A new method for concomitant evaluation of drug combinations for their antimicrobial properties.

Microbial pathogens have developed resistance mechanisms to almost every antibiotic available. There is a need to synthesize or screen new natural compounds to combat the development of drug-resistant pathogens. One of the commonly used methods to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of two or more antibiotics involves a checkerboard assay, which is cumbersome, time-consuming, and expensive.

The Expression, Purification, Spectroscopic Characterization, and Membrane Topology Classification of KCNE4 from Recombinant .

Members of the KCNE family are accessory subunits that modulate voltage-gated potassium channels. One member, KCNE4, has been shown to inhibit the potassium ion current in these channels. However, little is known about the structure, dynamics, and mode of inhibition of KCNE4, likely due to challenges in overexpressing and purifying the protein.

Development and initial validation of a hospital stress questionnaire.

Background: Hospitalisation can be a traumatic experience, where inpatients are exposed to an abundance of physical and psychological stressors. Evidence suggests that these hospital-related stressors negatively impact health: a phenomenon known as post-hospital syndrome. The current study aimed to identify hospital-related stressors, and to develop and provide initial validation for a new measure of in-hospital stress.

Trends in ototoxicity monitoring among cisplatin-treated patients with cancer.

Purpose: This study aims to characterize patterns in ototoxicity monitoring and identify potential barriers to audiologic follow-up.

Methods: We performed a single-institution retrospective cohort study on adult (≥ 18 years old) cancer patients treated with cisplatin from January 2014 to September 2021. Our primary outcomes were rates of baseline and post-treatment audiograms at the following time points: 3, 6, 12, and greater than 12 months.

Effects of a self-affirmation intervention on responses to bowel cancer screening information.

Objective: To investigate the effect of two brief self-affirmation interventions, immediately prior to reading standard information about bowel cancer screening, on state anxiety, message acceptance and behavioural intention to screen for bowel cancer.

Methods: 242 adults aged 49 were randomised to one of two self-affirmation interventions (health or values) or one of two control conditions, before reading an NHS England bowel cancer screening leaflet. Participant friend and family history of bowel cancer, state anxiety, message acceptance, behavioural intention to screen, trait self-esteem and spontaneous self-affirmation were measured.

Effects of a modified invitation letter to follow-up colonoscopy for bowel cancer detection.

Objective: To investigate whether modifications made to the current National Health Service (NHS) invitation letter for follow-up colonoscopy examination affect participant state anxiety and behavioural intentions to attend.

Methods: Five hundred and thirty-eight adults of bowel cancer-eligible screening age (56-74) were randomized to receive the current NHS invitation letter or the modified version of the letter as a hypothetical scenario. Modifications to the letter included fewer uses of the term cancer and awareness of alternative screening options.

The role of native cysteine residues in the oligomerization of KCNQ1 channels.

KCNQ1, the major component of the slow-delayed rectifier potassium channel, is responsible for repolarization of cardiac action potential. Mutations in this channel can lead to a variety of diseases, most notably long QT syndrome. It is currently unknown how many of these mutations change channel function and structure on a molecular level.

Audiologic Follow-up in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Treated With Cisplatin and Radiation.

Objectives: Evaluate factors associated with adherence to ototoxicity monitoring among patients with head and neck cancer treated with cisplatin and radiation therapy at a tertiary care center.

Methods: We performed a single-institution retrospective cohort study on adults with head and neck cancer treated with cisplatin and radiation therapy who participated in an ototoxicity monitoring program. The primary outcomes were rates of post-treatment audiograms at the following time points: one, three, six, 12, and greater than 12 months.

Barriers to colonoscopy in UK colorectal cancer screening programmes: Qualitative interviews with ethnic minority groups.

Objective: People from ethnic minority backgrounds are less likely to attend colonoscopy, following faecal immunochemical test screening, and are more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer at an advanced stage as a result. The aim of this research was to explore the barriers and facilitators to attending colonoscopy, perceived by ethnic minority groups living in the United Kingdom.

Methods: Semi-structured online and telephone interviews were conducted with thirty men and women of Black-African (n = 5), Black-Caribbean (n = 5), South Asian (n = 10) and White British (n = 10) descent.

Increased Breast and Colorectal Cancer Risk in Type 2 Diabetes: Awareness Among Adults With and Without Diabetes and Information Provision on Diabetes Websites.

Background: People with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have a higher risk of developing breast and bowel cancers but are less likely to participate in cancer screening.

Purpose: Two interlinked studies examined public awareness of the fact that T2DM increases breast and bowel cancer risk, and provision of this information on diabetes websites.

Methods: Study-1: phase-1 surveyed awareness of T2DM-increased cancer risk in a nationally-representative British sample aged 50-74 (N = 1,458) and compared respondents with and without T2DM (n = 125 vs.

The current state of concussion knowledge and attitudes in British Football.

Objectives: To examine concussion knowledge and concussion attitudes of players, coaches, and support staff in British American Football (BAF).

Methods: Data from players, coaches and support staff (n = 236) were collected from across all leagues in BAF. An online survey tool was used which included the Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes Survey (RoCKAS), and questions examining concussion education and perceived risk of participating in football.

A national survey of clubs medical provision and facilities in BUCS American Football 2019-2020.

Background: British American Football (BAF) is a developing sport in the UK, with keen growth in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) league. Participation in BAF carries risks and so to facilitate safe participation medical care services must be evaluated.

Aims: To evaluate medical provision in BUCS American Football in the 2019-2020 season.

Barriers and facilitators to colonoscopy for cancer detection: patient and practitioner perspectives.

Objective: To further understand the barriers and facilitators to attending colonoscopy examination following a positive routinely offered stool test result, from the perspective of patients and Specialist Screening Practitioners (SSPs).

Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted. Participants ( 32) were patients ( = 20) who, as part of the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) in England, were invited to attend a colonoscopy examination, and SSPs ( 12), who worked for the BCSP in England.

Advancing Salary Equity in Schools of Medicine in the United States.

Equity, in broad terms, is a critical issue and has been identified as an area that needs particular attention in academic medicine. Gender equity, as a subset of overall equity, has equally been shown to be lacking in academic medicine, and most medical schools and academic health systems are involved in substantive journeys to improve all dimensions of equity, diversity, and inclusion. This Invited Commentary calls for including gender-based salary equity as a foundational accomplishment for institutions seeking to achieve overall equity.

Considerations for Defining the Intravenous Administration Procedure for Nano-dose Sterile Drug Product in Clinical Studies.

The loss of active substance, both small and large molecules, from sterile liquid drug products after contact with an administration kit has been extensively reported in the literature. This loss has been reported to be caused by incompatibility of the active substances with the contact surfaces of the administration kit and adsorption or sticking of the active substance to the surfaces of the administration kit. This paper investigates the mechanism for loss of a highly potent active substance based on the type and design of the administration kit.

Barriers and facilitators to colonoscopy following fecal immunochemical test screening for colorectal cancer: A key informant interview study.

Objectives: People who are referred for colonoscopy, following an abnormal colorectal cancer (CRC) screening result, are at increased risk of CRC. Despite this, many individuals decline the procedure. The aim of this study was to investigate why.

Impact of sulfamethoxazole on a riverine microbiome.

The continued emergence of bacterial pathogens presenting antimicrobial resistance is widely recognised as a global health threat and recent attention focused on potential environmental reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Freshwater environments such as rivers represent a potential hotspot for ARGs and antibiotic resistant bacteria as they are receiving systems for effluent discharges from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Effluent also contains low levels of different antimicrobials including antibiotics and biocides.

Concussion Reporting and Safeguarding Policy Development in British American Football: An Essential Agenda.

The objective of this study was to examine concussion reporting and safeguarding policy in British American Football (BAF). Data were collected an online survey tool. The data presented are part of a broader study that examined injury profiles, concussion reporting behaviors, and medical provision in BAF.

'This is not part of my life plan': A qualitative study on the psychosocial experiences and practical challenges in young adults with cancer age 25 to 39 years at diagnosis.

Objective: Adolescents and young adults with cancer face unique psychosocial and practical issues. However, patients across this group encounter different life experiences, cancer diagnoses and treatment settings given the tailored services for patients ages 15 to 24. Here, we qualitatively explore the psychosocial experiences and practical challenges of young adults (YAs) with cancer diagnosed between ages 25 and 39 in the United Kingdom.

Evaluation of a Fecal Shedding Test To Detect Badger Social Groups Infected with Mycobacterium bovis.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an economically important disease affecting the cattle industry in England and Wales. bTB, caused by , also causes disease in the Eurasian badger (), a secondary maintenance host. Disease transmission between these two species is bidirectional.

Community Forum Identifies Opportunities to Engage with Eastern Kentucky Community Leaders about Chronic Disease and Environmental Pollution.

The NIEHS-sponsored held in Eastern Kentucky brought various community members together to communicate and establish better coordination of efforts to improve health and address regional environmental issues. The two-hour forum discussion provided bi-directional feedback about the needs and interests of community members. Top concerns of community members included obesity and obesity-related diseases and environmental pollution.

Barriers to flexible sigmoidoscopy colorectal cancer screening in low uptake socio-demographic groups: A systematic review.

Objective: To synthesise qualitative evidence related to barriers and facilitators of flexible sigmoidoscopy screening (FSS) intention and uptake, particularly within low socio-demographic uptake groups. FSS uptake is lower amongst women, lower socio-economic status (SES), and Asian ethnic groups within the United Kingdom (UK) and United States of America.

Methods: A total of 12 168 articles were identified from searches of four databases: EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Web of Science.

Experiences of Tourette Syndrome Caregivers With Supportive Communication.

The experiences of Tourette syndrome (TS) caregivers with supportive communication are examined in this qualitative investigation. TS is a childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder marked by a combination of involuntary verbal and motor tics lasting for more than 1 year. Although individuals are impacted the most by TS, the stress for caring for a child with TS takes an emotional and physical toll on the caregiver.