Lipid-Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles Enhance the Potency of Ampicillin against in a Protozoa Infection Model.

() biofilms are implicated in endocarditis, urinary tract infections, and biliary tract infections. Coupled with internalization into host cells, this opportunistic pathogen poses great challenges to conventional antibiotic therapy. The inability of ampicillin (Amp) to eradicate bacteria hidden in biofilms and intracellular niches greatly reduces its efficacy against complicated infections.

A Novel Coupled Reaction-Diffusion System for Explainable Gene Expression Profiling.

Machine learning (ML)-based algorithms are playing an important role in cancer diagnosis and are increasingly being used to aid clinical decision-making. However, these commonly operate as 'black boxes' and it is unclear how decisions are derived. Recently, techniques have been applied to help us understand how specific ML models work and explain the rational for outputs.

Ultrasound to identify systemic lupus erythematosus patients with musculoskeletal symptoms who respond best to therapy: the US Evaluation For mUsculoskeletal Lupus longitudinal multicentre study.

Objectives: To determine whether SLE patients with inflammatory joint symptoms and US synovitis/tenosyovitis achieve better clinical responses to glucocorticoids compared with patients with normal scans. Secondary objectives included identification of clinical features predicting US synovitis/tenosynovitis.

Methods: In a longitudinal multicentre study, SLE patients with physician-diagnosed inflammatory joint pain received intramuscular methylprednisolone 120 mg once.

CSK-homologous kinase (CHK/MATK) is a potential colorectal cancer tumour suppressor gene epigenetically silenced by promoter methylation.

Hyperactivation of SRC-family protein kinases (SFKs) contributes to the initiation and progression of human colorectal cancer (CRC). Since oncogenic mutations of SFK genes are rare in human CRC, we investigated if SFK hyperactivation is linked to dysregulation of their upstream inhibitors, C-terminal SRC kinase (CSK) and its homolog CSK-homologous kinase (CHK/MATK). We demonstrate that expression of CHK/MATK but not CSK was significantly downregulated in CRC cell lines and primary tumours compared to normal colonic tissue.

Insights from single cell studies of human pancreatic islets and stem cell-derived islet cells to guide functional beta cell maturation in vitro.

There is now a sizeable number of single cell transcriptomics studies performed on human and rodent pancreatic islets that have shed light on the unique gene signatures and level of heterogeneity within each individual islet cell type. Following closely from these studies, there is also rapidly-growing activity on characterizing islet-like cells derived from in vitro differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) at the single cell level. The overall consensus across the studies so far suggests that the first few stages of differentiation are largely uniform, whereas during pancreatic endocrine commitment, cell trajectories start to diverge, resulting in multiple end-stage pancreatic cells that include progenitor-like, endocrine and non-endocrine cells.

A Simple Microplate Assay for Reactive Oxygen Species Generation and Rapid Cellular Protein Normalization.

2',7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCF) and derivatives are commonly used as fluorescent indicators of a broad spectrum of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in cell-based assays. However, there are numerous challenges inherent to the utilization of DCF probes for intracellular microscopic analysis, including photostability and probe efflux. Plate spectroscopy is comparatively simple and scalable compared to microscopy or flow cytometry-based acquisition, however is often subject to artefacts, including those introduced by thermal gradients and normalization methods.

Sustainable Behavior Change for Health Supported by Person-Tailored, Adaptive, Risk-Aware Digital Coaching in a Social Context: Study Protocol for the STAR-C Research Programme.

The Västerbotten Intervention Programme (VIP) in the Region Västerbotten Sweden is one of the very few cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention programmes globally that is integrated into routine primary health care. The VIP has been shown as a cost-effective intervention to significantly reduce CVD mortality. However, little is known about the effectiveness of a digital solution to tailor risk communication strategies for supporting behavioral change.

A longitudinal study on social support, social participation, and older Europeans' Quality of life.

The association between quality of life (QoL) and social relationships is well established. This paper further analyses whether and how participation in social activities as well as providing and receiving social support, independently, are associated with QoL among the older population in 16 European countries. QoL was measured using the CASP-12 scale.

Self-reported exposure of Indonesian adolescents to online and offline tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS).

Objectives: To quantify tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS), self-reported exposure from online and offline platforms among adolescents in Indonesia.

Methods: A cross-sectional school-based survey was conducted in 2017. In total, 2820 students aged 13-18 years were recruited from 22 schools in seven cities.

Impact of non-communicable disease multimorbidity on health service use, catastrophic health expenditure and productivity loss in Indonesia: a population-based panel data analysis study.

Objectives: To examine non-communicable diseases (NCDs) multimorbidity level and its relation to households' socioeconomic characteristics, health service use, catastrophic health expenditures and productivity loss.

Design: This study used panel data of the Indonesian Family Life Survey conducted in 2007 (Wave 4) and 2014 (Wave 5).

Setting: The original sampling frame was based on 13 out of 27 provinces in 1993, representing 83% of the Indonesian population.

Impact of Face Masks on 6-Minute Walk Test in Healthy Volunteers.

Our objective was to establish the impact of wearing a face mask on the outcome of six-minute walk test in healthy volunteers. In a study of 20 healthy volunteers who each completed two 6MWTs, one with a mask and one without, there was no difference in distance walked. However, there was a significant difference in perception of dyspnea between the two groups.

Vancouver B periprosthetic fractures involving the Exeter cemented stem.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine whether fixation, as opposed to revision arthroplasty, can be safely used to treat reducible Vancouver B type fractures in association with a cemented collarless polished tapered femoral stem (the Exeter).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study assessed 152 operatively managed consecutive unilateral Vancouver B fractures involving Exeter stems; 130 were managed with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) and 22 with revision arthroplasty. Mean follow-up was 6.

Computerized Cognitive Training by Healthy Older and Younger Adults: Age Comparisons of Overall Efficacy and Selective Effects on Cognition.

Among the non-pharmacological methods under development for maintaining cognitive function across the lifespan is computerized cognitive training (CCT). There has been considerable interest in using CCT to slow or remediate age-related cognitive decline, both normal and pathological. Toward these ends, it would be useful to know how the effects of CCT on cognitive function vary over the course of normal cognitive aging.

Comprehensive sexuality education in Hong Kong: study protocol for process and outcome evaluation.

Background: Hong Kong lacks comprehensive school-based sexuality education. Recent public health concerns have brought the inadequacies of sex education in Hong Kong to the forefront. The aim of the proposed study is to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive school-based sexuality education program in Hong Kong.

Particle Size Distribution Dynamics Can Help Constrain the Phase State of Secondary Organic Aerosol.

Particle phase state is a property of atmospheric aerosols that has important implications for the formation, evolution, and gas/particle partitioning of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). In this work, we use a size-resolved chemistry and microphysics model (Statistical Oxidation Model coupled to the TwO Moment Aerosol Sectional (SOM-TOMAS)), updated to include an explicit treatment of particle phase state, to constrain the bulk diffusion coefficient () of SOA produced from α-pinene ozonolysis. By leveraging data from laboratory experiments performed in the absence of a seed and under dry conditions, we find that the for SOA can be constrained ((1-7) × 10 cm s in these experiments) by simultaneously reproducing the time-varying SOA mass concentrations and the evolution of the particle size distribution.

Extensor indicis transfer improves function in patients after rupture of the extensor pollicis longus tendon.

The primary aim was to determine the improvement in patient-reported functional outcomes (PROMs) following extensor indicis proprius (EIP) transfer for a closed rupture of the extensor pollicis longus (EPL) tendon. Secondary aims were to analyze the impact of this procedure on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and satisfaction. Preoperative and one-year postoperative PROMs were collected prospectively at a single institution over a two-year period (2014-2016).

Development of Professional Attributes through Integration of Science and Practice at First-Year Pharmacy Level.

The design, implementation and evaluation of a year 1 pharmacy-integrated learning component, using the World Health Organisation's (WHO) analgesic ladder as a scaffold for case-based learning, is described. A novel aspect of the integrated component is the mapping of the cases to the national Core Competency Framework (CCF) for Pharmacists in Ireland and to the school's own cross-cutting curricular integration themes. The integrated cases were student led and delivered through peer-to-peer teaching for 68 first-year pharmacy students.

The prevalence, mortality, and associated risk factors for developing COVID-19 in hip fracture patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: The aims of this meta-analysis were to assess: 1) the prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in hip fracture patients; 2) the associated mortality rate and risk associated with COVID-19; 3) the patient demographics associated with COVID-19; 4) time of diagnosis; and 5) length of follow-up after diagnosis of COVID-19.

Methods: Searches of PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar were performed in October 2020 in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Search terms included "hip", "fracture", and "COVID-19".