Publications by authors named "R J Mullan"
Background: People living with advanced, non-malignant chronic conditions often have extensive and complex care needs. Informal or family caregivers often provide the care and support needed by those with advanced chronic conditions at home. These informal caregivers experience many challenges associated with their caring role, which can impact their own wellbeing.
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- - Chronic kidney disease affects around 13% of the global population and is expected to be a major cause of life years lost by 2040, with end-stage kidney disease leading to complications like renal cachexia, which is not well understood and has limited treatment options.
- - The study aims to understand the experiences of individuals with renal cachexia and their carers through in-depth interviews, adhering to ethical research practices in a UK healthcare setting.
- - Seven participants (four patients and three carers) were recruited, with the data analyzed to identify six key themes related to their lived experiences, including issues like appetite loss, weight decline, social withdrawal, and emotional struggles.
This study performed an in-depth investigation into the myeloid cellular landscape in the synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), "individuals at risk" of RA, and healthy controls (HC). Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated the presence of a CD40-expressing CD206CD163 macrophage population dominating the inflamed RA synovium, associated with disease activity and treatment response. In-depth RNA sequencing and metabolic analysis demonstrated that this macrophage population is transcriptionally distinct, displaying unique inflammatory and tissue-resident gene signatures, has a stable bioenergetic profile, and regulates stromal cell responses.
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- Immunosuppressive treatment for rheumatic diseases helps maintain remission but raises infection risk and diminishes response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.
- The study evaluated immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 in two patient groups: one during acute infection and one post-vaccination, comparing results among those exposed to rituximab, other immunosuppressive treatments, and non-immunosuppressed individuals.
- Results showed that while non-immunosuppressed patients had stronger T cell responses during infection, those on immunosuppression had reduced activation, with rituximab-treated patients showing preserved T cell responses but poor antibody production post-vaccination.
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- Counterillumination is a camouflage technique used by certain marine species, including fishes and squid, to blend in with downwelling light from above by emitting bioluminescent light from their undersides.
- The study investigated whether eye-facing photophores, which could help these creatures detect and adjust their light emissions based on surrounding light, are present in nine species of myctophid fishes.
- Results showed that while photophores were found near the eyes of these fishes, they did not direct light into the eyes, indicating myctophids might use a different method to control their bioluminescence.