Adaptive clinical trial of AZD7442 and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in immunosuppressed patients highly vulnerable to infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus (RAPID-PROTECTION): protocol for a multicentre, interventional open-label, randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Despite repeated vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 virus, patients who are immunocompromised remain at very high risk of catching SARS-CoV-2 virus and becoming unwell. AZD7442 (Evusheld) is a long-acting monoclonal antibody treatment that has been shown in clinical trials to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection for up to a year after a single dose. Vaccines require a healthy immune system to generate protective immunity.

A realist review of how, why, for whom and in which contexts quality improvement in healthcare impacts inequalities.

Introduction: Quality improvement (QI) is aimed at improving care. Equity is one of the six domains of healthcare quality, as defined by the Institute of Medicine. If this domain is ignored, QI projects have the potential to maintain or even worsen inequalities.

Comparing apples and oranges in youth depression treatments? A quantitative critique of the evidence base and guidelines.

Objectives: Should a young person receive psychotherapy or medication for their depression and on what evidence do we base this decision? In this paper, we test the factors across modalities that may influence comparability between medication and psychotherapy trials.

Methods: We included 92 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of psychotherapy and medication for child and adolescent depression (mean age 4-18 years). Using meta-analyses, we compared (a) participant characteristics and (b) trial characteristics in medication and psychotherapy trials.

Plasma transfusions in neonatal intensive care units: a prospective observational study.

Objective: Despite lack of evidence supporting efficacy, prophylactic fresh frozen plasma and Octaplas transfusions may be administered to very preterm infants to reduce bleeding risk. International variation in plasma transfusion practices in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) is poorly understood, therefore, we aimed to describe neonatal plasma transfusion practice in Europe.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Disclosing long-term tolerance, efficacy and penetration properties of hyaluronic acid-coated latanoprost-loaded liposomes as chronic glaucoma therapy.

Frequent topical administration of hypotensive eye drops in glaucoma patients may lead to the development of dry eye disease (DED) symptoms, because of tear film destabilization and the adverse effects associated with antiglaucoma formulations. To address all this, in the current study preservative-free latanoprost-loaded (0.005 % w/v) synthetic phosphatidylcholine (1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine 0.

STEP 1: The Scottish Trauma & Orthopaedics Equality Project.

Aims: Trauma & Orthopaedic (T&O) surgery has come under scrutiny for lagging behind other medical specialties in promoting gender and cultural equity and diversity within their workforce. The proportions of female, ethnic minority, and sexual and gender minority individuals within orthopaedic membership bodies are disproportionate to the populations they serve. The aim of this study is to report the findings of a national workforce survey of demographics and working patterns within T&O in Scotland.

A framework towards implementation of sequencing for antimicrobial-resistant and other health-care-associated pathogens.

Antimicrobial resistance continues to be a growing threat globally, specifically in health-care settings in which antimicrobial-resistant pathogens cause a substantial proportion of health-care-associated infections (HAIs). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and the analysis of the data produced therein (ie, bioinformatics) represent an opportunity to enhance our capacity to address these threats. The 3rd Geneva Infection Prevention and Control Think Tank brought together experts to identify gaps, propose solutions, and set priorities for the use of NGS for HAIs and antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.

A New Smartphone-Based Cognitive Screening Battery for Multiple Sclerosis (icognition): Validation Study.

Background: Cognitive deterioration is common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and requires regular follow-up. Currently, cognitive status is measured in clinical practice using paper-and-pencil tests, which are both time-consuming and costly. Remote monitoring of cognitive status could offer a solution because previous studies on telemedicine tools have proved its feasibility and acceptance among people with MS.

Distinct genetic risk loci between biopsy-proven renal and non-renal lupus: a 10-year longitudinal cohort.

Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous disease which manifests as different subphenotypes. Distinct subphenotypes, such as lupus nephritis (LN), have been associated with increased genetic risk, but prior studies have been limited by cross-sectional and imprecisely subphenotyped cohorts. This study investigated the genetic basis for LN using a longitudinal cohort of distinctly subphenotyped patients.

The clinical assessment of lung involvement in patients with Still's disease, results from the multicentre international AIDA Network Still's Disease Registry.

Objectives: To assess the lung involvement in patients with Still's disease, an inflammatory disease assessing both children and adults. To exploit possible associated factors for parenchymal lung involvement in these patients.

Methods: A multicentre observational study was arranged assessing consecutive patients with Still's disease characterized by the lung involvement among those included in the AIDA (AutoInflammatory Disease Alliance) Network Still's Disease Registry.

Approaches to Incorporation of Preferences into Health Economic Models of Genomic Medicine: A Critical Interpretive Synthesis and Conceptual Framework.

Introduction: Genomic medicine has features that make it preference sensitive and amenable to model-based health economic evaluation. Preferences of patients, caregivers, and clinicians related to the uptake and delivery of genomic medicine technologies and services that are not captured in health state utility weights can affect the intervention's cost-effectiveness and budget impact. However, there is currently no established or agreed-on approach for integrating preference information into economic evaluations.

Relationship of maternal ophthalmic artery Doppler with uterine artery Doppler, hemodynamic indices and gestational age: prospective MATERA study.

Objectives: To examine the relationship of ophthalmic artery (OA) Doppler indices with uterine artery (UtA) Doppler indices, selected maternal hemodynamic parameters and gestational age, and to evaluate the intraobserver reproducibility of OA Doppler indices.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of women recruited between 11 + 0 and 23 + 6 weeks' gestation using a stratified and random sampling approach to ensure adequate distribution across the gestational-age range. OA pulsatility index (PI), first peak systolic velocity (PSV1), second peak systolic velocity (PSV2) and peak systolic velocity ratio (PSV ratio), calculated as PSV2/PSV1, were measured twice in each eye by the same observer.

Potential interaction between clorsulon and ivermectin for malaria vector control.

Mass ivermectin (IVM) treatment of livestock (MITL) is under consideration as a malaria control tool as IVM-treated livestock are lethal to blood-feeding Anopheles mosquitoes. MITL is routinely used as a prophylaxis in livestock to reduce the burden and transmission of helminth infections. Recently, there has been a shift in the veterinary IVM market in Southeast Asia wherein nearly all standard IVM formulations are now co-formulated with clorsulon (CLO).

Predictive Factors of a Dominant Superficial Venous Drainage System in DIEP Flap Surgery With Preoperative Computed Tomography Angiography.

Background: Venous congestion due to superficial venous system dominance (SVD) in deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap surgery occurs in approximately 2% of cases, with attendant sequelae and increased cost to healthcare systems. This study aimed to describe the predictive factors for SVD in DIEP flap breast reconstruction based on preoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) findings.

Methods: All women who required takebacks for additional venous anastomosis to the cephalic vein because of SVD after DIEP flap breast reconstruction between 2015 and 2022 were included.

Electronic structure of norbornadiene and quadricyclane.

The ground and excited state electronic structure of the molecular photoswitches quadricyclane and norbornadiene is examined qualitatively and quantitatively. A new custom basis set is introduced, optimised for efficient yet accurate calculations. A number of advanced multi-configurational and multi-reference electronic structure methods are evaluated, identifying those sufficiently accurate and efficient to be used in on-the-fly simulations of photoexcited dynamics.

The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein interferes with the full enzymatic activation of UPF1 and its interaction with UPF2.

The nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway triggers the degradation of defective mRNAs and governs the expression of mRNAs with specific characteristics. Current understanding indicates that NMD is often significantly suppressed during viral infections to protect the viral genome. In numerous viruses, this inhibition is achieved through direct or indirect interference with the RNA helicase UPF1, thereby promoting viral replication and enhancing pathogenesis.

Temperature Effects in Conventional and RAFT Photopolymerization.

Photochemical processes are often thought to be temperature-independent. However, photochemical polymerization involves photochemical processes such as light-driven radical generation coupled with thermal-driven reactions such as monomer propagation. The apparent activation energy of propagation, ( ), of a series of three monomers, methyl acrylate (MA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and styrene (STY), are deduced from Arrhenius analysis of conventional and RAFT photopolymerization of these monomers across a range of corresponding temperatures.

Purification of mesenchymal stromal cell-derived small extracellular vesicles using ultrafiltration.

Mesenchymal stromal cell-derived small extracellular vesicles (MSC-sEVs) are pivotal for the curative effects of mesenchymal stromal cells, but their translation into clinical products is hindered by the technical challenges of scaled production and purification. Ultrafiltration, a pressure-driven membrane separation method, is well known as an efficient, scalable, and cost-effective approach for bioseparation. However, there has been little study so far that comprehensively evaluates the potential application of ultrafiltration for scaled sEV isolation and purification.

A retrospective view of hospital pharmacy in the UK over the last 20 years.

In this article, we describe how the landscape of hospital pharmacy has changed over the last 20 years. As well as commenting on the impact of COVID-19 on services, we describe five major advancements namely: clinical pharmacy services, the development of multi-professional teams, policy changes, attitudes to using and producing evidence, advances in technology and workforce development. Finally, there is brief comment around the future challenges for hospital pharmacy in the UK.

Apalutamide: A Cause of Neutropenic Sepsis.

Prostate cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers and poses a significant health burden. New androgen-targeted therapies are now standard treatments for various stages of prostate cancer, including hormone-sensitive, metastatic, and non-metastatic castration-resistant types. These therapies are generally well tolerated and often have fewer side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy.

Comparing the tissue Doppler-derived left ventricular myocardial performance index before and after recovery from respiratory distress in neonates: A prospective observational study.

Background And Objective: Respiratory distress is the most common cause requiring neonatal intensive care unit admission. As respiratory and cardiac functions are closely interrelated, some cardiac dysfunction is expected in respiratory distress. The myocardial performance index (MPI) is an index to assess global myocardial function, easily measurable by bedside echocardiography and reliable.

Relationships Between Recent Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Somatic Symptoms in Adolescence.

Early identification and interventions are imperative for mitigating the harmful effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Nonetheless, a substantial barrier persists in identifying adolescents experiencing ACEs. One understudied avenue for early identification of ACEs is through the examination of somatic symptoms endorsed by adolescents.

Global glucose metabolism rate as diagnostic marker for disorder of consciousness of patients: quantitative FDG-PET study.

Objective: This study was to employ 18F-flurodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) to evaluate the resting-state brain glucose metabolism in a sample of 46 patients diagnosed with disorders of consciousness (DoC). The aim was to identify objective quantitative metabolic indicators and predictors that could potentially indicate the level of awareness in these patients.

Methods: A cohort of 46 patients underwent Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) assessments in order to distinguish between the minimally conscious state (MCS) and the unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS).

Perceptions of Cardiovascular Healthcare Professionals Regarding Clinical Trials: A Survey-Based Study from the Middle East.

Background: Low-middle income countries harbor the highest burden of cardiovascular diseases globally, but there is an under-representation of these countries in cardiovascular clinical trials. This limits the generalizability of the trial results to these countries. There is a lack of data on insights of cardiologists in these countries regarding conducting and participating in clinical trials.