Dr. Payne studies how to improve disease diagnosis and treatment using advanced data analysis techniques. He works on significant conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, hepatitis B, and asthma, leveraging large datasets to enhance our understanding of these illnesses. For example, he has created databases to support doctors in predicting outcomes for critically ill children and analyzed treatment adherence in chronic hepatitis B patients. He also explores the integration of artificial intelligence to make healthcare more accessible and effective, particularly in underserved areas.
Key findings
Developed a database for 26,000 pediatric patients, improving prediction of outcomes for those needing ECMO, leading to better treatment decisions.
Created the mosGraphFlow model that accurately identifies Alzheimer's biomarkers, achieving improved results compared to previous methods.
Found that 60.8% of asthma patients started treatment promptly after flare-ups; prompt treatment is crucial for effective management.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Payne study Alzheimer's disease?
Yes, he conducts research on Alzheimer's disease, including developing models to predict disease progression and understand its impact on patients.
What treatments has Dr. Payne researched?
He has researched treatments for chronic hepatitis B, asthma, and critical care interventions for pediatric patients.
Is Dr. Payne's work relevant to patients in underserved areas?
Yes, his research focuses on improving access to artificial intelligence technologies in healthcare, which benefits patients in underserved communities.
How does Dr. Payne's research help improve patient care?
His studies utilize advanced data analysis to enhance disease understanding, leading to better treatment predictions and tailored healthcare solutions.
What is the significance of the databases Dr. Payne has created?
These databases compile extensive patient data that allow for improved prediction of treatment outcomes and support more effective clinical decisions.
Publications in plain English
Multi-modal pediatric critical care datamart for extracorporeal support prediction and decision support.
2026
JAMIA open
Edmunds M, Gupta A, Oh I, Kaster L, Sagel J +4 more
Plain English This study created a large database that helps doctors predict outcomes for critically ill children who might need extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a type of life support. The database includes detailed health information from nearly 26,000 pediatric patients, including 395 who received ECMO, allowing for better tracking of health changes over time. This matters because it moves beyond outdated prediction tools and helps improve treatment decisions based on real-time patient data.
Who this helps: This benefits doctors and critical care teams working with pediatric patients.
OmniCellTOSG: The First Cell Text-Omic Signaling Graphs Dataset for Graph Language Foundation Modeling.
2026
Research square
Zhang H, Xu T, Cao D, Liang S, Shergill G +20 more
Plain English This study focused on creating a new type of database called OmniCellTOSG, which combines large amounts of individual cell data with biological knowledge and signaling information. Researchers built this resource from about 80 million individual cell samples and found that their new model, called CellTOSG-FM, performed better than existing methods, providing clearer insights into disease-related targets and pathways. This is important because it allows for better understanding of how diseases work at a cellular level, which can enhance research in medicine and improve patient care.
Who this helps: Patients and doctors looking for better treatments and understanding of diseases.
Evaluating the timing of triple therapy initiation for the treatment of asthma in Japan: prompt versus delayed.
2025
The Journal of asthma : official journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma
Requena G, Wood R, Ito R, Wild R, Mita C +7 more
Plain English This study looked at how quickly patients in Japan start using a specific asthma treatment called single-inhaler triple therapy (SITT) after experiencing an asthma flare-up. Researchers found that 60.8% of patients from one database and 44.4% from another started treatment promptly, while about 23% delayed starting and around 17% started late. Understanding the timing of treatment initiation is important because it can affect how well patients manage their asthma, especially since those with more complicated health issues tend to wait longer to start the therapy.
Who this helps: This benefits asthma patients and their doctors by highlighting the importance of starting treatment quickly after flare-ups.
BioMedGraphica: An All-in-One Platform for Joint Textual Biomedical Prior Knowledge and Numeric Graph Generation.
2025
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
Zhang H, Liang S, Xu T, Li W, Huang D +14 more
Plain English This study created a new platform called BioMedGraphica that combines and organizes various biomedical information sources into a single, easy-to-use resource. The researchers integrated 11 types of entities and 30 types of relationships from 43 different databases into a unified knowledge graph, helping improve the analysis of complex biological data. This new tool makes it easier to generate scientific insights from large datasets, potentially enhancing the accuracy and clarity of biomedical research.
Who this helps: Patients and doctors who rely on advanced biomedical research for better treatment options.
Plain English This study focused on a new tool called M3NetFlow, which helps analyze complex data about diseases by looking at information from various biological sources. The researchers found that M3NetFlow provided the best prediction accuracy when identifying how certain drug combinations work together and pinpointing specific biomarkers related to Alzheimer's disease. This is important because it can lead to better treatment strategies and a deeper understanding of diseases.
Who this helps: Patients, particularly those with complex diseases like Alzheimer's.
Machine Learning Feasibility in Cochlear Implant Speech Perception Outcomes-Moving Beyond Single Biomarkers for Cochlear Implant Performance Prediction.
2025
Ear and hearing
Shew MA, Pavelchek C, Michelson A, Ortmann A, Lefler S +8 more
Plain English This study looked at how machine learning (ML) could predict how well patients with cochlear implants (CIs) would understand speech six months after getting their implants. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 1,900 patients and found that an ML model called XGBoost did a better job than traditional methods at predicting which patients would perform poorly. While the improvement was small (1-2%), it could help doctors tailor treatment and support for patients by identifying those who may need extra help.
Who this helps: This benefits patients with cochlear implants and their healthcare providers.
Analyzing heterogeneity in Alzheimer disease using multimodal normative modeling on imaging-based ATN biomarkers.
2025
Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association
Kumar S, Earnest T, Yang B, Kothapalli D, Aschenbrenner AJ +9 more
Plain English This study looked at how different types of brain imaging can show the varied effects of Alzheimer's disease (AD) on individuals. Researchers found that in people with severe Alzheimer's, there were greater differences in brain changes compared to those with less severe forms of the disease; specifically, a higher score (called the disease severity index) indicated worse cognitive function and a higher risk of disease progression. This research is important because it helps doctors understand how Alzheimer's impacts each patient differently, which can guide more personalized treatment approaches.
Who this helps: Patients and doctors managing Alzheimer's disease.
Integrating Nonindividual Patient Features in Machine Learning Models of Hospital-Onset Bacteremia.
2025
JAMA network open
Vazquez Guillamet MC, Zhang J, Bewley A, Atkinson A, Holtz H +7 more
Plain English This study looked at ways to predict and understand hospital-onset bacteremia, an infection that can occur during hospital stays, by including factors about the hospital setting, such as interactions with healthcare workers and previous patients in the same room. Among over 34,000 patients who stayed in the hospital for more than three days, 1.6% developed this infection, and researchers found that including these setting-related factors improved prediction models significantly from an accuracy score of 0.85 to 0.88. This is important because better prediction can help hospitals take steps to prevent these infections, ultimately improving patient safety and care.
Who this helps: Hospital patients and healthcare providers.
Segmented milli-fluidic crystallisation of paracetamol withsingle-crystal X-ray diffraction.
2025
Chemical science
Wayment LE, Scott CD, Saunders LK, Payne P, Hatcher LE +6 more
Plain English In this study, researchers explored a new method for analyzing small molecule crystals, specifically paracetamol, using a technique called segmented flow crystallization combined with X-ray diffraction. They successfully identified the structure of paracetamol crystals with a high level of detail, achieving a resolution of 0.8 Å using data from 13 different crystals. This advancement helps speed up the process of understanding how small molecules are structured, which is crucial for drug development and improving medications.
Who this helps: This benefits doctors and researchers working on drug development.
OmniCellAgent: Towards AI Co-Scientists for Scientific Discovery in Precision Medicine.
2025
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
Huang D, Li H, Li W, Zhang H, Dickson P +7 more
Plain English This research focused on creating an AI tool called OmniCellAgent that helps people, even those without technical training, analyze complex biological data related to diseases. The study showed that this AI can effectively assist in understanding how diseases work at the molecular level and finding targeted treatments. This is important because it empowers patients, doctors, and researchers to make scientific discoveries more easily, improving precision medicine.
Who this helps: This benefits patients, doctors, and researchers.
Treatment Discontinuation and Adherence in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B Infection Newly Initiating Nucleos(t)ide Analogues in Japan: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
2025
Journal of viral hepatitis
Kawamatsu S, Rai KK, Gielen V, Patel A, Massey O +9 more
Plain English This study looked at how well patients in Japan stick to their long-term treatment for chronic hepatitis B using specific medications. Out of nearly 2,500 patients, about 20% stopped their treatment within about 20 months, but half of those who stopped chose to restart. Most patients (81.2%) took their medication regularly, but younger patients and those with certain health issues struggled more with adherence, highlighting a need for treatment options that require less time.
Who this helps: This helps patients with chronic hepatitis B and their healthcare providers.
MosGraphFlow: a novel integrative graph AI model mining signaling targets from multi-omic data.
2025
BMC methods
Zhang H, Cao D, Xu T, Chen E, Li G +4 more
Plain English This study developed a new tool called mosGraphFlow, designed to analyze complex biological data related to Alzheimer's Disease (AD). It found that this model can accurately identify important biomarkers and signaling pathways linked to AD, achieving better results than previous methods. The ability to visualize these findings helps researchers understand how the disease develops, which is crucial for improving diagnosis and treatment.
Who this helps: This benefits patients with Alzheimer's, researchers, and healthcare providers.
Eliminating the AI digital divide by building local capacity.
2025
PLOS digital health
Gulamali F, Kim JY, Pejavara K, Thomas C, Mathur V +42 more
Plain English Many hospitals, especially in rural and underserved areas, lack the staff and infrastructure to safely adopt AI tools, creating a widening gap between resource-rich and resource-poor health systems. This paper argues that a hub-and-spoke support network, connecting lower-resource hospitals to technical and legal expertise from better-equipped institutions, could close that gap. The authors point to their Health AI Partnership pilot as a proof of concept and call for federal investment to scale the model nationally.
Analyzing heterogeneity in Alzheimer Disease using multimodal normative modeling on imaging-based ATN biomarkers.
2024
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
Kumar S, Earnest T, Yang B, Kothapalli D, Aschenbrenner AJ +9 more
Plain English This study looked at how different brain imaging markers related to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) vary from person to person. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 1,100 participants using advanced imaging techniques to find that more severe cases of AD showed greater differences in these brain markers. They found that a higher disease severity index (DSI) was linked to worse thinking abilities and a higher chance of the disease getting worse.
Who this helps: This helps patients and doctors better understand the differences in how Alzheimer’s affects individuals.
Health Care Resource Utilization and Costs Associated With COVID-19 Among Pediatrics Managed in the Community or Hospital Setting in England: A Population-based Cohort Study.
2024
The Pediatric infectious disease journal
Yang J, Andersen KM, Rai KK, Tritton T, Mugwagwa T +9 more
Plain English This study looked at how children aged 1 to 17 in England used health care services and the costs linked to COVID-19, especially comparing those treated at home versus in the hospital. Researchers found that children aged 12 to 17 who were hospitalized stayed longer (an average of 5 days) than younger children, and overall, community care was more common, with primary care visits higher for younger kids (up to 6% for phone consultations). Understanding these patterns helps improve how health resources are managed for children with COVID-19.
Who this helps: This benefits children, their families, and health care providers.
sc2MeNetDrug: A computational tool to uncover inter-cell signaling targets and identify relevant drugs based on single cell RNA-seq data.
2024
PLoS computational biology
Feng J, Goedegebuure SP, Zeng A, Bi Y, Wang T +6 more
Plain English This study presents a new tool called sc2MeNetDrug that helps researchers analyze single-cell RNA sequencing data to understand how different cells communicate in disease environments, such as tumors or Alzheimer's disease. The tool simplifies the process of identifying dysfunctional signaling pathways between cells and suggests potential drugs to target these communications. This is important because it can lead to more effective treatments by focusing on how cells interact during disease progression.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and doctors looking for new ways to treat conditions like cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.
mosGraphGen: a novel tool to generate multi-omics signaling graphs to facilitate integrative and interpretable graph AI model development.
2024
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
Zhang H, Cao D, Chen Z, Zhang X, Chen Y +6 more
Plain English Researchers created a new tool called mosGraphGen that helps combine different types of biological data (like genetics and protein information) into easy-to-understand visual graphs. This tool can simplify the process of analyzing this complex data, making it easier to identify important disease-related targets. In tests using data sets related to cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, mosGraphGen successfully generated useful signaling graphs for AI models, making the analysis more effective.
Who this helps: This helps scientists and researchers who are developing AI models to better understand diseases.
Distribution of tuberculosis in migrant children and young people in Europe: a retrospective database analysis of European data.
2024
Public health
Payne P, Hayward SE, Pareek M, Smyth A, Kerr L +3 more
Plain English This study looked at tuberculosis (TB) in migrant children and young people in Europe between 1995 and 2017. It found that 24.4% of TB cases reported were in migrants, who had a higher chance of having severe forms of the disease and poorer treatment outcomes, with nearly double the likelihood of treatment failure compared to native-born children. Understanding these differences is crucial to improving health services and ensuring that migrant children receive better care.
Who this helps: This helps migrant children and healthcare providers working with these populations.
Evaluating Molecular Complexity with Open-Source Machine Learning Approaches to Predict Process Mass Intensity.
2024
ACS omega
Tin N, Chauhan M, Agwamba K, Sun Y, Parsons A +2 more
Plain English This study focused on improving how pharmaceutical manufacturers assess the efficiency of their processes by using a tool that measures something called process mass intensity (PMI), which reflects how resource-efficient a manufacturing method is. The researchers created a new open-source model that predicts "molecular complexity" based on specific features of molecules, achieving a predictive accuracy of 82.6%. This advancement is important because it allows manufacturers to optimize their processes for making medicines, promoting environmentally friendly practices.
Who this helps: Patients and pharmaceutical companies looking for sustainable production methods.
Analyzing heterogeneity in Alzheimer Disease using multimodal normative modeling on imaging-based ATN biomarkers.
2024
ArXiv
Kumar S, Earnest T, Yang B, Kothapalli D, Aschenbrenner AJ +8 more
Plain English Researchers studied how different brain imaging markers relate to Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) by analyzing data from 1,095 people. They found that people with higher levels of brain abnormalities showed worse thinking skills and a greater chance of their condition worsening. This matters because it helps us understand how AD affects individuals differently, which can lead to better-targeted treatments.
Who this helps: This helps patients and doctors by providing clearer insights into disease progression and individual treatment needs.
mosGraphGPT: a foundation model for multi-omic signaling graphs using generative AI.
2024
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
Zhang H, Huang D, Chen E, Cao D, Xu T +6 more
Plain English This study developed a new AI model called mosGraphGPT that helps understand complex biological signals in cells by analyzing combined data from different sources about diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's. The model was trained on data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and was found to improve disease identification accuracy significantly while also revealing important disease targets and interactions. This is important because it can lead to better diagnoses and treatment strategies for diseases, making it easier for researchers and doctors to understand how these diseases work.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and doctors working on cancer and Alzheimer's Disease.
Using DeepSignalingFlow to mine signaling flows interpreting mechanism of synergy of cocktails.
2024
NPJ systems biology and applications
Zhang H, Chen Y, Payne P, Li F
Plain English This study developed a new AI model called DeepSignalingFlow to better understand how certain combinations of drugs work together in fighting diseases, especially in cases where drugs might not be effective on their own. The model successfully analyzed complex biological data and showed improved accuracy in predicting how well these drug combinations work, outperforming existing methods. This understanding is crucial for creating more effective treatments that can overcome drug resistance.
Who this helps: This benefits patients with drug-resistant diseases and doctors seeking more effective treatment options.
Convergence of gut phage communities but not bacterial communities following wild mouse bacteriophage transplantation into captive house mice.
2024
The ISME journal
Čížková D, Payne P, Bryjová A, Ďureje Ľ, Piálek J +1 more
Plain English This study looked at the effects of transplanting viruses (called bacteriophages) from wild mice into captive house mice and found that while the wild phages were able to blend in with the captive mice's communities, the overall bacteria in the gut did not change. Specifically, they discovered that the wild mice had more varied phage communities compared to the captive ones and that transplanting these phages did not significantly affect the bacteria in the recipient mice. This information is important because it shows that while phage therapy might help in some cases, healthy adult gut bacteria are often resistant to changes from such treatments.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers and healthcare providers exploring new treatments for gut health issues.
mosGraphFlow: a novel integrative graph AI model mining disease targets from multi-omic data.
2024
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
Zhang H, Cao D, Xu T, Chen E, Li G +4 more
Plain English This study focused on developing a new AI model called mosGraphFlow to analyze complex biological data related to Alzheimer's disease (AD). The researchers used this model to identify and visualize key signaling biomarkers associated with AD, achieving a high classification accuracy of 93%. This finding matters because it helps better understand the underlying mechanisms of Alzheimer's, which could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment options.
Who this helps: This benefits patients with Alzheimer's, researchers, and doctors working on brain health.
Plain English This study focused on a new model called M3NetFlow that helps analyze complex data related to diseases by combining information from various biological sources, such as genes and proteins. Researchers found that their model provided the best prediction accuracy for understanding how drug combinations work together and identified important markers and pathways related to Alzheimer’s disease. This is important because it could lead to better-targeted treatments and a deeper understanding of diseases.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers and healthcare professionals working on personalized medicine and disease treatment.
Progressive myelination of the retinal nerve fibre layer associated with a lamina cribrosa cleft.
2024
BMJ case reports
Payne P, Nel G, Gale J
Plain English This study looked at a girl who had trouble reading and was found to have a condition called myelination of the retinal nerve fibre layer (MNFL) in her eye. Over five years, her MNFL grew and a new area formed, leading researchers to discover a Y-shaped cleft that might have developed from her eye not fully forming during development. This finding highlights that certain eye issues can provide a way for special cells to enter and change the retina, which is important for understanding how some eye conditions develop.
Who this helps: This helps eye doctors and researchers understand retinal conditions better, particularly in children.
mosGraphGen: a novel tool to generate multi-omics signaling graphs to facilitate integrative and interpretable graph AI model development.
2024
Bioinformatics advances
Zhang H, Cao D, Chen Z, Zhang X, Chen Y +6 more
Plain English The study introduces a new tool called mosGraphGen that helps scientists create detailed maps of biological data from multiple sources, such as genes and proteins, to better understand how cells work. When tested with data from cancer and Alzheimer's disease, this tool made it easier for researchers to analyze complex biological information. This matters because it can lead to the discovery of important biomarkers that may help in diagnosing or treating diseases.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and doctors working on cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
Endosome rupture enables enteroviruses from the family Picornaviridae to infect cells.
2024
Communications biology
Ishemgulova A, Mukhamedova L, Trebichalská Z, Rájecká V, Payne P +9 more
Plain English This study looked at how enteroviruses, which can cause illnesses like the common cold and serious brain infections, enter human cells. Researchers found that when these viruses are inside the cell's endosomes, the endosomes can break apart, releasing the virus particles into the cell's interior. They discovered that blocking certain processes can reduce the number of viruses that escape, but not stop them altogether. This research is important because it shows a common way that these viruses infect cells, which could lead to better ways to prevent and treat infections caused by enteroviruses and similar viruses.
Who this helps: This helps patients at risk for enterovirus infections and the doctors treating them.
IMPROVING NORMATIVE MODELING FOR MULTI-MODAL NEUROIMAGING DATA USING MIXTURE-OF-PRODUCT-OF-EXPERTS VARIATIONAL AUTOENCODERS.
2024
Proceedings. IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging
Kumar S, Payne P, Sotiras A
Plain English This study focused on improving how researchers understand brain scans from healthy people compared to those with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The researchers introduced a new method that better captures complex brain patterns, allowing them to identify patients with AD more accurately. They found that using their approach improved the identification of brain regions linked to abnormal changes in AD patients, leading to clearer insights into how the disease affects the brain.
Who this helps: This benefits patients with Alzheimer's disease and the doctors who diagnose and treat them.
Singhal K, Azizi S, Tu T, Mahdavi SS, Wei J +27 more
Plain English Researchers studied how well large language models (LLMs) can understand and answer medical questions. They found that a model called Flan-PaLM scored 67.6% on a test similar to U.S. medical licensing exams, beating the previous highest score by over 17%. However, when experts reviewed the answers, they identified key areas where the models fell short, emphasizing the need for better evaluation methods and development to ensure these models can be safely used in healthcare.
Who this helps: This research benefits doctors and patients by improving the tools they use for medical information.
Healthcare resource utilisation and costs of hospitalisation and primary care among adults with COVID-19 in England: a population-based cohort study.
2023
BMJ open
Yang J, Andersen KM, Rai KK, Tritton T, Mugwagwa T +11 more
Plain English This study looked at the healthcare costs and resources used by adults in England who were hospitalized for COVID-19. It found that older adults, especially those aged 75-84, faced the highest hospitalization costs (about £8,942), while those under 50 paid around £7,703. The results emphasize that older and immunocompromised individuals require more healthcare resources, which is important for planning and managing COVID-19 care effectively.
Who this helps: This helps patients, particularly older adults and those with weakened immune systems.
SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests provide benefits for epidemic control - observations from Austrian schools.
2022
Journal of clinical epidemiology
Polechová J, Johnson KD, Payne P, Crozier A, Beiglböck M +2 more
Plain English This study looked at how effective rapid antigen tests are for controlling the spread of COVID-19, particularly in Austrian schools during the spring of 2021. It found that using these tests regularly led to a 10% decrease in the spread of the virus among students, with low rates of false positives. These findings indicate that frequent testing can significantly help in managing the pandemic, especially during critical times.
Who this helps: This helps students and their families by providing a safer school environment.
A retrospective look at the predictions and recommendations from the 2009 AMIA policy meeting: did we see EHR-related clinician burnout coming?
2021
Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA
Starren JB, Tierney WM, Williams MS, Tang P, Weir C +4 more
Plain English This study looked back at predictions made in 2009 about how the new electronic health records (EHR) would impact doctors, especially concerning burnout. Researchers found that the level of burnout among clinicians was much worse than initially thought, mainly due to increasing paperwork demands, while concerns about identity theft were blown out of proportion. Out of 15 recommendations made to improve the situation, only 3 were found to have been adequately addressed.
Who this helps: This helps doctors and healthcare organizations understand and tackle clinician burnout more effectively.
Speed of Rapid Serial Visual Presentation of Pictures, Numbers and Words Affects Event-Related Potential-Based Detection Accuracy.
2020
IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering : a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
Lees S, McCullagh P, Payne P, Maguire L, Lotte F +1 more
Plain English This study looked at how quickly different types of images—pictures, numbers, and words—can be recognized using a brain-computer interface that picks up brain signals in response to these images. Researchers found that both the type of image and how fast it is shown matter for accuracy; for example, they calculated significant differences in detection accuracy when showing pictures versus numbers and words, and at different speeds of 100-400 milliseconds. This is important because it shows that optimizing how images are presented can improve the effectiveness of technology that helps people control devices with their minds.
Who this helps: This research benefits developers of brain-computer interfaces and the patients who use them, such as those with mobility impairments.
Sympatric ecological divergence with coevolution of niche preference.
2020
Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
Payne P, Polechová J
Plain English This study looked at how species can evolve separately in the same environment and develop preferences for different roles or "niches." The researchers found that certain conditions, like having different advantages in those niches and limited mixing between species, can help maintain genetic diversity instead of leading to species extinction. This matters because understanding these factors can help explain how new species form and survive together in the same habitats.
Who this helps: This helps scientists studying evolution and biodiversity.
Vitamin D Deficiency and Air Pollution Exacerbate COVID-19 Through Suppression of Antiviral Peptide LL37.
2020
Frontiers in public health
Crane-Godreau MA, Clem KJ, Payne P, Fiering S
Plain English This study looked at how a lack of vitamin D, combined with air pollution, can make COVID-19 worse. Researchers found that people with low vitamin D levels have a higher risk of severe COVID-19 and that fine particulate air pollution can impair the body’s ability to fight the virus by affecting a key peptide called LL37. Since vitamin D is affordable and easy to obtain, addressing deficiencies could be a simple way to help reduce severe COVID-19 cases, especially in vulnerable populations.
Who this helps: This helps older adults and individuals with existing health issues who are at higher risk for severe COVID-19.
Feeding Bugs to Bugs: Edible Insects Modify the Human Gut Microbiome in anFermentation Model.
2020
Frontiers in microbiology
Young W, Arojju SK, McNeill MR, Rettedal E, Gathercole J +2 more
Plain English This study explored how eating edible insects can change the types of bacteria found in the human gut. Researchers used digested black field crickets, grass grub larvae, and wax moth larvae and found that these insects led to significant changes in gut bacteria. For example, grass grub larvae increased beneficial bacteria known for their anti-inflammatory properties. This is important because improving gut health may lead to better overall health outcomes.
Who this helps: This research benefits patients looking for natural ways to enhance their gut health.
Plain English This study looked at a new way to predict how cancer cells respond to combinations of drugs using a simplified computer model. The researchers found that their model could effectively use a small number of key cancer signaling pathways to predict successful drug combinations, suggesting that targeting certain pathways can lead to better treatments. This is important because it can help in finding new ways to overcome drug resistance in cancer patients.
Who this helps: This helps cancer patients by finding more effective treatment options.
Performance on Electronic Clinical Quality Measures in the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative.
2019
American journal of medical quality : the official journal of the American College of Medical Quality
LaBonte CT, Payne P, Rollow W, Smith MW, Nissar A +2 more
Plain English This study looked at how well healthcare practices performed using electronic health records to measure quality of care under a program called the Comprehensive Primary Care initiative. They found that practices participating in this initiative performed better than standard practices on many measures of care quality, showing improvements ranging from 1.7 to 20 percentage points over two years. This shows that using these electronic measures can lead to better patient care and can be an effective way to link quality to payment for services.
Who this helps: Patients benefit from improved healthcare quality through better care management.
Including Pregnant Women in Clinical Research: Practical Guidance for Institutional Review Boards.
2019
Ethics & human research
Payne P
Plain English This study looks at the issue of including pregnant women in clinical research, highlighting that there is not enough information on how drugs affect them and their babies. Currently, only about 1% of clinical trials enroll pregnant women, which leaves both the mothers and their fetuses at risk because doctors lack proper guidance on medication use during pregnancy. The authors propose new guidelines for ethics boards to encourage the inclusion of pregnant women in research so that safer treatment options can be established.
Who this helps: This helps pregnant women and their healthcare providers.
Plain English This study looked at how to better measure and ensure the accuracy of observations in clinical workflow studies, which track how healthcare processes work over time. The researchers found that existing methods for checking reliability among different observers were inconsistent, so they created a new scoring system to make these assessments more reliable. This matters because having reliable data helps hospital managers make better decisions about healthcare operations.
Who this helps: This helps hospital managers and researchers.
CRISPR-based herd immunity can limit phage epidemics in bacterial populations.
2018
eLife
Payne P, Geyrhofer L, Barton NH, Bollback JP
Plain English This study examined how bacteria can develop herd immunity against viruses that infect them, known as phages. Researchers found that when bacteria are mixed with both resistant and susceptible cells, the presence of resistant cells helps limit the spread of phage infections among the susceptible ones. This interaction can help maintain a balanced population of bacteria and viruses, which is crucial for their ecosystem.
Who this helps: This research benefits microbiologists and could lead to better ways to control bacterial infections in medical and agricultural settings.
Accreditation Standard Guideline Initiative for Tai Chi and Qigong Instructors and Training Institutions.
2018
Medicines (Basel, Switzerland)
Oh B, Yeung A, Klein P, Larkey L, Ee C +20 more
Plain English This study addresses the lack of professional standards for Tai Chi and Qigong (TQ) instructors and training programs in Western countries, despite their health benefits. A group of experts from various countries created guidelines to ensure that these instructors are properly trained and qualified, which is crucial for integrating TQ into healthcare and potentially managing chronic diseases. The guidelines aim to support healthcare professionals and the public by promoting a consistent and safe practice of TQ.
Who this helps: These guidelines benefit patients, healthcare providers, and TQ practitioners.
Mapping the Gaps: Gender Differences in Preventive Cardiovascular Care among Managed Care Members in Four Metropolitan Areas.
2018
Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health
Bird CE, Manocchia M, Tomblin B, Payne P, Kulakodlu M +2 more
Plain English This study looked at how men and women receive preventive care for heart-related issues in a large health insurance plan, focusing on diabetes and coronary artery disease. It found that women with diabetes were 5% less likely to have their cholesterol controlled well compared to men, and those with coronary artery disease were 15% less likely to have good cholesterol levels. Women generally faced higher risks of having poor cholesterol control, indicating there are ongoing problems in how healthcare is provided based on gender.
Who this helps: This helps patients, especially women with heart disease and diabetes.
International Program to Monitor Cat Flea Populations for Susceptibility to Imidacloprid.
2018
Journal of medical entomology
Rust MK, Blagburn BL, Denholm I, Dryden MW, Payne P +3 more
Plain English Researchers studied cat fleas from different countries to see if they were still vulnerable to a common flea treatment called imidacloprid. They collected flea samples from over 3,000 populations between 2002 and 2017 and found that 83.5% of the fleas could develop normally without the treatment. Importantly, there was no sign that cat fleas had become less sensitive to imidacloprid during this time, meaning this treatment still works effectively against them.
Who this helps: This benefits pet owners, veterinarians, and anyone concerned with flea control in cats and dogs.
Digital Delivery of Meditative Movement Training Improved Health of Cigarette-Smoke-Exposed Subjects.
2018
Frontiers in public health
Payne P, Fiering S, Zava D, Gould TJ, Brown A +3 more
Plain English This study looked at whether a digital program teaching meditative movement could help flight attendants with long-term breathing issues caused by exposure to second-hand smoke. The results showed that those who practiced meditative movement significantly improved their ability to walk for six minutes, along with other measures of health, compared to those who just received health education videos. This matters because it offers a new way to enhance health and well-being for people suffering from chronic lung problems.
Who this helps: This helps flight attendants exposed to second-hand smoke and others with similar lung health issues.
Enabling Open Science for Health Research: Collaborative Informatics Environment for Learning on Health Outcomes (CIELO).
2017
Journal of medical Internet research
Payne P, Lele O, Johnson B, Holve E
Plain English This study focused on creating a new platform called CIELO to make health research more open and collaborative. The goal was to improve how health research is done by making data and methods transparent, which helps researchers replicate studies and work together more effectively. Findings showed that involving potential users in the development process helped identify their needs, leading to more valuable tools for health research, although more discussions are needed on how to keep the platform sustainable.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers, healthcare professionals, and ultimately patients by improving the quality and efficiency of health studies.
Behavioral Health and the Comprehensive Primary Care (CPC) Initiative: findings from the 2014 CPC behavioral health survey.
2017
BMC health services research
Zivin K, Miller BF, Finke B, Bitton A, Payne P +6 more
Plain English This study looked at how well primary care practices are including behavioral health services, like support for anxiety and depression, as part of their overall patient care. Among 161 primary care practices surveyed, most showed basic to good levels of integration, particularly in handling depression, but struggled with communication between primary care and behavioral health providers. This is important because better integration can lead to improved patient care and lower healthcare costs.
Who this helps: Patients needing mental health support within primary care settings.