Myocardial ischaemia following COVID-19: a cardiovascular magnetic resonance study.

The pathophysiology of myocardial injury following COVID-19 remains uncertain. COVID-HEART was a prospective, multicentre study utilising cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) to characterise COVID-related myocardial injury. In this pre-specified analysis, the objectives were to examine (1) the frequency of myocardial ischaemia following COVID-19, and (2) the association between ischaemia and myocardial injury.

Electrochemical Control of the Ultrafast Lattice Response of a Layered Semimetal.

The unique layer-stacking in two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals materials facilitates the formation of nearly degenerate phases of matter and opens novel routes for the design of low-power, reconfigurable functional materials. Electrochemical ion intercalation between stacked layers offers a promising approach to stabilize bulk metastable phases and to explore the effects of extreme carrier doping and strain. However, in situ characterization methods to study the structural evolution and dynamical functional properties of these intercalated materials remains limited.

Enhancement of reactive oxygen species production by ultra-short electron pulses.

The development of laser-driven accelerators-on-chip has provided an opportunity to miniaturize devices for electron radiotherapy delivery. Laser-driven accelerators produce highly time-compressed electron pulses, on the 100 fs to 1 ps scale. This delivers electrons at high peak power yet low average beam current compared with conventional delivery devices, which generate pulses of approximately 3 µs.

Nursing students' knowledge of working with D/deaf and hard of hearing patients: Evaluation of a deaf awareness elearning package.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate a newly developed Deaf awareness e-learning package with nursing students at one university in Wales, UK.

Background: D/deaf and hard of hearing communities face a multitude of barriers when accessing and receiving healthcare leading to under diagnosis of health conditions and poorer health outcomes in general. Lack of awareness, teaching, and exposure to the D/deaf and hard of hearing populations during health care professional training programmes has been shown to contribute to this health disparity.

"They still phone even though they know I'm deaf": exploring experiences of deaf people in health services in Wales, UK.

Background: Deaf and hard of hearing people persistently experience barriers accessing health services, largely due to ineffective communication systems, a lack of flexible booking arrangements, and a lack of Deaf awareness training for health professional staff.

Methods: Face to face focus groups were conducted with 66 Deaf and hard of hearing people in Deaf clubs across Wales, UK. Thematic analysis was undertaken.

Evaluation of mRNA-LNP and adjuvanted protein SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in a maternal antibody mouse model.

Maternal antibodies (matAbs) protect against a myriad of pathogens early in life; however, these antibodies can also inhibit de novo immune responses against some vaccine platforms. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) matAbs are efficiently transferred during pregnancy and protect infants against subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infections. It is unknown if matAbs inhibit immune responses elicited by different types of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.

Multi-objective Bayesian active learning for MeV-ultrafast electron diffraction.

Ultrafast electron diffraction using MeV energy beams(MeV-UED) has enabled unprecedented scientific opportunities in the study of ultrafast structural dynamics in a variety of gas, liquid and solid state systems. Broad scientific applications usually pose different requirements for electron probe properties. Due to the complex, nonlinear and correlated nature of accelerator systems, electron beam property optimization is a time-taking process and often relies on extensive hand-tuning by experienced human operators.

Exploring the Conformational Landscape of Poly(l-lysine) Dendrimers Using Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry.

Ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS) measures the mass, size, and shape of ions in the same experiment, and structural information is provided via collision cross-section (CCS) values. The majority of commercially available IM-MS instrumentation relies on the use of CCS calibrants, and here, we present data from a family of poly(l-lysine) dendrimers and explore their suitability for this purpose. In order to test these compounds, we employed three different IM-MS platforms (Agilent 6560 IM-QToF, Waters Synapt G2, and a home-built variable temperature drift tube IM-MS) and used them to investigate six different generations of dendrimers in two buffer gases (helium and nitrogen).

High energy electron diffraction instrument with tunable camera length.

Ultrafast electron diffraction (UED) stands as a powerful technique for real-time observation of structural dynamics at the atomic level. In recent years, the use of MeV electrons from radio frequency guns has been widely adopted to take advantage of the relativistic suppression of the space charge effects that otherwise limit the temporal resolution of the technique. Nevertheless, there is not a clear choice for the optimal energy for a UED instrument.

Narrative medicine interventions for oncology clinicians: a systematic review.

Purpose: As narrative medicine interventions are integrated increasingly into medical practice, growing evidence indicates benefits for healthcare professionals. Presently, the prevalence and impact of narrative medicine interventions in the field of oncology remain unknown. This systematic review synthesizes published data on narrative medicine interventions in oncology and reports current knowledge on feasibility, acceptability, and impact on cancer care professionals.

Whole-lesion assessment of volume and signal changes after sclerotherapy of extremity venous malformations.

Purpose: To investigate quantitative changes in MRI signal intensity (SI) and lesion volume that indicate treatment response and correlate these changes with clinical outcomes after percutaneous sclerotherapy (PS) of extremity venous malformations (VMs).

Methods: VMs were segmented manually on pre- and post-treatment T2-weighted MRI using 3D Slicer to assess changes in lesion volume and SI. Clinical outcomes were scored on a 7-point Likert scale according to patient perception of symptom improvement; treatment response (success or failure) was determined accordingly.

Using Standardised International Oral Health-Related Datasets in 6 Countries.

Introduction: Oral diseases affect a significant proportion of the world's population, yet international comparisons involving oral health outcomes have often been limited due to differences in the way country-level primary data are collected. In response to this, the World Dental Federation (FDI) Oral Health Observatory project was launched with the goal of collecting and producing standardised international data on oral health across countries. The aim of this descriptive cross-sectional study was to examine associations between self-reported general health and a range of factors (sociodemographics, oral health-related behaviours, oral impacts, clinical variables) using these standardised international datasets.

Modular design of cyclic peptide - polymer conjugate nanotubes for delivery and tunable release of anti-cancer drug compounds.

High aspect-ratio nanomaterials have recently emerged as promising drug delivery vehicles due to evidence of strong cellular association and prolonged in vivo circulation times. Cyclic peptide - polymer conjugate nanotubes are excellent candidates due to their elongated morphology, their supramolecular composition and high degree of pliability due to the versatility in manipulating amino acid sequence and polymer type. In this work, we explore the use of a nanotube structure on which a potent anti-cancer drug, camptothecin, is attached alongside hydrophilic or amphiphilic RAFT polymers, which shield the cargo.

Evolution of nanomedicine formulations for targeted delivery and controlled release.

Nanotechnology research over the past several decades has been aimed primarily at improving the physicochemical properties of small molecules to produce druggable candidates as well as for tumor targeting of cytotoxic molecules. The recent focus on genomic medicine and the success of lipid nanoparticles for mRNA vaccines have provided additional impetus for the development of nanoparticle drug carriers for nucleic acid delivery, including siRNA, mRNA, DNA, and oligonucleotides, to create therapeutics that can modulate protein deregulation. Bioassays and characterizations, including trafficking assays, stability, and endosomal escape, are key to understanding the properties of these novel nanomedicine formats.

Revision parathyroid surgery - challenges and considerations in comparison to primary surgery.

Objective: Revision parathyroidectomy is made necessary by recurrent or persistent parathyroid disease. This study aimed to identify challenges in revision surgery compared to primary parathyroid surgery.

Methods: All revision parathyroidectomies performed by one surgeon over a 17-year period were assessed for demographics, imaging, histology, biochemistry, cure rate, gland weight, gland location and gland ectopia, and compared to a series of 100 primary parathyroidectomies.

Standardised Practice-Based Oral Health Data Collection: A Pilot Study in Different Countries.

Background: The Oral Health Observatory (OHO), launched in 2014 by FDI World Dental Federation, aims to provide a coordinated approach to international oral health data collection. A feasibility project involving 12 countries tested the implementation of the methodology and data collection tools and assessed data quality from 6 countries.

Methods: National dental associations (NDAs) recruited dentists following a standardised sampling method.

Precise and systematic end group chemistry modifications on PAMAM and poly(l-lysine) dendrimers to improve cytosolic delivery of mRNA.

Here, we aimed to chemically modify PAMAM dendrimers using lysine as a site-selective anchor for successfully delivering mRNA while maintaining a low toxicity profile. PAMAM dendrimers were multi-functionalised by amidation reactions in a regioselective, quantitative and stepwise manner with carefully selected property-modifying surface groups. Alternatively, novel lysine-based dendrimers were prepared in the same manner with the aim to unlock their potential in gene delivery.

Responsiveness of the Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Vascular Malformation Questionnaire in Patients with Low-Flow Vascular Malformations.

Purpose: To assess the responsiveness, defined as the ability to detect change in a patient's health or function, of the Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Vascular Malformation (PROVAM) questionnaire in a cohort of patients with low-flow vascular malformations (VMs).

Materials And Methods: PROVAM was previously developed to assess symptoms, functional limitations, and social/emotional effects experienced by patients with VMs. This is a prospective cohort study of 56 patients with venous and lymphatic VMs who completed at least 2 PROVAM questionnaires, of whom 43 had undergone treatment with sclerotherapy in the interim between questionnaires.

Clinical Outcomes of Percutaneous Biliary Endoscopy: A 7-Year Single-Institution Experience.

Purpose: To evaluate safety and effectiveness of percutaneous biliary endoscopy (PBE) performed on patients ineligible for surgery or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective review was conducted for all patients who underwent PBE at a single academic institution between June 2013 and February 2020; 39 patients underwent 58 choledochoscopy sessions, and 21 patients underwent 48 cholecystoscopy sessions. Choledochoscopy indications included stone removal (23 of 39 patients) or biliary stenosis evaluation (19 of 39 patients).

Vaccine Hesitancy versus Vaccine Behavior in Patients with Chronic Illness.

While vaccine hesitancy has been described for the general population, vaccine hesitancy among the chronically ill has not been well explored. This study assesses COVID‑19 vaccine hesitancy and uptake among individuals with chronic illness using nationwide survey data. We analyzed vaccine hesitancy prior to and after approval of the vaccines using multinomial logistic regression and binomial logistic regression, respectively.

Investigation of clinical characteristics and genome associations in the 'UK Lipoedema' cohort.

Lipoedema is a chronic adipose tissue disorder mainly affecting women, causing excess subcutaneous fat deposition on the lower limbs with pain and tenderness. There is often a family history of lipoedema, suggesting a genetic origin, but the contribution of genetics is currently unclear. A tightly phenotyped cohort of 200 lipoedema patients was recruited from two UK specialist clinics.

Percutaneous Cholangioscopy for the Diagnosis and Management of Biliary Pathology in Pediatric Patients: A Single-Center Experience.

Transhepatic percutaneous cholangioscopy (PC) can be used for the diagnosis and treatment of biliary pathology. It allows for direct visualization of the biliary system to identify pathologic changes, perform biopsies, and treat biliary obstruction. The effectiveness and safety of PC in adults have been established.

Aβ/Amyloid Precursor Protein-Induced Hyperexcitability and Dysregulation of Homeostatic Synaptic Plasticity in Neuron Models of Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is increasingly seen as a disease of synapses and diverse evidence has implicated the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) in synapse damage. The molecular and cellular mechanism(s) by which Aβ and/or its precursor protein, the amyloid precursor protein (APP) can affect synapses remains unclear. Interestingly, early hyperexcitability has been described in human AD and mouse models of AD, which precedes later hypoactivity.