AZR-MD-001 0.5% selenium sulfide ophthalmic ointment for the treatment of contact lens discomfort: A vehicle-controlled, randomized, clinical trial.

Background: Contact lens discomfort (CLD) is a common problem for CL wearers, and patients with CLD often have changes in meibomian gland function and structure. In a Phase 2 trial AZR-MD-001 0.5% (AZR) ophthalmic ointment improved meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) in non-lens wearers.

Solving variables with Monte Carlo simulation experiments: A stochastic root-solving approach.

Despite their popularity and flexibility, questions remain regarding how to optimally solve particular unknown variables of interest using Monte Carlo simulation experiments. This article reviews two common approaches based on either performing deterministic iterative searches with noisy objective functions or by constructing interpolation estimates given fitted surrogate functions, highlighting the inefficiencies and inferential concerns of both methods. To address these limitations, and to fill a gap in existing Monte Carlo experimental methodology, a novel algorithm termed the probabilistic bisection algorithm with bolstering and interpolations (ProBABLI) is presented with the goal providing efficient, consistent, and unbiased estimates (with associated confidence intervals) for the stochastic root equations found in Monte Carlo simulation research.

Comparative genomics of reveals the emergence of an outbreak-associated population in Europe and its spread to the United States.

The zoonotic parasite is a global cause of gastrointestinal disease in humans and ruminants. Sequence analysis of the highly polymorphic gene enabled the classification of isolates into multiple groups (e.g.

The InterModel Vigorish as a Lens for Understanding (and Quantifying) the Value of Item Response Models for Dichotomously Coded Items.

The deployment of statistical models-such as those used in item response theory-necessitates the use of indices that are informative about the degree to which a given model is appropriate for a specific data context. We introduce the InterModel Vigorish (IMV) as an index that can be used to quantify accuracy for models of dichotomous item responses based on the improvement across two sets of predictions (i.e.

A large cryptosporidiosis outbreak associated with an animal contact event in England: a retrospective cohort study, 2023.

Development of gastrointestinal illness after animal contact at petting farms is well described, as are factors such as handwashing and facility design that may modify transmission risk. However, further field evidence on other behaviours and interventions in the context of outbreaks linked to animal contact events is needed. Here, we describe a large outbreak of () associated with a multi-day lamb petting event in the south-west of England in 2023 and present findings from a cohort study undertaken to investigate factors associated with illness.

WHOLE GENOME TARGETED ENRICHMENT AND SEQUENCING OF HUMAN-INFECTING spp.

spp. are protozoan parasites that cause severe illness in vulnerable human populations. Obtaining pure DNA from clinical and environmental samples is challenging because the oocysts shed in contaminated feces are limited in quantity, difficult to purify efficiently, may derive from multiple species, and yield limited DNA (<40 fg/oocyst).

Phylogenomic reconstruction of spp. captured directly from clinical samples reveals extensive genetic diversity.

is a leading cause of severe diarrhea and mortality in young children and infants in Africa and southern Asia. More than twenty species infect humans, of which and are the major agents causing moderate to severe diarrhea. Relatively few genetic markers are typically applied to genotype and/or diagnose .

WHOLE GENOME TARGETED ENRICHMENT AND SEQUENCING OF HUMAN-INFECTING spp.

spp. are protozoan parasites that cause severe illness in vulnerable human populations. Obtaining pure DNA from clinical and environmental samples is challenging because the oocysts shed in contaminated feces are limited in quantity, difficult to purify efficiently, may derive from multiple species, and yield limited DNA (<40 fg/oocyst).

The Impact of Measurement Model Misspecification on Coefficient Omega Estimates of Composite Reliability.

Coefficient omega indices are model-based composite reliability estimates that have become increasingly popular. A coefficient omega index estimates how reliably an observed composite score measures a target construct as represented by a factor in a factor-analysis model; as such, the accuracy of omega estimates is likely to depend on correct model specification. The current paper presents a simulation study to investigate the performance of omega-unidimensional (based on the parameters of a one-factor model) and omega-hierarchical (based on a bifactor model) under correct and incorrect model misspecification for high and low reliability composites and different scale lengths.

Outbreak of Diarrhea Caused by a Novel Subtype During British Military Training in Kenya.

Background: We report clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory features of a large diarrhea outbreak caused by a novel subtype during British military training in Kenya between February and April 2022.

Methods: Data were collated from diarrhea cases, and fecal samples were analyzed on site using the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) BioFire FilmArray. Water was tested using Colilert kits (IDEXX, UK).

Application of a new multi-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) scheme for the seasonal investigation of cases in Wales and the northwest of England, spring 2022.

The protozoan is an important cause of gastroenteritis in humans and livestock, and cryptosporidiosis outbreaks are common. However, a multi-locus genotyping scheme is not widely adopted. We describe the further development and application of a seven-locus multi-locus variable number of tandem repeats analysis (MLVA) scheme.

Preliminary investigation of a significant national exceedance in the United Kingdom, August 2023 and ongoing.

Routine laboratory surveillance has identified an unprecedented and ongoing exceedance of spp. across the United Kingdom, notably driven by transmission, since 14 August 2023. Information from 477 reported cases in England and Wales, followed up with a standardised exposure questionnaire as of 25 September 2023, identified foreign travel in 250 (54%) of 463 respondents and swimming in 234 (66%) of 353 cases.

The occurrence and zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium species in freshwater biota.

Background: Protozoan pathogens from the genus Cryptosporidium cause the diarrhoeal disease cryptosporidiosis in humans and animals globally. Freshwater biota could act as potential reservoirs or zoonotic sources of Cryptosporidium infections for livestock and people, but Cryptosporidium occurrence in aquatic biota is largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of Cryptosporidium in a range of freshwater organisms in upland rivers across England and Wales.

A comparison of qPCR and microscopy for the detection and enumeration of oocysts from drinking water.

presents one of the main waterborne public health threats due to its resistance to chlorine disinfection and ability to cause large-scale outbreaks. The standard method used in the UK water industry for detection and enumeration of is based on fluorescence microscopy and is laborious and expensive. Molecular methods such as quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) can be more amenable to streamlining through automation, improving workflows and standardizing procedures.

Impact of the COVID-19 restrictions on the epidemiology of spp. in England and Wales, 2015-2021: a time series analysis.

In England and Wales, cryptosporidiosis cases peak in spring and autumn, associated with zoonotic/environmental exposures ( spring/autumn) and overseas travel/water-based activities ( autumn). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions prevented social mixing, overseas travel and access to venues (swimming pools/restaurants) for many months, potentially increasing environmental exposures as people sought alternative countryside activities. COVID-19 restrictions reduced incidence of cases and potentially increased incidence of cases.

Impact of COVID-19 on hospital screening, diagnosis and treatment activities among prostate and colorectal cancer patients in Canada.

Background: Suspension of cancer screening and treatment programs were instituted to preserve medical resources and protect vulnerable populations. This research aims to investigate the implications of COVID-19 on cancer management and clinical outcomes for patients with prostate and colorectal cancer in Canada.

Methods: We examined hospital cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, length of stay, and mortality data among prostate and colorectal cancer patients between April 2017 and March 2021.

Investigating Confidence Intervals of Item Parameters When Some Item Parameters Take Priors in the 2PL and 3PL Models.

To reduce the chance of Heywood cases or nonconvergence in estimating the 2PL or the 3PL model in the marginal maximum likelihood with the expectation-maximization (MML-EM) estimation method, priors for the item slope parameter in the 2PL model or for the pseudo-guessing parameter in the 3PL model can be used and the marginal maximum a posteriori (MMAP) and posterior standard error (PSE) are estimated. Confidence intervals (CIs) for these parameters and other parameters which did not take any priors were investigated with popular prior distributions, different error covariance estimation methods, test lengths, and sample sizes. A seemingly paradoxical result was that, when priors were taken, the conditions of the error covariance estimation methods known to be better in the literature (Louis or Oakes method in this study) did not yield the best results for the CI performance, while the conditions of the cross-product method for the error covariance estimation which has the tendency of upward bias in estimating the standard errors exhibited better CI performance.

Persistence and switching patterns of migraine prophylactic medications in Canada: A retrospective claims analysis comparing adherence and evaluating the economic burden of illness.

Purpose: To describe patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and the burden of illness among adult migraine patients in Canada prescribed migraine prophylactics. Little is known about the relative persistence of treatments in the real-world setting and the impact of migraine prophylactic therapy on patients. As a result, migraine care in Canada continues to inadequately serve patients suffering from frequent headache days, reflecting a large unmet need.