Plants are a valued potential source of drugs for a variety of diseases and are often considered less toxic to humans. We investigated antiviral compounds that may potentially target SARS-CoV-2 antigenic spike (S) and host proteins; angiotensin-converting enzyme2 (ACE2), and transmembrane serine protease2 (TMPRSS2). We scrutinized 36 phytochemicals from 15 Indian medicinal plants known to be effective against RNA viruses via molecular docking. Besides, the TMPRSS2 structure was modeled and validated using the SWISS-MODEL. Docking...

A set of codelists that cover cardiovascular disease and target organ damage, including heart failure, chronic kidney disease and haemorrhagic stroke.

The study used a mixed-methods approach based upon an online survey and an embedded quantitative/qualitative design to explore perceptions and attitudes associated with intention to either accept or refuse offers of vaccination in different demographic groups during the early stages of the UK’s mass COVID-19 vaccination programme (December 2020). Key outputs include: a tabular dataset containing survey responses, a data dictionary that explains survey data variables, an R scripts that enable reproduction of analyses (Analysis_Script.R),...

Background: Treatment for urinary tract infections (UTIs) is usually empiric and is based on local antimicrobial resistance data. These data, however, are scarce in low-resource settings. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of antibiotic treatment on clinical and bacteriological outcomes in patients presenting with UTI symptoms to primary care in Harare. Methods: This cohort study enrolled participants presenting with UTI symptoms to 10 primary healthcare clinics in Harare between July 2019...

Background Plasmodium falciparum transmission depends on mature gametocytes that can be ingested by mosquitoes taking a blood meal on human skin. Although gametocyte skin sequestration has long been hypothesized as important contributor to efficient malaria transmission, this has never been formally tested. Methods In naturally infected gametocyte carriers from Burkina Faso, we assessed infectivity to mosquitoes by direct skin feeding and membrane feeding. We directly quantified male and female gametocytes and asexual parasites in finger-prick...

Data associated with a pilot and feasibility study of the maintenance of serum potassium levels ≥ 3.6 mEq/L vs ≥ 4.5 mEq/L after isolated elective coronary artery bypass grafting, and the incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation. Data was collected from patients scheduled to undergo a heart operation called Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG) at two NHS hospitals in London.

Mosquito-transmitted flaviviruses cause widespread disease across the world. To provide better molecular tools for drug screens and pathogenesis studies, we report a new approach to produce stable NanoLuc-tagged flaviviruses, including dengue virus serotypes 1-4, Japanese encephalitis virus, yellow fever virus, West Nile virus, and Zika virus. Since the reporter gene is often engineered at the capsid gene region, the capsid sequence must be duplicated to flank the reporter gene; such capsid duplication is essential for...

Vascular calcification is a major complication of chronic renal failure, which has been identified as an active process partly driven by osteogenic transition of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Aspirin could prevent cardiomyocyte damage by inducing heat shock response. This study investigates the effect of aspirin on alleviating VSMC calcification. An in vitro VSMC calcification model was established by 10-day calcification induction in osteogenic medium. VSMCs were grouped as following: control group (normal medium), calcified...

Data collected as part of two cross-sectional surveys to investigate metabolic outcomes and markers of inflammation in urban and rural locations in Uganda. It contains information obtained from 313 participants (one row represents one participant). 48 variables are recorded, including data on inflammatory markers (cytokines and chemokines), location of residence (urban versus rural), metabolic parameters (including HOMA-IR, blood pressure, blood glucose) and socio-demographic characteristics.

Quantitative data on physical activity and health behaviours during the UK COVID-19 lockdown. The anonymous web-based survey was performed between 6th April and 22 April 2020, approximately mapping to weeks 3-5 of the lockdown in the UK. The main survey included 49 questions which covered a broad range of topics including (1) Demographics, (2) Health and Health Behaviours, (3) Adherence to COVID-19 Control measures, (4) Information sources used to learn about COVID-19, (5) Trust in...

Adolescents living with HIV have poor virological suppression and high levels of common mental disorders. In Zimbabwe the Zvandiri adolescent peer support programme is effective at improving ART adherence and virological suppression. We assessed the effect of training peer supporters in problem-solving therapy (PST) using a cluster-randomised controlled trial. Sixty clinics stratified by district were randomised 1:1 to either normal Zvandiri peer support or a peer supporter trained in PST by Friendship Bench. We enrolled...

Vascular calcification is a major complication of chronic renal failure, which has been identified as an active process partly driven by osteogenic transition of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Aspirin could prevent cardiomyocyte damage by inducing heat shock response. This study investigates the effect of aspirin on alleviating VSMC calcification. An in vitro VSMC calcification model was established by 10-day calcification induction in osteogenic medium. VSMCs were grouped as following: control group (normal medium), calcified...

Early detection of neurodevelopmental delay is crucial for intervention and treatment strategies. We analysed associations between newborn DNA methylation (DNAm), neonatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) neuroimaging data, and neurodevelopment. Neurodevelopment was assessed in 161 children from the South African Drakenstein Child Health Study at 2 years of age using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III. We performed an epigenome-wide association study of neurodevelopmental delay using DNAm from cord blood. Subsequently, we analysed...

Background: Selection for resistance to azithromycin (AZM) and other antibiotics such as tetracyclines and lincosamides remains a concern with long-term AZM use for treatment of chronic lung diseases (CLD). We investigated the impact of 48 weeks of AZM on the carriage and antibiotic resistance of common respiratory bacteria among children with HIV-associated CLD. Methods: Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs and sputa were collected at baseline, 48 and 72 weeks from participants with HIV-associated CLD randomised to receive...

Abstract Introduction Diarrhoeal disease remains a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Cholera alone is estimated to cause 95,000 deaths per year, most of which occur in endemic settings with inadequate water access. Whilst a global strategy to eliminate cholera by 2030 calls for investment in improved drinking water services, there is limited rigorous evidence for the impact of improved water supply on endemic cholera transmission in low-income urban settings. Our protocol is designed...

Abstract Introduction Diarrhoeal disease remains a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Cholera alone is estimated to cause 95,000 deaths per year, most of which occur in endemic settings with inadequate water access. Whilst a global strategy to eliminate cholera by 2030 calls for investment in improved drinking water services, there is limited rigorous evidence for the impact of improved water supply on endemic cholera transmission in low-income urban settings. Our protocol is designed...

Additional file 2. Consent form.

Supplementary material published to support a paper titled "Flavivirus integrations in Aedes aegypti are limited and highly conserved across samples from different geographic regions unlike integrations in Aedes albopictus". It includes: (1) descriptive statistics of excluded and retained sequences; (2) BLASTN results processing flow diagram; (3) an Excel spreadsheet containing BLASTN hits from AaegL5 assembly; (4) an Excel spreadsheet containing accession IDs of all used flavivirus genomes; (5) an Excel spreadsheet listing BLASTN hits from...

The emergence and recurrence of ovarian cancer are associated with ovarian cancer stem cells. For cancer treatment, gene delivery of microbubbles (MB)-mediated microRNA (miRNA) is considered as a promising approach. In this study, our aim is to investigate the effects of MB-mediated let-7b-5p inhibitor on the proliferation and stemness characteristics of ovarian cancer (OVCA) cells. Let-7b-5p inhibitor mediated by MB was prepared (termed MB-let-7b-5p inhibitor), and the effects of MB-let-7b-5p inhibitor and let-7b-5p inhibitor on...

Overuse of antibiotics is one of the main drivers for antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Globally, most antibiotics are prescribed in the outpatient setting. This survey aimed to explore attitudes and practices with regards to microbiology tests, AMR and antibiotic prescribing among healthcare providers at public primary health clinics in Harare, Zimbabwe. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in nine primary health clinics located in low-income suburbs of Harare between October and December 2020. In Zimbabwe, primary...