Publications by authors named "R J Bray"
Article Synopsis
- Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are debilitating conditions with shared symptoms like exercise intolerance and autonomic dysfunction, and their prevalence is increasing.
- A clinical trial involving healthy individuals, those with PASC, and those with mild to moderate ME/CFS showed that 8 weeks of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) led to significant improvements in muscle pressure, walking distance, heart rate, and sleep symptoms across all groups.
- Notably, participants with ME/CFS also experienced enhanced vascular function and reduced pain symptoms, indicating that IMT may offer beneficial effects for those suffering from both PASC and
During population-based HIV impact assessments (PHIAs), some participants who self-reported testing HIV-positive (PSRP) tested negative in one or more subsequent survey HIV tests. These unexpected discrepancies between their self-reported results and the survey results draw into question the validity of either the self-reported status or the test results. We analyzed PSRP with negative test results aged 15-59 years old using data collected from 2015 to 2021 in 13 countries, assessing prevalence, self-report status, survey HIV status, viral load, rapid tests and confirmatory tests, and answers to follow-up questions (such as years on treatment).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTherapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is a cornerstone treatment for antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) post-organ transplantation, aiming to eliminate pathogenic donor-specific HLA antibodies (DSA). However, limitations in HLA antibody interpretation due to the prozone-like effect (PLE) can lead to inaccurate assessment of treatment efficacy. We present a case of a heart transplant recipient with suspected AMR, where an unexpected increase in DSA levels post-TPE prompted investigation into PLE.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe clinical impact of HLA DP antibodies is poorly understood, resulting in variable clinical strategies for transplant candidates and recipients with donor-directed HLA-DP antibodies. Complicating matters further, the DPB naming convention is not based on allelic homology and requires sequence alignments to identify potential immunogenic epitopes. Historically, G and P codes, which consolidated alleles that were identical over Exon 2, were used to simplify the reporting of HLA Class II typing as differences outside of Exon 2 have not been considered immunogenic (i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) develops in response to repeated small-level chemical exposures or a major exposure in a subset of people, who then experience symptoms that can range from mild to debilitating when exposed to chemicals. The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and the stringent health measures put in place may have increased the burden for those living with MCS, as it became more challenging to avoid chemicals that trigger their condition.
Objective: This study aimed to better understand the lived experience of Canadians living with MCS during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.