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Intense Focus (intense + focus)
Selected Abstracts,-Adrenoceptor gene variation and intermediate physiological traits: prediction of distant phenotypeEXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 7 2010John H. Eisenach Intermediate physiological phenotype is the genetic and environmental influence on functional physiological characteristics with direct prognostic relevance to distant, more complex phenotypes, such as cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Increasingly available and affordable genotyping techniques have created an explosion of information on candidate gene variation and its relationship to intermediate physiological traits. Variation in ,-adrenoceptor genes is an intense focus of investigation because ,-adrenoceptors are: (1) ubiquitous in organ system distribution; (2) integral to a multitude of physiological processes; (3) well described in cardiovascular and metabolic disease; and (4) major pharmacological treatment targets. Furthermore, knowledge of functional gene variants in these receptors predates the description of the human genome. This review highlights the influence of common gene variation in the three ,-adrenoceptor subtypes on intermediate physiological phenotype predictive of cardiovascular disease and obesity. Although further information is needed to replicate this information across populations, this review condenses and summarizes growing trends in specific pleiotropic effects of ,-adrenoceptor polymorphisms and suggests which variants may be predictive of distant phenotype. [source] Rethinking Caribbean transnational connections: conceptual itinerariesGLOBAL NETWORKS, Issue 1 2006D. ALISSA TROTZ At the same time, the intense focus on linkages between origin and destination groups frequently ends up privileging this binary - home/away - as the only way to map enduring cross-border linkages. Drawing on two examples of Caribbean practices connecting Toronto and New York, in this article I suggest the traversing of a different spatial terrain and consider the implications of expanding our conceptual itineraries to include these other journeys that so far have tended to fly under the radar in discussions of transnational migration. [source] Developing an optimal approach to global drug safetyJOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2001R. Balkrishnan Abstract.,Balkrishnan R, Furberg CD (Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA). Developing an optimal approach to global drug safety (Review). J Intern Med 2001: 250; 271,279. An increasing number of media reports on a number of marketed drugs withdrawn because of harmful effects, a scientific report on epidemic proportions of serious adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients, and a disturbing report on medical mistakes that includes medication errors have recently all brought drug safety into intense focus and placed it under greater scrutiny. Concerted efforts are now being made to understand the causes of drug safety problems and to find ways to reduce their frequency. An international symposium, ,Developing an Optimal Approach to Drug Safety' was held at Wake Forest University in the Fall of 2000 to identify the issues and solutions to extant problems in this area. This report summarizes the resulting discussions of global postmarketing surveillance initiatives and describes efforts to reduce medication errors, and improve global communication about drug safety. [source] A model for developing high-reliability teamsJOURNAL OF NURSING MANAGEMENT, Issue 5 2010WILLIAM RILEY PhD riley w., davis s.e., miller k.k. & mccullough m. (2010) Journal of Nursing Management18, 556,563 A model for developing high-reliability teams Aim, To develop a model for high reliability in health care quality and patient safety. Background, A high-reliability health organization (HRO) has measurable near perfect performance in quality and safety. High reliability is necessary in health care where the consequences of error are high and the frequency is low. Key issues, Despite a decade of intense focus on quality and safety since a series of reports from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), health care is not a completely safe industry and quality is not what it should be to ensure high reliability for patients. Conclusions, A model for high reliability is presented that includes the individual skills necessary to assure high-reliability teams on a patient care unit. High-reliability teams (HRT) form an essential core of a HRO. These teams and their organizations value a culture of safety every day with every patient encounter. Implications for nursing management, Nurse managers can lead in creating a HRO by first developing HRTs on their patient care unit. [source] OSCE! Variations on a theme by HardenMEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 12 2003Brian Hodges Background, In 1979, Harden described the first objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Harden's OSCE dramatically changed the assessment of professional competence because it used actors and choreographed scenarios to evaluate the performance of professional behaviours. Analysis, Because of the intense focus on performance, OSCEs have had a powerful influence on doctor training and practice. However, the immediate psychometric characteristics of OSCEs rather than their performance effects have been the subject of most research. Conclusion, The time has come to undertake a sophisticated sociological investigation of how OSCEs affect medical practice, including the ways in which they shape doctor interaction with patients, families and other health professionals. [source] Chronic wet cough: Protracted bronchitis, chronic suppurative lung disease and bronchiectasisPEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 6 2008A.B. Chang PhD Abstract The role of persistent and recurrent bacterial infection of the conducting airways (endobronchial infection) in the causation of chronic respiratory symptoms, particularly chronic wet cough, has received very little attention over recent decades other than in the context of cystic fibrosis (CF). This is probably related (at least in part) to the (a) reduction in non-CF bronchiectasis in affluent countries and, (b) intense focus on asthma. In addition failure to characterize endobronchial infections has led to under-recognition and lack of research. The following article describes our current perspective of inter-related endobronchial infections causing chronic wet cough; persistent bacterial bronchitis (PBB), chronic suppurative lung disease (CSLD) and bronchiectasis. In all three conditions, impaired muco-ciliary clearance seems to be the common risk factor that provides organisms the opportunity to colonize the lower airway. Respiratory infections in early childhood would appear to be the most common initiating event but other conditions (e.g., tracheobronchomalacia, neuromuscular disease) increases the risk of bacterial colonization. Clinically these conditions overlap and the eventual diagnosis is evident only with further investigations and long term follow up. However whether these conditions are different conditions or reflect severity as part of a spectrum is yet to be determined. Also misdiagnosis of asthma is common and the diagnostic process is further complicated by the fact that the co-existence of asthma is not uncommon. The principles of managing PBB, CSLD and bronchiectasis are the same. Further work is required to improve recognition, diagnosis and management of these causes of chronic wet cough in children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:519,531. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Antiangiogenesis agents in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomasCANCER, Issue 5 2010Kristen Ganjoo MD Abstract Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are a heterogeneous group of malignancies that includes >50 different subtypes, each with unique clinical and pathologic qualities. In general, there is a 50% cure rate, and most cures are achieved with complete surgical resection with or without radiation therapy. The results from chemotherapeutic agents for unresectable or metastatic disease have been disappointing with minimal long-term benefit. New targeted and novel agents are needed to improve response and survival. Tumor angiogenesis has been an intense focus in cancer therapy over the past decade. Several of numerous antiangiogenesis agents have been developed, and many already have been approved for the treatment of both solid and liquid tumors. Certain STSs are highly vascular tumors that often demonstrate angiogenesis markers. The objective of this review was to evaluate these angiogenesis markers in defining the role of angiogenesis in the treatment of patients with STS. In addition, the authors conducted an in-depth review of the results from using key antiangiogenesis agents in the treatment of STS. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society. [source] | ||||||||||