Publications by authors named "Woods D"

The primary immunological readout for clinical trials of R21/MatrixM™ malaria vaccine, is total IgG antibody specific to the central four amino acid NANP repeat region of the circumsporozoite protein. A multiplexed assay, which includes NANP, was developed and validated for four antigens representing components of the R21 immunogen. Initial assay optimisation included validation of the HBsAg international standard.

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As we commemorate 50 years of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), the global mission to eradicate polio stands at a critical juncture. While remarkable progress has been made over the past decades, ensuring a steady supply of polio vaccines remains a significant challenge that could undermine these achievements. This manuscript aims to address the complexities of polio vaccine security within the context of the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) and the Global Polio Eradication Strategy 2022-2029, proposing actionable strategies to strengthen the vaccine supply.

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This study evaluated the outcome and recurrence rates after hydrodilatation (HD) in patients with frozen shoulder (FS), comparing the effects of injecting 25 mL or more of fluid versus lower volumes. A total of 132 shoulders (130 patients) were treated at a shoulder clinic between August 2019 and February 2023. HD was performed under ultrasound guidance, injecting a combination of 40 mg Triamcinolone, 10 mL of local anaesthetic, and saline to a total volume of 10 to 40 mL based on patient tolerance.

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Purpose: Gabapentinoids are mainly prescribed for neuropathic pain and certain seizure disorders, but their off-label use has increased significantly. This rise raises concerns about the insufficient evidence supporting some applications, as well as potential risks of misuse, dependence, and adverse effects. The study aims to examine the prescribing patterns and off-label use of gabapentinoids at Dhulikhel Hospital (DH), Nepal, focusing on understanding the extent of off-label practices and patient knowledge regarding their medications.

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  • Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) strains, once thought rare in the U.S., are being increasingly reported, with a study analyzing 273 respiratory isolates from patients in Western Pennsylvania between 2020 and 2022.
  • Among these, 13 (4.8%) tested positive for hypervirulent traits, with 2 strains (0.7%) confirmed to carry specific virulence genes, suggesting they can cause severe infections in the community.
  • Experiments showed these hvKp strains caused significant pneumonia in mice, indicating their potential to circulate in North America and cause severe community-associated infections.
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  • - The study explores the relationship between body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) disorders, like trichotillomania and skin picking, and anxiety disorders, finding that comorbidity is common, with notable prevalence rates for various anxiety disorders.
  • - A meta-analysis of 119 studies revealed that current and lifetime prevalence rates for anxiety disorders among individuals with BFRBs are significant, such as 19.2% for generalized anxiety disorder and 27.5% for any anxiety disorder.
  • - Although comorbid anxiety is frequent in BFRB cases, the correlation between anxiety severity and BFRB severity is only low to moderate, indicating a complex relationship that warrants further research and consideration in clinical practice. *
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  • This study investigated how psychological and physical stress affects the reproductive and adrenal hormone systems in men and women during military training.
  • Results showed that women exhibited greater HPA axis responses (higher cortisol levels) compared to men, while men had higher gonadotrophin responses than women.
  • Notably, the findings indicate that women experienced a more significant suppression of reproductive hormone function during stress, contributing to the understanding of how sex differences influence stress responses in high-demand environments.
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  • - Human threadworm is a globally distributed parasite affecting over 600 million people, with serious implications for immunosuppressed individuals, yet its prevalence among Fijian migrants in the UK is largely unknown.
  • - A study involving 250 Fijian migrants in the UK revealed a significant rate of gastrointestinal parasites (GIPs), with 35.1% testing positive for threadworm and 6.8% for hookworms, based on comprehensive diagnostic methods.
  • - Findings emphasized the need for specialized parasitological testing, particularly multiplex real-time PCR (rtPCR), which proved more effective than traditional microscopy in diagnosing infections among chronic cases in this population.
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This study evaluated operating room (OR) space required for various hand surgical procedures. We analysed the size requirements for hand surgical cases divided into four settings: (1) large OR setting requiring fluoroscopy and microsurgical equipment, (2) medium-sized OR setting for cases requiring fluoroscopy, (3) smaller OR setting and (4) minor procedural room without anaesthesia with the aim to describe room size requirements for hand surgery practices. A variety of hand surgical cases were selected: large cases (microvascular digit replantation), medium-sized cases (closed reduction percutaneous pinning [CRPP] of phalangeal fractures) and smaller cases (carpal tunnel release [CTR]) with and without anaesthesia.

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Sacral osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone that extends posterior to the pelvis at the base of the spine. This condition typically occurs in elderly or bedbound/immobile patients and is treated with wound debridement, wound care, surgery, and antibiotic therapy. In this report, a case is presented of a rare complication of sacral osteomyelitis where the infection extended through the bone into the spinal canal causing an ascending spinal canal infection.

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Introduction: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the First Peoples of Australia. Up to 45% of dementia in these populations is due to potentially modifiable risk factors. The Dementia Prevention and Risk Management Program for Aboriginal Australians (DAMPAA) is an Aboriginal Health Practitioner led programme that aims to reduce cognitive decline and functional impairment in older Aboriginal people.

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The predicted implosion performance of deuterium-tritium fuel capsules in indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion experiments relies on precise calculations of the x-ray drive in laser-heated cavities (hohlraums). This requires accurate, spectrally dependent simulations of laser to x-ray conversion efficiencies and x-ray absorption losses to the hohlraum wall. A set of National Ignition Facility experiments have identified a cause for the long-standing hohlraum "drive deficit" as the overprediction of gold emission at ∼2.

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Molecular robotics is challenging, so it seems best to keep it simple. We consider an abstract molecular robotics model based on simple folding instructions that execute asynchronously. Turning Machines are a simple 1D to 2D folding model, also easily generalisable to 2D to 3D folding.

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In wheat, the transition of the inflorescence meristem to a terminal spikelet (IM→TS) determines the spikelet number per spike (SNS), an important yield component. In this study, we demonstrate that the plant-specific transcription factor LEAFY (LFY) physically and genetically interacts with WHEAT ORTHOLOG OF APO1 (WAPO1) to regulate SNS and floret development. Loss-of-function mutations in either or both genes result in significant and similar reductions in SNS, as a result of a reduction in the rate of spikelet meristem formation per day.

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Objective: The purpose of this qualitative analysis was to better understand what pain management strategies adults with opioid-treated chronic low back pain (CLBP) found most helpful.

Design: A subgroup of participants from a larger randomized control trial of two psychological interventions were asked: "What helps your back pain?" at baseline and 12 months (exit) in brief, video-recorded interviews. Videos were analyzed using qualitative thematic content analysis utilizing Transana™.

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In tic disorders (TD), tic expression varies across the lifespan and as a function of contextual factors. This study explored connections between tic expression and contextual triggers across life periods in 74 adults (M = 23.2) with TDs.

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Introduction: Evidence-based psychological treatments for people with personality disorder usually involve attending group-based sessions over many months. Low-intensity psychological interventions of less than 6 months duration have been developed, but their clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness are unclear.

Methods And Analysis: This is a multicentre, randomised, parallel-group, researcher-masked, superiority trial.

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This narrative review aims to identify and understand the role of artificial intelligence in the application of integrated electronic health records (EHRs) and patient-generated health data (PGHD) in clinical decision support. We focused on integrated data that combined PGHD and EHR data, and we investigated the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the application. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to search articles in six databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, ACM Digital Library, and IEEE Computer Society Digital Library.

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Background: Falciparum malaria remains a global health problem. Two vaccines, based on the circumsporozoite antigen, are available. RTS, S/AS01 was recommended for use in 2021 following the advice of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization and WHO Malaria Policy Advisory Group (MPAG).

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Aggregation of misfolded α-synuclein (α-syn) is a key characteristic feature of Parkinson's disease (PD) and related synucleinopathies. The nature of these aggregates and their contribution to cellular dysfunction is still not clearly elucidated. We employed mass spectrometry-based total and phospho-proteomics to characterize the underlying molecular and biological changes due to α-syn aggregation using the M83 mouse primary neuronal model of PD.

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Trichotillomania (TTM) is associated with impairments in response inhibition and cognitive flexibility, but it is unclear how such impairments relate to treatment outcome. The present study examined pre-treatment response inhibition and cognitive flexibility as predictors of treatment outcome, change in these domains from pre-to post-treatment, and associations with TTM severity. Participants were drawn from a randomized controlled trial comparing acceptance-enhanced behavior therapy (AEBT) to psychoeducation and supportive therapy (PST) for TTM.

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Background: The Premonitory Urge for Tics Scale (PUTS) is a common self-report measure of premonitory urges for patients with tic disorders. This study aims to evaluate the Chinese version of the PUTS (PUTS-C) and to explore its association with psychiatric symptoms in Chinese children diagnosed with tic disorders.

Methods: The psychometric evaluation involved 204 outpatients with tic disorders, aged 7-16 years, who were divided into two age groups: (7-10 years, n = 103; 11-16 years, n = 95).

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: Tourette syndrome (TS) and Chronic Tic Disorder (CT) are neurodevelopmental conditions involving motor and/or phonic tics. Youth with tics may encounter feelings of isolation, diminished self-esteem and quality of life, and academic difficulties. A growing body of scientific literature suggests sex differences in youth with tics, but findings have been mixed so far.

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Plants respond to increased CO2 concentrations through stomatal closure, which can contribute to increased water use efficiency. Grasses display faster stomatal responses than eudicots due to dumbbell-shaped guard cells flanked by subsidiary cells working in opposition. However, forward genetic screening for stomatal CO2 signal transduction mutants in grasses has yet to be reported.

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