Associations between domestic hard water exposure and incident psoriasis in adults: Insights from the UK Biobank cohort study.

Although exposure to hard water is associated with various inflammatory skin conditions, the specific relationship between hard water and psoriasis has not been clearly defined. We analyzed data from 486,414 participants in the UK Biobank cohort to explore the association between domestic hard water exposure and the incidence of psoriasis. Domestic water hardness, measured in calcium carbonate concentration, was obtained in 2005 from local water providers in Wales, Scotland, and England.

Evaluating spill kits in infection control: perspectives of nurses and health professionals.

Background: The burden of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) equates to 3.5 million cases, resulting in more than 90 000 deaths and 2.5 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) across Europe.

Extreme heat risk and the potential implications for the scheduling of football matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Climate change is making extreme heat events more frequent and intense. This negatively impacts many aspects of society, including organised sport. As the world's most watched sporting event, the FIFA World Cup commands particular attention around the threat of extreme heat.

Biochemical osteomalacia in adults undergoing vitamin D testing in the North-East of Scotland.

Background: International guidelines give greatly varying definitions of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) insufficiency and deficiency. Vitamin D testing is increasing despite 2016 UK guidance for adults advising routine vitamin D supplementation October-March and year-round for high risk groups. A service evaluation of vitamin D testing and biochemical osteomalacia in the North-East of Scotland (57-58°N) could inform definitions and testing guidance.

Do Activity Sensors Identify Physiological, Clinical and Behavioural Changes in Laying Hens Exposed to a Vaccine Challenge?

This study aimed to identify if sensor technology could be used to detect sickness-type signs (caused by a live vaccine) in laying hens compared to physiological and clinical sign scoring and behaviour observation. The experiment comprised 5 replicate batches (4 hens and 12 days per batch) using previously non-vaccinated hens ( = 20). Hens were moved on day 1 to a large experimental room with various designated zones (e.

Obesity-induced mesenteric PVAT remodelling is sexually dimorphic, but not driven by ovarian hormones : Short title: Obesity induces sex-specific responses in mesenteric PVAT.

Background: Obesity, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), is associated with hypertension and vascular dysfunction. Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT), a metabolically active tissue surrounding blood vessels, plays a key role in regulating vascular tone. In obesity, PVAT becomes dysregulated which may contribute to vascular dysfunction; how sex impacts the remodelling of PVAT and thus the altered vascular contractility during obesity is unclear.

Transforming diagnosis through artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly permeating the fabric of medicine, but getting full benefits will likely require fundamental changes in practice. Accepting this will be challenging for many clinicians. However, it may be necessary to ensure that AI’s ambitious promises translate into real-life improvement.

Giant pit craters on the modern seafloor above magma-induced hydrothermal vent complexes of Scotia Sea, offshore Antarctica.

Massive injection of C depleted carbon to the ocean and atmosphere coincided with major environmental upheaval multiple times in the geological record. For several events, the source of carbon has been attributed to explosive venting of gas produced when magmatic sills intruded organic-rich sediment. The concept mostly derives from studies of a few ancient sedimentary basins with numerous hydrothermal vent complexes (HTVCs) where craters appear to have formed across large areas of the seafloor at the same time, but good examples remain rare in strata younger than the Early Eocene.

Segmental analysis of human hair reveals intra-annual variation in 25(OH)D concentrations in modern and archaeological individuals.

Vitamin D is essential for healthy skeletal growth and is increasingly recognised for its role in chronic disease development, inflammation and immunity. 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations are an indicator of vitamin D status and are normally analysed in plasma or serum samples in clinical settings, while archaeological studies rely on the identification of skeletal markers of vitamin D deficiency, such as rickets. Here, we determined 25(OH)D concentrations in hair specimens ('locks') that had been sampled close to the root, aligned by cut end, and sliced into sequential segments from participants (n = 16), from Aberdeen, Scotland, using a modified protocol designed to minimise sample size.

Prevalence and partial molecular characterization of Gigantorhynchus echinodiscus in free-ranging anteaters (Myrmecophagidae, Edentata) in Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil.

The genus Gigantorhynchus comprises six valid species that require a terrestrial arthropod as an intermediate host. Cystacanths of G. echinosdiscus were previously reported infecting termites in Brazil.

Open-access Measurement Uncertainty Calculator MUCalc and its application to the quantification of Etizolam in tablets using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).

The assessment of measurement uncertainty of an analytic method is a requirement for forensic toxicologists and drug chemists. There are two main methods for estimating measurement uncertainty: the bottom-up and the top-down approaches. The bottom-up approach has been suggested in current practice guides including 'Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM)' published by ISO, and a guide to 'Quantifying Uncertainty in Analytical Measurement' published by EURACHEM.

Trauma-informed pedagogy in forensic science education: Scoping review of and reflection on (very limited) available evidence.

Trauma-informed pedagogy (TIP) is an educational approach designed to recognise and respond to the impact of trauma on students, fostering supportive learning. It has been used and researched in various academic disciplines for years. However, its integration into forensic science education has not been assessed.

Evaluation of the initial rollout of the physical activity referral standards policy in Scotland: a qualitative study.

Objectives: Physical activity referral schemes (PARS) allow healthcare professionals to refer patients for physical activity support. Evidence of effectiveness is equivocal. Public Health Scotland has developed 'physical activity referral standards' that aim to enhance quality, reduce variability in design and delivery and build further evidence of what works.

Optimized peptide inhibitor Aqs1C targets LasR to disrupt quorum sensing and biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Insights from MD simulations and in vitro studies.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is a critical pathogen, and its antibiotic resistance is largely driven by the quorum-sensing regulator LasR. Herein, we report the design, synthesis, and characterization of Aqs1C, a mutated peptide derivative of Aqs1, optimized to inhibit LasR and its quorum-sensing pathway. By introducing a targeted mutation, Aqs1C exhibited enhanced stability and binding affinity for LasR protein compared to its predecessor, Aqs1B.

The role of non-respiratory arousals in residual daytime sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea treated with positive airway pressure: An analysis of the European Sleep Apnea Database registry.

Study Objectives: To assess the impact of the non-respiratory arousal burden at baseline polysomnography (PSG) on residual daytime sleepiness in positive airway pressure (PAP)-treated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: We included OSA patients from the European Sleep Apnea Database registry with available arousal data who had at least 2 treatment follow-up visits. The primary outcome was the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score under PAP.

Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato antibodies in English adult blood donors: A nationwide cross-sectional study, 2021-2022.

Background: Estimates of Lyme disease incidence in England are based on reporting of cases with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis only, underestimating total cases. In 2017 - 2018, two independent reviews commissioned by the UK Government highlighted the lack of official data on Lyme disease prevalence and incidence as a critical knowledge gap.

Aim: To estimate the prevalence of IgG antibodies in the English adult population specific for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl), the causative agent of Lyme disease.

Control of Synaptotagmin-1 Trafficking by SV2A-Mechanism and Consequences for Presynaptic Function and Dysfunction.

Synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A) is an abundant synaptic vesicle cargo with an as yet unconfirmed role in presynaptic function. It is also heavily implicated in epilepsy, firstly being the target of the leading anti-seizure medication levetiracetam and secondly with loss of function mutations culminating in human disease. A range of potential presynaptic functions have been proposed for SV2A; however its interaction with the calcium sensor for synchronous neurotransmitter release, synaptotagmin-1 (Syt1), has received particular attention over the past decade.

Association and substitution analyses of dietary sugars, starch and fiber for indices of body fat and cardiometabolic risk- a NoHoW sub-study.

Purpose: To examine the associations and substitutions of dietary sugars [extrinsic (free) or intrinsic (non-free)] as well as dietary starch and fiber intakes for indices of body fat and cardiometabolic health.

Methods: Dietary intake was assessed at multiple times using multi-day 24-hour recalls over 18-months for indices of body fat (body fat %, waist circumference, BMI, and weight change) (n = 1066) and at baseline and 12 months for cardiometabolic outcomes (LDL, HDL, HbA1c) (n = 736). Bayesian modeling was applied to analyze the probabilistic impact of dietary carbohydrate components using credible intervals for association and substitution analyses with repeated measures random effects modeling.

Risk Assessment of Harmful Algal Blooms in Salmon Farming: Scotland as a Case Study.

This study explored harmful algal bloom (HAB) risk as a function of exposure, hazard and vulnerability, using Scotland as a case study. Exposure was defined as the fish biomass estimated to be lost from a bloom event, based on the total recorded annual production. Hazard was estimated from literature-reported bloom events.

A One Health Perspective on Multidrug Resistance Amongst Iberian Exotic Pet Owners.

Understanding owners' realities and perceptions may be crucial to helping veterinarians be more effective in their daily work. Noticing the lack of publications in this area, specifically on exotic pets, prompted us to gather insights into non-traditional companion animal owners. A survey was conducted, resulting in 541 respondents from Portugal and Spain.

Protective Efficacy of Decreasing Antigen Doses of a Subcellular Vaccine Against Ovine Enzootic Abortion in a Pregnant Sheep Challenge Model.

Background/objective: , the cause of ovine enzootic abortion, is a zoonotic bacterial pathogen and one of the most infectious causes of foetal death in sheep worldwide. Although the disease can be controlled using commercial inactivated and live whole-organism vaccines, there are issues with both, particularly concerning efficacy and safety. Recently, we have described the development of a new COMC (chlamydial outer membrane complex) vaccine based on a detergent-extracted outer membrane protein preparation of the pathogen, which can be delivered in a single inoculation and is both efficacious and safe.

Kinematic Alterations with Changes in Putting Distance and Slope Incline in Recreational Golfers.

Golfers must modify their motor patterns when the demands of a putting task change. The objective was to compare joint angles and putter kinematics during putting at two distances and inclines. Recreational golfers ( = 14) completed putts over four conditions: 3-foot putts on flat and incline surfaces, and 7-foot putts on flat and incline surfaces.