Pregnancy is associated with elevation of liver enzymes in HIV-positive women on antiretroviral therapy.

The objective of this study is to assess whether pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of liver enzyme elevation (LEE) and severe LEE in HIV-positive women on antiretroviral therapy (ART)

An integrated national scale SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance network.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK) was launched in March, 2020, with £20 million support from UK Research and Innovation, the UK Department of Health and Social Care, and Wellcome Trust. The goal of this consortium is to sequence severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) for up to 230 000 patients, health-care workers, and other essential workers in the UK with COVID-19, which will help to enable the tracking of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, identify viral mutations, and integrate with health data to assess how the viral genome interacts with cofactors and consequences of COVID-19

Drawn towards (an exhibition of drawings)

An exhibition of graphic work by Simon Read: My proposal for the exhibition at the Cut Gallery is that, rather than show a selection of studio work, I would focus primarily on drawing and more specifically upon drawing that is used as a means of exploring ideas and even more specifically laying stress upon work that has been carried out within this region. My decision to do this was not just a matter of accessibility, but more to use it as a platform for how an artist can use work directly as a vehicle for exploration and engaging with contemporary issues, such as environmental change. Over the last ten years I have increasingly sought ways in which I can actively contribute to this debate. Being based upon the Suffolk Coast in daily contact with a changing estuary landscape, means that I have a privileged insight, which I now feel that I can articulate through my relationship with the local community. Now I find myself operating on many levels, my public role has expanded to put me on more committees than I would have initially imagined and I am energetically exploring ways that I can establish interdisciplinary collaborations in an academic context. It is always difficult to square this kind of involvement with the autonomy of an artist's practice. This is something that I cannot claim to have an answer for but have the conviction that, if pursued, it is bound to make sense. To this end I have suggested that, rather than a finite show of work, this exhibition should be taken in the spirit of an open question. (This text is a transcription from The Cut Arts Centre Spring diary of events for 2010

Chromosome segregation and recombination in human meiosis: Clinical applications and insight into disjunction errors

Chromosome copy number errors (or aneuploidy) of gametes and embryos occurs in humans more frequently than in any other studied species, with a spectrum of manifestations from implantation failure to affected live births. It is predominantly problem arising in maternal meiosis with at least 20% of oocytes being aneuploid, a proportion that increases dramatically with advancing maternal age. Currently the only intervention to reduce the chances of transmitting aneuploidy is by invasive embryo biopsy procedures in high-risk groups (mainly patients with advanced maternal age) undergoing in-vitro fertilisation. Despite the severity of this problem, aneuploidy of the human preimplantation embryo is relatively poorly understood. With this in mind the purpose of this thesis is to explore the premise underpinning the use of preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) in human embryos and investigate its clinical applications and current methodologies. A series of published works demonstrate what I believe to be a significant contribution to the development of applications for studying human preimplantation aneuploidy, also providing insight into its origins and mechanisms at the earliest stages of human development. Specifically, I present a novel standard set of protocols as a general reference work from practitioners in the fields of embryo biopsy and array comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH - the current ‘gold standard’ for preimplantation aneuploidy screening). I present a summary of work encapsulated in three published clinical papers using a linkage based analysis of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) karyotypes (Karyomapping). Karyomapping was designed as a near-universal approach for the simultaneous detection of chromosomal and monogenic disorders in a PGS setting and these results demonstrate the utility of the technique in three separate scenarios. In order to study the underlying mechanisms of female meiosis I present my findings on the use of a calcium ionophore to activate human oocytes artificially. An algorithm based on Karyomapping (termed MeioMapping) is demonstrated for the first time specifically to investigate human female meiosis. By recovering all three products of human female meiosis (oocyte, and both polar biopsies – herein termed “Trios”) using calcium ionophore, I present a novel protocol (commissioned by Nature Protocols) to allow exploration of the full extent of meiotic chromosome recombination and segregation that occurs in the female germline. Finally I present a published set of experiments using this protocol to provide new insight into meiotic segregation patterns and recombination in human oocytes. This work uncovers a previously undescribed pattern of meiotic segregation (termed Reverse Segregation), providing an association between recombination rates and chromosome mis-segregation (aneuploidy). This work demonstrates that there is selection for higher recombination rates in the female germline and that there is a role for meiotic drive for recombinant chromatids at meiosis II in human female meiosis. The work presented in this thesis provides deeper understanding of meiotically derived maternal aneuploidy and recombination. More importantly it provides a vehicle within an ethical framework to continue to expand our knowledge and uncover new insights into the basis of meiotic errors that may aid future reproductive therapies

How did a lower drink‐drive limit affect bar trade and drinking practices?:A qualitative study of how alcohol retailers experienced a change in policy

Introduction and Aims Reducing the legal drink-drive limit from 0.08% to 0.05% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) can reduce road traffic accidents and deaths if properly enforced. Reduced limits may be opposed by alcohol retail and manufacturing industries on the basis of commercial impact. Our aim was to qualitatively explore how a reduction in the drink-drive limit from 0.08% to 0.05% BAC in Scotland, was experienced by bar owners or managers, including any resultant changes in customer drinking or business practice. This is the first study of this type. Design and Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 owners and managers of on-trade premises in Scotland in 2018, approximately 3 years after the drink-drive limit was reduced. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Most participants reported no long-term financial impact on their business, but a few, mainly from rural areas, reported some reduction in alcohol sales. Observed drinking changes included fewer people drinking after work or leaving premises earlier on weekdays. Adaptations to businesses included improving the range of no/low-alcohol drinks and food offered. Changes such as these were seen as key to minimising economic impact. Discussion and Conclusions Opposition to legislative measures that impact on commercial interests is often strong and receives significant public attention. This study found that Scottish businesses that adapted to the drink-drive limit change reported little long-term economic impact. These findings are of international relevance as potential BAC limit reductions in several other jurisdictions remain the subject of debate, including regarding the impact on business

HIV-1 drug resistance mutations emerging on darunavir therapy in PI-naive and -experienced patients in the UK

BACKGROUND: Darunavir is considered to have a high genetic barrier to resistance. Most darunavir-associated drug resistance mutations (DRMs) have been identified through correlation of baseline genotype with virological response in clinical trials. However, there is little information on DRMs that are directly selected by darunavir in clinical settings. OBJECTIVES: We examined darunavir DRMs emerging in clinical practice in the UK. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Baseline and post-exposure protease genotypes were compared for individuals in the UK Collaborative HIV Cohort Study who had received darunavir; analyses were stratified for PI history. A selection analysis was used to compare the evolution of subtype B proteases in darunavir recipients and matched PI-naive controls. RESULTS: Of 6918 people who had received darunavir, 386 had resistance tests pre- and post-exposure. Overall, 2.8% (11/386) of these participants developed emergent darunavir DRMs. The prevalence of baseline DRMs was 1.0% (2/198) among PI-naive participants and 13.8% (26/188) among PI-experienced participants. Emergent DRMs developed in 2.0% of the PI-naive group (4 mutations) and 3.7% of the PI-experienced group (12 mutations). Codon 77 was positively selected in the PI-naive darunavir cases, but not in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that although emergent darunavir resistance is rare, it may be more common among PI-experienced patients than those who are PI-naive. Further investigation is required to explore whether codon 77 is a novel site involved in darunavir susceptibility

Photographic Work Exhibited in 'Parrworld: the Collection of Martin Parr', Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany, (7 May – 17 August 2008), curated by Thomas Weski, then touring to Breda Design Museum, The Netherlands (26 September 2008 - 6 January 2009); Jeu de Paume, Paris (30 June - 27 September 2009) and The Baltic, Gateshead, UK (16 October 2009 - 17 January 2010)

Photographic work from the series 'Rays a Laugh' was exhibited in 'Parrworld: the Collection of Martin Parr', Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany, (7 May – 17 August 2008), curated by Thomas Weski, then touring to Breda Design Museum, The Netherlands (26 September 2008 - 6 January 2009); Jeu de Paume, Paris (30 June 2009 - 27 September 2009) and The Baltic, Gateshead, UK (16 October 2009 - 17 January 2010) This touring show analysed photography as a contemporary medium and included photographic works by Parr, works from his own collection including Jill Constantine, Paul Graham, Chris Killip, Graham Smith, Mark Neville, David Goldblatt, William Eggleston, Frank Breuer, Gary Winogrand and Bernd and Hilla Becher and other collections. These included postcards and personally collected objects with a fascination for the peculiar and the curious. The assortment of commercial design and memorabilia documented key historical and political moments, for example, original posters and leaflets from the 1984 UK miners strike, a collection of commemorative china from Margaret Thatcher’s term as Prime Minister, examples of prayer mats featuring the New York Twin Towers, a range of Saddam Hussein watches and a collection of Barack Obama ephemera. There was a fully illustrated two volume hard back catalogue of the exhibition printed by Aperture