Model of Success: World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology African Foundation (1997-2019).

No abstract available.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery at the Skin and Cancer Foundation Australia, 20 Years Later (1997-2017).

BACKGROUND: The availability of Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) in Australia has increased dramatically since its inception in the 1980s. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the evolution of MMS practices at the Skin and Cancer Foundation Australia (SCFA) over the past 20 years (1997-2017). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of Mohs surgery cases at SCFA in 2017, 2007, and 1997, comparing data on sex, age, tumor type and site, initial tumor and final defect size, number of surgical stages and sections, and closure management. The present study is limited by being a retrospective analysis from a single institution. RESULTS: There was a 415% increase in the number of Mohs surgery cases from 1997 to 2017, and a significant increase in Mohs surgery-treated squamous cell carcinoma. The preoperative tumor and final defect size have decreased. More side-to-side closures and fewer grafts are being performed over time. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective analysis from a single institution. CONCLUSION: Over the last 20 years, MMS has remained appropriate in its application and is being increasingly used for treatment of squamous cell carcinoma suggesting improved access.

Lots of little ones: Analysis of charitable donations to a hospice and palliative care unit in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Charitable donations play a major role in the provision of hospice and palliative care (HPC) services, most of which are not reimbursed by health insurance programs. A good understanding of the constitution and use of donations is thus conducive to maintaining a high-quality HPC unit. METHODS: The data sources were the publicly available balance sheet, work report, and donor lists of a foundation exclusively supporting one of the best HPC units in Taiwan in the fiscal year of 2017. The analysis included the donation amounts and frequencies by donor type (individual, corporate, and group) and the categories of expenses. RESULTS: The foundation received 3033 donations worth a total of 7.8 million New Taiwan dollars (NTD) (approximately 258 thousand US dollars) in 2017. Two-thirds of the donations were allocated to the provision of direct care services. Of the 3033 donations, only 11 (0.4%) were worth 100 000 NTD or more, while 108 (3.6%) were valued between 10 000 and 99 999 NTD, 1268 (41.8%) were valued between 1000 and 9999 NTD, and 1646 (54.2%) were worth less than 1000 NTD. Of 1051 donors, 974 (92.7%) were individuals, 378 (36.0%) donated more than once, and 106 (10.1%) donated 12 or more times in one year. CONCLUSION: HPC services in Taiwan are sponsored by lots of individuals and small donations. For sustainability of standards-based and quality HPC services, the benevolence of the public should be thus cherished and adequately responded to.

Research misconduct, NSF v NIH: Its nature and prevalence and the impact of their respective methods of investigation and adjudication.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have established separate administrative mechanisms for investigation and adjudication of alleged research misconduct. This report compares research misconduct at NSF and NIH and the possible effects of their respective methods of investigation and adjudication. Notable and paradoxical findings were identified: NIH supported four times the number of grants as NSF, yet NSF reviewed 2.5 times the number of research misconduct reports. NSF faculty were two-times more likely to be found guilty (88%) than faculty at NIH (42%). 83.6% of NSF offenders were guilty of plagiarism, vs. 4.8% at NIH. NSF trainees made up 6% of the guilty, vs. 42% at NIH. These findings are most likely related to the nature of their respective sciences, scientists, and the nature of their publications. Investigative policies and procedures are quite similar at these two agencies with the exception of the subpoena power available to the NSF's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) where it would be infrequently utilized in investigations of its predominant offense, plagiarism. However, it could prove useful if made available to the NIH Office of Research Integrity (ORI) for investigations of fabrication/falsification, its most common offense. Federal criteria for prosecution should be modified to increase the likelihood of prosecution of serious offenders referred by ORI.

On the advancement of highly cited research in China: An analysis of the Highly Cited database.

This study investigates the progress of highly cited research in China from 2001 to 2016 through the analysis of the Highly Cited database. The Highly Cited database, compiled by Clarivate Analytics, is comprised of the world's most influential researchers in the 22 Essential Science Indicator fields as catalogued by the Web of Science. The database is considered an international standard for the measurement of national and institutional highly cited research output. Overall, we found a consistent and substantial increase in Highly Cited Researchers from China during the timespan. The Chinese institutions with the most Highly Cited Researchers- the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University, Peking University, Zhejiang University, the University of Science and Technology of China, and BGI Shenzhen- are all top ten universities or primary government research institutions. Further evaluation of separate fields of research and government funding data from the National Natural Science Foundation of China revealed disproportionate growth efficiencies among the separate divisions of the National Natural Science Foundation. The most development occurred in the fields of Chemistry, Materials Sciences, and Engineering, whereas the least development occurred in Economics and Business, Health Sciences, and Life Sciences.

Funding blood safety in the 21st century.

BACKGROUND: Since 2000, there has been an historic increase in international development assistance, including blood safety projects. The result has been increased blood donations and infectious disease screening in many beneficiary countries. A comprehensive examination of international development assistance for blood safety has yet to be completed. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This report examines publicly available information, including donor agency websites and databases and data from the 2008 and 2012 World Health Organization Global Database on Blood Safety. RESULTS: Between 2000 and 2015, from $602.4 million to $2.1 billion in international development assistance was allocated to blood safety programs worldwide, mostly as part of the global response to the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic. The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria were responsible for the majority of blood safety funding, which peaked in 2010 and declined through 2015. CONCLUSION: Between 2000 and 2015, countries with high burdens of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome received funding and technical assistance to improve national laboratories, increase blood component production, and strengthen clinical practice. Global trends in international development assistance at large, including aid for blood safety, suggest that funding will not rebound.

Diversity dynamics: The experience of male Robert Wood Johnson Foundation nurse faculty scholars.

BACKGROUND: Managing diversity dynamics in academic or clinical settings for men in nursing has unique challenges resulting from their minority status within the profession. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to share challenges and lessons learned identified by male scholars in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholars program and suggest strategies for creating positive organizations promoting inclusive excellence. METHODS: Multiple strategies including informal mentored discussions and peer-to-peer dialogue throughout the program, formal online surveys of scholars and National Advisory Committee members, and review of scholar progress reports were analyzed as part of the comprehensive evaluation plan of the program. DISCUSSION: Diversity dynamic issues include concerns with negative stereotyping, microaggression, gender intelligence, and differences in communication and leadership styles. CONCLUSION: Male nurse faculty scholars report experiencing both opportunities and challenges residing in a predominately female profession. This article attempts to raise awareness and suggest strategies to manage diversity dynamics in service of promoting the development of a culture of health that values diversity and inclusive excellence for both men and women in academic, research, and practice contexts.

[Analysis of projects of infectious disease epidemiology sponsored by National Natural Science Foundation of China].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the projects on the infectious disease epidemiology sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), explore the hotspot and development trend, and offer a reference for researchers in this field. METHODS: Based on the NSFC database, the projects on the infectious disease epidemiology (H2609) sponsored from 1987 to 2014 were analyzed. The changes of fund numbers, amounts and research fields were described. RESULTS: During the study period, NSFC sponsored 373 projects, including 228 general projects (61.1%), 78 youth projects (20.9%) and 67 other projects (18.0%). The average amount of the grant was 358.2 thousand Yuan (20 thousand-8 million). The main sponsored research fields were mechanisms of pathogen and immunity (36.2%) and population-based epidemiological studies (33.0%). The top three diseases were hepatitis, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: The amount of funding on researches of infectious disease epidemiology has increased continuously, which has played an important role in training scientific talents in the field of prevention and control of infectious diseases.

The AANA Foundation Malpractice Closed Claims Study: A Descriptive Analysis.

The AANA Foundation Closed Claims Researchers evaluated 245 closed claims spanning from 2003-2012. The majority of claims comprised CRNA providers whom are mainly male, independent contractors, certified between 1980-1999, and with malpractice coverage limits of $1 million/$3 million. The median age for all claimants was 50 years old, and 63.7% of claimants were female. For those claims where race was known, 54% of claimants were Caucasian. Most adverse events occurred in a hospital with an outpatient admission status. The majority of adverse events were identified as intra-anesthesia. The top five surgical procedures associated with these claims were orthopedic general surgery, cosmetic, obstetric, and neurologic procedures. An adverse event leading to death occurred in 35.1% of claims. Regardless of severity of injury, reviewers determined that 45.5% of negative outcomes were preventable, 32.7% of the anesthesia treatment was inappropriate, and 29% of negative outcomes were caused by CRNAs' actions. Reviewers found that no AANA Standards were breached in 45.7% of claims; however, Standards 4, 5, and 3 were the most common standards breached. The most costly severity classification was major permanent injury (ie, paraplegia, blindness, loss of two limbs, or brain ddamage) with a median payment of $299,810.

Censo de los centros que realizan cirugía de Mohs en España y descripción de su actividad: estudio de factibilidad para el registro de cirugía de Mohs de la FAEDV / Census of Centers That Perform Mohs’ Micrographic Surgery in Spain and Description of Their Activity: A Feasibility Study for the Mohs’ Micrographic Surgery Registry of the Foundation of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology

No disponible

International neurosurgical volunteerism: a temporal, geographic, and thematic analysis of foundation for international education in neurological surgery volunteer reports.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the experiences of volunteers of the Foundation for International Education in Neurological Surgery. METHODS: A qualitative analysis of >150 volunteer reports from 2004-2013 was performed using grounded theory. Various themes were explored based on their occurrence in the reports. RESULTS: Volunteer reports of extended trips appeared to peak in 2009, with a heavy emphasis on activity in Africa. Prominent themes in the reports included volunteer contributions, successful strategies, challenges, and future directions. CONCLUSIONS: Volunteers demonstrated wide-ranging contributions. Successful strategies included continuity and collaboration with other organizations. Challenges were overwhelmingly related to equipment or infrastructure. Common suggestions for future directions included institutional collaboration and subspecialty development.

Evaluation of the impact of National Breast Cancer Foundation-funded research.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the National Breast Cancer Foundation's (NBCF's) research investment. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Surveys based on the Payback Framework were sent to chief investigators involved in research funded by the NBCF during 1995-2012; a bibliometric analysis of NBCF-funded publications in 2006-2010 was conducted; and a purposive, stratified sample of case studies was obtained. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Research impact on knowledge production, the research system, informing policy, product development and broader health and economic benefits. RESULTS: Of 242 surveys sent, 153 (63%) were returned. The average impact of journals in which NBCF publications appeared was double that of world publications. Seventy surveys (46%) reported career progression, and 185 higher degrees were obtained or expected, including 121 PhDs. One hundred and one grants (66%) produced tools that built capacity across the research system, and research teams leveraged an additional $1.40 in funding for every dollar invested. Fifteen applied grants and one basic grant impacted on policy. Ten basic and four applied grants led to the development of drugs, prognostic tools or diagnostic technologies. Twenty applied and two basic grants led to changes in practice and behaviour of health care staff, consumers and the public, with further impacts anticipated. Case studies provided illustrations of high impact. CONCLUSIONS: NBCF's strategy of investing in a mixed portfolio of research areas and mechanisms encouraged a broad range of impacts across all Payback categories. The impacts from basic research tended to focus on knowledge production and drug development; while applied research generated greater impacts within the other Payback categories. The funding of shared infrastructure stimulated impact across the research system.

[Housing Project 'Living Independently with Intensive Support (WmI)': The View of Foundation and Staff]. / Modellprojekt "Wohnen mit Intensivbetreuung (WmI)": Die Sicht von Stiftung und Mitarbeitenden.

The Fürst Donnersmarck-Foundation (FDSt) initiated the housing projekt 'Living Independently with Intensive Support (WmI)' to show that such a concept is feasible even with persons with severe multiple handicaps. It is reported how financial, organisational and communicative problems can be solved. Overall, the housing project is not much more expensive than inpatient concepts, but a change of traditional concepts of administration was required. The new service mode presupposed a careful preparation and high motivation of the staff. Finally, existing discrepancies between traditional and modern concepts could be resolved.

Health legacy foundations: a new census.

Health care merger and acquisition activity has increased since enactment of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Proceeds from transactions involving nonprofit hospitals, health systems, and health plans will endow philanthropic foundations, collectively known as health legacy foundations. Building on work by Grantmakers In Health, we undertook a systematic search for these foundations and generated a newly updated, comprehensive database. We found 306 organizations in forty-three states that have been endowed with proceeds from the sale, merger, lease, joint venture, or other restructuring of nonprofit health care assets. These health legacy foundations had $26.2 billion in assets in 2010. Concentrated in the southern United States, foundations originating from hospitals and specialty care facilities (86.6 percent) held mean assets of $64.7 million per funder and typically restricted grants to local communities. Foundations formed from health plans (13.4 percent) held higher mean assets ($222 million), usually served larger areas, and were more likely to engage in health care advocacy. Recent transactions involving smaller and stand-alone nonprofit hospitals will infuse many more communities with unprecedented charitable wealth.

Quality of life and work productivity impairment among psoriasis patients: findings from the National Psoriasis Foundation survey data 2003-2011.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain impairment in quality of life and work productivity among patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. DESIGN: From 2003 through 2011, the National Psoriasis Foundation collected survey data from patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis via email and telephone correspondences. SETTING: Survey data were collected from psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis patients in the general community in the U.S. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Quality of life focusing on emotional impact (anger, frustration, helplessness, etc.) and physical impact (pain, pruritus, physical irritation, etc.); employment status. PATIENTS: The surveys were performed through random sampling of participants from a database of over 75,000 patients. RESULTS: From 2003 to 2011, 5,604 patients completed the surveys. Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis affected overall emotional wellbeing in 88% of patients, and they interfered with enjoyment of life in 82%. Most patients reported experiencing anger (89%), frustration (89%), helplessness (87%), embarrassment (87%), and self-consciousness (89%). Many patients also actively concealed physical manifestations of their diseases (83%), and experienced pain (83%) and pruritus (93%) regularly. Of note, 12% of patients were unemployed, and 11% worked part-time. Among unemployed patients, 92% cited psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis as the sole reasons for not working. Among working patients, 49% missed work days regularly due to psoriasis. Compared to patients with mild psoriasis, patients with severe psoriasis have 1.8 times greater odds to be unemployed after adjusting for age and gender (Adjusted OR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.4-2.3). CONCLUSION: Patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis continue to experience significant impairment of quality of life and work productivity.

Ética y estética en la Cooperación Internacional / Ethics and esthetics in international cooperation

Aunque más optimista, el nuevo informe de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) continúa arrojando datos escalofriantes sobre las desigualdades no sólo en la esperanza de vida sino en múltiples ámbitos. Muchas organizaciones no gubernamentales (ONG) relacionadas con la medicina tratan de paliar este desequilibrio. Sin embargo en la opinión pública y entre los actores surgen dudas sobre la idoneidad y la utilidad a largo plazo de la cooperación.Cooperar no significa acudir de cualquier forma a la llamada del sentimentalismo. La cooperación mueve dinero y se han de rendir cuentas. Exige una fuerte formación tanto en valores profesionales como humanos. Obliga a investigar en vacunas o enfermedades extrañas a nuestra sociedad. Cooperar significa «operar con» la contraparte local, según sus necesidades y su proyecto sanitario global. Y finalmente la Cooperación implica la reivindicación de cambio en ciertos aspectos del orden económico mundial.Reflexionamos sobre estos interrogantes y exponemos los diferentes marcos éticos en que se mueven la mayoría de las ONG(AU)

Although more optimistic, the new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to cast horrifying statistics on inequalities, not only in life expectancy but in many areas. Many Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) related to medicine seek to address this imbalance.To cooperate does not in any way appeal to the call of sentimentality. Cooperation moves money and is accountable. It requires a strong background in both professional and human values. It requires research on vaccines and diseases foreign to our society. To cooperate means “operate with” local counterparts, according to their needs and global health project. And finally, cooperation implies the demand for change in certain aspects of the global economic order.We reflect on these questions and describe the different ethical frameworks for the population and NGOs(AU)

[Intestinal parasitosis prevalence in outpatients and inpatients of Cã Granda IRCCS Foundation - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico of Milan: data comparison between 1984-1985 and 2007-2009]. / Prevalenza delle parassitosi intestinali nella popolazione afferente alla Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano: confronto tra il 1984-1985 e il triennio 2007-2009.

This paper evaluates the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in a specific population over three years (2007-2009). The results were compared with published data collected from the same population in 1984-1985. During a survey from January 1st 2007 to December 31(st) 2009 a total of 2962 inpatients and outpatients were evaluated in our facility (IRCCS Foundation - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico) for ova and protozoa stool examination (OPE) over three specimens collected alternatively for three days. 614 inpatients and outpatients were evaluated for the Graham Test (GT) over three slides collected for three days (day by day). Sixty inpatients and outpatients were also sampled for agar culture for detecting Strongyloides larvae in faeces. OPE revealed 13.26% of the patients positive for parasites; TG revealed 8.14% were positive. Overall, 16.66% of the patients were positive for Strongyloides larvae agar culture. Of the OPE trial group, only 4.2% were positive for real pathogen parasites. 1.78% of the total was affected by several parasites. Apart from the prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica/dispar and Taenia spp, which was unchanged, all other levels fell compared with the 1984 - 1985 results. New pathogens, namely Hymenolepis nana and Schistosoma mansoni, were detected during 2007-2009 period. Strongyloides stercoralis was the most frequently diagnosed helminth in 2007-2009 as in the previous time period.