Risk factors for COVID-19 transmission in England: a multilevel modelling study using routine contact tracing data.

Contact tracing for COVID-19 in England operated from May 2020 to February 2022. The clinical, demographic and exposure information collected on cases and their contacts offered a unique opportunity to study secondary transmission. We aimed to quantify the relative impact of host factors and exposure settings on secondary COVID-19 transmission risk using 550,000 sampled transmission links between cases and their contacts.

Development of an algorithm to guide management of cardiorespiratory arrest in a diving bell.

Aim: The management of cardiorespiratory arrest in a diving bell presents multiple clinical, technical, and environmental considerations that standard resuscitation algorithms do not address, and no situation-specific algorithm exists. The development and testing of an algorithm to guide the management of cardiorespiratory arrest in a bell is described.

Methods: An iterative approach to algorithm development was used.

Structure of the MlaC-MlaD complex reveals molecular basis of periplasmic phospholipid transport.

The Maintenance of Lipid Asymmetry (Mla) pathway is a multicomponent system found in all gram-negative bacteria that contributes to virulence, vesicle blebbing and preservation of the outer membrane barrier function. It acts by removing ectopic lipids from the outer leaflet of the outer membrane and returning them to the inner membrane through three proteinaceous assemblies: the MlaA-OmpC complex, situated within the outer membrane; the periplasmic phospholipid shuttle protein, MlaC; and the inner membrane ABC transporter complex, MlaFEDB, proposed to be the founding member of a structurally distinct ABC superfamily. While the function of each component is well established, how phospholipids are exchanged between components remains unknown.

COVID-19 cluster surveillance using exposure data collected from routine contact tracing: The genomic validation of a novel informatics-based approach to outbreak detection in England.

Contact tracing was used globally to prevent onwards transmission of COVID-19. Tracing contacts alone is unlikely to be sufficient in controlling community transmission, due to the pre-symptomatic, overdispersed and airborne nature of COVID-19 transmission. We describe and demonstrate the validity of a national enhanced contact tracing programme for COVID-19 cluster surveillance in England.

T-wave morphology abnormalities in the STREAM stage 1 trial.

Background: Shorter regimens for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) have non-inferior efficacy compared with longer regimens, but QT prolongation is a concern. T-wave morphology abnormalities may be a predictor of QT prolongation.

Research Design And Methods: STREAM Stage 1 was a randomized controlled trial in rifampicin-resistant TB, comparing short and long regimens.

The ESCAPE Open-source Software and Service Repository.

Purpose: The purpose of the ESCAPE Open-source Software and Service Repository (OSSR) is to provide a central location for the dissemination and use of trusted open-source software in the fields of astronomy, astroparticle physics, and particle physics. The repository allows users to easily access and download tools and services developed within the community, and to contribute their own tools and services.

Methods: The ESCAPE project has set up a curated repository of software that provides tools and an environment to make it easy for users to find and download the software and services that they need.

An octameric PqiC toroid stabilises the outer-membrane interaction of the PqiABC transport system.

The E. coli Paraquat Inducible (Pqi) Pathway is a putative Gram-negative phospholipid transport system. The pathway comprises three components: an integral inner membrane protein (PqiA), a periplasmic spanning MCE family protein (PqiB) and an outer membrane lipoprotein (PqiC).

A Bayesian multivariate factor analysis model for causal inference using time-series observational data on mixed outcomes.

Assessing the impact of an intervention by using time-series observational data on multiple units and outcomes is a frequent problem in many fields of scientific research. Here, we propose a novel Bayesian multivariate factor analysis model for estimating intervention effects in such settings and develop an efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm to sample from the high-dimensional and nontractable posterior of interest. The proposed method is one of the few that can simultaneously deal with outcomes of mixed type (continuous, binomial, count), increase efficiency in the estimates of the causal effects by jointly modeling multiple outcomes affected by the intervention, and easily provide uncertainty quantification for all causal estimands of interest.

Evaluating the impact on health outcomes of an event that resulted in a delay in contact tracing of COVID-19 cases in England, September 2020: an observational study.

Objective: In September 2020, 15 861 SARS-CoV-2 case records failed to upload from the Second Generation Surveillance System (SGSS) to the Contact Tracing Advisory Service (CTAS) tool, delaying the contact tracing of these cases. This study used CTAS data to determine the impact of this delay on population health outcomes: transmission events, hospitalisations and mortality. Previously, a modelling study suggested a substantial impact.

An evaluation of the NUI Compact Chest Compression Device (NCCD), a mechanical CPR device suitable for use in the saturation diving environment.

Introduction: Provision of manual chest compressions in a diving bell using a conventional technique is often impossible, and alternative techniques are poorly evidenced in terms of efficacy and sustainability. The first mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) device suitable for use in this environment, the NUI Compact Chest Compression Device (NCCD), has recently been designed and manufactured. This study assessed both the efficacy of the device in delivering chest compressions to both prone and seated manikins, and the ability of novice users to apply and operate it.

Delivering manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in a diving bell: an analysis of head-to-chest and knee-to-chest compression techniques.

Introduction: Chest compression often cannot be administered using conventional techniques in a diving bell. Multiple alternative techniques are taught, including head-to-chest and both prone and seated knee-to-chest compressions, but there are no supporting efficacy data. This study evaluated the efficacy, safety and sustainability of these techniques.

Comparative transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) and Delta (B.1.617.2) variants and the impact of vaccination: national cohort study, England.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant (B.1.1.

Discovery of Clinical Candidate AZD0095, a Selective Inhibitor of Monocarboxylate Transporter 4 (MCT4) for Oncology.

Due to increased reliance on glycolysis, which produces lactate, monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) are often upregulated in cancer. MCT4 is associated with the export of lactic acid from cancer cells under hypoxia, so inhibition of MCT4 may lead to cytotoxic levels of intracellular lactate. In addition, tumor-derived lactate is known to be immunosuppressive, so MCT4 inhibition may be of interest for immuno-oncology.

Understanding how the university curriculum impacts student wellbeing: a qualitative study.

There is increasing pressure within universities to address student mental health. From a whole university or settings-based perspective, this could include curriculum-embedded approaches. There is little research about how this should work or what approaches might be most effective.

Feasibility and evaluation of an emergency department-based general practitioner streaming and treatment service.

Rationale: Offering a primary care service that can provide good quality primary care at emergency departments may reduce pressure on usual emergency department (ED) services.

Aims And Objectives: To evaluate the acceptability, satisfaction, and potential impacts of a co-located primary care service at an emergency department.

Methods: This is a prospective feasibility study and service evaluation comprising a narrative summary of activity, satisfaction, well-being, and safety, and comparisons of wait times for ED services by patient category ('minor', 'majors', 'paediatric' or 'resus') before and during the service operation.

Real-world clinical effectiveness and sustainability of universal bloodborne virus testing in an urban emergency department in the UK.

Innovative testing approaches and care pathways are required to meet HIV, hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) elimination goals. Routine testing for blood-borne viruses (BBVs) within emergency departments (EDs) is suggested by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control but there is a paucity of supporting evidence. We evaluated the introduction of routine BBV testing in EDs at a large teaching hospital in northern England.

ATM Regulates Differentiation of Myofibroblastic Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and Can Be Targeted to Overcome Immunotherapy Resistance.

Unlabelled: Myofibroblastic cancer-associated fibroblast (myoCAF)-rich tumors generally contain few T cells and respond poorly to immune-checkpoint blockade. Although myoCAFs are associated with poor outcome in most solid tumors, the molecular mechanisms regulating myoCAF accumulation remain unclear, limiting the potential for therapeutic intervention. Here, we identify ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) as a central regulator of the myoCAF phenotype.

Radiologist opinions regarding reporting incidental coronary and cardiac calcification on thoracic CT.

Objectives: Coronary and cardiac calcification are frequent incidental findings on non-gated thoracic computed tomography (CT). However, radiologist opinions and practices regarding the reporting of incidental calcification are poorly understood.

Methods: UK radiologists were invited to complete this online survey, organised by the British Society of Cardiovascular Imaging (BSCI).

The impact of clinical simulation on the development of advanced practice skills.

Unlabelled: This article considers the findings of a qualitative research study into the impact of simulation on the development of advanced clinical practitioners' skills and knowledge.

Study Aim: To explore simulated learning through the eyes of trainee and trained advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) and consider its potential in supporting their development.

Method: This qualitative research study explored the experiences of trained and trainee ACP volunteers undertaking a structured simulated event provided by a local acute hospital trust simulation team.

Comparative symptomatology of infection with SARS-CoV-2 variants Omicron (B.1.1.529) and Delta (B.1.617.2) from routine contact tracing data in England.

Symptoms are currently used as testing indicators for SARS-CoV-2 in England. In this study, we analysed national contact tracing data for England (NHS Test and Trace) for the period 1 December to 28 December 2021 to explore symptom differences between the variants, Delta and Omicron. We found that at least one of the symptoms currently used as indicators (fever, cough and loss of smell and taste) were reported in 61.