Lineage-specific detection of residual disease predicts relapse in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia stopping therapy.

Patients with chronic myeloid leukemia who are eligible for treatment-free remission (TFR) may still relapse after tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) cessation. There is a need for accurate predictors of outcome to enable patients with a favorable profile to proceed while avoiding futile attempts. Sensitive detection of residual disease in total leukocytes at treatment cessation is associated with relapse but is not highly discriminatory, likely because it is a composite measure of residual leukemia derived from different cell lineages, whereas only some lineages are relevant for relapse.

A systems immunology study comparing innate and adaptive immune responses in adults to COVID-19 mRNA and adenovirus vectored vaccines.

Identifying the molecular mechanisms that promote optimal immune responses to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination is critical for future rational vaccine design. Here, we longitudinally profile innate and adaptive immune responses in 102 adults after the first, second, and third doses of mRNA or adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccines. Using a multi-omics approach, we identify key differences in the immune responses induced by ChAdOx1-S and BNT162b2 that correlate with antigen-specific antibody and T cell responses or vaccine reactogenicity.

The immunotoxicity, but not anti-tumor efficacy, of anti-CD40 and anti-CD137 immunotherapies is dependent on the gut microbiota.

Immune agonist antibodies (IAAs) are promising immunotherapies that target co-stimulatory receptors to induce potent anti-tumor immune responses, particularly when combined with checkpoint inhibitors. Unfortunately, their clinical translation is hampered by serious dose-limiting, immune-mediated toxicities, including high-grade and sometimes fatal liver damage, cytokine release syndrome (CRS), and colitis. We show that the immunotoxicity, induced by the IAAs anti-CD40 and anti-CD137, is dependent on the gut microbiota.

The composition of the gut microbiota following early-life antibiotic exposure affects host health and longevity in later life.

Studies investigating whether there is a causative link between the gut microbiota and lifespan have largely been restricted to invertebrates or to mice with a reduced lifespan because of a genetic deficiency. We investigate the effect of early-life antibiotic exposure on otherwise healthy, normal chow-fed, wild-type mice, monitoring these mice for more than 700 days in comparison with untreated control mice. We demonstrate the emergence of two different low-diversity community types, post-antibiotic microbiota (PAM) I and PAM II, following antibiotic exposure.

Pressure ulcer prevalence across Welsh orthopaedic units and community hospitals: surveys based on the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel minimum data set.

The survey used the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP) methodology for the collection of pressure ulcer prevalence data. The orthopaedic survey was conducted across all National Health Service Trusts in Wales between 2 and 6 July 2007 while the community hospital survey covering 25% of all community hospital beds was conducted between 21 April 2008 and 2 May 2008. Data were gathered upon 1196 patients (581, 48.

Using online questionnaires to conduct nursing research.

This article explores the concept of using online questionnaires to carry out nursing research. It discusses options for nurses who do not have advanced technical IT skills for electronic distribution of survey questionnaires. The general principles of web distribution are explained, and some approaches are evaluated in terms of current access to technology and its ease of use.

The impact of nurse education on the caring behaviours of nursing students.

This study aimed to ascertain whether nursing students' perceptions of caring behaviours as part of nursing practice change over a three-year, pre-registration, undergraduate nursing course. Students are expected to have a predisposition to care with nurse education nurturing and developing this into professional caring behaviour. However, there is some evidence that this process inures rather than develops these behaviours.

Doing things differently: advantages and disadvantages of Web questionnaires.

For this article, Steve Jones, Fiona Murphy, Mark Edwards and Jane James draw on experiences of delivering a questionnaire to a group of nursing students using the web. Although they encountered problems, this approach to data collection appears to have potential.

Subcellular curvature at the perimeter of micropatterned cells influences lamellipodial distribution and cell polarity.

This paper employs substrates that are patterned with shapes having well-defined geometric cues to characterize the influence of curvature on the polarization of highly metastatic B16F10 rat melanoma cells. Substrates were patterned using microcontact printing to define adhesive islands of defined shape and size on a background that otherwise prevents cell adhesion. Cells adherent to these surfaces responded to local curvature at the perimeter of the adhesive islands; convex features promoted the assembly of lamellipodia and concave features promoted the assembly of stress filaments.

A static-led approach to pressure ulcers: an evaluation after 3 years.

Pressure damage has high cost implications to the patient and care providers. The choice of appropriate equipment to help in the prevention of tissue damage is hampered by extensive choice and little guidance on the most effective product to use. The static-led approach was introduced into Carmarthenshire NHS Trust 3 years ago.

A tool to aid nurses' decision making in relation to dressing selection.

A multidisciplinary formulary group was established to create a standardized approach to wound management throughout Carmarthenshire. It was felt that a tool to aid nurse's decision making in dressing selection might enhance the process of formulary implementation. This article outlines the development of the tool.

Pressure area management: a static-led approach.

An increase in expenditure and inappropriate use of pressure-relieving equipment, along with high-prevalence figures, initiated the evaluation of current practice of pressure damage prevention in an acute general hospital. This evaluation started with the organization of a project group, who (after a baseline audit) identified and procured the resources required to introduce and manage an effective pressure damage prevention programme. The investment in high-quality static mattresses for all patients including those who are at high risk of developing pressure damage was based on available clinical evidence.