Decreased susceptibility to NMU-induced mammary carcinogenesis in transgenic rats

carrying multiple copies of a rat ras gene driven by the rat Harvey ras promoterA Literature Critique of the Nature article published

April 2002

There were 6 authors for this paper, with the primary author Todd A Thompson2. The others were Jill D Haag1, Mary J Lindstrom3, Anne E Griep4, Jan K Lohse4 and Michael N Gould1,2

Generally the scientists were considering how the body reacts when there is an over expression of Ras protein, and what this reaction implies for mammary carcinogenesis (breast cancer).

According to the authors, Ras has the potential to function as a modifier gene in repressing mammary carcinogenesis.

Introduction

Literary analysis (i.e. Analyzing the writing style of the authors)◦ The correct way to format a Journal-

Style Scientific Paper◦ Breakdown from the Abstract to the

Conclusion Impact factor of the article

◦ vs impact factor of the journal

Overview

Literary Analysis What is the correct way to

format a journal style paper?◦ Title◦ Authors and Affiliation◦ Abstract◦ Introduction◦ Methods◦ Results◦ Discussion◦ Acknowledgments and

Literature Cited

How did the authors of this paper do it?

Mixed it up◦ Title◦ Authors and Affiliation◦ Abstract◦ Introduction◦ Results◦ Discussion◦ Methods◦ Acknowledgments and

References

HOW ON EARTH?

Literary Analysis: Breakdown

The Purpose

Methods/ Experimental Design

Abstract: The function of an abstract is to summarize in one paragraph the major aspects of the entire paper. It should include

◦ The purpose of the paper◦ The experimental

design and methods used◦ The major findings◦ A brief summary of their

conclusions. Did they get it right?

Literary Analysis: Breakdown

Results

Conclusion

Abstract: The function of an abstract is to summarize in one paragraph the major aspects of the entire paper. It should include

◦ The purpose of the paper◦ The experimental

design and methods used◦ The major findings◦ A brief summary of their

conclusions. Did they get it right?

Introduction Methods:

◦ One line under statistical analysis “The effect of transgene on 18-week tumor multiplicity was assessed for the HrHr and HrKr transgenic lines using a generalized linear model assuming Poisson distributed counts.”

Results:◦ Seven different instances of “data

not shown” is not commendable. Show more data instead.

Literary Analysis: Breakdown

Results◦ Appropriate use of tables and

diagrams◦ Indicating “p-value” which

shows the significance of the data they got

◦ Showing relationships using graphs and clearly labeled pictures

Literary Analysis: Breakdown

Figure 1 from the article

Figure 5 from the article, Assays

Table 1 from the article

Since the format of the paper was a little different, the article ended with the Materials and Methods section

Cliff hanger feeling Instead, they should have ended

with the Discussion section In conclusion, it was a decent

research article – B plus

Literary Analysis: Breakdown

The article had been cited only twice on PubMed

However, the scientific journal Nature is a very high impact journal

So the article has actually been cited at least 46 times over the last 11 years making it a relatively high impact document

Impact Factor

June 2012 Copy of Nature

11

Questions?