The histone deacetylase inhibitor, romidepsin, as a potential treatment for pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease that usually affects elderly people. It has a poor prognosis and there are limited therapies. Since epigenetic alterations are associated with IPF, histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors offer a novel therapeutic strategy to address the unmet medical need. This study investigated the potential of romidepsin, an FDA-approved HDAC inhibitor, as an anti-fibrotic treatment and evaluated biomarkers of target engagement that may have utility in future clinical trials. The anti-fibrotic effects of romidepsin were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo together with any harmful effect on alveolar type II cells (ATII). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from IPF or control donors was analyzed for the presence of lysyl oxidase (LOX). In parallel with an increase in histone acetylation, romidepsin potently inhibited fibroblast proliferation, myofibroblast differentiation and LOX expression. ATII cell numbers and their lamellar bodies were unaffected. In vivo, romidepsin inhibited bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in association with suppression of LOX expression. LOX was significantly elevated in BALF of IPF patients compared to controls. These data show the anti-fibrotic effects of romidepsin, supporting its potential use as novel treatment for IPF with LOX as a companion biomarker for evaluation of early on-target effects

Validation study of mHealth technology in HIV to improve empowerment and healthcare utilisation: research and innovation to generate evidence for personalised care (EmERGE)

No description supplie

Plunge Show Card

Haggerty Gallery Inaugural Opening. Show Card for Plunge.https://digitalcommons.udallas.edu/plunge/1000/thumbnail.jp

Political atmospherics: climate visualisations at the Manifest Data Lab

This paper presents an overview of emerging research at the Manifest Data Lab a collective of artists and climate scientists who employ climate data experimentally in public settings. We discuss one of our projects The Carbon Chronicles, a reverse-engineered climate data set, projected on prominent public buildings in London during the period of COP26. Our approach examines the potential of climate data visualisations to operate as a public form that surface issues of climate justice and historic responsibilities. We report on the project’s methodological framing, production and associated artistic strategies

Falls and frailty are associated with negative perceived ageing and lower quality of life in people living with HIV using the EmERGE mHealth platform

Background:As we streamline long-term HIV care through novel service models, emerging concerns including age-related issues must be addressed. We aimed to evaluate frailty, falls and perceptions of ageing among stable individuals with HIV engaged with remote healthcare delivered via a novel smartphone application.Method: Cross-sectional, questionnaire-based sub-study of EmERGE participants. Frailty assessment used the FRAIL scale, a five-item screening tool. Present criteria were summed and categorised: 0=robust, 1–2=pre-frail, 3–5 frail. Falls history and EQ-5D-5L quality of life tool were completed. Participants were asked: how old they felt & personal satisfaction with ageing.Results: 1373 individuals participated across five European sites. Mean age was 45 (SD 9.8), 93% were male. 1310/1373 (96%) had full frailty data. 74% were robust; 24% pre-frail; and 2% frail. Those exhibiting any frailty characteristics (pre-frail/frail) had greater female representation (p=0.025), higher multimorbidity (p50 (pConclusion:Ageing issues were relatively uncommon, though 12% had fallen and 26% had at least one marker of frailty. Falls and frailty were interrelated and associated with multimorbidity, functional problems, and poorer perceptions of health and ageing. Identifying and tackling ageing concerns should be retained within any mHealth delivered care.</p

Applications for zoosporic parasites in aquatic systems (ParAqua)

Zoosporic parasites (i.e. fungi and fungi-like aquatic microorganisms) constitute important drivers of natural populations, causing severe host mortality. Economic impacts of parasitic diseases are notable in the microalgae biotech industry, affecting production of food ingredients, biofuels, pharma- and nutraceuticals.While scientific research on this topic is gaining traction by increasing studies elucidating the functional role of zoosporic parasites in natural ecosystems, we are currently lacking integrated and interdisciplinary efforts for effectively detecting and controlling parasites in the microalgae industry. To fill this gap we propose to establish an innovative, dynamic European network connecting scientists, industries and stakeholders to optimize information exchange, equalize access to resources and to develop a joint research agenda. ParAqua aims at compiling and making available all information on the occurrence of zoosporic parasites and their relationship with hosts, elucidate drivers and evaluate impacts of parasitism in natural and man-made aquatic environments. We aim to implement new tools for monitoring and prevention of infections, and to create protocols and a Decision Support Tool for detecting and controlling parasites in the microalgae biotech production. Applied knowledge on zoosporic parasites can feed back from industry to ecology, and we therefore will explore whether the developed tools can be applied for monitoring lakes and reservoirs. Short-Term Scientific Missions and Training Schools will be organised specifically for early stage scientists and managers – with a specific focus on ITC – with the aim to share and integrate both scientific and applied expertise and increase exchange between basic and applied researchers and stakeholders