Since the advent of political devolution in the UK, it has been widely reported that markedly different health policies have emerged. However, most of these analyses are based on a comparison of ...health care policies and, as such, only tell part of a complex and evolving story. This paper considers official responses to a shared public health policy aim, the reduction of health inequalities, through an examination of national policy statements produced in England, Scotland and Wales respectively since 1997. The analysis suggests that the relatively consistent manner in which the `policy problem' of health inequalities has been framed combined with the dominance of a medical model of health have constrained policy responses. Our findings differ from existing analyses, raising some important questions about the actuality of, and scope for, policy divergence since devolution.
Hyperresponsive B Cells in CD22-Deficient Mice O'Keefe, Theresa L.; Williams, Gareth T.; Davies, Sarah L. ...
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science),
11/1996, Letnik:
274, Številka:
5288
Journal Article
Recenzirano
CD22 is a surface glycoprotein of B lymphocytes that is rapidly phosphorylated on cytoplasmic tyrosines after antigen receptor cross-linking. Splenic B cells from mice with a disrupted CD22 gene were ...found to be hyperresponsive to receptor signaling: Heightened calcium fluxes and cell proliferation were obtained at lower ligand concentrations. The mice gave an augmented immune response, had an expanded peritoneal B-1 cell population, and contained increased serum titers of autoantibody. Thus, CD22 is a negative regulator of antigen receptor signaling whose onset of expression at the mature B cell stage may serve to raise the antigen concentration threshold required for B cell triggering.
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► Cu(II) was attached to provide affinity properties to thermo-sensitive polymer. ► Cation-loaded copolymer was employed as affinity macroligand. ► Thermo-sensitive macroligand was ...used for adsorption and elution of protein. ► Precipitation was induced by temperature after protein adsorption.
This investigation involves the metal chelate affinity precipitation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) using a copper ion loaded thermo-sensitive copolymer. The copolymer of N-vinylcaprolactam with methacrylic acid PNVCL-co-MAA was synthesized by free radical polymerization in aqueous solution, and Cu(II) ions were attached to provide affinity properties for BSA. A maximum loading of 48.1mg Cu2+ per gram of polymer was attained. The influence of pH, temperature, BSA and NaCl concentrations on BSA precipitation and of pH, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and NaCl concentrations on elution were systematically probed. The optimum conditions for BSA precipitation occurred when pH, temperature and BSA concentration were 6.0, 10°C and 1.0mg/ml, respectively and the most favorable elution conditions were at pH 4.0, with 0.2M NaCl and 0.06M EDTA. The maximum amounts of BSA precipitation and elution were 37.5 and 33.7mg BSA/g polymer, respectively. It proved possible to perform multiple precipitation/elution cycles with a minimal loss of polymer efficacy. The results show that PNVCL-co-MAA is a suitable matrix for the purification of target proteins from unfractionated materials.
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis infection, is a zoonotic disease in cattle that represents a significant ongoing challenge to cattle farming productivity and the livelihoods ...of livestock farmers in the UK. Vaccination of cattle with BCG could directly target the ability of M. bovis to proliferate within vaccinates, restricting bTB pathogenesis and onward disease transmission, and represent a step change in the tools available to help control bTB in farmed cattle. A Marketing Authorisation (MA) is required before a cattle BCG vaccine could be sold and supplied as a veterinary medicine within the UK and this requires comprehensive data supporting vaccine quality, efficacy and, most importantly, its safety. We carried out two independent Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) studies in which the safety of BCG vaccination in cattle was stringently tested through overdose and repeat vaccine administrations in young calves and pregnant heifers. Mild and generally short-lived reactions to vaccinations were observed in some animals, most commonly increases in body temperature and swelling at vaccine injection sites, but these did not have a negative impact on the overall health status of vaccinates. BCG was not shed in the saliva, faeces, milk or urine from vaccinated animals and its dissemination was limited to injection site tissues and associated lymph nodes. Overall, young calves and pregnant heifers vaccinated with BCG remained in good general health, and the vaccinated pregnant heifers had normal pregnancies and gave birth to healthy calves. Obtaining a Marketing Authorisation for a cattle BCG vaccine is a critical milestone in the progress towards the eventual use of BCG vaccination in cattle as an additional bTB control tool within the UK; these pivotal GLP vaccine safety studies generated the detailed and essential target animal safety data needed to support this.
The ion exchange intercalation of two Gd-based magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents into hydroxy double salts (HDSs) is reported. The presence of Gd(3+) diethylenetriaminepentaacetate and ...Gd(3+) diethylenetriaminepenta(methylenephosphonate) complexes in the HDS lattice after intercalation was confirmed by microwave plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy. The structural aspects of the HDS-Gd composites were studied by X-ray diffraction, with the intercalates having an interlayer spacing of 14.5-18.6 Å. Infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of characteristic vibration peaks associated with the Gd(3+) complexes in the intercalation compounds. The proton relaxivities of the Gd(3+) complex-loaded composites were 2 to 5-fold higher in longitudinal relaxivity, and up to 10-fold higher in transverse relaxivity, compared to solutions of the pure complexes. These data demonstrate that the new composites reported here are potentially potent MRI contrast agents.
Introduction
The UNAIDS 90‐90‐90 targets for the cascade of care are widely used to monitor the success of HIV care programmes but there are few studies in children. We assessed the cascade for ...children and adolescents living with HIV in the national Collaborative HIV Paediatric Study (CHIPS) in the UK and Ireland.
Methods
Utilizing longitudinal data from CHIPS we compared the cascade of care for 2010, 2013 and 2016. Among children diagnosed with HIV and not known to be lost to follow‐up at the start of each calendar year, we summarized the proportion in active paediatric care during that year (defined as having ≥1 clinic visit, CD4 or viral load measurement, or change to antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen), and of these, the proportion on ART at last visit in that year. Among those on ART, the proportion with viral suppression (<200 copies/mL) and good immune status (WHO immunological stage none‐/mild‐for‐age) at last visit in the year were summarized. Among those in care in 2016, outcomes were compared by current age, place of birth (born abroad vs. UK/Ireland) and sex.
Results
Of children in paediatric HIV care at the start of 2010, 2013 and 2016 (n = 1249, 1157, 905 respectively), the proportion in active care during that calendar year was high throughout at 97 to 99%. Of those in active care, the proportion on ART increased from 79% to 85% and 92% respectively (p < 0.001). Among those on ART, the proportion with viral suppression and good immune status was stable at 83% to 86% and 85% to 88%, respectively, across the years. Among children in care in 2016, those aged ≥15 years were less likely to be virally suppressed (79% vs. 91%, p < 0.001) or to have good immune status (78% vs. 94%, p < 0.001) compared to younger children; there were no differences by place of birth or sex.
Conclusions
Children and adolescents in the UK and Ireland national cohort had high retention in care. The proportion on ART increased significantly over time although there was no change in viral suppression or good immune status. Poorer outcomes among adolescents highlight the need for targeted support for this population.
► Palmyra Atoll is a functionally intact oceanic reef environment. ► Growth anomalies (GAs) were the most commonly encountered lesion in Cnidaria. ► In scleractinians, 52% of GAs manifested as ...hyperplasia of the basal body wall. ► In soft corals, GAs manifested as prominent hyperplasia of the coenenchyme. ► GAs negatively impact scleractinian and soft corals at Palmyra.
We conducted gross and microscopic characterizations of lesions in Cnidaria from Palmyra Atoll, Central Pacific. We found growth anomalies (GA) to be the most commonly encountered lesion. Cases of discoloration and tissue loss were rare. GAs had a focal or multi-focal distribution and were predominantly nodular, exophytic, and umbonate. In scleractinians, the majority of GAs manifested as hyperplasia of the basal body wall (52% of cases), with an associated absence or reduction of polyp structure (mesenteries and filaments, actinopharynx and tentacles), and depletion of zooxanthellae in the gastrodermis of the upper body wall. In the soft corals
Sinularia sp. and
Lobophytum sp., GAs exclusively manifested as prominent hyperplasia of the coenenchyme with an increased density of solenia. In contrast to scleractinians, soft coral GAs displayed an inflammatory and necrotizing component with marked edema of the mesoglea, accompanied by infiltrates of variably-sized granular amoebocytes. Fungi, algae, sponges, and Crustacea were present in some scleractinian GAs, but absent in soft coral GAs. Fragmentation of tissues was a common finding in
Acropora acuminata and
Montipora cf.
dilatata colonies with tissue loss, although no obvious causative agents were seen. Discoloration in the zoanthid,
Palythoa tuberculosa, was found to be the result of necrosis, while in
Lobophytum sp. discoloration was the result of zooxanthellar depletion (bleaching). Soft corals with discoloration or tissue loss showed a marked inflammatory response, however no obvious causative organisms were seen. Lesions that appeared similar at the gross level were revealed to be distinct by microscopy, emphasizing the importance of histopathology.
The crystalline bacterial biofilms that encrust Foley catheters compromise the care of many elderly and disabled patients. The aim of this study was to examine whether the biocide triclosan can ...prevent encrustation by the mixed flora of uropathogens that commonly infect patients undergoing long-term catheterization. Models of the catheterized bladder were inoculated with communities of organisms isolated from patients who were experiencing catheter blockage. The catheter retention balloons were inflated with water or triclosan (3 g triclosan l(-1) in 0.1 M sodium carbonate) and urine was supplied to the models for up to 7 days. The effect of triclosan was recorded on the viable cell populations, the pH of the residual urine and the times that catheters took to block. The extent of encrustation of the catheters was visualized by scanning electron microscopy. In models inoculated with communities containing Proteus mirabilis, triclosan prevented the rise in urinary pH that drives crystalline biofilm formation and catheter blockage. The biocide had no effect on populations of Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were eliminated from the residual urine and the catheters drained freely for the 7-day experimental period. In models inoculated with a mixed community containing Providencia rettgeri, catheters inflated with triclosan continued to block rapidly. Although K. pneumoniae and Proteus vulgaris were eliminated from the residual urine, there was no effect on the viability of Providencia rettgeri. The results indicate that the triclosan strategy should be limited to the treatment of patients who are infected with Proteus mirabilis.
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