Publications by authors named "B M Jepson"
Article Synopsis
- AZD2816 is a variant-specific COVID-19 vaccine designed to improve immunity against the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant while still resembling the original AZD1222 vaccine.
- The study involved unvaccinated adults in a randomized, multinational trial across several countries, primarily assessing the safety and effectiveness of administering different schedules of the two vaccines over a period of 180 days.
- Results indicated comparable safety profiles and immune responses to both vaccines, with slight variations in the rates of adverse events and antibody responses among the different groups.
Article Synopsis
- The study examines the use of left atrial strain (LAS) in children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) and its relation to cardiac injury and inflammation.
- Results showed that LAS parameters were significantly lower in MIS-C patients compared to healthy controls and those with cardiac injury had even more reduced LAS metrics.
- The findings suggest that LAS could be a reliable diagnostic tool for detecting cardiac dysfunction in MIS-C and correlates with inflammatory markers, highlighting its potential use in clinical settings.
Article Synopsis
- The study examined the relationship between echocardiographic and laboratory findings at admission and the severity of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19, focusing on vasoactive medication usage.
- Out of 118 patients, 48% were given vasoactive medication, with key indicators like elevated brain natriuretic peptide, C-reactive protein, and lower left ventricular ejection fraction linked to more severe disease.
- Results suggest that laboratory markers, particularly those indicating inflammation and heart injury, could be more effective in predicting MIS-C severity compared to strain parameters or LVEF, especially since many patients with a normal LVEF still required vasoactive support.
Article Synopsis
- The study evaluated the efficacy and safety of AZD2816, a new COVID-19 vaccine variant, compared to the existing AZD1222 vaccine as booster shots for individuals who had previously received two doses of either vaccine.
- Conducted across 23 sites in the UK and Poland, the mixed methods approach included random assignment of nearly 1,400 adult participants and ensured blinding of participants and research staff regarding the groups.
- Results showed that both vaccines had similar safety profiles, with high percentages of participants reporting mild side effects, and demonstrated acceptable levels of antibody production against the virus.
Cardiovascular computed tomography (CCT) is rated appropriate by published guidelines for the initial evaluation and follow up of congenital heart disease (CHD) and is an essential modality in cardiac imaging programs for patients of all ages. However, no recommended core competencies exist to guide CCT in CHD imaging training pathways, curricula development, or establishment of a more formal educational platform. To fill this gap, a group of experienced congenital cardiac imagers, intentionally inclusive of adult and pediatric cardiologists and radiologists, was formed to propose core competencies fundamental to the expert-level performance of CCT in pediatric acquired and congenital heart disease and adult CHD.
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