Interlaboratory assays from the fungal PCR Initiative and the Modimucor Study Group to improve qPCR detection of Mucorales DNA in serum: one more step toward standardization.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to identify parameters influencing DNA extraction and PCR amplification efficiencies in an attempt to standardize Mucorales qPCR. The Fungal PCR Initiative Mucorales Laboratory Working Group distributed two panels of simulated samples to 26 laboratories: Panel A (six sera spiked with Mucorales DNA and one negative control serum) and Panel B (six Mucorales DNA extracts). Panel A underwent DNA extraction in each laboratory according to the local procedure and were sent to a central laboratory for testing using three different qPCR techniques: one in-house qPCR assay and two commercial assays (MucorGenius and Fungiplex).

MHC-related protein 1-restricted recognition of cancer via a semi-invariant TCR-α chain.

The T cell antigen presentation platform MR1 consists of 6 allomorphs in humans that differ by no more than 5 amino acids. The principal function of this highly conserved molecule involves presenting microbial metabolites to the abundant mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cell subset. Recent developments suggest that the role of MR1 extends to presenting antigens from cancer cells, a function dependent on the K43 residue in the MR1 antigen binding cleft.

The joint memory effect: challenging the selfish stigma in Huntington's disease?

The prevalent belief that individuals with Huntington's disease exhibit selfish behaviour, disregarding the thoughts, feelings and actions of others, has been challenged by patient organizations and clinical experts. To further investigate this issue and study whether participants with Huntington's disease can pay attention to others, a joint memory task was carried out in patients with Huntington's disease with and without a partner. This study involved 69 participants at an early stage of Huntington's disease and 56 healthy controls from the UK, France and Germany, who participated in the international Repair-HD multicentre study (NCT03119246).

Early oncological outcomes of delayed radical prostatectomy: A prospective, international, follow-up analysis of the COVIDSurg-Cancer study.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to compare the early oncological outcomes of delayed (>90 days) versus scheduled (≤90 days) radical prostatectomy (RP).

Patients And Methods: Patients with prostate cancer due to undergo surgery between March 2020 and June 2020 who were enrolled in the COVIDSurg-Cancer international, observational study were prospectively followed up for 1 year. Time to surgery was defined as the difference between the operation date and the multi-disciplinary team decision to offer surgery.

Guided intentional replantation of a mandibular premolar with type IIIIb dens invaginatus associated with peri-invagination periodontitis without root canal treatment- A case report.

Aim: This report highlights successful management of a rare case of a mandibular premolar with Oehler's Type IIIb Dens Invaginatus (DI) and peri-invagination periodontitis with guided intentional replantation (IR) without root canal treatment.

Methods: A 22-year-old female patient reported with discomfort and a sinus tract associated with tooth #21. Clinical examination and cone beam computed tomography revealed tooth #21 had an Oehler's Type IIIb DI with peri-invagination periodontitis.

Longitudinal Observational Digital Analysis of Occlusion in Hall Technique.

Objective: To evaluate volumetric changes over time in teeth treated with the Hall Technique (HT) and their opposing teeth. Secondary aims included assessing occluso-vertical dimension (OVD), temporomandibular joint (TMJ) function, and children's treatment perceptions.

Methods: Twenty-eight children (5-9 years-old) requiring HT treatment for one first primary molar were recruited.

Shifting Antarctic Circumpolar Current south of Africa over the past 1.9 million years.

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) dominates the transfer of heat, salt, and tracers around the Southern Ocean (SO), driving the upwelling of carbon-rich deep waters around Antarctica. Paleoclimate reconstructions reveal marked variability in SO circulation; however, few records exist coupling quantitative reconstructions of ACC flow with tracers of SO upwelling spanning multiple Pleistocene glacial cycles. Here, we reconstruct near-bottom flow speed variability in the SO south of Africa, revealing systematic glacial-interglacial variations in the strength and/or proximity of ACC jets.

Antifungal stewardship in the UK: where are we now?

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.

Spatial transcriptomics reveals unique metabolic profile and key oncogenic regulators of cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: As a prevalent and deadly malignant tumor, the treatment outcomes for late-stage patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) are often suboptimal. Previous studies have shown that tumor progression is closely related with tumor metabolism and microenvironment reshaping, with disruptions in energy metabolism playing a critical role in this process. To delve deeper into the understanding of CSCC development, our research focused on analyzing the tumor microenvironment and metabolic characteristics across different regions of tumor tissue.

Knee-Related Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Young Adults: A Scoping Meta-Review.

Background: There is a lack of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) research on young adults and knee disorders. This scoping meta-review examined a young adult population and aimed to (1) provide an overview of knee-related PROMs research and (2) evaluate the measurement properties of the five most evaluated knee-related PROMs relevant for individual care and group-level analysis.

Methods: A systematic search of the PubMed and COSMIN databases was conducted on 18 September 2023 and updated on 25 November 2024 to identify systematic reviews of knee-related PROMs in young adults.

'Clarifying', 'assuming', and 'reducing' stigma: a commentary on stigma in genetics.

The concept of stigma has been applied across many disciplines. Within the context of health and illness, research on stigma tells familiar stories about the impact of a diagnosis on the lives of individuals and their families, and the perceived negative effects of stigma on them and their relationships. This can result in public and private efforts to 'reduce' stigma for certain social groups by raising awareness and sharing more positive stories about their lives.

The Impact of Vaccination on COVID-19, Influenza, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Related Outcomes: A Narrative Review.

Vaccination represents a core preventive strategy for public health, with interrelated and multifaceted effects across health and socioeconomic domains. Beyond immediate disease prevention, immunization positively influences downstream health outcomes by mitigating complications of preexisting comorbidities and promoting healthy aging. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza virus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are common respiratory viruses responsible for broad societal cost and substantial morbidity and mortality, particularly among at-risk individuals, including older adults and people with frailty or certain comorbid conditions.

Curiosity shapes spatial exploration and cognitive map formation in humans.

Cognitive maps are thought to arise, at least in part, from our intrinsic curiosity to explore unknown places. However, it remains untested how curiosity shapes aspects of spatial exploration in humans. Combining a virtual reality task with indices of exploration complexity, we found that pre-exploration curiosity states predicted how much individuals spatially explored environments, whereas markers of visual exploration determined post-exploration feelings of interest.

miRNA changes associated with differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into human retinal ganglion cells.

miRNA, short non-coding RNA, are rapidly emerging as important regulators in cell homeostasis, as well as potential players in cellular degeneration. The latter has led to interest in them as both biomarkers and as potential therapeutics. Retinal ganglion cells (RGC), whose axons connect the eye to the brain, are central nervous system cells of great interest, yet their study is largely restricted to animals due to the difficulty in obtaining healthy human RGC.

Imaging pathology in archived cornea with Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy including tissue reprocessing for volume electron microscopy.

Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a common sight-threatening condition characterised by pathological changes in the posterior cornea. Here we report observations by light, transmission and volume scanning electron microscopy on changes in the endothelium and matrix associated with the characteristic deformations of Descemet's membrane, termed guttae. Specimens were archived full-thickness human corneal tissue, removed during graft surgery, that had been fixed, stained and embedded by conventional processing methods for examination by transmission electron microscopy more than 40-years previously.

Non-APOE variants predominately expressed in smooth muscle cells contribute to the influence of Alzheimer's disease genetic risk on white matter hyperintensities.

Introduction: White matter hyperintensity volumes (WMHVs) are disproportionally prevalent in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD), potentially reflecting neurovascular injury. We quantify the association between AD polygenic risk score (AD-PRS) and WMHV, exploring single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are proximal to genes overexpressed in cerebrovascular cell species.

Methods: In a UK-Biobank sub-sample (mean age = 64, range = 45-81 years), we associate WMHV with (1) AD-PRS estimated via SNPs across the genome (minus apolipoprotein E [APOE] locus) and (2) AD-PRS estimated with SNPs proximal to specific genes that are overexpressed in cerebrovascular cell species.

Head and Spinal Injuries in Pediatrics: Descriptive Study over 10 Years in a Tertiary Hospital.

Objectives: Pediatric head and spinal traumas are challenging for healthcare professionals due to their potential for severe consequences. Understanding optimal management methods is crucial to prevent complications and improve outcomes. Head and spinal injuries are common in children, with falls and motor vehicle collisions as the leading causes.

Vaccination Hesitancy and Its Impact on Immunization Coverage in Pediatrics: A Systematic Review.

One significant global health issue that is present in more than 190 nations globally is routine vaccination reluctance. This study aimed to synthesize the current evidence on vaccination hesitancy and its impact on immunization coverage in pediatrics. We searched for relevant studies across four databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed/EMBASE, and Cumulated Index in Nursing and Allied Health Literature).

Comparison of Systemic Inflammatory Indices With the Oncotype DX Recurrence Score and the Nottingam Prognostic Index in Early Hormone Receptor Positive Ductal Breast Cancer.

Background: Adjuvant therapy decisions in hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative breast cancer are evolving. Gene panel testing has reduced the number of patients recommended for chemotherapy by up to two thirds. Identifying low risk genomic cases before testing could represent a significant economic impact.

Exploring the use of digital technology for injury prevention and self-management among recreational runners.

Objectives: Explore digital technology use among recreational runners in Wales and assess attitudes toward a proposed digital intervention for running-related injury (RRI) prevention and self-management.

Design: Exploratory survey.

Setting: Online questionnaire, closed questions distributed to runners over a 7 week period.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) 'controlled' second-degree places in the UK - there are sufficient numbers (with high application ratios) to meet current and future OMFS recruitment needs in the UK.

In 2008 the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) Review of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) recommended that OMFS specialty training should start with second-degree studies. This recommendation has not yet happened. Currently, no OMFS controlled places at medical/dental schools are directly linked to OMFS Specialty Training (ST) posts.

EPLIN, a prospective oncogenic molecule with contribution to growth, migration and drug resistance in pancreatic cancer.

Most pancreatic cancer patients are diagnosed at advanced stages, with poor survival rates and drug resistance making pancreatic cancer one of the highest causes of cancer death in the UK. Understanding the underlying mechanism behind its carcinogenesis, metastasis and drug resistance has become an essential task for researchers. We have discovered that a well-established tumour suppressor, EPLIN, has an oncogenic rather than suppressive role in pancreatic cancer.

Global big data laboratory experiment, integrated with kernel-based algorithm with an improved nonlinear ensemble for compressive strength modeling.

With the continuous clamor for a reduction in embodied carbon in cement, rapid solution to climate change, and reduction to resource depletion, studies into substitute binders become crucial. These cementitious binders can potentially lessen our reliance on cement as the only concrete binder while also improving concrete functional properties. Finer particles used in cement microstructure densify the pore structure of concrete and enhance its performance properties.

Review of the 'second degree' universities of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) specialists and trainees in the UK. Locations of their graduate entry medicine and graduate entry dentistry degrees, graduating between 1979-2019.

By spending 3-5 years in a single location studying for their second degree, OMFS trainees often put down domestic roots which they are reluctant to pull up to complete their training elsewhere. The universities at which OMFS specialists/trainees obtained their second degrees were assembled using the General Medical Council's OMFS specialist list, the General Dental Council's Dental Register and a database of OMFS trainees and consultants. The second degrees of 818 past and current OMFS specialists/trainees were analysed.

Myxobacteria from soil can substantially reduce the bacterial load in a wound infection model.

Aims: Myxobacteria are non-pathogenic, saprophytic, soil-dwelling predatory bacteria known for their antimicrobial potential. Many pathogenic bacteria form biofilms to protect themselves from antimicrobial agents and the immune system. This study has investigated the predatory activities of myxobacteria against pathogenic bacteria in biofilms.