Publications by authors named "JM Lewis"

Background: Microaggressions, subtle and often unintentional acts of hostility, have been recognized as a significant issue in healthcare, adversely affecting learners' emotional and physical well-being. Current strategies for addressing microaggressions are broad frameworks without empirical substantiation that leave learners without a clear direction for intervention. This study introduces a novel scripted, succinct, bystander intervention tool to combat microaggressions.

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We announce the complete genomes of phages ValerieMcCarty03 and ValerieMcCarty04 isolated from wastewater treatment plant samples that infect a multidrug-resistant clinical isolate. These phages belong to the T4-like cluster and fall within the genus.

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The rover explored the region between the orbitally defined phyllosilicate-bearing Glen Torridon trough and the overlying layered sulfate-bearing unit, called the "clay-sulfate transition region." Samples were drilled from the top of the fluviolacustrine Glasgow member of the Carolyn Shoemaker formation (CSf) to the eolian Contigo member of the Mirador formation (MIf) to assess in situ mineralogical changes with stratigraphic position. The Sample Analysis at Mars-Evolved Gas Analysis (SAM-EGA) instrument analyzed drilled samples within this region to constrain their volatile chemistry and mineralogy.

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If ocean-derived materials are present at Europa's surface, they would represent accessible records of ocean chemistry and habitability, but such materials would be further processed by Europa's harsh radiation environment. In this study, saturated fatty acids were precipitated onto a Europa-relevant hydrated magnesium sulfate and exposed to gamma radiation doses up to 2 MGy at -196°C. Alkane chains, with carbon numbers one less than those of the starting fatty acids, were the most abundant radiolysis products in solvent and thermal extracts analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry.

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Understanding transmission pathways of important opportunistic, drug-resistant pathogens, such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing , is essential to implementing targeted prevention strategies to interrupt transmission and reduce the number of infections. To link transmission of ESBL-producing (ESBL-EC) between two sources, single-nucleotide resolution of strains, as well as diversity within and between samples, is required. However, the microbiological methods to best track these pathogens are unclear.

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Background: Blood tests for Alzheimer's disease (AD) that measure biomarkers related to neuropathology have demonstrated to be useful, minimally-invasive ways to identify patients for screening into clinical trials. While some AD biomarkers can be detected in plasma, greater sensitivity is needed to make plasma AD tests more effective. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) in plasma carry AD-related biomarkers from the brain and could offer a concentrated source of brain-related biomarkers, though the methodological complexities involved in isolating plasma EVs have hampered its validation for clinical use.

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Unlabelled: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant burden to health systems, with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) further compounding the issue. The hospital environment plays a significant role in the development of HAIs, with microbial surveillance providing the foundation for interventions. We sampled 40 door handles at a newly built hospital prior to patients being admitted and then 6 and 12 months after this date.

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Article Synopsis
  • Infections caused by Enterobacterales are becoming harder to treat due to increasing antimicrobial resistance, particularly following the switch from chloramphenicol to ceftriaxone for suspected sepsis in Malawi in 2004.
  • Surprisingly, while extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria emerged, resistance to chloramphenicol decreased in certain E. coli and Klebsiella strains, hinting at a potential comeback for chloramphenicol.
  • Research shows that 31% of the tested Malawian E. coli and Klebsiella isolates have mismatched chloramphenicol susceptibility genotypes and phenotypes; significant changes in cat gene stability suggest chloramphenicol could be reintroduced as
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The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a molecular machine utilised by many Gram-negative bacteria to deliver antibacterial toxins into adjacent cells. Here we present the structure of Tse15, a T6SS Rhs effector from the nosocomial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. Tse15 forms a triple layered β-cocoon Rhs domain with an N-terminal α-helical clade domain and an unfolded C-terminal toxin domain inside the Rhs cage.

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  • Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is linked to Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) infection, with plasma antibodies (MCPyV-Ab) correlating to patient survival, but their presence in tumors was understudied.
  • A review of 40 patients diagnosed with MCC from 2014 to 2021 analyzed the impact of plasma and tumor MCPyV-Ab on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).
  • The findings showed that while most patients had negative results for both plasma and tumor antibodies, those with positive results in either had a trend of improved DFS and OS, although the sample size limited the conclusiveness of the results.
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  • Vγ6/Vδ1+ γδ T cells play a crucial role in managing hypertension and vascular injury induced by angiotensin II (AngII) in mice, as they are predominantly present in specific perivascular tissues.
  • Infusing mice with AngII increased the frequency of these Vγ6/Vδ1+ γδ T cells, which were largely activated in perivascular areas.
  • Neutralizing these cells led to higher blood pressure and worse endothelial dysfunction, indicating they help mitigate the harmful effects of AngII.
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Immunomodulatory agents have significant potential to enhance cancer treatment but have demonstrated limited efficacy beyond the preclinical setting owing to poor pharmacokinetics and toxicity associated with systemic administration. Conversely, when locally delivered, immunomodulatory agents require repeated administration to optimize immune stimulation. To overcome these challenges, we encapsulated the toll-like receptor 4 agonist monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) within hyperbranched polyglycerol-coated biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs) engineered for gradual drug release from the NP core, resulting in a more persistent stimulation of antitumor immune responses while minimizing systemic side effects.

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Protein glycosylation is a ubiquitous process observed across all domains of life. Within the human pathogen , -linked glycosylation is required for virulence; however, the targets and conservation of glycosylation events remain poorly defined. In this work, we expand our understanding of the breadth and site specificity of glycosylation within by demonstrating the value of strain specific glycan electron-transfer/higher-energy collision dissociation (EThcD) triggering for bacterial glycoproteomics.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool in healthcare significantly impacting practices from diagnostics to treatment delivery and patient management. This article examines the progress of AI in healthcare, starting from the field's inception in the 1960s to present-day innovative applications in areas such as precision medicine, robotic surgery, and drug development. In addition, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the acceleration of the use of AI in technologies such as telemedicine and chatbots to enhance accessibility and improve medical education is also explored.

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Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses specific to bacteria that target them with great efficiency and specificity. Phages were first studied for their antibacterial potential in the early twentieth century; however, their use was largely eclipsed by the popularity of antibiotics. Given the surge of antimicrobial-resistant strains worldwide, there has been a renaissance in harnessing phages as therapeutics once more.

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Background: Infections caused by multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria present a severe threat to global public health. The WHO defines drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae as a priority pathogen for which alternative treatments are needed given the limited treatment options and the rapid acquisition of novel resistance mechanisms by this species. Longitudinal descriptions of genomic epidemiology of Klebsiella pneumoniae can inform management strategies but data from sub-Saharan Africa are lacking.

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Unlabelled: Across the Burkholderia genus -linked protein glycosylation is highly conserved. While the inhibition of glycosylation has been shown to be detrimental for virulence in complex species, such as , little is known about how specific glycosylation sites impact protein functionality. Within this study, we sought to improve our understanding of the breadth, dynamics, and requirement for glycosylation across the glycoproteome.

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Background: Early attendance at antenatal care (ANC), coupled with good-quality care, is essential for improving maternal and child health outcomes. However, achieving these outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa remains a challenge. This study examines the effects of a community-facility health system strengthening model (known as 4byFour) on early ANC attendance, testing for four conditions by four months of pregnancy, and four ANC clinic visits in Migori county, western Kenya.

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Nosocomial infections threaten patient safety, and were widely reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. Effective hospital infection control requires a detailed understanding of the role of different transmission pathways, yet these are poorly quantified. Using patient and staff data from a large UK hospital, we demonstrate a method to infer unobserved epidemiological event times efficiently and disentangle the infectious pressure dynamics by ward.

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Current treatments for T cell malignancies encounter issues of disease relapse and off-target toxicity. Using T cell receptor (TCR)Vβ2 as a model, here we demonstrate the rapid generation of an off-the-shelf allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T platform targeting the clone-specific TCR Vβ chain for malignant T cell killing while limiting normal cell destruction. Healthy donor T cells undergo CRISPR-induced TRAC, B2M and CIITA knockout to eliminate T cell-dependent graft-versus-host and host-versus-graft reactivity.

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Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has an overall 5-year survival rate of just 12.5% and thus is among the leading causes of cancer deaths. When detected at early stages, PDAC survival rates improve substantially.

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Background: Emotional intelligence (EI) has been previously associated with teaching ability and impostor phenomenon (IP) in medical education; however, studies have demonstrated mixed findings and have largely focused on trainees only. Therefore, we sought to explore the potential association between the degree of IP characteristics, EI and teaching ability in obstetrics and gynaecology (Ob/Gyn) faculty physicians.

Methods: A cross-sectional, survey-based pilot study was completed at a single academic institution.

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As deficiencies in tRNA modifications have been linked to human diseases such as cancer and diabetes, much research has focused on the modifications' impacts on translational regulation in eukaryotes. However, the significance of tRNA modifications in bacterial physiology remains largely unexplored. In this paper, we demonstrate that the mG tRNA methyltransferase TrmB is crucial for a top-priority pathogen, , to respond to stressors encountered during infection, including oxidative stress, low pH, and iron deprivation.

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Objective: Patients with functional neurological disorder involving the motor system (eg, functional weakness, functional gait) may acutely present to the hospital for new-onset symptoms. For some, symptoms may remain severe enough at the time of hospital discharge to qualify for an inpatient rehabilitation facility stay.

Design: Data were extracted via retrospective chart review on functional neurological disorder patients ( N = 22) admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility between September 2019 and May 2022.

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is one of the most prevalent Gram-negative species associated with drug resistant infections. Strains that produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) or carbapenemases are both particularly problematic and disproportionately impact resource limited healthcare settings where last-line antimicrobials may not be available. A large number of genomes are now available and have allowed insights into pathogenesis and epidemiology of ESBL but genomes from sub-Saharan Africa (sSA) are significantly underrepresented.

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