Evaluation of telehealth in delivering diagnostic developmental assessments for children in South Western Sydney during the COVID-19 pandemic: Clinician and family perspectives.

Aims: Children with neuro-developmental disorders faced significant challenges in accessing services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Telehealth has been adopted by health services globally to facilitate access to clinical services. Our aims were to evaluate the utility of the telehealth modality for providing developmental assessment services and explore enablers and barriers to using telehealth, in a culturally diverse and socioeconomically disadvantaged population in Sydney.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion in oncology pharmacy practice: Everyone's business.

Introduction: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) is gaining increased attention within all industries healthcare being no exception. The terminology Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and its abbreviation EDI gained popularity in the early 2000's when varied socio-political factors prompted many organisations to examine EDI concepts and how to operationalise them. The growing diversity of our society requires cross-cultural inclusive approaches to increase equity and access to services.

The canonical antiviral protein oligoadenylate synthetase 1 elicits antibacterial functions by enhancing IRF1 translation.

An important property of the host innate immune response during microbial infection is its ability to control the expression of antimicrobial effector proteins, but how this occurs post-transcriptionally is not well defined. Here, we describe a critical antibacterial role for the classic antiviral gene 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1). Human OAS1 and its mouse ortholog, Oas1b, are induced by interferon-γ and protect against cytosolic bacterial pathogens such as Francisella novicida and Listeria monocytogenes in vitro and in vivo.

Duocarmycin SA Reduces Proliferation and Increases Apoptosis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells In Vitro.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematological malignancy that is characterized by an expansion of immature myeloid precursors. Despite therapeutic advances, the prognosis of AML patients remains poor and there is a need for the evaluation of promising therapeutic candidates to treat the disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of duocarmycin Stable A (DSA) in AML cells in vitro.

Access to child developmental assessment services in culturally and linguistically diverse metropolitan Sydney: a retrospective cohort analysis.

Background: Despite the increasing prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), data regarding access to child development services have remained limited globally. Long wait times are a major barrier to developmental assessments, impacting on care and outcomes. The aim is to retrospectively analyse the demographic profile and prioritisation of patients seen at a child developmental assessment service (CDAS) in a vulnerable region of Sydney, and explore factors affecting wait times.

Oligoadenylate synthetase 1 displays dual antiviral mechanisms in driving translational shutdown and protecting interferon production.

In response to viral infection, how cells balance translational shutdown to limit viral replication and the induction of antiviral components like interferons (IFNs) is not well understood. Moreover, how distinct isoforms of IFN-induced oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1) contribute to this antiviral response also requires further elucidation. Here, we show that human, but not mouse, OAS1 inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication through its canonical enzyme activity via RNase L.

Clinical outcomes and frequency of persistent infection among immunosuppressed patients treated with bebtelovimab for COVID-19 infection at an ambulatory cancer center.

Background: There are limited data on clinical outcomes associated with the use of bebtelovimab for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among cancer patients. We aimed to define the clinical characteristics and outcomes among patients receiving bebtelovimab as part of the COVID-19 therapeutics program at our cancer center.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of immunosuppressed adult patients who received bebtelovimab at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center between March 2022, and November 2022.

Discovery, Characterization, and Bioactivity of the Achromonodins: Lasso Peptides Encoded by .

Through genome mining efforts, two lasso peptide biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) within two different species of , a genus that contains pathogenic organisms that can infect patients with cystic fibrosis, were discovered. Using gene-refactored BGCs in , these lasso peptides, which were named achromonodin-1 and achromonodin-2, were heterologously expressed. Achromonodin-1 is naturally encoded by certain isolates from the sputum of patients with cystic fibrosis.

TOR Signaling Tightly Regulated Vegetative Growth, Conidiation, Oxidative Stress Tolerance and Entomopathogenicity in the Fungus .

degenerates after repeated subcultures, demonstrating declined conidiation and insect virulence. The target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase conserved among eukaryotes is the master regulator of cellular physiology and is likely involved in culture degeneration. Indeed, the levels of TOR-associated proteins increase over successive subcultures.

Factors Associated With Binge Eating Among Chinese University Students in Hong Kong.

Binge eating (BE), defined as uncontrolled overconsumption of food, is associated with poorer health status. We aimed to characterize the factors associated with BE among Chinese college students. University students from two universities in Hong Kong ( = 267) completed an anonymous online questionnaire that contained background questions, the Binge Eating Disorder Screener-7, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), and Adolescent Lifestyle Questionnaire (ALQ) between June and August 2022.

Curriculum mapping of accredited pharmacy programs in the United States.

Introduction: No current guidance exists to inform the content area credit hours for doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) programs in the United States (US).

Methods: Public websites were accessed for all Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited PharmD programs in the US to record the credit hours devoted to drug therapy, clinical skills, experiential learning, scholarship, social and administrative sciences, physiology/pathophysiology, pharmacogenomics, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics in the didactic curricula. Due to the high prevalence of programs that integrate drug therapy, pharmacology, and medicinal chemistry into a single course, we subdivided programs based upon whether drug therapy courses were "integrated" or "non-integrated.

Hospital Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Hong Kong - The Trend from 2006 to 2014.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common cause for hospital admission. This study aims to review the hospital burden of COPD in Hong Kong (HK) and the trend from year 2006 to 2014.

Methods: A multi-center, retrospective study of the characteristics of COPD patients discharged from the public hospitals of HK from year 2006 to 2014.

Prevalence, risk factors, and recurrence risk of persistent air leak in patients with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax.

Background: Persistent air leak (PAL) is common in secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP), with risk factors only been determined for post-pulmonary resection PAL. Information about its risk factors and long-term outcome is, however, necessary to enable selection of treatment modalities for elderly SSP patients with comorbid conditions.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed on chest drain-treated SSP patients from 2009 to 2018.

Regulatory T cells suppress CD4+ effector T cell activation by controlling protein synthesis.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) suppress the activation and subsequent effector functions of CD4 effector T cells (Teffs). However, molecular mechanisms that enforce Treg-mediated suppression in CD4 Teff are unclear. We found that Tregs suppressed activation-induced global protein synthesis in CD4 Teffs prior to cell division.

Cloacaenodin, an Antimicrobial Lasso Peptide with Activity against .

Using genome mining and heterologous expression, we report the discovery and production of a new antimicrobial lasso peptide from species related to the complex. Using NMR and mass spectrometric analysis, we show that this lasso peptide, named cloacaenodin, employs a threaded lasso fold which imparts proteolytic resistance that its unthreaded counterpart lacks. Cloacaenodin has selective, low micromolar, antimicrobial activity against species related to the complex, including species implicated in nosocomial infections and against clinical isolates of carbapenem-resistant .

Antibiotic prescribing knowledge: A brief survey of providers and staff at an ambulatory cancer center during Antibiotic Awareness Week 2019.

We surveyed healthcare professionals at a cancer center regarding their knowledge and perceptions of antibiotic use. Most knew the term "antimicrobial stewardship." Nurses and other staff were less likely than pharmacists or providers to answer knowledge-based questions correctly.

Exploring Mothers' Experience of a Linguistic Feedback Technology for Children at Risk of Poor Language Development: Qualitative Pilot Study.

Background: The early language environment is important for language development and a child's life-course trajectory. Risk factors associated with poor language development outcomes in children include maternal anxiety and depression, low educational attainment, substance misuse, and low socioeconomic status. Language Environment Analysis (LENA) is a wearable technology designed to promote caregivers' engagement in supporting their children's language development.

CMV and HSV Pneumonia After Immunosuppressive Agents for Treatment of Cytokine Release Syndrome Due to Chimeric Antigen Receptor-modified T (CAR-T)-Cell Immunotherapy.

Pneumonia due to cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus-1 caused substantial morbidity after hematopoietic cell transplantation before the institution of preventative approaches. End-organ disease from herpesviruses is poorly described after chimeric antigen receptor-modified T-cell immunotherapy. We report 2 cases of cytomegalovirus pneumonia and 1 case of herpes simplex virus-1 gingivostomatitis, esophagitis, and pneumonia after chimeric antigen receptor-modified T-cell immunotherapy for the treatment of hematologic malignancies.

Clinical and Virologic Characteristics and Outcomes of Coronavirus Disease 2019 at a Cancer Center.

Background: High morbidity and mortality have been observed in patients with cancer and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, there are limited data on antimicrobial use, coinfections, and viral shedding.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance diagnosed with COVID-19 between February 28, 2020 and June 15, 2020 to characterize antimicrobial use, coinfections, viral shedding, and outcomes within 30 days after diagnosis. Cycle threshold values were used as a proxy for viral load.

Factors Influencing Gambling Behavior Among Employees in Macau Gambling Industry.

Casino staff of the gambling industry seem to have a higher risk of pathological gambling than the general public because they share many previously identified risk factors, such as easy access to gambling activities. The studies in western countries reported casino staff have a higher prevalence of problematic gambling than the general public. However, some studies in Macau revealed gambling behavior among casino staff is not more common than among other residents there.

Germline SAMD9L truncation variants trigger global translational repression.

SAMD9L is an interferon-induced tumor suppressor implicated in a spectrum of multisystem disorders, including risk for myeloid malignancies and immune deficiency. We identified a heterozygous de novo frameshift variant in SAMD9L in an infant with B cell aplasia and clinical autoinflammatory features who died from respiratory failure with chronic rhinovirus infection. Autopsy demonstrated absent bone marrow and peripheral B cells as well as selective loss of Langerhans and Purkinje cells.

Social context-dependent singing alters molecular markers of synaptic plasticity signaling in finch basal ganglia Area X.

Vocal communication is a crucial skill required throughout life. However, there is a critical gap in our understanding of the underlying molecular brain mechanisms, thereby motivating our use of the zebra finch songbird model. Adult male zebra finches show differences in neural activity patterns in song-dedicated brain nuclei when they sing in two distinct social contexts: a male singing by himself (undirected, UD) and a male singing to a female (female-directed, FD).

Synthesis and Characterization of Fluoridated Silver Nanoparticles and Their Potential as a Non-Staining Anti-Caries Agent.

Objectives: The first objective of this study was to prepare sodium fluoride (NaF) solution with various concentrations of polyethylene glycol-coated silver nanoparticles (PEG-AgNPs). The second objective was to study the antibacterial activity against and the tooth-staining effect of the solution.

Methods: PEG-AgNPs were prepared via the one-step chemical reduction of silver acetate with thiolated polyethylene glycol.