Virtualization of open-source secure web services to support data exchange in a pediatric critical care research network

Data integration strategies for predictive analytics in precision medicine

With the rapid growth of health-related data including genomic, proteomic, imaging and clinical, the arduous task of data integration can be overwhelmed by the complexity of the environment including data size and diversity. This report examines the role of data integration strategies for big data predictive analytics in precision medicine research. Infrastructure-as-code methodologies will be discussed as a means of integrating and managing data. This includes a discussion on how and when these strategies can be used to lower barriers and address issues of consistency and interoperability within medical research environments. The goal is to support translational research and enable healthcare organizations to integrate and utilize infrastructure to accelerate the adoption of precision medicine.

Pediatric Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome: Promising Therapies

OBJECTIVE

To describe the state of the science, identify knowledge gaps, and offer potential future research questions regarding promising therapies for children with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome presented during the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Workshop on Pediatric Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (March 26-27, 2015).

DATA SOURCES

Literature review, research data, and expert opinion.

STUDY SELECTION

Not applicable.

DATA EXTRACTION

Moderated by an expert from the field, issues relevant to the association of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome with a variety of conditions were presented, discussed, and debated with a focus on identifying knowledge gaps and research priorities.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Summary of presentations and discussion supported and supplemented by relevant literature.

CONCLUSIONS

Among critically ill children, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome is relatively common and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. For outcomes to improve, effective therapies aimed at preventing and treating this condition must be discovered and rigorously evaluated. In this article, a number of potential opportunities to enhance current care are highlighted including the need for a better understanding of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of medications, the effect of early and optimized nutrition, and the impact of effective glucose control in the setting of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Additionally, a handful of the promising therapies either currently being implemented or developed are described. These include extracorporeal therapies, anticytokine therapies, antitoxin treatments, antioxidant approaches, and multiple forms of exogenous steroids. For the field to advance, promising therapies and other therapies must be assessed in rigorous manner and implemented accordingly.