Prospective associations of genetic susceptibility to high blood pressure and muscle strength with incident cardiovascular disease outcomes.

Background: This study explored the prospective associations of genetic susceptibility to high blood pressure (BP) and muscle strength with cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, incident coronary heart disease (CHD) and incident stroke.

Methods: This study included 349 085 white British individuals from the UK Biobank study. Genetic risk of high BP was estimated using a weighted polygenic risk score that incorporated 136 and 135 nonoverlapping single-nucleotide polymorphisms for systolic BP and diastolic BP, respectively.

Family Car Ownership: Driving Inactivity in Young People? Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses in the International Children's Accelerometry Database.

Background: Ubiquitous car ownership may affect children's activity and health. We assessed the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between household car ownership and children's daily time spent sedentary (SED) and in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA).

Methods: Pooled cohort data were from the International Children's Accelerometry Database.

The British Preschool Children's Play Survey: When, Where, and How Adventurously Do British Preschool-Aged Children Play?

Background: Outdoor, adventurous play supports physical activity and might help to prevent mental health problems, yet data on preschool-aged children's outdoor play are scarce.

Method: Data were collected from a nationally representative sample of 1166 parents/caregivers of children aged 2-4 years (52% male; 88% white) living in Britain. Caregivers reported time children spent playing in 7 locations and corresponding adventure level.

Generation of a zebrafish neurofibromatosis model via inducible knockout of nf2a/b.

Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF-2) is a dominantly inherited genetic disorder that results from variants in the tumor suppressor gene, neurofibromin 2 (NF2). Here, we report the generation of a conditional zebrafish model of neurofibromatosis established by inducible genetic knockout of nf2a/b, the zebrafish homologs of human NF2. Analysis of nf2a and nf2b expression revealed ubiquitous expression of nf2b in the early embryo, with overlapping expression in the neural crest and its derivatives and in the cranial mesenchyme.

Review article: Novel therapies in inflammatory bowel disease - An update for clinicians.

Background: Several new treatments including small molecules and biologics have been approved for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases in recent years. Clinicians and patients now have a wide variety of therapeutic options to choose from and these novel therapies provide several advantages including oral administration, lower immunogenicity, better selectivity and arguably better safety profiles. An increase in treatment options has increased the complexity of decision-making.

Combined associations of physical activity, diet quality and their changes over time with mortality: findings from the EPIC-Norfolk study, United Kingdom.

Background: Physical activity (PA) and diet quality have each been shown to be inversely associated with mortality but their combined impact on longevity has been less explored, particularly when considering their changes over time. This study aimed to examine the separate and combined associations of PA, diet quality and their changes over time with mortality outcomes.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed on 9349 adults aged 40 to 79 years from the population-based European Prospective Investigation into Cancer in Norfolk Study, with repeated measurements of PA and diet (from 1993 till 2004) and subsequent follow-up till 2022 (median follow-up 18.

Associations of takeaway outlets with takeaway food consumption and adiposity: longitudinal analysis of the Fenland cohort.

Objective: This study builds on prior findings that link increased availability of takeaway food outlets in home, workplace, and commuting environments to greater takeaway consumption and adiposity. Using longitudinal data, we examine associations of takeaway availability at baseline with changes in consumption and adiposity between baseline and follow-up.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Fenland Study, with baseline data from 2005 to 2015 and follow-up from 2015 to 2020.

Silent severe aortic regurgitation due to blunt chest trauma: ignore it at your peril-a case report.

Background: Blunt chest trauma (BCT) presenting to the emergency department is common and may cause life-threatening cardiac complications. Whilst complications causing haemodynamic instability are generally detected promptly, others may present late with long-term consequences. We describe a rare, serious complication of BCT presenting five years after a road traffic accident (RTA).

Raising the case of hepatitis E: Report from the 2nd international HEV symposium.

The 2nd International Hepatitis E Virus Symposium was held on April 28 and 29, 2023, in London, UK. The conference was hosted by the International Vaccine Institute and brought together key clinicians, researchers, and private and public stakeholders for a dedicated forum on hepatitis E virus (HEV). The scientific program spanned multiple facets of HEV, from updates on clinical research and diagnostic advances to vaccine development.

The inflexible mind: A critical factor in understanding and addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.

Background: Vaccine hesitancy has gained heightened relevance amid the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the urgency of understanding its determinants. This study explores the association between Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy, mental health variables and inflexible thinking.

Methods: A convenience sample of 252 UK adults was assessed online between June 2021-July 2022 (when Covid-19 lockdown restrictions had finally eased).

Machine learning in the diagnosis, management, and care of patients with low back pain: a scoping review of the literature and future directions.

Background Context: Low back pain (LBP) remains the leading cause of disability globally. In recent years, machine learning (ML) has emerged as a potentially useful tool to aid the diagnosis, management, and prognostication of LBP.

Purpose: In this review, we assess the scope of ML applications in the LBP literature and outline gaps and opportunities.

Mapping biological influences on the human plasma proteome beyond the genome.

Broad-capture proteomic platforms now enable simultaneous assessment of thousands of plasma proteins, but most of these are not actively secreted and their origins are largely unknown. Here we integrate genomic with deep phenomic information to identify modifiable and non-modifiable factors associated with 4,775 plasma proteins in ~8,000 mostly healthy individuals. We create a data-driven map of biological influences on the human plasma proteome and demonstrate segregation of proteins into clusters based on major explanatory factors.

Neonatal hyperinsulinism: a retrospective study of presentation and management in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit in the UK.

Objective: Reports of hyperinsulinism typically focus on infants managed by highly specialised services. However, neonates with hyperinsulinism are initially managed by neonatologists and often not referred to specialists. This study aimed to characterise the diversity in presentation and management of these infants.

Exploiting human immune repertoire transgenic mice for protective monoclonal antibodies against antimicrobial resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

The use of monoclonal antibodies for the control of drug resistant nosocomial bacteria may alleviate a reliance on broad spectrum antimicrobials for treatment of infection. We identify monoclonal antibodies that may prevent infection caused by carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. We use human immune repertoire mice (Kymouse platform mice) as a surrogate for human B cell interrogation to establish an unbiased strategy to probe the antibody-accessible target landscape of clinically relevant A.

Perceived Discrimination Among Food Pantry Clients in Massachusetts.

Introduction: Food insecurity is defined as inconsistent access to enough food to meet nutritional needs. Discrimination is associated with food insecurity and poor health, especially among racial and ethnic minoritized and sexual or gender minoritized groups. We examined the demographic associations of perceived everyday discrimination and food pantry discrimination in Massachusetts.