Understanding decision-makers and their needs: framing Global Burden of Animal Diseases offerings to enhance relevance and increase impact.

In a world characterised by data deserts and data swamps, translating evidence into actionable policies and practices is not easy. This article addresses this challenge through the lens of evidence emerging from the Global Burden of Animal Diseases (GBADs) initiative. It emphasises the need for an intentional approach that connects research information with the specific needs of decision-makers and identifies specific impact pathways associated with different groups of decision-makers. The GBADs programme aims to support animal health decisions, and the authors outline the diverse landscape of decision-makers in this field, encompassing the public and private sectors, livestock keepers, civil society and international development agencies. Key issues such as disease prioritisation and lobbying are also discussed. The authors propose an â€Ëœevidence ecosystem'approach, one that understands data users and their interactions, for analysing the needs of decision-makers, and framing GBADs offerings according to these needs. Two case studies, a recently concluded global case study of disease prioritisation decision-making and an ongoing policy analysis and needs assessment for GBADs in Indonesia, are presented to demonstrate how evidence ecosystem analysis and audience segmentation could be used to tailor GBADs information offerings for different decision-making groups. The article concludes by recommending that GBADs'future applications prioritise information offerings, adapt them to decision-makers'needs and consider how different segments of decision-makers will utilise the information to achieve real-world impacts.

Dans un monde où l'on rencontre aussi bien des déserts de données que des marécages de données, il n'est guère facile d'utiliser avec succès des données probantes pour les traduire en politiques et en pratiques exploitables. Les auteurs abordent cette difficulté dans l'optique des données actuellement générées dans le cadre de l'initiative " Impact mondial des maladies animales " (GBADs). Ils soulignent l'importance de disposer d'une méthode volontariste capable de relier l'information issue de la recherche avec les besoins spécifiques des décideurs, en tenant compte des chemins d'impact spécifiques associés à chaque catégorie de décideurs. Le programme GBADs vise à soutenir les décisions relatives à la santé animale ; les auteurs donnent une vue d'ensemble de la diversité des décideurs intervenant dans ce domaine, qui recouvre les secteurs public et privé, les éleveurs, la société civile et les organismes internationaux de développement. Certaines questions majeures comme le classement des maladies par ordre de priorité et les activités des groupes de pression sont également abordées. Afin de pouvoir analyser les besoins de ces décideurs et d'encadrer les propositions du GBADs en conséquence, les auteurs proposent une approche qualifiée d'" écosystème d'éléments probants ", qui permet de comprendre les utilisateurs de données et leurs interactions. À travers deux études de cas, l'une récemment achevée sur l'établissement des priorités sanitaires dans les prises de décision à l'échelle mondiale et l'autre actuellement en cours sur l'analyse des politiques et l'évaluation des besoins dans le cadre du GBADs en Indonésie, les auteurs démontrent comment l'analyse de l'écosystème d'éléments probants et la segmentation des destinataires permettent de moduler les informations proposées par le GBADs en fonction des différents groupes de décideurs auxquels elle sont destinées. Les auteurs concluent en recommandant que les applications futures du GBADs établissent des priorités parmi les informations proposées, en les adaptant aux besoins des décideurs et en considérant le nombre de segments différents de décideurs qui vont utiliser l'information en vue de résultats tangibles.

En un mundo caracterizado por los desiertos y los pantanos de datos, no es una misión fácil traducir los datos en políticas y prácticas viables. Este artículo aborda este reto desde la óptica de los datos procedentes de la iniciativa sobre el impacto global de las enfermedades animales (GBADs). Asimismo, subraya la necesidad de un planteamiento intencionado que conecte la información de las investigaciones con las necesidades específicas de los responsables de la toma de decisiones e identifique vías de impacto concretas asociadas a los distintos grupos de decisores. El programa del GBADs busca respaldar las decisiones en materia de sanidad animal y, a este respecto, los autores del artículo describen la diversidad de responsables de la toma de decisiones en dicho ámbito, entre los que figuran los sectores público y privado, los ganaderos, la sociedad civil y los organismos internacionales de desarrollo. También se abordan cuestiones clave como la priorización de enfermedades y los grupos de presión. Los autores proponen un enfoque basado en un "ecosistema de datos" que tenga en cuenta a los usuarios de los datos y sus interacciones a fin de analizar las necesidades de los responsables de la toma de decisiones y enmarcar los servicios del GBADs en función de dichas necesidades. Se presentan dos estudios de casos, uno mundial sobre la toma de decisiones en materia de priorización de enfermedades, que concluyó recientemente, y otro en curso sobre análisis de políticas y evaluación de necesidades del GBADs en Indonesia, con miras a demostrar cómo el análisis del ecosistema de datos y la segmentación de la audiencia podrían utilizarse para adaptar los servicios de información del GBADs a los distintos grupos de responsables de la toma de decisiones. El artículo concluye recomendando que las futuras aplicaciones del GBADs prioricen los servicios de información, los adapten a las necesidades de los responsables de la toma de decisiones y tengan en cuenta cómo utilizarán la información los distintos grupos de responsables para lograr repercusiones en el mundo real.

Fine-needle aspiration of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma of the larynx.

We present a case of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma of the larynx in which the dedifferentiated component was initially diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration (FNA). The patient was a 74-yr-old man who presented with difficulty breathing and an anterior neck mass. A CT scan demonstrated a 4.5-cm cartilaginous lesion involving the left thyroid cartilage, with an anterior soft-tissue component. Nine years prior, the patient had an incomplete resection of a low-grade chondrosarcoma at the same site. FNA was performed on the current lesion, demonstrating a high-grade spindle-cell sarcoma with a storiform pattern. The cytomorphology together with immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy were diagnostic of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH), and synthesis of the clinical, radiographic, and cytomorphologic features resulted in a diagnosis of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma. The cytologic diagnosis was histologically confirmed by laryngectomy. Although rare, dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of high-grade sarcomas of bone and cartilage assessed by FNA.

Protein and calorie effects on progression of induced chronic renal failure in cats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine effects of dietary protein and calories on progression of induced chronic renal failure in cats. ANIMALS: 28 young adult female cats. PROCEDURE: Renal mass was reduced surgically, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was determined. Cats were alloted to 4 groups of 7 with similar mean GFR (1.52 to 1.55 ml/min/kg of body weight). Diets were formulated to provide: low protein and calorie (diet A), low protein and high calorie (diet B), high protein and low calorie (diet C), and high protein and calorie (diet D) intakes. Cats were fed their prescribed diet for 12 months, then blood and urine biochemical variables were measured, after which kidney specimens were examined microscopically. RESULTS: Protein intake by cats of groups C and D (9.0 g/d/kg) was substantially greater than that by cats of groups A and B (5.3 and 5.2 g/d/kg, respectively). Caloric intake by cats of groups B and D (73 and 71 calories/d/kg, respectively) was greater than that by cats of groups A and C (58 and 55 calories/d/kg, respectively). Renal glomerular lesions were mild and not affected by protein, calories or their interactions. Nonglomerular lesions, though mild, were significantly influenced by calorie intake, but not by protein or calorie-protein interactions. The GFR did not decrease in any group. Urine protein-to-creatinine ratio increased significantly in all groups after reduction of renal mass, but values from all groups remained within the reference range (0 to 0.3). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Diets replete in protein were not associated with increased severity of glomerular or nonglomerular renal lesions, increased proteinuria, or decreased GFR. Diets replete in calories were not associated with increased severity of glomerular lesions, but were associated with mild increase of nonglomerular lesions. Factors other than protein and calorie intake must be considered potential causes of progression of renal failure in cats. Results raise questions about the practice of restricting quantity of protein in the diet of cats with chronic renal failure, with the intention of ameliorating development of further renal damage.

The hidden price tag: participation costs and health planning.

The citizen participation program of the Los Angeles County Health Systems Agency represents one of the most ambitious efforts at implementing the public involvement provisions of PL 93-641. The first year of this program is discussed and analyzed through a participation costs theoretical framework. Specific costs which are inherent in the organizational design and introduced by the implementation procedures adopted are identified and discussed. Levels of participation after one year of operation are examined and found consistent with the high cost of participation in this program.

Prior Subject Interest, Students' Evaluations, And Instructional Effectiveness.

Students' Prior Subject Interest in a course showed similar correlations with student ratings of instructional effectiveness in two university settings (N = 1102 classes). Correlations between Prior Subject Interest and different dimensions of instructional effectiveness varied from approximately zero to .44. Though these correlations were not high, Prior Subject Interest predicted student ratings better than any of 15 other student/course/instructor characteristics considered (e.g., Expected Grade, Class Size, Workload/Difficulty, Teacher Rank). Instructor self-evaluations of their own teaching effectiveness (N = 329 classes) were also positively correlated with both their own and their students' perceptions of Prior Subject Interest; the dimensions that were most highly correlated -- particularly Learning/Value -- were the same as observed with student ratings. Since both student and instructor self evaluations were similarly related to Prior Subject Interest, it appears that this variable actually affects instructional effectiveness in a way that is accurately reflected in the student ratings.

Soy protein increases glomerular filtration rate in dogs with normal or reduced renal function.

In mammals, protein ingestion increases the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), an effect which has been incriminated as a risk factor in progression of renal disease. Some studies suggest that a postprandial increase in GFR is absent or mild with vegetable proteins compared to animal proteins. The objective of this experiment was to determine whether vegetable (soy) protein had different effects than animal protein on GFR in dogs with normal or reduced renal function. A trial was conducted in which GFR was measured in four dogs with normal kidney function and seven dogs with reduced renal mass before and after administering protein. Normal dogs were fed four protein sources (casein, soy meal, soy flakes and purified soy protein). Dogs with reduced renal mass were fed three protein sources (casein, purified soy protein and pork liver). All proteins significantly (P < 0.05) increased the GFR in both groups except for casein (P = 0.066) in normal dogs. Proteins did not differ significantly in the magnitude of the increase in GFR that was induced. This study indicates that soy proteins in dogs have the same effect on GFR as animal-source proteins, which is contrary to reports of effects in humans.