Life on the list: an exploratory study of the life world of individuals waiting for a kidney transplant

Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for many individuals with end stage renal disease (ESRD), as transplantation is reported to offer a greater quality of life than renal dialysis. At the end of March 2008 there were 6980 people on the active transplant list for kidney or kidney and pancreas transplants. However, during the previous year a total of 1453 deceased donor kidney transplants were carried out1, illustrating the mismatch between demand for and availability of kidneys for transplant. Whilst the Government has pledged to improve transplant services and to address the organ shortage, individuals on the kidney transplant list are currently facing an average wait of more than two years. Individuals waiting for a kidney transplant face complex challenges, which are currently poorly researched. An insight into the experience of waiting for a kidney transplant and how individuals interpret that wait could contribute to clinical knowledge and lead to improved support for these individuals. It could also raise public awareness about the issues involved in waiting for a kidney transplant, potentially encouraging donatio

Are word representations abstract or instance-based? Effects of spelling inconsistency in orthographic learning

In Experiment 1, 62 10-year-old children studied printed pseudowords with semantic information. The items were later represented in a different format for reading, with half of the items spelled in the same way as before and half displayed in a new phonologically equivalent spelling. In a dictation test, the exposure to an alternative spelling substantially increased the number of errors that matched the alternative spelling, especially in good spellers. Orthographic learning predicted word identification when accuracy on orthographic choice for words was controlled. In Experiment 2, the effects on dictation responses of exposure to a misspelling versus the correct spelling, and the interactive effect of spelling ability, were confirmed relative to a no-exposure control in adults. The results support a single-lexicon view of reading and spelling and have implications for abstractionist and instance-based theories of orthographic representations

Shepherd - Live score performance

Live performance of the score for a pre-screening edition of the feature film SHEPHERD. 'Shepherd' - a film by Julia Reynolds. Score for string quartet, piano and electronics. (notated score and audio recording) Performed by Mark Bennett, Rachel Twyman, Chris Nation and Yotam Levy. Conducted by Jeremy Mayal

Children's Uninsurance Fell between 2019 and 2021, but Progress Could Stall When Pandemic Protections Expire

The pandemic and associated job losses threatened to reduce employer-sponsored health insurance coverage and increase uninsurance among American families. Though such risks were higher for adults because of the long-standing generosity of public coverage policies for children, the severity and novelty of the pandemic also had the potential to exacerbate children's coverage losses that had occurred between 2016 and 2019 and to jeopardize decades of progress in reducing their uninsurance rate. In this brief, we explore changes in coverage status and type among children from birth to age 17 from 2019 to 2021. To do so, we use data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and the Current Population Survey (CPS) Annual Social and Economic Supplement and administrative data on children's enrollment in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Marketplace coverage through early 2022. We examine (1) changes between early 2019 and early 2021 to reflect the first year of the pandemic and the first round of pandemic recovery legislation passed in March 2020 and (2) changes from early 2021 through late 2021 and early 2022 to reflect continuing trends and initial responses to the second major federal recovery effort in March 2021

An RNA-binding compound that stabilizes the HIV-1 gRNA packaging signal structure and specifically blocks HIV-1 RNA encapsidation.

Background NSC260594, a quinolinium derivative from the NCI diversity set II compound library, was previously identified in a target-based assay as an inhibitor of the interaction between the HIV-1 () stem-loop 3 (SL3) RNA and Gag. This compound was shown to exhibit potent antiviral activity. Here, the effects of this compound on individual stages of the viral lifecycle were examined by qRT-PCR, ELISA and Western blot, to see if its actions were specific to the viral packaging stage. The structural effects of NSC260594 binding to the HIV-1 gRNA were also examined by SHAPE and dimerization assays. Results Treatment of cells with NSC260594 did not reduce the number of integration events of incoming virus, and treatment of virus producing cells did not affect the level of intracellular Gag protein or viral particle release as determined by immunoblot. However, NSC260594 reduced the incorporation of gRNA into virions by up to 82%, without affecting levels of gRNA inside the cell. This reduction in packaging correlated closely with the reduction in infectivity of the released viral particles. To establish the structural effects of NSC260594 on the HIV-1 gRNA, we performed SHAPE analyses to pinpoint RNA structural changes. NSC260594 had a stabilizing effect on the wild type RNA that was not confined to SL3, but that was propagated across the structure. A packaging mutant lacking SL3 did not show this effect. Conclusions NSC260594 acts as a specific inhibitor of HIV-1 RNA packaging. No other viral functions are affected. Its action involves preventing the interaction of Gag with SL3 by stabilizing this small RNA stem-loop which then leads to stabilization of global packaging signal region (psi or ψ). This confirms data, previously only shown in analyses of isolated SL3 oligonucleotides, that SL3 is structurally labile in the presence of Gag and that this is critical for the complete psi region to be able to adopt different conformations. Since replication is otherwise unaffected by NSC260594 the flexibility of SL3 appears to be a unique requirement for genome encapsidation and identifies this process as a highly specific drug target. This study is proof of principle that development of a new class of antiretroviral drugs that specifically target viral packaging by binding to the viral genomic RNA is achievable.This work was supported by grants from the Biomedical Research Centre (RCCT.EFPO to JK and AML) and the Medical Research Council (RCAG/565 to AML)

Women Just Wanna Have Time: Wellness Innovation Research

Introduction: Studies show that the stress that resident physicians endure, particularly female residents, can have a negative impact on one’s overall well-being. Many interventional studies have explored the impact that mindfulness, meditation, and exercise have on stress, a negative influencer of well-being. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate how short, self-led mindfulness, meditation, and movement exercises impacted OB/GYN residents at a university-based program. Methods: Participants voluntarily enrolled in a self-led program (fall 2019 – spring 2020) encompassing movement, mindfulness, and meditative activities, for which they received instructions by email detailing six 21-day cycles (requiring 15 minutes of daily participation). Periodically, re-engagement reminders were sent. A total of four surveys tracking impact and well-being were utilized via REDCap throughout the study (incentivized by Amazon gift cards). Results: Initial voluntary participation was 29% of the residency program (8/28, 100% women); however, after a precipitous drop (75%, 6/8) following the first survey, and minimal participation thereafter, the study terminated early due to lack of participation. Investigations into the nature of the early termination revealed that time was the major limiting factor for participation, along with the cumbersome nature of the REDCap survey methodology. Conclusion: Future studies and interventions that seek to impact the well-being of already busy clinicians should consider both their perceived and real effects on free time. Otherwise, stress reduction interventions paradoxically and inadvertently can increase stress and perceived daily burdens