Barry Lyhne (menuband64)

This study aimed to address the question what does "effectiveness" mean to researchers in the context of literature searching for systematic reviews? We conducted a thematic analysis of responses to an e-mail survey. Eighty-nine study authors, whose studies met inclusion in a recent review (2018), were contacted via e-mail and asked three questions; one directly asking the question in literature searching, what does effective (or effectiveness in) literature searching mean to you? Thirty-eight (46%) responses were received from diverse professional groups, including literature searchers, systematic reviewers, clinicians and researchers. A shared understanding of what effectiveness means was not identified. Instead, five themes were developed from data (a) effectiveness is described as a metric; (b) effectiveness is a balance between metrics; (c) effectiveness can be categorized by search purpose; (d) effectiveness is an outcome; and, (e) effectiveness is an experimental concept. We propose that these themes constitute a preliminary typology of understandings. No single definition of effectiveness was identified. The proposed typology suggests that different researchers have differing understandings of effectiveness. This could lead to uncertainty as to the aim and the purpose of literature searches and confusion about the outcomes. The typology offers a potential route for further exploration.Aim To investigate the effect of a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), liraglutide, on pancreatic volume, oedema, cellularity and DNA synthesis in humans. Materials and methods We performed an open-label study in 14 obese men (age 38 ± 11 years, body mass index 32 ± 4 kg/m2 ) without diabetes. Subjects were examined at baseline, during titration (week 4) of liraglutide towards 3.0 mg/day, and 2 weeks after steady-state treatment (week 6) of a final dose of liraglutide. The primary endpoint was pancreatic volume determined by magnetic resonance imaging. Secondary endpoints included pancreatic oedema and cellularity, positron emission tomography-based [18 F]fluorothymidine (FLT) uptake (DNA synthesis) and plasma pancreatic enzymes. Results Plasma amylase (+7 U/L [95% confidence intervals 3-11], P less then .01) and lipase (+19 U/L [7-30], P less then .01) increased during liraglutide treatment. Pancreatic volume did not change from baseline to steady state of treatment (+0.2 cm3 [-8-8], P = .96) and no change in pancreatic cellular infiltration was found (P = .22). During titration of liraglutide, FLT uptake in pancreatic tissue increased numerically (+0.08 [0.00-0.17], P = .0507). Conclusions Six weeks of treatment with liraglutide did not affect pancreatic volume, oedema or cellularity in obese men without diabetes.Problem Availability of advanced radiotherapy technology to treat cancer is limited in regional Australia. At Central West Cancer Care Centre, the utilisation rate of intensity-modulated radiotherapy and volumetric modulated arc therapy was significantly lower compared to other NSW public health services. Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy treatment was not available at Central West Cancer Care Centre. Design To increase the intensity-modulated radiotherapy/volumetric modulated arc therapy utilisation rate and to make stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy treatment available through quality improvement projects with multi-disciplinary collaboration. Setting Central West Cancer Care Centre is part of Western NSW Local health District. Central West Cancer Care Centre has two linear accelerators for delivering intensity-modulated radiotherapy, volumetric modulated arc therapy and stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy treatments, and a computed tomography simulator with 4D computed tomography capability.llaborative approach is important for the implementation of advanced technology in regional centres.We appreciated the response to our letter from Dr. Zhang and colleagues who actively support D-dimer leve