Publications by authors named "S J McCall"

Objective: Medical laboratory data together with prescribing and hospitalisation records are three of the most used electronic health records (EHRs) for data-driven health research. In Scotland, hospitalisation, prescribing and the death register data are available nationally whereas laboratory data is captured, stored and reported from local health board systems with significant heterogeneity. For researchers or other users of this regionally curated data, working on laboratory datasets across regional cohorts requires effort and time.

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While the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles are primarily concerned with data, samples can also be considered a distinct category of data. In light of these considerations, the FAIR principles represent a major challenge for biobanks, as discussed in detail in two recently published studies. We invited seven experts with diverse backgrounds to share their views on these studies and the FAIR principles in general.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The increasing number of older people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) facing humanitarian crises highlights the urgent need to understand their health and well-being amidst these challenges.
  • - A scoping review analyzing 84 studies revealed that older populations suffer predominantly from mental health issues, such as depression and PTSD, alongside significant physical health concerns, including high mortality rates and limited healthcare access.
  • - Key gaps in research include a lack of focus on contextualized interventions for mental health, under-explored chronic diseases, and the impact of communicable diseases beyond COVID-19, indicating a need for more comprehensive studies.
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Targeting tumor-specific molecular alterations has shown significant clinical benefit. Molecular tumor boards (MTBs) connect cancer patients with personalized treatments and clinical trials. However, rural cancer centers often have limited access to MTB expertise.

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Patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome or DiGeorge syndrome commonly report gastrointestinal symptoms in addition to more widely understood cardiac and immunodeficiency abnormalities. However, the morphologic features of gastrointestinal tract pathology in these patients are poorly understood.

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