From evidence to advice in France, Germany, and the UK: transparency, accountability, and participation in pandemic science advice.

Politicians often claim to be "following science" but their claims are, reasonably, disputed. To claim to be following the science can mean that scientific evidence affects or legitimates decisions. The evidence that politicians are following science often comes from formal systems of advice that translate science into advice.

Survey evidence on public support for AI safety oversight.

A number of AI safety concerns are being increasingly discussed by experts, including misinformation, invasion of privacy, job displacement, and criminal misuse. Two exploratory studies conducted in Germany and Spain (combined n = 2864) provide evidence that the general public largely supports strict oversight over safety of commercial artificial intelligence research. Among the factors that are associated with preferences for strict oversight are age, anticipated job displacement, innovativeness, and risk, time and altruistic preferences.

Comprehension of acoustically degraded emotional prosody in Alzheimer's disease and primary progressive aphasia.

Previous research suggests that emotional prosody perception is impaired in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and primary progressive aphasia (PPA). However, no previous research has investigated emotional prosody perception in these diseases under non-ideal listening conditions. We recruited 18 patients with AD, and 31 with PPA (nine logopenic (lvPPA); 11 nonfluent/agrammatic (nfvPPA) and 11 semantic (svPPA)), together with 24 healthy age-matched individuals.

Effects of specific symbiotic supplements on anthropometric measurements, glycaemic control, and lipid profiles among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus in two teaching hospitals in Baghdad/Iraq: a double-blinded, randomised placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Experimental and clinical studies have suggested that symbiotics might effectively manage type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by modulating the intestinal microbiota. However, these studies' limited sources, small sample sizes, and varied study designs have led to inconsistent outcomes regarding glycaemic control. This study aimed to investigate the effects of symbiotics on the anthropometric measures, glycaemic control, and lipid profiles of patients with T2DM.

Evaluation of population immunity against SARS-CoV-2 variants, EG.5.1, FY.4, BA.2.86, JN.1, JN.1.4, and KP.3.1.1 using samples from two health demographic surveillance systems in Kenya.

Increased immune evasion by emerging and highly mutated SARS-CoV-2 variants is a key challenge to the control of COVID-19. The majority of these mutations mainly target the spike protein, allowing the new variants to escape the immunity previously raised by vaccination and/or infection by earlier variants of SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we investigated the neutralizing capacity of antibodies against emerging variants of interest circulating between May 2023 and October 2024 using sera from representative samples of the Kenyan population.

A qualitative exploration of women's expectations of birth and knowledge of birth interventions following antenatal education.

Background: Expectations of birth, and whether they are met, influence postnatal psychological wellbeing. Intrapartum interventions, for example induction of labour, are increasing due to a changing pregnant population and evolving evidence, which may contribute to a mismatch between expectations and birth experience. NICE recommends antenatal education (ANE) to prepare women for labour and birth, but there is no mandated UK National Health Service (NHS) ANE curriculum.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Curriculum (2021) and Oral Surgery Curriculum (2023): A forensic comparison of two documents.

In the UK Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) and Oral Surgery (OS) are distinct specialties governed respectively by the General Medical Council (GMC) and General Dental Council (GDC) respectively. There has always been overlap of training and care between both specialties. The OMFS curriculum was updated in 2021 and the Oral Surgery Curriculum in 2023.

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.

Pharmacists as independent prescribers in community pharmacy: A scoping review.

Background: There has been a growing interest in granting prescribing rights to pharmacists as a strategy to improve healthcare access. Researchers continue to explore the impact and implementation of pharmacist prescribing. Given the recent international changes in this field, an overview of current territories allowing pharmacist independent prescribing would provide a comprehensive understanding for researchers and policymakers.

Polyneuropathy in Parkinson's Disease is Highly Prevalent and Not Related to Treatment.

Purpose: An increased prevalence of peripheral polyneuropathy (PN) in Parkinson's disease (PD) associated with greater functional impairment has previously been reported. A possible cause has been suggested as levodopa therapy. The aim of this real-world study was to assess the prevalence and the characteristics of PN in PD and to investigate the putative association between PN and oral levodopa.

Impact of COVID-19 and recovery of routine diabetic retinopathy digital screening across different regions in England: an analysis of publicly available data.

Objective: This study aims to examine the reduction and subsequent recovery of routine digital screening (RDS) uptake in England from 2018 to 2022, exploring national, regional and individual Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP) levels. The COVID-19 lockdown in most areas of England was from 26 March 2020 to 23 June 2020 (first national lockdown), 5 November 2020 to 2 December 2020 (second national lockdown) and 6 January 2021 to 8 March 2021 (third national lockdown).

Design: Retrospective data analysis.

How does organisational culture facilitate uptake of home dialysis? An ethnographic study of kidney centres in England.

Objective: The proportion of people having home dialysis for kidney disease varies considerably by treating centre, socioeconomic deprivation levels in the area and to some extent ethnicity. This study aimed to gain in-depth insights into cultural and organisational factors contributing to this variation in uptake.

Design: This is the first ethnographic study of kidney centre culture to focus on home dialysis uptake.

Hyponatremia incidence after subarachnoid hemorrhage and association with outcomes: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Hyponatremia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is common, however the incidence, and association with vasospasm, morbidity, and mortality, has yet to be defined. We aimed to identify incidence of hyponatremia after aSAH, and quantify its association with measurable outcomes.

Methods: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted (PROSPERO ID CRD42022363472).

Mode of Action of Psyllium in Reducing Gas Production from Inulin and its Interaction with Colonic Microbiota: A 24 hours, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Trial in Healthy Human Volunteers.

Background: Recent studies show that the increase in breath hydrogen (BH) and symptoms after ingestion of inulin is reduced by co-administering psyllium.

Objectives: To determine if slowing delivery of inulin to the colon by administering it in divided doses would mimic the effect of psyllium. Primary endpoint was the BH area under the curve AUC.

Effect of Medium Chain Triglycerides and Whey Protein Isolate Preloads on Glycaemia in Type 2 Diabetes: A randomised crossover study.

Background: Small nutritional preloads can reduce postprandial glucose excursions in individuals with and without metabolic syndrome or T2D. However, most studies have focused on preloads administered before single meals and have predominantly used protein-based preloads.

Objective: To investigate the effects of sequential consumption of medium chain triglycerides (MCT) and whey protein isolate (WPI) preloads before breakfast lunch and dinner on postprandial, diurnal and 24h glycaemia in individuals with T2D.

Computational Pathology Detection of Hypoxia-Induced Morphological Changes in Breast Cancer.

Understanding the tumor hypoxic microenvironment is crucial for grasping tumor biology, clinical progression, and treatment responses. This study presents a novel application of AI in computational histopathology to evaluate hypoxia in breast cancer. Weakly Supervised Deep Learning (WSDL) models can accurately detect morphological changes associated with hypoxia in routine Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) whole slide images (WSI).

Clinical Spectrum and Prognosis of Atypical Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease Caused by Monoallelic Pathogenic Variants of IFT140.

Rationale & Objective: Monoallelic predicted Loss-of-Function (pLoF) variants in IFT140 have recently been associated with an autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)-like phenotype. This study sought to enhance the characterization of this phenotype.

Study Design: Case series.

How does neurochemistry affect attachment styles in humans? The role of oxytocin and the endogenous opioid system in sociotropy and autonomy - a systematic review.

Oxytocin was hypothesised to play a critical role in forming and maintaining secure attachments, shown to confer resilience against affective disorders. The endogenous opioid system has also emerged as a key player in attachment dynamics. In this pre-registered systematic review, we investigated whether individual differences in the functioning of these neurochemical systems are related to attachment styles, following PRISMA guidelines.

Multimodal MRI Analysis of Microstructural and Functional Connectivity Brain Changes Following Systematic Audio-Visual Training in a Virtual Environment.

Recent work has shown rapid microstructural brain changes in response to learning new tasks. These cognitive tasks tend to draw on multiple brain regions connected by white matter (WM) tracts. Therefore, behavioural performance change is likely to be the result of microstructural, functional activation, and connectivity changes in extended neural networks.

A cross-species assessment of in silico prediction methods of steady-state volume of distribution using Simcyp Simulators.

Predicting steady-state volume of distribution (V) is a key component of pharmacokinetic predictions and often guided using preclinical data. However, when bottom-up prediction from physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models and observed V misalign in preclinical species, or predicted V from different models varies significantly, no consensus exists for selecting models or preclinical species to improve the prediction. Through systematic analysis of V prediction across rat, dog, monkey, and human, using common methods, a practical strategy for predicting human V, with or without integration of preclinical PK information is warranted.

The role of microRNA in the regulation of hepatic metabolism and energy-expensive processes in the hibernating dormouse.

The garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) is a fat-storing mammal that undergoes annual periods of hibernation to mitigate the effects of food scarcity, low ambient temperatures, and reduced photoperiod that characterize winter. Like other hibernating species, this animal suppresses its metabolic rate by downregulating nonessential genes and processes in order to prolong available energy stores and limit waste accumulation throughout the season. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, single-stranded, noncoding RNAs that bind to mRNA and mediate post-transcriptional suppression, making miRNA ideal for modulating widespread changes in gene expression, including global downregulation typified by metabolic rate depression.

Mouth Rinsing and Ingesting Unpleasant Salty or Bitter Solutions After Heavy-Intensity Cycling Does Not Influence Sprint Performance or Knee-Extensor Force in Trained Cyclists.

Purpose: The present study investigated the effect of unpleasant salty or bitter tastes on cycling sprint performance and knee-extensor force characteristics in different fatigue states.

Methods: Following a familiarization session, 11 trained male cyclists completed 3 experimental trials (salty, bitter, and water) in a randomized crossover order. In each trial, participants cycled at 85% of the respiratory compensation point for 45 minutes and then, after a 5-minute rest, completed a 1-minute sprint.

Risk factors for venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy as treatment for ovarian cancer.

Objective: During the treatment of ovarian cancer, the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) post operatively is well established, however, patients may be at even greater risk during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). This study aimed to determine the incidence and timing of VTE amongst patients undergoing NACT, whether there was an association with survival, and examine risk factors associated with the development of VTE.

Study Design: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy betweenApril 2011 and April 2022 at a gynaecological cancer centre in England.