Mitochondrial complex I density is associated with IQ and cognition in cognitively healthy adults: an in vivo [18F]BCPP-EF PET study.

BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial function plays a key role in regulating neurotransmission and may contribute to general intelligence. Mitochondrial complex I (MC-I) is the largest enzyme of the respiratory chain. Recently, it has become possible to measure MC-I distribution in vivo, using a novel positron emission tomography tracer [18F]BCPP-EF, thus, we set out to investigate the association between MC-I distribution and measures of cognitive function in the living healthy brain. RESULTS: Analyses were performed in a voxel-wise manner and identified significant associations between [18F]BCPP-EF DVRCS-1 in the precentral gyrus and parietal lobes and WAIS-IV predicted IQ, WAIS-IV arithmetic and WAIS-IV symbol-digit substitution scores (voxel-wise Pearson's correlation coefficients transformed to Z-scores, thresholded at Z = 2.3 family-wise cluster correction at p < 0.05, n = 16). Arithmetic scores were associated with middle frontal and post-central gyri tracer uptake, symbol-digit substitution scores were associated with precentral gyrus tracer uptake. RAVLT recognition scores were associated with [18F]BCPP-EF DVRCS-1 in the middle frontal gyrus, post-central gyrus, occipital and parietal regions (n = 20). CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our findings support the theory that mitochondrial function may contribute to general intelligence and indicate that interindividual differences in MC-I should be a key consideration for research into mitochondrial dysfunction in conditions with cognitive impairment.

Open innovation: the key to advancing brain health.

With the exponential growth in investment attention to brain health-solutions spanning brain wellness to mental health to neurological disorders-tech giants, payers, and biotechnology companies have been making forays into this field to identify technology solutions and pharmaceutical amplifiers. So far, their investments have had mixed results. The concept of open innovation (OI) was first coined by Henry Chesbrough to describe the paradigm by which enterprises allow free flow of ideas, products, and services from the outside to the inside and vice versa in order to remain competitive, particularly in rapidly evolving fields where there is abundant, relevant knowledge outside the traditional walls of the enterprise. In this article, we advocate for further exploration and advancement of OI in brain health.

A systematic analysis of UK cancer research funding by gender of primary investigator.

OBJECTIVES: To categorically describe cancer research funding in the UK by gender of primary investigator (PIs). DESIGN: Systematic analysis of all open-access data. METHODS: Data about public and philanthropic cancer research funding awarded to UK institutions between 2000 and 2013 were obtained from several sources. Fold differences were used to compare total investment, award number, mean and median award value between male and female PIs. Mann-Whitney U tests were performed to determine statistically significant associations between PI gender and median grant value. RESULTS: Of the studies included in our analysis, 2890 (69%) grants with a total value of £1.82 billion (78%) were awarded to male PIs compared with 1296 (31%) grants with a total value of £512 million (22%) awarded to female PIs. Male PIs received 1.3 times the median award value of their female counterparts (P<0.001). These apparent absolute and relative differences largely persisted regardless of subanalyses. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate substantial differences in cancer research investment awarded by gender. Female PIs clearly and consistently receive less funding than their male counterparts in terms of total investment, the number of funded awards, mean funding awarded and median funding awarded.

Investments in cancer research awarded to UK institutions and the global burden of cancer 2000-2013: a systematic analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To systematically categorise cancer research investment awarded to United Kingdom (UK) institutions in the period 2000-2013 and to estimate research investment relative to disease burden as measured by mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and years lived with disability (YLDs). DESIGN: Systematic analysis of all open-access data. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Public and philanthropic funding to all UK cancer research institutions, 2000-2013. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number and financial value of cancer research investments reported in 2013 UK pounds (UK£). Mortality, DALYs and YLDs data were acquired from the Global Burden of Disease Study. A compound metric was adapted to estimate research investment relative to disease burden as measured by mortality, DALYs and YLDs. RESULTS: We identified 4299 funded studies with a total research investment of £2.4 billion. The highest fundings by anatomical sites were haematological, breast, prostate, colorectal and ovarian cancers. Relative to disease burden as determined by a compound metric combining mortality, DALYs and YLDs, gender-specific cancers were found to be highest funded-the five sites that received the most funding were prostate, ovarian, breast, mesothelioma and testicular cancer; the least well-funded sites were liver, thyroid, lung, upper gastrointestinal (GI) and bladder. Preclinical science accounted for 66.2% of award numbers and 62.2% of all funding. The top five areas of primary research focus by funding were pathogenesis, drug therapy, diagnostic, screening and monitoring, women's health and immunology. The largest individual funder was the Medical Research Council. In combination, the five lowest funded site-specific cancers relative to disease burden account for 47.9%, 44.3% and 20.4% of worldwide cancer mortality, DALYs and YLDs. CONCLUSIONS: Research funding for cancer is not allocated according to relative disease burden. These findings are in line with earlier published studies. Funding agencies and industry should openly document their research investments to improve better targeting of research investment.

The influence of volume and experience on individual surgical performance: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review studies evaluating the influence of surgical experience on individual performance. BACKGROUND: Experience, measured in case volume or years of practice, is recognized as a key driver of individual surgical performance, giving rise to a learning curve. However, this topic has not been reviewed at the cross-specialty level. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, AMED, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched (from inception to February 2013). Two reviewers independently reviewed citations using predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Ninety-one data points per study were extracted. RESULTS: The search strategy yielded 6950 citations. Fifty-seven studies were eligible, including 1,061,913 cases and 35 procedure types, performed by 17,912 surgeons. Forty-five studies monitored case volume, and 6 studies measured experience as both case volume and years of practice. Of these 51 studies, 44 found that increased case volume was associated with significantly improved health outcomes. Several studies noted a plateau phase or maturation in the surgical learning curve. Acquisition of this phase was procedure specific and outcome specific, ranging from 25 to 750 procedures. Twelve studies assessed the impact of years of surgical practice, 11 of which found that increased years of experience was associated with significantly improved health outcomes. Two studies noted a plateau phase, where increases in years of experience were no longer associated with improvements in operative outcomes. Three studies identified performance deterioration after the plateau phase. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing surgical case volume and years of practice are associated with improved performance, in a procedure-specific manner. Performance may deteriorate toward the end of a surgeon's career.

Morality and markets in the NHS.

Since its establishment in 1948, the history of the National Health Service (NHS) has been characterized by organisational turbulence and system reform. At the same time, progress in science, medicine and technology throughout the western world have revolutionized the delivery of healthcare. The NHS has become a much loved, if much critiqued, national treasure. It is against this backdrop that the role of this state-funded health service has been brought into moral question. Certainly, the challenges facing healthcare policy-makers are numerous and complex, but in the wake of the Health and Social Care Act (2012), no issue is more divisive than that of market-based reform. Here we explore the turbulent history of the NHS, from its foundation to the birth of the healthcare marketplace. We explore arguments for and against the healthcare market and resolve that, amid an evolving economic and moral framework, the NHS must ensure that its original tenets of equity and autonomy remain at its core. We propose a values-explicit, systems-based approach to renew focus on both the processes and the outcomes of care.

Should assisted dying be legalised?

When an individual facing intractable pain is given an estimate of a few months to live, does hastening death become a viable and legitimate alternative for willing patients? Has the time come for physicians to do away with the traditional notion of healthcare as maintaining or improving physical and mental health, and instead accept their own limitations by facilitating death when requested? The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge held the 2013 Varsity Medical Debate on the motion "This House Would Legalise Assisted Dying". This article summarises the key arguments developed over the course of the debate. We will explore how assisted dying can affect both the patient and doctor; the nature of consent and limits of autonomy; the effects on society; the viability of a proposed model; and, perhaps most importantly, the potential need for the practice within our current medico-legal framework.

Should trainee doctors use the developing world to gain clinical experience? The annual Varsity Medical Debate - London, Friday 20th January, 2012.

The 2012 Varsity Medical Debate between Oxford University and Cambridge University provided a stage for representatives from these famous institutions to debate the motion "This house believes that trainee doctors should be able to use the developing world to gain clinical experience." This article brings together many of the arguments put forward during the debate, centring around three major points of contention: the potential intrinsic wrong of 'using' patients in developing countries; the effects on the elective participant; and the effects on the host community. The article goes on to critically appraise overseas elective programmes, offering a number of solutions that would help optimise their effectiveness in the developing world.