Dynamic human gut microbiome and immune shifts during an immersive psychosocial intervention program.

Background: Although depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this disorder-particularly those involving the gut microbiome-are poorly understood.

Method: To investigate, we conducted a community-based observational study to explore complex associations between changes in the gut microbiome, cytokine levels, and depression symptoms in 52 participants (M = 49.56, SD = 13.

Dynamic Human Gut Microbiome and Immune Shifts During an Immersive Psychosocial Therapeutic Program.

Background: Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide yet its underlying factors, particularly microbial associations, are poorly understood.

Methods: We examined the longitudinal interplay between the microbiome and immune system in the context of depression during an immersive psychosocial intervention. 142 multi-omics samples were collected from 52 well-characterized participants before, during, and three months after a nine-day inquiry-based stress reduction program.

Representativeness in health research studies: an audit of Greater Manchester Clinical Research Network studies between 2016 and 2021.

Background: There are increasing concerns that participants in health research in the UK are not representative of the UK population, risking widening health inequities. However, detailed information on the magnitude of the problem is limited. Therefore, we evaluated if the health research conducted in the Greater Manchester region was broadly representative of its diverse population.

Applying Artificial Intelligence to Identify Common Targets for Treatment of Asthma, Eczema, and Food Allergy.

Introduction: Allergic disorders are common diseases marked by the abnormal immune response toward foreign antigens that are not pathogens. Often patients with food allergy also suffer from asthma and eczema. Given the similarities of these diseases and a shortage of effective treatments, developing novel therapeutics against common targets of multiple allergies would offer an efficient and cost-effective treatment for patients.

The effect of piling behavior on the production and mortality of free-range laying hens.

Piling, a dense cluster of hens, is a behavior of major concern to the cage-free egg industry. It can cause large numbers of mortalities at which point it is considered smothering. The aim of this study was to quantify whether piling can also have consequences on production and non-smothering mortalities, which have not previously been described.

Compassion Focused Group Therapy for People With a Diagnosis of Bipolar Affective Disorder: A Feasibility Study.

Background: Compassion focused therapy (CFT) is an evolutionary informed, biopsychosocial approach to mental health problems and therapy. It suggests that evolved motives (e.g.

Experiences of Student Circus Arts Performers Undertaking a Shoulder Rehabilitation Program Via Telehealth Consultation During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: To explore the subjective experiences of student circus arts performers with atraumatic shoulder instability undertaking a 12-week shoulder rehabilitation program during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, in Melbourne, Australia.

Methods: Using a qualitative design, 14 circus arts students from the National Institute of Circus Arts (Australia) were individually interviewed via teleconsultation. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Extreme crowding in laying hens during a recurrent smothering outbreak.

Background: Piling, a behaviour where hens crowd together, is referred to as smothering if mortalities result. Smothering is a considerable concern for the egg industry, yet is vastly understudied.

Methods: During an outbreak of recurrent smothering, continuous video footage captured a commercial, free-range flock over 35 days.

A randomised controlled trial to reduce highest priority critically important antimicrobial prescription in companion animals.

Robust evidence supporting strategies for companion animal antimicrobial stewardship is limited, despite frequent prescription of highest priority critically important antimicrobials (HPCIA). Here we describe a randomised controlled trial where electronic prescription data were utilised (August 2018-January 2019) to identify above average HPCIA-prescribing practices (n = 60), which were randomly assigned into a control group (CG) and two intervention groups. In March 2019, the light intervention group (LIG) and heavy intervention group (HIG) were notified of their above average status, and were provided with educational material (LIG, HIG), in-depth benchmarking (HIG), and follow-up meetings (HIG).

Why Do Hens Pile? Hypothesizing the Causes and Consequences.

Piling is a behavior in laying hens whereby individuals aggregate in larger densities than would be normally expected. When piling behavior leads to mortalities it is known as smothering and its frequent but unpredictable occurrence is a major concern for many egg producers. There are generally considered to be three types of piling: panic, nest box and recurring piling.

Slow-growing broilers are healthier and express more behavioural indicators of positive welfare.

Broiler chicken welfare is under increasing scrutiny due to welfare concerns regarding growth rate and stocking density. This farm-based study explored broiler welfare in four conditions representing commercial systems varying in breed and planned maximum stocking density: (1) Breed A, 30 kg/m; (2) Breed B, 30 kg/m; (3) Breed B, 34 kg/m; (4) Breed C, 34 kg/m. Breeds A and B were 'slow-growing' breeds (< 50 g/day), and Breed C was a widely used 'fast-growing' breed.

A survey of free-range egg farmers in the United Kingdom: Knowledge, attitudes and practices surrounding antimicrobial use and resistance.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global challenge affecting human health and attention has been drawn to practices of all stakeholders involved in antimicrobial prescription and administration, including in the livestock sector. This survey of free-range egg farmers ( = 117) was conducted to investigate knowledge, attitudes and practices surrounding antimicrobial use, and identify farmer-led solutions towards responsible antimicrobial use. Most participants proved knowledgeable of AMR and selected treatments based on principles of responsible medicine use.

A survey of dairy cow farmers in the United Kingdom: knowledge, attitudes and practices surrounding antimicrobial use and resistance.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is among the most pressing challenges facing humanity. This survey of dairy cow farmers (n=372) was conducted to explore knowledge, attitudes and practices surrounding veterinary medicine use and to identify farmer-led solutions to reducing, replacing and refining antimicrobial use. Antimicrobials were the most commonly reported veterinary medicines used.

Balancing the playing field: collaborative gaming for physical training.

Background: Multiplayer video games promoting exercise-based rehabilitation may facilitate motor learning, by increasing motivation through social interaction. However, a major design challenge is to enable meaningful inter-subject interaction, whilst allowing for significant skill differences between players. We present a novel motor-training paradigm that allows real-time collaboration and performance enhancement, across a wide range of inter-subject skill mismatches, including disabled vs.

Smothering in UK free-range flocks. Part 2: investigating correlations between disease, housing and management practices.

Smothering, when birds group together in a way that results in death from suffocation, is a welfare and economic concern for the egg industry. This questionnaire-based study explored correlations between disease, housing, management practices and smothering on free-range farms. A binomial logistic regression approach was used to test whether question responses predicted occurrence of nest box smothers (NBS) and panic and recurring smothers (PSRS) on farms.

Exploring athletes' perceptions of coach stress in elite sport environments.

The present study aimed to extend research that has focused on the identification of stressors associated with coaching practice by systematically evaluating how such stressors effect athletes, and more broadly, the coach-athlete relationship. A total of 13 professional- and national-level athletes were interviewed to address the three study aims: how they detect when a coach is encountering stressors, how coach experiences of stress effects them as an athlete, and how effective the coach is when experiencing stress. Following content analysis, the data suggested athletes were able to detect when a coach was experiencing stress and this was typically via a variety of verbal and behavioural cues.

Smothering in UK free-range flocks. Part 1: incidence, location, timing and management.

Smothering in poultry is an economic and welfare-related concern. This study presents the first results from a questionnaire addressing the incidence, location, timing and management of smothering of free-range farm managers from two commercial egg companies (representing 35 per cent of the UK free-range egg supply). Overall, nearly 60 per cent of farm mangers experienced smothering in their last flock, with an average of 25.

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria: a retrospective review of Scottish isolates from 2000 to 2010.

There is growing recognition of the clinical importance of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), a group of versatile opportunistic bacterial pathogens. We describe the characteristics of NTM isolates in Scotland over an 11-year period using data held by the Scottish Mycobacteria Reference Laboratory. American Thoracic Society microbiological criteria were used to evaluate the clinical significance of isolates.

The neuroimmune guidance cue netrin-1 promotes atherosclerosis by inhibiting the emigration of macrophages from plaques.

Atherosclerotic plaque formation is fueled by the persistence of lipid-laden macrophages in the artery wall. The mechanisms by which these cells become trapped, thereby establishing chronic inflammation, remain unknown. Here we found that netrin-1, a neuroimmune guidance cue, was secreted by macrophages in human and mouse atheroma, where it inactivated the migration of macrophages toward chemokines linked to their egress from plaques.

Penetration and spread of interferential current in cutaneous, subcutaneous and muscle tissues.

Objectives: To investigate the penetration depth of interferential current (IFC) through soft tissue and the area over which it spreads during clinical application.

Design: A laboratory-based study of healthy participants.

Setting: A university research laboratory.

Antagonism of miR-33 in mice promotes reverse cholesterol transport and regression of atherosclerosis.

Plasma HDL levels have a protective role in atherosclerosis, yet clinical therapies to raise HDL levels have remained elusive. Recent advances in the understanding of lipid metabolism have revealed that miR-33, an intronic microRNA located within the SREBF2 gene, suppresses expression of the cholesterol transporter ABC transporter A1 (ABCA1) and lowers HDL levels. Conversely, mechanisms that inhibit miR-33 increase ABCA1 and circulating HDL levels, suggesting that antagonism of miR-33 may be atheroprotective.