Analyzing free-text survey responses: An accessible strategy for developing patient-centered programs and program evaluation

Despite widespread availability of yoga in the Veterans Health Administration (VA), it remains unclear how to best evaluate yoga programs. This is particularly problematic for programs aimed at veterans with mental health concerns, as evaluation typically focuses narrowly upon mental health symptom severity, even though program participants may have other health-related priorities. We analyzed responses to free-text questions on 237 surveys completed by veterans with mental health concerns enrolled in a yoga program at six VA clinics in Louisiana to characterize veteran participants' experiences with yoga. Qualitative analysis resulted in 15 domains reflecting veterans' individual health-related values and priorities. We use results to illustrate the potential for analysis of free-text responses to reveal valuable insights into patient experiences, demonstrating how these data can inform patient-centered program evaluation. The approach we present is more accessible to those responsible for decision-making about local programs than conventional methods of analyzing qualitive evaluation data.

Interspecific comparison of the transformer gene of Drosophila reveals an unusually high degree of evolutionary divergence

The transformer (tra) gene of Drosophila melanogaster occupies an intermediate position in the regulatory pathway controlling all aspects of somatic sexual differentiation. The female-specific expression of this gene's function is regulated by the Sex lethal (Sxl) gene, through a mechanism involving sex-specific alternative splicing of tra pre-mRNA. The tra gene encodes a protein that is thought to act in conjunction with the transformer-2 (tra-2) gene product to control the sex-specific processing of doublesex (dsx) pre-mRNA. The bifunctional dsx gene carries out opposite functions in the two sexes, repressing female differentiation in males and repressing male differentiation in females. Here we report the results from an evolutionary approach to investigate tra regulation and function, by isolating the tra-homologous genes from selected Drosophila species, and then using the interspecific DNA sequence comparisons to help identify regions of functional significance. The tra-homologous genes from two Sophophoran subgenus species, Drosophila simulans and Drosophila erecta, and two Drosophila subgenus species, Drosophila hydei and Drosophila virilis, were cloned, sequenced and compared to the D. melanogaster tra gene. This comparison reveals an unusually high degree of evolutionary divergence among the tra coding sequences. These studies also highlight a highly conserved sequence within intron one that probably defines a cis-acting regulator of the sex-specific alternative splicing event.

Ceforanide vs. cephalothin concentrations in total joint arthroplasty

Total joint arthroplasty is a common orthopedic procedure and requires prophylactic antibiotic coverage to prevent infections in the operated joint. The antibiotics routinely used for prophylaxis are the cephalosporins. This study compared bone, synovial fluid, and plasma concentrations of ceforanide with cephalothin concentrations in 30 patients undergoing elective total hip or total knee arthroplasty. Ceforanide provided significantly higher plasma concentrations for 61-110 minutes postdose than did cephalothin (p less than 0.025 and p less than 0.005). No difference was noted between the two antibiotics for the bone concentrations in the total hip arthroplasty group; however, cephalothin concentrated to a greater degree in the bone of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (p less than 0.05). Cephalothin achieved higher concentrations in the synovial fluid than did ceforanide (p less than 0.05). Both antibiotics were well tolerated and no postoperative infections were noted in either group.