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Kinds of And Easy Selected AbstractsThe creation of an international audit and database of equine colic surgery: Survey of attitudes of surgeonsEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 4 2008T. S. MAIR Summary Reasons for performing study: Currently, there is a lack of available evidence-based data concerning the optimum treatments for horses affected by different types of colic and this precludes the application of clinical audit in this area. In order to accumulate such data, a large-scale, multicentre database of the outcomes of colic surgery is proposed. The attitudes of surgeons is an important consideration in determining the feasibility of developing this database. Objectives: To assess attitudes and opinions of equine surgeons concerning clinical audit and to assess the perceived advantages and problems of setting up a large-scale international audit/database of colic surgery. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 30 equine surgeons (large animal/equine surgeons who are diplomates of either the American College of Veterinary Surgeons or the European College of Veterinary Surgeons). Questionnaires were sent by e-mail to 98 equine surgeons. Results: Face to face interviews were conducted (n = 30) and 43/98 completed questionnaires received (44%). The results of the 2 techniques were very similar. There was generally a high level of interest in the development of a large scale database of colic surgery, but perceived problems included time to collect and submit data, and confidentiality issues. A minority of surgeons reported that they were undertaking any form of specific monitoring of the results of colic surgery within their hospitals. Conclusions: There is a good level of interest among equine surgeons to develop a large scale database of colic surgery and most would be willing to contribute data from their own hospitals provided that data collection is quick and easy, and that confidentiality is maintained. Potential relevance: A large scale audit and database would provide relevant information to equine surgeons concerning the current success and complication rates of colic surgery. Such evidence-based data could be used in clinical audits within individual equine hospitals. The data would also be useful to identify trends within the discipline and could highlight areas that would benefit from active research. [source] French adaptation and preliminary validation of a questionnaire to evaluate understanding of informed consent documents in phase I biomedical researchFUNDAMENTAL & CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 1 2006Adeline Paris Abstract The content of informed consent documents (ICD) is a crucial element in the process of providing information to participants in biomedical research. Clear comprehension of the information, i.e. the ability to understand its meaning and its consequences, is of utmost importance. The objective of this study was to describe the different steps in the French adaptation and preliminary validation of the Qualité de Compréhension des Formulaires d'information et de consentement (QCFic) questionnaire (http://www.lyon.inserm.fr/cic-grenoble) based on the American Quality of Informed Consent (QuIC) questionnaire. Adaptation and preliminary validation of the QuIC for use in France was composed of five principal steps: translation, scientific validation, lexical validation, edition of gold-standard answers and a pilot study. Each stage was conducted by independent groups of experts, under the coordination of the study board. Thirteen questions were added and one was suppressed. Two steps were required for the scientific validation and for lexical validation, 21 modifications were proposed. Relative to gold-standard answers, the three experts gave the same answer for 24 questions and for nine other questions, two of the three gave identical answers, which were validated by the study board. Results of a pilot study showed a global QCFic score of 88.99 (84.13,90.92) and no specific commentary was made about the content of the questions, so no more modification needed to be made. A preliminary validated French questionnaire, the QCFic, is now available to evaluate the quality of an informed consent document in phase I clinical trials. It is quick and easy to use. [source] Development of a quality assessment instrument for trials of treatments for depression and neurosisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 3 2001Joanna Moncrieff Abstract There is evidence that the quality of controlled clinical trials affects the results that are obtained. A systematic approach to the assessment of quality is required for psychiatric research. This study set out to develop an instrument for the assessment of the quality of controlled trials of interventions for depressive and non-psychotic conditions. A pilot study led to the development of a scale containing 23 items covering a wide range of aspects of quality including objective formulation, design, presentation of results, analysis and quality of conclusions. Scoring criteria were devised and the scale was then subjected to reliability testing using a random sample of trials of treatment for depression and ,neurosis'. The scale showed moderate inter-rater reliability and results were comparable to those obtained with shorter instruments. It was quick and easy to use. There were significant correlations between year of publication and overall quality score with later studies showing higher quality. The instrument developed here provides a systematic approach to the assessment of quality for use in critical appraisal of individual studies and meta-analysis. However, the scoring process should be used cautiously since inter-rater agreement was only moderate. Copyright © 2001 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Barriers and enablers of health promotion, prevention and early intervention in primary care: Evidence to inform the Australian national dementia strategyAUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL ON AGEING, Issue 2 2009Catherine Travers A comprehensive literature review was undertaken to: (i) identify and summarise the research evidence regarding barriers and enablers of health promotion, prevention and early intervention (PPEI) in primary care to reduce the risk of chronic disease in the older population; and (ii) use this evidence to make recommendations to inform the Australian national dementia prevention strategy around the translation of evidence-based care into practice. PPEI activities in primary care have the potential to not only reduce the prevalence and impact of a number of chronic diseases, but may also prevent or slow the onset of dementia given the apparent overlap in risk factors. While sizeable gaps exist regarding the most effective ways to promote the adoption of these activities, limited evidence suggests that, to be effective, PPEI activities should be quick and easy to administer, have a sound rationale and be readily incorporated into existing work processes. [source] "Click Peptides",Chemical Biology-Oriented Synthesis of Alzheimer's Disease-Related Amyloid , Peptide (A,) Analogues Based on the "O- Acyl Isopeptide Method"CHEMBIOCHEM, Issue 10 2006Youhei Sohma Abstract A clear understanding of the pathological mechanism of amyloid , peptide (A,) 1,42, a currently unexplained process, would be of great significance for the discovery of novel drug targets for Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapy. To date, though, the elucidation of these A,1,42 dynamic events has been a difficult issue because of uncontrolled polymerization, which also poses a significant obstacle in establishing experimental systems with which to clarify the pathological function of A,1,42. We have recently developed chemical biology-oriented pH- or phototriggered "click peptide" isoform precursors of A,1,42, based on the "O -acyl isopeptide method", in which a native amide bond at a hydroxyamino acid residue, such as Ser, is isomerized to an ester bond, the target peptide subsequently being generated by an O,N intramolecular acyl migration reaction. These click peptide precursors did not exhibit any self-assembling character under physiological conditions, thanks to the presence of the one single ester bond, and were able to undergo migration to give the target A,1,42 in a quick and easy, one-way (so-called "click")conversion reaction. The use of click peptides could be a useful strategy to investigate the biological functions of A,1,42 in AD through inducible activation of A,1,42 self-assembly. [source] |