Increasing the resolution of malaria early warning systems for use by local health actors.

Background: The increasing availability of electronic health system data and remotely-sensed environmental variables has led to the emergence of statistical models capable of producing malaria forecasts. Many of these models have been operationalized into malaria early warning systems (MEWSs), which provide predictions of malaria dynamics several months in advance at national and regional levels. However, MEWSs rarely produce predictions at the village-level, the operational scale of community health systems and the first point of contact for the majority of rural populations in malaria-endemic countries.

Quantifying the potential value of entomological data collection for programmatic decision-making on malaria control in sub-Saharan African settings.

Background: The availability of many tools for malaria control leads to complex decisions regarding the most cost-effective intervention package based on local epidemiology. Mosquito characteristics influence the impact of vector control, but entomological surveillance is often limited due to a lack of resources in national malaria programmes.

Methods: This study quantified the monetary value of information provided by entomological data collection for programmatic decision-making using a mathematical model of Plasmodium falciparum transmission.

A dedicated caller for DUX4 rearrangements from whole-genome sequencing data.

Rearrangements involving the DUX4 gene (DUX4-r) define a subtype of paediatric and adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) with a favourable outcome. Currently, there is no 'standard of care' diagnostic method for their confident identification. Here, we present an open-source software tool designed to detect DUX4-r from short-read, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data.

Women and birth partners' experiences of cervical ripening at home and in hospital.

Background: In the United Kingdom, induction of labour rates are rapidly rising, and around a third of pregnant women undergo the procedure. The first stage, cervical ripening, traditionally carried out in hospital, is increasingly offered outpatient - or 'at home'. The current induction of labour rates place considerable demand on maternity services and impact women's experiences of care, and at home cervical ripening has been suggested as potential solution for alleviating these.

Cohort retention in a pandemic response study: lessons from the SARS-CoV2 Immunity & Reinfection Evaluation (SIREN) study.

Background: SIREN is a healthcare worker cohort study aiming to determine COVID-19 incidence, duration of immunity and vaccine effectiveness across 135 NHS organisations in four UK nations. Conducting an intensive prospective cohort study during a pandemic was challenging. We designed an evolving retention programme, informed by emerging evidence on best practice.

Identifying Digital Markers of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in a Remote Monitoring Setting: Prospective Observational Study.

Background: The symptoms and associated characteristics of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are typically assessed in person at a clinic or in a research lab. Mobile health offers a new approach to obtaining additional passively and continuously measured real-world behavioral data. Using our new ADHD remote technology (ART) system, based on the Remote Assessment of Disease and Relapses (RADAR)-base platform, we explore novel digital markers for their potential to identify behavioral patterns associated with ADHD.

Exploring the role of circulating proteins in multiple myeloma risk: a Mendelian randomization study.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable blood cancer with unclear aetiology. Proteomics is a valuable tool in exploring mechanisms of disease. We investigated the causal relationship between circulating proteins and MM risk, using two of the largest cohorts with proteomics data to-date.

Association between periodontitis and physical fitness in law enforcement workers.

Objectives: Oral and periodontal health have been linked to systemic health, cardiovascular disease and inflammation markers. Physical fitness has been linked to increased inflammatory response, but only few studies have investigated the association between oral health with physical activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between oral and periodontal health status and physical fitness in British law enforcement workers.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery accelerated dental programme for medical graduates: a review of fourteen graduating years (2010-2023).

The accelerated dental degree, pioneered by King's College London (KCL) to facilitate dual qualification training pathways for primary medical degree trainees, has graduated its fourteenth class. The authors present data to demonstrate and analyse the success of the course, which was accumulated through an online questionnaire, direct communication with the alumni, a freedom of information request from KCL, and review of the General Dental and Medical Council registers. To date 133 students have graduated with updated information collated for 132 (99.

Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance recommendations toward environmentally sustainable cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Delivery of health care, including medical imaging, generates substantial global greenhouse gas emissions. The cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) community has an opportunity to decrease our carbon footprint, mitigate the effects of the climate crisis, and develop resiliency to current and future impacts of climate change. The goal of this document is to review and recommend actions and strategies to allow for CMR operation with improved sustainability, including efficient CMR protocols and CMR imaging workflow strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy, and waste, and to decrease reliance on finite resources, including helium and waterbody contamination by gadolinium-based contrast agents.

Exploring the lived experiences of diagnostic radiographers after transitioning to non-emergency imaging settings.

Introduction: The demand for diagnostic imaging in emergency clinical settings has increased in recent years, placing pressure on the available workforce. However, challenges including staff shortages and inflexible shift patterns may prompt radiographers to leave emergency settings. This study explores the lived experiences of radiographers who have transitioned to non-emergency settings and factors that might influence their decision to return.

Risk trajectory of cardiovascular events after an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are known to increase the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality. However, the temporal trend of this risk has not fully elucidated. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to quantify the risk of CV events after COPD exacerbations over different time periods.

Pregnant women's choices for preventing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Introduction: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants and can lead to severe respiratory distress, especially in very young infants. No specific treatments exist for RSV. However, new preventative strategies have become available including RSV vaccine for pregnant women and monoclonal antibody for infants.

Treatment of mandibular condyle fractures with a rhombic 3D condylar fracture plate - Does the surgical approach matter?

Fractures involving the mandibular condyle are a significant subset of mandibular fractures, demanding specialized implant design considerations for effective surgical treatment. The core objective of this study was to assess the clinical and radiographic results in patients treated with a single rhombic-shaped implant according to the surgical approach used. This retrospective cohort investigation, spanning a ten-year recruitment window, included individuals with unilateral fractures who underwent surgical treatment with a rhombic-shaped implant.

Efflux transporters in drug disposition during pregnancy.

Evidence-based dose selection of drugs in pregnant women has been lacking because of challenges in studying maternal-fetal pharmacokinetics. Hence, many drugs are administered off-label during pregnancy based on data obtained from nonpregnant women. During pregnancy, drug transporters play an important role in drug disposition along with known gestational age-dependent changes in physiology and drug-metabolizing enzymes.

Absolute membrane protein abundance of P-glycoprotein, breast cancer resistance protein, and multidrug resistance proteins in term human placenta tissue and commonly used cell systems: Application in physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling of placental drug disposition.

The placenta acts as a barrier, excluding noxious substances while actively transferring nutrients to the fetus, mediated by various transporters. This study quantified the expression of key placental transporters in term human placenta (n = 5) and BeWo, BeWo b30, and JEG-3 placenta cell lines. Combining these results with pregnancy physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling, we demonstrate the utility of proteomic analysis for predicting placental drug disposition and fetal exposure.

Uncovering the impact of COVID-19-mediated bidirectional dysregulation of cytochrome P450 3A4 on systemic and pulmonary drug concentrations using physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling.

Several clinical studies have shown that COVID-19 increases the systemic concentration of drugs in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. However, it is unclear how COVID-19-mediated bidirectional dysregulation of hepatic and pulmonary cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 affects drug concentrations, especially in the lung tissue, which is most affected by the disease. Herein, physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling was used to demonstrate the differences in systemic and pulmonary concentrations of 4 respiratory infectious disease drugs when CYP3A4 is concurrently downregulated in the liver and upregulated in the lung based on existing clinical data on COVID-19-CYP3A4 interactions at varying severity levels including outpatients, non-intensive care unit (ICU), and ICU patients.

A Phase I/IIa Clinical Trial to Evaluate Safety and Adrenal Uptake of Para-Chloro-2-[F]Fluoroethyletomidate in Healthy Volunteers and Patients with Primary Aldosteronism.

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a common, potentially reversible, cause of hypertension. Distinguishing unilateral from bilateral PA is critical when deciding who should be offered surgery (unilateral adrenalectomy). Recent studies have shown that PET/CT with [C]metomidate can accurately identify unilateral PA, with localization of the causative aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA).

Complex high-risk indicated PCI (CHIP-PCI): is it safe to let fellows-in-training perform it as primary operators?

Background: Training in complex high-risk indicated percutaneous coronary intervention (CHIP-PCI) has frequently been reserved for established operators (consultants/attending) with trainees (fellows-in-training or FIT) being often discouraged from carrying out such procedures as a primary operator due to their high-risk nature. Whether the outcomes of these cases differ if the primary operator is a supervised FIT compared with a consultant is unknown.

Methods: Using multicentre PCI data from three cardiac centres in South Wales, UK (2018-2022), we identified 2295 CHIP-PCI cases with a UK-BCIS CHIP Score of 3 or more.

Impact of introducing transnasal endoscopy on expanding diagnostic endoscopy services.

Introduction: Demand for endoscopic services is outstripping capacity in the UK. Transnasal endoscopy (TNE) utilises a narrow calibre endoscope to pass through the nasal passages, thereby reducing retching and discomfort. It is better tolerated compared with standard transoral endoscopy (TOE) but is still rarely used as a diagnostic modality.

Factors associated with link workers considering leaving their role: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Social prescribing (SP) link workers (LWs) listen to patients' concerns and difficulties, and connect them to relevant community assets (groups/organisations/charities) that can help with their non-medical issues (eg, loneliness, debt, housing). LW retention is key to sustaining SP within primary care.

Aim: To examine occupational self-efficacy, job discrepancy and other factors as potential predictors of LWs' intentions to leave or remain in their post.

S100A9 protein activates microglia and stimulates phagocytosis, resulting in synaptic and neuronal loss.

S100 calcium-binding protein A9 (S100A9, also known as calgranulin B) is expressed and secreted by myeloid cells under inflammatory conditions, and S100A9 can amplify inflammation. There is a large increase in S100A9 expression in the brains of patients with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, and S100A9 has been suggested to contribute to neurodegeneration, but the mechanisms are unclear. Here we investigated the effects of extracellular recombinant S100A9 protein on microglia, neurons and synapses in primary rat brain neuronal-glial cell cultures.

A large hypothesis-free proteomics study investigating serum inflammatory markers as biomarkers of dry eye disease.

Purpose: To test the association between serum inflammatory markers and dry eye disease (DED) using a hypothesis-free proteomic approach in a population-based cohort.

Methods: A total of 2602 unselected community-based participants (mean age 61.5 (range 21-92 years), 94.