Health checks for autistic adults: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Background: Autistic people commonly have physical and mental health conditions. They also frequently experience barriers to accessing healthcare, contributing to problems identifying and treating health conditions. These factors may lead to increased and earlier morbidity and lower average life expectancy for autistic people.

Platelets as key cells in endometriosis patients: Insights from small extracellular vesicles in peritoneal fluid and endometriotic lesions analysis.

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by the presence of endometrium-like tissue outside the uterus, primarily affecting pelvic organs and tissues. In this study, we explored platelet activation in endometriosis. We utilized the STRING database to analyze the functional interactions among proteins previously identified in small extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from the peritoneal fluid of endometriosis patients and controls.

Multiscale optoacoustic assessment of skin microvascular reactivity in carotid artery disease.

Microvascular endothelial dysfunction may provide insights into systemic diseases, such as carotid artery disease. Raster-scan optoacoustic mesoscopy (RSOM) can produce images of skin microvasculature during endothelial dysfunction challenges via numerous microvascular features. Herein, RSOM was employed to image the microvasculature of 26 subjects (13 patients with single carotid artery disease, 13 healthy participants) to assess the dynamics of 18 microvascular features at three scales of detail, i.

Power calculation for mosquito bioassays: Quantifying variability in the WHO tube bioassay and developing sample size guidance for the PBO synergism assay using a Shiny application.

Background: The WHO tube bioassay is a method for exposing mosquitos to determine susceptibility to insecticides, with mortality to discriminating doses <98% indicating possible resistance and <90% confirming resistance. This bioassay is also used for synergism testing to assess if susceptibility is restored by pre-exposure to the synergist piperonyl butoxide.

Methods: Here we perform testing with pyrethroid-susceptible and pyrethroid-resistant to quantify the variability of the WHO tube bioassay and identify its sources.

Shining a light on fluorescent EV dyes: Evaluating efficacy, specificity and suitability by nano-flow cytometry.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are mediators of intercellular communication, recently recognised for their clinical applications. Accurate characterisation and quantification of EVs are critical for understanding of their function and clinical relevance. Many platforms utilise fluorescence for EV characterisation, frequently labelling surface proteins to identify EVs.

Application of optical tweezer technology reveals that PfEBA and PfRH ligands, not PfMSP1, play a central role in Plasmodium falciparum merozoite-erythrocyte attachment.

Malaria pathogenesis and parasite multiplication depend on the ability of Plasmodium merozoites to invade human erythrocytes. Invasion is a complex multi-step process involving multiple parasite proteins which can differ between species and has been most extensively studied in P. falciparum.

Unpacking WHO and CDC Bottle Bioassay Methods: A Comprehensive Literature Review and Protocol Analysis Revealing Key Outcome Predictors.

Background: Resistance monitoring is a key element in controlling vector-borne diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) and Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have each developed bottle bioassay methods for determining insecticide susceptibility in mosquito vectors which are used globally.

Methods: This study aimed to identify variations in bottle bioassay methodologies and assess the potential impact on the data that is generated.

Better methods, better data: landscaping the priorities for improving methodologies in vector control.

This article addresses the evolving challenges in evaluating insecticide-based tools for vector control. In response to the emergence of insecticide resistance in major malaria vectors, novel chemistries and products are coming to market, and there is a need to review the available testing methodologies. Commonly used methods for evaluating insecticides, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) cone bioassay, are inadequate for the diverse range of tools now available.

A national research survey of childhood autism assessment services in the UK: empirical evidence of diagnostic practice, challenges and improvement opportunities.

Background: The UK National Health Service (NHS) Long Term Plan aims to reduce waiting times for childhood autism diagnostic assessment and improve parent and child satisfaction. This empirical research investigated current childhood diagnostic practice provision, and changes made by teams to address challenges faced.

Methods: Data were collected using an online semi-structured research questionnaire.

Persistent increased severity of cannabis use disorder symptoms in adolescents compared to adults: a one-year longitudinal study.

Adolescence is a developmental period characterised by increased vulnerability to cannabis use disorder (CUD). However, previous investigations of this vulnerability have relied on cross-sectional comparisons and lack a detailed assessment of cannabis quantity, a potentially important confounding factor. Here, we aimed to investigate the one-year course of CUD in adolescents compared to adults who currently use cannabis, adjusting for a comprehensive measure of cannabis quantity.

What does the mean mean? A simple test for neuroscience.

Trial-averaged metrics, e.g. tuning curves or population response vectors, are a ubiquitous way of characterizing neuronal activity.

Defining predictors of responsiveness to advanced therapies in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis: protocol for the IBD-RESPONSE and nested CD-metaRESPONSE prospective, multicentre, observational cohort study in precision medicine.

Introduction: Characterised by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptoms including diarrhoea, abdominal pain and fatigue can significantly impact patient's quality of life. Therapeutic developments in the last 20 years have revolutionised treatment. However, clinical trials and real-world data show primary non-response rates up to 40%.

Comparative analysis of the Potter Tower and a new Track Sprayer for the application of residual sprays in the laboratory.

Background: Efforts to evaluate the residual efficacy of new indoor residual spraying (IRS) formulations have identified limitations with the industry standard laboratory sprayer, the Potter Spray Tower (PT). Calibrating the PT can be time-consuming, and the dosing of surfaces may not be as accurate or uniform as previously assumed.

Methods: To address these limitations, the Micron Horizontal Track Sprayer with Spray Cabinet (TS) was developed to provide higher efficiency, ease of operation and deposition uniformity equal to or better than the PT.

Standardised Measurements for Monitoring and Comparing Multiphoton Microscope Systems.

The goal of this protocol is to enable better characterisation of multiphoton microscopy hardware across a large user base. The scope of this protocol is purposefully limited to focus on hardware, touching on software and data analysis routines only where relevant. The intended audiences are scientists using and building multiphoton microscopes in their laboratories.

Contribution of optical resolution to the spatial precision of two-photon optogenetic photostimulation .

Significance: Two-photon optogenetics combines nonlinear excitation with noninvasive activation of neurons to enable the manipulation of neural circuits with a high degree of spatial precision. Combined with two-photon population calcium imaging, these approaches comprise a flexible platform for all-optical interrogation of neural circuits. However, a multitude of optical and biological factors dictate the exact precision of this approach , where it is most usefully applied.

Enhanced cannabis timeline followback (EC-TLFB): Comprehensive assessment of cannabis use including standard THC units and validation through biological measures.

Aims: The aims of this study were to present an enhanced cannabis timeline followback (EC-TLFB) enabling comprehensive assessment of cannabis use measures, including standard tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) units, and to validate these against objectively indexed urinary 11-nor-9-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) concentrations.

Design: We used cross-sectional baseline data from the 'CannTeen' observational longitudinal study.

Setting: The study was conducted in London, UK.

Opioid use and associated factors in 1676 patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a multicentre quality improvement project.

Objective: Despite its association with poorer outcomes, opioid use in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is not well characterised in the UK. We aimed to examine the extent of opioid use, the associated factors and the use of mitigation techniques such as pain-service review and opioid weaning plans among individuals with IBD.

Methods: Data were collected from consecutive patients attending IBD outpatient appointments at 12 UK hospitals.

Propagation of activity through the cortical hierarchy and perception are determined by neural variability.

Brains are composed of anatomically and functionally distinct regions performing specialized tasks, but regions do not operate in isolation. Orchestration of complex behaviors requires communication between brain regions, but how neural dynamics are organized to facilitate reliable transmission is not well understood. Here we studied this process directly by generating neural activity that propagates between brain regions and drives behavior, assessing how neural populations in sensory cortex cooperate to transmit information.

Associations between regular cannabis use and brain resting-state functional connectivity in adolescents and adults.

Background/aim: Cannabis use is highly prevalent in adolescents; however, little is known about its effects on adolescent brain function.

Method: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was used in matched groups of regular cannabis users ( = 70, 35 adolescents: 16-17 years old, 35 adults: 26-29 years old) and non-regular-using controls ( = 70, 35 adolescents/35 adults). Pre-registered analyses examined the connectivity of seven major cortical and sub-cortical brain networks (default mode network, executive control network (ECN), salience network, hippocampal network and three striatal networks) using seed-based analysis methods with cross-sectional comparisons between user groups and age groups.