Novel and emerging strategies for longitudinal data collection.

PURPOSE: To describe novel and emerging strategies practiced globally in research to improve longitudinal data collection. ORGANIZING CONSTRUCT: In research studies, numerous strategies such as telephone interviews, postal mailing, online questionnaires, and electronic mail are traditionally utilized in longitudinal data collection. However, due to technological advances, novel and emerging strategies have been applied to longitudinal data collection, such as two-way short message service, smartphone applications (or "apps"), retrieval capabilities applied to the electronic medical record, and an adapted cloud interface. In this review, traditional longitudinal data collection strategies are briefly described, emerging and novel strategies are detailed and explored, and information regarding the impact of novel methods on participant response rates, the timeliness of participant responses, and cost is provided. We further discuss how these novel and emerging strategies affect longitudinal data collection and advance research, specifically nursing research. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence suggests that the novel and emerging longitudinal data collection strategies discussed in this review are valuable approaches to consider. These strategies facilitate collecting longitudinal research data to better understand a variety of health-related conditions. Future studies, including nursing research, should consider using novel and emerging strategies to advance longitudinal data collection. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A better understanding of novel and emerging longitudinal data collection strategies will ultimately improve longitudinal data collection as well as foster research efforts. Nurse researchers, along with all researchers, must be aware of and consider implementing novel and emerging strategies to ensure future healthcare research success.

The role of platelet serotonin and depression in the acute coronary syndrome population.

Platelet serotonin has been associated with depression and coronary artery disease. Understanding the association between platelet serotonin and depressive symptoms during acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may explain some of the ACS events seen in depressed individuals. The objectives were to evaluate whether levels of platelet serotonin during an ACS event differ between individuals who screen positive or negative for depressive symptoms and to determine if a linear relationship exists. In this cross-sectional study, data were collected on 51 patients with ACS. Multiple linear regression models were examined. Platelet serotonin levels were not significantly different between the depressed and non-depressed groups (ß = -4.093 and p = .293); a linear relationship was not found (ß = -.254 and p = .250). In conclusion, a relationship between platelet serotonin and depressive symptoms was not found. It remains unclear if an association exists between platelet serotonin levels and depressive symptoms during hospitalization for ACS.

Killing of human melanoma cells induced by activation of class I interferon-regulated signaling pathways via MDA-7/IL-24.

Restoration of the tumor-suppression function by gene transfer of the melanoma differentiation-associated gene 7 (MDA7)/interleukin 24 (IL-24) successfully induces apoptosis in melanoma tumors in vivo. To address the molecular mechanisms involved, we previously revealed that MDA7/IL-24 treatment of melanoma cells down-regulates interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-1 expression and concomitantly up-regulates IRF-2 expression, which competes with the activity of IRF-1 and reverses the induction of IRF-1-regulated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Interferons (IFNs) influence melanoma cell survival by modulating apoptosis. A class I IFN (IFN-alpha) has been approved for the treatment of advanced melanoma with some limited success. A class II IFN (IFN-gamma), on the other hand, supports melanoma cell survival, possibly through constitutive activation of iNOS expression. We therefore conducted this study to explore the molecular pathways of MDA7/IL-24 regulation of apoptosis via the intracellular induction of IFNs in melanoma. We hypothesized that the restoration of the MDA7/IL-24 axis leads to upregulation of class I IFNs and induction of the apoptotic cascade. We found that MDA7/IL-24 induces the secretion of endogenous IFN-beta, another class I IFN, leading to the arrest of melanoma cell growth and apoptosis. We also identified a series of apoptotic markers that play a role in this pathway, including the regulation of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and Fas-FasL. In summary, we described a novel pathway of MDA7/IL-24 regulation of apoptosis in melanoma tumors via endogenous IFN-beta induction followed by IRF regulation and TRAIL/FasL system activation.

The Wt1+/R394W mouse displays glomerulosclerosis and early-onset renal failure characteristic of human Denys-Drash syndrome.

Renal failure is a frequent and costly complication of many chronic diseases, including diabetes and hypertension. One common feature of renal failure is glomerulosclerosis, the pathobiology of which is unclear. To help elucidate this, we generated a mouse strain carrying the missense mutation Wt1 R394W, which predisposes humans to glomerulosclerosis and early-onset renal failure (Denys-Drash syndrome [DDS]). Kidney development was normal in Wt1(+/R394W) heterozygotes. However, by 4 months of age 100% of male heterozygotes displayed proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis characteristic of DDS patients. This phenotype was observed in an MF1 background but not in a mixed B6/129 background, suggestive of the action of a strain-specific modifying gene(s). WT1 encodes a nuclear transcription factor, and the R394W mutation is known to impair this function. Therefore, to investigate the mechanism of Wt1 R394W-induced renal failure, the expression of genes whose deletion leads to glomerulosclerosis (NPHS1, NPHS2, and CD2AP) was quantitated. In mutant kidneys, NPHS1 and NPHS2 were only moderately downregulated (25 to 30%) at birth but not at 2 or 4 months. Expression of CD2AP was not changed at birth but was significantly upregulated at 2 and 4 months. Podocalyxin was downregulated by 20% in newborn kidneys but not in kidneys at later ages. Two other genes implicated in glomerulosclerosis, TGFB1 and IGF1, were upregulated at 2 months and at 2 and 4 months, respectively. It is not clear whether the significant alterations in gene expression are a cause or a consequence of the disease process. However, the data do suggest that Wt1 R394W-induced glomerulosclerosis may be independent of downregulation of the genes for NPHS1, NPHS2, CD2AP, and podocalyxin and may involve other genes yet to be implicated in renal failure. The Wt1(R394W) mouse recapitulates the pathology and disease progression observed in patients carrying the same mutation, and the mutation is completely penetrant in male animals. Thus, it will be a powerful and biologically relevant model for investigating the pathobiology of the earliest events in glomerulosclerosis.

Upregulation of c-MYC in WT1-mutant tumors: assessment of WT1 putative transcriptional targets using cDNA microarray expression profiling of genetically defined Wilms' tumors.

The Wilms' tumor suppressor gene, WT1, functions as a transcriptional regulator that represses or activates the expression of a variety of putative target genes. However, it is not clear which genes are the biological targets of WT1, nor which cellular pathway(s) is critically altered in tumors as a result of WT1 mutation. To investigate in vivo the role of WT1 as a transcription factor in Wilms' tumors, we used cDNA microarrays to compare the expression of putative WT1 target genes in a set of 15 primary Wilmstumors carrying WT1-inactivating mutations versus a set of 16 tumors with no WT1 mutations. We hypothesized that the expression of direct downstream targets of WT1 that are relevant to tumor development would differ between these two genetically distinct sets of tumors. Using the Atlas Human Cancer 1.2 cDNA arrays to quantitate gene expression in the 31 tumors, we found that the expression of one WT1 putative target gene, c-MYC, statistically significantly differed between the two sets of tumors and was upregulated in WT1-mutant tumors. This increase of relative gene expression for c-MYC was confirmed using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The differential expression of another putative target gene, EGR1, approached significance and was also upregulated in WT1-mutant tumors. These data, in addition to the coexpression of c-MYC and WT1 in embryonic renal mesenchyme, strongly suggest that c-MYC is a biologically relevant target of WT1 in Wilmstumors.

The protection and stabilization of whole blood at room temperature.

Preservation of biospecimens for biobanking applications traditionally involves freezing while maintaining the integrity of the product throughout multiple freeze-thaw cycles. The protection and stabilization of DNA at room temperature (RT) may eliminate the costs associated with freezer storage and reduce the maintenance costs for biobanks. However, there is a paucity of information describing the yield, purity, and integrity of DNA extracted from biospecimens stored at RT. To evaluate the yield, purity, and integrity of DNA extracted from whole blood samples stored at RT (18°C), low (-20°C), and ultra-low (-80°C) temperatures, whole blood samples from sheep and human subjects were collected, and aliquots were stored at RT (18°C), -20°C, and -80°C. Blood samples at RT were stored utilizing biostabilization technology designed to protect genomic DNA in whole blood. The quantification of the extracted DNA was determined by spectrophotometry, and the integrity was assessed following gel electrophoresis. Storage temperature did not influence the DNA yield (p=0.52); DNA yield averaged 13.6 ± 1.2 ng/µL across all storage temperatures. However, DNA yield was influenced (p=0.04) by species. The DNA yield was not influenced by a species × storage temperature interaction (p=0.84). Among the samples stored at RT, the species, type of technology utilized, and the interaction did not influence (p>0.13) DNA yield for both DNAgard and DNAstable. The 260/280 ratio was influenced by a species × storage temperature interaction (p=0.01). Generally, the 260/280 ratios were higher (p<0.05) for human samples stored at low and ultra-low temperatures compared to sheep samples stored at similar temperatures. Ambient temperature-based technologies offer an alternative to low temperature biospecimen preservation for blood that can be utilized by biobanks to reduce freezer storage costs while maintaining the quality of the biospecimen.

Effects of delayed laboratory processing on platelet serotonin levels.

BACKGROUND: Despite the availability of established guidelines for measuring platelet serotonin, these guidelines may be difficult to follow in a hospital setting where time to processing may vary from sample to sample. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the time to processing of human blood samples on the stability of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the determination of platelet serotonin levels in human plasma. METHOD: Human blood samples collected from a convenience sample of eight healthy volunteers were analyzed to determine platelet serotonin levels from plasma collected in ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) tubes and stored at 4°C for 3 hr, 5 hr, 8 hr, and 12 hr. RESULTS: Refrigeration storage at 4°C for 3 hr, 5 hr, 8 hr, and 12 hr altered the platelet serotonin measurement when compared to immediate processing. The bias for the samples stored at 4°C for 3 hr was 102.3 (±217.39 ng/10(9) platelets), for 5 hr was 200.1 (±132.76 ng/10(9) platelets), for 8 hr was 146.9 (±221.41 ng/10(9) platelets), and for 12 hr was -67.6 (±349.60 ng/10(9) platelets). DISCUSSION: Results from this study show that accurate measurement of platelet serotonin levels is dependent on time to processing. Researchers should therefore follow a standardized laboratory guideline for obtaining immediate platelet serotonin levels after blood sample collection.

Nursing and genetic biobanks.

Biobanks function as vital components in genetic research, which often requires large disease-based or population-based biospecimens and clinical data to study complex or rare diseases. Genetic biobanks aim to provide resources for translational research focusing on rapidly moving scientific findings from the laboratory into health care practice. The nursing profession must evolve as genetic biobanking practices advance. Nursing involvement in genetic biobanking practices comes with a distinct set of educational, ethical, and practice competencies. In response to these growing competency standards, nursing science developed a conceptual framework and continues to study ethical considerations to guide genetic biobanking initiatives.

Gender Differences in Self-Reported Symptoms of Depression among Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

This study examined the prevalence of self-reported depressive symptoms and the self reported somatic depressive symptoms as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) among patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and explored the impact of gender on both. A convenience sample of 789 adults (248 women and 541 men) was recruited for the study during hospital admission for ACS and participants were screened for self-reported depressive symptoms. BDI-II scores of ≥14 indicate a moderate level of depressive symptoms and this cut-off score was used to categorize patients into depressed and non-depressed groups. Pearson chi-square tests for independence (categorical variables) and t tests for independent samples (continuous variables) were used for gender comparisons. Results showed that depressive symptoms during ACS episodes were different between women and men. Women reported greater overall depressive symptoms (BDI-II mean = 11.89, S.D. = 9.68) than men (BDI-II mean = 9.00, S.D. = 7.93) (P < 0.000). Significantly more women (7.66%) were identified positive for somatic depressive symptoms (sleep and appetite disturbances and fatigue) than men (2.22%) (P = 0.0003). Findings support that there are gender differences in depressive symptoms experienced by patients hospitalized for ACS. Somatic symptoms of depression may be important indicators of depression especially among female ACS patients.