Experiences of transition to adult care and readiness to self-manage care in young people with perinatal HIV in England

Background: There are few data on young people’s own experiences of transferring from paediatric to adult care, or readiness to self-manage care. Methods: A total of 132 young people living with perinatal HIV, aged 14–25 years, answered questions about transition experiences. Results: Of the participants, 45 (34%), with a median age of 16 (interquartile range [IQR] 16–17), were in paediatric care, of whom 89% reported that transition discussions had begun, at median age 15 (IQR 14–16) years. Young people in adult care were more likely than those in paediatric care to self manage appointments (90% vs 42% respectively, P < 0.001), and know their antiretroviral therapy (ART) drugs (55% vs 37%, P = 0.033). Knowledge of most recent CD4 T cell count/VL was slightly better for those in adult care (48% vs 31%, P = 0.059); naming side effects of ART was similar (71% vs 60%, P = 0.119). Conclusions: Transition discussions occurred before movement from paediatric to adult care. Further education around ART, potential side effects, and CD4 T cell count/viral load knowledge is required

Schizont transcriptome variation among clinical isolates and laboratory-adapted clones of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

Background: Malaria parasites are genetically polymorphic and phenotypically plastic. In studying transcriptome variation among parasites from different infections, it is challenging to overcome potentially confounding technical and biological variation between samples. We investigate variation in the major human parasite Plasmodium falciparum, generating RNA-seq data on multiple independent replicate sample preparations of merozoite-containing intra-erythrocytic schizonts from a panel of clinical isolates and from long-term laboratory-adapted clones, with a goal of robustly identifying differentially expressed genes. Results: Analysis of biological sample replicates shows that increased numbers improve the true discovery rate of differentially expressed genes, and that six independent replicates of each parasite line allowed identification of most differences that could be detected with larger numbers. For highly expressed genes, focusing on the top quartile at schizont stages, there was more power to detect differences. Comparing cultured clinical isolates and laboratory-adapted clones, genes more highly expressed in the laboratory-adapted clones include those encoding an AP2 transcription factor (PF3D7_0420300), a ubiquitin-binding protein and two putative methyl transferases. In contrast, higher expression in clinical isolates was seen for the merozoite surface protein gene dblmsp2, proposed to be a marker of schizonts forming merozoites committed to sexual differentiation. Variable expression was extremely strongly, but not exclusively, associated with genes known to be targeted by Heterochromatin Protein 1. Clinical isolates show variable expression of several known merozoite invasion ligands, as well as other genes for which new RT-qPCR assays validate the quantitation and allow characterisation in samples with more limited material. Expression levels of these genes vary among schizont preparations of different clinical isolates in the first ex vivo cycle in patient erythrocytes, but mean levels are similar to those in continuously cultured clinical isolates. Conclusions: Analysis of multiple biological sample replicates greatly improves identification of genes variably expressed between different cultured parasite lines. Clinical isolates recently established in culture show differences from long-term adapted clones in transcript levels of particular genes, and are suitable for analyses requiring biological replicates to understand parasite phenotypes and variable expression likely to be relevant in nature

From wise humanising creativity to (post-humanising) creativity

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Palgrave Macmillan (Springer) via the DOI in this record.This chapter demonstrates that the concepts of creativity in education put forward to date can only go so far in addressing the rapid, unpredictable changes inherent in the 21st century and the accompanying policy and practice challenges we face. The chapter shifts away from conceptualisation such as ‘wise humanising creativity’ and proposes a different articulation of creativity which may allow us to think about and action creativity to meet these challenges. This (post-humanising) creativity overcomes problems of humanistic conceptualisations as it allows for a full range of ‘players’ within the creative process, it incorporates a different, emergent take on ethics and is willing to see the future too as emergent, rather than always ‘to-bedesigned’. The chapter culminates by offering examples of (post-humanising) creativity in action, aiming to bring alive how it can address our policy and practice dilemmas.In writing this chapter, I would like to acknowledge the support and critical friendship of Professor Teresa Cremin, Dr Lindsay Hetherington, Dr Fran Martin, Professor Karen Mattick, Dr Deborah Osberg and Alex Schmoelz. The CREATIONS project was funded by Horizon 2020 Framework of the European Commission, Grant number 665917. The C2Learn project was funded by the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission Grant Number 318480. The Next Choreography project was funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation; with Figures 1 and 2 credited to photographer Pari Naderi

Changing practice in dementia care in the community: developing and testing evidence-based interventions, from timely diagnosis to end of life (EVIDEM)

Background Dementia has an enormous impact on the lives of individuals and families, and on health and social services, and this will increase as the population ages. The needs of people with dementia and their carers for information and support are inadequately addressed at all key points in the illness trajectory. Methods The Unit is working specifically on an evaluation of the impact of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and will develop practice guidance to enhance concordance with the Act. Phase One of the study has involved baseline interviews with practitioners across a wide range of services to establish knowledge and expectations of the Act, and to consider change processes when new policy and legislation are implemented. Findings Phase 1, involving baseline interviews with 115 practitioners, identified variable knowledge and understanding about the principles of the Act. Phase 2 is exploring everyday decision-making by people with memory problems and their carers

What do we know about the α/β for prostate cancer?

Since last decade, the debate on the parameter which reflects prostate cancer sensitivity to fractionation in a radiotherapy treatment, the α/β, has become extensive. Unlike most tumors, the low labeling indices (LI) and large potential doubling time that characterize the prostate tumor led some authors to consider that it may behave as a late responding tissue. So far, the existing studies with regard to this subject point to a low value of α/β, around 2.7 Gy, which may be considered as a therapeutic gain in relation to surrounding normal tissues by using fewer and larger fractions. The aim of this paper is to review several estimates that have been made in the last few years regarding the prostate cancer α/β both from clinical and experimental data, as well as the set of factors that have potentially influenced these evaluations

Outcomes of etravirine-based antiretroviral treatment in treatment-experienced children and adolescents living with HIV in Europe and Thailand

BACKGROUND: Etravirine (ETR) is approved as a component of second or third-line antiretroviral treatment (ART) for children living with HIV. We assessed the outcomes of ETR-based ART in children in routine care in Europe and Thailand. METHODS: Data on children aged <18 years at ETR start were pooled from 17 observational cohorts. Characteristics at ETR start, immunological and virological outcomes at 12 months, discontinuations, adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) were described. Follow-up was censored at ETR discontinuation, death or last visit. RESULTS: 177 children ever received ETR. At ETR start, median [IQR] age was 15 [12,16] years, CD4 count 480 [287, 713] cells/mm3, 70% had exposure to ≥3 ART classes and 20% had viral load (VL) 3. Overall, 81 (46%) discontinued ETR by last follow-up. Median time to discontinuation was 23 [8, 47] months. Common reasons for discontinuation were treatment simplification (19%), treatment failure (16%) and toxicity (12%). Eight children (5%) had AEs causally associated with ETR, all dermatological/hypersensitivity reactions. Two were SAEs, both Stevens-Johnson Syndrome in children on regimens containing ETR and darunavir and were causally related to either drugs; both resolved following ART discontinuation. CONCLUSION: Children receiving ETR were predominantly highly treatment-experienced, over two-thirds were virally suppressed at 12 months