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Recent data demonstrates that for patients who fail to achieve normal spirometry following lung transplantation (LTx), mortality risk increases. We aim to identify quantitative computed tomography (qCT) biomarkers associated with baseline Lung Allograft Dysfunction 12-months post-LTx (LAD 12). 12-month data were collected from patients who underwent LTx at the Alfred between December 2018 and October 2020. Exclusions: <18 years, single LTx, absence of 12-month HRCT or spirometry, CLAD, significant mechanical/ radiographic abnormality (e.g. diaphragm palsy, anastomotic stricture, significant effusions/ parenchymal infiltrates). Volumetric, thin-section inspiratory HRCT DICOM images were transferred to FLUIDDA (Kotich, Belgium), a company which develops qCT biomarkers of pulmonary health, for analysis of numerous qCT parameters to identify differences between patients with and without LAD 12. Differences were analysed for statistical significance. 40 patients were included; 24 with normal 12-month spirometry, 10 with restrictive LAD 12 , 5 with obstructive LAD 12 , 1 with mixed LAD 12. Statistically significant differences were identified between restrictive LAD 12 patients and normals; lower total lung volume (iVLOBE, p 0.00739) lower vascular volume in pulmonary vessels <5mm2 (BV5, p 0.0279), with a trend towards lower vascular volume in vessels between 5-10mm2 (BV5-10, p 0.061). No significant differences were seen between obstructive LAD 12 patients and normals. As expected, patients with restrictive physiology 12-month post-LTx have significantly lower qCT total lung volumes. This is not explained by parenchymal infiltrates or fibrosis. The significance of lower blood volume in vessels <5mm2 (and a trend towards lower blood volume in vessels 5-10mm2), when compared with normals, remains unclear. One theory is that donor lungs in patients with restrictive physiology may themselves be smaller, with correspondingly smaller vascular volumes. Lack of qCT differences between obstructive patients and normal may relate to low sample size. Our next steps are threefold; increase sample size, correlate qCT data with donor data, follow-up with 2-year CLAD data (with a view to develop a CLAD predictive model). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The existence of a negative 'Glasgow effect' on health has been much disputed. Previously, Glasgow's poor health was believed to be due to high levels of poverty. However, more recent studies investigating adult health outcomes have shown an effect over and above that of deprivation. Objectives: To examine the existence of a 'Glasgow effect' on mental well-being an subjective health of an adolescent sample. Study design: Data from the 2006 Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children cross-sectional survey were analyzed. Methods: Data were modelled using multilevel logistic and linear modelling for the following outcomes: happiness, confidence, feeling left out, self-rated health, multiple health complaints (MHC), life satisfaction and health-related quality of life (KIDSCREEN-10). The models were further adjusted for family affluence and family status, as proxy measures of socio-economic status. Results: The proportions of pupils that reported being very happy, always confident and never left out were greater among pupils in Glasgow compared with pupils in the rest of Scotland, as were mean life satisfaction and KIDSCREEN scores. Frequencies of MHC and subjective health were not significantly different in Glasgow compared with the rest of Scotland. Similar results were observed following the modelling procedures, adjusting for age, sex, grade and school type (state or independent), for all outcomes other than life satisfaction, and effect sizes increased further after adjustment for family affluence and family status. The odds of a pupil in Glasgow being very happy, for example, were 1.48 [credible interval (CI) 1.19-1.83] those of a pupil outside Glasgow. After adjustment for family affluence and family status, the odds were 1.59 (CI 1.28-1.98). An interaction term between Glasgow and grade was not significant for all mental well-being outcomes although there was some suggestion that a negative Glasgow effect on self-rated health is emerging by Secondary 4. Conclusions: The Glasgow effect may not be all bad. The findings suggest that mental well-being is more prevalent in Glasgow compared with the rest of Scotland during adolescence. Further research is recommended to investigate the Glasgow effect during this life stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We review recent developments in the field of ultracold atomic Fermi gases. As the cold atom system evolves from BCS to Bose–Einstein condensation (BEC), the behavior of the thermodynamics, and the particle density profiles evolves smoothly in a way which can be well understood theoretically. In the interesting “unitary” regime, we show that these and other data necessarily require the introduction of a pseudogap in the fermionic spectrum which exhibits many striking similarities to its counterpart in underdoped high T c superconductors. We emphasize these similarities, giving an overview of the experimental tools and key issues of common interest in both systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the last few years evidence has been accumulating that there are a multiplicity of energy scales which characterize superconductivity in the underdoped cuprates. In contrast to the situation in BCS superconductors, the phase coherence temperature Tc is different from the energy gap onset temperature T&ast;. In addition, thermodynamic and tunneling spectroscopies have led to the inference that the order parameter Δsc is to be distinguished from the excitation gap Δ; in this way, pseudogap effects persist below Tc. It has been argued by many in the community that the presence of these distinct energy scales demonstrates that the pseudogap is unrelated to superconductivity. In this paper, we show that this inference is incorrect. We demonstrate that the difference between the order parameter and excitation gap and the contrasting dependences of T&ast; and Tc on hole concentration x and magnetic field H follow from a natural generalization of BCS theory. This simple generalized form is based on a BCS-like ground state, but with self-consistently determined chemical potential in the presence of arbitrary attractive coupling g. We have applied this mean field theory with some success to tunneling, transport, thermodynamics, and magnetic field effects. We contrast the present approach with the phase fluctuation scenario and discuss key features which might distinguish our precursor superconductivity picture from that involving a competing order parameter. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose Return to work (RTW) and social participation after chronic illness improves functional outcomes, social integration and quality of life, enabling positive contribution to society. Despite this, many studies around the world have reported RTW rates as low as 28% in lung transplant recipients. This study aims to evaluate the number of patients that RTW, predictors of RTW and social participation in Australian lung transplant recipients Methods In a cross-sectional sample of lung transplant recipients, we assessed self-reported pre and post-transplant employment, social participation including volunteer work and carer/social engagement. Quality of life measurements including self-reported hospital admissions, sick days and Euroquol 5D-5L scores were collated. Results 82 patients (47 males; mean age 57.8±14.5) are included to date. Underlying condition requiring transplantation included COPD (42%), Cystic fibrosis (23%), ILD (20%) and other (15%). Mean time post-transplant at time of survey was 5 years. At the time of transplant: 15% (n=12) were working, 11% (n=9) were looking after a child, 10% (n=9) had retired, 10% (n=8) were carers for family members with disability or chronic illness, 7% (n=6) were engaged in voluntary work, 6% (n=5) of patients had never worked and 2% (n=2) were studying. The majority of patients (79%) had worked at some-point. Following transplant: 40% (n=32) are retired, 27% (n= 22) have returned to work, 7% (n=6) looking after children, 6% (n=5) engaged in voluntary work, 4% (n=3) are studying and 4% (n=3) are carers for family members with disability or chronic illness. The mean Euroquol health status scores (scale 0 to 100 [best health possible]) for the post-transplant population were: 86 (carer/volunteer/studying), 82 (working), 80 (retired) and 77 (not working). Conclusion This study provides preliminary data in Australia comparable to world-wide studies, with an estimated RTW rate of 27% post-lung transplantation. However, patients are also engaged in other activities including volunteer work and carer responsibilities, which has not been previously documented. Further analysis is planned. Return to work and social engagement should be encouraged for lung transplant recipients for improving health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cilia are microscopic hair-like structures that line the surface of epithelial cells throughout the entire respiratory system, from nasal passages to terminal bronchioles. Cilia protect the airways and lungs from infections and damage through coordinated beating, which help clear debris and microorganisms. Following lung transplantation, cilia beat pattern (CBP) and frequency (CBF) can be compromised, which could potentially impair overall airway clearance, thereby contributing to increased respiratory infections. This study describes cilia recovery following lung transplantation. Patients were recruited following lung transplantation at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne. Assessment for cilia function was performed at 3 intervals post-transplant, as per usual clinical practice; 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 6 months. Brush samples were taken for each patient at each interval from both the upper airway (inferior nasal turbinate, patient's native cilia) and the lower airway (right or left lower lobe, donor's cilia). Samples were analysed for both CBP and CBF. Ciliated cells were analysed at 500 frames per second (fps) using high speed video microscopy. At time of writing, 16 patients were enrolled in the study, with enrollment ongoing. Bilateral lung transplant = 13, single lung transplant = 3. Transplant indication was varied. At 6 weeks post-transplant, the lower airways cilia beat 2.6 Hz slower than the upper airways cilia (4.88 ± 2.09 Hz vs. 7.48 ± 2.23 Hz, respectively). The lower airways cilia beat patterns were generally reduced in beating amplitude, with the appearance of ineffective clearance of debris in several patients. At 12 weeks post-transplant, the lower airways cilia showed recovery in CBF, with the overall difference between nasal and bronchial CBF reduced to 1.2 Hz (6.01 ± 1.38 Hz vs. 7.19 ± 1.07 Hz). The cilia beating pattern had also improved by 12 weeks, with more efficient clearance seen. In patients with complete data to 6 months, further improvement of lower airways CBF was seen. Following lung transplantation, donor cilia display reduced CBF and ineffective CBP when compared with the recipient's native cilia. This difference continues to improve up to and beyond 12 weeks post-transplant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate that the observed dependences of Tc and T&ast; on small magnetic fields can be readily understood in a precursor superconductivity approach to the pseudogap phase. In this approach, the presence of a pseudogap at Tc (but not at T&ast;) and the associated suppression of the density of states lead to very different sensitivities to pair-breaking perturbations for the two temperatures. Our semi-quantitative results address the puzzling experimental observation that the coherence length ξ is weakly dependent on hole concentration x throughout most of the phase diagram. We present our results in a form which can be compared with the recent experiments of Shibauchi et al. and argue that orbital effects contribute in an important way to the H dependence of T&ast;. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]