How to translate scientific knowledge into practice? Concepts, models and application / ¿Cómo traducir el conocimiento científico a la práctica? Conceptos, modelos y aplicación / Como traduzir o conhecimento científico à prática? Conceitos, modelos e aplicação

ABSTRACT Objectives: to present the concept of Knowledge Translation and Exchange as it has been used in the international literature and in Canada, particularly. Next, to describe a renowned conceptual model to guide its implementation, entitled Knowledge-to-Action Cycle. Results: we described the use of the model in the context of the municipal primary health care system in southern Brazil for the implementation of pain management strategies during vaccination. Conclusions: in this theoretical reflection, we argue that in order to promote health equity and quality of care in the Unified Health System (Brazilian SUS) it is important to translate scientific knowledge to various practice settings and create opportunities for exchange with users of this knowledge, such as health professionals, managers, policy makers, patients, family members and other stakeholders.

RESUMEN Objetivos: presentar el concepto de Traducción e Intercambio de Conocimiento tal como se ha utilizado en la literatura internacional y, en particular, en Canadá. A continuación, describir un modelo conceptual reconocido para guiar su implementación, titulado Ciclo del Conocimiento a la Acción. Resultados: ilustramos el uso del modelo en el contexto del sistema municipal de atención primaria de salud en el sur de Brasil para implementar estrategias de manejo del dolor durante la vacunación. Conclusiones: en esta reflexión teórica, argumentamos sobre la importancia de traducir el conocimiento científico a los diversos contextos de práctica y de crear oportunidades de intercambio con los usuarios de este conocimiento, como profesionales sanitarios, gerentes, formuladores de políticas públicas, pacientes, familias y otros grupos de interés para promover la equidad y la calidad de los cuidados en el Sistema Único de Salud.

RESUMO Objetivos: apresentar o conceito de Tradução e Intercâmbio do Conhecimento tal como vem sendo utilizado na literatura internacional e, em particular, no Canadá. A seguir, descrever um renomado modelo conceitual para orientar a sua implementação, intitulado Ciclo do Conhecimento à Ação. Resultados: ilustramos a utilização do modelo no contexto do sistema municipal de atenção básica à saúde no sul do Brasil, na implementação de estratégias de manejo da dor durante a vacinação. Conclusões: nesta reflexão teórica, argumentamos sobre a importância de se traduzir o conhecimento científico aos diversos contextos de prática e criar oportunidades de intercâmbio com os usuários desse saber, como profissionais de saúde, gestores, formuladores de políticas públicas, pacientes, familiares e demais grupos de interesse, para promover equidade e qualidade dos cuidados no Sistema Único de Saúde.

Development of middle-range theories in nursing / Desarrollo de las teorías de medio alcance en enfermería / Desenvolvimento das teorias de médio alcance na enfermagem

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify in the literature how Middle-Range Theories (MRT) are being developed in Nursing. Method: Integrative review on the databases Lilacs (Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences), Scopus, Cinahl (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Web of Science and PubMed portal, using the keywords middle range theory and nursing, as well its Portuguese correspondents (Lilacs), and the Boolean operator AND. The sample included 25 articles. Results: All articles presented concepts related to MRT. Most developed a synthesis picture. Some theories have formulated specific propositions, hypotheses, and names. Only 16 articles cited the methodological framework, while 22 used theories or models for theoretical foundation and 11 carried out literature reviews. Final considerations: The development of MRT included the presentation of fundamental concepts, synthesis, propositions, hypotheses and specific name. The MRT is recognized as a way of developing knowledge to guide the nursing practice.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Identificar en la literatura cómo las Teorías de Medio Alcance (TMA) se están desarrollando en enfermería. Método: Revisión integrativa en las bases de datos: LILACS (Literatura Latinoamericana y del Caribe en Ciencias de la Salud), Scopus, Cinahl (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Web of Science y PubMed, utilizando la palabra clave middle range theory, el descriptor nursing y sus equivalentes en portugués (LILACS) y el operador booleano AND. La muestra constó de 25 artículos. Resultados: Todos los artículos presentaron conceptos relacionados con las TMA. La mayoría desarrolló un cuadro resumen. Algunas teorías presentaron proposiciones, plantearon hipótesis y nombres específicos. Solamente 16 artículos citaban el referencial metodológico, mientras que 22 utilizaban teorías o modelos en la fundamentación teórica y 11 hicieron revisión de la literatura. Consideraciones finales: El desarrollo de las TMA incluyó la presentación de conceptos fundamentales, de cuadro resumen, de proposiciones, hipótesis y nombre específico. Se reconocen las TMA como forma de desarrollar conocimiento para orientar la práctica en enfermería.

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar na literatura como as Teorias de Médio Alcance (TMA) têm sido desenvolvidas na enfermagem. Método: Revisão integrativa nas bases Lilacs (Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde), Scopus, Cinahl (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Web of Science e portal PubMed, utilizando a palavra-chave middle range theory, o descritor nursing, seus correspondentes em português (Lilacs) e o operador booleano AND. A amostra incluiu 25 artigos. Resultados: Todos os artigos apresentaram conceitos relacionados às TMA. A maioria desenvolveu quadro síntese. Algumas teorias formularam proposições, hipóteses e nomes específicos. Apenas 16 artigos citavam o referencial metodológico, enquanto 22 usavam teorias ou modelos para fundamentação teórica e 11 utilizavam revisão na literatura. Considerações finais: O desenvolvimento das TMA incluiu apresentação de conceitos fundamentais, quadro síntese, proposições, hipóteses e nome específico. Reconhece-se as TMA como forma de desenvolver conhecimento para orientar a prática de enfermagem.

Metabolomics applied to maternal and perinatal health: a review of new frontiers with a translation potential

The prediction or early diagnosis of maternal complications is challenging mostly because the main conditions, such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, and gestational diabetes mellitus, are complex syndromes with multiple underlying mechanisms related to their occurrence. Limited advances in maternal and perinatal health in recent decades with respect to preventing these disorders have led to new approaches, and "omics" sciences have emerged as a potential field to be explored. Metabolomics is the study of a set of metabolites in a given sample and can represent the metabolic functioning of a cell, tissue or organism. Metabolomics has some advantages over genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, as metabolites are the final result of the interactions of genes, RNAs and proteins. Considering the recent "boom" in metabolomic studies and their importance in the research agenda, we here review the topic, explaining the rationale and theory of the metabolomic approach in different areas of maternal and perinatal health research for clinical practitioners. We also demonstrate the main exploratory studies of these maternal complications, commenting on their promising findings. The potential translational application of metabolomic studies, especially for the identification of predictive biomarkers, is supported by the current findings, although they require external validation in larger datasets and with alternative methodologies.

New trends in translational microsurgery

Abstract Technological advances such as optical instruments and surgical tools have enabled the considerable contributions of microsurgery to surgical therapies. Accordingly, surgical therapeutics has provided the latest information across a wide range of medical specialties, including immunology and pharmacology, despite specialization according to organs and organ systems. The International Society for Experimental Microsurgery, an academic organization, has utilized experimental microsurgery technology in the identification of curative concepts for diseases that remain difficult to treat. For this publication to mark the 32nd anniversary of the Brazilian Surgical Society, I introduced the following types of technology related to the further development of microsurgical technological innovations in the future: high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) video and touch-sensitive microsurgery robots.

Medicina traslacional e innovación en salud: mecanismos y perspectivas / Translational medicine and innovation in health: mechanisms and perspectives

Many new discoveries in Life Sciences cannot be translated into products, services or new applications to improve human health. Translational medicine, defined as "from bench to bedside", refers to the transfer of results or new knowledge achieved in the laboratory into health innovation. We aim to review the state of art of translational medicine, its relationship with innovation processes and the different perspectives to consider. Finally, we contextualize the situation of Research and Development (R&D) in Chile and the main issues of the biotechnology market in the country.

The future of psychiatric research / O futuro da pesquisa em psiquiatria

Abstract Psychiatric disorders place considerable burden on individuals and on public health. Funding for research in psychiatry is less than ideal, but even so high quality research is being conducted at many centers. However, these studies have not impacted clinical practice as much as expected. The complexity of psychiatric disorders is one of the reasons why we face difficulties in translating research results to patient care. New technologies and improved methodologies are now available and must be incorporated to deal with this complexity and to accelerate the translational process. I discuss the application of modern techniques for data acquisition and analysis and also the new possibilities for performing trials in virtual models of biological systems. Adoption of new technologies is necessary, but will not reduce the importance of some of the fundamentals of all psychiatry research, such as the developmental and translational perspectives. Psychiatrists wishing to integrate these novelties into their research will need to work with contributors with whom they are unaccustomed to working, such as computer experts, a multidisciplinary team, and stakeholders such as patients and caregivers. This process will allow us to further understand and alleviate the suffering and impairment of people with psychiatric disorders.

Resumo Os transtornos psiquiátricos são responsáveis por uma significativa carga de doença tanto no nível individual quanto na saúde pública. Mesmo com financiamento abaixo do ideal, muitas pesquisas de alta qualidade vêm sendo executadas em vários centros. Entretanto, o impacto desses estudos na prática clínica é menor que o esperado. A complexidade dos transtornos psiquiátricos é uma das razões pelas quais enfrentamos tanta dificuldade na translação dos resultados das pesquisas para a prática clínica. Novas tecnologias e metodologias aperfeiçoadas já estão disponíveis e devem ser incorporadas para lidar com esta complexidade e acelerar o processo translacional. Discuto, neste artigo, a aplicação de técnicas modernas para a coleta e análise de dados e as novas possibilidades para a realização de testes em modelos virtuais dos sistemas biológicos. A adoção das novas tecnologias é necessária, mas não reduzirá a importância de fundamentos da pesquisa em psiquiatria, como as perspectivas desenvolvimental e translacional. Os psiquiatras que desejarem integrar essas novas tecnologias à suas pesquisas terão que trabalhar com colaboradores com os quais não estão acostumados, como especialistas em informática, equipes multidisciplinares e representantes de partes interessadas nos resultados, como pacientes e provedores de cuidados assistenciais. Esse processo permitirá um avanço no conhecimento e no alívio do sofrimento e da incapacidade das pessoas com transtornos psiquiátricos.

Pesquisa Translacional: uma interpretação / Translational research: an interpretation

A Pesquisa Translacional (TR) parece estar se tornando o principal mote da pesquisa em saúde neste início de século. Nascida nos Estados Unidos da América (EUA), vem se disseminando rapidamente pelo mundo desenvolvido bem como pela periferia. O artigo discute os principais tópicos relativos a ela. A sua definição e o seu escopo, as razões de ter nascido nos EUA e o porquê de ter nascido neste século. Debate as relações entre a TR e os fundamentos da política científica nos EUA, estabelecidos ao final da Segunda Grande Guerra. Interpreta a demanda de uma indústria farmacêutica poderosa e em crise, associada a dificuldades de outputs científicos em quantidade adequada para atendê-la como um móvel suficiente para explicar a intervenção do governo norte-americano na pesquisa biomédica através do NIH. Entende que é difícil prognosticar o futuro da TR, mas que não se trata de uma proposição sustentada em terreno teórico-conceitual sólido. Tematiza também a oportunidade e as possibilidades da TR em países com sistemas nacionais de inovação imaturos, como é o caso do Brasil. Finalmente, propõe que a existência de um sistema universal de saúde seja a principal ferramenta organizadora das respostas possíveis da pesquisa em saúde às demandas de inovação por parte da sociedade.

Translational Research (TR) appears to be developing into the key health research issue of the beginning of this century. Initially proposed in the United States, TR is spread rapidly throughout both the developed and the developing world. This article discusses the main topics it covers, such as its definition and scope and the reasons why it has emerged in the USA and in this century. It examines the relationship between TR and the basic principles of US scientific policy established at the end of World War II. It sees the demands of a mighty pharmaceutical industry, currently facing a major crisis, linked to scientific genomic and post-genomic output impairments in terms of real innovative products and processes as being the explanation for US government intervention in biomedical research via the NIH. It realizes that it is not easy to predict the future of TR and suggests that it is not sustained by a solid conceptual and theoretical framework. It also discusses the opportunities and possibilities of TR in countries with nascent national innovative systems, such as Brazil. Lastly, it suggests that the existence of a universal health system can be an important tool to provide potential research answers tin health for the demands of innovation on the part of society.

Epidemiology to public health intervention for preventing cardiovascular diseases: The role of translational research.

Despite significant progress in medical research, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) continue to be the largest contributors of morbidity and mortality both in developed and developing countries. The status of public health interventions related to CVDs prevention was reviewed to identify actions that are required to bridge the existing gap between the evidence and the policy. We used a framework comprising two steps - “bench to bedside” and from “bedside to community” to evaluate translational research. Available literature was reviewed to document the current status of CVD prevention and control at national level in India. Case studies of risk factor surveillance, tobacco control and blood pressure measurement were used to understand different aspects of translational research. National level initiatives in non-communicable diseases surveillance, prevention and control are a recent phenomena in India. The delay in translation of research to policy has occurred primarily at the second level, i.e., from ‘bedside to community’. The possible reasons for this were: inappropriate perception of the problem by policy makers and programme managers, lack of global public health guidelines and tools, and inadequate nationally relevant research related to operationalization and cost of public health interventions. Public health fraternity, both nationally and internationally, needs to establish institutional mechanisms to strengthen human resource capacity to initiate and monitor the process of translational research in India. Larger public interest demands that focus should shift to overcoming the barriers at community level translation. Only this will ensure that the extraordinary scientific advances of this century are rapidly translated for the benefit of more than one billion Indians.