Biomedical Library Research Articles

Medical and health informatics services during and after the COVID-19 pandemic should be virtual, tailored, responsive and interactive: a case study in Belgium.

This is part of a new series in this regular feature regarding trends in the provision of information by health science libraries. By sharing expertise and drawing together relevant trends the series intends to serve as a road map for both health science librarians and health informatics professionals. This article shows how a medical and biomedical research library changed practices, andreassesseduser needs for the COVID-19 emergency. Discusses changes to online education (and collaborative working) to provide user-friendly services, researcher support tailored to need and re-visioning library space. J.M.

Propuesta de codificación de enfermedades, fármacos, técnicas y temas relativos a medicina de aplicación en bibliotecas biomédicas

Se presenta una propuesta de codificación alfanumérica de enfermedades, fármacos y técnicas, habituales en medicina, que, por su sencillez:, jerarquización, disposición alfabética y fácil memorización, puede representar una alternativa a las clásicas codificaciones (CDU, OMS), para la catalogación y explotación, fundamentalmente informática, en bibliotecas especializadas en temas biomédicos, al usar el mismo lenguaje y terminología utilizados por los usuarios correspondientes..

Family group decision-making for children at risk of abuse or neglect: A systematic review.

Family group decision-making for children at risk of abuse or neglect: A systematic review.

Scientific updating at the COVID-19 time. The daily newsletter

Since March 11, 2020, the day on which the WHO declared the coronavirus pandemic, the Infrastruttura Ricerca Formazione Innovazione - Biomedical Library Documentation Center of Azienda Ospedaliera SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo has been contributing to the dissemination of updated and reliable Covid-19 scientific information. The Library' staff worked with the Communication Office and the Clinical Trial Center to provide a service to stakeholders sending a daily newsletter of scientific evidences. This Working Paper is a report of the creation and development of the "daily newsletter of scientific evidence", enriched with some wider reflections.

The Medical Library Association Data Services Competency: a framework for data science and open science skills development.

Increasingly, users of health and biomedical libraries need assistance with challenges they face in working with their own and others’ data. Librarians have a unique opportunity to provide valuable support and assistance in data science and open science but may need to add to their expertise and skill set to have the most impact. This article describes the rationale for and development of the Medical Library Association Data Services Competency, which outlines a set of five key skills for data services and provides a course of study for gaining these skills.

Metric competencies for biomedical librarians: results of a survey developed by the EAHIL Evaluation and Metrics group

The library profession continues to evolve and respond to user demands with both tools and services that support instruction and research. These changes typically lead to a need for increased librarian understanding and training. One such example is seen in the growing interest surrounding bibliometrics, altmetrics, and personal identifiers. Each of these serve as indicators of impact, and are becoming increasingly important in research. To more clearly identify and measure the current prevalence of each in the librarian profession, the EAHIL Metrics Group developed and disseminated a survey designed to capture current demand, and identify potential knowledge gaps where training would be beneficial. This publication presents the results of the survey and discusses pathways to attaining and providing increased expertise.

Manejo farmacológico de la hipertensión materna durante la lactancia: un reto terapéutico

Introducción. Los trastornos hipertensivos del embarazo pueden aparecer y persistir en el puerperio, pudiendo requerir tratamiento durante el periodo de lactancia. Actualmente, no existe consenso acerca del manejo farmacológico, y representa un reto terapéutico para el clínico. Objetivo. Revisar la literatura acerca del manejo farmacológico de la hipertensión materna durante la lactancia. Métodos. Se realizó una búsqueda estructurada de la literatura en las siguientes bases de datos: ScienceDirect, PubMed-Medline, Embase biomedical, SciELO y Cochrane Library, con los términos: ‘pregnancy induced hypertension, AND therapeutics’, ‘postpartum hypertension AND therapeutics’, ‘pregnancy induced hypertension AND treatment’, ‘postpartum hypertension AND treatment’. Resultados. Se encontró 44 artículos relevantes para llevar a cabo la presente revisión. Conclusiones. No existe evidencia suficiente para demostrar la seguridad de cualquiera de los fármacos utilizados en el tratamiento de la hipertensión materna durante la lactancia. La literatura sugiere que nifedipino, enalapril, captopril y metoprolol, son los fármacos empleados con seguridad relativa para el lactante.

Semantic Interoperability Solutions for the Essential Variables: Focus on biodiversity

The Earth system is enduring multiple, interacting stressors causing immense and irreversible change to its biosphere. The unprecedented magnitude of human influence on the planet is a cause for much concern, but also an opportunity to mitigate undesirable impact by instituting socio-ecological management strategies and monitoring their effectiveness. To do so, local and global policy developers and decision makers must have access to clear and globally consistent information streams that serve as planetary diagnostics. This need is being addressed by several international, multi-agency networks which have developed sets of "Essential Variables" (EVs) to improve consistency in the observation of key phenomena within their domains of operation. For example, the implementation of the Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) led by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) has set an example being followed in the marine and biodiversity domains by, respectively, the Global Ocean Observing System's (GOOS) Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) and the Group on Earth Observation Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON)'s Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs). Each of these EV collections has a subset dedicated to biological and ecological phenomena. This is greatly encouraging for biodiversity science at large, but also runs the risk of parallel and conflicting developments occuring in the EV communities addressing thecross-cutting theme of biodiversity. As a consequence, there is an urgent need for these systems, and the communities behind them, to pursue tight conceptual and technical interoperability in aid of a coherent treatment of biodiversity in planetary-scale monitoring. In this contribution, we will describe our current research and implementation of a semantic interoperability layer for the EVs, with a focus on biology and ecology. Applying the best practices and core infrastructure of the Open Biological and Biomedical Ontology (OBO) Foundry and Library, we have leveraged both mature and emerging reference ontologies targeting the domains of ecosystems and environment, population and communities, and high-level ecological phenomena. This interoperable collection of ontologies constitutes a foundation for highly expressive EV knowledge representation and management through robust, FAIR-compliant technologies. Further, we are coordinating these efforts with semantic technology adopted by UN agencies, representing global directives and indicators of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda for 2030. With open editorial models behind each of these ontologies, we aim to offer a scalable and inclusive system to bridge data and information products across the EVs through machine-accessible knowledge representation.

<em>Open Divide: Critical Studies on Open Access</em>, edited by Ulrich Herb and Joachim Schöpfel

Open access is frequently a topic of conversation in library and information studies courses. Usually imbued with hints of social justice, progressivism, and equality, professors and students alike often point to open access as something that librarianship “got right.” On a personal level, while working with document delivery in a large biomedical library, I became an enthusiastic supporter of open access articles and journals that allowed me to save staff time and deliver content to our patrons more expeditiously. After reading Open Divide: Critical Studies on Open Access, my relationship with open access is no longer quite so simple. Open Divide lays the concept of open access bare, making note of its benefits, but also clearly exposing its flaws, faults, and corruptions.

Preparing healthcare delivery organizations for managing computable knowledge.

IntroductionThe growth of data science has led to an explosion in new knowledge alongside various approaches to representing and sharing biomedical knowledge in computable form. These changes have not been matched by an understanding of what healthcare delivery organizations need to do to adapt and continuously deploy computable knowledge. It is therefore important to begin to conceptualize such changes in order to facilitate routine and systematic application of knowledge that improves the health of individuals and populations.MethodsAn AHRQ‐funded conference convened a group of experts from a range of fields to analyze the current state of knowledge management in healthcare delivery organizations and describe how it needs to evolve to enable computable knowledge management. Presentations and discussions were recorded and analyzed by the author team to identify foundational concepts and new domains of healthcare delivery organization knowledge management capabilities.ResultsThree foundational concepts include 1) the current state of knowledge management in healthcare delivery organizations relies on an outdated biomedical library model, and only a small number of organizations have developed enterprise‐scale knowledge management approaches that “push” knowledge in computable form to frontline decisions, 2) the concept of Learning Health Systems creates an imperative for scalable computable knowledge management approaches, and 3) the ability to represent data science discoveries in computable form that is FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) is fundamental to spread knowledge at scale. For healthcare delivery organizations to engage with computable knowledge management at scale, they will need new organizational capabilities across three domains: policies and processes, technology, and people. Examples of specific capabilities were developed.ConclusionsHealthcare delivery organizations need to substantially scale up and retool their knowledge management approaches in order to benefit from computable biomedical knowledge.

Developing a Bioinformatics Program and Supporting Infrastructure in a Biomedical Library

Developing a Bioinformatics Program and Supporting Infrastructure in a Biomedical Library

Research evaluation support services in biomedical libraries.

ObjectiveThe paper provides a review of current practices related to evaluation support services reported by seven biomedical and research libraries.MethodsA group of seven libraries from the United States and Canada described their experiences with establishing evaluation support services at their libraries. A questionnaire was distributed among the libraries to elicit information as to program development, service and staffing models, campus partnerships, training, products such as tools and reports, and resources used for evaluation support services. The libraries also reported interesting projects, lessons learned, and future plans.ResultsThe seven libraries profiled in this paper report a variety of service models in providing evaluation support services to meet the needs of campus stakeholders. The service models range from research center cores, partnerships with research groups, and library programs with staff dedicated to evaluation support services. A variety of products and services were described such as an automated tool to develop rank-based metrics, consultation on appropriate metrics to use for evaluation, customized publication and citation reports, resource guides, classes and training, and others. Implementing these services has allowed the libraries to expand their roles on campus and to contribute more directly to the research missions of their institutions.ConclusionsLibraries can leverage a variety of evaluation support services as an opportunity to successfully meet an array of challenges confronting the biomedical research community, including robust efforts to report and demonstrate tangible and meaningful outcomes of biomedical research and clinical care. These services represent a transformative direction that can be emulated by other biomedical and research libraries.

Library Use by Biomedical Scientists in India in Digital Era

The present paper discusses the current status of biomedical research libraries in India and their perceived importance as reading places and subscription sources of information. Total 1013 scientists of 51 institutes under two central ministries i.e. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Ministry of Science & Technology were taken under study. Total 313 questionnaires were considered useful to the study. It was found that libraries are important to the scientists and 43% of them visit the library at least once a week. Libraries are useful as a subscription source of information. The main obstruction in visiting the libraries were the online resources available as open and closed access. Poor library services and resources were found obstruction for 10.3% of respondents. Electronic format was used more than print format by a larger number of biomedical scientists. It is suggested to improve the IT skills of library staffs and to increase online services to library users

Precision Medicine: An Introduction

ABSTRACTPrecision medicine is an emerging approach for disease treatment and prevention that takes into account individual variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle. With the precision medicine initiative push from the U.S. federal government, precision medicine has become an important concept for biomedical health researchers, practitioners, and librarians. This article explores, in brief, the concept, its history, components, National Institutes of Health (NIH) initiatives, and challenges.

Platelet-rich plasma, the ultimate secret for youthful skin elixir and hair growth triggering.

The clinical application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is based on the increase in the concentration of growth factors that are released from alpha-granule of the concentrated platelets and in the secretion of proteins which are able to capitalize on the healing process at the cellular level. It has been invented to restore the natural beauty by starting the natural rejuvenation process of the skin and aiming to make it function as a younger one and to keep the skin youthful and maintain it. Besides that, it is also emerged to include hairs as a new injectable procedure to enable stimulating hair growth locally and topically; preventing its fall; improving hair shaft, hair stem, and its caliber; increasing its shine, vitality, and pliability; and declining hair splitting and breakage. Thus, youth is in your blood as it has a magical power imposed in the platelet factors. There is, however, no standardization of the techniques besides insufficient description of the adopted procedures. Not long, autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has surfaced strongly in diverse medical specialties including plastic, wound healing and diabetic ulcers, orthopedic, trauma, ocular surgery, dry eye for eyelid injection, urology for urinary incontinence, sexual wellness, cutaneous surgery, sport medicine, dentistry and dermatology, and aesthetic applications. PRP proved to promote wound healing and aid in facelift, volumetric skin, skin rejuvenation, regeneration, and reconstruction; improve wrinkling; stimulate hair growth; increase hair follicle viability and its survival rate; prevent apoptosis; increase and prolong the anagen hair growth stage; and delay the progression to catagen hair cycle stage with increased density in hair loss and hair transplantation. The aims of this extensive review were to cover all PRP application aspects that are carried out in aesthetic dermatology and to assess the literature on platelet-rich plasma outcomes on main aesthetic practices of general dermatology. A literature review was conducted by searching through PubMed, Biomedical Library database, Google Scholar, and Research Gate for the terms PRP, platelet-rich plasma, platelet-rich fibrin matrix, platelet preparations, platelet application therapy, platelet growth factors, platelet facial, platelet facial rejuvenation, platelet hairs, and platelet wound healing, from inception till 2017, and they were combined using Boolean operators. All those retrieved articles in English language were looked at and explored thoroughly.

Building semantics in the domain of trait data: an OBO Library approach

As the volume and diversity of digitised trait data grows with ever-increasing speed, there is a clear need to capture the knowledge which contextualises it. Many researchers are addressing similar challenges by using ontology-based approaches to represent knowledge and use it to better structure data across resources, however, there is immense variation in how and for what purpose these ontologies are built. While some approaches emphasise quick and lightweight deployment for specific projects, others spend considerable effort in creating heavy duty, finely specified semantics for a wide user base. Effectively ontologising trait data collections is likely to require a hybrid of these strategies and must also consider how to meld emerging efforts with those that have matured into well-adopted, production-oriented systems. This contribution will provide an overview of existng ontologies linked to traits, as well as the best practices used to create and develop them within the Open Biological and Biomedical Ontologies (OBO) Foundry and Library (Smith et al. 2007). Specifically, it will outline a collaborative model for future, open development, based on the domain semantics of the Ontology of Biological Attributes (OBA), the Environment Ontology (ENVO; Buttigieg et al. 2013, Buttigieg et al. 2016b), the Population and Community Ontology (PCO; Walls et al. 2014), and recent work on bridging phenotypes and environments (e.g. Thessen et al. 2015). Finally, perspectives on linking trait semantics, and hence trait data, to societal goals via OBO-aligned efforts to represent the semantics of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Agenda for 2030 (e.g. Buttigieg et al. 2016a) will be offered as a means to bridge scientific data with global socio-ecological goals.

Interinstitutional collaboration for end-user bioinformatics training: Cytoscape as a case study.

BackgroundThis case study describes the value of and need for interinstitutional collaboration to train biomedical researchers in data visualization, using Cytoscape network analysis software as an example. To provide training on Cytoscape software to Yale University biomedical researchers, a collaboration was formed between the Yale Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library’s (CWML’s) biomedical sciences research support librarian and the University of Michigan (U-M) Taubman Health Sciences Library’s bioinformationist, who has expertise in Cytoscape software.Case PresentationThe U-M bioinformationist offered a webinar to the Yale community, followed by a one-day onsite workshop. This collaboration allowed Yale biomedical researchers and librarians to receive training on Cytoscape software, in addition to giving the Yale librarian a collaborator for answering future questions about the software.ConclusionsThis collaboration furthered the U-M bioinformationist’s role in the field as an expert in Cytoscape instruction, while also establishing the CWML as a leader in providing support for analyzing and visualizing molecular data at Yale University. The authors found this collaboration to be a successful way for librarians to fill end-user training gaps in rapidly changing fields such as bioinformatics.

Implementing a 3D printing service in a biomedical library

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is opening new opportunities in biomedicine by enabling creative problem solving, faster prototyping of ideas, advances in tissue engineering, and customized patient solutions. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Library purchased a Makerbot Replicator 2 3D printer to give scientists a chance to try out this technology. To launch the service, the library offered training, conducted a survey on service model preferences, and tracked usage and class attendance. 3D printing was very popular, with new lab equipment prototypes being the most common model type. Most survey respondents indicated they would use the service again and be willing to pay for models. There was high interest in training for 3D modeling, which has a steep learning curve. 3D printers also require significant care and repairs. NIH scientists are using 3D printing to improve their research, and it is opening new avenues for problem solving in labs. Several scientists found the 3D printer so helpful they bought one for their labs. Having a printer in a central and open location like a library can help scientists, doctors, and students learn how to use this technology in their work.

Increasing value and reducing waste in biomedical research: librarians are listening and are part of the answer.

www.thelancet.com Vol 387 April 16, 2016 1601 David Moher and colleagues asked who is listening to calls to increase value and reduce waste in biomedical research. They documented the response of the diff erent stakeholder groups identifi ed in the Lancet Research: Increasing Value, Reducing Waste Series and the Lancet REWARD (REduce research Waste And Reward Diligence) Campaign. However, there is one group that has not been explicitly discussed: biomedical librarians and information scientists. The role of librarians in supporting biomedical research could be substantially expanded by acknowledging their skills and embracing their involvement in research departments, funding bodies, and journal editorial offi ces. It is time for librarians and their essential skills to move beyond the confi nes of the library. First, a librarian could be embedded within every biomedical research department, or at least within every research team, and contribute to two of the areas highlighted in the Lancet Series. Given librarians’ expertise in systematic reviews, the librarian could conduct all the literature searches required by the department to ensure that searches are comprehensive and rigorously designed, conducted, documented, and reported. During preparations for funding applications the librarian could help to assess the extent of uncertainty and identify relevant ongoing research. Second, librarian involvement in peer review could help to ensure the quality and reliability of published research. Biomedical journals might consider the role of a literature search reviewer who could review possible inadequacies in the literature search process for submitted papers. Such a position would be similar to the role of the statistical reviewer that is already well established in many biomedical journals. Indeed, Jeff erson and Deeks have mentioned a potential role for “methodological expert reviewers”, although they do not specify librarians within this grouping. Third, research funders could make greater use of librarians during peer review of funding applications. As highlighted in the recommendations of the Lancet Research: Increasing Value, Reducing Waste Series, grant applicants are increasingly required to provide evidence that the research question for which they are applying for funding refl ects a demonstrable uncertainty that requires addressing. Librarians could be involved in peer reviewing the search strategies used to identify evidence in support of funding applications to identify any issues, including relevant evidence that has been missed by the literature search. Involvement of literature search specialist reviewers would ensure that only those proposals that have shown reliable and robust evidence of uncertainty would be considered for funding, thereby reducing waste in research. Establishing the three roles outlined above could contribute to more meticulous funding decisions and to the publication of better research. Waste in biomedical research is a serious issue with no single solution. Biomedical librarians are listening and are ready to respond to the calls to increase value and reduce waste. To fully realise the contribution that health science librarians could make, other stakeholder groups identifi ed in the Lancet REWARD Campaign would benefi t from recognising and utilising librarians’ essential skills.

Is It Cost-effective to Purchase Print Books When the Equivalent E-book Is Available?

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to analyze and compare print and electronic book usage for equivalent core clinical titles at the University of South Alabama Biomedical Library collection from 2010 to 2014 to determine format preference and if it would be necessary to purchase identical books in both electronic and print formats. The purpose of purchasing print books that are also available in electronic format is to meet the preferences of some users who prefer to read print format. Usage of 60 core books both in print and electronic formats was compared. Usage statistics were generated from the library’s integrated library system for the print books—both those used in the library and checked out of the library. Electronic usage statistics of the same titles were generated from COUNTER reports; then titles in both formats were compared to determine format preference and whether it is cost-effective to purchase books in both print and electronic formats.