Publications by authors named "Bragg R"

The well-known problem of antibiotic resistance foreshadows a similar threat posed by microbial resistance to biocides such as disinfectants and antiseptics. These products are vital for infection control, yet their overuse during the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the development of resistant microorganisms. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying disinfectant resistance in sp.

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Huntington's disease (HD) arises from a CAG expansion in the () gene beyond a critical threshold. A major thrust of current HD therapeutic development is lowering levels of mutant mRNA (m) and protein (mHTT) with the aim of reducing the toxicity of these product(s). Human genetic data also support a key role for somatic instability (SI) in 's CAG repeat - whereby it lengthens with age in specific somatic cell types - as a key driver of age of motor dysfunction onset.

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Pharmaceutical-aligned research endeavors continue to diversify, including via the installation of new chemical functionality and non-classical bioisosteres within drug design. With this, an equally high demand emerges for the direct installation of isotopic substituents into these scaffolds within drug discovery programmes, as isotopologues are essential for the elucidation of the biological efficacy and metabolic fate of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The sulfoximine functional group has recently become established as a high-value unit in this context; however, general and effective methods for the synthesis of deuterium (H, D) and tritium (H, T) labelled analogues have remained elusive.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Atuliflapon was quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, with a half-life of about 20 hours, and most of the drug in the plasma remained unchanged, while only a small portion was excreted through urine.
  • * The results indicate that atuliflapon was well tolerated, with a significant amount of the drug being recovered in feces, and the findings will aid in further development for treating various health conditions.
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Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) with thin corpus callosum can be due to a variety of genetic causes, the most common of which are biallelic variants in SPG11 (HSP11). Only six cases of neuropathologic examination of HSP11 have been reported. Here we present neuropathological findings in another case of HSP11 with novel mutation (homozygous c.

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, the surge in disinfectant use emphasised their pivotal role in infection control. While the majority of antimicrobial resistance research focuses on antibiotics, resistance to biocides, which are present in disinfectants and sanitisers, is escalating. sp.

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Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded CAG tract in the huntingtin (HTT) gene, leading to toxic gains of function. HTT-lowering treatments are in clinical trials, but the risks imposed are unclear. Recent studies have reported on the consequences of widespread HTT loss in mice, where one group described early HTT loss leading to fatal pancreatitis, but later loss as benign.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Participants received oral and intravenous doses, with results showing a median maximum concentration at 1.7 hours and an elimination half-life of 12.9 hours.
  • * The study found that about 28.6% of the drug was absorbed, with the main metabolic product being M11, and no significant safety issues were reported.
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Background: Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH) is a process where trained practitioners work with plants and people to improve an individual's physical and psychological health, communication and thinking skills. Evidence suggests that STH can support individuals with mental ill-health, however, current commissioning of STH within mental health care is limited. This study aimed to understand the barriers to commissioning STH in mental health care and to identify potential solutions to barriers, to support more widespread availability of services.

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As part of a medicinal chemistry program aimed at discovering a mineralocorticoid receptor modulator for treatment of kidney and cardiovascular indications, multiple labeled versions of the lead compound, balcinrenone (AZD9977), were prepared. Four stable isotope labeled versions of the compound were prepared for clinical bioanalysis and biological investigations. Three of these stable isotope labeled compounds were tritiated as well as the parent for biology applications and DMPK investigations.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted our reliance on biocides, the increasing prevalence of resistance to biocides is a risk to public health. Bacterial exposure to the biocide, benzalkonium chloride (BAC), resulted in a unique transcriptomic profile, characterised by both a short and long-term response. Differential gene expression was observed in four main areas: motility, membrane composition, proteostasis, and the stress response.

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Huntington's disease arises from a toxic gain of function in the () gene. As a result, many HTT-lowering therapies are being pursued in clinical studies, including those that reduce HTT RNA and protein expression in the liver. To investigate potential impacts, we characterized molecular, cellular, and metabolic impacts of chronic HTT lowering in mouse hepatocytes.

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The release of metformin, a drug used in the treatment of cancer and diabetes, from poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), pHEMA, hydrogel-based microneedle patches is demonstrated in vitro. Tuning the composition of the pHEMA hydrogels enables preparation of robust microneedle patches with mechanical properties such that they would penetrate skin (insertion force of a single microneedle to be ≈40 N). Swelling experiments conducted at 20, 35, and 60 °C show temperature-dependent degrees of swelling and diffusion kinetics.

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Huntington's disease arises from a toxic gain of function in the ( ) gene. As a result, many HTT-lowering therapies are being pursued in clinical studies, including those that reduce HTT RNA and protein expression in the liver. To investigate potential impacts, we characterized molecular, cellular, and metabolic impacts of chronic HTT lowering in mouse hepatocytes.

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An absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion study was performed to determine the basic pharmacokinetic parameters, mass balance, and metabolite profiles of balcinrenone, a mineralocorticoid receptor modulator, in humans. This open-label, single-center, nonrandomized study had a two-period design. In period 1, eight healthy male subjects were dosed with a microtracer intravenous infusion of [C]balcinrenone shortly after receiving an oral dose of unlabeled balcinrenone in a capsule.

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Metastasis to the bone in breast cancer patients is common, but metastasis specifically to the appendicular skeleton is rare. A limited number of cases in the literature describe metastatic breast cancer to the distal limbs, also known as acrometastasis. Acrometastasis in a patient with breast cancer should prompt evaluation for diffuse metastatic disease.

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Hormesis, or the hormetic effect, is a dose- or concentration-dependent response characterised by growth stimulation at low concentrations and inhibition at high concentrations. The impact of sub-lethal levels of disinfectants on the growth of species is critical to understanding the increasing number of outbreaks caused by this pathogen in healthcare settings. sp.

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Article Synopsis
  • Current knowledge about how bacteria resist disinfectants is limited, especially regarding the role of mobile genetic elements like genomic islands.
  • Whole-genome sequencing of a disinfectant-resistant isolate revealed nine resistance islands containing various multidrug efflux pump genes and antibiotic resistance genes, indicating complex resistance mechanisms.
  • Two specific genomic islands were identified as harboring genes that confer disinfectant resistance, suggesting that genomic islands could play a significant role in biocide resistance, marking a new area for research.
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Background: Successfully rearing beef calves to weaning and beyond determines the economic performance of a beef farm. As such, it is important to understand the factors influencing performance outcomes.

Methods: This study recorded the health events, mortality and growth rates of 674 calves born on 50 commercial beef farms in Great Britain using a postsampling questionnaire.

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This study evaluated the mass balance and disposition of AZD4831, a novel myeloperoxidase inhibitor, in six healthy participants using a C-labeled microtracer coupled with analysis by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). A single oral dose of 10 mg C-AZD4831 (14.8 kBq) was administered as a solution, and C levels were quantified by AMS in blood, urine, and feces over 336 hours postdose.

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  • Disinfectants and biosecurity are essential for controlling microbial diseases, but resistance to these disinfectants presents challenges in agriculture and healthcare.
  • This study focused on identifying efflux transporters linked to disinfectant resistance in a multidrug-resistant isolate compared to a more susceptible strain.
  • Through testing with efflux pump inhibitors, the research found that the resistant strain had fewer total efflux systems, and the addition of inhibitors increased susceptibility to disinfectants, suggesting efflux pumps significantly contribute to disinfectant resistance.
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Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, our reliance on disinfectants and sanitizers and the use thereof has grown. While this may protect human health, it may be selecting for antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms, including those that are not only capable of growth in the presence of disinfectants but also thrive using this as an energy source. Furthermore, there is a growing concern in emerging nosocomial pathogens, which have shown resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants.

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Background: Dystocia has serious consequences for both mother and offspring. This study therefore aimed to identify risk factors for dystocia in vaginally delivered spring born beef calves in Great Britain (GB).

Methods: Information on calving assistance, calf sex, birthweight, breed, twinning, dam parity and body condition score (BCS) was collected from 1131 calves across 84 GB farms.

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