Characteristics of Electronic Informed Consent Platforms for Consenting Patients to Research Studies: A Scoping Review.

Informed consent process assures that research study participants are properly informed about the study prior to their consent. Due to the increasing significance of electronic informed consent (eIC) platforms, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted a scoping review of eIC systems to address the following characteristics: 1) technological features of current eIC platforms, 2) eIC platforms usability and efficacy, and 3) areas for future eIC research. We performed a literature search using publically available PubMed repository, where we included studies discussing an eIC platform or multimedia educational module given to patients prior to signing a consent form.

Exploring Determinants of Longevity of Biomedical Databases.

The maintenance of biomedical databases requires ongoing and systematic efforts in keeping them up-to-date which may affect long-term sustainability. Since research has become more reliant on publicly available biomedical data collections, it is important to understand factors affecting their longevity. The aim of this article was to explore potential determinants of biomedical database longevity.

A Platform for Integrating and Sharing Cancer Stem Cell Data.

Advancements in cancer research and treatment have highlighted the need for standardization and sharing of cancer stem cell (CSC) data to facilitate research transparency and to promote collaboration within the scientific community. Although previous applications have attempted to gather and disseminate these data, currently no platform organizes the heterogeneous CSC information into a harmonized project-based framework. The aim of our platform, ReMeDy, is to provide an intelligent informatics solution integrating diverse CSC characteristics, outcomes information, and omics data across clinical, preclinical and in vitro studies.

Innovative Strategies to Facilitate Safe Assessment and Intervention for Intimate Partner Violence During a Pandemic and Beyond.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it necessary to find innovative strategies that facilitate safe, private assessment and intervention for intimate partner violence (IPV). IPV is a major source of morbidity and mortality, with women experiencing a lifetime prevalence rate of 22%. Screening pregnant individuals for IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic became critical because a 20% rise in IPV during the pandemic has been estimated.

Human Placental Arterial Distensibility, Birth Weight, and Body Size Are Positively Related to Fetal Homocysteine Concentration.

Methionine demethylation during metabolism generates homocysteine (Hcy) and its remethylation requires folate and cobalamin. Elevated Hcy concentrations are associated with vascular-related complications of pregnancy, including increased vascular stiffness, predictive of clinical vascular disease. Maternal and fetal total Hcy (tHcy) concentrations are positively related, yet the influence of Hcy on fetoplacental vascular function in normal pregnancy has not been examined.