Using the Traditional Ex Vivo Whole Blood Model to Discriminate Bacteria by Their Inducible Host Responses.

Whole blood models are rapid and versatile for determining immune responses to inflammatory and infectious stimuli, but they have not been used for bacterial discrimination. , and are the most common causes of invasive disease, and rapid testing strategies utilising host responses remain elusive. Currently, immune responses can only discriminate between bacterial 'domains' (fungi, bacteria and viruses), and very few studies can use immune responses to discriminate bacteria at the species and strain level.

Audit feasibility for geometric distortion in magnetic resonance imaging for radiotherapy.

Background And Purpose: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is increasingly being used in radiotherapy (RT). However, geometric distortions are a known challenge of using MRI in RT. The aim of this study was to demonstrate feasibility of a national audit of MRI geometric distortions.

Integrase-deficient lentiviral vectors mediate efficient gene transfer to human vascular smooth muscle cells with minimal genotoxic risk.

We have previously shown that injury-induced neointima formation was rescued by adenoviral-Nogo-B gene delivery. Integrase-competent lentiviral vectors (ICLV) are efficient at gene delivery to vascular cells but present a risk of insertional mutagenesis. Conversely, integrase-deficient lentiviral vectors (IDLV) offer additional benefits through reduced mutagenesis risk, but this has not been evaluated in the context of vascular gene transfer.

Parent and child experiences using a hydrophilic or reused PVC catheter for intermittent catheterisation.

Aims And Objectives: To highlight the challenges faced in adjusting to intermittent catheterisation for families and children affected by spina bifida.

Background: Toileting is a particular issue for children with spina bifida resulting in difficulty emptying their bladder. Management of incomplete emptying is intermittent catheterisation, which is now part of routine clinical care.

Falls risk reduction and treatment of overactive bladder symptoms with antimuscarinic agents: a scoping review.

Aims: Overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms are associated with falls and fractures in older adults and treatment with antimuscarinic agents may decrease this falls risk. Bladder-specific antimuscarinic agents may also adversely affect falls risk because of drug-related cognitive impairment. Thus, a tension between effective treatment, falls risk reduction, and increased falls risk is created.