Effect of Excess Mortality on Longevity During the COVID-19 Pandemic in South Asia.

Background: Throughout the twentieth century and beyond, a global trend of declining mortality rates and an increase in life expectancies was noted until the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A reduction in life expectancies was observed in most countries, including South Asia, during 2020 and 2021 due to the excess mortality caused by the pandemic.

Objective: This study aims to examine the change in life expectancy in selected South Asian countries and the relative change in age- and sex-specific mortality rates over time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Insights into substrate recognition and export tunnel preferences in the efflux transporter AcrB.

In Escherichia coli AcrB is a major multidrug exporter, which confers the bacterium resistance to many antibiotics with diverse structural and chemical proprieties. Studies have identified three possible tunnels (or channels) within AcrB that different substrates use before reaching the distal pocket, from which they are subsequently extruded. Recently, we reported that mutations in the AcrB gate loop may affect the conformational change kinetics involved in substrate export rather than directly affecting molecular interactions with this loop, and we highlighted the distinct export tunnel preferences between erythromycin and doxorubicin.

Emergence of -bearing MDR-hypervirulent ST307.

We report for the first time whole-genome sequencing of four multidrug-resistant sequence type (ST) 307 recovered from patients in two hospitals in Armenia. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that the isolates were closely related, with a maximum of 39 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) differences in the core genome. All Armenian isolates carried the integrative and conjugative element ICE4, which bears the yersiniabactin locus, and shared a common evolutionary origin, diverging around 2005 (95% CI: 1999 to 2011).

Therapeutic interventions targeting enteropathy in severe acute malnutrition modulate systemic and vascular inflammation and epithelial regeneration.

Background: Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is the most life-threatening form of undernutrition, and children hospitalised with complications have unacceptably high mortality. Complicated SAM is a multisystem disease characterised pathophysiologically by muscle wasting, systemic inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and malnutrition enteropathy including epithelial barrier dysfunction. There is a clear need for novel interventions to address the underlying pathogenic perturbations of complicated SAM.

Homeostasis: understanding the effects of impaired mechanisms.

This article focuses on homeostasis and offers a pathophysiological perspective. The dynamic mechanisms responsible for maintaining internal balance and disruptive processes will be analysed through the lens of key systems including the nervous, endocrine and renal systems. The environmental factors and their potential impact on homeostasis have been considered.

Clinical Research Practitioner: Transformation to a Competent Professional Through Reflective Practice.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has significantly contributed to the growth of clinical research activities in the United Kingdom. Central to this expansion is the pivotal role of Clinical Research Practitioners (CRPs) within the healthcare organization. This narrative explores reflective practice as a dynamic tool and essential requirements for their transformation and development into competent CRPs.

Taking Stock - Legalization of Polish Medicinal Cannabis Seven Years Later: Users' Perspectives.

Background: It has been seven years since Poland legalized medical cannabis. Doctors in Poland are allowed to prescribe medical cannabis, which can be then obtained pharmacies. However, no evaluation has been produced to explore what this policy has achieved.

Exploring homeostasis in children, the body's dynamic balancing act.

Homeostasis can be described as the dynamic process within an organism designed to maintain a relatively constant internal environment that is conducive to the optimal functioning of cells, enzymes and organs. To regulate physiological variables, homeostasis relies on mechanisms called negative and positive feedback loops. However, certain factors can disrupt homeostatic processes, leading to dysregulation and disease.

Discrimination of older peers is associated with workplace age discrimination: moderation by occupational health literacy.

Background: Workplace Age Discrimination Experienced (WADE) can be disorientating and detrimental to well-being. Hence, older employees would like to avoid it, but those who experience it may discriminate against their older peers. WADE may be associated with Age Discrimination of Peers (ADP), and this relationship can be moderated by Occupational Health Literacy (OHL).

Effects of Chicken Egg Powder, Bovine Colostrum, and Combination Therapy for the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Disorders.

Natural-based products are of interest to the pharmaceutical industry as potential sources of novel medicinal compounds. They are also used by consumers/patients as standalone therapies or as an adjunct to Western medicines. Two natural-based products of interest are chicken egg and bovine colostrum (the milk produced in the first few days following calving).

Synergy trap for guardian angels of DNA: Unraveling the anticancer potential of phthalazinone-thiosemicarbazone hybrids through dual PARP-1 and TOPO-I inhibition.

Targeting DNA repair, like PARP-1 and TOPO-I, shows promise in cancer therapy. However, resistance to single agents requires complex and costly combination strategies with significant side effects. Thus, there's an urgent need for single agents with dual inhibition.

Strategies for older people living in care homes to prevent urinary tract infection: the StOP UTI realist synthesis.

Background: Urinary tract infection is the most diagnosed infection in older people. It accounts for more than 50% of antibiotic prescriptions in care homes and is a frequent reason for care home residents being hospitalised.

Objective: This realist review developed and refined programme theories for preventing and recognising urinary tract infection, exploring what works, for whom and in what circumstances.

The effectiveness of peer support on the recovery and empowerment of people with schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: People with schizophrenia have a shorter life span and high mortality and morbidity rates. Peer support is an important strategy that can improve outcomes for people with schizophrenia. Peer support involves people with a lived experience of recovery who help and support others experiencing mental health problems.

The role of previous experience in the analysis of the psychological contract and its outcomes during the socialization process: a signalling theory perspective.

Psychological contract theory has largely neglected the role of previous experience. In this study, we examine how previous work experience influences outcomes of communication with organizational insiders during organizational socialization among healthcare staff. We develop a model based on signalling theory, within which information acquisition during socialization is associated with psychological contract fulfilment, which is in turn is related to better health, happiness, and social relationships.

Equity and timeliness as factors in the effectiveness of an ethical prenatal sequencing service: reflections from parents and professionals.

Prenatal sequencing tests are being introduced into clinical practice in many developed countries. In part due to its greater ability to detect genetic variation, offering prenatal sequencing can present ethical challenges. Here we review ethical issues arising following the implementation of prenatal sequencing in the English National Health Service (NHS).

Bispecific FpFs: a versatile tool for preclinical antibody development.

We previously described FpFs 1̲ (Fab-PEG-Fab) as binding mimetics of IgGs. FpFs are prepared with di(bis-sulfone) conjugation reagents 3̲ that undergo disulfide rebridging conjugation with the accessible disulfide of each Fab (Scheme 1). We have now prepared bispecific FpFs 2̲ (bsFpF and Fab-PEG-Fab) as potential bispecific antibody mimetics with the intent that bsFpFs could be used in preclinical antibody development since sourcing bispecific antibodies may be challenging during preclinical research.