Biodegradable Microparticles as Non-Live Viral Vectors for Respiratory Tract Vaccination.

End of Project ReportThe potential of a microparticulate vaccine delivery system in eliciting a specific humoral response in the upper respiratory tract of calves was evaluated. Microparticles composed of poly(lactideco- glycolide) containing ovalbumin, a model immunogen, were prepared by a solvent evaporation technique. The microparticles were under 10μm in diameter as determined by fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. Following immunisation, the microparticles induced production of specific secretory IgA (sIgA) in nasal samples.The sIgA was detected after only one week and persisted throughout the length of the study. Additionally, the effects of microencapsulated synthetic peptides (F peptide (0.5mg) and G peptide (0.5mg), representing known protective epitopes against bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), on the cellular and humoral immune responses of calves were investigated. ∗ No significant change in the cellular immune response was detected. * The secretory IgA response was significantly more prolonged following administration of the SF (F111-148) peptide when compared with the SG (G174-187) peptide. * It is concluded that microparticles incorporating antigens show potential in the quest for generating complete protection in the young bovine against respiratory tract pathogens. * Vaccination of calves with the SF (F111-148) and SG (G174-187) peptide resulted in a significant reduction in the requirement to treat with antibiotics for respiratory disease in the post-vaccination period.European Union Structural Funds (EAGGF

Unfinished Business: a Review of the Implementation of the Provisions of United Nations General Assembly Resolutions 61/105 and 64/72, Related to the Management of Bottom Fisheries in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction

In 2006 the General Assembly adopted resolution 61/105, based on a compromise proposal offered by deep-sea fishing nations, which committed States and regional fisheries management organisations [RFMOs] to take specific measures to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems [VMEs] from the adverse impacts of bottom fisheries in the high seas and to ensure the longterm sustainability of deep-sea fish stocks. These measures included conducting impact assessments to determine whether significant adverse impacts[SAIs] to VMEs would occur, managing fisheries to prevent SAIs on VMEs, and closing areas of the high seas to bottom fishing where VMEs are known or likely to occur, unless regulations are in place to prevent SAIs and to manage sustainably deep-sea fish stocks. Based on a review in 2009 of the actions taken by States and RFMOS, the UNGA adoptedresolution 64/72 that reaffirmed resolution 61/105 and strengthened the call for action through committing States, inter alia, to ensure that vessels do not engage in bottom fishing until impact assessments have been carried out and to not authorise bottom fishing activities until the measures in resolutions 64/72 and 61/105 have been adopted andimplemented

Multidimensional Perfectionism and Cortisol Stress Response in Non-Clinical Populations: A Systematic Review and Evaluation

The purpose of the study was to conduct a systematic review and evaluation of research examining multidimensional perfectionism and cortisol in non-clinical populations. A literature search yielded 6 studies examining cortisol reactivity (CR) and 2 studies examining cortisol awakening response (CAR). Each study was rated in terms of the methodological quality and evidence for the relationship between dimensions of perfectionism (perfectionistic strivings, PS, and perfectionistic concerns, PC) and cortisol was recorded. For CR, 1 study was rated as low methodological quality, 1 study was rated as medium methodological quality, and 4 studies were rated as high methodological quality. Of the high-quality studies, one study provided supportive evidence of a positive relationship between PC and CR, and a further 3 provided inconclusive/null evidence. The only high-quality study to examine the relationship between PS and CR provided inconclusive/null evidence. For CAR, 1 study was rated as low methodological quality and the other as medium methodological quality. Based on these findings, no firm conclusions can be drawn regarding the relationship between perfectionism and cortisol. Moreover, if research continues in the same vein, future research is unlikely to examine the relationship appropriately. We therefore recommend future research follows expert guidelines regarding assessing cortisol responses

Review of the role of abdominal imaging in irritable bowel syndrome.

The role of radiologic imaging in the investigation of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains a subject of debate and there is some evidence, from recent studies of utilization of imaging in IBS, which focused on associated costs and radiation exposure, that imaging is being used relatively widely in these patients. This review aims to assess current best evidence to accurately define the role of radiologic imaging in IBS patients. Primary and secondary literature searches were performed. Evidence suggests that the lack of "red flag" or alarm features in IBS patients should reassure the clinician that the diagnosis of IBS is correct and United States and United Kingdom guidelines recommend no radiologic imaging for IBS patients if alarm features are not present. In patients presenting with IBS symptoms and alarm features, radiologic testing may be used to exclude an alternative diagnosis and the imaging modality should be chosen based on the most likely alternative diagnosis

Athlete burnout and mental and physical health: A three-wave longitudinal study of direct and reciprocal effects

Burnout is a mental health-related problem in athletes that may also be linked to further adverse mental and physical health problems. However, longitudinal research in this area is scarce. The studies that do exist have yet to test possible reciprocal effects while accounting for the multilevel structure of longitudinal data. Consequently, the aim of the present study was to examine longitudinal and reciprocal relationships between athlete burnout and a number of health variables. To do so, we used a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model to disaggregate between- and within-person effects. Based on existing literature, we chose to focus on physical symptoms, illness, depressive symptoms, sleep disruptions, and life satisfaction as the health variables of interest. Following a pre-registered protocol with open data, materials, and code, we recruited a sample of 267 competitive athletes who completed measures at three timepoints over six months. At the between-person level, we found athlete burnout to be associated with all examined health variables. At the within-person level, emotional and physical exhaustion was found to predict increases in depressive symptoms, sleep disruptions were found to predict increases in devaluation, and life satisfaction was found to predict decreases in total burnout, exhaustion, and reduced sense of accomplishment. The findings demonstrate that athlete burnout increases the risk for certain health consequences such as depressive symptoms, and reciprocal findings suggest that sleep and satisfaction-based interventions (e.g., sleep hygiene training and positive psychology interventions) may be able to protect against burnout development

Determination of a suitable low-dose abdominopelvic CT protocol using model-based iterative reconstruction through cadaveric study.

Introduction: Cadaveric studies provide a means of safely assessing new technologies and optimizing scanning prior to clinical validation. Reducing radiation exposure in a clinical setting can entail incremental dose reductions to avoid missing important clinical findings. The use of cadavers allows assessment of the impact of more substantial dose reductions on image quality. Our aim was to identify a suitable low‐dose abdominopelvic CT protocol for subsequent clinical validation. Methods: Five human cadavers were scanned at one conventional dose and three low‐dose settings. All scans were reconstructed using three different reconstruction algorithms: filtered back projection (FBP), hybrid iterative reconstruction (60% FBP and 40% adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR40)), and model‐based iterative reconstruction (MBIR). Two readers rated the image quality both quantitatively and qualitatively. Results: Model‐based iterative reconstruction images had significantly better objective image noise and higher qualitative scores compared with both FBP and ASIR40 images at all dose levels. The greatest absolute noise reduction, between MBIR and FBP, of 34.3 HU (equating to a 68% reduction) was at the lowest dose level. MBIR reduced image noise and improved image quality even in CT images acquired with a mean radiation dose reduction of 62% compared with conventional dose studies reconstructed with ASIR40, with lower levels of objective image noise, superior diagnostic acceptability and contrast resolution, and comparable subjective image noise and streak artefact scores. Conclusion: This cadaveric study demonstrates that MBIR reduces image noise and improves image quality in abdominopelvic CT images acquired with dose reductions of up to 62%

The impact of sarcopenia and myosteatosis on postoperative outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a relatively common disorder with significant associated morbidity. Sarcopenia and myosteatosis are associated with adverse postoperative outcomes. This study investigated outcomes in IBD patients undergoing surgical resection relative to the presence of sarcopenia and myosteatosis. Methods: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained surgical database was conducted. All patients undergoing elective or emergency resection for IBD between 2011 and 2016, with a contemporaneous perioperative computed tomography (CT) scan, were included. Patient demographics, clinical and biochemical measurements were collected. Skeletal muscle index and attenuation were measured on perioperative CT scans using Osirix version 5.6.1. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for adverse postoperative outcomes. Results: Seventy-seven patients (46 male, 31 female; mean age 42 years, range 20–80 years) were included. Thirty patients (30%) had sarcopenia and 26 (34%) had myosteatosis. Myosteatosis was significantly associated with increased hospital stay postoperatively (9 versus 13 days). Sarcopenia and myosteatosis were associated with hospital readmission within 30 days on univariate analysis. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated an independent association between myosteatosis and hospital readmission. Sixteen patients (21%) had a clinically relevant postoperative complication, but an association with sarcopenia and myosteatosis was not observed. A neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio greater than 5 was predictive of clinically relevant postoperative complications on multivariate regression analysis. Conclusions: Myosteatosis was associated with increased hospital stay and increased 30-day hospital readmission rates on multivariate regression analysis. Sarcopenia and myosteatosis in IBD were not associated with clinically relevant postoperative complications

Blunted anticipatory stress responses on competition day in team sports athletes compared to individual sports athletes

Knowledge of anticipatory stress responses before sports competitions is limited, thus this study examined the relationship between anticipatory stress in terms of salivary cortisol secretion in athletes on the morning of a competition and a comparison baseline day. Thirty-seven athletes collected three saliva samples over a 45-min period post-awakening (0, 30 and 45 min). Anticipatory stress was expressed as Area Under the Curve compared to ground (AUCg; total cortisol secretion). There was no significant difference in AUCg between baseline and competition days. However, a mixed two-factor ANOVA with day and sport type (individual vs. team) revealed a significant main effect of sport type (p < 0.01) and a significant interaction (p = 0.001). Individual athletes demonstrated increased AUCg on competition day compared to baseline, while team athletes demonstrated decreased AUCg on competition day compared to baseline. This blunting response was also observed when analysing the raw cortisol secretion levels upon awakening. These findings suggest there may be substantive differences in anticipatory stress between individual and team sport athletes