159370 research outputs found
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Dysbiosis‐Mediated Inflammation: A Pathophysiological Link Between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Periodontitis
No full textAim
To explore mechanistic links between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis (PD) through the lens of subgingival microbial dysbiosis–mediated inflammation.
Methods
Subgingival plaque from 100 volunteers with RA and PD (RAPD), 22 with RA (RAnoPD), 18 with PD (PDnoRA) and 19 healthy controls (noRAnoPD) was analysed using 16S-amplicon sequencing, semi-quantitative bead-based flow cytometry to measure crevicular fluid cytokines and ELISA to quantify antibodies to oral pathogens and systemic inflammatory markers in serum. The RAPD group had been randomised to receive intensive non-surgical periodontal therapy (PMPR) or oral hygiene alone and reviewed at 3 and 6 months in our previously reported study.
Results
Subgingival microbial dysbiosis, as evidenced by higher species richness, alpha-diversity and higher levels of known and putative periodontal pathobionts, was evident at baseline in RAnoPD, RAPD and PDnoRA. Higher serum antibodies to oral pathogens were recorded in RAPD. PMPR restored host–microbial homeostasis in RAPD within 3 months. Significant decreases in serum antibodies to microbial antigens and clinical measures of RA activity were seen after 3 and 6 months in the PMPR group but not controls.
Conclusions
We demonstrate a mutualistic influence of RA and PD, beginning with RA-induced dysbiosis of the periodontal microbiome, progressing to periodontal inflammation and culminating in PD-driven exacerbation of systemic inflammation
Reimagining early years services to address childhood inequities: learning from the Born in Bradford evaluation of a Better Start Bradford
No full text‘A Better Start’ was a 10-year (2015–2025), £215 million initiative funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, supporting five areas in England to address inequalities in the early years of life across socio-emotional development, language and communication, and nutrition outcomes. It aimed to provide a place-based, test-and-learn model, putting parents at the heart of design and delivery. As a result, each of the five sites developed and implemented distinct local programmes.
The Better Start Bradford programme delivered multiple preventative interventions across the outcome domains. Bradford was the only site to embed a research partner, Born in Bradford, from the very beginning. This enabled the establishment of a fully resourced research hub—the Better Start Bradford Innovation Hub, which included the world’s first interventional birth cohort, Born in Bradford’s Better Start, designed to efficiently evaluate multiple interventions simultaneously. This evaluation has provided in-depth learning about the inequalities faced in contemporary urban populations and evidence of the implementation and impact of multiple early years interventions.
In this review, we reflect on our ‘decade of discovery’: what worked well, what we have learnt about evaluating and delivering early years prevention at scale, and what we would do differently if we had the opportunity again. Examples of what worked well include the place-based model, the test-and-learn approach, a robust evaluation infrastructure and community empowerment. Our learning has evidenced important changes for future programmes and for commissioners, chief among them: complex inequalities cannot be resolved through the delivery of individual or scattered interventions. This collective learning points to a clear call for change to create a jointly commissioned, appropriately funded and continuously evaluated early years system, underpinned by a long-term commitment to prevent inequity in the early-years before it becomes entrenched
UKRN Working Paper 9: UKRN Open Research Indicators: Final Report
Get PDFThis working paper reports on six pilot projects conducted as part of the UK Reproducibility Network’s Open Research Programme (ORP) to explore the feasibility of developing automated indicators for monitoring open research practices across UK universities. The pilots examined data quality, metadata standards, and automated extraction methods across six areas: FAIR data, open data, data availability statements, downstream effects of data sharing, pre-registration, and the use of the CRediT taxonomy. The findings highlight areas of promise, particularly pre-registration and elements of FAIRness, while also identifying major challenges related to inconsistent metadata, terminology, and workflows. The report outlines key recommendations for improving interoperability, enhancing data standards, and supporting the responsible development of future monitoring infrastructure
‘She Knows Sh*t’: a Comparison of Young People and Professional Perspectives of a Specialised Child Sexual Exploitation Support Service
No full textConcerns relating to child sexual exploitation (CSE) are increasing within the UK, with safeguarding policy and practice moving towards a multiagency approach to identifying and managing this form of abuse. Traditionally, collaborative approaches have primarily involved statutory organisations, with the knowledge and expertise of third sector organisations being overlooked. This research, therefore, aimed to explore the role and impact of a specialised third sector service on supporting young people at risk of CSE. Located in the north of England, the service provided a child-centred, therapeutic approach to exploring CSE. Observations and interviews with young people (n = 4), professionals from the specialised service (n = 7) and other safeguarding professionals (n = 7) were conducted. A thematic analysis was conducted across all interview transcripts, with three broad themes emerging: defining CSE, labelling CSE, and impact of service. Through this process, the paper compares the perspectives of young people referred to the service with those of professionals linked to the service. Recommendations around best practice are presented towards the end of the paper, with the importance of including voices of young people in the design and delivery of CSE support being highlighted
Soluble amylose chains inhibit gelatinisation and retrogradation in waxy corn starch
Get PDFIn this study, soluble amylose chains with varying degrees of polymerisation (DP 186–4020) were isolated via isoamylase debranching of amylopectin from native and waxy corn starches. When these soluble amylose chains are mixed with aqueous suspensions of waxy corn starch, spontaneous adsorption onto the surface of starch granules occurs. The resulting coating envelops the granules and markedly inhibits gelatinisation, increasing the onset temperature by up to 10 °C. Additionally, the amylose coating alters the pasting and short-term retrogradation properties of waxy corn starch, as evidenced by a reduction in trough viscosity, up to a 20 % decrease in breakdown viscosity, and approximately a 50 % increase in setback viscosity. This effect is both concentration- and DP-dependent. We found that chains with a critical length of 200 ≤ DP ≤ 700 produce the most pronounced effect and exhibit the strongest concentration dependence, suggesting that entropic considerations play a key role in starch−amylose interactions. Complementary analyses − including calorimetry, viscosity, turbidity measurements, and small-angle X-ray scattering − confirmed the inhibited gelatinisation and retrogradation. X-ray diffraction data further corroborated that the adsorbed amylose forms a hydrated, V-type-like polymorphic envelope. We hypothesise that this amylose coating restricts water ingress and inhibits granular gelatinisation, providing a physical basis for the observed inhibition. These findings highlight a previously undocumented role of soluble amylose chain length in directing starch thermal and structural transitions. Our results advance the fundamental understanding of starch–amylose interactions and offer a novel route for designing starch systems with enhanced functionality for applications in food processing and, more broadly, in (bio)material design
Observation of a broad -wave resonant state in He
Get PDFWe report on the two-body invariant-mass spectroscopy of He, populated via the 11 knockout reaction from the two-neutron halo nucleus Li at 250 MeV/nucleon. A broad -wave resonant state of He was observed at 1.28(1) MeV with a width of 0.82(4) MeV
The impact of travel on perceived activity performance
Get PDFMany studies in the past two decades have explored travel satisfaction and its determinants. However, how travel satisfaction impacts emotions after trips and the performance of activities upon arrival have only been explored to a limited extent. In this study – using data from online surveys – we analyse travel satisfaction of 2000+ students and staff of University College London travelling to campus, and how this influences the emotions upon arrival and the perceived performance of the first activity after arriving on campus. Additionally, we explore how trip characteristics (e.g., mode, duration, weather) influence the above three elements. Results from one-way ANOVAs and a structural equation model show that there are strong spill-over effects of trip satisfaction on the emotions and activity performance upon arrival. We also found that the used travel mode and trip duration influence trip satisfaction, emotion upon arrival and perceived activity performance. However, their effects on emotions and activity performance are mainly indirect via travel satisfaction. Results indicate that active and short trips will not only improve travel satisfaction, but that they can also positively influence people's mood and the performance of activities. Hence, transport planning concepts stimulating short/active trips have the potential to improve emotional well-being and – through better perceived activities – overall life satisfaction
ESR essentials: perfusion MRI—practice recommendations by the European Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Biology
Get PDFPerfusion MRI techniques—including dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI, dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI, arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI, and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MRI—hold strong potential as imaging techniques for diagnosing, staging, and monitoring disease across a range of clinical applications. However, clinical adoption, especially of quantitative parameters, remains variable across techniques. Key barriers to broader implementation include a lack of standardized acquisition and analysis protocols, leading to poor reproducibility and reduced clinical confidence. Additionally, limited awareness and understanding of certain techniques among radiologists contribute to underutilization in practice. This work provides practice recommendations to support radiologists in integrating perfusion MRI into routine clinical workflows. It includes guidance on technique selection, acquisition, and analysis, supported by a flowchart outlining typical imaging pathways. These efforts align with ongoing initiatives such as the Quantitative Medical Imaging Coalition (formerly QIBA) and the ISMRM Open Science Initiative for Perfusion Imaging (OSIPI), which are developing standards and tools to enhance reproducibility and clinical utility. Ultimately, the successful adoption of state-of-the-art perfusion MRI depends on close collaboration between clinicians, researchers, and industry stakeholders to ensure robust, standardized, and clinically meaningful application
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