HLA-E/ specific CD4 and CD8 T cells have a memory phenotype in individuals with TB infection.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is the deadliest infectious disease worldwide and novel vaccines are urgently needed. HLA-E is a virtually monomorphic antigen presentation molecule and is not downregulated upon HIV co-infection. HLA-E restricted specific CD8 T cells are present in the circulation of individuals with active TB (aTB) and infection (TBI) with or without HIV co-infection, making HLA-E restricted T cells interesting vaccination targets for TB.

Probing the Design Rules for Optimizing Electron Spin Relaxation in Densely Packed Triplet Media for Quantum Applications.

Quantum technologies using electron spins have the advantage of employing chemical qubit media with tunable properties. The principal objective of material engineers is to enhance photoexcited spin yields and quantum spin relaxation. In this study, we demonstrate a facile synthetic approach to control spin properties in charge-transfer cocrystals consisting of 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (TCNB) and acetylated anthracene.

Severe neonatal hypotonia due to variant affecting function of ZnT5 zinc transporter.

The tightly-regulated spatial and temporal distribution of zinc ion concentrations within cellular compartments is controlled by two groups of Zn transporters: the 14-member ZIP/SLC39 family, facilitating Zn influx into the cytoplasm from the extracellular space or intracellular organelles; and the 10-member ZnT/SLC30 family, mobilizing Zn in the opposite direction. Genetic aberrations in most zinc transporters cause human syndromes. Notably, previous studies demonstrated osteopenia and male-specific cardiac death in mice lacking the ZnT5/ zinc transporter, and suggested association of two homozygous frameshift variants with perinatal mortality in humans, due to hydrops fetalis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Impact of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in single ventricle physiology: a narrative review.

Background And Objective: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is a routine cross-sectional imaging modality in adults with congenital heart disease. Developing CMR techniques and the knowledge that CMR is well suited to assess long-term complications and to provide prognostic information for single ventricle (SV) patients makes CMR the ideal assessment tool for this patient cohort. Nevertheless, many of the techniques have not yet been incorporated into day-to-day practice.

Mechanistic insight into human milk extracellular vesicle-intestinal barrier interactions.

Human milk extracellular vesicles (EVs) are crucial mother-to-baby messengers that transfer biological signals. These EVs are reported to survive digestion and transport across the intestine. The mechanisms of interaction between human milk EVs and the intestinal mucosa, including epithelial uptake remain unclear.

Rotational Atherectomy Followed by Modified (Cutting or Scoring) Balloon Versus Plain Balloon Before Drug‑Eluting Stent Implantation for Calcified Coronary Lesions: A Meta-Analysis.

Coronary calcification is a major factor leading to stent under-expansion, and subsequent adverse events. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the short and long‑term outcomes of rotational atherectomy (RA), followed by modified balloon (cutting or scoring) (MB) versus plain balloon before drug‑eluting stent implantation for calcified coronary lesions. We searched PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, and the Cochrane Library Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), from inception until 30 January 2024.

Debate: Where to next for universal school-based mental health interventions?

In this article, we evaluate the current state of universal school-based mental health prevention. We argue that the field is at another pivotal turning point, with many unanswered questions. As youth mental health issues rise in prominence and prevalence, schools increasingly adopt mental health and well-being programmes.

Commutability assessment of new standard reference materials (SRMs) for determining serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D using ligand binding and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assays.

Commutability is where the measurement response for a reference material (RM) is the same as for an individual patient sample with the same concentration of analyte measured using two or more measurement systems. Assessment of commutability is essential when the RM is used in a calibration hierarchy or to ensure that clinical measurements are comparable across different measurement procedures and at different times. The commutability of three new Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) for determining serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], defined as the sum of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], was assessed through an interlaboratory study.

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a vascular dysplasia inherited as an autosomal dominant trait and caused by loss-of-function pathogenic variants in genes encoding proteins of the BMP signalling pathway. Up to 90% of disease-causal variants are observed in ENG and ACVRL1, with SMAD4 and GDF2 less frequently responsible for HHT. In adults, the most frequent HHT manifestations relate to iron deficiency and anaemia owing to recurrent epistaxis (nosebleeds) or bleeding from gastrointestinal telangiectases.

A scaling law to model the effectiveness of identification techniques.

AI techniques are increasingly being used to identify individuals both offline and online. However, quantifying their effectiveness at scale and, by extension, the risks they pose remains a significant challenge. Here, we propose a two-parameter Bayesian model for exact matching techniques and derive an analytical expression for correctness (κ), the fraction of people accurately identified in a population.

Accuracy of the Dexcom G7 Continuous Glucose Monitoring Sensors in People with Diabetes Undergoing Hemodialysis (ALPHA-2 Study).

The accuracy of the latest generation Dexcom G7 sensors in individuals with diabetes undergoing hemodialysis has not previously been investigated. Participants with diabetes undergoing hemodialysis were recruited, with paired sensor glucose from Dexcom G7 recorded with plasma glucose analyzed in the laboratory, as well as the Freestyle Precision Pro glucometer and EKF Biosen C-Line analyzer. Ten adults (median age 64.

Using routine primary care data in research: (in)efficient case studies and perspectives from the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research.

Aim: We aimed to identify enablers and barriers of using primary care routine data for healthcare research, to formulate recommendations for improving efficiency in knowledge discovery.

Background: Data recorded routinely in primary care can be used for estimating the impact of interventions provided within routine care for all people who are clinically eligible. Despite official promotion of 'efficient trial designs', anecdotally researchers in the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research (AUKCAR) have encountered multiple barriers to accessing and using routine data.

Association between tobacco advertising policies, health warning mandates and adolescents' exposure to tobacco advertising and warning labels in 80 countries.

Background: Implementation of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) bans and of health warning mandates varies by country, and their impact on adolescents' exposure to tobacco-related messages is not well understood, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries.

Aim: To explore the association of the implementation of TAPS bans and health warning mandates with the proportion of adolescents exposed to tobacco advertisements and health warnings in 80 countries from 2016 to 2021.

Methods: The proportion of 11-17 years old exposed to tobacco advertising was assessed using Global Youth Tobacco Survey data (80 countries, n=428 347).

Chronic GIPR agonism results in pancreatic islet GIPR functional desensitisation.

Objectives: There is renewed interest in targeting the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR) for treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes. G-protein coupled receptor desensitisation is suggested to reduce the long-term efficacy of glucagon-like-peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists and may similarly affect the efficacy of GIPR agonists. We explored the extent of pancreatic GIPR functional desensitisation with sustained agonist exposure.

History of the medical licensure system in Korea from the late 1800s to 1992.

The introduction of modern Western medicine in the late 19th century, notably through vaccination initiatives, marked the beginning of governmental involvement in medical licensure, with the licensing of doctors who performed vaccinations. The establishment of the national medical school "Euihakkyo" in 1899 further formalized medical education and licensure, granting graduates the privilege to practice medicine without additional examinations. The enactment of the Regulations on Doctors in 1900 by the Joseon government aimed to define doctor qualifications, including modern and traditional practitioners, comprehensively.

Spatial transcriptomic analysis reveals significant differences in tumor microenvironment in HPV-dependent and HPV-independent vulvar squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) can be either HPV-dependent (HPVd) or HPV-independent (HPVi). HPVd VSCC typically occurs in younger women, has a more favorable prognosis, and develops from high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). HPVi VSCC predominantly affects older women and arises within areas of chronic inflammation, particularly lichen sclerosis (LS).

Neural network surrogate and projected gradient descent for fast and reliable finite element model calibration: A case study on an intervertebral disc.

Accurate calibration of finite element (FE) models is essential across various biomechanical applications, including human intervertebral discs (IVDs), to ensure their reliability and use in diagnosing and planning treatments. However, traditional calibration methods are computationally intensive, requiring iterative, derivative-free optimization algorithms that often take days to converge. This study addresses these challenges by introducing a novel, efficient, and effective calibration method demonstrated on a human L4-L5 IVD FE model as a case study using a neural network (NN) surrogate.

Polymorphisms, Homocysteine Elevation, and Ischemic Stroke Susceptibility in East Asian and European Populations.

Background And Objectives: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a key enzyme that regulates folate and homocysteine metabolism. Genetic variation in has been implicated in cerebrovascular disease risk, although research in diverse populations is lacking. We thus aimed to investigate the effect of genetically predicted MTHFR activity on risk of ischemic stroke (IS) and its main subtypes using a multiancestry Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.

Risk of Cancer and Reoperation After Ileorectal Anastomosis and Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis.

Introduction: To prevent colorectal cancer, most patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) undergo (procto)colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) or ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA). After surgery, these patients remain at risk of developing cancer in the remnant rectum or rectal cuff/pouch. We aimed to compare the long-term risk of cancer after IRA or IPAA in FAP.

Tropical forest clearance impacts biodiversity and function, whereas logging changes structure.

The impacts of degradation and deforestation on tropical forests are poorly understood, particularly at landscape scales. We present an extensive ecosystem analysis of the impacts of logging and conversion of tropical forest to oil palm from a large-scale study in Borneo, synthesizing responses from 82 variables categorized into four ecological levels spanning a broad suite of ecosystem properties: (i) structure and environment, (ii) species traits, (iii) biodiversity, and (iv) ecosystem functions. Responses were highly heterogeneous and often complex and nonlinear.

Orthogonal-Group-Controlled Site-Selective I-Branching of Poly-N-acetyllactosamine Chains Reveals Unique Binding Specificities of Proteins towards I-Antigens.

Poly-N-acetyllactosamine (poly-LacNAc) is ubiquitously expressed on cell surface glycoconjugates, serving as the backbone of complex glycans and an extended scaffold that presents diverse glycan epitopes. The branching of poly-LacNAc, where internal galactose (Gal) residues have β1-6 linked N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) attached, forms the blood group I-antigen, which is closely associated with various physiological and pathological processes including cancer progression. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear as many of the I-antigen sequences are undefined and inaccessible.

Patient safety indicators for virtual consultations in primary care: A systematic review protocol.

Background: Virtual consultations are being increasingly incorporated into routine primary care, as they offer better time and geographical flexibility for patients while also being cost-effective for both patients and service providers. At the same time, concerns have been raised about the extent to which virtual care is safe for patients. As of now, there is no validated methodology for evaluating the safety nuances and implications of virtual care.

Basal and stimulated inhibin B in pubertal disorders.

Pubertal disorders in the form of delayed puberty (DP) or precocious puberty (PP) can cause considerable anxiety to both children and parents. Since the clinical and biochemical signatures of self-limiting and permanent conditions overlap considerably, it can be hard to determine whether to offer them reassurance or intervention. Researchers have thus long been searching for a robust test to indicate that the process of endogenous puberty is underway and is likely to proceed to completion.