Ethical Issues in Using Twitter for Public Health Surveillance and Research: Developing a Taxonomy of Ethical Concepts From the Research Literature

BackgroundThe rise of social media and microblogging platforms in recent years, in conjunction with the development of techniques for the processing and analysis of “big data”, has provided significant opportunities for public health surveillance using user-generated content. However, relatively little attention has been focused on developing ethically appropriate approaches to working with these new data sources.ObjectiveBased on a review of the literature, this study seeks to develop a taxonomy of public health surveillance-related ethical concepts that emerge when using Twitter data, with a view to: (1) explicitly identifying a set of potential ethical issues and concerns that may arise when researchers work with Twitter data, and (2) providing a starting point for the formation of a set of best practices for public health surveillance through the development of an empirically derived taxonomy of ethical concepts.MethodsWe searched Medline, Compendex, PsycINFO, and the Philosopher’s Index using a set of keywords selected to identify Twitter-related research papers that reference ethical concepts. Our initial set of queries identified 342 references across the four bibliographic databases. We screened titles and abstracts of these references using our inclusion/exclusion criteria, eliminating duplicates and unavailable papers, until 49 references remained. We then read the full text of these 49 articles and discarded 36, resulting in a final inclusion set of 13 articles. Ethical concepts were then identified in each of these 13 articles. Finally, based on a close reading of the text, a taxonomy of ethical concepts was constructed based on ethical concepts discovered in the papers.ResultsFrom these 13 articles, we iteratively generated a taxonomy of ethical concepts consisting of 10 top level categories: privacy, informed consent, ethical theory, institutional review board (IRB)/regulation, traditional research vs Twitter research, geographical information, researcher lurking, economic value of personal information, medical exceptionalism, and benefit of identifying socially harmful medical conditions.ConclusionsIn summary, based on a review of the literature, we present a provisional taxonomy of public health surveillance-related ethical concepts that emerge when using Twitter data.     

Retracted: A catechol type siderophore,bacillibactin: biosynthesis,regulation and transport in Bacillus subtilis

Retraction: The following article from the Journal of Basic Microbiology, “A catechol type siderophore, bacillibactin: biosynthesis, regulation and transport in Bacillus subtilis” by Waseem Raza, Hongsheng Wu, Muhammad Ali Abdullah Shah and Qirong Shen, published online on 11 September 2008 in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ), has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editor‐in‐Chief, Erika Kothe, and the publisher Wiley‐VCH. The retraction has been agreed due to substantial overlap of the content of this article with previously published articles in other journals. The Journal of Basic Microbiology apologises to our readership     

Toward a Mixed-Methods Research Approach to Content Analysis in The Digital Age: The Combined Content-Analysis Model and its Applications to Health Care Twitter Feeds

BackgroundTwitter’s 140-character microblog posts are increasingly used to access information and facilitate discussions among health care professionals and between patients with chronic conditions and their caregivers. Recently, efforts have emerged to investigate the content of health care-related posts on Twitter. This marks a new area for researchers to investigate and apply content analysis (CA). In current infodemiology, infoveillance and digital disease detection research initiatives, quantitative and qualitative Twitter data are often combined, and there are no clear guidelines for researchers to follow when collecting and evaluating Twitter-driven content.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify studies on health care and social media that used Twitter feeds as a primary data source and CA as an analysis technique. We evaluated the resulting 18 studies based on a narrative review of previous methodological studies and textbooks to determine the criteria and main features of quantitative and qualitative CA. We then used the key features of CA and mixed-methods research designs to propose the combined content-analysis (CCA) model as a solid research framework for designing, conducting, and evaluating investigations of Twitter-driven content.MethodsWe conducted a PubMed search to collect studies published between 2010 and 2014 that used CA to analyze health care-related tweets. The PubMed search and reference list checks of selected papers identified 21 papers. We excluded 3 papers and further analyzed 18.ResultsResults suggest that the methods used in these studies were not purely quantitative or qualitative, and the mixed-methods design was not explicitly chosen for data collection and analysis. A solid research framework is needed for researchers who intend to analyze Twitter data through the use of CA.ConclusionsWe propose the CCA model as a useful framework that provides a straightforward approach to guide Twitter-driven studies and that adds rigor to health care social media investigations. We provide suggestions for the use of the CCA model in elder care-related contexts.     

Telemedicine – A bibliometric and content analysis of 17,932 publication records

ObjectivesWe aimed to provide an up-to-date contemporary bibliometric view of the telemedicine and telehealth literature and a longitudinal analysis of changes in content themes.MethodsSoftware tools were used to extract and process MEDLINE entries. Frequencies of papers by year of publication and outlet were calculated, ranked, charted and tabulated. Frequency of publication by author was also calculated, ranked and tabulated. The process was repeated for two time periods to examine change: (i) 1970–1995 and (ii) 2009–2013. Content analysis of abstracts was conducted and tag clouds were generated. This visual representation was used to identify key words and prominent themes.Results17,932 records relating to articles published in 2523 unique outlets were analyzed. In the cumulative literature, 3152 (18%) articles were published in specialist telemedicine journals while most articles (14,780 [82%]) were published in mainstream outlets. This pattern was observed in both epochs. Clinical journals were not highly represented. Over time 46,066 unique authors have contributed to the field, with 21,109 of them publishing in the period 2009–2013.DiscussionTelemedicine is a large and growing field with most publication occurring outside of the specialist journals. Content analysis suggested a change of focus from the technical to the clinical between the two epochs. As a healthcare setting, the home also appears to be emergent.ConclusionThis study updates the findings of previous studies. The emphasis within the literature suggests a move from technical issues to clinical applications and evaluation. The maturity of the field and its accessibility to clinicians and policy makers remains unclear.     

A 10-year scientometric analysis of the academic publications of the 27 Peruvian Scientific Societies of Medical Students

IntroductionScientific societies at the undergraduate level contribute to the research training of students. Therefore, the aim of the study is to perform a scientometric analysis of the scientific production of the 27 Scientific Societies of Medical Students (SOCEM) between 2011 and 2020.MethodsA scientometric study of documents in journals indexed in Scopus was performed. A search strategy was developed to identify the scientific production of all SOCEMs with institutional affiliation identifier (AF-ID) in Scopus. Data were extracted using a formula developed with the AF-IDs of each SOCEM and exported to the SciVal tool for analysis.ResultsUrrunaga-Pastor was the author with SOCEM affiliation with the highest number of citations: 92. Four of the five authors of the articles with SOCEM affiliation with the highest number of citations were from the San Fernando Scientific Society (SCSF). The journal with the highest number of papers with SOCEM affiliation was Revista Peruana de Medicina Experimental y Salud Pública. Most of the papers were published in third quartile journals. SCSF was the SOCEM with the highest number of papers: 45, while the Scientific Society of Medical Students of the Universidad de San Martin de Porres (SOCIEM-USMP) had the highest number of citations per paper: 3.9.ConclusionThe number of documents with SOCEM affiliation has been increasing, however, the distribution over the quartiles of the journals has not changed. It’s necessary for public and private institutions to make joint efforts to establish connections to have a greater impact on publications with SOCEM affiliation.     

An SVM-based high-quality article classifier for systematic reviews

ObjectiveTo determine whether SVM-based classifiers, which are trained on a combination of inclusion and common exclusion articles, are useful to experts reviewing journal articles for inclusion during new systematic reviews.MethodsTest collections were built using the annotated reference files from 19 procedure and 4 drug systematic reviews. The classifiers were trained by balanced data sets, which were sampled using random sampling. This approach compared two balanced data sets, one with a combination of included and commonly excluded articles and one with a combination of included and excluded articles. AUCs were used as evaluation metrics.ResultsThe AUCs of the classifiers, which were trained on the balanced data set with included and commonly excluded articles, were significantly higher than those of the classifiers, which were trained on the balanced data set with included and excluded articles.ConclusionAutomatic, high-quality article classifiers using machine learning could reduce the workload of experts performing systematic reviews when topic-specific data are scarce. In particular, when used as training data, a combination of included and commonly excluded articles is more helpful than a combination of included and excluded articles.     

Retraction: α-GalCer ameliorates listeriosis by accelerating infiltration of Gr-1+ cells into the liver

Retraction : Emoto, M., Emoto, Y., Yoshizawa, I., Kita, E., Shimizu, T., Hurwitz, R., Brinkmann, V. and Kaufmann, S.H.E. (2010), α-GalCer ameliorates listeriosis by accelerating infiltration of Gr-1⁺ cells into the liver. Eur. J. Immunol., 40: 1328–1341. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/eji.200939594 The above article, published online on 16 February 2010 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the European Journal of Immunology and Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. The retraction has been agreed following an investigation carried out by Gunma University ( http://www.gunma-u.ac.jp/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/chosakekka29.pdf ). The investigation was unable to determine the validity of the images for which Professor Emoto, the article's corresponding author, was responsible. As a result, the journal has made the decision to retract the article.     

Notice of Retraction: "Autonomous histopathological regression of primary tumours associated with specific immune responses to cancer antigens" (J Pathol 2003; 200: 383-395)

The article to which this notice applies [DOI: 10.1002/path.1369 ], by Saleh FH, Crotty KA, Hersey P, Menzies SW and Rahman W has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editor‐in‐Chief, C Simon Herrington, and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The retraction has been agreed due to substantial overlap between this article and the following article published in the International Journal of Cancer “Primary melanoma tumour regression associated with an immune response to the tumour‐associated antigen melan‐A/MART‐1”, by Saleh FH, Crotty KA, Hersey P and Menzies SW; Volume 94; 2001, pages 551–557.     

Retracted science and the retraction index

Articles may be retracted when their findings are no longer considered trustworthy due to scientific misconduct or error, they plagiarize previously published work, or they are found to violate ethical guidelines. Using a novel measure that we call the "retraction index," we found that the frequency of retraction varies among journals and shows a strong correlation with the journal impact factor. Although retractions are relatively rare, the retraction process is essential for correcting the literature and maintaining trust in the scientific process.     

α-Gal and other recent findings that have informed our understanding of anaphylaxis

ObjectiveTo summarize the current understanding of anaphylaxis, with an emphasis on major findings that have been reported within the last 10 years.Data SourcesQueries relating to anaphylaxis, immunoglobulin E (IgE), and mast cells were conducted with PubMed and Google Scholar, searching for primary articles and review papers.Study SelectionsWe focused on articles written in English and which were reported in major allergy and immunology journals.ResultsAnaphylaxis represents an extreme manifestation of a form of allergic immunity that appears to have evolved to protect against “toxic” threats that present at skin and mucosal barriers. The factors that have contributed to a rise in anaphylaxis are increasingly appreciated to relate to changes in hygiene and microbial ecology that have occurred with industrialization. Induction of allergen-specific IgG4 is often part of the allergic response and is associated with protection against anaphylaxis. The recognition of the α-Gal syndrome suggests that carbohydrates can be epitopes that are relevant to anaphylaxis and that IgE-mediated reactions do not always occur “immediately.”ConclusionOur understanding of anaphylaxis has advanced significantly over the past 10 years. It is anticipated that ongoing research will build on this foundation to further advance our knowledge of anaphylaxis and also translate into clinically meaningful therapies.     

Examining the role of collaboration in studies of health information technologies in biomedical informatics: A systematic review of 25 years of research

PurposeOur objective was to identify and examine studies of collaboration in relation to the use of health information technologies (HIT) in the biomedical informatics field.MethodsWe conducted a systematic literature review of articles through PubMed searches as well as reviewing a variety of individual journals and proceedings. Our search period was from 1990–2015. We identified 98 articles that met our inclusion criteria. We excluded articles that were not published in English, did not deal with technology, and did not focus primarily on individuals collaborating.ResultsWe categorized the studies by technology type, user groups, study location, methodology, processes related to collaboration, and desired outcomes. We identified three major processes: workflow, communication, and information exchange and two outcomes: maintaining awareness and establishing common ground. Researchers most frequently studied collaboration within hospitals using qualitative methods.DiscussionBased on our findings, we present the “collaboration space model”, which is a model to help researchers study collaboration and technology in healthcare. We also discuss issues related to collaboration and future research directions.ConclusionWhile collaboration is being increasingly recognized in the biomedical informatics community as essential to healthcare delivery, collaboration is often implicitly discussed or intertwined with other similar concepts. In order to evaluate how HIT affects collaboration and how we can build HIT to effectively support collaboration, we need more studies that explicitly focus on collaborative issues.     

Are we sure that Mobile Health is really mobile? An examination of mobile device use during two remotely-delivered weight loss interventions

BackgroundThe “m” in mHealth is often thought of as the ability to receive health information and monitor behaviors on the go. Little is known about how people actually use mobile vs. traditional access methods and if access method affects engagement and health outcomes.MethodsThis study examines the 3-month outcomes of two mobile weight loss interventions (Pounds Off Digitally (POD) and mobile POD (mPOD)) where participants were required to own a mobile device for study entry and received weight loss information via podcast. Only participants in both studies who were randomized to receive the same theory-based podcast (TBP) were used in this analysis. In POD, 41 participants were randomized to the TBP condition (37 to a control not included in this analyses). In mPOD, 49 participants were randomized to the TBP (n = 49) and 47 to the TBP + mobile group (a self-monitoring app and Twitter app for social support). The goal of this study is to examine how participants accessed study components and to examine how type of device impacts engagement and weight loss.ResultsExamining data from both studies in aggregate, despite a mobile delivery method, 58% of participants reported using a non-mobile device to access the majority of the podcasts (desktop computers), 76% accessed the podcasts mostly at their home or work, and 62% were mainly non-mobile (e.g., sitting at work) when listening. Examining objective download data for mPOD, 49% of downloads (2889/5944) originated from non-mobile delivery methods vs. mobile platforms (3055/5944). At 3 months, 55% of Twitter posts originated from the website (n = 665 posts) vs. a mobile app (n = 540; 45%). There was no difference in the number of podcasts participants reported listening to by device. There were more Twitter posts by mobile app users (51 ± 11) than Twitter website users (23 ± 6, p < 0.05). There was a trend (p = 0.055) in greater weight loss among mobile users for podcasts (−3.5 ± 0.5%) as compared to non-mobile users (−2.5 ± 0.5%). Weight loss was significantly greater in Twitter mobile app users (−5.6 ± 0.9%) than website users (−2.2 ± 0.5%, p < 0.01).ConclusionType of device used for podcast listening did not affect engagement but there was a trend toward greater weight loss among mobile users. Method of Twitter posting was associated with engagement and weight loss with mobile app users posting more to Twitter and losing more weight.     

Cited Brazilian papers in general surgery between 1970 and 2009

OBJECTIVES

To identify the most cited articles in general surgery published by Brazilian authors.

INTRODUCTION

There are several ways for the international community to recognize the quality of a scientific article. Although controversial, the most widely used and reliable methodology to identify the importance of an article is citation analysis.

METHODS

A search using the Institute for Scientific Information citation database (Science Citation Index Expanded) was performed to identify highly cited Brazilian papers published in twenty-six highly cited general surgery journals, selected based on their elevated impact factors, from 1970 to 2009. Further analysis was done on the 65 most-cited papers.

RESULTS

We identified 1,713 Brazilian articles, from which nine papers emerged as classics (more than 100 citations received). For the Brazilian contributions, a total increase of about 21-fold was evident between 1970 and 2009. Although several topics were covered, articles covering trauma, oncology and organ transplantation were the most cited. The majority of classic studies were done with international cooperation.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified the most influential Brazilian articles published in internationally renowned general surgery journals.     

Targeting CD20 in the treatment of interstitial lung diseases related to connective tissue diseases: A systematic review

IntroductionThe effectiveness of CD20 targeting in connective tissue diseases (CTD) with lung involvement is controversial. This paper aims to review the current evidence about rituximab (RTX) use in CTD-related interstitial lung disease (ILD).MethodsWe performed a systematic review of papers published between January 2009 and May 2019. We included clinical trials, case/control studies and cohort studies. We excluded letters, case reports, case series, reviews, and full articles when not in English. The selected studies listed as primary or secondary outcome a variation in pulmonary function tests or in the scores used to radiologically stage lung involvement, in CTD-related ILD patients after RTX.ResultsOut of 1206 potentially eligible articles, 24 papers were selected: 3 retrospectively described cohorts of patients with different CTD, 14 dealt with systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related ILD, 5 with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs)-related ILD, and 2 with Sjögren's Syndrome-related ILD.A direct comparison of the selected studies was hampered by their heterogeneity for outcomes, follow-up duration, the severity of lung involvement, and clinical features of study populations. However, an overall agreement existed concerning the effectiveness of RTX in the stabilization of lung disease, with some studies reporting an improvement of functional parameters from baseline. IIM-related ILD appeared more responsive than other CTD-related ILD to CD20 targeting.ConclusionRTX is a promising therapeutic tool in CTD-related ILD. This systematic review remarks the unmet need of multicenter prospective studies aiming to evaluate the effectiveness of RTX with adequate sample size and study design.     

Visibilidad,impacto y colaboración en la producción científica sobre la realidad virtual en la educación médica (2017-2022)

IntroductionVirtual reality is a tool that promotes the achievement of various competencies in medical education. The aim of this study was to analyze the visibility, impact, and collaboration in scientific production on virtual reality in medical education.MethodsA bibliometric study consisting of the inclusion of articles indexed in Scopus between 2012 and 2021 based on a search strategy designed with logical operators and MESH terms. Bibliometric indicators were estimated using SciVal and Bibliometrix.ResultsMost of the articles were published in first quartile journals (50.6%), with an increase from 2019 to 2021. The terms "Virtual reality" and "Medical education" condensed the highest co-occurrence. Authors Winkler-Schwartz, Del maestro and Konge were the most representative and mainly USA, Germany, UK and Australia were the most dominant countries. Factor analysis showed that dimension one seems to be related to practical experience and simulation, while dimension two to medical education. The Journal of Surgical Education has the most published articles and the one with the highest impact was the International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery.ConclusionsIn recent years the scientific literature on virtual reality applied to medical education has increased. In addition, there is an international collaboration network that has increased in different parts of the world. Impact journals are the main journals for the dissemination of this research.