Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and its ligands RANKL and TRAIL in falciparum, vivax and knowlesi malaria: correlations with disease severity, and B cell production of OPG.

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a soluble decoy receptor for receptor activator of NF-ƙB ligand (RANKL) and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), and is increasingly recognised as a marker of poor prognosis in a number of diseases. Here we demonstrate that in Malaysian adults with falciparum and vivax malaria, OPG is increased, and its ligands TRAIL and RANKL decreased, in proportion to disease severity. In volunteers experimentally infected with and , RANKL was suppressed, while TRAIL was unexpectedly increased, suggesting binding of OPG to RANKL prior to TRAIL.

Examining the involvement of guardians of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Tanzania as public contributors to inform the design and conduct of the GuardiansCan project: A mixed-methods study protocol.

Background: Public contribution in research can lead to the design and conduct of more feasible and relevant research. However, our understanding of the acceptability and feasibility of public contribution and the evidence base regarding its impact in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is limited.

Methods: In this study protocol, we describe a mixed-method examination of public contribution activities in the GuardiansCan project.

Unveiling the Role of PTFE Surface Coverage on Controlling Gas Diffusion Layer Water Content.

Gas diffusion layers (GDLs) are usually coated with a hydrophobic agent to achieve a delicate balance between liquid and gas phases to maximize mass transport. Yet, most GDL numerical models to date have assumed an average contact angle for all materials, thereby eliminating the possibility of studying the role of the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) content. This study introduces two mixed wettability algorithms to predict the mixed wetting behavior of GDLs composed of multiple materials.

E-therapists' views on the acceptability and feasibility of an internet-administered, guided, low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy intervention for parents of children treated for cancer: A qualitative study.

Background: Childhood cancer treatment completion can be a period of vulnerability for parents and is associated with mental health difficulties such as depression and anxiety. We developed an internet-administered, guided, low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy-based self-help intervention (EJDeR) for parents delivered on the U-CARE-portal (Portal). The acceptability and feasibility of EJDeR and study procedures were examined using a single-arm feasibility trial (ENGAGE).

Preferences of support and barriers and facilitators to help-seeking in pregnant women with severe fear of childbirth in Sweden: a mixed-method study.

Background: There are few support interventions for women with fear of childbirth tailored towards type of fears and parity. To inform the future development of an acceptable and relevant intervention for women with severe fear of childbirth, primary objectives were to examine: (1) pregnant women's experiences of and preferences for support and (2) barriers and facilitators to help-seeking. Secondary objectives were to examine if there are any differences based on pregnant women's parity.

Prevalence and social determinants of anxiety and depression among adults in Ghana: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

Introduction: Anxiety and depression pose a significant global health challenge, especially affecting adults in low-income and middle-income countries. In many low-income and middle-income countries, including those in sub-Saharan Africa, social determinants such as access to affordable health services, conflict, food insecurity, and poverty may be associated with the prevalence of anxiety and depression, further contributing to health disparities. To mitigate the burden of anxiety and depression in sub-Saharan Africa, it is essential to develop country-level tailored mental health policies and strategies.

Sex-Based Differences in Concomitant Tricuspid Repair During Degenerative Mitral Surgery.

Background: Women with mitral valve disease have higher rates of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) than men. Although tricuspid valve repair (TVr) decreases the progression of TR, we hypothesize that there may be sex-based differences in concomitant TVr at the time of mitral valve operations.

Methods: Adults undergoing mitral valve operation for degenerative disease with moderate or worse preoperative TR at a high-volume center from 2014 to 2023 were identified.

Tracking SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in rural communities using blood-fed mosquitoes: a proof-of-concept study.

Background: The spread of SARS-CoV-2 cannot be well monitored and understood in areas without capacity for effective disease surveillance. Countries with a young population will have disproportionately large numbers of asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic infections, further hindering detection of infection. Sero-surveillance on a country-wide scale by trained medical professionals may be limited in a resource-limited setting such as Mali.

Adaptation of a guided low-intensity behavioral activation intervention for people with dementia in Sweden: a qualitative study exploring the needs and preferences of key stakeholders.

Background: Despite depression being prevalent in people with dementia, contributing to negative health outcomes and placing increased burden on individuals and family members, access to psychological interventions is limited. A potential solution is guided low-intensity behavioral activation, supported by informal caregivers and guided by healthcare professionals. However, it is necessary to adapt interventions to meet the needs and preferences of key stakeholders to enhance acceptability and relevance.

Determining Colonisation from Infection Using PCR-Based Diagnostics in HIV-Negative Individuals.

Background: pneumonia is increasingly diagnosed with highly sensitive PCR diagnostics in immunocompromised, HIV-negative individuals. We assessed the performance of our in-house quantitative PCR with the aim to optimise interpretation.

Methods: Retrospective audit of all positive qPCRs on induced sputum or BAL fluid at a single centre from 2012 to 2023.

"Systems seem to get in the way": a qualitative study exploring experiences of accessing and receiving support among informal caregivers of people living with chronic kidney disease.

Background: The well-being of informal caregivers of people living with chronic kidney disease is influenced by their experiences with support, however, few studies have focused on exploring these experiences. This study aimed to explore informal caregivers' experiences accessing and receiving support while caring for someone living with chronic kidney disease.

Methods: Informal caregivers of people living with chronic kidney disease (n = 13) in the United Kingdom were primarily recruited via community organisations and social media adverts to participate in semi-structured interviews.

Involving parents of children treated for cancer in Sweden as public contributors to inform the design and conduct of an evaluation of internet-administered self-help for parents of children treated for cancer: a protocol.

Introduction: Public contribution in research can facilitate the design and conduct of meaningful research, resulting in feasible and sustainable solutions to healthcare challenges. However, the evidence concerning the acceptability, feasibility, and impact of public contribution in research is limited. We will embed a mixed-method examination of public contribution activities into the CHANGE trial.

Effectiveness, acceptability, and completeness and quality of intervention reporting of psychological interventions for people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment: protocol for a mixed-methods systematic review.

Introduction: Mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression have negative impacts on psychological well-being and are common in people with dementia and mild cognitive impairment. However, access to psychological treatments is limited. This mixed-method systematic review will: (1) examine the effectiveness of psychological interventions to improve mental health and psychological well-being in people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment; (2) examine the effectiveness of these psychological interventions to improve mental health and psychological well-being in informal caregivers; (3) examine potential clinical and methodological moderators associated with effectiveness; (4) explore factors associated with the acceptability of psychological interventions from the perspective of key stakeholders; and (5) examine the completeness and quality of intervention reporting.

Healthcare and community stakeholders' perceptions of barriers and facilitators to implementing a behavioral activation intervention for people with dementia and depression: a qualitative study using Normalization Process Theory.

Background: Depression is commonly experienced by people with dementia, and associated with lower quality of life and functional decline. However, access to evidence-based psychological interventions for people with dementia and depression is limited. One potential solution is guided low-intensity behavioral activation.

Should mitral valve replacement age guidelines be lowered due to better bioprosthetic mitral valve durability?

Objective: Guideline recommendations for mechanical or bioprosthetic valve for mitral valve replacement by age remains controversial. We sought to determine bovine pericardial valve durability by age and risk of reintervention.

Methods: This retrospective study between 2 large university-based cardiac surgery programs examined patients who underwent bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement from 2004 to 2020.

Potential Implementers' Perspectives on the Development and Implementation of an e-Mental Health Intervention for Caregivers of Adults With Chronic Kidney Disease: Qualitative Interview Study.

Background: e-Mental health interventions can improve access to mental health support for caregivers of people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, implementation challenges often prevent effective interventions from being put into practice. To develop an e-mental health intervention for caregivers of people living with CKD that is optimized for future implementation, it is important to engage professionals that may endorse or deliver the intervention (ie, potential implementers) during intervention development.

Patients' Experiences of a Sarcoma Diagnosis: A Process Mapping Exercise of Diagnostic Pathways.

Unlabelled: Patients with sarcoma often report prolonged time to diagnosis, which is attributed to the rarity of sarcoma and the low awareness of pre-diagnostic signs and symptoms.

Aims: To describe patients' experiences of pre-diagnostic signs/symptoms and pathways to diagnosis, including where help was sought, and the processes involved.

Methods: Mixed methods involving quantitative, qualitative and inductive thematic analyses using novel process mapping of patient journey data, as reported by the patients.

Understanding Human Fear Extinction: Insights from Psychophysiology.

The study of fear extinction has been driven largely by Pavlovian fear conditioning methods across the translational spectrum. The primary methods used to study these processes in humans have been recordings of skin conductance (historically termed galvanic skin response) and fear-potentiation of the acoustic startle reflex. As outlined in the following chapter, the combined corpus of this work has demonstrated the value of psychophysiology in better understanding the underlying neurobiology of extinction learning in healthy humans as well as those with psychopathologies.

An mHealth Intervention to Improve Guardians' Adherence to Children's Follow-Up Care for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Tanzania (GuardiansCan Project): Protocol for a Development and Feasibility Study.

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of death during childhood and in low- and middle-income countries survival rates can be as low as 20%. A leading reason for low childhood cancer survival rates in low- and middle-income countries such as Tanzania is treatment abandonment. Contributing factors include poor communication between health care providers and children's guardians, insufficient cancer knowledge, and psychological distress.

Barriers to and Facilitators of the Implementation of Digital Mental Health Interventions as Perceived by Primary Care Decision Makers: Content Analysis of Structured Open-Ended Survey Data.

Background: Digital mental health represents a way to increase access to evidence-based psychological support. However, the implementation of digital mental health in routine health care practice is limited, with few studies focusing on implementation. Accordingly, there is a need to better understand the barriers to and facilitators of implementing digital mental health.

Effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy-based interventions for maternal perinatal depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Depression during the perinatal period (during pregnancy and the year after childbirth) is common and associated with a range of negative effects for mothers, infants, family members, and wider society. Although existing evidence suggests cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) based interventions are effective for perinatal depression, less is known about the effect of CBT-based interventions on important secondary outcomes, and a number of potential clinical and methodological moderators have not been examined.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis primarily examined the effectiveness of CBT-based interventions for perinatal depression on symptoms of depression.

Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Patients with Sarcoma in the United Kingdom.

Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a persistent concern among those living with cancer and is associated with a variety of negative psychosocial outcomes. However, people with sarcoma have been underrepresented within this area of research. We aimed to determine the prevalence of FCR experienced by people with sarcoma in the United Kingdom and explore factors that may predict FCR, such as the perceived impact of cancer and psychological flexibility.

Cognitive behavioural therapy self-help intervention preferences among informal caregivers of adults with chronic kidney disease: an online cross-sectional survey.

Background: Informal caregivers (i.e. family and friends) provide essential support to people with chronic kidney disease (CKD).