Assessment of MpoxPlex, a high-throughput and multiplexed immunoassay: a diagnostic accuracy study.

Background: In May, 2022, the first global outbreak of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) occurred. In response, public health agencies in the UK have made smallpox vaccines available to individuals at the highest risk of infection. With mpox cases still being detected globally, novel tools are required to aid with diagnosis, serosurveillance, and the evaluation of immune responses following infection and immunisation with current and new vaccine candidates.

Evaluation of a multiplexed immunoassay for assessing long-term humoral immunity Orthopoxviruses.

Background: The 2022 Monkeypox virus (MPXV) global outbreak boosted development of multiple serological assays to aid understanding of Mpox immunology.

Objectives: The study aimed to assess a multiplexed solid-phase electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (Meso Scale Discovery (MSD)) for simultaneous detection of antibodies against MPXV, including A35, E8 and M1 antigens, along with corresponding Vaccina Virus (VACV) homologues and demonstrate its accuracy in assessing antibody titres post-vaccination and infection.

Methods: Assay performance was assessed for simultaneous detection of antibodies against MPXV and corresponding VACV antigens.

Reassurance of population immunity to diphtheria in England: Results from a 2021 national serosurvey.

Background: Diphtheria is rare in England because of an effective national immunisation schedule that includes 5 doses of a diphtheria-containing vaccine at 2, 3, 4 months, preschool and adolescent boosters. However, in recent years there has been a notable increase in cases due to Corynebacterium ulcerans among older adults and evidence of endemic transmission of C. diphtheriae (normally associated with travel to endemic countries).

Sociodemographic disparities in COVID-19 seroprevalence across England in the Oxford RCGP primary care sentinel network.

Objectives: To monitor changes in seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in populations over time and between different demographic groups.

Methods: A subset of practices in the Oxford-Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC) sentinel network provided serum samples, collected when volunteer patients had routine blood tests. We tested these samples for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using Abbott (Chicago, USA), Roche (Basel, Switzerland) and/or Euroimmun (Luebeck, Germany) assays, and linked the results to the patients' primary care computerised medical records.

From polymer chemistry to structural biology: The development of SMA and related amphipathic polymers for membrane protein extraction and solubilisation.

Nanoparticles assembled with poly(styrene-maleic acid) copolymers, identified in the literature as Lipodisq, SMALPs or Native Nanodisc, are routinely used as membrane mimetics to stabilise protein structures in their native conformation. To date, transmembrane proteins of varying complexity (up to 8 beta strands or 48 alpha helices) and of a range of molecular weights (from 27 kDa up to 500 kDa) have been incorporated into this particle system for structural and functional studies. SMA and related amphipathic polymers have become versatile components of the biochemist's tool kit for the stabilisation, extraction and structural characterization of membrane proteins by techniques including cryo-EM and X-ray crystallography.

Effects of the adverse life events and Disrupted in Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) gene polymorphisms on acute symptoms of schizophrenia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of traumatic childhood events and recent adverse life events, as well as the Disrupted in Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) gene polymorphisms on types of last acute symptoms of patients with schizophrenia. Hundred patients with schizophrenia were given the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Social Readjustment Rating Scale, Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), and Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS). The patients' and healthy controls' DISC1 gene was evaluated for the -274G>C, c.

Evolution of turbulence in an oscillatory flow in a smooth-walled channel: a viscous secondary instability mechanism.

In this paper, a comparison is made of the evolution of turbulence in oscillatory channel flows with a zero-mean velocity in two and three dimensions, using the numerical technique of the lattice Boltzmann method. The results confirm a primary two-dimensional instability. Evidence is shown of a secondary, viscous three-dimensional instability mechanism acting in the oscillatory boundary layer, which is consistent with experimental observations.

Rearrest: does HIV serostatus make a difference?

Correctional facilities have become collection and containment centres for HIV-seropositive individuals. This is due to factors that affect incarceration in general: past criminal behaviour, age and crime type. In addition, the sex trade industry, intravenous drug use and community instability are likely factors affecting this particular population.

Synthesis and evaluation of poly(oxyethylene glycol) polymer (POP) supports.

Mono- and alpha,omega-bis-styryl-oligo(oxyethylene glycol) ethers have been constructed in an efficient two-step synthesis. From these precursors, poly(oxyethylene glycol) polymer (POP) supports of varying monomer and cross-linker composition have been produced. The swelling properties and mass-solvent uptake of these novel materials have been evaluated in a variety of solvents, demonstrating that POP supports exhibit enhanced solvent compatibilities over the commercial resins TENTA-GEL, ARGO-GEL, and Merrifield's resin.

The ex vivo wettability of soft contact lenses.

Purpose: To investigate the ex vivo wettability of Etafilcon A contact lenses over an eight hour period of wear and observe the influence of surfactant pre-treatment.

Methods: Etafilcon A hydrogel lenses, comprising poly[2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid] and 58% water, were soaked for 12 hours in either 0.9% saline (control) or a 1% aqueous solution of poloxamine 1107 (treated).

Responsive hydrophobically associating polymers: a review of structure and properties.

Responsive hydrophobically associating polymers can in many ways be considered to be analogous to proteins in their ability to form compact molecules with a defined secondary structure, and hence, functionality. These molecules are characterized by the presence of alternating charged and hydrophobic groups. The balance between charge repulsion and hydrophobic interactions is sensitive to environmental pH and therefore changes in pH produce controllable conformational changes.

Effect of fluorescein instillation on the pre-corneal tear film stability.

Non-invasive tear film break-up time (NIBUT) was measured in nine normal subjects to investigate the effect of fluorescein instillation of tear film stability. It was found that fluorescein instillation reduced the tear film stability in the treated group, compared with the control group (P less than 0.05).

A non-invasive instrument for clinical assessment of the pre-corneal tear film stability.

A simple, non-invasive technique has been developed for assessment of the stability of the pre-corneal tear film. Changes are observed in the reflection of a grid pattern from the tear film surface. Breaks in the tear film appear as random discontinuities in the grid image.