The Role of WNT5a and TGF-β1 in Airway Remodelling and Severe Asthma.

Background: Airway remodelling is a feature of severe asthma with airway epithelial damage observed frequently. We evaluated the role of WNT5a and TGF-β in asthmatic airway biopsies and in sputum and bronchial brushings assessed their role in remodelling.

Methods: WNT5a and TGF-β protein expression were assessed in the lamina propria epithelium of people with asthma (GINA 1-3, n-8 and GINA 4-5, n-14) and healthy subjects (n-9), alongside relevant remodelling markers.

Food Allergy Prevalence in Two Population-Based UK Cohorts Born 12 Years Apart.

Background: Adverse food reactions include food allergy (FA; immune-mediated) and food intolerances (non-immune-mediated). FA are classified into IgE- and non-IgE-mediated FA. There is limited information available about changes in FA prevalence over time.

Physical activity guidelines for adults with type 2 Diabetes: Systematic review.

Aims: The aim of this study was to systematically review recommendations on physical activity for adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods: Online databases were searched for clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), statements, and recommendations. Two authors screened the guidelines based on eligibility criteria.

Time Below Range and Its Influence on Hypoglycemia Awareness and Severe Hypoglycemia: Insights From the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists Study.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the relationship between time below range (TBR), impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (IAH), and severe hypoglycemia (SH).

Research Design And Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from individuals with diabetes using continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) in the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists audit. Hypoglycemia awareness was assessed via the Gold score (≥4 denoting IAH), and SH was defined as hypoglycemia requiring third-party assistance.

Rhodotorula mucilaginosa: a new potential human pathogen found in the ciliate Paramecium bursaria.

Ciliates often form symbiotic associations with other microorganisms, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic. We are now starting to rediscover the symbiotic systems recorded before molecular analysis became available. Here, we provide a morphological and molecular characterization of a symbiotic association between the ciliate Paramecium tritobursaria and the yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (syn.

Quantity of spontaneous touches to body and surface in very preterm and healthy term infants.

Background: Spontaneous movements are a crucial part of early motor development. Healthy term infants may produce up to 200 spontaneous touches to their body and surface in 10 minutes with their hands. The existing literature shows differences in early motor development between very preterm (<32 weeks gestation) and healthy term infants.

Incidence trends in ischaemic and non-ischaemic heart failure in people with and without type 2 diabetes, 2000-2019: An observational study in England.

Aim: To investigate trends in ischaemic and non-ischaemic heart failure (HF) in adults with type 2 diabetes and without diabetes between 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2019 in England.

Methods: We used the Clinical Practice Research Datalink datasets, linked to the Hospital Episode Statistics and Office for National Statistics to estimate sex-specific crude and age-standardised rates of incident ischaemic and non-ischaemic HF up to 10 years per calendar year of diabetes diagnosis and diabetes status.

Results: In a cohort of 735,810 individuals, 5,073 ischaemic (2,038 in people with type 2 diabetes and 3,035 in those without) and 16,501 non-ischaemic (6,358 and 10,143, respectively) HF events were recorded during a median follow-up of 10 years.

Current concepts of fourth-generation minimally invasive and open hallux valgus surgery.

Hallux valgus (HV) presents as a common forefoot deformity that causes problems with pain, mobility, footwear, and quality of life. The most common open correction used in the UK is the Scarf and Akin osteotomy, which has good clinical and radiological outcomes and high levels of patient satisfaction when used to treat a varying degrees of deformity. However, there are concerns regarding recurrence rates and long-term outcomes.

Supportive bandage, removable splint, or walking casts for low-risk ankle fractures in children: a feasibility randomized controlled trial.

Aims: It is unclear if a supportive bandage, removable splint, or walking cast offers the best outcome following low-risk ankle fractures in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial to compare these treatments.

Methods: Children aged five to 15 years with low-risk ankle fractures were recruited to this feasibility trial from 1 February 2020 to 30 March 2023.

Professional-patient discrepancies in assessing lung cancer radiotherapy symptoms: An international multicentre study.

Background And Purpose: We investigate discrepancies in the assessment of treatment-related symptoms in lung cancer between healthcare professionals and patients, and factors contributing to these discrepancies.

Materials And Methods: Data from 515 participants in the REQUITE study were analysed. Five symptoms (cough, dyspnoea, bronchopulmonary haemorrhage, chest wall pain, dysphagia) were evaluated both before and after radiotherapy.

Health outcome priorities of people with multiple long-term conditions using the outcome prioritisation tool in the UK: A survey study and feasibility assessment.

Background: The outcome prioritisation tool (OPT) is a simple tool to ascertain the health outcome priorities of people with MLTC. Use of this tool in people aged under 65 years with MLTC has not previously been investigated. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using the OPT in people with MLTC aged 45 years or above, in a multi-ethnic primary-care setting and describe the health outcome priorities of people with MLTC by age, clusters of long-term conditions and demographic factors, and to investigate any differences in prioritisation in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Value of P-Wave Parameters Changes in Predicting Catheter Ablation Outcomes for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is the most promising management method for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). The P wave in the electrocardiogram (ECG) represents atrial depolarization. This study aims to correlate P-wave parameters after PVI with outcomes.

Myocardial ischaemia following COVID-19: a cardiovascular magnetic resonance study.

The pathophysiology of myocardial injury following COVID-19 remains uncertain. COVID-HEART was a prospective, multicentre study utilising cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) to characterise COVID-related myocardial injury. In this pre-specified analysis, the objectives were to examine (1) the frequency of myocardial ischaemia following COVID-19, and (2) the association between ischaemia and myocardial injury.

Psychometric properties of the English and Hindi versions of the Brief Inventory of Thriving for use among Indian adolescents.

The Brief Inventory of Thriving (BIT) provides a holistic measure of well-being, but has only been validated for adults, and does not have a Hindi version. The present study investigated the unidimensional structure, internal consistency, convergent/discriminant, and criterion validity of both the original English version of the BIT (BIT-E) and its Hindi-translated version (BIT-H) among adolescents in India. Further, we tested measurement invariance across these two language versions, gender, and academic disciplines.

Recent methane surges reveal heightened emissions from tropical inundated areas.

Record breaking atmospheric methane growth rates were observed in 2020 and 2021 (15.2±0.5 and 17.

Health care assistant and registered nurse dyads, working together and apart - a qualitative study.

Background: This study was undertaken to understand the role of the Health Care Assistants and how they negotiate roles and responsibilities with Registered Nurses in adult acute hospitals.

Methods: The qualitative approach of focused ethnography used non-participant observation and interviews with staff from four acute wards. Field notes and interview data, analysed using NVIVO10, moved data from description through explanation, interpretation and identification of themes.

Navigating the challenges in radiology training expansion: costs and benefits.

Clinical and interventional radiology services play a vital role in the provision of modern healthcare, but there is a widening gap between the capacity of the imaging workforce and increasing demand. In recent years there has been a programme of training expansion in England supported by tariff level funding from NHS England (Workforce Training and Education Directorate), enhancing long-term radiology workforce sustainability and bringing quality benefits for patients, departments, and trusts. Expansion is a multifaceted and challenging process in the current NHS climate, involving coordination of funding, capacity, and sustained educational quality.

Takotsubu Cardiomyopathy Patient With Coronary Artery Disease: The Chicken or the Egg.

This case emphasizes the rare occurrence of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) in a patient with moderate coronary artery disease (CAD), highlighting the complexity of diagnosis and management. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for TTC in patients with CAD, especially when echocardiographic findings suggest apical ballooning. Balancing therapies for both conditions is essential.

Engendered nanoparticles for treatment of brain tumors.

Brain metastasis and primary glioblastoma multiforme represent the most common and lethal malignant brain tumors. Its median survival time is typically less than a year after diagnosis. One of the major challenges in treating these cancers is the efficiency of the transport of drugs to the central nervous system.

The use of hydrogel microspheres as cell and drug delivery carriers for bone, cartilage, and soft tissue regeneration.

Bone, cartilage, and soft tissue regeneration is a complex process involving many cellular activities across various cell types. Autografts remain the "gold standard" for the regeneration of these tissues. However, the use of autografts is associated with many disadvantages, including donor scarcity, the requirement of multiple surgeries, and the risk of infection.

Tumour in the dark: a challenging case of osteomalacia.

Tumour-induced osteomalacia (TIO), also known as oncogenic osteomalacia, is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome mediated by the overproduction of phosphaturic hormone fibroblast growth factor 23. TIO is most commonly caused by mesenchymal tumours (PMTs), which are typically small, slow-growing and often undetectable on physical examination and conventional imaging techniques. Patients with TIO typically undergo a protracted period of diagnostic workup and medical treatment due to presentation with nonspecific symptoms and difficulty in localising the culprit tumour.

Survival after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection in octogenarians.

Objective: To evaluate the benefits of surgical repair acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) on survival of octogenarians.

Methods: Patients who underwent surgery for acute ATAAD from the multicenter European Registry of Type A Aortic Dissection (ERTAAD) were the subjects of the present analysis.

Results: 326 (8.

The updated understanding of advanced maternal age.

The rising rates of pregnancies associated with advanced maternal age (AMA) have created unique challenges for healthcare systems worldwide. The elevated risk of poor maternal outcomes among AMA pregnancies is only partially understood and hotly debated. Specifically, AMA is associated with reduced fertility and an increased incidence of pregnancy complications.