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Viewing medical evidence through a new PRISMA

The new PRISMA 2020 guideline provides a 27-item reporting checklist to ensure transparent, complete, and accurate accounts of systematic reviews. This updated version aims to combat incompletely reported reviews that lead to low-value healthcare.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateMar 29, 2021

Exposure to high temperatures linked to poor pregnancy outcomes

A systematic review and meta-analysis found associations between exposure to high temperatures in pregnancy and increased risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth. The study analyzed data from 70 studies across 27 countries and found that the odds of preterm birth rose by 5% per 1°C increase in temperature.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateNov 4, 2020

Aiming for accuracy

Researchers say AI and machine learning can help improve the peer review process by detecting discrepancies in research papers. With many COVID-19 studies published without thorough review, AI-powered tools may be able to analyze large amounts of data and identify patterns that human reviewers might miss.

SourceUniversity of New Mexico Health Sciences Center·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateSep 15, 2020

Preliminary Criterion scores do not help counteract racial gap in NIH grant awards

A new study finds that preliminary criterion scores do not mitigate racial disparities in NIH grant awards, with black investigators receiving worse scores on all five criteria. The study reveals substantial funding gaps between black and white applicants, with black PIs award probability only 55% of their white counterparts.

What are the risks and benefits of low-dose aspirin?

The review found that low-dose aspirin significantly lowers cardiovascular disease risk by 17% and increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and intracranial bleeding. The benefits should be weighted against the risks in formal decision analyses to guide aspirin use.

SourceWiley·JournalBritish Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·DateJun 3, 2020

Review Commons, a pre-journal portable review platform

Review Commons, launched by ASAPbio and EMBO Press, enables high-quality pre-journal peer review of manuscripts from the life sciences. This platform empowers authors to make informed decisions on paper submission and expedites submission to affiliate journals without restarting reviews.

SourceEMBO·JournalThe EMBO Journal·DateDec 9, 2019

Pre-results review: Taking transparency in economics research to the next level

The Journal of Development Economics introduces Pre-results Review, a peer review process that evaluates empirical research before results are known. This approach helps improve methodological quality and provides earlier recognition for authors. The practice is gaining traction among journals in various disciplines.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalJournal of Development Economics·DateJul 18, 2019

Chemists warm up to preprint servers

Two chemistry preprint servers, ChemRxiv and ChemRN, have gained traction since their launch in 2017, allowing chemists to share discoveries freely before peer review. The sites provide a platform for quick sharing of results, feedback from peers, and increased access to research, especially for scientists in developing countries.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateJan 23, 2019

Analysis finds HPV vaccine safe

A review of bivalent HPV vaccine data found no new or unexpected safety concerns. The majority of adverse event reports were classified as non-serious and mild.

SourceWiley·JournalBritish Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·DateSep 19, 2018

Progress in posttraumatic stress disorder --Increased understanding points to new approaches for PTSD prevention and treatment

Recent advances in PTSD research focus on brain structure and function, informing efforts to interrupt the processes leading to symptom development. Effective treatments like exposure therapy are based on mechanisms of fear extinction, while new approaches target stress hormones and brain regions involved in emotion dysregulation.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalHarvard Review of Psychiatry·DateMay 9, 2018

Potential gender bias against female researchers in peer review of research grants

A study published in CMAJ found that peer reviewers' characteristics, including gender and previous success rates with grants, can introduce bias into grant applications. This bias results in lower scores, making applications less likely to be funded. The researchers suggest that training of reviewers, policy changes, and monitoring ma...

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateApr 23, 2018

Preprints accelerated between Ebola and Zika epidemics

The study found that preprint posting increased during the Zika epidemic compared to the Ebola outbreak, providing earlier access to scientific reports. The authors advocate for broader use of preprints to facilitate criticism, analysis, and further studies in infectious disease outbreaks.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateApr 3, 2018

Irish surgeon identifies emerging area of medical science

Professor J. Calvin Coffey reclassified the mesentery as a single, continuous structure connecting the intestine to the abdomen, leading to potential advances in surgeries and disease diagnosis. Further study of mesenteric science could result in less invasive procedures, faster recovery times, and lower costs.

SourceUniversity of Limerick·JournalThe Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology·DateDec 19, 2016

Spotlight on both old, difficult issues and humanitarian visions that drive new patents

A recent issue of Technology & Innovation explores old issues in health-related environmental research and new trends. Researchers found significant asbestos exposure risks from motorcycle riding on contaminated soils, while studies on organic vs conventional foods concluded there's no scientific basis for a preference.

SourceUniversity of South Florida·JournalJournal of Technology and Innovation·DateJan 29, 2016

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder -- review looks at treatment effectiveness

A comprehensive review of treatment options for PMDD identified selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as the first-line treatment, effective in reducing symptoms. For women who experience an inadequate response to SSRIs, alternative treatments such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and oral contraceptives are recommended.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalJournal of Psychiatric Practice·DateSep 9, 2015

Are your emotional responses normal or abnormal?

Researchers argue that current diagnosis methods for depression are flawed and that understanding 'normal' emotional responses can help inform clinical practice. Increased interaction between fundamental emotion research and practitioner training is necessary to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment of emotional disorders.

SourceSAGE·JournalEmotion Review·DateJun 25, 2015