34,487 results match your criteria: "Belfast; UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health Research[Affiliation]"

Article Synopsis
  • This study investigates using raw Greek honey in cacao-based materials for 3D printing, focusing on their physical properties and thermal stability.
  • It finds that incorporating honey not only improves the nutritional value and taste but also enhances the delivery of Vitamin D3, which is known to support the immune system but is difficult to absorb.
  • The research suggests that a 10% concentration of Lavender Honey is optimal for creating a stable and effective 3D-printed product, indicating the potential for these formulations in personalized health supplements and medicine.
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Background: Survivors of intensive care unit (ICU) admission experience significant deficits in health-related quality of life due to long-term physical, psychological, and cognitive sequelae of critical illness, which may persist for many years. There has been a proliferation of post-hospital interventions in recent years which aim to support ICU-survivors, however there is currently limited evidence to inform optimal approach. We therefore aimed to synthesise factors which impacted the implementation of these interventions from the perspective of healthcare providers, patients, and their carers, and to compare different intervention designs.

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Background: Understanding the degree to which patients are actively involved, confident and capable of engaging with self-management and rehabilitation could be an initial step in guiding individualised supportive strategies for people after critical illness.

Aims: To assess the levels of active involvement with self management among ICU survivors using the Patient Activation Measure (PAM), explore associations between patient characteristics and PAM results, and investigate its relationship with patients' support needs at key transition points during the recovery process.

Methods: Eligible participants received both the PAM and Support Needs After Critical care (SNAC) questionnaires by post.

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Dental implant placement in the esthetic zone is associated with challenges for clinicians. The best esthetic outcome of this procedure can be obtained through precise management of hard and soft tissue. Orthodontic forced eruption (OFE) has presented an alternative approach to augment hard and soft tissues, which can be applied rapidly or slowly.

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Maximizing the extraction of true, high-quality, nonredundant features from biofluids analyzed via LC-MS systems is challenging. Here, the R packages IPO and AutoTuner were used to optimize XCMS parameter settings for the retrieval of metabolite or lipid features in both ionization modes from either faecal or urine samples from two cohorts ( = 621). The feature lists obtained were compared with those where the parameter values were selected manually.

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Background: Acquired angioedema due to C1-inhibitor deficiency (AAE-C1-INH) is very rare compared to its prototype, hereditary angioedema. An updated characterisation of the AAE-C1-INH cohort in UK is required to inform management.

Objectives: To describe the disease burden of AAE-C1-INH, long-term prophylaxis (LTP) and the clinical, immunochemical and treatment profiles of AAE-associated diseases in UK.

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Background: Stigma significantly impacts individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) and their caregivers, exacerbating social isolation, psychological distress, and reducing quality of life (QoL). Although considerable research has been conducted on PD's clinical aspects, the social and emotional challenges, like stigma, remain underexplored. Addressing stigma is crucial for enhancing well-being, fostering inclusivity and improving access to care and support.

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Microbial fuel cells to monitor natural attenuation around groundwater plumes.

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int

January 2025

School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT7 1NN, UK.

This research presents a straightforward and economically efficient design for a microbial fuel cell (MFC) that can be conveniently integrated into a borehole to monitor natural attenuation in groundwater. The design employs conventional, transparent, and reusable PVC bailers with graphite tape and granular activated carbon to create high surface area electrodes. These electrodes are connected across redox environments in nested boreholes through a wire and variable resistor setup.

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Partial wave analysis is key to interpretation of the photoionization of atoms and molecules on the attosecond timescale. Here we propose a heterodyne analysis approach, based on the delay-resolved anisotropy parameters to reveal the role played by high-order partial waves during photoionization. This extends the Reconstruction of Attosecond Beating By Interference of Two-photon Transitions technique into the few-photon regime.

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Treatment of Seizures in People with Intellectual Disability.

CNS Drugs

January 2025

Cornwall Intellectual Disability Equitable Research (CIDER), University of Plymouth, Truro, England.

There is a synergistic relationship between epilepsy and intellectual disability (ID), and the approach to managing people with these conditions needs to be holistic. Epilepsy is the main co-morbidity associated with ID, and clinical presentation tends to be complex, associated with higher rates of treatment resistance, multi-morbidity and premature mortality. Despite this relationship, there is limited level 1 evidence to inform treatment choice for this vulnerable population.

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The Role of WNT5a and TGF-β1 in Airway Remodelling and Severe Asthma.

Allergy

January 2025

Department of Respiratory Sciences, College of Life Sciences, and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory Theme), Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK.

Background: Airway remodelling is a feature of severe asthma with airway epithelial damage observed frequently. We evaluated the role of WNT5a and TGF-β in asthmatic airway biopsies and in sputum and bronchial brushings assessed their role in remodelling.

Methods: WNT5a and TGF-β protein expression were assessed in the lamina propria epithelium of people with asthma (GINA 1-3, n-8 and GINA 4-5, n-14) and healthy subjects (n-9), alongside relevant remodelling markers.

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Pan-cancer drivers of metastasis.

Mol Cancer

January 2025

Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Science, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.

Metastasis remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, irrespective of the primary tumour origin. However, the core gene regulatory program governing distinct stages of metastasis across cancers remains poorly understood. We investigate this through single-cell transcriptome analysis encompassing over two hundred patients with metastatic and non-metastatic tumours across six cancer types.

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The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic substantially impacted the delivery of cancer services and programs. Here we reviewed and synthesized the global scale and impact of pandemic-related delays and disruptions on cancer services, including diagnosis, diagnostic procedures, screening, treatment and supportive and palliative care. Based on data from 245 articles in 46 countries, we observed declines in the number of cancer screening participation (39.

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Reporting of nutritional screening, status and intake in trials of nutritional and physical rehabilitation following critical illness: a systematic review.

Am J Clin Nutr

December 2024

Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Department of Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Critical Care, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. Electronic address:

Background: Surviving critical illness leads to prolonged physical and functional recovery with both nutritional and physical rehabilitation interventions for prevention and treatment being investigated. Nutritional status and adequacy may influence outcome, but no consensus on which nutritional-related variables should be measured and reported in clinical trials exists.

Objective: To undertake a systematic review investigating the reporting of nutritional screening, nutritional status and nutritional intake/delivery in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating nutritional and/or physical rehabilitation on physical and functional recovery during and following critical illness.

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IPEM topical report: guidance on 3D printing in radiotherapy.

Phys Med Biol

January 2025

Department of Physics, UCLH NHS Foundation Trust, 250 Euston Road,, London, NW1 2PG, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND.

There has been an increase in the availability and utilization of commercially available 3D printers in radiotherapy, with applications in phantoms, brachytherapy applicators, bolus, compensators, and immobilization devices. Additive manufacturing in the form of 3D printing has the advantage of rapid production of personalized patient specific prints or customized phantoms within a short timeframe. One of the barriers to uptake has been the lack of guidance.

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Article Synopsis
  • Riverine physical and chemical characteristics significantly impact ecosystem integrity, species richness, and diversity, with potential effects on community structure through competition and predation.
  • The study assessed water and sediment quality at eight sites in Nelspruit, South Africa, using macroinvertebrates as bioindicators, revealing significant seasonal and site-based differences in water and sediment chemistry.
  • A total of 4470 macroinvertebrate taxa were identified, with dominant groups being Crustacea and Diptera, indicating variations in community structure and the importance of monitoring aquatic ecosystems amidst increasing pollution pressures.
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Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is one of the most common conditions affecting felines, yet the metabolic alterations underlying its pathophysiology remain poorly understood, hindering progress in identifying biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive view of metabolic changes in feline CKD across conserved biochemical pathways and evaluate their progression throughout the disease continuum. Using a multi-biomatrix high-throughput metabolomics approach, serum and urine samples from CKD-affected cats ( = 94) and healthy controls ( = 84) were analyzed with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry.

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Evaluation of Performance and Stability of a Gel-Type Polymer Sorbent for Recovery of Phosphate from Waste Streams.

ACS Appl Polym Mater

December 2024

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, David Keir Building, Stranmillis Road, BT9 5AG Belfast, Northern Ireland, U.K.

Phosphorus (P) fertilizer is an essential component of our food system with the majority of all mined P rock processed to make mineral fertilizers. Globally however P rock stocks are declining-both in quality and quantity-with poor P management creating a linear economic system where P is mined, globally redistributed into products and eventually discharged into the environment leading to eutrophication. To enable establishment of a circular P economy, whereby P can be recovered from waste for its industrial reuse, requires the development of effective P recovery technologies.

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Left bundle branch block-Innocent bystander, silent menace, or both.

Heart Rhythm

December 2024

Medical Faculty, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany; Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences, Bremerhaven, Germany. Electronic address:

Left bundle branch block (LBBB) causes immediate electrical and mechanical dyssynchrony of the left ventricle (LV) and gradual structural damages in the Purkinje cells and myocardium. Mechanical dyssynchrony reduces the LV ejection fraction (EF) instantly, but only to ≈55% in an otherwise normal heart. Because of the heart's in-built functional redundancy, a patient with LBBB does not always notice the heart's reduced efficiency straightaway.

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Antifungal stewardship in the UK: where are we now?

JAC Antimicrob Resist

February 2025

Public Health Wales Mycology Reference Laboratory, UHW, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XW, UK.

Background: Antifungal stewardship (AFS) is the judicious use of today's antifungal agents with the aim of improving patient outcomes and preserving their future effectiveness. Antifungal resistance (AFR) is increasing globally, with more patients at risk of Invasive Fungal Disease (IFD), highlighting the urgent need to standardize AFS practices in the UK. The aim of this position paper is to understand the current AFS landscape in the UK.

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Co-occurrence of multiple mycotoxins is a growing global food safety concern due to their harmful effects on humans and animals. This study developed an eco-friendly sample preparation method and an innovative multiplex microarray-based lateral flow immunoassay, using a novel portable reader for on-site simultaneous determination of five regulated mycotoxins-aflatoxin B, T-2 toxin, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, and fumonisin B in rice. The eco-friendly and ultrafast extraction procedure utilizes a bio-based solvent.

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Background: Glucose metabolism in breast cancer has a potential effect on tumor progression and is related to the immune microenvironment. Thus, this study aimed to develop a glucose metabolism-tumor microenvironment score to provide new perspectives on breast cancer treatment.

Method: Data were acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus and UCSC Xena databases, and glucose-metabolism-related genes were acquired from the Gene Set Enrichment Analysis database.

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Background: Although gut-derived uremic toxins are increased in azotemic chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats and implicated in disease progression, it remains unclear if augmented formation or retention of these toxins is associated with the development of renal azotemia.

Objectives: Assess the association between gut-derived toxins (ie, indoxyl-sulfate, p-cresyl-sulfate, and trimethylamine-N-oxide [TMAO]) and the onset of azotemic CKD in cats.

Animals: Forty-eight client-owned cats.

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