Understanding the Barriers to Clinical Trial Referral and Enrollment Among Oncology Providers Within the Veterans Health Administration.

Introduction: Clinical trials are essential for advancing treatment options in oncology while providing cancer patients with innovative care; however, few cancer patients are referred to clinical trials. System-, provider-, and patient-level barriers to clinical trial participation have been described but have not been studied in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Although the VHA has engaged in several initiatives to improve Veteran's access to clinical trials, including the National Cancer Institute and VA Interagency Group to Accelerate Trials Enrollment program and VHA work on the White House Cancer Moonshot, further research is needed to understand the multifaceted challenges underlying limited enrollment for Veterans who receive care in the VHA system.

First principles modelling of the ion binding capacity of finger millet.

Finger millet, a cereal grain widely consumed in India and Africa, has gained more attention in recent years due to its high dietary fibre (arabinoxylan) and trace mineral content, and its climate resilience. The aim of this study was to understand the interactions between potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and zinc (Zn) ions and the arabinoxylan structure and determine its ion-binding capacity. Three variations of a proposed model of the arabinoxylan structure were constructed and first principles Density Functional Theory calculations were carried out to determine the cation-binding capacity of the arabinoxylan complexes.

Atomistic modelling and NMR studies reveal that gallium can target the ferric PQS uptake system in biofilms.

Intravenous gallium nitrate therapy is a novel therapeutic strategy deployed to combat chronic biofilm infections in the lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients by interfering with iron (Fe) uptake. The therapy is a source of Ga, which competes with Fe for siderophore binding, subsequently disrupting iron metabolism and inhibiting biofilm proliferation . It was recently demonstrated that the quinolone signal (PQS) can chelate Fe to assist in bacterial iron uptake.

A DFT study of the gallium ion-binding capacity of mature Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm extracellular polysaccharide.

Intravenous gallium therapy is a non-antibiotic approach to limit Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm proliferation, by outcompeting iron for siderophore binding. Gallium therapy represents a viable therapeutic strategy for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients harbouring mucoid P. aeruginosa biofilm lung infections.

Psychological distress experienced by parents caring for an immunosuppressed child during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has proved unique in both its unpredictability and the extent to which it has continued to impact on daily life since March 2020. Among the immunosuppressed population the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic are cumulative to the ever-present challenges of living with a long-term condition. This prospective longitudinal study explored patterns of concern experienced by 467 British parents caring for an immunosuppressed child during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic and related this to parental mental wellbeing.

Parental concern for clinically vulnerable child during first 18 months of the COVID pandemic.

Background: The uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have been associated with increased parental concern. The aim of this study is to explore if this increased level of concern is associated with certain individual/household characteristics or if parents adapted to the ever-changing realities of the COVID-19 pandemic over time.

Methods: This prospective study explored COVID-19 concern trajectories and associated family characteristics of 765 UK parents caring for an immunosuppressed child during the first 18 months of the pandemic using growth mixture modelling.

Polyguluronate simulations shed light onto the therapeutic action of OligoG CF-5/20.

Chronic mucoid P. aeruginosa cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infections are associated with the development of a biofilm composed of anionic acetylated exopolysaccharide (EPS) alginate, electrostatically stabilised by extracellular Ca ions. OligoG CF-5/20, a low molecular weight guluronate rich oligomer, is emerging as a novel therapeutic capable of disrupting mature P.

An Improved -Mediated Transformation and Genome-Editing Method for Maize Inbred B104 Using a Ternary Vector System and Immature Embryos.

For maize genome-editing and bioengineering, genetic transformation of inbred genotypes is most desired due to the uniformity of genetic background in their progenies. However, most maize inbred lines are recalcitrant to tissue culture and transformation. A public, transformable maize inbred B104 has been widely used for genome editing in recent years.

Atomic-scale interactions between quorum sensing autoinducer molecules and the mucoid P. aeruginosa exopolysaccharide matrix.

Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a prevalent cystic fibrosis (CF) lung coloniser whose chronicity is associated with the formation of cation cross-linked exopolysaccharide (EPS) matrices, which form a biofilm that acts as a diffusion barrier, sequestering cationic and neutral antimicrobials, and making it extremely resistant to pharmacological challenge. Biofilm chronicity and virulence of the colony is regulated by quorum sensing autoinducers (QSAIs), small signalling metabolites that pass between bacteria, through the biofilm matrix, regulating genetic responses on a population-wide scale. The nature of how these molecules interact with the EPS is poorly understood, despite the fact that they must pass through EPS matrix to reach neighbouring bacteria.

Immunocompromised children and young people are at no increased risk of severe COVID-19.

Objectives: We aimed to prospectively describe the incidence and clinical spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunocompromised paediatric patients in the UK.

Methods: From March 2020 to 2021 weekly questionnaires were sent to immunocompromised paediatric patients or their parents. Information, including symptom presentation and SARS-CoV-2 PCR test results, was collected from 1527 participants from 46 hospitals.

Overcoming Obstacles in Professional Development During COVID-19.

The unexpected challenges of COVID-19 forced our nation to "rework" normal practices and routines. Kathy Chappell states that nurse professional development practitioners must be problem focused and solution oriented. Led by a nurse professional development specialist, planners employed innovation and creativity to address the problems found in one professional development program.

Delayed Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Alberta: A Framework for Analyzing Barriers to Diagnosis and Generating Evidence to Support Health System Changes Aimed at Reducing Time to Diagnosis.

The frequency of colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis has decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Health system planning is needed to address the backlog of undiagnosed patients. We developed a framework for analyzing barriers to diagnosis and estimating patient volumes under different system relaunch scenarios.

Cation complexation by mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa extracellular polysaccharide.

Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a prevalent cystic fibrosis (CF) lung colonizer, producing an extracellular matrix (ECM) composed predominantly of the extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) alginate. The ECM limits antimicrobial penetration and, consequently, CF sufferers are prone to chronic mucoid P. aeruginosa lung infections.

Dietary and supplemental long-chain omega-3 fatty acids as moderators of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.

Purpose: There is an ever-growing body of literature examining the relationship between dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω3 PUFAs) and cerebral structure and function throughout life. In light of this, the use of ω3 PUFAs, namely, long-chain (LC) ω3 PUFAs (i.e.

Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation of Setaria viridis, a Model System for Cereals and Bioenergy Crops.

Setaria viridis is an emerging model system for the genetic and molecular characterization of cereals and bioenergy crops. Here, we describe a detailed procedure for genetic transformation of the S. viridis accession line ME034V-1.

Safety and immunogenicity of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine administered in a prime-boost regimen in young and old adults (COV002): a single-blind, randomised, controlled, phase 2/3 trial.

Background: Older adults (aged ≥70 years) are at increased risk of severe disease and death if they develop COVID-19 and are therefore a priority for immunisation should an efficacious vaccine be developed. Immunogenicity of vaccines is often worse in older adults as a result of immunosenescence. We have reported the immunogenicity of a novel chimpanzee adenovirus-vectored vaccine, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222), in young adults, and now describe the safety and immunogenicity of this vaccine in a wider range of participants, including adults aged 70 years and older.

Small and dangerous? Potential toxicity mechanisms of common exposure particles and nanoparticles.

We are continuously exposed to large numbers of non-biological, persistent particulates through dermal, oral and inhalation routes. At sizes perfect for cell interactions, such modern particle exposures are derived from human engineering either purposefully (e.g.

Kidney cancer survivorship care: Patient experiences in a Canadian setting.

Introduction: The incidence of kidney cancer (KCa) in Canada is rising. Despite this, there is a shortage of research assessing KCa care experiences. This study aims to explore the current experiences of KCa survivors related to treatment and management, information provision, and barriers to care.

Physiological silicon incorporation into bone mineral requires orthosilicic acid metabolism to SiO.

Under physiological conditions, the predominant form of bioavailable silicon (Si) is orthosilicic acid (OSA). In this study, given Si's recognized positive effect on bone growth and integrity, we examined the chemical form and position of this natural Si source in the inorganic bone mineral hydroxyapatite (HA). X-ray diffraction (XRD) of rat tibia bone mineral showed that the mineral phase was similar to that of phase-pure HA.

Non-Functionalized Ultrasmall Silica Nanoparticles Directly and Size-Selectively Activate T Cells.

Sub-micron-sized silica nanoparticles, even as small as 10-20 nm in diameter, are well-known for their activation of mononuclear phagocytes. In contrast, the cellular impact of those <10 nm [ i.e.

Intravenous Irons: From Basic Science to Clinical Practice.

Iron is an essential trace mineral necessary for life, and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is one of the most common haematological problems worldwide, affecting a sixth of the global population. Principally linked to poverty, malnutrition and infection in developing countries, in Western countries the pathophysiology of IDA is primarily linked to blood loss, malabsorption and chronic disease. Oral iron replacement therapy is a simple, inexpensive treatment, but is limited by gastrointestinal side effects that are not inconsequential to some patients and are of minimal efficacy in others.

A model for the effects of germanium on silica biomineralization in choanoflagellates.

Silica biomineralization is a widespread phenomenon of major biotechnological interest. Modifying biosilica with substances like germanium (Ge) can confer useful new properties, although exposure to high levels of Ge disrupts normal biosilicification. No clear mechanism explains why this disruption occurs.

Synthetic mimetics of the endogenous gastrointestinal nanomineral: Silent constructs that trap macromolecules for intracellular delivery.

Amorphous magnesium-substituted calcium phosphate (AMCP) nanoparticles (75-150nm) form constitutively in large numbers in the mammalian gut. Collective evidence indicates that they trap and deliver luminal macromolecules to mucosal antigen presenting cells (APCs) and facilitate gut immune homeostasis. Here, we report on a synthetic mimetic of the endogenous AMCP and show that it has marked capacity to trap macromolecules during formation.