Publications by authors named "H-J Smith"

Around 5% of the children and teenagers worldwide are affected by Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD], making it a major public health concern. Recently, demand for assessments has substantially increased, putting strain on healthcare and waiting lists. There is concern that pressure to clear service bottlenecks is leading to variable quality and reliability of ADHD assessments in this population.

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Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) offer an efficient, inexpensive alternative to current photovoltaic technologies, with the potential for manufacture via high-throughput coating methods. However, challenges for commercial-scale solution-processing of metal-halide perovskites include the use of harmful solvents, the expense of maintaining controlled atmospheric conditions, and the inherent instabilities of PSCs under operation. Here, we address these challenges by introducing a high volatility, low toxicity, biorenewable solvent system to fabricate a range of 2D perovskites, which we use as highly effective precursor phases for subsequent transformation to α-formamidinium lead triiodide (α-FAPbI), fully processed under ambient conditions.

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Background: There is a paucity of data on treatment of osteoporosis in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Objective: To assess the risk for emergently treated hypocalcemia with denosumab by stage of CKD and presence of CKD-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD).

Design: Target trial emulation.

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While amines are widely used as additives in metal-halide perovskites, our understanding of the way amines in perovskite precursor solutions impact the resultant perovskite film is still limited. In this paper, we explore the multiple effects of benzylamine (BnAm), also referred to as phenylmethylamine, used to passivate both FACsPb(IBr) and FACsPbI perovskite compositions. We show that, unlike benzylammonium (BnA) halide salts, BnAm reacts rapidly with the formamidinium (FA) cation, forming new chemical products in solution and these products passivate the perovskite crystal domains when processed into a thin film.

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  • One third of organ donors experience catastrophic brain injury (CBI), but there’s no standardized management for traumatic CBI among trauma centers, leading to variability in practices.
  • A multicenter trial involving 33 trauma centers analyzed 790 CBI patients to investigate whether institutions with CBI guidelines had higher organ donation rates.
  • While centers with CBI guidelines showed greater use of certain treatments, the presence of guidelines did not significantly increase organ donation rates; however, hormone therapies were linked to a higher likelihood of donation.
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Cotadutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucagon receptor agonist that may improve kidney function in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this phase 2b study, patients with T2D and CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] of 20 or more and under 90 mL/min per 1.73 m and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio [UACR] over 50 mg/g) were randomized 1:1:1:1:1 to 26 weeks' treatment with standard of care plus subcutaneous cotadutide uptitrated to 100, 300, or 600 μg, or placebo daily (double-blind), or the GLP-1 agonist semaglutide 1 mg once weekly (open-label).

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Past research on interspecies communication has shown that animals can be trained to use Augmentative Interspecies Communication (AIC) devices, such as soundboards, to make simple requests of their caretakers. The recent uptake in AIC devices by hundreds of pet owners around the world offers a novel opportunity to investigate whether AIC is possible with owner-trained family dogs. To answer this question, we carried out two studies to test pet dogs' ability to recognise and respond appropriately to food-related, play-related, and outside-related words on their soundboards.

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  • The study examined DNA methylation patterns in blood samples related to 15 key biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease, focusing on neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration effects.
  • Using 885 samples from the EMIF-AD study, researchers identified significant differential methylation connected to CSF levels of YKL-40 and neurofilament light chain (NfL).
  • Findings suggest a link between YKL-40 DNA methylation and genetic variants, with implications for understanding how DNA methylation influences protein levels relevant to Alzheimer's disease.
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Recent evidence demonstrates genomic and morphological continuity in the Arctic ancestral lineage of dogs. Here, we use the Siberian Husky to investigate the genomic legacy of the northeast Eurasian Arctic lineage and model the deep population history using genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms. Utilizing ancient dog-calibrated molecular clocks, we found that at least two distinct lineages of Arctic dogs existed in ancient Eurasia at the end of the Pleistocene.

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While significant advances have been made in understanding renal pathophysiology, less is known about the role of glycosphingolipid (GSL) metabolism in driving organ dysfunction. Here, we used a small molecule inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthase to modulate GSL levels in three mouse models of distinct renal pathologies: Alport syndrome (Col4a3 KO), polycystic kidney disease (Nek8), and steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (Nphs2 cKO). At the tissue level, we identified a core immune-enriched transcriptional signature that was shared across models and enriched in human polycystic kidney disease.

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Devising an approach to deterministically position organisms can impact various fields such as bioimaging, cybernetics, cryopreservation, and organism-integrated devices. This requires continuously assessing the locations of randomly distributed organisms to collect and transfer them to target spaces without harm. Here, an aspiration-assisted adaptive printing system is developed that tracks, harvests, and relocates living and moving organisms on target spaces via a pick-and-place mechanism that continuously adapts to updated visual and spatial information about the organisms and target spaces.

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  • * Results showed that both doses of sebetralstat provided significantly quicker relief from symptoms and attack severity compared to the placebo, with median times to relief around 1.6-1.8 hours versus over 6 hours for placebo.
  • * The trial included 136 participants who treated 264 attacks, demonstrating that sebetralstat could potentially offer a more convenient oral alternative to current parenteral treatments for hereditary angioedema.
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  • Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has significantly advanced cancer treatment but is often complicated by immune-related adverse events like checkpoint inhibitor colitis (irColitis).
  • A study profiling around 300,000 cells from patients with irColitis uncovered key immune cell expansions and molecular changes in the colon mucosa and blood, highlighting the complexity of the condition.
  • Findings indicate that specific T cells and epithelial interactions are crucial for understanding irColitis and may lead to new therapeutic approaches for managing this side effect of ICI therapy.
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  • This study looked at whether taking statins, a type of medicine, affects the chances of having a repeat stroke or bleeding in the brain for people who have certain brain issues called cerebral microbleeds (CMBs).
  • They analyzed data from many hospitals and included over 16,000 patients, dividing them into those who took statins and those who didn't.
  • The results showed that people who used statins had a lower risk of having another stroke but didn't show a clear difference in the risk of brain bleeding compared to those who didn't take statins.
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  • Vamorolone, a glucocorticoid receptor agonist, was tested to assess its effectiveness and safety over 48 weeks compared to prednisone in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
  • A double-blind clinical trial involved 121 participants aged 4 to under 7 years, receiving varying doses of vamorolone and prednisone, with improvements monitored in motor skills and growth.
  • Results indicated that vamorolone (6 mg/kg/day) maintained motor skill improvements over 48 weeks, with significant growth benefits seen after participants switched from prednisone to vamorolone.
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Introduction: Vestibular and visual information is used in determining spatial orientation. Existing computational models of orientation perception focus on the integration of visual and vestibular orientation information when both are available. It is well-known, and computational models capture, differences in spatial orientation perception with visual information or without (i.

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  • * The trial enrolled 120 patients, showing notable efficacy with an overall response rate of 59.2% and a complete response rate of 45.9% during the dose expansion phase.
  • * Although some patients experienced adverse effects like neutropenia and fatigue, the treatment demonstrated a favorable safety profile and promising outcomes for patients not eligible for transplants.
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  • * A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted to find new genetic variants linked to CYP2D6 protein expression and activity, resulting in the identification of 44 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
  • * Five of these SNPs, including notable variants, were found to significantly impact CYP2D6 protein levels and enzyme activity, suggesting their importance in drug metabolism variability among individuals.
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Background: Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) provide high-frequency information regarding daily glucose variation and are recognised as effective for improving glycaemic control in individuals living with diabetes. Despite increased use in individuals with non-diabetic blood glucose concentrations (euglycemia), their utility as a health tool in this population remains unclear.

Objectives: To characterise variation in time in range (TIR) and glycaemic variability in large populations without diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance; describe associations between CGM-derived glycaemic metrics and metabolic and cardiometabolic health traits; identify key diet and lifestyle factors associated with TIR and glycaemic variability.

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Knee pain is associated with lower muscle strength, and both contribute to disability. Peripheral and central neurological mechanisms contribute to OA pain. Understanding the relative contributions of pain mechanisms to muscle strength might help future treatments.

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Study Design/setting: This was a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Little is known of the intersection between surgical invasiveness, cervical deformity (CD) severity, and frailty.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes of CD surgery by invasiveness, frailty status, and baseline magnitude of deformity.

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The Stroke Treatment Academic Industry Roundtable (STAIR) convened a session and workshop regarding enrollment in acute stroke trials during the STAIR XII meeting on March 22, 2023. This forum brought together stroke physicians and researchers, members of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, industry representatives, and members of the US Food and Drug Administration to discuss the current status and opportunities for improving enrollment in acute stroke trials. The workshop identified the most relevant issues impacting enrollment in acute stroke trials and addressed potential action items for each.

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In the pivotal study ECHELON-1, brentuximab vedotin (BV), doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (A + AVD) demonstrated superior efficacy compared with bleomycin + AVD for the treatment of advanced-stage classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). However, there are minimal available data regarding the frequency of dose reductions or omission of BV during curative therapy and the potential impact on patient outcomes. In a real-world analysis, we retrospectively reviewed the characteristics and outcomes of 179 patients with stage III or IV cHL treated with frontline A + AVD from January 2010 to April 2022.

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Background: The N-MOmentum trial investigated safety and efficacy of inebilizumab in participants with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).

Objective: Evaluate the attack identification process and adjudication committee (AC) performance in N-MOmentum.

Methods: Adults ( = 230) with NMOSD and Expanded Disability Status Scale score ⩽8 were randomized (3:1) to inebilizumab 300 mg or placebo.

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