Publications by authors named "Thomas Starkey"

Patients with cancer are at increased risk of hospitalisation and mortality following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. However, the SARS-CoV-2 phenotype evolution in patients with cancer since 2020 has not previously been described. We therefore evaluated SARS-CoV-2 on a UK populationscale from 01/11/2020-31/08/2022, assessing case-outcome rates of hospital assessment(s), intensive care admission and mortality.

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Article Synopsis
  • Immunocompromised patients, like those with blood cancers, are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.
  • A combination medication called tixagevimab/cilgavimab helps protect these patients from COVID-19 infections and severe illness.
  • A recent review examined 18 studies and found that this medication was effective in reducing COVID-19 infections and hospital visits, especially during the time when the Omicron variant was spreading.
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Importance: Accurate identification of patient groups with the lowest level of protection following COVID-19 vaccination is important to better target resources and interventions for the most vulnerable populations. It is not known whether SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing has clinical utility for high-risk groups, such as people with cancer.

Objective: To evaluate whether spike protein antibody vaccine response (COV-S) following COVID-19 vaccination is associated with the risk of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection or hospitalization among patients with cancer.

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Background: Patients living with cancer are at a significantly increased risk of morbidity and mortality after infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). This systematic review aims to investigate the current available evidence about the immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccines in patients living with cancer.

Methods: A systematic search was undertaken for studies published until March 1, 2022.

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Purpose: People living with cancer and haematological malignancies are at an increased risk of hospitalisation and death following infection with acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Coronavirus third dose vaccine boosters are proposed to boost waning immune responses in immunocompromised individuals and increase coronavirus protection; however, their effectiveness has not yet been systematically evaluated.

Methods: This study is a population-scale real-world evaluation of the United Kingdom's third dose vaccine booster programme for cancer patients from 8th December 2020 to 7th December 2021.

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Background: People with cancer are at increased risk of hospitalisation and death following infection with SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, we aimed to conduct one of the first evaluations of vaccine effectiveness against breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections in patients with cancer at a population level.

Methods: In this population-based test-negative case-control study of the UK Coronavirus Cancer Evaluation Project (UKCCEP), we extracted data from the UKCCEP registry on all SARS-CoV-2 PCR test results (from the Second Generation Surveillance System), vaccination records (from the National Immunisation Management Service), patient demographics, and cancer records from England, UK, from Dec 8, 2020, to Oct 15, 2021.

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Background: Lateral flow devices (LFDs) are viral antigen tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 that produce a rapid result, are inexpensive and easy to operate. They have been advocated for use by the World Health Organisation to help control outbreaks and break the chain of transmission of COVID-19 infections. There are now several studies assessing their accuracy but as yet no systematic review.

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The CD2-CD58 recognition system promotes adhesion and signaling and counters exhaustion in human T cells. We found that CD2 localized to the outer edge of the mature immunological synapse, with cellular or artificial APC, in a pattern we refer to as a 'CD2 corolla'. The corolla captured engaged CD28, ICOS, CD226 and SLAM-F1 co-stimulators.

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Background: Patients with cancer are purported to have poor COVID-19 outcomes. However, cancer is a heterogeneous group of diseases, encompassing a spectrum of tumour subtypes. The aim of this study was to investigate COVID-19 risk according to tumour subtype and patient demographics in patients with cancer in the UK.

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Article Synopsis
  • The outbreak of COVID-19 has significantly impacted healthcare systems around the world, putting cancer patients at higher risk.
  • The interaction between the virus and the immune system can lead to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
  • Immunotherapy treatments might worsen this condition, highlighting the need for careful monitoring in real-life situations.
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  • Cancer patients undergoing systemic treatments face higher mortality risks from COVID-19, prompting concerns about their care during the pandemic.
  • The UK Coronavirus Cancer Monitoring Project gathered data on hospitalized cancer patients who tested positive for COVID-19, focusing on their characteristics and outcomes.
  • Among 800 analyzed patients, over half experienced mild illness, but advanced age, male gender, and pre-existing health conditions significantly increased the risk of death.
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Introduction: In this study (PRECISE), we assess the clinical utility of a germline DNA sequencing-based test (ToxNav) for mutations in DPYD and ENOSF1 genes to alter clinician-prescribed fluoropyrimidine doses and the use of a digital application (PROMinet) to record patient-reported chemotherapy toxicity.

Materials And Methods: Adult patients with a histological diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) who consented to fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy were recruited prospectively and given a digital application to monitor and record associated toxicities. Patient samples were analyzed for 18 germline coding variants in DPYD and 1 ENOSF1 variant.

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Cigarette filters (butts) are currently the most abundant form of anthropogenic litter on the planet, yet we know very little about their environmental impacts on terrestrial ecosystems, including plant germination and primary production. When discarded, filters contain a myriad of chemicals resulting from smoking tobacco and some still contain unsmoked remnants. A greenhouse experiment was used to assess the impacts of discarded filters of regular or menthol cigarette, either from unsmoked, smoked, or smoked cigarettes with remnant tobacco, on the growth and development of Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) and Trifolium repens (white clover).

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Purpose: The molecular events that determine intestinal cell differentiation are poorly understood and it is unclear whether it is primarily a passive event or an active process. It is clinically important to gain a greater understanding of the process, because in colorectal cancer, the degree of differentiation of a tumor is associated with patient survival. has previously been identified as a gene that is principally expressed in differentiated intestinal cells.

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Background & Aims: The mammalian pancreas has a strong regenerative potential, but the origin of organ restoration is not clear, and it is not known to what degree such a process reflects pancreatic development. To define cell differentiation changes associated with pancreatic regeneration in adult mice, we compared regeneration following caerulein-induced pancreatitis to that of normal pancreatic development.

Methods: By performing comparative histology for adult and embryonic pancreatic markers in caerulein-treated and control pancreas, we addressed cellular proliferation and differentiation (amylase, DBA-agglutinin, insulin, glucagon, beta-catenin, E-cadherin, Pdx1, Nkx6.

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The present prospective study was designed to determine the prevalence of pleural effusion at approximately 28 days after cardiac surgery and their subsequent course. This consecutive case study included 389 patients; 312 had only coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) surgery, 37 had both valve and CABG surgery, and 40 had only valve surgery. Chest radiographs were obtained approximately 28 days postoperatively.

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Background: This study evaluates a modification of an ambulatory intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) technique used in patients with heart failure of ischemic origin for bridge to transplant.

Methods: In this retrospective review we evaluated the ability to place the ambulatory IABP, any complications, time on device, and success in bridging to transplant on the ambulatory IABP device. In addition, the cost as compared to current ventricular assist devices was determined.

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