27343241
Novel algorithms and the benefits of comparative validation
Contact: 2robsmith@gmail.com, jtprince@chem.byu.edu Bioinformatic research has produced a large volume of proposed algorithmic solutions to a host of problems. Whether presented as a processing step in a clinical experiment or treated in a stand-alone publication, novel bioinformatic algorithms are often not subjected to the thorough comparative evaluation endured by their counterparts in other closely related fields—such as computer science—where an algorithm unevaluated against extant methods is considered unpublishable. Two audiences are interested in algorithmic publications: the practitioner, who may use the algorithm, and the researcher, who will work to develop solutions superior to those extant. We argue that failure during the review/publication process to require comparative evaluation for novel algorithms is detrimental to both parties. To demonstrate the dilemma, we conducted a case study of novel LC-MS alignment algorithms. Of the 48 publications from 2001 to 2012 that present alignment algorithms of which we are aware, 60% include no comparison to other methods. Another 20%
15927414
LC-MS alignment in theory and practice: a comprehensive algorithmic review
Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry is widely used for comparative replicate sample analysis in proteomics, lipidomics and metabolomics. Before statistical comparison, registration must be established to match corresponding analytes from run to run. Alignment, the most popular correspondence approach, consists of constructing a function that warps the content of runs to most closely match a given reference sample. To date, dozens of correspondence algorithms have been proposed, creating a daunting challenge for practitioners in algorithm selection. Yet, existing reviews have highlighted only a few approaches. In this review, we describe 50 correspondence algorithms to facilitate practical algorithm selection. We elucidate the motivation for correspondence and analyze the limitations of current approaches, which include prohibitive runtimes, numerous user parameters, model limitations and the need for reference samples. We suggest and describe a paradigm shift for overcoming current correspondence limitations by building on known liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry behavior.
20390905
Use, option and externality values: are contingent valuation studies in health care mis-specified?
A general population sample of Australian respondents completed a contingent valuation (CV) survey that asked them to value six scenarios. These varied according to whether the scenario was seeking to elicit: (i) use value; (ii) externality value; (iii) option value; or (iv) a combination. Results indicate that use plus externality and/or option value was significantly greater than use value alone. As CV studies in health (care) overwhelmingly focus on use value alone - often implicitly through study design rather than explicitly - this raises the possibility of mis-specification in CV research in health (care). The implications for CV in health (care) are considered.
33043353
Can we estimate the 'social' value of a QALY? Four core issues to resolve.
There is growing interest in estimating the 'societal' willingness to pay (WTP) for a quality adjusted life year (QALY) to help public health system decision-makers determine whether a health care programme should/not be undertaken. However, there is a lack of clarity in this debate concerning four core issues: (i) is 'social' WTP simply the sum of 'individual' WTP; (ii) will 'individual' WTP map directly into 'social' WTP; (iii) is 'personal' income the appropriate budget constraint; (iv) should WTP be adjusted for ability to pay? This paper outlines the relevance and importance of each of these issues in the hope of encouraging a wider debate on the core issues that empirical studies will have to explore to discover whether such a value may be obtained.
25717619
Corticotrophin releasing hormone and the timing of birth.
Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) is the hypothalamic peptide that controls the function of the pituitary-adrenal axis in response to stress. CRH is also expressed abundantly in the human placenta and is present in high concentrations in maternal and fetal plasma during late pregnancy. During pregnancy, CRH derived from the placenta is thought to play a crucial role in the regulation of fetal maturation and the timing of delivery, and CRH has also been implicated in the control of fetal-placental blood flow. Elevated CRH concentrations, as compared with gestational age matched controls, occur in patients in preterm labour. The exponential curve depicting the CRH increase is shifted to the left in women who will subsequently deliver preterm and to the right in women who will deliver post dates. This has led to the suggestion that CRH production is linked to a placental clock which determines the length of gestation. Clinically, maternal plasma CRH concentrations may be useful in identifying women at high risk of preterm delivery and CRH antagonists may be useful in preventing preterm labour. As significant CRH production by the placenta is restricted to primates, future research must take into account the species specificity of the mechanisms regulating parturition. A number of significant gaps remain in our knowledge of the function of this peptide in pregnancy. This review examines the current evidence regarding the role of CRH in human parturition.
11851126
Communicable disease control: a 'Global Public Good' perspective.
Despite the increasing 'globalization' of health, the responsibility for it remains primarily national, generating a potential mismatch between global health problems and current institutions and mechanisms to deal with them. The 'Global Public Good' (GPG) concept has been suggested as a framework to address this mismatch in different areas of public policy. This paper considers the application of the GPG concept as an organizing principle for communicable disease control (CDC), considering in particular its potential to improve the health and welfare of the developing world. The paper concludes that there are significant limitations to the GPG concept's effectiveness as an organizing principle for global health priorities, with respect to CDC. More specifically, there are few areas of CDC which qualify as GPG, and even among those that can be considered GPGs, it is not necessarily appropriate to provide everything which can be considered a GPG. It is therefore suggested that it may be more useful to focus instead on the failure of 'collective action', where the GPG concept may then: (1) provide a rationale to raise funds additional to aid from developed countries' domestic budgets; (2) promote investment by developed countries in the health systems of developing countries; (3) promote strategic partnerships between developed and developing countries to tackle major global communicable diseases; and (4) guide the political process of establishing, and mechanisms for providing and financing, global CDC programmes with GPG characteristics, and GPGs which have benefits for CDC. In short, the GPG concept is not without limitations and weaknesses as an organizing principle, but does provide, at least in some areas, guidance in improving collective action at the international level for the improvement of global CDC.
41256785
It's not just what you do, it's the way that you do it: the effect of different payment card formats and survey administration on willingness to pay for health gain.
A general population sample of 314 Australian respondents were randomly allocated to complete a contingent valuation survey administered by face-to-face or telephone ('phone-mail-phone') interview. Although the telephone interview was quicker to complete, no significant difference was found in values obtained through either method. Within each sub-sample, respondents were also randomly allocated to the three different versions of the payment card (PC) questionnaire format: values listed from high-to-low, values listed from low-to-high and values randomly shuffled. The high-to-low version resulted in significantly higher values than the other versions. Further analyses indicate that the randomly shuffled PC version may produce the most 'valid' values.