Bioscience trends
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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is an intractable disease with a median survival time of 2 to 3 years. Serum levels of Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6), surfactant protein A (SP-A), and surfactant protein D (SP-D) are useful biomarkers for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and they are widely used in Japan. ⋯ However, the differential diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis from other interstitial lung diseases is still challenging. Several other biomarkers have been identified and are being studied in Japan.
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Although qualitative studies have increased since the 1990s, some reports note that relatively few influential journals published them up until 2000. This study critically reviewed the characteristics of qualitative studies published in top tier medical journals since 2000. We assessed full texts of qualitative studies published between 2000 and 2004 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, BMJ, JAMA, Lancet, and New England Journal of Medicine. ⋯ Qualitative data analysis software was used by 33 studies (41%). Among influential journals of general medicine, only BMJ consistently published an average of 15 qualitative study reports between 2000 and 2004. These findings lend insight into what qualities and characteristics make a qualitative study worthy of consideration to be published in an influential journal, primarily BMJ.