Plasmodium falciparum CyRPA glycan binding does not explain adaptation to humans.

The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum evolved from a parasite that infects gorillas, termed Plasmodium praefalciparum. The sialic acids on glycans on the surface of erythrocytes differ between humans and other apes. It has recently been shown that the P.

Minimally Invasive Fixed Prosthodontics: A Narrative Review.

Objective: Minimally invasive dentistry is being widely practiced. The center stone is to be as conservative as possible to minimize unnecessary removal of healthy tooth structure. In prosthodontics the patients have generalized and combined nature of diseases.

A cross-sectional study comparing passive and eccentric modes of an isokinetic dynamometer to assess eccentric torque in trained athletes: Methodological considerations.

Some technical limitations to using the eccentric mode to measure peak eccentric strength of the hamstrings (PTH) were raised. PTH also has limited validity to predict performance or injury risk factor. Therefore, our aim was to compare PTH and other isokinetic variables tested in the eccentric and passive modes.

Exploring the Implementation of Cognitive Screening in First-Episode Psychosis Settings: The CogScreen Implementation Study.

Aim: Accurate and appropriate cognitive screening can significantly enhance early psychosis care, yet no screening tools have been validated for the early psychosis population and little is known about current screening practices, experiences, or factors that may influence implementation. CogScreen is a hybrid type 1 study aiming to validate two promising screening tools with young people with first episode psychosis (primary aim) and to understand the context for implementing cognitive screening in early psychosis settings (secondary aim). This protocol outlines the implementation study, which aims to explore the current practices, acceptability, feasibility and determinants of cognitive screening in early psychosis settings from the perspective of key stakeholders.

Basophil-Derived IL-4 Production and Its Potential Pro-Tumoural Role in Th2-Polarisation Within Sentinel Lymph Nodes of Primary Cutaneous Melanoma.

Chronic inflammation in the tumour microenvironment (TME) via Th2-polarisation promotes melanoma progression and metastasis, making it a target for immunotherapy. Interleukin (IL)-4 is considered essential for Th2-polarisation in the TME; however, its source remains unknown. Basophils have been postulated as one of its sources.

The Interaction Between Vasculogenic Mimicry and the Immune System: Mechanistic Insights and Dual Exploration in Cancer Therapy.

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) represents a novel form of angiogenesis discovered in numerous malignant tumours in recent years. Unlike traditional angiogenesis, VM facilitates tumour blood supply independently of endothelial cells by enabling tumour cells to form functional vascular networks. This phenomenon, where tumour cells replace endothelial cells to form tubular structures, plays a pivotal role in tumour growth and metastasis.

Is Hume's Law a valid argument against empirical bioethics?

If "no ought from is," how can bioethics be empirical? Despite the widespread recognition that we can integrate empirical and normative, Hume's Law is still often claimed to pose logical limitations to empirical bioethics. Is Hume's Law a valid argument against empirical bioethics? I argue that we have reasons to answer no. First, I outline and reject two unverified assumptions: that Hume' s Law, the fact-value distinction, and the naturalistic fallacy are roughly the same thing, and that Hume's Law is an undisputed meta-ethical principle which dictates how to formulate normative statements.

Interprofessional and Inter-Organisational Collaboration in the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme: Lessons From North Central London.

Aim: To discuss inter-organisational collaboration in the context of the successful COVID-19 vaccination programme in North Central London (NCL).

Design: An action research study in 2023-2024.

Methods: Six action research cycles used mixed qualitative methods.

Perception and utilisation of veterinary services by rodent owners in the United Kingdom.

Background: There is limited research on how rodent owners use and perceive veterinary services and what the demand for pet insurance for these species is.

Methods: An online survey of owners of pet rodents (guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, gerbils and mice) measured owner confidence in recognising signs of illness, their opinions on and use of veterinary services and their willingness to purchase pet insurance.

Results: A total of 1700 respondents completed the survey.

Short-term evaluation of renal biochemical parameters in dogs completing chemotherapy for lymphoma.

Objectives: To identify if chemotherapeutic drugs in the CHOP-based protocol led to an increase in renal parameters in dogs with lymphoma during therapy and investigate whether factors such as prednisolone use or age affected this result.

Methods: Data were obtained retrospectively from private referral practice records of dogs diagnosed with lymphoma receiving a CHOP-based chemotherapy protocol between 2015 and 2019. Dogs included received a CHOP-based protocol as their first treatment, received four full cycles and were in remission at the end of the protocol.

Regulation of Rhizobial Nodulation Genes by Flavonoid-Independent NodD Supports Nitrogen-Fixing Symbioses With Legumes.

Rhizobia and legumes form a symbiotic relationship resulting in the formation of root structures known as nodules, where bacteria fix nitrogen. Legumes release flavonoids that are detected by the rhizobial nodulation (Nod) protein NodD, initiating the transcriptional activation of nod genes and subsequent synthesis of Nod Factors (NFs). NFs then induce various legume responses essential for this symbiosis.

Point-of-care nucleic acid testing - a step forward in controlling the HIV epidemic: A review.

Introduction: The HIV/AIDS epidemic, with 85.6 million infections and 40.4 million AIDS-related deaths globally, remains a critical public health challenge.

Understanding how and why users might use NHS repositories: A mixed methods study.

Background: There is little evidence on the use or potential use of NHS repositories within the UK.

Methods: A mixed methods (quantitative/qualitative) study of two repositories: amber-the home of ambulance service research, and East Midlands Evidence Repository (EMER). A structured online questionnaire was distributed via the repository home page, and promoted via social media, email networks, and lists.

Socioeconomic status has direct impact on asthma control: Turkish adult asthma registry.

Background: Asthma is one of the most common causes of chronic respiratory disease, and countries with low socioeconomic status have both a high prevalence of asthma and asthma-related death.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine socioeconomic levels of asthmatic patients according to a national database and investigate the effects of social markers on disease control in our region.

Methods: This is an analysis of data from 2053 adult asthma patients from a multicentre chart study in Turkey.

Precision in Liver Diagnosis: Varied Accuracy Across Subgroups and the Need for Variable Thresholds in Diagnosis of MASLD.

Background And Aims: The performance of non-invasive liver tests (NITs) is known to vary across settings and subgroups. We systematically evaluated whether the performance of three NITs in detecting advanced fibrosis in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) varies with age, sex, body mass index (BMI), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) status or liver enzymes.

Methods: Data from 586 adult LITMUS Metacohort participants with histologically characterised MASLD were included.

Alloanti-Hy in antenatal patients: A multi-case review.

Introduction: Introduction The Hy antigen is one of ten red cell antigens belonging to the Dombrock blood group system, with an antigen frequency of almost 100% in the majority of populations. Alloantibodies to high prevalence antigens cause difficulties with antibody identification and exclusion in serological investigations.

Case Presentation: This review describes the management of four antenatal cases where the presence of alloanti-Hy had been identified.

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.

Modeling the response to interleukin-21 to inform natural killer cell immunotherapy.

Natural killer (NK) cells are emerging agents for cancer therapy. Several different cytokines are used to generate NK cells for adoptive immunotherapy including interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, IL-15 and IL-18 in solution, and membrane-bound IL-21. These cytokines drive NK cell activation through the integration of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways, which overlap and synergize, making it challenging to predict optimal cytokine combinations for both proliferation and cytotoxicity.

The Effect of Plaque Detectors on the Color Stability of Two Types of Restorative Materials.

Objective: To investigate the color stability of a one-shade resin-based composite material (RC) and a glass-ionomer cement (GIC) after staining with plaque detectors (PDs) with different formulations and delivery forms.

Materials And Methods: Rectangular-shaped specimens (7 × 3 × 2 mm) were produced with RC (Venus Diamond One, Kulzer) and GIC (Fujy IX GP, GC) (n = 30). Further, the following PDs were used on the specimens: (1) tablets (T; Plaq-Search, TePe); (2) mouthwash (M; Plaque Agent, Miradent); and (3) light-curing liquid (L; Plaque test, Ivoclar).

Assessment of tree-associated atypical myopathy risk factors in Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore) seeds and leaves.

Background: Sycamore tree-derived hypoglycin A (HGA) toxin causes atypical myopathy (AM), an acute, equine pasture-associated rhabdomyolysis but incidence fluctuates.

Objectives: Investigate whether tree or environmental factors influence HGA concentration in sycamore material and are associated with AM relative risk.

Study Design: Retrospective and experimental prospective study.

Super-resolution imaging of proteins inside live mammalian cells with mLIVE-PAINT.

Super-resolution microscopy has revolutionized biological imaging, enabling the visualization of structures at the nanometer length scale. Its application in live cells, however, has remained challenging. To address this, we adapted LIVE-PAINT, an approach we established in yeast, for application in live mammalian cells.

'Such a lot of bother': Qualitative results of a home trial of a wearable electronic vision enhancement system for people with age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: Wearable electronic low vision enhancement systems (wEVES) improve visual function but are not widely adopted by people with vision impairment. Here, qualitative research methods were used to investigate the usefulness of wEVES for people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) after an extended home trial.

Methods: Following a 12-week non-masked randomised crossover trial, semi-structured interviews were completed with 34 participants with AMD, 64.

RADAR-AD: assessment of multiple remote monitoring technologies for early detection of Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting millions worldwide, leading to cognitive and functional decline. Early detection and intervention are crucial for enhancing the quality of life of patients and their families. Remote Monitoring Technologies (RMTs) offer a promising solution for early detection by tracking changes in behavioral and cognitive functions, such as memory, language, and problem-solving skills.

Management and outcomes of thoracic sarcomas - a collaboration between Orthopaedic Oncology and cardiothoracic surgery: seven-year clinical data from a tertiary referral centre.

Introduction: Sarcomas are rare cancers originating from mesenchymal tissues, manifesting in diverse anatomical locations, but notably in connective tissue, muscles and the skeleton. Thoracic sarcomas present a unique diagnostic and surgical challenge attributable to their rarity and pathoanatomy. Standard practice currently comprises wide surgical excision, often accompanied by adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

Carbon monoxide-oxidising Pseudomonadota on volcanic deposits.

Carbon monoxide (CO) oxidising microorganisms are present in volcanic deposits throughout succession, with levels of vegetation and soil influencing the communities present. Carboxydovores are a subset of CO oxidisers that use CO as an energy source, which raises questions about the physiological and metabolic features that make them more competitive in harsh volcanic ecosystems. To address these questions, samples were taken from volcanic strata formed by eruptions from Calbuco Volcano (Chile) in 2015 (tephra) and 1917 (soil).