Publications by authors named "Ian Brown"

Background: The international gold standard for avian influenza virus (AIV) diagnosis is virus isolation (VI) in specific pathogen-free embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs). AIV isolation typically involves a 6-day turnaround, during which premises under suspicion for notifiable AIV infection are held under restriction regardless of molecular diagnoses, often with significant welfare implications.

Methods: A reduction in time for negation by VI was investigated following experimental inoculation of AIV from known-positive original clinical material into ECEs.

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Faculty development programs play a crucial role in enhancing learning by equipping educators with the necessary skills, knowledge, and pedagogical strategies to teach more effectively. One such program is the Promoting Active Learning in Analytical Chemistry (PALAC) workshop, which aimed to educate faculty on methods to create and use active learning course materials to support students during the process of learning. This research aimed to assess the design of classroom instructional materials generated by faculty that attended the PALAC workshops.

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Background: There are limited data on the physical effects of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer (PC), and on the relationships of such measures of adiposity and strength to cardiovascular outcomes.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the relationships of measures of adiposity and strength to cardiovascular outcomes (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, arterial revascularization, peripheral arterial disease, and venous thromboembolism) in patients with PC. A secondary objective was to characterize the relationships between ADT use and 12-month changes in these physical measures.

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Article Synopsis
  • The TAS1R2 receptor, important for taste perception, also regulates muscle physiology, with genetic loss enhancing muscle fitness in mice akin to endurance exercise.
  • Research involved assessing endurance responses in mice with muscle-specific TAS1R2 deletion and humans with a specific TAS1R2 genetic variant during exercise training combined with weight loss interventions.
  • Results showed that mice lacking TAS1R2 had better endurance and fitness, while human Val carriers of the TAS1R2 variant showed improved body composition and fitness levels compared to those with normal function, indicating potential benefits for muscle function and metabolism related to TAS1R2 deficiency.
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  • * A study demonstrates that metallothionein (MTH) immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a highly effective diagnostic method for WD, showing high sensitivity (91.20%) and perfect specificity (100%) in a cohort of 91 patients compared to control samples.
  • * MTH IHC could serve as a cost-effective and reliable screening tool for diagnosing WD in patients of different ages and disease stages, enhancing patient evaluation and management.
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High pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) is a rapidly evolving virus causing significant economic and environmental harm. Wild birds are a key viral reservoir and an important source of viral incursions into animal populations, including poultry. However, we lack a thorough understanding of which species drive incursions and whether this changes over time.

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  • Lymphocyte-rich inflammation of the esophagus is an emerging condition characterized by symptoms like difficulty swallowing and food blockages, often appearing similar to eosinophilic esophagitis during endoscopy.
  • Three main subtypes of this inflammation have been identified: lymphocytic, lichenoid, and lymphocyte-predominant esophagitis, which must be differentiated from other causes such as gastro-esophageal reflux and Candida infections.
  • The review highlights the need for systematic diagnostic criteria and recommends more research to understand the disease's progression and improve treatment strategies for affected patients.
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Until recent events, the Antarctic was the only major geographical region in which high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) had never previously been detected. Here we report on the detection of clade 2.3.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of a low-pathogenicity avian influenza virus (LPAIV) subtype H6N1, affecting 15 premises in Northern Ireland and spreading to 13 in the Republic of Ireland and six in Great Britain.
  • * The outbreak resulted in the culling of over 2 million birds to control the spread, highlighting the significant economic consequences and the need for swift action during LPAIV outbreaks.
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The colon is the most common site for endometriosis outside the genital tract. It has a varied presentation and can mimic numerous other conditions, both clinically and pathologically. We investigated the clinicopathological features of a series of colorectal endometriosis with a particular emphasis on the features seen in cases with colonic mucosal involvement.

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High pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) cause high morbidity and mortality in poultry species. HPAIV prevalence means high numbers of infected wild birds could lead to spill over events for farmed poultry. How these pathogens survive in the environment is important for disease maintenance and potential dissemination.

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  • Researchers developed a new small molecule antiviral called PAV-431 that was discovered through a unique screening method targeting viral protein assembly.
  • This compound has shown effectiveness against various respiratory viruses in laboratory studies and in animal models, including coronaviruses and paramyxoviruses.
  • PAV-431 works by selectively targeting a modified protein complex involved in the viral life cycle, providing a potential new approach for treating respiratory viral infections without harming the host.
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Many bird species commonly aggregate in flocks for reasons ranging from predator defense to navigation. Available evidence suggests that certain types of flocks-the V and echelon formations of large birds-may provide a benefit that reduces the aerodynamic cost of flight, whereas cluster flocks typical of smaller birds may increase flight costs. However, metabolic flight costs have not been directly measured in any of these group flight contexts [Zhang and Lauder, , jeb245617 (2023)].

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The bioavailability of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is vital for skeletal muscle health, yet the mechanisms or signals regulating NAD homeostasis remain unclear. Here, we uncover a pathway connecting peripheral glucose sensing to the modulation of muscle NAD through TAS1R2, the sugar-sensing G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) initially identified in taste perception. Muscle TAS1R2 receptor stimulation by glucose and other agonists induces ERK1/2-dependent phosphorylation and activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase1 (PARP1), a major NAD consumer in skeletal muscle.

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We present a case of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome in a patient with decompensated cirrhosis who had successful induction of remission with nutritional supplementation alone. We propose that early institution of high-protein, high-energy enteral supplementation should be offered to all patients, especially those with compelling contraindications to immunosuppression.

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Emerging pathogens can threaten human and animal health, necessitating reliable surveillance schemes to enable preparedness. We evaluated the repeatability and reproducibility of a method developed previously during a single year at one study site. Hunter-harvested ducks and geese were sampled for avian influenza virus at three discrete locations in the UK.

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A free-range organic broiler () premises in Staffordshire was infected by high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N8 during the 2020-2021 epizootic in the United Kingdom (UK). Following initial confirmation of the infection in poultry, multiple wild bird species were seen scavenging on chicken carcasses. Detected dead wild birds were subsequently demonstrated to have been infected and succumbed to HPAIV H5N8.

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Reverse zoonotic transmission events of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been described since the start of the pandemic, and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) designated the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in animals a reportable disease. Eighteen domestic and zoo animals in Great Britain and Jersey were tested by APHA for SARS-CoV-2 during 2020-2023. One domestic cat (), three domestic dogs (), and three Amur tigers () from a zoo were confirmed positive during 2020-2021 and reported to the WOAH.

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Purpose: The estimation of the risk posed by malignant polyps for residual or lymphatic disease plays a central role. This study investigated colorectal surgeons' assessment of these risks associated with malignant polyps.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire was electronically administered to colorectal surgeons in Australia and New Zealand in October 2022.

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Purpose: Loss-of-function variants in the ANGPTL7 gene are associated with protection from glaucoma and reduced intraocular pressure (IOP). We investigated the role of ANGPTL7 in IOP homeostasis and its potential as a target for glaucoma therapeutics.

Methods: IOP, outflow facility, and outflow tissue morphology of Angptl7 knockout (KO) mice were assessed with and without dexamethasone (Dex).

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Article Synopsis
  • * The number of basic amino acids in the hemagglutinin (HA) cleavage site is crucial for determining the pathogenicity of these viruses.
  • * The study supports using HA cleavage site analysis for quick classification of AIV pathogenicity, which reduces the need for extensive experimental testing.
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Sporadic Polyps of the Colorectum.

Gastroenterol Clin North Am

March 2024

Colorectal polyps are common, and their diagnosis and classification represent a major component of gastrointestinal pathology practice. The majority of colorectal polyps represent precursors of either the chromosomal instability or serrated neoplasia pathways to colorectal carcinoma. Accurate reporting of these polyps has major implications for surveillance and thus for cancer prevention.

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