From algae to plants: understanding pyrenoid-based CO-concentrating mechanisms.

Pyrenoids are the key component of one of the most abundant biological CO concentration mechanisms found in nature. Pyrenoid-based CO-concentrating mechanisms (pCCMs) are estimated to account for one third of global photosynthetic CO capture. Our molecular understanding of how pyrenoids work is based largely on work in the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Improving patient experience for people prescribed medicines with a risk of dependence or withdrawal: co-designed solutions using experience based co-design.

Background: Significant concerns have been raised regarding how medications with a risk of dependence or withdrawal are managed and how care is experienced by patients. This study sought to co-design solutions to improve the experience of care for patients prescribed benzodiazepines, z-drugs, opioids for chronic non-cancer pain, gabapentinoids and antidepressants.

Method: Twenty patients and fifteen healthcare professionals from five different GP practices were recruited to take part.

The role of BST4 in the pyrenoid of .

In many eukaryotic algae, CO fixation by Rubisco is enhanced by a CO-concentrating mechanism, which utilizes a Rubisco-rich organelle called the pyrenoid. The pyrenoid is traversed by a network of thylakoid-membranes called pyrenoid tubules, proposed to deliver CO. In the model alga (), the pyrenoid tubules have been proposed to be tethered to the Rubisco matrix by a bestrophin-like transmembrane protein, BST4.

The role of children's hospices in perinatal palliative care and advance care planning: The results of a national British survey.

Introduction: Perinatal palliative care services are increasingly available globally, offering a range of clinical and psychological support services to families during pregnancy, in the neonatal period and following the death of a baby with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition. Little is understood about the role of children's hospice care and how it contributes to effective perinatal palliative care.

Design: The study aims to answer the question "what is the role of children's hospices in the provision of perinatal palliative care and advance care planning in the United Kingdom?"

Methods: An electronic survey was sent to all 54 children's hospices in the United Kingdom between May and June 2022.

Characterization of the molecular mechanisms of silicon uptake in coccolithophores.

Coccolithophores are an important group of calcifying marine phytoplankton. Although coccolithophores are not silicified, some species exhibit a requirement for Si in the calcification process. These species also possess a novel protein (SITL) that resembles the SIT family of Si transporters found in diatoms.

Analysing culture methods of frozen human ovarian tissue to improve follicle survival.

Unlabelled: follicle growth is a potential fertility preservation method for patients for whom current methods are contraindicated. Currently, this method has only been successful using fresh ovarian tissue. Since many patients who may benefit from this treatment currently have cryopreserved ovarian tissue in storage, optimising follicle growth (IVG) for cryopreserved-thawed tissue is critical.

A recombineering pipeline to clone large and complex genes in Chlamydomonas.

The ability to clone genes has greatly advanced cell and molecular biology research, enabling researchers to generate fluorescent protein fusions for localization and confirm genetic causation by mutant complementation. Most gene cloning is polymerase chain reaction (PCR)�or DNA synthesis-dependent, which can become costly and technically challenging as genes increase in size, particularly if they contain complex regions. This has been a long-standing challenge for the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii research community, as this alga has a high percentage of genes containing complex sequence structures.

Developing a nursing dependency scoring tool for children's palliative care: the impact on hospice care.

Background: Occupancy is commonly used to measure bed management in hospices. However, the increasing complexity of children and young people and growing dependence on technology mean that this is no longer effective.

Aim: To develop a dependency tool that enables the hospice to safely and effectively manage the use of beds for planned short breaks (respite care), preserving capacity for children requiring symptom management and end-of-life care.

Role of silicon in the development of complex crystal shapes in coccolithophores.

The development of calcification by the coccolithophores had a profound impact on ocean carbon cycling, but the evolutionary steps leading to the formation of these complex biomineralized structures are not clear. Heterococcoliths consisting of intricately shaped calcite crystals are formed intracellularly by the diploid life cycle phase. Holococcoliths consisting of simple rhombic crystals can be produced by the haploid life cycle stage but are thought to be formed extracellularly, representing an independent evolutionary origin of calcification.

The RESPECT study: a feasibility randomised controlled trial of a sexual health promotion intervention for people with serious mental illness in community mental health services in the UK.

Background: People with serious mental illness (SMI) have sexual health needs but there is little evidence to inform effective interventions to address them. In fact, there are few studies that have addressed this topic for people with SMI outside USA and Brazil. Therefore, the aim of the study was to establish the acceptability and feasibility of a trial of a sexual health promotion intervention for people with SMI in the UK.

Sexual health promotion in people with severe mental illness: the RESPECT feasibility RCT.

Background: People with serious mental illness have sexual health needs, but there is limited evidence regarding effective interventions to promote their sexual health.

Objectives: To develop a sexual health promotion intervention for people with serious mental illness, and to conduct a feasibility trial in order to establish the acceptability and parameters for a fully powered trial.

Design: A two-armed randomised controlled, open feasibility study comparing usual care alone with usual care plus the adjunctive intervention.

Thylakoid localized bestrophin-like proteins are essential for the CO concentrating mechanism of .

The green alga possesses a CO concentrating mechanism (CCM) that helps in successful acclimation to low CO conditions. Current models of the CCM postulate that a series of ion transporters bring HCO from outside the cell to the thylakoid lumen, where the carbonic anhydrase 3 (CAH3) dehydrates accumulated HCO to CO, raising the CO concentration for Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco). Previously, HCO transporters have been identified at both the plasma membrane and the chloroplast envelope, but the transporter thought to be on the thylakoid membrane has not been identified.

Variation in follicle health and development in cultured cryopreserved ovarian cortical tissue: a study of ovarian tissue from patients undergoing fertility preservation.

This study investigated how follicle health and development in human ovarian tissue cryopreserved for fertility preservation varied between patients before and after 6 d of culture. Ovarian tissue from 12 patients (9-25 years) was used. In 3 patients, a 1hr neutral red (NR) incubation was used to identify tissues with viable follicles.

The Prevalence of Nonprescription Cannabinoid-Based Medicines in British Children's Hospices: Results of a National Survey.

Almost 50,000 children and young people are affected by life-limiting conditions in the United Kingdom, around a third of which use children's hospices. Anecdotal evidence suggests that cannabinoid-based medicines (CBMs), specifically cannabis oil (CO), are being used by families with increasing frequency to manage distressing symptoms. The use of most nonprescription CBMs in the United Kingdom remains illegal.

The requirement for calcification differs between ecologically important coccolithophore species.

Coccolithophores are globally distributed unicellular marine algae that are characterized by their covering of calcite coccoliths. Calcification by coccolithophores contributes significantly to global biogeochemical cycles. However, the physiological requirement for calcification remains poorly understood as non-calcifying strains of some commonly used model species, such as Emiliania huxleyi, grow normally in laboratory culture.

A role for diatom-like silicon transporters in calcifying coccolithophores.

Biomineralization by marine phytoplankton, such as the silicifying diatoms and calcifying coccolithophores, plays an important role in carbon and nutrient cycling in the oceans. Silicification and calcification are distinct cellular processes with no known common mechanisms. It is thought that coccolithophores are able to outcompete diatoms in Si-depleted waters, which can contribute to the formation of coccolithophore blooms.

Decisions about the use of psychotropic medication during pregnancy: a qualitative study.

Objective: To understand the perspectives of women with severe mental illness concerning the use of psychotropic medicines while pregnant.

Design: Interviews conducted by female peer researchers with personal experience of making or considering decisions about using psychotropic medicines in pregnancy, supported by professional researchers.

Participants: 12 women who had had a baby in the past 5 years and had taken antipsychotics or mood-stabilisers for severe mental illness within the 12-month period immediately prior to that pregnancy.

Performance of a Novel Point-of-Care Molecular Assay for Detection of Influenza A and B Viruses and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (Enigma MiniLab) in Children with Acute Respiratory Infection.

The performance of the Enigma MiniLab assay for influenza A and B viruses and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was compared to a centralized laboratory respiratory virus panel. The positive and negative percent agreement for influenza A virus, influenza B virus, and RSV were 79.2% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 57.

Intrapleural alteplase in a patient with complicated pleural effusion.

Objective: To report the intrapleural use of alteplase in a patient diagnosed with complicated pleural effusion (CPE).

Case Summary: A 62-year-old white woman admitted with respiratory distress and hypotension developed a right-sided multi-loculated pleural effusion. Thoracentesis and chest tube drainage were not successful in resolving the effusion.