Carbohydrate-active enzymes from Akkermansia muciniphila break down mucin O-glycans to completion.

Akkermansia muciniphila is a human microbial symbiont residing in the mucosal layer of the large intestine. Its main carbon source is the highly heterogeneous mucin glycoprotein, and it uses an array of carbohydrate-active enzymes and sulfatases to access this complex energy source. Here we describe the biochemical characterization of 54 glycoside hydrolases, 11 sulfatases and 1 polysaccharide lyase from A.

Integration of vanHAX downstream of a ribosomal RNA operon restores vancomycin resistance in a susceptible Enterococcus faecium strain.

During the genomic characterisation of Enterococcus faecium strains (n = 39) collected in a haematology ward, we identified an isolate (OI25), which contained vanA-type vancomycin resistance genes but was phenotypically susceptible to vancomycin. OI25 could revert to resistance when cultured in the presence of vancomycin and was thus considered to be vancomycin-variable. Long-read sequencing was used to identify structural variations within the vancomycin resistance region of OI25 and to uncover its resistance reversion mechanism.

Open Label Vancomycin in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis-Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Improved Colonic Disease Activity and Associations With Changes in Host-Microbiome-Metabolomic Signatures.

Background: We conducted a single-arm interventional study, to explore mucosal changes associated with clinical remission under oral vancomycin (OV) treatment, in primary sclerosing cholangitis-associated inflammatory bowel disease (PSC-IBD); NCT05376228.

Methods: Fifteen patients with PSC and active colitis (median fecal calprotectin 459 µg/g; median total Mayo score 5) were treated with OV (125 mg QID) for 4 weeks and followed-up for a further 4 weeks of treatment withdrawal (8 weeks, end-of-study). Colonic biopsies were obtained at baseline and Week 4.

Differential development of antibiotic resistance and virulence between species.

Unlabelled: The two species that account for most cases of -associated bacteremia in the United Kingdom are , often a commensal but also an emerging pathogen, and , a well-known antibiotic-resistant species. While these species both cause similar types of human infection and occupy the same niche, (unlike ) has thus far remained susceptible to antibiotics. Comparatively little is known about the biology of , and this is the largest study on it conducted to date, providing valuable insights into its behaviour and potential threat to human health.

Differences in the gut microbiota between Gurkhas and soldiers of British origin.

Previous work indicated that the incidence of travellers' diarrhoea (TD) is higher in soldiers of British origin, when compared to soldiers of Nepalese descent (Gurkhas). We hypothesise that the composition of the gut microbiota may be a contributing factor in the risk of developing TD in soldiers of British origin. This study aimed to characterise the gut microbial composition of Gurkha and non-Gurkha soldiers of the British Army.

Uncovering a mammalian neural-specific poly(A) binding protein with unique properties.

The mRNA 3' poly(A) tail plays a critical role in regulating both mRNA translation and turnover. It is bound by the cytoplasmic poly(A) binding protein (PABPC), an evolutionarily conserved protein that can interact with translation factors and mRNA decay machineries to regulate gene expression. Mammalian PABPC1, the prototypical PABPC, is expressed in most tissues and interacts with eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4G (eIF4G) to stimulate translation in specific contexts.

Methodological innovations within the RAWES framework for use in development scenarios.

Built development changes the nature of land and its ecosystems, with diverse ramifications for human well-being and the resilience of the socioecological system. Robust and replicable approaches are required to assess ecosystem services generated by sites both predevelopment and for evaluation of postdevelopment options, to assess change and to support a paradigm shift from a "do less harm" to a "regenerative" approach. The Rapid Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services (RAWES) approach provides an internationally recognized methodology for systemic assessment of the ecosystem services generated by a site, taking account of all ecosystem services and service categories across multiple spatial scales.

Motivational Interviewing and Childhood Caries: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Background: This study tested the occurrence of early childhood caries (ECC) and changes in potential mediators of ECC after an early childhood oral health promotion intervention.

Methods: Consenting parent/child dyads in Western Australia were randomised into test [motivational interviewing (MI) + anticipatory guidance (AG)] or control (lift the lip assessments by child health nurses). A questionnaire at baseline and follow-ups (at 18, 36 and 60 months) evaluated the parental factors and the children clinically examined.

What strategies facilitate & support the successful transition of newly qualified midwives into practice: An integrative literature review.

Objective: The aim of this review was to identify strategies that facilitate newly qualified midwives to transition successfully from midwifery student to confident, competent practitioner.

Design: Integrative literature review.

Data Sources: The following databases were accessed: CINAHL complete, Medline complete, APA PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), Scopus and Google Scholar.

Taking the reins: A grounded theory study of women's experiences of negotiating water immersion for labour and birth after a previous caesarean section.

Background: Women seeking a vaginal birth after a caesarean section (VBAC) frequently want to keep their subsequent labour and birth free from intervention. Water immersion (WI) during labour is potentially an effective tool for women having a VBAC for its natural pain-relieving properties. However, negotiating access to WI can be difficult, especially in the context of VBAC.

Midwifery and nursing students' perceptions of respectful maternity care and witnessing of disrespect and abuse: A comparative study from Nepal and Jordan.

Objectives: To compare Nepalese and Jordanian midwifery and nursing students' perceptions of respectful maternity care (RMC) and witnessing of disrespect and abuse; and determine factors that predict scores on a scale measuring perceptions of RMC.

Design: A descriptive, comparative design was used.

Setting: Recruitment took place from two medical colleges in Nepal and one University in Jordan.

Effectiveness of an online education intervention to enhance student perceptions of Respectful Maternity Care: A quasi-experimental study.

Background: Childbearing women's relationship with maternity care providers enhance childbirth outcomes. Students need to understand and offer respectful care.

Objective: Evaluate effectiveness and impact of an online education intervention on nursing students' perceptions towards respectful maternity care during labour and childbirth in Nepal.

Educational interventions to promote respectful maternity care: A mixed-methods systematic review.

Aim: This systematic review critiqued the impact of educational interventions for midwives, nurses, or midwifery/nursing students to enhance respectful maternity care.

Background: Treating women with respect during maternity care has gained considerable global attention. Although research has focused on raising awareness about respectful care among health care professionals, the effectiveness of educational interventions remains uncertain.

Reassessing the multiple values of lowland British floodplains.

Ecosystem services provided by lowland British floodplains respectively under semi-natural conditions and converted for intensive maize production were assessed. Floodplains across lowland Britain have been extensively disconnected from river channels, depleting habitat for wildlife and other beneficial ecosystem services. Conservation measures are often regarded as costly constraints on economic and development freedoms whilst, conversely, conversion for intensive agricultural production is rewarded by markets despite many often-overlooked externalities.

Midwives providing woman-centred care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: A national qualitative study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused isolation, fear, and impacted on maternal healthcare provision.

Aim: To explore midwives' experiences about how COVID-19 impacted their ability to provide woman-centred care, and what lessons they have learnt as a result of the mandated government and hospital restrictions (such as social distancing) during the care of the woman and her family.

Methods: A qualitative interpretive descriptive study was conducted.

Metagenome-Wide Analysis of Rural and Urban Surface Waters and Sediments in Bangladesh Identifies Human Waste as a Driver of Antibiotic Resistance.

In many low- and middle-income countries, antibiotic-resistant bacteria spread in the environment due to inadequate treatment of wastewater and the poorly regulated use of antibiotics in agri- and aquaculture. Here, we characterized the abundance and diversity of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in surface waters and sediments in Bangladesh through quantitative culture of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing coliforms and shotgun metagenomics. Samples were collected from highly urbanized settings (7), rural ponds with a history of aquaculture-related antibiotic use (11), and rural ponds with no history of antibiotic use (=6).

Predicting the severity of the grass pollen season and the effect of climate change in Northwest Europe.

Allergic rhinitis is an inflammation in the nose caused by overreaction of the immune system to allergens in the air. Managing allergic rhinitis symptoms is challenging and requires timely intervention. The following are major questions often posed by those with allergic rhinitis: How should I prepare for the forthcoming season? How will the season's severity develop over the years? No country yet provides clear guidance addressing these questions.

Environmental DNA reveals links between abundance and composition of airborne grass pollen and respiratory health.

Grass (Poaceae) pollen is the most important outdoor aeroallergen, exacerbating a range of respiratory conditions, including allergic asthma and rhinitis ("hay fever"). Understanding the relationships between respiratory diseases and airborne grass pollen with a view to improving forecasting has broad public health and socioeconomic relevance. It is estimated that there are over 400 million people with allergic rhinitis and over 300 million with asthma, globally, often comorbidly.

The opportunity costs of birth in Australia: Hospital resource savings for a post-COVID-19 era.

Background: COVID-19 caused significant disruptions to health systems globally; however, restricting the family presence during birth saw an increase in women considering community birth options. This study aimed to quantify the hospital resource savings that could occur if all low-risk women in Australia gave birth at home or in birth centers.

Methods: A whole-of-population linked administrative data set containing all women (n = 44 498) who gave birth in Queensland, Australia, between 01/07/2012 and 30/06/2015 was reweighted to represent all Australian women giving birth in 2017.

Environmental factors associated with general practitioner consultations for allergic rhinitis in London, England: a retrospective time series analysis.

Objectives: To identify key predictors of general practitioner (GP) consultations for allergic rhinitis (AR) using meteorological and environmental data.

Design: A retrospective, time series analysis of GP consultations for AR.

Setting: A large GP surveillance network of GP practices in the London area.

Implementing continuity of midwife carer - just a friendly face? A realist evaluation.

Background: Good quality midwifery care saves the lives of women and babies. Continuity of midwife carer (CMC), a key component of good quality midwifery care, results in better clinical outcomes, higher care satisfaction and enhanced caregiver experience. However, CMC uptake has tended to be small scale or transient.

Horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in the human gut microbiome.

Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a major threat to public health. The pathogens causing these infections can acquire antibiotic resistance genes in a process termed horizontal gene transfer (HGT). HGT is a common event in the human gut microbiome, that is, the microbial ecosystem of the human intestinal tract.

Normalisation process theory as a conceptual framework for continuity of carer implementation.

Problem: Despite long standing strategic level ambitions to increase access to continuity of carer (CoC) models in maternity services, implementation of CoC in the United Kingdom (UK) has been generally small-scale and short lived. This indicates problems in implementing and sustaining CoC as the main model of care provision, and as such a need to better understand the process of implementation itself.

Aim: To use normalisation process theory (NPT) to underpin development of a conceptual implementation framework for CoC in order to improve understanding of the implementation process.

Midwives' views of changing to a Continuity of Midwifery Care (CMC) model in Scotland: A baseline survey.

Background: There is good evidence that Continuity of Midwifery Care (CMC) is associated with improved clinical outcomes, greater maternal satisfaction, and improved work experiences for midwives. Changes made to the organisation require careful implementation, with on-going evaluation to monitor progress.

Aim: To develop a survey tool that incorporates several validated scales, which was used to collect baseline data prior to implementing a high-quality Continuity of Midwifery Care (CMC) model in Scotland (Hewitt et al.