Embedding cultural competence in dental education.

Cultural competence plays a pivotal role in dentistry and is increasingly recognised and studied worldwide. As the dental profession evolves to cater to an ever-diverse society, it is imperative that universities consider how they support students in acquiring the skillset for providing culturally sensitive care. Cultural competency in dental education is highly variable globally.

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.

Transposon mediated functional genomic screening for BRAF inhibitor resistance reveals convergent Hippo and MAPK pathway activation events.

Genotype-informed anticancer therapies such as BRAF inhibitors can show remarkable clinical efficacy in BRAF-mutant melanoma; however, drug resistance poses a major hurdle to successful cancer treatment. Many resistance events to targeted therapies have been identified, suggesting a complex path to improve therapeutics. Here, we showed the utility of a piggyBac transposon activation mutagenesis screen for the efficient identification of genes that are resistant to BRAF inhibition in melanoma.

"I'm living in a 'no' world now…"- A qualitative study of the widespread impact of living with chronic breathlessness, and experiences of identification and assessment of this symptom in an older, frail community-based population.

Chronic breathlessness is a debilitating symptom with detrimental impact on individuals and carers. However, little is known about the experiences of community-dwelling, frail, older adults living with chronic breathlessness. To explore, (i) the psychological impact of living with chronic breathlessness, (older frail adult patients, carers) and (ii) how patients, carers, and clinicians experience identification and assessment of chronic breathlessness in the primary care setting.

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.

Broad substrate scope C-C oxidation in cyclodipeptides catalysed by a flavin-dependent filament.

Cyclic dipeptides are produced by organisms across all domains of life, with many exhibiting anticancer and antimicrobial properties. Oxidations are often key to their biological activities, particularly C-C bond oxidation catalysed by tailoring enzymes including cyclodipeptide oxidases. These flavin-dependent enzymes are underexplored due to their intricate three-dimensional arrangement involving multiple copies of two distinct small subunits, and mechanistic details underlying substrate selection and catalysis are lacking.

Zinc absorption from maize-based meals enriched with edible house crickets: a randomized crossover stable-isotope study in Kenyan pre-school children.

Edible insects have been proposed as a novel and sustainable source of protein and other essential nutrients for human consumption but nutrient absorption efficiency is still uncertain. We investigated zinc absorption from house crickets (Acheta domesticus) in a single-center and single-blinded cross-over study with children aged 24-36 months old in Kenya from September-November 2021. For this, children were randomized to consume two different experimental meals labeled with stable isotopes of zinc (Zn) at two different days, separated by a wash-out period of one month.

Corticolimbic circuitry as a druggable target in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a narrative review.

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) involve disturbances in the integration of perception, emotion and cognition. The corticolimbic system is an interacting set of cortical and subcortical brain regions critically involved in this process. Understanding how neural circuitry and molecular mechanisms within this corticolimbic system may contribute to the development of not only positive symptoms but also negative and cognitive deficits in SSD has been a recent focus of intense research, as the latter are not adequately treated by current antipsychotic medications and are more strongly associated with poorer functioning and long-term outcomes.

Aflibercept-Based and Bevacizumab-Based Second Line Regimens in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Propensity Score Weighted-Analysis from a Multicenter Cohort.

Background: Both aflibercept and bevacizumab-based regimens are available II-line treatment options for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, no head-to-head trials established the optimal anti-angiogenic strategy for this setting.

Methods: We launched a multicenter, retrospective, observational study to assess and compare clinical efficacy of II-line treatments for patients with mCRC.

Bibliometric analysis of the scientific production of rheumatology departments in Spain during the 2013-2022 period.

Background And Objective: Bibliometric studies of scientific production in Spanish Rheumatology are scarce. The aim of this study was to analyze the bibliographic production of Rheumatology Services in Spain over the period 2013-2022.

Materials And Methods: Original articles and reviews with the affiliation of the first or corresponding author to a Spanish rheumatology Service/Department/Section/Unit were identified in the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus databases.

Establishing a Pan-European, multi-disciplinary taphonomic research Infrastructure: The 'UK-Netherlands decomposition experimental research (UNDER) Group'.

This study unveils the establishment of the United Kingdom-Netherlands Decomposition Experimental Research (UNDER) working group, marking a pioneering initiative in practical Forensic Taphonomy within the UK. Our primary objective was to craft a cohesive multidisciplinary framework, designed to ethically orchestrate, execute, and assess human decomposition. Concurrently, we aimed to amass data through human burials, fostering collaboration among diverse forensic experts across Europe.

Authentic assessment in forensic science programmes: A UK-based survey of practitioners.

Authentic assessment is becoming increasingly common in higher education, and it can be achieved in forensic science programmes by asking students to complete realistic workplace tasks. We argue that preparing students for the forensic science workplace also means preparing them for the ongoing training and assessment they will experience. Using an online questionnaire of 60 practitioners, we surveyed the assessment methods that are used in forensic science workplaces to assess theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

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.

Calibration and Zeta Functions for the Wacom DTU1141b.

To accurately examine and compare Digitally Captured Signature data, the provided data channels (X, Y, F and T) need to be expressed in comparable units. The Force channel data is routinely expressed in unnormalized Pressure Levels hindering the accurate comparison between data collected from different devices. The normalization method using the Zeta Function is used to calibrate and calculate the Zeta Functions of the Wacom DTU1141b.

Admission to acute medical wards for mental health concerns among children and young people in England from 2012 to 2022: a cohort study.

Background: There are challenges in providing high quality care for children and young people who are admitted to acute medical wards for mental health concerns. Although there is concern that these admissions are increasing, national data describing these patterns are scarce. We aimed to describe trends in these admissions in England over a 10-year period, and to identify factors associated with repeat admission and length of stay.

Practitioner perspectives on symptomatic faecal immunochemical testing: a qualitative interview study.

Background: Faecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT) is now core to the management of patients presenting in primary care with symptoms of possible colorectal cancer. Patients with a positive FIT (≥10μg Hb/g faeces) qualify for an urgent suspected cancer referral. FIT negative patients are typically managed in primary care or referred through routine pathways.

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.

Calculation of lifetime relative risks from summary cohort data and application to calculation of attributable fractions.

In cohort studies, relative risks are estimated by comparing eventual disease risk in individuals exposed to the risk factor at baseline with similar unexposed individuals. However, such relative risk estimates intrinsically depend on how many of the unexposed individuals develop exposure after baseline and on the ages at which the exposed individuals developed exposure prior to baseline. These factors pertain to the distribution of risk factor incidence in the population, rather than to the causal effect the risk factor has on disease.

Effect of nanocomposite chitosan/hydroxyapatite pH-induced hydrogels on the osteogenic differentiation of spheroids from adipose stem cells.

Chitosan is gaining scientific recognition as a hydrogel in bone tissue engineering (BTE) due to its ability to support osteoblast attachment and proliferation. However, its low mechanical strength and lack of structural integrity limit its application. Nanometric hydroxyapatite (HA) is used as a filler to enhance the mechanical properties and osteoinductivity of hydrogels.

Immunogenicity of an in-silico designed multi-epitope DNA vaccine encoding ROP21 and ROP29 of Toxoplasma gondii against both acute and chronic toxoplasmosis in BALB/c mice.

Background: Toxoplasma infections are highly prevalent worldwide and can cause serious complications in immunocompromised individuals and lead to congenital infections in neonates. Despite ongoing efforts to develop T. gondii vaccines, none have been developed.

The role of IgE sensitisation in acute FPIES: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Evidence on the role of IgE sensitisation in acute Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome ('atypical FPIES') is limited. Initial reports claimed association with persistent disease, however recent studies have not replicated this.

Objective: To systematically review the relationship between sensitisation to the culprit food(s) in acute FPIES and the outcome of follow-up oral food challenges.

Exploiting novel placental homing peptides for targeted drug delivery in breast Cancer.

More effective drug formulations are needed to increase the selectivity and efficacy of available chemotherapeutics. We have previously shown that nanoparticles decorated with the tumour homing peptide CGKRK can selectively deliver payloads to the placenta. In this study, we investigated whether two novel placental homing peptides NKGLRNK (NKG) and RSGVAKS (RSG) can be utilized to selectively deliver doxorubicin (DOX) to breast cancer cells.

Use of alternatives to animal testing for Environmental Safety Assessment (ESA): Report from the 2023 EPAA partners' forum.

Environmental Safety Assessments (ESA) are mandatory for several regulatory purposes and are an important component of stewardship/sustainability initiatives. Fish testing is used for assessing chemical toxicity and bioaccumulation potential; amphibians are included in some jurisdictions and their use is increasing to assess endocrine disruption. Alternative methods are becoming more available, covering the principles of the 3Rs (i.

Identifying Patient Subgroups in the Heterogeneous Chronic Pain Population Using Cluster Analysis.

Chronic pain is an ill-defined disease with complex biopsychosocial aspects, posing treatment challenges. We hypothesized that treatment failure results, at least partly, from limited understanding of diverse patient subgroups. We aimed to identify subgroups using psychological variables, allowing for more tailored interventions.