Report of the second satellite symposium on ultrasound in schistosomiasis.
(25/811)
A group of experts on schistosomiasis and ultrasonography discussed the experiences and results obtained with the Niamey-Belo Horizonte Protocol on Ultrasonography in Schistosomiasis. A series of recommendations about qualitative and quantitative data obtained by ultrasound in studies performed in Africa and Brazil are presented. Immunological, genetic and epidemiological studies must rely on ultrasound for the identification of patients with periportal thickening/fibrosis. (+info)
CD antigens 2001.
(26/811)
This paper reviews the Seventh Human Leucocyte Differentiation Antigen (HLDA7) workshop. Due to the limitations of "blind" antibody screening, which had been evident at the previous meeting in 1996, participants at HLDA7 adopted a more selective approach to the choice of antibodies by identifying new CD specificities. This resulted in the addition of more than 80 new CD specificities. Plans for the eighth and subsequent workshops are also previewed. (+info)
Update on the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus: therapeutic highlights from the Sixth International Lupus Conference.
(27/811)
The studies presented at the conference indicate that new therapeutic agents are effective for patients with SLE. Some of the agents (high dose cyclophosphamide) may be given to patients with refractory disease while others (low dose cyclophosphamide, and MMF) may be used as a first-line drug. The current data on biologic agents are still preliminary and their exact role in SLE needs to be determined. (+info)
Increasing participation of minorities in cancer clinical trials: summary of the "Moving Beyond the Barriers" Conference in North Carolina.
(28/811)
A day-long seminar was held at Wake Forest University School of Medicine to address barriers among ethnic minorities in cancer clinical trials and explore ways that individuals who design and conduct clinical trials could increase minority representation. Speakers addressed implications of under-representation of minorities and identified barriers to minority participation. State-wide focus group results were presented and revealed suspicion of medical research among minorities and the need for bridging to minority communities to improve participation in cancer clinical trials. Working groups assembled and identified barriers specific to trial design, providers, and participants. Attendees were encouraged to devise strategies within their institutions to overcome barriers to minority participation. (+info)
Computerized scientific exhibit utilization: observations from infoRAD at the radiologic society of North America Scientific Assembly.
(29/811)
No publication has discussed utilization of computer scientific exhibits (CSE) at national symposia, despite their growing numbers. The hypothesis of this project was that, when given a choice, viewers initially would prefer a more conventional paper presentation of a scientific exhibit over that of an electronic presentation. A nearly identical paper version of the introductory screen to an infoRAD CSE was placed adjacent to the workstation. Utilization of the paper introduction, computer introduction, and both, as well as subsequent behavior, was recorded. Of 67 visitors, initial user choice was 56.7% paper and 43.3% computer. Over the entire time at the exhibit 25.4% only looked at the handout, 25.4% only at the computer, and 49.3% perused both. Only 10.5% completed the entire exhibit, and 0.94% of total registrants visited the CSE. Overall, 74.7% perused the CSE when leaving the exhibit area. Upon arrival, viewers preferred the more conventional paper presentation, confirming the project hypothesis. Surprisingly, about 75% eventually perused at least a portion of the computer presentation. Although a small fraction of Radiologic Society of North America (RSNA) registrants visited the CSE, the findings presented are promising and suggest that CSE presence at national meetings is justifiable, providing a "first step" toward CME outcomes analysis of CSE. Overall, these findings are promising and suggest that computer scientific exhibit presence at national meetings is justifiable. (+info)
Inter-rater agreement in the scoring of abstracts submitted to a primary care research conference.
(30/811)
BACKGROUND: Checklists for peer review aim to guide referees when assessing the quality of papers, but little evidence exists on the extent to which referees agree when evaluating the same paper. The aim of this study was to investigate agreement on dimensions of a checklist between two referees when evaluating abstracts submitted for a primary care conference. METHODS: Anonymised abstracts were scored using a structured assessment comprising seven categories. Between one (poor) and four (excellent) marks were awarded for each category, giving a maximum possible score of 28 marks. Every abstract was assessed independently by two referees and agreement measured using intraclass correlation coefficients. Mean total scores of abstracts accepted and rejected for the meeting were compared using an unpaired t test. RESULTS: Of 52 abstracts, agreement between reviewers was greater for three components relating to study design (adjusted intraclass correlation coefficients 0.40 to 0.45) compared to four components relating to more subjective elements such as the importance of the study and likelihood of provoking discussion (0.01 to 0.25). Mean score for accepted abstracts was significantly greater than those that were rejected (17.4 versus 14.6, 95% CI for difference 1.3 to 4.1, p = 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that inclusion of subjective components in a review checklist may result in greater disagreement between reviewers. However in terms of overall quality scores, abstracts accepted for the meeting were rated significantly higher than those that were rejected. (+info)
Eliminating health disparities among minority women: a report on conference workshop process and outcomes.
(31/811)
A national conference convened in May 2001 explored health disparities among minority women. It included 5 one-hour workshops that randomly assigned each participant to 1 of 4 groups. Groups generated recommendations on conference topics and from these identified priority recommendations. Trained facilitators guided groups through brainstorming and weighted voting processes; individual recommendations were submitted in writing. Participants generated 598 recommendations, 71 of them voted as priorities; these were analyzed to capture participants' "messages." Central themes focused on access issues and cultural incompetence as deterrents to the elimination of health disparities and on education, funding, and community-based, community-driven research as mechanisms for change. Strategies for change included reinventing or expanding the role of minority communities and changing health care itself and "how" it does its work. The essential element in all recommendations was community leadership and control. (+info)
Developing standards of care: a tale of two panels.
(32/811)
OBJECTIVE: How will a group of experts convened to develop standards of care communicate in meaningfully different ways when interacting online in contrast to traditional face-to-face meetings. Furthermore, does online interaction facilitate discussion among participants from diverse cultural backgrounds and at what cost? DESIGN: A project to develop standards of care for deaf and hard of hearing adults used two panels of experts operating in two different formats: online and face-to-face. One panel interacted via an online system while the other met in a day-long face-to-face conference. As one component of the project, we tracked the interactions of these two groups in order to describe and contrast their group processes. STUDY PARTICIPANTS: The subjects were volunteer experts in hearing impairment and health care, from organizations across the United States. They were a geographically diverse group with widely varying communication needs. We applied two different systems for facilitating communication among culturally diverse participants, and assessed interaction and satisfaction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data were collected on the two groups on the pattern of interactions, satisfaction with the process, and satisfaction with outcomes. RESULTS: The results showed a high level of user satisfaction with both process and outcomes, and provide data for a description of the source of user satisfaction and the management of the groups. CONCLUSION: Online interaction offers unique advantages but poses unique management requirements for success. (+info)