Comparison of Sample Extraction and Storage Methods across Time for Fecal Progesterone Metabolite Analysis in Female Verreaux's Sifaka.

AbstractResearchers commonly collect fecal samples from wild animals to monitor steroid metabolites and associate them with ecology and behavior. This method requires that we develop and validate species-specific methods that are appropriate for various field conditions and compatible with laboratory resources. We compared multiple extraction and storage methods for analyzing fecal progesterone metabolites (fPms) in wild female Verreaux's sifaka ().

Analysis of Social Media Perceptions During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United Kingdom: Social Listening Study (2019-2022).

Background: Social media listening can be leveraged to obtain authentic perceptions about events, their impact, guidelines, and policies. There has been to date no research that has examined the experiences of patients with COVID-19 from diagnosis to treatment using social media listening in the United Kingdom.

Objective: This study aimed to assess public perceptions, insights, and sentiments throughout the patient journey from diagnosis to treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Discovery of BMS-986408, a First-In-Class Dual DGKα and DGKζ Inhibitor that Unleashes PD-1 Checkpoint and CAR T-cell Immunotherapies.

Diacylglycerol kinase α (DGKα) and DGKζ are lipid kinases that negatively regulate T-cell signaling through diacylglycerol metabolism, making them attractive targets for next-generation immunotherapy. In this study, we report the discovery and preclinical characterization of the clinical-stage DGKα and DGKζ lipid kinase inhibitor, BMS-986408. BMS-986408 binds to the accessory subdomain of the catalytic domain and inhibits DGKα/ζ through a mechanism of action that includes competitive inhibition for the diacylglycerol substrate, subcellular translocation to the plasma membrane, and proteosome-dependent degradation.

A systematic review of influences on engagement with remote health interventions targeting weight management for individuals living with excess weight.

Background: Obesity rates are continually rising and remote weight management interventions appear to demonstrate feasible prospects. Previous reviews have investigated influential factors to engagement of such interventions in community settings; however, limited research has examined adults' engagement in remote weight management programmes.

Aim: To systematically review the influences on the engagement of adults living with excess weight in synchronous (real time), remote health interventions for weight management.

Exploring socio-ecological factors that influence the use of urban greenspace: A case study of a deprived ethnically diverse community in the UK.

Urban greenspaces are considered an important health asset associated with improved population health and well-being. However, inequalities in access to and use of the outdoors continue to exist, particularly among low-income and minority ethnic populations. Following a socio-ecological approach, this study aimed to investigate the individual, interpersonal, and environmental factors that influence the use of greenspaces among an ethnically diverse community in the UK and explore strategies to increase use.

Systemic delivery of AAV5, AAV8, and AAV9 packaging a C5-12-microdystrophin-FLAG expression cassette in non-human primates.

Safely achieving therapeutic expression levels with adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy is a significant challenge for treating the large muscle mass in humans. Non-human primates (NHPs) provide a more accurate assessment of the feasibility of achieving an effective and safe dose than rodents. Here, we compared a single systemic administration of AAV5, AAV8, or AAV9 in NHPs, each packaging the C5-12-microdystrophin-FLAG expression cassette.

Community readiness to address disparities in access to cancer, palliative and end-of-life care for ethnic minorities.

Background: Inequalities in cancer, palliative, and end-of-life care services remain a significant challenge, particularly for ethnic minorities who face systemic barriers such as limited awareness, cultural stigmas, and language differences. These disparities hinder equitable access to essential services and contribute to poorer health outcomes for affected communities. Addressing these challenges requires targeted, culturally sensitive initiatives that promote both awareness and uptake of care.

Exploratory study from an end-of-life research partnership network to improve access for ethnically diverse communities in one region.

Background: Minority ethnic patients are less likely to access timely and effective palliative and end-of-life care and, as a consequence, more likely to experience poorer symptom management and receive more intensive treatments at the end of life. Research activity has the potential to address the aforementioned barriers to improve access. However, there is a need to develop capacity and capability, particularly within underserved communities, to provide an infrastructure that can drive research activity informed by the community to benefit the community.

A qualitative study exploring barriers and facilitators in deceased organ donation process among transplant coordinators in India.

Although India's organ donation rate is less than 1 per million population, significant disparities exist between the regions and centres within the country, leading to varying consent rates among different organ donation centres. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the experience of transplant coordinators and their barriers and facilitators in the deceased organ donation process across various organ donation centres in India. A phenomenological study using interviews was conducted among fourteen transplant coordinators purposefully recruited from public and private organ donation centres in India, with experience between six years and more than a decade.

Barriers and Facilitators Towards Deceased Organ Donation: A Qualitative Study Among Three Major Religious Groups in Chandigarh, and Chennai, India.

This study aimed to examine the barriers and facilitators of the public toward deceased organ donation in Chandigarh, and Chennai, India, from three major religious groups, Hinduism, Islamism, and Christianity. Twenty-five focus groups were conducted (n = 87) stratified by study region, religion, sex, and age. Data were analysed using framework analysis.

Child Maltreatment and Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

Background: Evidence suggests that child maltreatment (CM) is associated with an elevated risk of adult diseases in later life. Emerging evidence shows that CM in childhood is associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adulthood. However, no study has systematically examined the evidence.

Basal plasma oxytocin & fecal cortisol concentrations are highly heritable and associated with individual differences in behavior & cognition in dog puppies.

Oxytocin and cortisol are hormones that can influence cognition and behavior, but the relationships between endogenous concentrations and individual differences in cognitive and behavioral phenotypes remain poorly understood. Across mammals, oxytocin has important roles in diverse social behaviors, and in dogs, it has been implicated in human-oriented behaviors such as social gaze and point-following. Cortisol, an end-product of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, is often studied in relation to temperament and emotional reactivity, but it is also known to modulate executive functions.

Barriers and facilitators of deceased organ donation among Muslims living globally: An integrative systematic review.

Aim: To identify the barriers and facilitators of deceased organ donation among the Muslim community living globally.

Method: A systematic search was undertaken in databases such as CINAHL, Medline with full text, Global Health and PsycINFO via EBSCO; Scopus via Elsevier; Web of Science via Clarivate; and PubMed via US National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health were used to retrieve the studies on the 31st of December 2023. Apart from these databases two other journals, the Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation, and the Journal of Experimental and Clinical Transplantation were also used to search for relevant studies.

Temporal patterns of gut microbiota in lemurs (Eulemur rubriventer) living in intact and disturbed habitats in a novel sample type.

The gut microbiome is a plastic phenotype; gut microbial composition is highly variable across an individual host's lifetime and between host social groups, and this variation has consequences for host health. However, we do not yet fully understand how longitudinal microbial dynamics and their social drivers may be influenced by ecological stressors, such as habitat degradation. Answering these questions is difficult in most wild animal systems, as it requires long-term collections of matched host, microbiome, and environmental trait data.

Enhancing Pragmatic Language skills for Young children with Social communication difficulties (E-PLAYS-2) trial: study protocol for a cluster-randomised controlled trial evaluating a computerised intervention to promote communicative development and collaborative skills in young children.

Background: A number of children experience difficulties with social communication and this has long-term deleterious effects on their mental health, social development and education. The E-PLAYS-2 study will test an intervention ('E-PLAYS') aimed at supporting such children. E-PLAYS uses a dyadic computer game to develop collaborative and communication skills.

The impact of COVID-19 on the changes in health behaviours among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities in the United Kingdom (UK): a scoping review.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to changes in health behaviours, which include eating patterns and nutrition, smoking, alcohol consumption, sleeping patterns, physical activity and sedentary behaviour. There is a dearth of evidence reporting the impact of COVID-19 on the health behaviour of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities. This scoping review synthesises the available evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on the changes in health behaviours among BAME communities in the UK.

Barriers and facilitators of deceased organ donation among Muslims living globally: protocol for an integrative systematic review using narrative synthesis.

Introduction: Muslims have been shown to have less favourable attitudes towards organ donation and are less likely to consent to donate their organs. While several studies have been undertaken globally to identify the barriers and facilitators of organ donation, no systematic review has synthesised this evidence to date. Therefore, this systematic review aims to identify the barriers and facilitators of organ donation among Muslims living globally.

'A team around the child' professionals' experiences of unmet needs, access and expectations in children's palliative care services, a phenomenological study in the UK.

This study aims to understand the experiences of professionals involved in caring for families of children with life-limiting illnesses to ascertain unmet needs, access issues and expectations of services.A phenomenological approach comprising semi-structured interviews with professionals from various services was used. Interviews that happened between July and November 2018 were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed based on descriptive phenomenology.

Knowledge, perceived risk, and attitudes towards COVID-19 protective measures amongst ethnic minorities in the UK: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Minority ethnic groups are at increased risk of COVID-19 related mortality or morbidity yet continue to have a disproportionally lower uptake of the vaccine. The importance of adherence to prevention and control measures to keep vulnerable populations and their families safe therefore remains crucial. This research sought to examine the knowledge, perceived risk, and attitudes toward COVID-19 among an ethnically diverse community.

Finger-Prick Autologous Blood (FAB) Eye Drops for Dry Eye Disease: Single Masked Multi-Centre Randomised Controlled Trial.

Purpose: To investigate the quantitative and qualitative efficacy of finger-prick autologous blood (FAB) eye drops versus conventional medical therapy for the treatment of severe dry eye disease (DED).

Methods: Two centre, single masked, randomised controlled trial. Sixty patients in total were recruited with thirty patients (sixty eyes) treated with FAB eye drops four times per day in addition to their conventional DED treatment, and thirty patients (fifty-eight eyes) served as control subjects on conventional treatment alone.

Examining the influences on the use of behavioural science within UK local authority public health: Qualitative thematic analysis and deductive mapping to the COM-B model and Theoretical Domains Framework.

Background: Behavioural science and its contribution towards improving public health is receiving increased recognition. Yet, the translation of these insights into public health practice is under-researched. This study explored the factors influencing the use of behavioural science within public health at a local authority level.

Molecular Mechanisms of Desensitization Underlying the Differential Effects of Formyl Peptide Receptor 2 Agonists on Cardiac Structure-Function Post Myocardial Infarction.

Formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) plays an integral role in the transition of macrophages from a pro-inflammatory program to one that is pro-resolving. FPR2-mediated stimulation of resolution post myocardial infarction has demonstrated efficacy in rodent models and is hypothesized to reduce progression into heart failure. FPR2 agonists that promote long-lasting receptor internalization can lead to persistent desensitization and diminished therapeutic benefits.

Discovery of BMS-986339, a Pharmacologically Differentiated Farnesoid X Receptor Agonist for the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.

While several farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonists under clinical investigation for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) have shown beneficial effects, adverse effects such as pruritus and elevation of plasma lipids have limited their clinical efficacy and approvability. Herein, we report the discovery and preclinical evaluation of compound (BMS-986339), a nonbile acid FXR agonist with a pharmacologically distinct profile relative to our previously reported agonist BMS-986318. Compound exhibited potent in vitro and in vivo activation of FXR, albeit with a context-dependent profile that resulted in tissue-selective effects in vivo.

Barriers towards deceased organ donation among Indians living globally: an integrative systematic review using narrative synthesis.

Objectives: To understand the barriers towards deceased organ donation among Indians living globally.

Design: Integrative systematic review using narrative synthesis.

Data Sources: CINAHL, Medline full-text, PsycInfo, Scopus, Global Health, Web of Science, and PubMed Central, and Google Scholar.

Vaccination against COVID-19: Factors That Influence Vaccine Hesitancy among an Ethnically Diverse Community in the UK.

The UK's minority ethnic population, despite being at higher risk of COVID-19 and experiencing poorer health outcomes, continue to have lower uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine compared with their white British counterparts. Given the importance of the vaccination programme in improving health outcomes, this research sought to examine the influential factors that impact the decision to accept the COVID-19 vaccination among an ethnically diverse community. A total of 1058 residents from Luton, UK, a large town with an ethnically diverse population, completed a community survey.