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Powell A, Goldstein J, Lucas E, Long J, Mirhadi A, Loy B. The Association Between Use of Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer and Treatment Completion. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.07.1059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Turner J, Knowles E, Simpson R, Sampson F, Dixon S, Long J, Bell-Gorrod H, Jacques R, Coster J, Yang H, Nicholl J, Bath P, Fall D. Impact of NHS 111 Online on the NHS 111 telephone service and urgent care system: a mixed-methods study. HEALTH SERVICES AND DELIVERY RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.3310/hsdr09210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
The NHS emergency and urgent care system is under pressure as demand for services increases each year. NHS 111 is a telephone triage service designed to provide advice and signposting to appropriate services for people with urgent health-care problems. A new service, NHS 111 Online, has been introduced across England as a digital alternative that can be accessed using a website or a smartphone application. The effects and usefulness of this service are unknown.
Objectives
To explore the impact of NHS 111 Online on the related telephone service and urgent care system activity and the experiences of people who use those services.
Design and methods
A mixed-methods design of five related work packages comprising an evidence review; a quantitative before-and-after time series analysis of changes in call activity (18/38 sites); a descriptive comparison of telephone and online services with qualitative survey (telephone, n = 795; online, n = 3728) and interview (32 participants) studies of service users; a qualitative interview study (16 participants) of staff; and a cost–consequences analysis.
Results
The online service had little impact on the number of triaged calls to the NHS 111 telephone service. For every 1000 online contacts, triaged telephone calls increased by 1.3% (1.013, 95% confidence interval 0.996 to 1.029; p = 0.127). Recommendations to attend emergency and urgent care services increased between 6.7% and 4.2%. NHS 111 Online users were less satisfied than users of the telephone service (50% vs. 71%; p < 0.001), and less likely to recommend to others (57% vs. 69%; p < 0.001) and to report full compliance with the advice given (67.5% vs. 88%; p < 0.001). Online users were less likely to report contacting emergency services and more likely to report not making any contact with a health service (31% vs. 16%; p < 0.001) within 7 days of contact. Thirty-five per cent of online users reported that they did not want to use the telephone service, whereas others preferred its convenience and speed. NHS 111 telephone staff reported no discernible increase or decrease in their workload during the first year of operation of NHS 111 Online. If online and telephone services operate in parallel, then the annual costs will be higher unless ≥ 38% of telephone contacts move to online contacts.
Conclusions
There is some evidence that the new service has the potential to create new demand. The service has expanded significantly, so it is important to find ways of promoting the right balance in numbers of people who use the online service instead of the telephone service if it is to be effective. There is a clear need and preference by some people for an online service. Better information about when to use this service and improvements to questioning may encourage more uptake.
Limitations
The lack of control arm means that impact could have been an effect of other factors. This work took place during the early implementation phase, so findings may change as the service expands.
Future work
Further development of the online triage process to make it more ‘user friendly’ and to enable users to trust the advice given online could improve use and increase satisfaction. Better understanding of the characteristics of the telephone and online populations could help identify who is most likely to benefit and could improve information about when to use the service.
Trial registration
Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN51801112.
Funding
This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Services and Delivery Research programme and will be published in full in Health Services and Delivery Research; Vol. 9, No. 21. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.
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Drabble SJ, Long J, Alele B, O’Cathain A. Constellations of pain: a qualitative study of the complexity of women's endometriosis-related pain. Br J Pain 2021; 15:345-356. [PMID: 34377460 PMCID: PMC8339952 DOI: 10.1177/2049463720961413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Prior research into endometriosis-related pain has focused on specific aspects of the pain experience such as cyclical pain, emotional aspects of pain and certain types of pain such as dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia. However, research has paid less attention to the diversity and complexity of women's pain experiences, which can lead to failure to recognise some symptoms as part of endometriosis and poor symptom management. METHODS We conducted qualitative semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 20 women in the United Kingdom recruited from an endometriosis self-help group with a diagnosis of endometriosis via laparoscopy. A topic guide framed questions around experiences of pain. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS Women experienced multiple types of pain that they felt were caused by endometriosis and affected many different parts of the body including bowel, bladder, lungs, kidneys, nerves, upper body, lower limbs and head. These pains consisted of different conceptual categories: type, pattern and intensity. These categories came together to create a complex, interrelated experience for each individual that we termed 'constellations of pain' because each woman had a complex set of pain categories and no two individuals appeared to have the same pain experience. CONCLUSION The complexity and diversity of endometriosis-related pain found in this study has implications for improving diagnosis, medical and non-medical pain management and improving the clinical encounter between women and healthcare professionals.
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Xie H, Zhou L, Liu F, Long J, Yan S, Xie Y, Hu X, Li J. Autophagy induction regulates aquaporin 3-mediated skin fibroblasts aging. Br J Dermatol 2021; 186:318-333. [PMID: 34319590 DOI: 10.1111/bjd.20662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long- and short-term ultraviolet (UV) exposure have distinct biological effects on human fibroblasts. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the biological effects of UV exposure on human skin fibroblasts. METHOD We subjected human skin fibroblast cells with or without AQP3, DEDD, or Beclin1 manipulation to UVA treatment and evaluated autophagy and senescence/aging in them. RESULTS Short-term UVA irradiation induced autophagy and upregulated AQP3 but not senescence, whereas long-term UVA irradiation inhibited autophagy, AQP3, and senescence/aging in vitro and in vivo. Silencing AQP3 abolished short-term UVA irradiation-induced autophagy and led to cellular senescence, whereas AQP3 overexpression partially rescued the senescence and autophagy inhibition induced by long-term UVA exposure in vitro. Mechanistically, the transcription factor JUN was found to bind to the AQP3 promoter to activate its transcription following short-term UVA exposure. Subsequently, AQP3 interacted with DEDD to induce its ubiquitination-mediated degradation and promote autophagy, and bound to Beclin1 to directly activate autophagy. Finally, autophagy induced by AQP3 overexpression robustly prevented UVA-induced senescence/aging in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Thus, our study indicates that AQP3 controls skin fibroblasts photoaging by regulating autophagy and represents a potential target for future interventions against skin aging.
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Zheng A, Kira M, Adam RD, Papageorgiou P, Shambrook J, Abbas A, Vedwan K, Long J, Walkden M, Harden S, Peebles C, Flett AS. Characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients with reduced ejection fraction referred for adenosine stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/jeab090.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: None.
Background
Adenosine stress perfusion has been shown to be of minimal incremental benefit in distinguishing between ischaemic and non-ischaemic aetiology of severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) over and above that obtained from Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) with Late Gadolinium Enhancement (LGE). Stress CMR has, however, been shown to be effective in risk-stratifying LVSD patients, with ischaemia being an independent predictor of cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction (MI) and associated with higher rates of further intervention.
Purpose
Evaluate real world data from a single tertiary UK cardiac MRI centre to determine the characteristics and long-term clinical outcomes of patients with LVSD referred for stress CMR.
Methods
As part of an ongoing registry, all consenting patients with Ejection Fraction (EF) ≤40% and a completed adenosine stress perfusion CMR between January 2015 and December 2019 were included with prospective baseline data collection. All-cause mortality and cardiac hospitalisation, coronary angiography/revascularisation was determined from electronic hospital records. Outcomes were compared between the inducible ischaemia vs. no ischaemia groups, and LGE present vs. no LGE groups using chi square.
Results
The sample included 86 patients. The mean EF was 32 ± 6%. Median follow up was 3.8 years (range 41-2222 days). The indications for CMR were: 30 (35%) assess ischaemia, 35 (41%) assess LVSD aetiology and 21 (24%) LVSD assess viability.
Inducible ischemia was present in 30 (35%) patients and absent in 56 (65%). Patient characteristics and outcomes are shown in Table 1. Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups but there was a higher rate of hypertension and ischaemic heart disease in the ischaemia group. There was a non-significant difference in combined mortality and cardiac hospitalisation rates between the groups (40% vs. 27% p = 0.20).
LGE was present in 69 (80%) patients (28 with ischaemia; 41 without) and absent in 17 (20%, 2 with ischaemia, 15 without). The event rate was 23 (33%) vs. 4 (24%) between LGE vs. No LGE groups (p = 0.44). Of the 15 patients (17%) with no LGE or ischaemia; 2 died and 1 was hospitalised, there were no MI"s and no Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI).
The lack of statistical difference in event rates between ischaemia and no ischaemia groups may be due to our relatively small sample size or could reflect the effectiveness of contemporary disease modifying treatment for Heart Failure with reduced EF.
Conclusion
This real-world data supports published findings that in patients with LVSD and no LGE on CMR, ischaemia is very uncommon and stress CMR is unlikely to increase diagnostic yield. Conversely, if stress CMR is performed and ischaemia is absent, incidence of subsequent angiography and revascularisation is very low, which is reassuring in clinical practice. In those patients without ischaemia and LGE, likelihood of MI is low.
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Doelman DS, Snik F, Por EH, Bos SP, Otten GPPL, Kenworthy M, Haffert SY, Wilby M, Bohn AJ, Sutlieff BJ, Miller K, Ouellet M, de Boer J, Keller CU, Escuti MJ, Shi S, Warriner NZ, Hornburg K, Birkby JL, Males J, Morzinski KM, Close LM, Codona J, Long J, Schatz L, Lumbres J, Rodack A, Van Gorkom K, Hedglen A, Guyon O, Lozi J, Groff T, Chilcote J, Jovanovic N, Thibault S, de Jonge C, Allain G, Vallée C, Patel D, Côté O, Marois C, Hinz P, Stone J, Skemer A, Briesemeister Z, Boehle A, Glauser AM, Taylor W, Baudoz P, Huby E, Absil O, Carlomagno B, Delacroix C. Vector-apodizing phase plate coronagraph: design, current performance, and future development [Invited]. APPLIED OPTICS 2021; 60:D52-D72. [PMID: 34263828 DOI: 10.1364/ao.422155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Over the last decade, the vector-apodizing phase plate (vAPP) coronagraph has been developed from concept to on-sky application in many high-contrast imaging systems on 8 m class telescopes. The vAPP is a geometric-phase patterned coronagraph that is inherently broadband, and its manufacturing is enabled only by direct-write technology for liquid-crystal patterns. The vAPP generates two coronagraphic point spread functions (PSFs) that cancel starlight on opposite sides of the PSF and have opposite circular polarization states. The efficiency, that is, the amount of light in these PSFs, depends on the retardance offset from a half-wave of the liquid-crystal retarder. Using different liquid-crystal recipes to tune the retardance, different vAPPs operate with high efficiencies (${\gt}96\%$) in the visible and thermal infrared (0.55 µm to 5 µm). Since 2015, seven vAPPs have been installed in a total of six different instruments, including Magellan/MagAO, Magellan/MagAO-X, Subaru/SCExAO, and LBT/LMIRcam. Using two integral field spectrographs installed on the latter two instruments, these vAPPs can provide low-resolution spectra (${\rm{R}} \sim 30$) between 1 µm and 5 µm. We review the design process, development, commissioning, on-sky performance, and first scientific results of all commissioned vAPPs. We report on the lessons learned and conclude with perspectives for future developments and applications.
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Shi QS, Zhang YH, Long J, Qian ZL, Hu CX. SSH3 promotes malignant progression of HCC by activating FGF1-mediated FGF/FGFR pathway. EUROPEAN REVIEW FOR MEDICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2021; 24:11561-11568. [PMID: 33275222 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202011_23797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of silencing SSH3 on the expression of FGF/FGFR pathway-related genes FGF1, FGFR1, and FGFR2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line, so as to further understand the role of SSH3 in proliferation and apoptosis of HCC cells. PATIENTS AND METHODS TWe first detected SSH3 expression in 51 pairs of tumor tissue specimens and adjacent tissues collected from HCC patients through quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) and analyzed the interplay between SSH3 expression and clinical characteristics of HCC patients. In vitro, after SSH3-silenced human HCC cell line was constructed by lentiviral transfection, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), cell cloning assay, and flow apoptosis methods were conducted to explore the HCC cell functions. Finally, whether SSH3 exerts its biological characteristics through the FGF/FGFR pathway and the mutual regulation mechanism between SSH3 and FGF1 were further uncovered. RESULTS It was found that SSH3 expression was remarkably higher in tumor tissues of HCC patients than that in normal tissues. Meanwhile, in comparison to patients with low expression of SSH3, patients with high expression of SSH3 had higher pathological grade and larger tumor size. In addition, after silencing SSH3, HCC cell proliferation ability was attenuated while the apoptosis ability was enhanced in comparison to the control group. Moreover, the protein levels of FGF1/FGFR pathway-related genes FGF1, FGFR1, and FGFR2 were markedly inhibited by the downregulation of SSH3. Meanwhile, cell recovery experiment demonstrated that the overexpression of FGF1 reversed the impact of SSH3 silencing on the proliferation and apoptosis of HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS In summary, SSH3 is capable of accelerating the malignant progression of HCC by activating FGF1-mediated FGF/FGFR pathway, thus becoming a new molecular target for HCC therapy.
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Sarnowski C, Cousminer DL, Franceschini N, Raffield LM, Jia G, Fernández-Rhodes L, Grant SFA, Hakonarson H, Lange LA, Long J, Sofer T, Tao R, Wallace RB, Wong Q, Zirpoli G, Boerwinkle E, Bradfield JP, Correa A, Kooperberg CL, North KE, Palmer JR, Zemel BS, Zheng W, Murabito JM, Lunetta KL. Large trans-ethnic meta-analysis identifies AKR1C4 as a novel gene associated with age at menarche. Hum Reprod 2021; 36:1999-2010. [PMID: 34021356 PMCID: PMC8213450 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deab086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Does the expansion of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to a broader range of ancestries improve the ability to identify and generalise variants associated with age at menarche (AAM) in European populations to a wider range of world populations? SUMMARY ANSWER By including women with diverse and predominantly non-European ancestry in a large-scale meta-analysis of AAM with half of the women being of African ancestry, we identified a new locus associated with AAM in African-ancestry participants, and generalised loci from GWAS of European ancestry individuals. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY AAM is a highly polygenic puberty trait associated with various diseases later in life. Both AAM and diseases associated with puberty timing vary by race or ethnicity. The majority of GWAS of AAM have been performed in European ancestry women. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION We analysed a total of 38 546 women who did not have predominantly European ancestry backgrounds: 25 149 women from seven studies from the ReproGen Consortium and 13 397 women from the UK Biobank. In addition, we used an independent sample of 5148 African-ancestry women from the Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS) for replication. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Each AAM GWAS was performed by study and ancestry or ethnic group using linear regression models adjusted for birth year and study-specific covariates. ReproGen and UK Biobank results were meta-analysed using an inverse variance-weighted average method. A trans-ethnic meta-analysis was also carried out to assess heterogeneity due to different ancestry. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE We observed consistent direction and effect sizes between our meta-analysis and the largest GWAS conducted in European or Asian ancestry women. We validated four AAM loci (1p31, 6q16, 6q22 and 9q31) with common genetic variants at P < 5 × 10-7. We detected one new association (10p15) at P < 5 × 10-8 with a low-frequency genetic variant lying in AKR1C4, which was replicated in an independent sample. This gene belongs to a family of enzymes that regulate the metabolism of steroid hormones and have been implicated in the pathophysiology of uterine diseases. The genetic variant in the new locus is more frequent in African-ancestry participants, and has a very low frequency in Asian or European-ancestry individuals. LARGE SCALE DATA N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Extreme AAM (<9 years or >18 years) were excluded from analysis. Women may not fully recall their AAM as most of the studies were conducted many years later. Further studies in women with diverse and predominantly non-European ancestry are needed to confirm and extend these findings, but the availability of such replication samples is limited. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Expanding association studies to a broader range of ancestries or ethnicities may improve the identification of new genetic variants associated with complex diseases or traits and the generalisation of variants from European-ancestry studies to a wider range of world populations. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) Funding was provided by CHARGE Consortium grant R01HL105756-07: Gene Discovery For CVD and Aging Phenotypes and by the NIH grant U24AG051129 awarded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA). The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
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Long J, Knowles E, Bishop-Edwards L, O'Cathain A. Understanding young adults' reasons for seeking 'clinically unnecessary' urgent and emergency care: A qualitative interview study. Health Expect 2021; 24:1535-1544. [PMID: 34118177 PMCID: PMC8369113 DOI: 10.1111/hex.13301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Studies have identified young adults as more likely to use emergency departments for ‘clinically unnecessary’ problems, with limited similar evidence for emergency ambulance use. Media portrayals depict young adults as motivated by ‘convenience’, but little research has explored the reasons for their help‐seeking behaviour. Methods Qualitative interviews with 16 young adults (18‐30) considered by clinicians to have made unnecessary use of emergency ambulance, emergency department or an urgent GP appointment. Data analysis was informed by interpretive phenomenological analysis. Findings A number of interrelated factors contributed to participants’ decisions. They were anxious about the seriousness of their symptoms, sometimes exacerbated by reduced coping capacity due to poor mental health or life stresses. They looked to others to facilitate their decision making, who sometimes encouraged urgent contact. They wanted to avoid impact on existing day‐to‐day commitments including work or study. They had strong views about different health services, sometimes based on frustration with lack of resolution of on‐going health problems. Convenience was not identified as a significant factor, although some actions could be interpreted in this light if the context was not considered. Conclusions Young adults make ‘clinically unnecessary’ use of urgent and emergency care for more than convenience. Their decisions need to be understood in relation to the complexity of their experience, including lack of confidence in making health‐related decisions, lowered coping capacity and concern to maintain normal daily life.
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Kulakova A, Bilyachenko A, Korlyukov A, Levitsky M, Long J, Guari Y, Larionova J. Novel carbonate/pyridine tetranuclear nickel complex, exhibiting slow relaxation of the magnetization. J Organomet Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jorganchem.2021.121815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Bentellis I, Morrone A, Mellouki A, Chevallier D, Doumerc N, Morgan R, Nouhaud F, Lecable C, Long J, Shaikh A, Billi M, Pillot P, Tillou X, Bernhard J, Bensalah K, Tibi B, Durand M, Ahallal Y. Transfer trial: Ancillary study within the UroCCR network. Does the transfer of knowledge from the pioneer generation to the second generation accelerate the learning curve of Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomies (RAPN)? Eur Urol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/s0302-2838(21)00962-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Aprile E, Aalbers J, Agostini F, Ahmed Maouloud S, Alfonsi M, Althueser L, Amaro FD, Andaloro S, Antochi VC, Angelino E, Angevaare JR, Arneodo F, Baudis L, Bauermeister B, Bellagamba L, Benabderrahmane ML, Brown A, Brown E, Bruenner S, Bruno G, Budnik R, Capelli C, Cardoso JMR, Cichon D, Cimmino B, Clark M, Coderre D, Colijn AP, Conrad J, Cuenca J, Cussonneau JP, Decowski MP, Depoian A, Di Gangi P, Di Giovanni A, Di Stefano R, Diglio S, Elykov A, Ferella AD, Fulgione W, Gaemers P, Gaior R, Galloway M, Gao F, Grandi L, Hils C, Hiraide K, Hoetzsch L, Howlett J, Iacovacci M, Itow Y, Joerg F, Kato N, Kazama S, Kobayashi M, Koltman G, Kopec A, Landsman H, Lang RF, Levinson L, Liang S, Lindemann S, Lindner M, Lombardi F, Long J, Lopes JAM, Ma Y, Macolino C, Mahlstedt J, Mancuso A, Manenti L, Manfredini A, Marignetti F, Marrodán Undagoitia T, Martens K, Masbou J, Masson D, Mastroianni S, Messina M, Miuchi K, Mizukoshi K, Molinario A, Morå K, Moriyama S, Mosbacher Y, Murra M, Naganoma J, Ni K, Oberlack U, Odgers K, Palacio J, Pelssers B, Peres R, Pierre M, Pienaar J, Pizzella V, Plante G, Qi J, Qin J, Ramírez García D, Reichard S, Rocchetti A, Rupp N, Dos Santos JMF, Sartorelli G, Schreiner J, Schulte D, Schulze Eißing H, Schumann M, Scotto Lavina L, Selvi M, Semeria F, Shagin P, Shockley E, Silva M, Simgen H, Takeda A, Therreau C, Thers D, Toschi F, Trinchero G, Tunnell C, Valerius K, Vargas M, Volta G, Wei Y, Weinheimer C, Weiss M, Wenz D, Wittweg C, Wolf T, Xu Z, Yamashita M, Ye J, Zavattini G, Zhang Y, Zhu T, Zopounidis JP. Search for Coherent Elastic Scattering of Solar ^{8}B Neutrinos in the XENON1T Dark Matter Experiment. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2021; 126:091301. [PMID: 33750173 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.126.091301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We report on a search for nuclear recoil signals from solar ^{8}B neutrinos elastically scattering off xenon nuclei in XENON1T data, lowering the energy threshold from 2.6 to 1.6 keV. We develop a variety of novel techniques to limit the resulting increase in backgrounds near the threshold. No significant ^{8}B neutrinolike excess is found in an exposure of 0.6 t×y. For the first time, we use the nondetection of solar neutrinos to constrain the light yield from 1-2 keV nuclear recoils in liquid xenon, as well as nonstandard neutrino-quark interactions. Finally, we improve upon world-leading constraints on dark matter-nucleus interactions for dark matter masses between 3 and 11 GeV c^{-2} by as much as an order of magnitude.
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Smith GE, Long J, Wallace T, Carradice D, Chetter IC. Identifying the research priorities of healthcare professionals in UK vascular surgery: modified Delphi approach. BJS Open 2020; 5:6054052. [PMID: 33688955 PMCID: PMC7944495 DOI: 10.1093/bjsopen/zraa025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Vascular Research Collaborative was established to develop a national research strategy for patients with vascular disease in the UK. This project aimed to establish national research priorities in this patient group. Methods A modified Delphi approach, an established method for reaching a consensus opinion among a group of experts in a particular field, was used to survey national multidisciplinary vascular clinical specialists. Two rounds of online surveys were conducted involving the membership of the Vascular Society, Society of Vascular Nurses, Society for Vascular Technology, and the Rouleaux Club (vascular surgical trainees). The first round invited any suggestions for vascular research topics. A steering group then collated and rationalized the suggestions, categorizing them by consensus into pathological topics and research categories, and amalgamating the various questions relating to the same fundamental issue into a single question. The second round involved recirculating these questions to the same participants for priority scoring. Results Round 1 resulted in 1231 suggested research questions from 481 respondents. Steering group collation and rationalization resulted in 83 questions for ranking in round 2. The second round resulted in a hierarchical list of vascular research priorities. The highest scoring priorities addressed topics related to critical lower-limb ischaemia, diabetic foot disease, amputation, wound healing, carotid plaque morphology, and service organization/delivery. Conclusion It is anticipated that these results will drive the UK national vascular research agenda for the next 5–10 years. It will facilitate focused development and funding of new research projects in current clinical areas of unmet need where potential impact is greatest.
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Jiang H, Jin F, Wu W, Li Y, Long J, Gong X, Chen X. Short-Term Efficacy And Adverse Events Of Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy Combined With Chronomodulated Chemotherapy For Locally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Randomized Phase II Clinical Study. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.07.329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Kamino K, Keegstra JM, Long J, Emonet T, Shimizu TS. Adaptive tuning of cell sensory diversity without changes in gene expression. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/46/eabc1087. [PMID: 33188019 PMCID: PMC7673753 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abc1087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
In the face of uncertainty, cell populations tend to diversify to enhance survival and growth. Previous studies established that cells can optimize such bet hedging upon environmental change by modulating gene expression to adapt both the average and diversity of phenotypes. Here, we demonstrate that cells can tune phenotypic diversity also using posttranslational modifications. In the chemotaxis network of Escherichia coli, we find, for both major chemoreceptors Tar and Tsr, that cell-to-cell variation in response sensitivity is dynamically modulated depending on the presence or absence of their cognate chemoeffector ligands in the environment. Combining experiments with mathematical modeling, we show that this diversity tuning requires only the environment-dependent covalent modification of chemoreceptors and a standing cell-to-cell variation in their allosteric coupling. Thus, when environmental cues are unavailable, phenotypic diversity enhances the population's readiness for many signals. However, once a signal is perceived, the population focuses on tracking that signal.
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Zhou Z, Long J, Chen X, Peng C. 685 Targeted degradation of CD147 proteins in melanoma. J Invest Dermatol 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2020.03.697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Mellouki A, Bentellis I, Morrone A, Doumerc N, Roupret M, Nouhaud F, Lebacle C, Long J, Chevallier D, Tibi B, Durand M, Pillot P, Tillou X, Bernhard J, Ahallal Y. Evaluation of oncological outcomes of robotic partial nephrectomy according to the type of hilar control approach - (on-clamp vs. off-clamp) multicentric Study of the French network of research on kidney cancer - UROCCR-58. EUR UROL SUPPL 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/s2666-1683(20)32701-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
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Tan WP, Boeltzig A, Dulal C, deBoer RJ, Frentz B, Henderson S, Howard KB, Kelmar R, Kolata JJ, Long J, Macon KT, Moylan S, Peaslee GF, Renaud M, Seymour C, Seymour G, Vande Kolk B, Wiescher M, Aguilera EF, Amador-Valenzuela P, Lizcano D, Martinez-Quiroz E. New Measurement of ^{12}C+^{12}C Fusion Reaction at Astrophysical Energies. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2020; 124:192702. [PMID: 32469557 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.124.192702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Carbon and oxygen burning reactions, in particular, ^{12}C+^{12}C fusion, are important for the understanding and interpretation of the late phases of stellar evolution as well as the ignition and nucleosynthesis in cataclysmic binary systems such as type Ia supernovae and x-ray superbursts. A new measurement of this reaction has been performed at the University of Notre Dame using particle-γ coincidence techniques with SAND (a silicon detector array) at the high-intensity 5U Pelletron accelerator. New results for ^{12}C+^{12}C fusion at low energies relevant to nuclear astrophysics are reported. They show strong disagreement with a recent measurement using the indirect Trojan Horse method. The impact on the carbon burning process under astrophysical scenarios will be discussed.
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O’Cathain A, Knowles E, Long J, Connell J, Bishop-Edwards L, Simpson R, Coster J, Abouzeid L, Bennett S, Croot E, Dickson JM, Goodacre S, Hirst E, Jacques R, Phillips M, Turnbull J, Turner J. Drivers of ‘clinically unnecessary’ use of emergency and urgent care: the DEUCE mixed-methods study. HEALTH SERVICES AND DELIVERY RESEARCH 2020. [DOI: 10.3310/hsdr08150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
There is widespread concern about the pressure on emergency and urgent services in the UK, particularly emergency ambulances, emergency departments and same-day general practitioner appointments. A mismatch between supply and demand has led to interest in what can be termed ‘clinically unnecessary’ use of services. This is defined by the research team in this study as ‘patients attending services with problems that are classified as suitable for treatment by a lower urgency service or self-care’. This is a challenging issue to consider because patients may face difficulties when deciding the best action to take, and different staff may make different judgements about what constitutes a legitimate reason for service use.
Objectives
To identify the drivers of ‘clinically unnecessary’ use of emergency ambulances, emergency departments and same-day general practitioner appointments from patient and population perspectives.
Design
This was a sequential mixed-methods study with three components: a realist review; qualitative interviews (n = 48) and focus groups (n = 3) with patients considered ‘clinically unnecessary’ users of these services, focusing on parents of young children, young adults and people in areas of social deprivation; and a population survey (n = 2906) to explore attitudes towards seeking care for unexpected, non-life-threatening health problems and to identify the characteristics of someone with a tendency for ‘clinically unnecessary’ help-seeking.
Results
From the results of the three study components, we found that multiple, interacting drivers influenced individuals’ decision-making. Drivers could be grouped into symptom related, patient related and health service related. Symptom-related drivers were anxiety or need for reassurance, which were caused by uncertainty about the meaning or seriousness of symptoms; concern about the impact of symptoms on daily activities/functioning; and a need for immediate relief of intolerable symptoms, particularly pain. Patient-related drivers were reduced coping capacity as a result of illness, stress or limited resources; fear of consequences when responsible for another person’s health, particularly a child; and the influence of social networks. Health service-related drivers were perceptions or previous experiences of services, particularly the attractions of emergency departments; a lack of timely access to an appropriate general practitioner appointment; and compliance with health service staff’s advice.
Limitations
Difficulty recruiting patients who had used the ambulance service to the interviews and focus groups meant that we were not able to add as much as we had anticipated to the limited evidence base regarding this service.
Conclusions
Patients use emergency ambulances, emergency departments and same-day general practitioner appointments when they may not need the level of clinical care provided by these services for a multitude of inter-related reasons that sometimes differ by population subgroup. Some of these reasons relate to health services, in terms of difficulty accessing general practice leading to use of emergency departments, and to population-learnt behaviour concerning the positive attributes of emergency departments, rather than to patient characteristics. Social circumstances, such as complex and stressful lives, influence help-seeking for all three services. Demand may be ‘clinically unnecessary’ but completely understandable when service accessibility and patients’ social circumstances are considered.
Future work
There is a need to evaluate interventions, including changing service configuration, strengthening general practice and addressing the stressors that have an impact on people’s coping capacity. Different subgroups may require different interventions.
Study registration
This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42017056273.
Funding
This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Services and Delivery Research programme and will be published in full in Health Services and Delivery Research; Vol. 8, No. 15. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.
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Long J, Kreft JU, Camilleri J. Antimicrobial and ultrastructural properties of root canal filling materials exposed to bacterial challenge. J Dent 2020; 93:103283. [PMID: 32014453 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2020.103283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chemo-mechanical preparation of the root canal leaves behind viable bacteria which can lead to treatment failure. Materials used inside the root canal should possess antimicrobial properties and also resist disintegration in the presence of biofilm. METHODS Gutta-percha, three root canal sealers (Pulp Canal Sealer, AH Plus and BioRoot RCS) and materials used to make posts (a metal and a resin) were evaluated. Their antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis in direct contact was assessed by scanning electron microscopy and live-dead staining using confocal microscopy over a period of eight weeks. The materials' structural integrity was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS The antimicrobial activity of the materials varied. The metal alloy posts as well as BioRoot RCS sealer did not allow any biofilm accumulation; but gutta-percha, Pulp Canal Sealer and resin from fibre-reinforced posts encouraged thick biofilm accumulation. Microstructural changes were observed in AH Plus (washout) and BioRoot (crystal deposition) in contact with biofilm. The Pulp Canal and BioRoot RCS sealers exhibited a modified ion leaching pattern in contact with microbially loaded media. CONCLUSIONS The microbial challenge affected the material microstructure in some of the materials tested and allowed biofilm accumulation. Although clinical success depends on a number of factors, materials that are structurally sound and exhibit antimicrobial properties are preferable for endodontic therapy and tooth restoration involving entry in the root canal.
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Spampinato C, Pizzone R, Spartà R, Couder M, Tan W, Burian V, Chae K, D’Agata G, Guardo G, Indelicato I, Cognata ML, Lamia L, Lattuada D, Mrazek J, Oliva A, Palmerini S, Prajapati P, Rapisarda G, Romano S, Sergi M, Spitaleri C, Tumino A, Wiescher M, Anguilar S, Bardyan D, Blankstein D, Boccioli L, Callahan L, Clark A, Frentz B, Hall M, Gula A, Henderson S, Kelmar R, Liu Q, Long J, Majumdar A, McGuinness S, Nelson A, O’Malley P, Seyymour C, Skulski M, Wilkinson J. Study of 3He(n,p) 3H reaction at cosmological energies with trojan horse method. EPJ WEB OF CONFERENCES 2020. [DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/202022702013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In the network of reactions present in the Big Bang nucleosynthesis, the 3He(n, p)3H has an important role which impacts the final 7Li abundance. The Trojan Horse Method (THM) has been applied to the 3He(d, pt)H reaction in order to extract the astrophysical S(E)-factor of the 3He(n, p)3H in the Gamow energy range. The experiment will be described in the present work together with the first preliminary results.
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Leung K, Ahmed M, Alarcon R, Aleksandrova A, Baeßler S, Barrón-Palos L, Bartoszek L, Beck D, Behzadipour M, Bessuille J, Blatnik M, Broering M, Broussard L, Busch M, Carr R, Chu PH, Cianciolo V, Clayton S, Cooper M, Crawford C, Currie S, Daurer C, Dipert R, Dow K, Dutta D, Efremenko Y, Erickson C, Filippone B, Fomin N, Gao H, Golub R, Gould C, Greene G, Haase D, Hasell D, Hawari A, Hayden M, Holley A, Holt R, Huffman P, Ihloff E, Ito T, Kelsey J, Kim Y, Korobkina E, Korsch W, Lamoreaux S, Leggett E, Lipman A, Liu CY, Long J, MacDonald S, Makela M, Matlashov A, Maxwell J, McCrea M, Mendenhall M, Meyer H, Milner R, Mueller P, Nouri N, O'Shaughnessy C, Osthelder C, Peng JC, Penttila S, Phan N, Plaster B, Ramsey J, Rao T, Redwine R, Reid A, Saftah A, Seidel G, Silvera I, Slutsky S, Smith E, Snow W, Sondheim W, Sosothikul S, Stanislaus T, Sun X, Swank C, Tang Z, Dinani RT, Tsentalovich E, Vidal C, Wei W, White C, Williamson S, Yang L, Yao W, Young A. The neutron electric dipole moment experiment at the Spallation Neutron Source. EPJ WEB OF CONFERENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/201921902005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel experimental techniques are required to make the next big leap in neutron electric dipole moment experimental sensitivity, both in terms of statistics and systematic error control. The nEDM experiment at the Spallation Neutron Source (nEDM@SNS) will implement the scheme of Golub & Lamoreaux [Phys. Rep., 237, 1 (1994)]. The unique properties of combining polarized ultracold neutrons, polarized 3He, and superfluid 4He will be exploited to provide a sensitivity to ∼ 10−28 e · cm. Our cryogenic apparatus will deploy two small (3 L) measurement cells with a high density of ultracold neutrons produced and spin analyzed in situ. The electric field strength, precession time, magnetic shielding, and detected UCN number will all be enhanced compared to previous room temperature Ramsey measurements. Our 3He co-magnetometer offers unique control of systematic effects, in particular the Bloch-Siegert induced false EDM. Furthermore, there will be two distinct measurement modes: free precession and dressed spin. This will provide an important self-check of our results. Following five years of “critical component demonstration,” our collaboration transitioned to a “large scale integration” phase in 2018. An overview of our measurement techniques, experimental design, and brief updates are described in these proceedings.
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Long J, Xiang J, He T, Zhang N, Pan W. Gut microbiota differences during metamorphosis in sick and healthy giant spiny frogs (Paa spinosa) tadpoles. Lett Appl Microbiol 2019; 70:109-117. [PMID: 31755992 DOI: 10.1111/lam.13251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 11/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Gut microbiota plays important roles in host nutrition, immunity, development and health; therefore, disruption of the gut microbiota is closely associated with development of diseases in the host. In amphibians, metamorphosis is associated not only with extensive changes in the gut microbiota, but also with high mortality. Therefore, we hypothesized that unsuccessful restructuring of the gut microbiota during metamorphosis was an important factor that caused the fatalities. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the gut microbiota of apparently sick and healthy giant spiny frog tadpoles during metamorphosis, using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Our results showed that most dominant phyla differed significantly among developmental stages of sick and healthy Paa spinosa tadpoles. The differences in the dominant genera in sick and healthy tadpoles were the highest at the stage of degeneration of cloacal tube (TDCT). After the metamorphosis, the composition of the gut microbiota was more alike between healthy and sick tadpoles at the stage of forelimb emergence than at TDCT. These results imply that failed restructuring of the gut microbiota during metamorphosis caused the death of P. spinosa tadpoles. These results provided an important reference to prevent the high actual of P. spinosa tadpoles during metamorphosis. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: We investigated the gut microbiota of apparently sick and healthy giant spiny frog (Paa spinosa) tadpoles during metamorphosis, using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Our results showed that the differences in the dominant genera in sick and healthy tadpoles were the highest at the stage of degeneration of cloacal tube. After the metamorphosis, the composition of the gut microbiota was alike between healthy and sick tadpoles. These results imply that failed restructuring of the gut microbiota during metamorphosis caused the death of P. spinosa tadpoles.
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Shi Y, Fang J, Shu Y, Wang D, Yu H, Zhao Y, Zhang L, Zhu B, Li X, Chen G, Shi J, Zheng R, Huang J, Yang S, Long J, Gao W, Greco M, Hu G, Li X. OA01.08 A Phase I Study to Evaluate Safety and Antitumor Activity of BPI-7711 in EGFRM+/T790M+ Advanced or Recurrent NSCLC Patients. J Thorac Oncol 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2019.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Shi Y, Fang J, Shu Y, Wang D, Yu H, Zhao Y, Zhang L, Zhu B, Li X, Chen G, Shi J, Zheng R, Huang J, Yang S, Long J, Gao W, Greco M, Hu G, Li X. A phase I study to evaluate safety and efficacy of BPI-7711 in EGFRm+/T790M+ advanced or recurrent NSCLC patients. Ann Oncol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdz437.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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