: COVID-19 vaccines were rapidly developed and deployed on a large scale during a global crisis. A range of deployment strategies were used globally to maximize vaccine uptake. In this scoping review, we identify and analyze the main healthcare system and policy factors that guided and influenced COVID-19 vaccination deployment and uptake globally.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTherapeutic vaccination can harness the body's cellular immune system to target and destroy cancerous cells. Several treatment options are available to eliminate pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions caused by human papillomaviruses (HPV), but may not result in a long-term cure. Therapeutic vaccination may offer an effective, durable, and minimally intrusive alternative.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction This study evaluates the effectiveness of a comprehensive hip fracture protocol, with a focus on specific readmission reasons. Methods A retrospective cohort study of hip fracture patients aged 60 and older who underwent surgery before (control) and after (intervention) implementation of a comprehensive hip fracture program. Objectives included identifying readmission reasons and rates, time to operating room (TOR), length of stay (LOS), reoperation, and mortality rates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChilds Nerv Syst
September 2024
Purpose: Transcranial doppler based diagnostic criteria for cerebral vasospasm are not well established in the pediatric population because there is no published normative data to support the diagnosis. Studies have relied on expert consensus, but the definitions have not been validated in children diagnosed with angiographic evidence of vasospasm. Obtaining normative data is a prerequisite to defining pediatric cerebral vasospasm and the Lindegaard Ratio (LR).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To examine if increasing blood pressure improves brain tissue oxygenation (PbtO 2 ) in adults with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Design: Retrospective review of prospectively collected data.
Setting: Level-I trauma center teaching hospital.
Background: The measurement of blood velocity in the carotid artery has been the most popular noninvasive method of identifying and classifying carotid stenosis for half a century. Carotid stenosis is an indicator of elevated risk of stroke; anatomic revascularization reduces the chance of stroke by more than half. Controversy persists on how patients with severe carotid stenosis should be selected for anatomic revascularization.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle
February 2024
Background: Mitochondrial dysfunction may contribute to brain and muscle health through inflammation or fat infiltration in the muscle, both of which are associated with cognitive function and mobility. We aimed to examine the association between skeletal muscle mitochondrial function and cognitive and mobility outcomes and tested the mediation effect of inflammation or fat infiltration.
Methods: We analysed data from 596 Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging participants who had concurrent data on skeletal muscle oxidative capacity and cognitive and mobility measures of interest (mean age: 66.
Hum Vaccin Immunother
December 2023
Vaccine hesitancy is a complex, context-specific issue that negatively impacts vaccine uptake. During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine mis- and dis-information on social media negatively impacted on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. University students' beliefs and behaviors surrounding vaccine decision-making is less studied, but this population is important in disease transmission, vaccine uptake and effectiveness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo describe the setting, feasibility, and safety of static cerebral autoregulation testing in critically injured adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: We reviewed static autoregulation testing using transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound in patients > 18 years with TBI ICD codes between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2021. Adverse events during testing were defined as systemic hypertension (systolic blood pressure (SBP>180 mmHg), bradycardia (HR<40 bpm), and high ICP (>30 mmHg).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFingolimod has generally shown neuroprotective effects in stroke models. Here, we tested the hypothesis that fingolimod modulates T-cell cytokine production towards a regulatory phenotype. Second, we investigated how fingolimod altered the Treg suppressive function and the sensitivity of effector T cells to regulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In this phase 2 randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients with COVID-19, we hypothesised that blocking mineralocorticoid receptors using a combination of dexamethasone to suppress cortisol secretion and spironolactone is safe and may reduce illness severity.
Methods: Hospitalised patients with confirmed COVID-19 were randomly allocated to low dose oral spironolactone (50 mg day 1, then 25 mg once daily for 21 days) or standard of care in a 2:1 ratio. Both groups received dexamethasone 6 mg daily for 10 days.
The advantages of skin-based vaccination include induction of strong immunity, dose-sparing, and ease of administration. Several technologies for skin-based immunisation in humans are being developed to maximise these key advantages. This route is more conventionally used in veterinary medicine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough the HPV vaccine is highly safe and effective, its uptake is sub-optimal in many countries, including Ireland. There is therefore a need to identify appropriate interventions that will increase HPV vaccine acceptance by parents. In this study, we took a systematic approach to understand the factors that influence HPV vaccine uptake by parents of adolescent girls in Ireland to define suitable behaviour change interventions that would support positive vaccine decision-making in the future.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The objective is to examine the relationship between transcranial Doppler cerebral vasospasm (TCD-vasospasm), and clinical outcomes in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).
Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, using univariate and multivariate analysis, we examined the association between TCD-vasospasm (defined as Lindegaard ratio >3) and patient's ability to ambulate without assistance, the need for tracheostomy and gastrostomy tube placement, and the likelihood of being discharged home from the hospital.
Results: We studied 346 patients with aSAH; median age 55 years (Interquartile range IQR 46,64), median Hunt and Hess 3 [IQR 1-5].
Background: The well-characterised role of the immune system in acute ischaemic stroke has prompted the search for immunomodulatory therapies. Pregnancy-specific glycoproteins (PSGs) are a group of proteins synthesised by placental trophoblasts which show immunomodulatory properties. The aim of this study was to determine whether a proposed PSG1-based therapeutic enhanced recovery in a mouse model of brain ischaemia and to explore possible immunomodulatory effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPreclinical data indicate that fingolimod improves outcome post-ischaemia. This study used a rigorous study design in normal male C57BL/6JOlaHsd mice and in mice with common stroke comorbidities to further evaluate the translational potential of fingolimod. Stroke was induced via middle cerebral artery electrocoagulation in 8-9-week old mice (young mice), 18 month old mice (aged mice), and in high-fat diet-fed 22-week old ApoE-/- mice (hyperlipidaemic mice).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to design, develop, and evaluate the feasibility of a theory- and evidence-based intervention to improve human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccine knowledge and intention to vaccinate, among parent-daughter dyads. A theory- and evidence-based online behavioral intervention, "", was developed to improve HPV and HPV vaccine knowledge and intention to vaccinate. Knowledge, intention to vaccinate, and feasibility of the intervention were evaluated in a prospective, randomized, controlled feasibility trial.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Pharm Biopharm
April 2022
Microneedlepatches, also called microarray patches(MAP),are an emergingtechnology for deliveryand samplingof drugs, vaccines and other materials. This review focuses on the materials and methods used to fabricate dissolvable microneedles(DMN)for pharmaceutical use.We outlinethe relative use ofexcipients, active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and methods usedfor DMN fabrication.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Many repurposed drugs have progressed rapidly to Phase 2 and 3 trials in COVID19 without characterisation of Pharmacokinetics /Pharmacodynamics including safety data. One such drug is nafamostat mesylate.
Methods: We present the findings of a phase Ib/IIa open label, platform randomised controlled trial of intravenous nafamostat in hospitalised patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonitis.
Understanding parental attitudes to their children's vaccination is critical to developing and implementing interventions that address parents' hesitancy and improve vaccine uptake. The Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) survey is a validated tool for identifying vaccine hesitancy in parents. We evaluated the rate of vaccine hesitancy and areas of concern regarding childhood vaccinations using an adapted version of the PACV survey, in a convenience sample of parents attending a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) outreach event in Ireland, in 2018.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBreast Cancer Res Treat
January 2022
Purpose: Breast cancer survivors take vitamins and supplements to bolster their general health and to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence. Healthcare providers are frequently unaware of their patients non-prescription supplement use. The aim of this study was to study the type and the documentation of patients' dietary supplements and vitamins in the electronic medical record (EMR).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTetrathiomolybdate (TM) is a novel, copper-depleting compound associated with promising survival in a phase II study of patients with high-risk and triple-negative breast cancer. We sought to elucidate the mechanism of TM by exploring its effects on collagen processing and immune function in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Using an exploratory cohort, we identified markers of collagen processing (LOXL2, PRO-C3, C6M, and C1M) that differed between those with breast cancer versus controls.
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