Exercise testing in clinical context: Reference ranges for interpreting anaerobic threshold as an outcome for congenital heart disease patients.

Background: Change in the oxygen consumption (VO) at the ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT) is an important outcome in research studies of children with congenital heart disease (CHD). The range of values reported by different raters for any given VAT is needed to contextualize a change in VAT in intervention studies.

Methods: Sixty maximal cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) for CHD patients 8-21 years old were independently reviewed by six exercise physiologists and four pediatric cardiologists.

Monosaccharide coating modulate the intracellular trafficking of gold nanoparticles in dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DCs) have emerged as a promising target for drug delivery and immune modulation due to their pivotal role in initiating the adaptive immune response. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have garnered interest as a platform for targeted drug delivery due to their biocompatibility, low toxicity and precise control over size, morphology and surface functionalization. Our investigation aimed to elucidate the intracellular uptake and trafficking of AuNPs coated with different combinations of monosaccharides (mannose, galactose, and fucose) in DCs.

Targeting mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 2 attenuates immunopathology in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Objective: We aim to explore the role of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex (mTORC) 2 in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) development, the in vivo regulation of mTORC2 by type I interferon (IFN) signaling in autoimmunity, and to use mTORC2 targeting therapy to ameliorate lupus-like symptoms in an in vivo lupus mouse model and an in vitro coculture model using human PBMCs.

Method: We first induced lupus-like disease in T cell specific Rictor, a key component of mTORC2, deficient mice by topical application of imiquimod (IMQ) and monitored disease development. Next, we investigated the changes of mTORC2 signaling and immunological phenotypes in type I IFNAR deficient Lpr mice.

Treatment patterns and burden of uncomplicated urinary tract infection in England.

Background: Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (uUTIs) are common bacterial infections.

Aim: Evaluate the burden of uUTI in England for 1) potential determinants of disease progression; 2) extent and impact of antimicrobial prescribing non-concordant with treatment guidelines; and 3) economic burden and costs.

Design & Setting: Retrospective cohort study utilising patient data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) linked to English Hospital Episodes Statistics.