GNA11 Variants Identified in Patients with Hypercalcemia or Hypocalcemia.

Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia type 2 (FHH2) and autosomal dominant hypocalcemia type 2 (ADH2) are due to loss- and gain-of-function mutations, respectively, of the GNA11 gene that encodes the G protein subunit Gα11, a signaling partner of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR). To date, four probands with FHH2-associated Gα11 mutations and eight probands with ADH2-associated Gα11 mutations have been reported. In a 10-year period, we identified 37 different germline GNA11 variants in >1200 probands referred for investigation of genetic causes for hypercalcemia or hypocalcemia, comprising 14 synonymous, 12 noncoding, and 11 nonsynonymous variants.

Quasi-band structure of quantum-confined nanocrystals.

We discuss the electronic properties of quantum-confined nanocrystals. In particular, we show how, starting from the discrete molecular states of small nanocrystals, an approximate band structure (quasi-band structure) emerges with increasing particle size. Finite temperature is found to broaden the discrete states in energy space forming even for nanocrystals in the quantum-confinement regime quasi-continuous bands in k-space.

Inhaled pirfenidone solution (AP01) for IPF: a randomised, open-label, dose-response trial.

Introduction: Oral pirfenidone reduces lung function decline and mortality in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Systemic exposure can have significant side effects, including nausea, rash, photosensitivity, weight loss and fatigue. Reduced doses may be suboptimal in slowing disease progression.

Effect of Selenium Nanoparticle Size on IL-6 Detection Sensitivity in a Lateral Flow Device.

Sepsis is the body's response to an infection. Existing diagnostic testing equipment is not available in primary care settings and requires long waiting times. Lateral flow devices (LFDs) could be employed in point-of-care (POC) settings for sepsis detection; however, they currently lack the required sensitivity.

Prevalence of polypharmacy in pregnancy: a systematic review.

Objectives: The use of medications among pregnant women has been rising over the past few decades but the reporting of polypharmacy has been sporadic. The objective of this review is to identify literature reporting the prevalence of polypharmacy among pregnant women, the prevalence of multimorbidity in women taking multiple medications in pregnancy and associated effects on maternal and offspring outcomes.

Design: MEDLINE and Embase were searched from their inception to 14 September 2021 for interventional trials, observational studies and systematic reviews reporting on the prevalence of polypharmacy or the use of multiple medications in pregnancy were included.

Working conditions and well-being in UK social care and social work during COVID-19.

Summary: Stress and mental health are among the biggest causes of sickness absence in the UK, with the Social Work and Social Care sectors having among the highest levels of stress and mental health sickness absence of all professions in the UK. Chronically poor working conditions are known to impact employees' psychological and physiological health. The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected both the mode and method of work in Social Care and Social Work.

Shift of Feeding Strategies from Grazing to Different Forage Feeds Reshapes the Rumen Microbiota To Improve the Ability of Tibetan Sheep (Ovis aries) To Adapt to the Cold Season.

The dynamics of ruminant-rumen microbiome symbiosis associated with feeding strategies in the cold season were examined. Twelve pure-grazing adult Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries) (18 months old; body weight, 40 ± 0.23 kg) were transferred from natural pasture to two indoor feedlots and fed either a native-pasture diet (NPF group) or an oat hay diet (OHF group) ( = 6 per treatment), and then the flexibility of rumen microbiomes to adapt to these compositionally different feeding strategies was examined.

Automatic Assessment of the Type and Intensity of Agitated Hand Movements.

With increasing numbers of people living with dementia, there is growing interest in the automatic monitoring of agitation. Current assessments rely on carer observations within a framework of behavioural scales. Automatic monitoring of agitation can supplement existing assessments, providing carers and clinicians with a greater understanding of the causes and extent of agitation.

[Canine avulsion: An extreme complication of a fixed mandibular lingual retainer].

Introduction: The use of fixed retainers at the end of a course of orthodontic treatment has become standard practice. The main complication that can occur with fixed retainers is the detachment of the wire from one or more teeth. A less common complication is unwanted tooth movement.

Flavan-3-ol-methylxanthine interactions: Modulation of flavan-3-ol bioavailability in volunteers with a functional colon and an ileostomy.

Flavan-3-ols, including the flavan-3-ol monomer (-)-epicatechin, are dietary bioactives known to mediate beneficial cardiovascular effects in humans. Recent studies showed that flavan-3-ols could interact with methylxanthines, evidenced by an increase in flavan-3-ol bioavailability with a concomitant increase in flavan-3-ol intake-mediated vascular effects. This study aimed at elucidating flavan-3-ol-methylxanthine interactions in humans in vivo by evaluating the specific contributions of theobromine and caffeine on flavan-3-ol bioavailability.

Biosurfactants' multifarious functional potential for sustainable agricultural practices.

Increasing food demand by the ever-growing population imposes an extra burden on the agricultural and food industries. Chemical-based pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers, and high-breeding crop varieties are typically employed to enhance crop productivity. Overexploitation of chemicals and their persistence in the environment, however, has detrimental effects on soil, water, and air which consequently disturb the food chain and the ecosystem.

Refining Anger: Summarizing the Self-Report Measurement of Anger.

The current paper presents a five-factor measurement model of anger summarizing scores on public-domain self-report measures of anger. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of self-report measures of anger (UK,  = 500; USA,  = 625) suggest five replicable latent anger factors: anger-arousal, anger-rumination, frustration-discomfort, anger-regulation, and socially constituted anger. Findings suggested a 5-factor interpretation provided the best fit of the data.

Effects of the clathrin inhibitor Pitstop-2 on synaptic vesicle recycling at a central synapse .

Four modes of endocytosis and subsequent synaptic vesicle (SV) recycling have been described at the presynapse to ensure the availability of SVs for synaptic release. However, it is unclear to what extend these modes operate under physiological activity patterns . The coat protein clathrin can regenerate SVs either directly from the plasma membrane (PM) via clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME), or indirectly from synaptic endosomes by SV budding.

Long-term supplementation with anthocyanin-rich or -poor berries does not influence microvascular architecture nor cognitive outcome in the APP/PS-1 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Disruption of microvascular architecture is a common pathogenic mechanism in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Given the anti-angiogenic activity of berry (poly)phenols, we investigated whether long-term feeding of (raspberries) could ameliorate cerebral microvascular pathology and improve cognition in the APP/PS-1 mouse model of AD. Male C57Bl/6J mice (50 wild type, 50 APP/PS-1) aged 4-months were fed for 24-weeks, with a normal diet enriched with either 100 mg/day glucose (control diet) or supplemented with glucose and freeze-dried anthocyanin-rich (red) or -poor (yellow) raspberries (100 mg/day) and assessed/sampled post intervention.

Antibiotic consumption in hospitals during COVID-19 pandemic: a comparative study.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) results in similar clinical characteristics as bacterial respiratory tract infections and can potentially lead to antibiotic overuse. This study aimed to determine the changes in hospital antimicrobial usage before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methodology: We compared antimicrobial consumption data for 2019 and 2020.

A Refined Hot Melt Printing Technique with Real-Time CT Imaging Capability.

Personalised drug delivery systems with the ability to offer real-time imaging and control release are an advancement in diagnostic and therapeutic applications. This allows for a tailored drug dosage specific to the patient with a release profile that offers the optimum therapeutic effect. Coupling this application with medical imaging capabilities, real-time contrast can be viewed to display the interaction with the host.

Engineering of tetanus toxoid-loaded polymeric microneedle patches.

This study is aimed to fabricate tetanus toxoid laden microneedle patches by using a polymeric blend comprising of polyvinyl pyrrolidone and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose as base materials and sorbitol as a plasticizer. The tetanus toxoid was mixed with polymeric blend and patches were prepared by using vacuum micromolding technique. Microneedle patches were evaluated for physical attributes such as uniformity of thickness, folding endurance, and swelling profile.

Preterm birth and prescriptions for cardiovascular, antiseizure, antibiotics and antiasthmatic medication in children up to 10 years of age: a population-based data linkage cohort study across six European regions.

Objectives: Preterm children are exposed to many medications in neonatal intensive care units, but little is known about the effect of prematurity on medication use throughout infancy and childhood. We examined prescriptions of cardiovascular medication (CVM), antiseizure medication (ASM), antiasthmatic medication and antibiotics issued/dispensed in the first 10 years of life for very and moderately preterm children compared with term.

Design: Population-based data linkage cohort study linking information from birth records to prescription records.

Metric-Based Simulation Training to Proficiency for Endovascular Thrombectomy in Ischemic Stroke.

Ischemic stroke is one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability in the West. Mechanical revascularization techniques are considered the standard of care for large vessel occlusive stroke. Traditional apprenticeship models involve doctors training their skills on patients.

Association between Socio-Demographic Factors and Owners' Beliefs and Attitudes to Pet Cats Fundamental Dietary and Physical Exercise Needs, in City of Belfast.

A cross-sectional survey questionnaire was developed in-house to investigate pet cat owners’ beliefs and attitudes related to the fundamental care of their pet cats. The questionnaire consisted of questions which were grouped into the following sections: (i) owners’ socio-demographics; (ii) cat(s) body weight and body condition monitoring; (iii) owners’ attitudes to cats’ dietary preferences, needs and satisfaction, (iv) owners’ perceptions of their cats’ physical exercise needs and satisfaction. The sample size of 376 was estimated to be required to represent the population of the given geographical location (Belfast, NI, UK).

Matrix metalloproteinase 2 is a target of the RAN-GTP pathway and mediates migration, invasion and metastasis in human breast cancer.

RAS-related nuclear protein(RAN) is a nuclear shuttle and normally regulates events in the cell cycle. When overexpressed in cultured cells, it causes increases in cell migration/invasion in vitro and its overexpression is associated with early breast cancer patient deaths in vivo. However, the underlying mechanism is unknown.

The Impact of Time on Nutrition and Health Claims on the Irish Marketplace.

Since the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims (NHCR) made on food, only 261 health claims have been authorised, suggesting that the regulation creates challenges for the food industry. This study looks at the prevalence of nutrition and health claims labelled on food on the Irish market. Specifically, we compared their prevalence in 2009 with those present on the marketplace in 2022.