9/15/2016
Writing Effective Scientific Abstracts for
Presentation
Veronica Ortega, BA, CG(ASCP)CM
Clinical and Molecular Cytogenetics Laboratory
UT Health Science Center San Antonio
What is an Abstract?
• Abstract
- Short and concise description of a larger work
- Original document
- Can act as a stand-alone entity
• Abstracts ideally should contain
- Introduction or background information
- Methods and materials
- Results
- Discussion
Why should we care about abstracts? Because…
•
Helps readers decide whether to commit to the longer work
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/abstracts/
• Used by organizations as basis for selecting research posters, platform or
workshop presentation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abstract_(summary)
Before You Begin
•
•
•
•
Get to know your topic
Read, study research papers
Correlate your results to the literature
Discuss with your director, peers
• Design the story
• Determine the uniqueness of your story
• Beginning, middle, ending
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The 6 Sentence Abstract
Introduction /
Background
Methods /
Materials
The first sentence of an abstract should clearly introduce the topic of the
paper so that readers can relate it to other work they are familiar with.
However, an analysis of abstracts across a range of fields show that few
follow this advice, nor do they take the opportunity to summarize previous
work in their second sentence.
A central issue is the lack of structure in standard advice on abstract writing, so
most authors don’t realize the third sentence should point out the deficiencies
of this existing research.
To solve this problem, we describe a technique that structures the entire
abstract around a set of six sentences, each of which has a specific role, so that
by the end of the first four sentences you have introduced the idea fully.
Results
This structure then allows you to use the fifth sentence to elaborate a little on
the research, explain how it works, and talk about the various ways that you
have applied it, for example to teach generations of new graduate students
how to write clearly.
Discussion
This technique is helpful because it clarifies your thinking and leads to a final
sentence that summarizes why your research matters.
C:\Users\ortegav\Desktop\How to write a scientific abstract in six easy steps Serendipity.html
Step One – What’s the Topic?
The first sentence of an abstract should clearly introduce the topic of the paper so
that readers can relate it to other work they are familiar with.
Introduction - Introduce your topic in a way that your audience will understand.
• Know your audience!
C:\Users\ortegav\Desktop\How to write a scientific abstract in six easy steps Serendipity.html
Step Two – What’s the Problem?
However, an analysis of abstracts across a range of fields show that few follow
this advice, nor do they take the opportunity to summarize previous work in their
second sentence.
Question - What is the central question that you want to address?
• Focus on one question about your topic. Why are you writing the abstract?
C:\Users\ortegav\Desktop\How to write a scientific abstract in six easy steps Serendipity.html
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Step Three – What’s New?
A central issue is the lack of structure in standard advice on abstract writing, so
most authors don’t realize the third sentence should point out the deficiencies of
this existing research.
Summarize the uniqueness of your research – How is your research is different
than others of the same topic?
• Introduce your research/work/case study.
C:\Users\ortegav\Desktop\How to write a scientific abstract in six easy steps Serendipity.html
Step Four – Methods/Materials
To solve this problem, we describe a technique that structures the entire abstract
around a set of six sentences, each of which has a specific role, so that by the end
of the first four sentences you have introduced the idea fully.
Methods and Materials – How did you carry out your research?
C:\Users\ortegav\Desktop\How to write a scientific abstract in six easy steps Serendipity.html
Step Five - Results
This structure then allows you to use the fifth sentence to elaborate a little on the
research, explain how it works, and talk about the various ways that you have
applied it, for example to teach generations of new graduate students how to write
clearly.
Results – What does your research show?
• Summarize your data.
C:\Users\ortegav\Desktop\How to write a scientific abstract in six easy steps Serendipity.html
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Step Six - Discussion
This technique is helpful because it clarifies your thinking and leads to a final
sentence that summarizes why your research matters.
Discussion – What’s the point?
• Explain the clinical significance/implications/impact of the findings of your
research or case study.
C:\Users\ortegav\Desktop\How to write a scientific abstract in six easy steps Serendipity.html
Sample Abstract – Step One
•
Introduce your topic and know your audience!
Genomic instability is thought to arise through a gradual multi-step process but
recent genome sequencing studies have led to identification of a novel
phenomenon called chromothripsis which suggests an evolutionary modality for
cancer cells to circumvent individual mutational events with one simultaneous
shattering of chromosomes resulting in the random reassembly of segmented
genetic material to form complex derivative chromosomes.
• Abstract for submission to Association of Genetic Technologists
annual conference.
• Audience is familiar with topics in genetics.
Sample Abstract – Step Two
•
Central question. State the problem!
While chromothripsis is well documented in solid tumors and leukemias,
chromothripsis in lymphoma is rarely reported.
• Audience should wonder, ‘why is chromothripsis in lymphoma rarely
reported?’.
•
Previous work is also summarized.
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Sample Abstract – Step Three
•
Introduce the uniqueness in your research /
work / case study.
We report a case of possible chromothripsis in a patient presenting with a thyroid
mass suspicious for lymphoma where histology and immunostaining revealed that
the mass contained a characteristic pattern of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
• The uniqueness is possible chromothripsis in a lymphoma case.
•
It’s different and better than other chromothripsis cases because it
could be something never reported before.
Sample Abstract – Step Four
•
Describe the methods and materials used.
Chromosome analysis from the biopsy was performed along with FISH for the B-cell
lymphoma probe panel, and array comparative genomic hybridization studies using
Cytochip 60K custom oligo array to further investigate and confirm the findings.
• The methods here are chromosome analysis, FISH and microarray.
Sample Abstract – Step Five
•
Summarize your data. Leave out the details!
The results showed a complex karyotype including a translocation of chromosomes
3 and 7 involving the BCL6 gene region (confirmed by FISH), with the derivative
chromosome further rearranging with chromosomes 14, 7 and 22 with involvement
of the IGH gene region (confirmed by FISH), and multiple complex copy number
variations by microarray including a previously unidentified chromosome 12
abnormality in which the complexity appears to confirm the phenomenon of
chromothripsis.
• Data summarized without disclosing too much detail of each result.
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Sample Abstract – Step Six
• Explain the clinical significance / implications /
impact of the findings.
Our patient’s genomic abnormalities show characteristics suggestive of
chromothripsis and provide initial evidence that chromothripsis is not confined to
solid tumors, but can also be seen in B-cell lymphomas with well characterized one
or two-step lymphomagenesis.
• The clinical significance of this finding is that lymphomagenesis can
arise via chromothripsis in B-cell lymphomas.
• A new and novel concept.
Sample Abstract Completed
Introduction /
Background
1 Genomic instability is thought to arise through a gradual multi-step process but recent
genome sequencing studies have led to identification of a novel phenomenon called
chromothripsis which suggests an evolutionary modality for cancer cells to circumvent
individual mutational events with one simultaneous shattering of chromosomes resulting
in the random reassembly of segmented genetic material to form complex derivative
chromosomes.
2 While chromothripsis is well documented in solid tumors and leukemias, chromothripsis
in lymphoma is rarely reported.
3 We report a case of possible chromothripsis in a patient presenting with a thyroid mass
suspicious for lymphoma where histology and immunostaining revealed that the mass
contained a characteristic pattern of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Methods /
Materials
4 Chromosome analysis from the biopsy was performed along with FISH for the B-cell
lymphoma probe panel, and array comparative genomic hybridization studies using
Cytochip 60K custom oligo array to further investigate and confirm the findings.
Results
5 The results showed a complex karyotype including a translocation of chromosomes 3
and 7 involving the BCL6 gene region (confirmed by FISH), with the derivative chromosome
further rearranging with chromosomes 14, 7 and 22 with involvement of the IGH gene
region (confirmed by FISH), and multiple complex copy number variations by microarray
including a previously unidentified chromosome 12 abnormality in which the complexity
appears to confirm the phenomenon of chromothripsis.
Discussion
6 Our patient’s genomic abnormalities show characteristics suggestive of chromothripsis
and provide initial evidence that chromothripsis is not confined to solid tumors, but can
also be seen in B-cell lymphomas with well characterized one or two-step
lymphomagenesis.
General Guidelines for PP Presentation
Title Slide
Slide
Format/Design
Slide Content
•
•
•
•
Catchy title to attract audience
Subject should be new and cutting edge
Engaging/entertaining illustration
Introduce yourself, company
• Stay away from busy or flashy design
• Bright colors, not dull or neutral
• Keep bullets, spacing, font and font size the same
•
•
•
•
Few words as possible
Clean, visually easy-to-follow slide material
Use pictures, illustrations as much as possible
Animation that clearly explains steps/mechanisms
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Abstract
Presentation
Introduction/Background
Information
Methods/Materials
• Approximately 6 or more slides
• Know your audience
• Stay on topic
• Illustrations and animation
• Shortest section, 1-2 slides
• Use bullets, lists
• Use pictures to explain technique
• Longest section, 6 or more slides
• Pictures, pictures, pictures!
• Use arrows, underlined words, bold type,
graphs, charts, animations, transitions
Results
Discussion
• Approximately 3-4 slides inc. summary slide
• Explain clinical significance, implications of
findings
• Illustrations and animations
• Summarize key points
Introduction/Background
Information
Example 1
Chromothripsis
“Chromo” for chromosome
“Thripsis” means shattered (Greek)
“Shattering”
Causing tens to hundreds of breakpoints in a few
chromosomes, a single chromosome, a chromosome arm
or even a few Mb of a chromosomal band.
Results in random reassembly of genomic segments forming
complex derivative chromosomes and deleted regions.
Differs significantly from the mutational progressive method
Introduction/Background
Information
Example 2
Stress Stimulus
Original Chromosome Sequence
Derivative Chromosome
Cancer cells circumvent individual mutational events by imposing one
synchronized “shattering” of chromosomal material.
Tubio, et al, 2011
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Introduction/Background
Information
Example 2.1
Methods/Materials
Example 1
A 59-year-old Caucasian female with history of hypothyroidism
Swelling in the neck 1-2 months before presenting to the clinic with a
rapidly enlarging goiter causing significant dyspnea
CT scan showed extensive infiltration and enlargement of the thyroid
gland with significant effect on the trachea
Thyroid biopsy showed sheets of large dysplastic B-cells, diagnostic
of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
Methods/Materials
Example 2
Thyroid Mass
Chromosome Analysis (CA)
Complex karyotype
Fluorescence In situ Hybridization (FISH)
BCL6 break-apart (BAP) probe (Cytocell)
CCND1/IGH dual color, dual fusion (DCDF) (Cytocell)
IGH/BCL2 dual color, dual fusion (DCDF) (Cytocell)
Whole Chromosome Paint (WCP) 12 (Cytocell)
Array CGH
Custom oligonucleotide microarray The Cytochip_60K
(Bluegnome, Inc.)
High density and backbone coverage of 75kb
Data interpretation UCSC genome browser, DGV
and internal CNV database
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Results
Example 1
51~56,XX,+X,+2,t(3;7)(q29;p11.2),der(7)t(3;7)t(14;7;22)(q32;p11.2;q12),+der(7)t(14;7;22),
der(8)t(8;18)(p12;q21),+der(9)t(5;9)(q13;q22),+13,der(14)t(14;7;22),+21,+1~4r[cp20]
Results
Example 2
Chr. 3
q
p
p
t(3;7)
q
Chr. 7
der(7)t(3;7)t(14;7;22)
Chr. 14
Chr. 22
der(14)t(14;7;22)
der(22)
51~56,XX,+X,+2,t(3;7)(q29;p11.2),der(7)t(3;7)t(14;7;22)(q32;p11.2;q12),+der(7)t(14;7;22),
der(8)t(8;18)(p12;q21),+der(9)t(5;9)(q13;q22),+13,der(14)t(14;7;22),+21,+1~4r[cp20]
Results
Example 3
Metaphase FISH using whole chromosome paint 12 confirms ring chromosome.
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Results
Example 4
Discussion
Example 1
Chromosome 12
Discussion
Example 2
DLBCL case with complex abnormalities suggesting “chromothripsis”.
First case of DLBCL without IGH/BCL2 gene rearrangement, but presenting with
multiple other abnormalities indicating genomic instability.
FISH studies show complex rearrangements involving BCL6 and IGH genes which on
array analysis appear to be balanced.
Microarray studies suggest chromosome 12 has duplication and triplication of both
12p and 12q with loss of telomeres resulting in a ring formation.
Our case suggests that B-cell lymphoma can arise from genomic instability caused
by a single catastrophic event instead of incremental steps seen in most cases.
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Tips & Tricks
Make story flow - The last sentence, words, picture is the topic for next slide
Write notes for presentation - Write down what to say for each slide
Practice presentation - Alone, with friends, family, mentor
Know your slides - Add words to slide as reminders, familiarize next slide
Make eye contact - Look across the room both sides
Speak clearly / pace yourself - Speak close to microphone / Use animation
entrance effects for sentences, illustrations
Nerves - Inevitable, stay calm, collect thoughts, meditate
Summary
Abstract
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Topic
Problem
Idea
Methods
Results
Discussion
Presentation
Introduction
•Background
Information
•Abstract steps 1-3
Methods
Results
•Tests,
techniques,
materials
•Abstract step 4
•Outcome of tests,
techniques
•Data explained
•Abstract step 5
Discussion
•Explanation of
results
•Implications, clinical
significance, impact
•Abstract step 6
Questions
Thank You!
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