov model, among others. Conclusions: Compared to AI applications in other fields, the adoption of AI in CSD has lagged slightly behind. While CSD studies primarily use classical machine learning techniques, there is a growing trend toward the integration of deep learning methods. AI technology offers significant benefits for both research and clinical practice in CSD, but it also presents certain challenges. Moving forward, collaboration among technological, research, and clinical domains is essential to empower researchers and speech-language pathologists to effectively leverage AI technology for the study, diagnosis, assessment, and rehabilitation of CSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to articles in the issue is presented on topics including the scarcity of disordered speech samples for model training which is an obstacle to developing artificial intelligence (AI)-driven assistive technologies for individuals with speech disabilities, automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems that can be used in real-time conversations by these individuals, and challenges to advance ASR communication tools for those with speech impairments.

Collaboration among scholars in scientific research is increasingly common, making it important to address how to recommend suitable collaborators, especially for their first cooperation. To address this issue, this study focuses on 1487 core scholars in the field of library and information science in China, and then analyzes the impact of academic differences between these scholars in their first collaboration by using the propensity matching score method. It uncovers potential driving factors for scholars to reach first collaborations, including similar research productivity, contrasting academic influence, aligned research directions, and distinct research focuses. Then, the distribution of features of three types of first cooperation demonstrates that if one or both partners publish the first paper in this collaboration, the collaborative relationship tends to be more enduring and stable. In addition, the subsequent collaboration of scholars and the change in their academic differences are related to the initial academic differences between the two parties in the first collaboration. These patterns can be used to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of the scholar recommendation mechanism, hence promoting research collaboration and knowledge exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For public health protection, informed decision-making relies on having a robust foundation of evidence concerning risks and their prevention. Application of an evidence-based framework depends on the availability of pertinent, scientifically sound data generated by well-directed and valid research endeavors. In this essay, we address the current state of research in humans and the evidential base concerning high-concentration delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC) products, which are readily available in the United States. Furthermore, we explore the intricate challenges faced in carrying out research on these products, which reflect the full range of study design issues: measurement of exposure and outcomes, confounding, selection bias, and the generalizability of findings. We offer recommendations to guide future research toward providing more informative evidence. By following these recommendations, researchers and funders on this emerging topic could move toward generating the valid and comprehensive evidence needed to effectively inform public health initiatives and guide policy decisions regarding high-concentration delta-9-THC products and their use. The urgency of generating such evidence cannot be overstated, given the widespread legalization and increasing availability and use of these products. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(S8):S639–S644. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307724) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The history of the development of acute neurologic disease as a biologic mechanism is of interest. Equally important is how it translated to the bedside and how the clinical examination differentiated itself. Methods: This paper reviews primary sources pertaining to acute neurologic conditions described mostly in the 19th and 20th century. A review of monographs, treatises, textbooks, and peer‐reviewed articles was conducted. Results: The evolution of clinical signs and syndromes associated with dynamic intracranial pathologies was predicated on the idea that animal studies informed clinicians, who then linked clinical signs to these observations. A dominant theme is that innovative technologies could trace acute processes through all their various stages, affording a complete picture of the disease process. Just as clinical descriptors of central nervous system processes evolved, the presentation of acute neuromuscular respiratory failure became better defined. Once practices incorporated these acute clinical signs, textbooks cemented their "gold standard" status with relative impunity. Conclusions: The practise of acute neurology and neurocritical care must find out what, historically, others were seeking but could not find. Patterns of clinical presentation in acute neurology are sufficiently recognizable to guide practise decisions. Although, the currently well‐documented clinical syndromes of acute neurologic conditions (at presentation and during deterioration) have been taught for generations, practitioners have noted that they lack consistency and predictability. History also taught us that part of this improved knowledge came with designated units―a clear example of how protean systems (not always innovative neurologists or neuroscientists or technologies) shaped the history of neurology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In a randomized clinical trial, we evaluated whether the STIC (Systemic Therapy Inventory of Change) measurement and feedback system (MFS), the first MFS to explicitly integrate the family systems perspective, improved outcomes in individual, couple and family therapy. Method: Nine hundred and seventy clients seeking individual, couple or family therapy, entered therapy with 93 therapists at four sites in the Chicago metropolitan area. All therapists were trained with the STIC and participated in both Treatment as Usual (TAU) and TAU with the STIC (STIC). After agreeing to participate, clients were randomly assigned to TAU or STIC. Therapists did not know the condition to which a case was assigned, until just prior to the first session. Therapy was not time-limited or constrained, except for the use of the STIC in the STIC condition. All clients were evaluated on a non-STIC multi-systemic battery of widely used outcome measures pre-and-post therapy. Results: STIC clients improved more than TAU clients regardless of treatment modality or outcome measure. Clinically significant change was also greater for STIC than TAU clients across outcome measures. Conclusion: The STIC MFS holds promise for improving outcomes beyond TAU in individual, couple, and family therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amorphous strategies have been extensively used in improving the dissolution of insoluble drugs for decades due to their high free energy. However, the formation of amorphous small‐molecule gels (ASMGs) presents a counter‐intuitive discovery that significantly limits their practical application. Recently, ASMGs have garnered attention because of their noncovalent structures, excellent biodegradability, and significant potential in various drug delivery systems in the pharmaceutical field. Hence, a comprehensive review is necessary to contribute to a better understanding of recent advances in ASMGs. This review aimed to introduce the main formation mechanisms, summarize possible influencing factors, generalize unique properties, outline elimination strategies, and discuss clinical application potential with preclinical cases of ASMGs. Moreover, few ASMGs are advanced to clinical stages. Intensive clinical research is needed for further development. We hope that this review can provide more efficient and rational guidance for exploring further clinical applications of ASMGs. Highlights: A comprehensive overview of formation mechanisms is proposed in this review.Influencing factors on gel structures and effects on drug release are overviewed.Pharmaceutical strategies to eliminate undesirable gels are summarized.The clinical potential of various gel drug delivery systems is discussed.Challenges and perspectives are proposed for amorphous small‐molecule gels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: Literature review with clinical recommendations. Objective: To highlight important studies about osteoporotic spinal fractures (OF) that may be integrated into clinical practice based on the assessment of the AO Spine KF Trauma and Infection group key opinion leaders. Methods: 4 important studies about OF that may affect current clinical practice of spinal surgeons were selected and reviewed with the aim of providing clinical recommendations to streamline the journey of research into clinical practice. Recommendations were graded as strong or conditional following the GRADE methodology. Results: 4 studies were selected. Article 1: a validation of the Osteoporotic Fracture (OF)-score to treat OF fractures. Conditional recommendation to incorporate the OF score in the management of fractures to improve clinical results. Article 2: a randomized multicenter study comparing romosozumab/alendronate vs alendronate to decrease the incidence of new vertebral fractures. Strong recommendation that the group receiving romosozumab/alendronate had a decreased risk of new OF when compared with the alendronate only group only. Article 3: a systematic literature review of spinal orthoses in the management of. Conditional recommendation to prescribe a spinal orthosis to decrease pain and improve quality of life. Article 4: post-traumatic deformity after OF. A conditional recommendation that middle column injury and pre-injury use of steroids may lead to high risk of post-traumatic deformity after OF. Conclusions: Management of patients with OF is still complex and challenging. This review provides some recommendations that may help surgeons to better manage these patients and improve their clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors share examples of local contexts that could contribute to the shaping of neurodiversity paradigms and movements in East Asia, complementing examples in other non-Western regions. Cited are the complexity of the linguistic nuances of the translated terms about autism in the historical and social-cultural contexts, the contribution of linguistic differences to the shaping of autism identities, and the difference of autism advocacy efforts by linguistic and social-cultural contexts.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare and progressive disorder that affects the pulmonary vasculature. Although recent developments in pharmacotherapy have extended the life expectancy of PAH patients, their 5‐year survival remains unacceptably low, underscoring the need for multitarget and more comprehensive approaches to managing the disease. This should incorporate not only medical, but also lifestyle interventions, including dietary changes and the use of nutraceutical support. Among these strategies, n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 PUFAs) are emerging as promising agents able to counteract the inflammatory component of PAH. In this narrative review, we aim at analysing the preclinical evidence for the impact of n‐3 PUFAs on the pathogenesis and the course of PAH. Although evidence for the role of n‐3 PUFAs deficiencies in the development and progression of PAH in humans is limited, preclinical studies suggest that these dietary components may influence several aspects of the pathobiology of PAH. Further clinical research should test the efficacy of n‐3 PUFAs on top of approved clinical management. These studies will provide evidence on whether n‐3 PUFAs can genuinely serve as a valuable tool to enhance the efficacy of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of PAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image comparison is a fundamental step for monitoring images and has wide applications in many disciplines of sciences, including satellite imaging, medical research, quality control and so forth. This problem, however, is complicated because (i) the observed images often contain noise, (ii) the image intensity functions are discontinuous and have spatial structures. In the literature, a vast majority of the methods are intensity-based. However, such an approach is often questionable in real life situations where small changes in the background may not indicate an actual meaningful change in the images as long as the boundaries of the image objects remain the same. In this article, we propose a flexible and effective image comparison method based on local pixel clustering and construct a test statistic based on the Variation of Information metric. This is a feature based image comparison technique where edges or the jump points are considered as the primary features. Numerical examples and statistical properties show that the proposed image comparison method performs well in various real life scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is highly diverse and heterogeneous. Accurate and rapid analysis of the characteristics of individual cancer cells, using a complex array of big data that includes various clinicopathological features and molecular mechanisms, is crucial for advancing precision medicine. In recent years, experts in biomedical sciences and data sciences have explored the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze such extensive data sets. The next phase of AI-based medical research on cancer should focus on the practical applications of AI tools and how they can be effectively used in actual medical research settings. Recently, translational research that leverages AI and comprehensive genetic analysis data has emerged as a significant research focus. This field represents an opportunity for groundbreaking discoveries to be shared globally. To further precision medicine in clinical practice, it is vital to develop sophisticated AI tools for cancer research. These tools should not only identify potential therapeutic targets through comprehensive genetic analysis but also predict therapeutic outcomes in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) is a common condition worldwide. The disease burden is influenced not only by pain itself, but also by psychiatric co-morbidities, which aggravate symptoms, generally negatively influence therapies, and may thereby lead to frustration, resignation, or withdrawal. A growing body of evidence suggests that sex and gender aspects influence CNCP management as the experience of pain, the emotions associated with it, and the expression of pain may differ between women and men. In addition, doctor-patient communication is known to be influenced by gender stereotypes. Despite there being evidence on such differences, current guidelines do not consider sex- and gender-sensitive approaches. In order to examine how to adequately address the diversity of the experience and processing of pain in patients of differing sex and gender, the GESCO study aims at developing and pilot testing a sex- and gender-sensitive intervention for patients with CNCP receiving long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) in primary care. Methods: The development process is designed in accordance with the first two phases of the UK Medical Research Council. Phase I will iteratively explore, develop, and pilot the intervention's modules using literature searches, interviews, and workshops involving stakeholders and experts. Phase II will pilot-test the novel intervention in a sample of 40 patients with CNCP under LTOT from ten general practices using an effectiveness-implementation hybrid design including a mixed-methods process evaluation focusing on implementation strategy criteria and a single-arm, pre-post comparison to determine preliminary effects in preparation for a larger effectiveness trial. The intervention will combine in-person educational sessions for general practitioners and tools to be used in patient care. Discussion: The intervention aims to improve CNCP management in primary care by empowering practitioners to reflect on their attitudes towards pain and stereotypes. Besides sex and gender aspects, awareness of other factors that might affect the care process, such as age, social conditions, or culture, is also promoted. The intention is to develop a comprehensive care concept for CNCP that considers aspects relevant for sex- and gender-sensitive care which are transferrable to other health care fields as well. Trial registration: German Clinical Trial Register DRKS00029980. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Globalization has increased the importance of multicultural research to address health disparities and improve healthcare outcomes for underrepresented communities. The International Nursing Network for HIV Research (The Network) serves as a platform for researchers to collaborate on cross-cultural and cross-national HIV studies. This article discusses the Network's approach to overcoming barriers in multicultural and multinational research in a qualitative context. Methods: The network created a protocol to guide decision-making throughout the translation process of qualitative data collected from participants in their native languages. The protocol includes aspects of why, when, what, who, how, where, and by what means the translation is completed. Results: The protocol has allowed researchers to enhance the validity, reliability, and cultural sensitivity of translation process, ensuring the clarity and impact of their research findings. Discussion: Rigorous translation practices promote cross-cultural understanding and respect for participants' perspectives, fostering global collaborations and knowledge exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: More evidence for patterns of healthcare utilisation and associated costs among people receiving opioid agonist therapy (OAT) is needed. We investigated primary and secondary healthcare usage and costs among methadone and buprenorphine recipients in England. Methods: We conducted a cohort study using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink GOLD and Aurum databases of patients who were prescribed OAT between 1 January 2007 and 31 July 2019. The cohort was linked to Hospital Episode Statistics admitted patient care, outpatient and emergency department data, neighbourhood‐ and practice‐level Index of Multiple Deprivation quintiles and mortality records. Negative binomial regression models were applied to estimate weighted rate ratios (wRR) of healthcare utilisation. Total and mean costs were calculated using Unit Costs of Health and Social Care and the National Healthcare Service Payment by Results National Tariffs. Results: Among 12,639 patients observed over 39,016 person‐years, we found higher rate of hospital admissions (wRR 1.18; 1.08–1.28) among methadone compared with buprenorphine recipients. The commonest hospital discharge diagnoses among methadone patients were infectious diseases (19.2%), mental and behavioural disorders (17.0%) and drug‐related poisoning (16.5%); the three commonest among buprenorphine patients were mental and behavioural diseases (21.5%), endocrine (13.8%) and genitourinary system diseases (13.1%). Methadone patients had similar mean costs compared with buprenorphine patients (cost difference: £539.01; 432.11–1006.69). Discussion and Conclusions: Differences in healthcare utilisation frequency for methadone versus buprenorphine recipients were observed. The differences in associated costs were mainly driven by hospital admissions. These findings offer valuable insights for optimising care strategies and resource allocation for OAT recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Randomized trials estimate the average treatment effect within individuals who are eligible, invited, and agree to enroll. However, decision-makers often require evidence that extends beyond the trial's enrolled population to inform policy or actions for their specific target population. Each decision-maker has distinct target populations, the composition of which may not often align with that of the trial population. As researchers, we should identify a decision-maker for whom we aim to generate evidence early in the research process. We can then specify a target population of their interest and determine if a policy or action can be informed using results from a trial alone, or if additional complementary real-world data and analysis are required. In this commentary, we outline 5 key groupings of decision-makers: policymakers, payers, purchasers, providers, and patients. We then specify relevant target populations for decision-makers interested in the effectiveness of beta-blockers after a myocardial infarction with preserved ejection fraction. Finally, we summarize the scenarios in which results from a randomized trial may or may not apply to these target populations and suggest relevant analytic approaches that can generate evidence to better align with a decision-maker's needs. This article is part of a Special Collection on Pharmacoepidemiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]