A practical approach to investigating nosocomial acquisition of Aspergillus.

Invasive mould disease (IMD) has a high mortality in immunosuppressed patients. Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is the most common IMD. A guideline for preventing IA has been published jointly by the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, the Infectious Disease Society of America, and the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

A novel, multi-component contingency management intervention in the context of a syndemic of drug-related harms in Glasgow, Scotland: First year of the 'WAND' initiative.

Background: To address high levels of drug-related harms among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Glasgow, a novel contingency management intervention was developed to engage high-risk PWID with four harm reduction measures (known as the WAND initiative: ound care, ssessment of injecting, aloxone, and ried blood-spot test). Our aims were to assess if WAND engaged and re-engaged high-risk PWID.

Methods: Baseline data of WAND participants (n = 831) from 1st Sept-2020 to 30th Aug-2021 were analysed.

Can fundus features tell us something about 3D eye shape?

Purpose: To determine whether imaging features derived from fundus photographs contain 3D eye shape information beyond that available from spherical equivalent refraction (SER).

Methods: We analysed 99 eyes of 68 normal adults in the UK Biobank. An ellipsoid was fitted to the entire volume of each posterior eye (vitreous chamber without the lens)-segmented from magnetic resonance imaging of the brain.

Removal of antibiotics and their impact on growth, nutrient uptake, and biomass productivity in semi-continuous cultivation of Auxenochlorella protothecoides.

The prevalence of antibiotics in wastewater poses risks to human and animal health, contributing to antimicrobial resistance. Although various antibiotic removal methods exist, microalgae-based technology presents a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative; however, limited research on its long-term integration in semi-continuous wastewater treatment trials hinders our understanding of its potential effectiveness. This investigation explored the antibiotic removal capabilities of the microalga Auxenochlorella protothecoides in photobioreactors with synthetic wastewater under semi-continuous conditions over one month.

Expert decision-making in clinicians: An auto-analytic ethnographic study of operational decision-making in urgent care.

Objective: To conceptualise the cognitive processes of early expert decision-making in urgent care.

Background: Expert clinicians in the UK frequently determine suitable urgent care patient pathways via telephone triage. This strategy is promoted by policymakers but how it is performed, and its effectiveness has not been evaluated.

Emulation of the subjective experience of visual dorsal stream dysfunction: a description of three in depth case studies.

These case studies explore the subjective visual experiences of individuals with cerebral visual impairment (CVI), specifically dorsal stream dysfunction (DSD) characterized by simultanagnosia. Through three in-depth case studies, this work documents the challenges these individuals face when navigating cluttered environments. The individuals were asked to describe their visual experiences while watching videos of varying complexity, with the future aim of creating a simulation of simultanagnosia.

Blockchain-enabled digital twin system for brain stroke prediction.

A digital twin is a virtual model of a real-world system that updates in real-time. In healthcare, digital twins are gaining popularity for monitoring activities like diet, physical activity, and sleep. However, their application in predicting serious conditions such as heart attacks, brain strokes and cancers remains under investigation, with current research showing limited accuracy in such predictions.

The implementation of safer drug consumption facilities in Scotland: a mixed methods needs assessment and feasibility study for the city of Edinburgh.

Background: Scotland currently has amongst the highest rates of drug-related deaths in Europe, leading to increased advocacy for safer drug consumption facilities (SDCFs) to be piloted in the country. In response to concerns about drug-related harms in Edinburgh, elected officials have considered introducing SDCFs in the city. This paper presents key findings from a feasibility study commissioned by City of Edinburgh Council to support these deliberations.

A New Approach for Infrared Temperature Measurement Sensor Systems and Temperature Control for Domestic Induction Hobs.

The accurate measurement of cooking vessel temperatures in induction hobs is crucial for ensuring optimal cooking performance and safety. To achieve this, improvements in existing measurement methods such as thermocouples, thermistors, and infrared (IR) temperature sensors are being explored. However, traditional IR sensors are sensitive to interference from the heated glass ceramic, severely affecting accuracy.

Towards Automated Chicken Monitoring: Dataset and Machine Learning Methods for Visual, Noninvasive Reidentification.

The chicken is the world's most farmed animal. In this work, we introduce the Chicks4FreeID dataset, the first publicly available dataset focused on the reidentification of individual chickens. We begin by providing a comprehensive overview of the existing animal reidentification datasets.

Lactams Exhibit Potent Antifungal Activity Against Monospecies and Multispecies Interkingdom Biofilms on a Novel Hydrogel Skin Model.

Infections of intact and damaged skin barriers and keratin are frequently associated with complex biofilm communities containing bacteria and fungi, yet there are limited options for successful management. This study intended to focus on the utility of some novel proprietary lactam molecules, quorum sensing (QS)-derived halogenated furanones, which act to block the QS pathway, against key fungal pathogens of the skin (Candida albicans, Malassezia furfur and Microsporum gypseum). Moreover, we aimed to assess how these actives performed against complex interkingdom biofilms in a clinically relevant model.

Diabetic foot ulcer photography study: a study within a trial to assess the reliability of two-dimensional (2D) photography for the assessment of ulcer healing in patients with diabetes-related foot ulcers-protocol paper.

Background: The primary endpoint in diabetes-related foot ulcer (DFU) trials is often time to healing, defined as complete re-epithelialisation with absence of drainage, requiring clinical expert assessment as the gold standard. Central blinded photograph review for confirmation of healing is increasingly being undertaken for internal validity. The Diabetic Foot Ulcer Photography study aims to determine the agreement between blinded independent review panel members for assessing ulcer healing status in patients with DFUs.

COVID-19 and chronic pain: Implications and lessons learned.

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted people with chronic pain, affecting their access to pain management services and the social fabric of society. Here we review evidence indicating that during and since the pandemic (1) the overall prevalence and burden of chronic pain has increased, (2) social threats such as social isolation, abuse and neglect, and disparities in access to pain management, have increased, and these changes are associated with worsening pain and pain-related health outcomes, and (3) there has been a surge in research into telehealth interventions for chronic pain, with promising results. We conclude with a discussion of lessons that may guide future research and care for people with chronic pain in a post-COVID world.

Enhancing COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Within Scotland Black, African, and Caribbean Communities and Lessons for Future Vaccination Programmes.

This study highlights how the intersection of multiple factors shapes the experiences of Scotland's Black, African, and Caribbean communities in their access and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in the vaccination programme's first, second, and booster stages. There was particular interest in understanding the vaccination journey, from scheduling an appointment to attending the appointment. Data in this study was collected between the 1 and 30 April 2022 using a triangulated approach, including a survey (with 408 responses), interviews (26), and focus group discussions (5 groups involving 30 participants).

Opening the digital doorway to sexual healthcare: Recommendations from a behaviour change wheel analysis of barriers and facilitators to seeking online sexual health information and support among underserved populations.

Background: The ability to access and navigate online sexual health information and support is increasingly needed in order to engage with wider sexual healthcare. However, people from underserved populations may struggle to pass though this "digital doorway". Therefore, using a behavioural science approach, we first aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to i) seeking online sexual health information and ii) seeking online sexual health support.

Systematic Review of Sarcopenia Biomarkers in Hip Fracture Patients as a Potential Tool in Clinical Evaluation.

Hip fractures are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Sarcopenia is a significant factor contributing to poor prognosis; however, the clinical diagnosis of sarcopenia remains difficult in surgical patients. This systematic review aims to identify the biomarkers of sarcopenia as diagnostic and predictive tools in patients admitted for hip fracture surgery.

Perceptions and Barriers to Accessing Myopia Management in the UK.

Background/objectives: Perceptions and barriers to myopia management (MM) in childhood have not been fully explored within some countries, including the UK, where there is minimal public health education on myopia.

Methods: The aim of this mixed-methods study was to explore perceptions of myopia and MM interventions using focus groups and a survey to obtain qualitative and quantitative data. Topics included the understanding of myopia, perceptions of MM, considerations when initiating MM, lifestyle risk factors, and barriers to uptake of intervention.

Validation of the Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale (NPSS) Among Health and Social Care Workers in the UK.

Psychological safety is essential for rest, recovery, and fostering social connections, particularly for health and social care workers (HSCWs) who frequently operate in high-pressure environments. These workers are prone to traumatic stress, which can elevate their sense of threat and undermine their psychological safety. This study aimed to validate the Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale (NPSS) among HSCWs in the UK ( = 443).

Exploring the effects of financial stress on undergraduate nursing students in Scotland.

The sharp increase in the cost of living in the UK over the past few years has affected all populations, including higher education students. Many higher education students, including nursing students, are experiencing financial difficulties and concerns, which adversely affect their mental health and can cause them to consider leaving their course. This article reports the findings of an online survey undertaken in one university in Glasgow, Scotland, that aimed to explore the effects of financial stress on second and third-year nursing students.

Effect of Motivational Interviewing and Exercise on Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The prevalence of chronic low back pain (CLBP) and its concomitant cost implications have continued to rise across the globe. Currently, there is no effective treatment for CLBP that leads to long-term improvement. Hence, there is growing recognition of the need for behaviour techniques including motivational interviewing (MI) to address CLBP.

Characterisation of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in healthcare workers within the United Kingdom: Risk factors for infection during four successive waves.

Background: Healthcare workers were at a high risk of infection early in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. It is uncertain to what extent occupational, household and community factors contributed, and how this changed over time. We aimed to characterise the risk factors for infection over four successive waves of the pandemic in a large, UK healthcare worker cohort (SIREN).

Seeking Support: The Voice of Young Men Who Have Experienced Sexual Harm During Their Life Course.

The sexual abuse and assault of boys and men is not uncommon, and seeking support is useful in reducing negative outcomes. However, male survivors are less likely than women to seek support. Gendered norms and myths persist with several gender-specific barriers to seeking support existing for men.

Challenges for first contact physiotherapists' managing sickness absence: Consensus development using the nominal group technique.

Objective: To identify the challenges and key learning and development needs of First Contact Physiotherapists (FCPs) providing fitness for work and sickness absence certification from Occupational Health physiotherpists' viewpoints.

Design: An online modified version of the Nominal Group Technique.

Participants: A convenience sample of 21 expert occupational health physiotherapists as participants whose substantive job role was within a public or private UK based occupational health provider.

Hiding in plain sight: children with visual perceptual difficulties in schools.

Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is increasingly being recognized as a significant cause of visual difficulties in children, particularly those with typical visual acuity, who nonetheless struggle in educational settings. This narrative review aims to elucidate the nature and impact of visual perceptual difficulties (VPD) associated with CVI in school-aged children, who often remain undiagnosed due to the current erroneous focus on visual acuity as a required diagnostic criterion for CVI. The review synthesizes findings from recent studies, highlighting that up to 3.

Impact of cigarette smoking on gut microbial dysbiosis: a structured literature review.

The gut microbiota (GM) comprises microorganisms in the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Lifestyle choices like smoking lead to gut dysbiosis. This review assessed the effect of cigarette smoke (CS) on gut microbial dysbiosis (GMD) in active smokers compared to non-smokers, as well as the resulting public health implications.