Integrating ELSI study teams in paediatric genomic research efforts
Related Articles
Distinct airway epithelial immune responses after infection with SARS-CoV-2 compared to H1N1
Children are less likely than adults to suffer severe symptoms when infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), while influenza A H1N1 severity is comparable across ages except for the very young or elderly. Airway epithelial cells play a vital role in the early defence against viruses via their barrier and immune functions. We investigated viral replication and immune responses in SARS-CoV-2-infected bronchial epithelial cells from healthy paediatric (n = 6; 2.5–5.6 years old) and adult (n = 4; 47–63 years old) subjects and compared cellular responses following infection with SARS-CoV-2 or Influenza A H1N1. While infection with either virus triggered robust transcriptional interferon responses, including induction of type I (IFNB1) and type III (IFNL1) interferons, markedly lower levels of interferons and inflammatory proteins (IL-6, IL-8) were released following SARS-CoV-2 compared to H1N1 infection. Only H1N1 infection caused disruption of the epithelial layer. Interestingly, H1N1 infection resulted in sustained upregulation of SARS-CoV-2 entry factors FURIN and NRP1. We did not find any differences in the epithelial response to SARS-CoV-2 infection between paediatric and adult cells. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 had diminished potential to replicate, affect morphology and evoke immune responses in bronchial epithelial cells compared to H1N1.
Impact of patient care teams on blood pressure control in patients with hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, with its global prevalence doubling over the past three decades. Despite advancements in antihypertensive therapies, approximately 50% of patients with hypertension fail to achieve their target blood pressure (BP) levels, underscoring the need for innovative care strategies. Patient care teams comprising multidisciplinary healthcare providers have shown promise in improving BP management. This systematic review and meta-analysis were aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of patient care teams involving physicians in hypertension management. To this end, PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, and IchuShi-Web were comprehensively searched and 61 randomized controlled trials including 64,857 participants were identified. Compared with usual care, interventions by patient care teams significantly reduced office systolic BP (mean difference: −6.31 mmHg; 95% confidence interval: −7.71 to −4.90) and decreased the risk of uncontrolled BP by 27% (risk ratio: 0.73; 95% confidence interval: 0.68–0.79). Subgroup analyses demonstrated consistent BP reductions across various team leadership roles, such as physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, and across different intervention durations. These findings highlight the effectiveness of team-based BP management in achieving improved BP control, regardless of team composition or the follow-up period. Multidisciplinary care offers a viable approach to addressing the unmet needs of patients with hypertension, potentially improving cardiovascular outcomes. This evidence supports integrating patient care teams into hypertension management, particularly in settings requiring physician oversight. Future research should focus on refining team structures and tailoring interventions to diverse healthcare environments to enhance their impact.
Exploring corporate social responsibility practices in the telecommunications, broadcasting and courier sectors: a comparative industry analysis
This study aims to dissect and understand the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) endeavours of organisations within Malaysia’s telecommunications, broadcasting, postal and courier services sectors, particularly those holding licenses from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). These sectors were chosen for this study due to their crucial role in Malaysia’s economy and society, their notable environmental influence, the regulatory and public attention they receive as well as the distinct challenges and opportunities they face in implementing CSR. Employing a qualitative methodology, the study utilises a semi-structured interview protocol to gather rich, detailed insights from top management across eight listed and non-listed companies. This approach ensures a comprehensive exploration of CSR types, practices and their implementation within the target sectors. Purposive sampling was adopted to select informants with specific expertise, ensuring that the data collected was relevant and insightful. The findings of this study underscore that while telecommunications firms actively participate in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, their efforts predominantly benefit the broader society, with less emphasis placed on shareholders. Additionally, it was observed that environmental issues receive relatively minimal attention from these organisations. This diversity highlights the necessity for a more equitable CSR approach that caters equally to the needs of all stakeholders, including the environment. Such a strategy is crucial for cultivating a sustainable and ethically sound business environment. The implications of this research are manifold. For companies, it emphasises the critical nature of adopting an all-encompassing CSR strategy that fosters competitive advantage while promoting sustainable development. The study advocates for a paradigm shift towards CSR practices that are not only philanthropic but also prioritise environmental stewardship and value creation.
Returning genetic risk information for hereditary cancers to participants in a population-based cohort study in Japan
Large-scale population cohort studies that collect genomic information are tasked with returning an assessment of genetic risk for hereditary cancers to participants. While several studies have applied to return identified genetic risks to participants, comprehensive surveys of participants’ understanding, feelings, and behaviors toward cancer risk remain to be conducted. Here, we report our experience and surveys of returning genetic risks to 100 carriers of pathogenic variants for hereditary cancers identified through whole genome sequencing of 50 000 individuals from the Tohoku Medical Megabank project, a population cohort study. The participants were carriers of pathogenic variants associated with either hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (n = 79, median age=41) or Lynch syndrome (n = 21, median age=62). Of these, 28% and 38% had a history of cancer, respectively. We provided information on cancer risk, heritability, and clinical actionability to the participants in person. The comprehension assessment revealed that the information was better understood by younger (under 60 years) females than by older males. Scores on the cancer worry scale were positively related to cancer experiences and general psychological distress. Seventy-one participants were followed up at Tohoku University Hospital; six females underwent risk-reducing surgery triggered by study participation and three were newly diagnosed with cancer during surveillance. Among first-degree relatives of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer carriers, participants most commonly shared the information with daughters. This study showed the benefits of returning genetic risks to the general population and will provide insights into returning genetic risks to asymptomatic pathogenic variant carriers in both clinical and research settings.
Building collaborative infrastructures for an interdisciplinary higher education master’s program
This paper examines the practices and importance of building a collaborative infrastructure in interdisciplinary education, using the context of the master’s program developed by the Interdisciplinary Consortium for Applied Research in Ecology and Evolution (ICARE) as a case study. The study focuses on two levels of collaborative infrastructure: The project organization and project practice of the ICARE program and the specific use of CoNavigator, a physical tool for interdisciplinary teaching, learning, and collaboration. The analysis explores the educational aspects of the ICARE program and investigates how the training teams (each consisting of a master’s student, supervisors, and mentors) within the project organized themselves and developed their collaboration methods. By examining the challenges faced by ICARE and the implications for its Trainees and stakeholders, this paper emphasizes the significance of prioritizing and developing robust and explicit collaborative infrastructures both at the program and institutional level, as the challenges identified in ICARE mirror those at higher institutional levels, where interdisciplinary activities are not sustained unless they are fully embedded in the visible and physical structures. The findings provide valuable insights for future interdisciplinary study programs and underscore the necessity of proactive infrastructure planning and implementation to support successful interdisciplinary teaching and learning practices.
Responses