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Foundations First: The Unchanging Significance of Cleansing in the Era of Fourth-Generation Retinoids
Get PDFWhilst the advent of fourth-generation retinoids such a trifarotene marks a advancement in acne therapy and applications are still being elucidated, clinicians should not dismiss the importance of simple, non-pharmacological measures such as regular skin cleansing and the use of moisturisers, reaffirming their crucial place in the holistic management of acne, as well as other dermatological conditions
Dental topography of prosimian premolars predicts diet: A comparison in premolar and molar dietary classification accuracies
Get PDFObjectives: This study tests whether (1) premolar topography of extant “prosimians” (strepsirrhines and tarsiers) successfully predicts diet and (2) whether the combination of molar and premolar topography yields higher classification accuracy than using either tooth position in isolation. Materials and Methods: Dental topographic metrics (ariaDNE, relief index, and orientation patch count rotated) were calculated for 118 individual matched‐pairs of mandibular fourth premolars (P4) and second molars (M2). The sample represents 7 families and 22 genera. Tooth variables were analyzed in isolation (P4 only; M2 only), together (P4 and M2), and combined (PC1 scores of bivariate principal component analyses of P4 and M2 for each metric). Discriminant function analyses were conducted with and without a measure of size (two‐dimensional surface area). Results: When using topography only, “prosimian” P4 shape predicts diet with a success rate that is slightly higher than that of M2 shape. When absolute size is included, premolars and molars perform comparably well. Including both premolar and molar topography (separately or combined) improves classification accuracy for every analysis beyond considering either in isolation. Classification accuracy is highest when premolar and molar topography and size are included. Discussion: Our findings indicate that molar teeth incompletely summarize the functional requirements of oral food breakdown for a given diet, and that the mechanism selecting for premolar form is more varied than what is expressed by molar teeth. Finally, our findings suggest that fossil P4s (in isolation or with the M2) can be used for meaningful dietary reconstruction of extinct primates
Aggressiveness, inhibitory control, and emotional states: A provocation paradigm
Get PDFThe current study examines the effects of trait aggressiveness, inhibitory control and emotional states on aggressive behaviour in a laboratory paradigm. One hundred fifty-one adult participants took part (73 men, 71 women, and seven non-disclosed). Event Related Potentials (ERPs) during a Go/No-Go task were utilised to capture the extent of inhibitory processing, with a laboratory provocation paradigm used to assess aggression. Contrary to the expectations, negative affective responses to provocation were negatively associated only with short-lived aggression and only among those with high past aggressiveness. Furthermore, past aggressiveness was related to a continuous increase in laboratory aggressive behaviour regardless of the level of inhibitory control (P3 difference amplitude). However, feeling hostile was associated with short-lived aggressive behaviour, only in those with lower levels of inhibitory control. These findings demonstrate the effect of distinct mechanisms on different patterns of aggressive behaviour
Attitudes, knowledge and understanding towards mind-body practices as an asset for social prescribing in higher education
Get PDFEvidence is growing to support mind-body practices (e.g., yoga) as a therapeutic intervention for many health conditions. In the UK, yoga is promoted as a social prescription asset by the National Health Service (NHS), yet the factors influencing its implementation are poorly understood. This study explored the attitudes, knowledge and understanding of mind-body practices as a social prescribing asset amongst health science populations within higher education.
Twenty-six health science staff and students completed an online questionnaire. Data analysis used a mixed-methods approach, employing thematic analysis for qualitative data and calculating the net promoter score (NPS) to assess participants' inclination to recommend mind-body practices as a social prescribing asset.
Nineteen participants (73%) were aware of the term “social prescription” and understood it to be a non-clinical, community-based alternative to medication. Whilst participants were aware of the physical benefits of mind-body practices, particularly yoga, they lacked awareness of the social, emotional, and spiritual benefits. Although 42% of participants would recommend mind-body practices as a social prescribing asset (NPS of 15), the opposite was true for yoga (NPS of -15), potentially due to poor knowledge or personal engagement with yoga.
This study underlines the importance of increasing understanding and promoting yoga as an adjuvant mind-body practice to achieve social, emotional, and spiritual benefits. Implementing educational strategies to increase knowledge of mind-body practices and yoga, with a focus on social prescribing practice, may help to improve future referral pathways in practice in line with the NHS long term plan
Challenging Assumptions: "Unveiling Meritocracy's Reality in Neurosurgery"
Get PDFIntroduction: Meritocracy, a concept revered as the cornerstone of fairness and equal opportunity, is critically examined in the context of neurosurgery. This article challenges the notion that success in this demanding field is solely determined by individual abilities and effort. By investigating how these systemic barriers impact admissions to neurosurgical training programs and professional advancement, the paper underscores the complexity of meritocracy in neurosurgery, suggesting that the meritocratic ideal is more nuanced and influenced by external variables than commonly believed.
Results: Certain universities deemed elite offer a curriculum divergent from that of their counterparts in low and middle-income countries. Students at these "elite" institutions gain exposure to new technologies and research incentives, which brings us to the realm of research. Remarkably, 75% of articles originating from developed nations account for just 25% of traumatic brain injury cases. This disparity highlights a significant research imbalance, and the common refrain underscores the need to bolster research capabilities in low-income countries. Neurosurgeons in the United States receive a median? salary of 13200 dollars in Latin America, as of June 2023. Given such incongruities, the prospect of even attending conferences or workshops abroad remains difficult for neurosurgeons from developing nations. Research isn't cast aside due to a lack of interest but due to resource. The narrative promotes a collective endeavour to dismantle barriers and embrace innovation, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, cross-institutional collaboration, and the amplification of underrepresented voices
IS GUT MICROBIOME DIVERSITY IMPORTANT AT IBD ONSET? A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND META-ANALYSIS OF ALPHA DIVERSITY DATA
No full textIntroduction Disruption of the gut microbiome has been widely reported in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly reduced bacterial diversity. Determining the role of this in IBD onset is hampered by a paucity of studies in newly diagnosed disease. We present outputs from a systematic review of the microbiome in pre-treatment IBD.
Methods We searched MEDLINE, Embase between inception and December 2022 for any study presenting microbial analysis of patients diagnosed with IBD in the pre-treatment phase. All screening and extractions were done independently in duplicate. Data extracted included all measures of microbial diversity, the source of samples, any reported controls and clinical/patient parameters. Where appropriate, we performed random-effects meta-analysis of standardised mean difference, reporting 95% CI values and sub-grouped by type of IBD.
Results 10,805 abstracts were screened and 217 full texts reviewed. Ultimately, 92 studies were included. 22 studies based on high-throughput technologies presented alpha diversity indices from IBD and controls. 86% of these offered a Shannon index. This was therefore used for synthesis and included faecal samples from 405 IBD (116 mixed, 225 Crohn’s disease [CD], 64 Ulcerative colitis [UC]) and 324 healthy controls (HC); alongside mucosal biopsies from 171 CD with 172 symptomatic controls (SC) and 42 UC with 60 SC. 68% of studies were paediatric.
12 studies presented Shannon diversity from faeces vs HC cohorts. The studies were highly heterogenous. Nonetheless, alpha diversity was significantly lower in IBD, across both UC and CD. 7 studies presented Shannon diversity from mucosal biopsies vs SC cohorts. No papers presented mixed IBD, so subtypes were reviewed separately. Heterogeneity was lower across these studies but differences in diversity did not reach significance (see figure 1 ).
Conclusions In IBD, faecal bacterial alpha diversity is significantly reduced compared to healthy controls, but mucosal alpha diversity is not in comparison with symptomatic patients without IBD. Factors influencing the faecal stream, such as rapid transit and malabsorption may exaggerate the difference between IBD and healthy. The similarity between mucosal diversity in IBD and symptomatic controls bolsters the view that other factors must be present alongside microbiome disruption to precipitate IBD. These signals will be further explored using secondary analysis of available inception sequencing datasets
Philosophical Interpretation of Article 24 of the Medicines Act: Drug Safety, Efficacy, and Quality Control
No full textArticle 24 of the Medicines Act serves as a cornerstone in the regulatory framework governing pharmaceuticals in the United Kingdom. This article emphasizes the rigorous evaluation of drug safety, efficacy, and quality through a structured, multi-phase process involving pre-clinical studies, clinical trials, and post-marketing surveillance. This paper explores the philosophical underpinnings of Article 24, delving into its ethical, epistemological, and regulatory dimensions. The ethical analysis focuses on balancing public health and individual rights, the principle of informed consent, and equitable access to high-quality medicines. The epistemological discussion highlights the commitment to evidence-based medicine, scientific rationalism, and the critical role of regulatory bodies like the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The regulatory perspective examines the comprehensive and precautionary approach to drug approval and quality control, emphasizing global harmonization and collaboration. By integrating these perspectives, the paper underscores the significance of Article 24 in ensuring that only safe, effective, and high-quality medicinal products are available in the UK, thereby setting a model for global regulatory practices
An mRNA vaccine for pancreatic cancer designed by applying in silico immunoinformatics and reverse vaccinology approaches
Get PDFPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the most prevalent pancreatic cancer, which is considered a significant global health concern. Chemotherapy and surgery are the mainstays of current pancreatic cancer treatments; however, a few cases are suitable for surgery, and most of the cases will experience recurrent episodes. Compared to DNA or peptide vaccines, mRNA vaccines for pancreatic cancer have more promise because of their delivery, enhanced immune responses, and lower proneness to mutation. We constructed an mRNA vaccine by analyzing S100 family proteins, which are all major activators of receptors for advanced glycation end products. We applied immunoinformatic approaches, including physicochemical properties analysis, structural prediction and validation, molecular docking study, in silico cloning, and immune simulations. The designed mRNA vaccine was estimated to have a molecular weight of 165023.50 Da and was highly soluble (grand average of hydropathicity of -0.440). In the structural assessment, the vaccine seemed to be a well-stable and functioning protein (Z score of -8.94). Also, the docking analysis suggested that the vaccine had a high affinity for TLR-2 and TLR-4 receptors. Additionally, the molecular mechanics with generalized Born and surface area solvation analysis of the "Vaccine—TLR-2" (-141.07 kcal/mol) and "Vaccine—TLR-4" (-271.72 kcal/mol) complexes also suggests a strong binding affinity for the receptors. Codon optimization also provided a high expression level with a GC content of 47.04% and a codon adaptation index score 1.0. The appearance of memory B-cells and T-cells was also observed over a while, with an increased level of helper T-cells and immunoglobulins (IgM and IgG). Moreover, the minimum free energy of the mRNA vaccine was predicted at -1760.00 kcal/mol, indicating the stability of the vaccine following its entry, transcription, and expression. This hypothetical vaccine offers a groundbreaking tool for future research and therapeutic development of pancreatic cancer
Using Design Fiction to explore player reactions to proposed “dark design” monetization patterns for immersive gaming
Get PDF“Dark design” patterns are strongly associated with “freemium” monetization of video games. There has been increasing interest in the forms that dark patterns might take in Virtual Reality (VR) games and metaverse applications. VR offers a distinct set of affordances for interacting with users, and there is potential for designers to use this agency for purposes of increasing revenue through in-game microtransactions. The goal of this work was to explore player reactions to proposed VR dark pattern scenarios presented as design fiction prototypes. A total of 21 participants took part in focus group activities in which these prototypes were presented to provoke discussion. Thematic analysis of the discussions revealed characteristics across seven categories (Confrontation, Perceived Intent, Choice Architecture, Knee-jerk Reactions, Gameplay, Sensory Motivation and Social Motivation) and participants’ concerns in five areas (Impact on Player, Ethical Concerns, Value-for-Money, Lack of Choice, and Loss of Reality). Through this work the research team seek to highlight users’ perceptions regarding VR dark patterns and their worries surrounding possible implementations. This work is particularly pertinent as VR gaming slowly grows in
popularity and game publishers move increasingly towards “freemium” monetization models
Is mentoring the answer? The journeys of early career academics in new universities towards scholarly publication
No full textNovice scholars tend to learn about scholarly publication mainly through informal networks of friends, mentors and research supervisors (McCulloch, Tusting & Hamilton, 2017), but academics in newer UK universities (those established after 1992) may face particular challenges accessing such networks. For example, relationships with former PhD supervisors are not only influential in nurturing scholarly writing, but can also provide co-authoring opportunities (Tusting et al., 2019). However, many academics in newer universities do not have PhDs. They also typically have high teaching loads, which can undermine opportunities to do research (Brandt, 1998) even for those with PhDs. Finally, they may lack a critical mass of experienced colleagues to create a supportive culture for scholarly publishing. For these reasons, mentorship may play a particularly important role for junior scholars in new UK universities.
Informed by views of scholarly publishing as a contested social practice (Lillis & Scott, 2007), this chapter reports on a study conducted in one new university in England. In order to explore the barriers and enablers to scholarly publishing in this context, two groups of early-career scholars were interviewed about the role of mentoring and support networks in their scholarly publication practices: those with and those without PhDs. Implications for practice are considered