What makes a biostatistician?

Biostatisticians play an important role in medical research. They are co-responsible for an appropriate and efficient study design, they are involved in monitoring the study conduct, they plan and perform the data analysis, and they are involved in interpreting and publishing the results. However, how are the biostatisticians prepared for their tasks and responsibilities? Graduate programs in biostatistics are being offered, but some practicing biostatisticians completed their studies in a mathematical or epidemiological program, or obtained their degree in subject-specific fields (such as medicine or biology). Therefore, the expertise and the competencies can vary widely between the individual biostatisticians, also depending on the application field. In this article, focusing on European and US practices, we discuss the required professional expertise for the main areas of applications in the medical field as well as the necessary soft skill competencies of a biostatistician.     

Pharmaceutical Marketing: Implications for Medical Residency Training

An educational intervention was developed to improve family practice residents' ability to obtain useful information from pharmaceutical representatives. The curriculum is based on the traditional one-on-one drug detail. The objectives are to develop residents' skills in controlling the interview, promote skills for critically analyzing drug-promotional material, and discuss ethical issues. The contents include an assessment tool, suggested readings, and interview questions with rationale. After 5 years, residents' confidence in all areas of the curriculum improved significantly.     

Rapid reorganization of adult rat motor cortex somatic representation patterns after motor nerve injury.

The potential for peripheral nerve injury to reorganize motor cortical representations was investigated in adult rats. Maps reflecting functional connections between the motor cortex and somatic musculature were generated with intracortical electrical stimulation techniques. Comparison of cortical somatotopic maps obtained in normal rats with maps generated from rats with a facial nerve lesion indicated that the forelimb and eye/eyelid representations expanded into the normal vibrissa area. Repeated testing from an electrode placed chronically in the motor cortex showed a shift from vibrissa to forelimb within hours after facial nerve transection. These comparatively quick changes in motor cortex representation pattern suggest that synaptic relations between motor cortex and somatic musculature are continually reshaped in adult mammals.     

The effect of pre-admission education on domiciliary recovery following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this randomised controlled study were to determine if pre-admission patient education affects post-operative pain levels, domiciliary self-care capacity and patient recall following a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Participants were randomised to receive the standard preadmission program (SP) or an individualised, education intervention (El). DESIGN: A pre-operative questionnaire was administered in the pre-admission clinic to determine participants' knowledge of LC and post-operative management. Telephone follow-up and post-operative questionnaire were conducted approximately 14 days post discharge. SETTING: Preadmission clinic of a Sydney, Australia, tertiary referral hospital. SAMPLE: Ninety-three elective LC patients. RESULTS: EI participants experienced lower pain levels and had significantly greater recall of provided information. However, no significant differences were found between the control and intervention groups for domiciliary self-care. CONCLUSION: Pre-admission education intervention helps reduce post-operative pain levels following LC and significantly increases patients' knowledge of self-care and complication management.     

Albumin Adsorption and Retention on C18-Alkyl-Derivatized Polyurethane Vascular Grafts

The short-term albumin affinity and thrombo-resistance of a polyether polyurethane vascular graft have been improved. The method is based on the C18 alkylation of the polymer. Thrombus formation by a planimetric technique and albumin retention on wire-reinforced polyurethane tubes, both C18 alkylated and untreated, were measured in short-term (4-h) exposure at femoral arterial sites in the dog. 125I-Albumin was preabsorbed on tubes and then exposed to blood for successive 2-h periods. Albumin uptake on alkylated tubes prior to blood exposure and retention following 2 h of blood exposure were significantly greater than on controls. Following a fast desorption phase in blood, the remaining albumin was more slowly desorbed from alkylated than from control tubes. Reincubation with albumin and blood reexposure produced a similar tendency, suggesting blood conditioning does not reduce the albumin affinity-enhancing property of C18 alkylation in the short term. Blood-preconditioning experiments suggested endogenous albumin has a high affinity for the C18-alkylated surface. Scanning electron microscopic examination showed thrombus and platelet densities were higher on control than on alkylated surfaces. These results suggest in vivo albumin affinity is increased for C18-alkylated polyurethane, which may be linked to decreased thrombus formation on these surfaces.