EAACI Guidelines on Environmental Science for Allergy and Asthma-Recommendations on the Impact of Indoor Air Pollutants on the Risk of New-Onset Asthma and on Asthma-Related Outcomes.

The EAACI Guidelines used the GRADE approach to evaluate the impact of major indoor air pollutants (dampness and mould, cleaning agents, volatile organic compounds and pesticides) on the risk of new-onset asthma and on asthma-related outcomes. The guideline also acknowledges the synergies among indoor air pollutants and other components of the indoor exposome (allergens, viruses, endotoxins). Very low to low certainty of evidence was found for the association between exposure to indoor pollutants and increased risk of new-onset asthma and asthma worsening.

Defining and responding to the contextual drivers for implementation of antimicrobial stewardship in 14 neonatal units in South Africa.

Background: Research on the contextual drivers of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programme interventions in neonatal units is limited.

Methods: As part of a prospective mixed-methods multidisciplinary neonatal AMS (NeoAMS) interventional study in 14 South African hospitals, we applied a three-phased process to assess implementation barriers and contextual drivers experienced by participating health professionals. The study included: (Phase one; P1) a survey of pre-intervention barriers and enablers; (P2) written feedback during the study intervention phase; and (P3) semi-structured exit interviews.

Prospective antimicrobial stewardship interventions by multidisciplinary teams to reduce neonatal antibiotic use in South Africa: The Neonatal Antimicrobial Stewardship (NeoAMS) study.

Background: Hospitalized neonates are vulnerable to infection and have high rates of antibiotic utilization.

Methods: Fourteen South African neonatal units (seven public, seven private sector) assembled multidisciplinary teams involving neonatologists, microbiologists, pharmacists, and nurses to implement prospective audit and feedback neonatal antimicrobial stewardship (NeoAMS) interventions. The teams attended seven online training sessions.

Nebulised interferon beta-1a (SNG001) in the treatment of viral exacerbations of COPD.

Background: Respiratory viral infections are major drivers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. Interferon-β is naturally produced in response to viral infection, limiting replication. This exploratory study aimed to demonstrate proof-of-mechanism, and evaluate the efficacy and safety of inhaled recombinant interferon-β1a (SNG001) in COPD.

Clearing the air: Assessing healthcare professionals' awareness of air pollution's health consequences.

Air pollution (AP) significantly jeopardises health, with the Royal College of Physicians accepting the adverse effects of AP are not being sufficiently communicated to patients by healthcare professionals (HCP). To explore HCPs' understanding and attitudes toward AP and its health impacts, we conducted a service evaluation survey in a group of hospital doctors. A questionnaire comprising 20 questions about AP and its health associations was completed by 133 hospital doctors working at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, UK.

The impact of indoor pollution on asthma-related outcomes: A systematic review for the EAACI guidelines on environmental science for allergic diseases and asthma.

Systematic review using GRADE of the impact of exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), cleaning agents, mould/damp, pesticides on the risk of (i) new-onset asthma (incidence) and (ii) adverse asthma-related outcomes (impact). MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science were searched for indoor pollutant exposure studies reporting on new-onset asthma and critical and important asthma-related outcomes. Ninety four studies were included: 11 for VOCs (7 for incidenceand 4 for impact), 25 for cleaning agents (7 for incidenceand 8 for impact), 48 for damp/mould (26 for incidence and 22 for impact) and 10 for pesticides (8 for incidence and 2 for impact).

The impact of outdoor pollution and extreme temperatures on asthma-related outcomes: A systematic review for the EAACI guidelines on environmental science for allergic diseases and asthma.

Air pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats for asthma. Its impact is augmented by climate change. To inform the recommendations of the EAACI Guidelines on the environmental science for allergic diseases and asthma, a systematic review (SR) evaluated the impact on asthma-related outcomes of short-term exposure to outdoor air pollutants (PM2.

Nebulised interferon-β1a (SNG001) in hospitalised COVID-19: SPRINTER phase III study.

Background: Despite the availability of vaccines and therapies, patients are being hospitalised with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Interferon (IFN)-β is a naturally occurring protein that stimulates host immune responses against most viruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. SNG001 is a recombinant IFN-β1a formulation delivered to the lungs nebuliser.

CSD Communications of the Cambridge Structural Database.

The Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) is a collection of over one million experimental three-dimensional structures obtained through crystallographic analyses. These structures are determined by crystallographers worldwide and undergo curation and enhancement by scientists at the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC) prior to their addition to the database. Though the CSD is substantial and contains widespread chemical diversity across organic and metal-organic compounds, it is estimated that a significant proportion of crystal structures determined are not published or shared through the peer-reviewed journal mechanism.

Errors in Antimicrobial Prescription and Administration in Very Low Birth Weight Neonates at a Tertiary South African Hospital.

Background: Antimicrobial prescription and administration-related errors occur frequently in very low birth weight (VLBW; <1,500 g) neonates treated for bloodstream infections (BSI).

Methods: Antimicrobial prescriptions for the treatment of laboratory-confirmed BSI were retrospectively analyzed for VLBW neonates at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa (1 July 2018 - 31 December 2019), describing antimicrobial type, indication, duration of therapy and BSI outcomes. The prevalence of, and risk factors for prescription (dose, interval) and administration errors (hang-time, delayed/missed doses) were determined.

Enhanced airway sensory nerve reactivity in non-eosinophilic asthma.

Background: Neural mechanisms may play an important role in non-eosinophilic asthma (NEA). This study compared airway sensory nerve reactivity, using capsaicin challenge, in eosinophilic asthma (EA) and NEA and non-asthmatics.

Methods: Thirty-eight asthmatics and 19 non-asthmatics (aged 14-21 years) underwent combined hypertonic saline challenge/sputum induction, fractional exhaled nitric oxide, atopy and spirometry tests, followed by capsaicin challenge.

Accelerating the transition of clinical science to translational medicine.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has shown the importance of medical research in responding to the urgent prevention and health needs to combat the devastating disease, COVID-19, that this β-coronavirus unleashed. Equally, it has demonstrated the importance of interdisciplinary working to translate scientific discovery into public and patient benefit. As we come to adjust to live with this new virus, it is important to look back and see what lessons we have learnt in the way scientific medical discoveries can be more effectively and rapidly moved into public benefit.

Risk Predictors and Symptom Features of Long COVID Within a Broad Primary Care Patient Population Including Both Tested and Untested Patients.

Introduction: Symptoms may persist after the initial phases of COVID-19 infection, a phenomenon termed long COVID. Current knowledge on long COVID has been mostly derived from test-confirmed and hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Data are required on the burden and predictors of long COVID in a broader patient group, which includes both tested and untested COVID-19 patients in primary care.

The ARRIVE guidelines 2.0: updated guidelines for reporting animal research.

Reproducible science requires transparent reporting. The ARRIVE guidelines (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) were originally developed in 2010 to improve the reporting of animal research. They consist of a checklist of information to include in publications describing in vivo experiments to enable others to scrutinise the work adequately, evaluate its methodological rigour and reproduce the methods and results.

Healthcare-Associated Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Transmission in a Neonatal Unit: The Importance of Universal Masking, Hand Hygiene, and Symptom Screening in Containment.

Following exposure to a healthcare worker with an influenza-like illness, 2 preterm neonates and 6 staff members developed symptoms and tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This neonatal unit coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak occurred prior to the implementation of universal masking and symptom screening policies. Both neonates and all staff recovered, with no further healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 transmission following the implementation of effective outbreak containment measures.