Latest News
November 4, 2021
Fall Biofeedback issue available!
In this issue: DBIO President, S. Layla Heimlich's message, Past President's message, and Member News by Roxanne Bogucka.
Read it here!
July 28, 2021
Summer Biofeedback issue available!
In this issue: DBIO President, S. Layla Heimlich's message, Annual Conference Program highlights from Ruth Gustafson, Member News by Roxanne Bogucka, and an exciting Feature Article and DBIO Member Contest by Tony Stankus, longtime DBIO member and newly recognized "Most Published Science Librarian in the World"!
Read it here!
March 30, 2021
Spring Biofeedback issue available!
In this issue: Our DBIO President, S. Layla Heimlich, shares her first message and Member news is highlighted by Roxanne Bogucka.
Read it here!
March 25, 2021
Registration for the 2021 SLA Annual Online Conference is now open!
Full details including dates, fees, sponsor opportunities, and FAQs available here!
February 3, 2021
Winter Biofeedback issue available!
In this issue: Our new DBIO President, S. Layla Heimlich, shares her first message. Past President, Neyda Gilman, gives thanks to everyone for their help during 2020, and Member news is highlighted by Roxanne Bogucka.
Read it here!
November 9, 2020
Fall Biofeedback issue available!
In this issue: Neyda Gilman shares her final Chair's Message and announces Lori Bronars is the recipient of this year's DBIO Chair's award. Congratulations Lori!
Member news, a book review, and a featured article by Ramune K. Kubilius round out this Fall issue.
Read it here!
May 21, 2020
Spring Biofeedback issue available!
In this issue: Neyda Gilman, delivers the Chair's Message in which she is expressing appreciation
in this moment of crisis and increased isolation to the spirit of community that this group brings
to each other.
Peggy Murphy, Past's Chair invites you to complete a survey about Biofeedback, with a dateline of May 30, 2020. Ruth Gustafson will assume the role of Secretary starting June 1, 2020 and going through the rest of the year.
Member News includes several very important articles about SPI-Hub: Scholarly Publishing Information Hub™
Last but not least is the article published by our author extraordinaire: Tony Stankus, FSLA Distinguished Professor, Science Coordinator, & Health Sciences Librarian University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Tony Stankus revisits the "Top 100 Journals in Biology and Medicine" chosen by our membership as most influential over the last century in the 2008-2009 DBIO poll, and discovers their relevance in this age of coronavirus epidemics. This is a very important research paper, and the conclusions will convince you how innovative and solid Tony's research has been. Read the full issue here!
March 1, 2020
Winter Biofeedback issue available!
In this issue: Neyda Gilman, DBIO Chair and Peggy Murphy, past DBIO Chair jointly review the highlights for our division in 2019. Ruth Gustafson, attendee on behalf of DBIO at the SLA Leadership Symposium, shares her view of the SLA Restructuring Initiative presented at the Symposium and online via the SLA Website and SLA Connect.
A listing of the DBIO Programs that will be offered at SLA Annual Conference in Charlotte, NC June 6-9, 2020 are detailed here so take note! We are in need of some volunteers for DBIO roles and these are described here in the newsletter - with more detail available on the website http://dbiosla.org/inside/governance/documents/practices.html. Lori Bronars wraps up this issue with a book review. Read it here!
November 5, 2019
Fall Biofeedback issue available!
Fall 2019 -
This is the last issue edited and published by Buzz Haughton. We owe him a huge debt of gratitude for fifteen continuous years of service. Biofeedback represents the historical narratives of the activities and successes of our Division and our members; Buzz Haughton has preserved this collective memory in digital format.
In this issue: Peggy Murphy, DBIO Chair expressed her appreciation to members who together with colleagues in other divisions submitted program ideas to SLA for the upcoming 2020 Annual Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina. A summary of the wonderful and diverse programming ideas put forward by our Division members is available for your perusal. With regard to the possible merger of DBIO with the Pharmaceutical & Health Technology Division, Peggy Murphy indicated that other options will be explored in the future. Peggy sent a note of appreciation to Buzz Haughton, and provided a short bio for him.
Ramune K. Kubilius described the two activities organized by the Northwestern's Galter Health Sciences Library during Open Access Week 2019. The Member News and Publications column edited by Lori Bronars listed 2 very interesting publications by Tony Stankus. I do agree with the statement made by Lory "Our colleague Tony Stankus has an amazing publication record." The newly elected officers and the DBIO Executive Board 2020 can be found on page 8.
Read the full issue here!
August 1, 2019
Summer Biofeedback issue available!
In this issue: Peggy Murphy, DBIO Chair, recaps the SLA Annual Conference in Cleveland in June and calls for volunteers for some opportunities in the division. DBIO programs at the conference are featured in this issue with a review of the DBIO Vendor Relations Roundtable by Donna Gibson and a listing of all of the DBIO events in Cleveland. Also featured, our regular "Member Publications and Activities" column prepared by Lori Bronars, Biofeedback Associate and Communication Editor. Read it here!
January 10, 2019
DBIO on Facebook and Twitter
Darra Ballance, DBIO Communications Coordinator, announced today that our Division has new social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter that you may wish to follow. Your comments and shares are welcome.
May 17, 2018
New Biofeedback issue available!
In this issue, Cindy Sheffield delivered the Chair's Message with an uplifting invitation to come to the SLA Conference and visit her home town. You will have the opportunity to learn about our Chair-Elect: Peggy Murphy, our Director: Gail Hendler, and our Membership Chair: Kristin Chapman. This issue is especially relevant due to its biographical information suggested by members who took part in the Biofeedback SurveyMonkey Questionnaire. Buzz Haughton, Biofeedback editor was very pleased with the results and would like to encourage all members to recommend and/or submit new content. Read it here!
April 3, 2018
Fall/Winter Biofeedback issue available!
In this issue we present the transfer of leadership, first, Nalini Mahajan's farewell message as 2017 DBIO Chair, followed by Cindy Sheffield's first message as our 2018 Chair. We are introducing members' profiles: Neyda V Gylman, the Chair of the DBIO planning committee for this year SLA conference, and Sally Gore, whose blog "A Librarian by Any Other Name" is one of my favorites. Read it here!
November 2, 2017
Summer 2017 issue of Biofeedback available!
In this issue: Chair's Message, Thank You to Sponsors, 2017 Division Award winners, Member Activities, Photos from Phoenix, and Editor's Farewell. Read it here!
November 1, 2017
Webinar: Tackling Tough Topics Together - November 14, 2017 @ 2pm EST
Join Clarivate Analytics and the Biomedical and Life Sciences Division of SLA as they co-host the webinar Tackling Tough Topics Together to look at important questions concerning rigor and reproducibility, and to see what information professionals can do to help improve rigor in reporting.
Register to join us for this webinar on Tuesday, November 14th at 2pm EST, or watch the recording at your convenience.
May 5, 2017
Winter/Spring 2017 issue of Biofeedback available!
In this issue: Chair's Message, Highlights from the 2017 SLA Annual Conference
DBIO Program, Incoming 2017 DBIO Executive Board Members, DBIO Strategic Planning Survey Debrief, 2017 Conference DBIO Sponsors, and Member Activities. Read it here!
February 26, 2017
Loyola Health Sciences Library Hosts MLA Webinar (free on site)
Thanks to GMR funding, Loyola Health Sciences Library will host the March 22, 2017 MLA webinar on finding grey literature in the systematic review search.
Participation is free at the sponsored site.
Please share with interested colleagues and friends. We hope to see you in Maywood.
What: Finding Grey Lit for Systematic Reviews: Can it Be More Black and White?
When: Wednesday, March 22, 2017 @
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM (CST)
Where: Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Library
Marcella Neihoff School of Nursing
Room 2535A
2160 South First Avenue
Maywood, IL
Parking & Directions: Visit Loyala University
Join Barbara Folb, the Public Health Informationist at the University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Library System (HSLS), to learn the framework for grey literature decision-making and tips for managing the search process.
Participants will learn to:
- explain the purpose of searching grey literature for a systematic review
- assist a systematic review team in deciding on the scope and content of a grey literature search
- modify a PubMed/MEDLINE search for grey literature
- choose options for capturing grey literature search results that are as efficient as possible
- document a grey literature search for publication
- earn MLA 1.5 CE hours
Register here to attend in person -- the Finding Grey Lit for Systematic Reviews webinar at Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Library.
Contact Gail Hendler, ghendler@luc.edu, with questions.
For general information on the webinar, click here.
February 22, 2017
Call for 2017 DBIO Contributed Papers in Phoenix!
Find all of the details here!
December 12, 2016
SLA 2017: Registration Open!
Find all of the details here!
November 28, 2016
Register Now: SLA Connect Unit Leader Training
When: Monday, December 5, 2016 from 3:30 - 4:30 pm ET.
To prepare for the training, please review the SLA Connect support that has been offered up to this point. (available in the Open Forum library in the folder entitled "Connect Support"). Then, come with your questions. There will be substantial time in the webinar for an interactive Q&A.
Register: Ready to learn? Register now.
(If link doesn't work, copy and paste this url into your browser: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8904214976455810306)
If you or your fellow volunteers are unable to make the live webinar, don't fear. We'll post the recording shortly afterwards.
November 14, 2016
Fall 2016 Issue of Biofeedback Available!
In this issue: Message from the Past Chair, Internet Librarian 2016, Distinguished Award recipient, NLM Georgia Biomedical Informatics course, and Member Activities.
Download the PDF.
October 24, 2016
October 28, 2016 DEADLINE for Application to serve required by SLA
DBIO Committees Chairs & Members,
SLA has established a deadline of October 28, 2016 for you to complete the “application to serve” form at:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SLA-Volunteer
NOTE:This is also required if you would like to continue serving on the same committee on which you currently serve.
We apologize for the short time notification.
If the deadline has passed, DBIO still recognizes your participation. Please email Nalini Mahajan at : nmahajan@marianjoy.org to confirm your role and ensure that SLA is made of aware of your role within the division.
October 8, 2016
DBIO Leadership/Election
Dear DBIO Members,
I’ve two pieces of great news:
In the coming few weeks we will be running an election with a full slate of officers that points to a great future for the Division; and Nalini Mahajan has generously agreed to step into the role as chair this coming year.
For those not familiar with Nalini I urge you to do just a bit of research as she has mentored many librarians over the years and held many volunteer leadership position in SLA (including DBIO chair) and other professional groups. The Division continues to grow professional leaders as we move forward.
Thank you
Howard Fuller,
DBIO nomination committee
October 7, 2016
Open SLA Board of Directors Meeting: Agenda, Materials and Registration
The agenda and board documents for the Open SLA Board of Directors Meeting have been posted and can be accessed in the library. The Open Board Meeting will be on Wednesday, October 12, 2016 starting at 3 pm ET. All members are encouraged to review the agenda and board documents, and to attend the virtual meeting.
To connect, register for the webinar here.
August 15, 2016
Summer 2016 Issue of Biofeedback Available!
In this issue: Zoo Record review and Member Activities. Download the PDF.
June 22, 2016
Spring 2016 Issue of Biofeedback Available!
In this issue: 2016 Philadelphia Conference Program, Medical Section Chair's Message, and Member Activities. Download the PDF.
February 26, 2016
Winter 2016 Issue of Biofeedback Available!
In this issue: Message from our new Chair, 2016 Conference Preview, Medical Section new Chair's Message, and Member Activities, and more. Download the PDF.
February 2, 2016
SLA Registration is open!
Details here!
December 3, 2015
Fall 2015 Issue of Biofeedback Available!
In this issue: Chair's Year-end Message, Medical Section Chair's Message, and Member Activities callout, and more. Download the PDF.
December 1, 2015
NIH-funded research suggests deficient DNA repair may lead to dementia
Mutant forms of breast cancer factor 1 (BRCA1) are associated with breast and ovarian
cancers but according to new findings, in the brain the normal BRCA1 gene product
may also be linked to Alzheimer's disease. The results, published in Nature
Communications1, suggest that low levels of BRCA1 protein in the brain may contribute
to dementia. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
BRCA1 plays a key role in repairing deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), our genetic
code. Occasionally, one or both of the strands will develop breaks, which are fixed by
DNA repair proteins including BRCA1. This process is critical for cell survival because if
DNA is not repaired properly, the cell may die.
After researchers reduced BRCA1 levels in the brains of healthy mice, the animals
developed problems with learning and memory. Mouse models of Alzheimer have
showed even greater declines in learning and memory following reductions of BRCA1.
In addition, lowering BRCA1 caused increased DNA damage in the brains of
Alzheimer's mice. They also found that adding amyloid beta to neurons in a dish
lowered levels of BRCA1.
(1) Suberbielle E et al. "DNA Repair Factor BRCA1 Depletion Occurs in Alzheimer
Brains and Impairs Cognitive Function in Mice." Nature Communications, November 30,
2015. Available at:
http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2015/151130/ncomms9897/full/ncomms9897.html
December 1, 2015
Cultural Diversity in Health Communication
Health organizations can address the cultural and language differences between the
people who provide information or services and the people they serve. Get more
information on tools for Cross-Cultural Communication by visiting the CDC Culture and
Health Literacy webpage.
Culture can be defined by group membership, such as racial, ethnic, linguistic or
geographical groups, or as a collection of beliefs, values, customs, ways of thinking,
communicating, and behaving specific to a group.
On November 3, 2015 the U.S. Census Bureau released a set of new tables reporting at
least 350 languages that U.S. residents speak in their homes. These tables show the
number of speakers of each language and the number who speak English less than
"very well" — which is a common measure of English proficiency.
September 24, 2015
ASPR TRACIE
HHS ASPR's Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE) (ASPRtracie.hhs.gov)
ASPR TRACIE is a gateway to smarter healthcare emergency preparedness information! This resource provides information about disaster, medical, healthcare, and public health preparedness.
You can now browse Technical Resources and review Topic Collections,
visit our Assistance Center and submit a request, and apply to join the password-protected Information Exchange.
ASPR TRACIE Resource Library links to the complete NLM Disaster Lit: The Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health database of over 8,000 records that include no-cost, online disaster medicine and public health documents and other resources selected from over 700 organizations! This helps the ASPR TRACIE Resource Library to be even more comprehensive and useful.
More information: https://asprtracie.hhs.gov/Documents/aspr-tracie-fact-sheet.pdf
September 10, 2015
IOM REPORT: Health Literacy: Past, Present, and Future
In 2004, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released the report Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion (1).
In that same year the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) published a systematic review and analysis of evidence about the relationship between literacy and health outcomes and the effectiveness of interventions to mitigate the impact of low health literacy. Over the past decade, understanding has evolved to the point where we now understand that health literacy is not just a function of individual skills and abilities; it also includes the demands and complexities of the systems with which individuals interact. Health Literacy: Past, Present, and Future (2),
realized August 11, 2015 by IOM commemorates the 2004 report and features invited presentations and discussions of the progress made in the field of health literacy since that time, explores the current state of the field, and discusses possible directions for future health literacy efforts.
(1) Nielsen-Bohlman L, Panzer AM, Kindig DA. Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion. Washington, DC: National Academies Press, 2004
(2) Alper J., Health Literacy: Past, Present, and Future. Washington, DC: National Academies Press, 2015 Read the Read report online at: http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=21714
September 2, 2015
Summer 2015 Issue of Biofeedback Available!
In this issue: Chair's Message, Boston Conference Recap, Medical Section Chair's Message, News and Publications, and more! Download the PDF.
May 11, 2015
Spring 2015 Issue of Biofeedback Available!
In this issue: Chair's Message, Boston Conference Preview, Medical Section Chair's Message, Conference Sponsors, Member Activities, and more! Download the PDF.
May 5, 2015
National Academy of Sciences (NAS)
The name of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) will change to the National Academy of Medicine (NAS), effective July 1, 2015. The newly named National Academy of Medicine will continue to be an honorific society and will inherit the more than 1,900 current elected members and foreign associates of the IOM. The National Academy of Medicine will join the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering in advising the nation on matters of science, technology, and health.
There will not be any changes to IOM programs and activities or to the processes for producing reports or convening meetings as a result. Read more HERE.
May 5, 2015
Hospital Compare Star Ratings
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the first time introduced star ratings on Hospital Compare, the agency's public information website, to make it easier for consumers to choose a hospital and understand the quality of care they deliver.
The Hospital Compare star ratings relate to patients' experience of care at almost 3,500 Medicare-certified acute care hospitals. The ratings are based on data from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey (HCAHPS) measures that are included in Hospital Compare. HCAHPS has been in use since 2006 to measure patients' perspectives of hospital care, and includes topics like:
• How well nurses and doctors communicated with patients
• How responsive hospital staff was to patient needs
• How clean and quiet hospital environments were
• How well patients were prepared for post-hospital settings
Nursing Home Compare features an overall star rating for each facility and star ratings for other important categories of health care quality. In 2014, CMS introduced star ratings to Physician Compare, which uses them to rate a limited number of measures for group practices. In January 2015, CMS added star ratings to Dialysis Facility Compare and plans to add them to Home Health Compare later this year. Medicare Plan Finder uses star ratings to help beneficiaries select parts C and D plans. These star ratings also determine quality bonus payments for plans.
April 15, 2015
Alzheimer's disease Education and Referral Center
Health for physicians, nurses, social workers, and medical librarians, and other professionals who work with patients or clients with cognitive impairment can now access a new portal of information from The National Institute of Aging.
The Information provided includes:
- Tools for assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management
- Disease-specific information
- Professional training and curricula
- Information about clinical trials and studies
- Patient communication and care tips
- Patient and caregiver education materials
April 10, 2015
Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Resource
Welcome to the PCMH Resource Center
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recognizes that revitalizing the Nation's primary care system is foundational to achieving high-quality, accessible, efficient health care for all Americans. The primary care medical home, also referred to as the patient centered medical home (PCMH), advanced primary care, and the healthcare home, is a promising model for transforming the organization and delivery of primary care.
The Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) web site provides policymakers and researchers with access to evidence-based resources about the medical home and its potential to transform primary care and improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of U.S. health care.
PCMH Citations Collection is a searchable database of leading resources on the medical home by topic, population,
bibliographic information, or keyword. To learn more about how the citations data were collected and organized, select Search Methodology and Inclusion Criteria.
March 9, 2015
FDA approves CPR devices that may increase chance of surviving cardiac arrest
ZOLL ResQCPR System Receives Premarket Approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. ResQCPR System, a system of two devices for first responders to use while performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on people whose hearts stop beating. The devices may improve the patient's chances of surviving cardiac arrest.
The ResQCPR System consists of two devices that are intended to be used together to assist in performing CPR on adult patients with out-of-hospital, non-traumatic cardiac arrest. The first device, the ResQPump Active Compression Decompression CPR Device, has a double-grip handle that attaches to the patient's chest with a suction cup, allowing the rescuer to push to deliver compressions and lift for decompressions, which is different than standard CPR. It also includes a pressure gauge to help rescuers maintain recommended compression depth and a timing mechanism to help the rescuer maintain the necessary compression rate.
The second device, the ResQPod 16.0 Impedance Threshold Device, fits onto a rescue face mask or breathing tube. When placed on the patient, it impedes airflow into the chest during chest decompression with the ResQPump, reducing the pressure inside the patient's chest and drawing more blood back to the heart, a concept known as preloading. A greater volume of blood being drawn into the heart can mean a greater volume of blood flowing out of the heart during the next compression which may improve overall blood circulation as compared to standard CPR. When used together, the two devices may increase the amount of oxygenated blood circulated through a patient's body during CPR.
More information at:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150309005915/en/ZOLL-ResQCPR-System-Receives-Premarket-Approval-FDA#.VP3GQ3zF-3I
http://www.jems.com/article/patient-care/improving-survival-cardiac-arrest-using-0
March 6, 2015
FDA approves first biosimilar product Zarxio
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Zarxio (filgrastim-sndz), the first biosimilar product approved in the U.S.
A biosimilar product is a biological product that is approved based on a showing that it is highly similar to an already-approved biological product, known as a reference product. The biosimilar also must show it has no clinically meaningful differences in terms of safety and effectiveness from the reference product. Only minor differences in clinically inactive components are allowable in biosimilar products.
Sandoz, Inc.'s Zarxio is biosimilar to Amgen Inc.'s Neupogen (filgrastim), which was originally licensed in 1991. Zarxio is approved for the same indications as Neupogen, and can be prescribed by a health care professional for:
- patients with cancer receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy;
- patients with acute myeloid leukemia receiving induction or consolidation chemotherapy;
- patients with cancer undergoing bone marrow transplantation;
- patients undergoing autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell collection and therapy; and
- patients with severe chronic neutropenia.
Related Information:
Biosimilars
Biosimilars: More Treatment Options Are on the Way
February 19, 2015
Recent Progress on Demographic Information and Clinical Trials
Section 907 of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA) directed FDA to look at
these questions on a broader scale: to investigate how well demographic subgroups (sex, age, race and ethnicity) are
included in clinical trials; whether they are analyzed for safety and effectiveness by these subgroups; and to improve
on making the resulting information available to the public. After systematically reviewing 72 medical product
applications, FDA published a report, in August 2013, which concluded that FDA has been doing a good job, but
can do better. In August of last year FDA came up with a plan to improve its performance. The Action Plan includes
27 action items. Barbara D. Buch, M.D., is the Chair of the 907 Steering committee and the Associate Director for
Medicine in FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research wrote recently about the progress made at:
http://blogs.fda.gov/fdavoice/index.php/2015/02/recent-progress-on-demographic-information-and-clinical-
trials/?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#sthash.DrVyHpiB.dpuf
February 11, 2015
Winter 2015 Issue of Biofeedback Available!
In this issue: Chair's Message, Boston Conference Preview, Medical Section Chair's Message, Letter from the new Editor, Member Activities, and more!
Download the PDF.
February 10, 2015
New Medication Reconciliation Manual
The Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) has developed a manual through an AHRQ grant to help hospitals improve
medication reconciliation practices. These improvements can lead to reductions in negative outcomes such as
inpatient adverse drug events and readmission rates which have significant patient safety and financial implications
for hospitals. Based on the experiences of five hospitals participating in a three-year project, the Multi-Center
Medication Reconciliation Quality Improvement Study (MARQUIS) identifies best practices for medication
reconciliation processes throughout hospital admission, transfer and discharge. It also outlines a framework for
assembling a team and developing an implementation strategy that is adaptable to any hospital system.
The "MARQUIS Implementation Manual," is available for free on
the SHM website.
January 14, 2015
FDA Approved Blood Test That Gauges Heart Attack Risk
The FDA said its approval of the new blood test comes from data compiled in a study funded by
the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Almost 4,600 people aged 45 to 92 with no prior history of
heart disease took part in the study, and were followed for an average of just over five years.
This test tracks the activity of a specific biological signal of vascular inflammation, called Lp-PLA2. Vascular inflammation is strongly associated with the buildup of artery-clogging plaques in blood vessels, the FDA explained. As plaque accumulates, arteries narrow and the chances of a serious cardiovascular event increase. "Patients with test results that show Lp-PLA2 activity greater than the level of 225 nanomoles per minute per milliliter are at increased risk for a [heart disease] event," the FDA said.
In subgroup analyses, the test seemed especially sensitive for black women, because they experienced a "higher jump" in the rate of heart attack and other heart disease events when their blood levels of Lp-PLA2 exceeded a certain level. "As a result, the test's labeling contains separate performance data for black women, black men, white women and white men," the FDA said.
The test is manufactured by San Francisco-based diaDexus, Inc.
November 17, 2014
Fall 2014 Issue of Biofeedback Available!
In this issue: Chair's Message, Medical Section Report, From the Editor, Member News & Publications, and more!
Download the PDF.
November 12, 2014
ClinRegs Database
ClinRegs currently provides regulatory information on a wide range of topics, including Sponsorship, Informed Consent, and Ethics Committee requirements, to name a few. Information is available for the following countries: Brazil, China, India, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Peru, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
ClinRegs' easy-to-navigate functionality enables users to obtain a digestible overview of a country's regulatory requirements related to a specific topic and to compare requirements across multiple countries. Additionally, ClinRegs provides links to official regulations and other key resources related to international clinical research to facilitate independent analysis.
ClinRegs is intended to serve as a central resource and time-saver for persons involved in planning and implementing international clinical research.
November 11, 2014
AHRQ Pharmacy Health Literacy Center
Explicit, standardized instructions that improve patients' understanding, and possibly reduce errors while improving adherence, are now available from the AHRQ Pharmacy Health Literacy Center. These tested instructions for pills follow the Universal Medication Schedule (UMS), which simplifies complex medicine regimens by using standard time periods for administration (morning, noon, evening, and bedtime). The instructions have also been translated into Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
To access the instructions in all six languages, go to: http://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/quality-patient-safety/pharmhealthlit/prescriptionmed-instr.html.
To learn about other tools and resources available from the AHRQ's Pharmacy Health Literacy Center, go to: http://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/quality-patient-safety/pharmhealthlit/index.html.
November 11, 2014
Hospital Emergency Preparedness and Response during Superstorm Sandy
This 43-page document is a report from the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Inspector General, which found that 89% of hospitals in Superstorm Sandy-related declared disaster areas experienced "substantial challenges"e; responding to the storm, which affected Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York in October 2012. Specifically, the 174 Medicare-certified hospitals in these three states that were examined for this report stated that they struggled with interrelated infrastructure and resource sharing problems in the storm's aftermath. More information at: https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-06-13-00260.asp.
Direct link to document: https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-06-13-00260.pdf.
November 10, 2014
Drug Information Portal: Updates
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) Drug Information Portal is a free web provides an informative, user–friendly gateway to current drug information for over 53,000 substances. The Portal links to sources from the NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies such as the U.S. FDA. Current information regarding consumer health (MedlinePlus), clinical trials (ClinicalTrials.gov), AIDS–related drug information (AidsInfo), MeSH pharmacological actions, PubMed biomedical literature, and physical properties and structure is easily retrieved by searching a drug name. A varied selection of focused topics in medicine and drug–related information is also available from displayed subject headings.
The Drug Portal retrieves by the generic or trade name of a drug or its category of usage. Records provide a description of how the drug is used, its chemical structure and nomenclature, and include up to 20 Resource Locators which link to more information in other selected resources. Recent additions to these Locators include clinical experience with drugs in PubMed Health, substances reviewed in NLM's LiverTox, information from the Dietary Supplement Label Database, and drug images in the Pillbox database. Data in the Drug Information Portal is updated daily, and is also available on mobile devices. More information is available from the Drug Information Portal Fact Sheet.
November 8, 2014
Newly redesigned DailyMed
The National Library of Medicine launched a newly redesigned DailyMed web site. DailyMed provides trustworthy information about marketed drugs in the U.S., and is the official provider of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) label information. The website provides a standard, comprehensive, up-to-date, look-up and download resource of medication content and labeling found in medication package inserts. Since 2005, when DailyMed was first launched, its usage has increased significantly. The Web site contained only one label when it debuted but now contains over 66,000 labels.
Based on the needs and feedback received from the public, NLM began redesigning the DailyMed web site in 2013. The new site is a responsive design which is now easily accessible on all types of devices, adjusting and optimizing automatically for smart phones to large screen desktop displays. Based on the size of the screen, content will relocate, images will resize, the layout will change, and even the navigation will adjust, to deliver an exceptional user experience no matter what device is being used to view the site.
In addition to responsive design, the following new features are available:
- Enhanced Search Results to include displaying of National Drug Code Directory Codes, Pill Images, and Package Label Images on the search result page. The information will help users easily identify the drug label. The thumbnail images of drugs, magnification feature, accordions, etc. provide a more user friendly experience.
- Improved user interface by displaying an accordion-style data presentation, so users don't have to scroll through the entire label.
- Simplified page navigation and added definitions & tooltips for industry-specific phrases.
- A dedicated News page and Article & Presentation Page for users to easily access DailyMed and NLM/FDA drug-related news.
October 22, 2014
Phase 1 clinical trials of Ebola virus vaccine are underway
Phase 1 clinical trials the NIAID/GSK Ebola vaccine co-developed by NIAID and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) began in early September and results are expected by the end of 2014.
Read more at: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2014/Pages/EbolaVaxCandidate.aspx.
Early phase trial to evaluate the vaccine, called VSV-ZEBOV, developed by Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory has just started at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, Maryland. Read more at: This NIH News Release is available online at:
http://www.nih.gov/news/health/oct2014/niaid-22.htm.
Phase 1 clinical trials are the first step in what is typically a multi-stage clinical trials process, with a small group of people.
October 22, 2014
Open access to survey of 30,000 authors by Nature Publishing Group and Palgrave Macmillan
Nature Publishing Group (NPG) and Palgrave Macmillan are making data from their Author Insights survey publicly available on Figshare as part of Open Access Week at: http://figshare.com/articles/MSS_Author_Insights_2014/1204999 The survey contains responses from 24,773 science authors and 5,693 authors in the humanities and social sciences (HSS). It is the biggest publisher survey of authors' views on this topic.
Key findings from the survey include:
- 1 in 5 (20%) science authors and 1 in 10 (12%) HSS authors do not know if their main funder requires them to publish open access
- A significant number of authors are unaware of the requirements of even the largest OA funders with long-established mandates.
- For example, 17% of Wellcome Trust and 25% of NIH-funded authors do not know if their funders have OA requirements
- 40% of science authors and 54% of HSS authors who have not published open access say that: "I am concerned about perceptions of the quality of OA publications."
September 29, 2014
NIH and FDA will receive a top national award for Licensing of Meningitis Vaccine
The National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will receive a top national award for the year's most outstanding intellectual property licensing deal, for technology transfer of a pioneering, low-cost meningitis vaccine launched in sub-Saharan Africa. The 2014 Deals of Distinction Award will be presented to the two federal agencies and their collaborators by the Licensing Executives Society at the society's 50th annual meeting, Oct. 5-8 in San Francisco.
NIH and the FDA teamed with PATH, a Seattle-based non-profit leader in global health innovation, and the Serum Institute of India (SII) to develop MenAfriVac. The vaccine has a low production cost and does not require constant refrigeration, making it ideal for use in remote locations. A critical part of the manufacturing process for the vaccine is based upon a patent license granted from the NIH Office of Technology Transfer (NIH OTT) to PATH. The technology was invented by FDA scientists and subsequently sublicensed by PATH to SII under the Meningitis Vaccine Project, a partnership of PATH and the World Health Organization (WHO). The vaccine targets the most common form of bacterial meningitis, known as serogroup A, found in sub-Saharan Africa. According to WHO, 80 to 85 percent of all meningitis infections in the region are from group A.
This NIH News Release is available online at: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/sep2014/od-25.htm.
September 29, 2014
NIH and VA address pain and related conditions in U.S. Military Personnel, Veterans and their families
Thirteen research projects totaling approximately $21.7 million over 5 years will explore nondrug approaches to managing pain and related health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), drug abuse, and sleep issues. The effort seeks to enhance options for the management of pain and associated problems in U.S. military personnel, veterans, and their families.
The National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Services Research and Development Division provided funding for this initiative. The research projects are located at academic institutions and VA medical centers across the United States.
Read about the researchers and descriptions of the thirteen projects. http://nccam.nih.gov/news/press/09232014
August 18, 2014
Summer 2014 issue of Biofeedback is available.
In this issue: President's Message, Medical Section Report, Division Vendors Roundtable Lunch, Homepage Committee RSS Feed Feature, Book Review, Member News & Publications, and more!
Download the PDF.
April 27, 2014
Spring 2014 issue of Biofeedback is available.
In this issue: Chair's Message, Vancouver Conference Preview, Vendors Roundtable Report, Medical Section, Book Review, Member News & Publications, and more!
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April 19, 2014
Jonas Salk's Respository
The University of California, San Diego Library has become the official repository for the papers of Jonas Salk, noted physician, virologist, and humanitarian, best known for his development of the world's first successful vaccine for the prevention of polio.
The papers—which constitute almost 600 linear feet (or nearly 900 boxes)—were recently donated to the Library's Mandeville Special Collections by Salk's sons, Peter, Darrell and Jonathan, all of whom, like their father, trained as physicians and are involved in medical and scientific activities.
“It is a great honor for the Library to be the official repository for Jonas Salk's papers,” said Brian E. C. Schottlaender, The Audrey Geisel University Librarian at UC San Diego. “The UC San Diego Library's Mandeville Special Collections houses the papers of some of the world's most prominent and accomplished scientists, including Francis Crick, Stanley Miller, and Leo Szilard, as well as Nobel Laureates Harold Urey, Hannes Alfven, and Maria Goeppert Mayer. The papers of Jonas Salk are an excellent complement to these materials.”
April 9, 2014
Open Data: U.S. Food and Drug Administration has launched openFDA
FDA has established an Office of Informatics and Technology Innovation (OITI) under the Chief Health Informatics Officer (CHIO) in order to spur technology innovation. On launch, openFDA will provide API and raw download access to a number of high-value structured datasets. Additionally, openFDA will provide a platform for public challenges issued by the FDA and a place for the community to interact with each other and FDA domain experts with the goal of spurring innovation around FDA data. The following datasets are under consideration
- Adverse Events: FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System, a database that contains millions of adverse event and medication error reports submitted to FDA covering all regulated drugs.
- Recalls: Enforcement Report and Product Recalls Data, containing information gathered from public notices about certain recalls of FDA-regulated products
- Documentation: Structured Product Labeling Data, containing detailed product label information on many FDA-regulated products
Beta access to the datasets via APIs or download capabilities is anticipated for Summer 2014, with a larger public release in Fall of this year.
For more information see the presentation given by Taha Kass-Hout, M.D., M.S., Chief Health Informatics Officer, Food & Drug Administration, at the 2014 Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Conference.
February 4, 2014
Winter 2014 issue of Biofeedback is available.
In this issue: Chair's Message, Vancouver Conference Preview, Medical Section, MLA Liaison Report, Member News & Publications, and more!
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Rev. November 2021