Lancet
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Community-acquired pneumonia is commonly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is associated with excessive neutrophilic inflammation. The high-affinity thrombin receptor, proteinase-activated receptor 1 (PAR1), has been implicated in mediating the interplay between coagulation and inflammation. However, its role during S pneumoniae-induced neutrophilic inflammation, and the mechanisms for neutrophil recruitment in this context are poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the role of neutrophilic inflammation and PAR1 in S pneumoniae-induced pneumonia. ⋯ Wellcome Trust.
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As the general population ages and life expectancy increases, health-care use by elderly people increases, including intensive care. Rationing and variation of access are ethically and politically challenging. We aimed to characterise the population-based incidence of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions of elderly people in Scotland; compare ICU admission and mortality between elderly and younger populations; and compare treatment intensity between these groups. ⋯ Funding assistance for AD's MPH from Scottish Intensive Care Society, Scottish Society of Anaesthetists, Edinburgh Anaesthetics Research and Education Fund.
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Natural killer cell maturation markers in the human liver and expansion of an NKG2C+KIR+ population.
Selected populations of murine natural killer (NK) cells possess memory features to haptens, cytokines, and viruses. Liver-specific adhesion molecules CXCR6 and CD49a have been identified as surface markers in mice. In people, expansion of long-lived terminally differentiated NKG2C+ populations occur in the blood after viral infection. We aimed to compare intrahepatic and blood NK cell receptor expression to determine the existence of CD49a+ and CXCR6+ NK cells in human liver and define the maturation status of NKG2C+ NK cells at this site. ⋯ MRC Clinical Research Fellowship.
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Emergency department visits towards the end of life by people with cancer are increasing over time. This increase has occurred despite evidence of an association with poor patient outcomes, the majority of patients preferring home-based care, and significant overcrowding and capacity concerns for many emergency departments. We aimed to explore factors associated with emergency department attendance by cancer patients in the last month of life. ⋯ LH is a PhD clinical training fellow and funded through project BuildCARE which is supported by Cicely Saunders International and The Atlantic Philanthropies, and led by King's College London, Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation, UK.
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Coagulation factor XIII-A has a crucial role in thrombus stabilisation and tissue repair. Factor XIII-A deficiency causes a severe bleeding phenotype and impaired wound healing, but the cellular origin of Factor XIII-A is unknown. To identify the cells that maintain the plasma pool, we generated a mouse floxed in coding exon7 of the factor XIII-A gene (F13A1). These mice were crossed with mice transgenic for Pf4-Cre-recombinase (thrombopoietic deletion) or Cd11b-Cre-recombinase (myeloid deletion). The resultant mice were compared with a Mpl-/- (thrombopoietin receptor knockout) thrombocytopenic murine model. ⋯ British Heart Foundation.