University College London

Cold Atmospheric Plasma Disrupts Microbial Wound Bioburden: In Vitro, Porcine MRSA Biofilm, and Clinical Fluorescence Evidence from Bench to Bedside

Background: Biofilm-associated microbial burden is a major barrier to wound healing and is increasingly difficult to control in the era of antimicrobial resistance. This translational study evaluated the antimicrobial performance and tissue compatibility of a commercially availab...

Serum Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Dynamics, Disease Progression, and Therapy Response in Multiple Sclerosis

Importance: Capturing individual multiple sclerosis (MS) progression is difficult; few studies have evaluated glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in large longitudinal cohorts with independent validation. Objective: To investigate whether serum GFAP levels and treatment-relate...

Smart Urban Agriculture in Transition: A Systematic Review of ICT Integration, Applications, and Challenges

This paper systematically reviews the emerging field of smart urban agriculture, defined as the integration of information and communication technologies (ICTs) into food production practices within and around built-up urban areas. Although urban agriculture and digital agricultu...

Introduction to Trial‐Level Subgroup Analysis: A Tutorial

ABSTRACT This tutorial introduces the concept of trial‐level subgroup analysis in meta‐analysis. We describe the rationale for conducting subgroup analyses, distinguish trial‐level from participant‐level characteristics, outline how to properly interpret effects within subgroups,...

Plain language summary of how acoramidis affects the total number of heart problems over time in people with ATTR-CM: findings from the ATTRibute-CM study

Plain Language SummaryWhat is this summary about?Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) happens when transthyretin (TTR) protein breaks apart, forming clumps that build up in the heart, making it harder to pump blood.People with ATTR-CM often go to the hospital multiple t...

Verify if you are human: what is the ‘human’ in ‘human migration’?

This special issue explores the instability of different migration categories from perspectives in the Global South. This contribution argues that ‘human’ is a category that hides in plain sight in Migration Studies and that it should be brought out of hiding. Sylvia Wynter’s wor...

People experiencing homelessness and their experiences with substance use services for alcohol treatment in England: Journey mapping based on semi‐structured interviews

Abstract Background and aims Alcohol consumption at high levels is common among people experiencing homelessness and contributes to inequalities. In relative terms these individuals are underrepresented in substance use services. This study captured common trajectories and identi...

Sex differences in murine bone matrix maturation modulate osteoblast-endothelial interactions

Abstract Background Bone formation during skeletal growth and repair is divergently modulated by osteoblast-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which contributes to the sexual dimorphism of the bone vasculature. While the extracellular matrix (ECM) provides structu...

Employment and disability: societal ableism, serendipity, and universal design (1919)

Drawing on the author’s lived experience, qualitative research, and policy analysis, this article discusses some issues experienced by disabled workers. It critiques the limitations of existing initiatives, such as Access to Work and the Disability Confident scheme, highlighting...

Distinct amino acid signatures and neutralization sensitivity of plasma- and CSF-derived HIV-1 subtype C clones

Abstract Background Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) offer a promising alternative for HIV prevention and treatment, with the potential to cross the blood–brain barrier. However, the extent to which viral genetic variation between the peripheral blood and central nervous s...

The journey of numbers from attention to motor processing: an embodied account of neural response to number magnitudes

Abstract Embodied cognition suggests numbers are linked to physical actions and sensory experiences. Additionally, sensory processing, thoughts or actions are modulated by attentional shifts/control. This study investigates how learned motor associations in individuals (finger-co...

Promoting smoking cessation and preventing relapse to tobacco use following a smokefree mental health in‐patient stay: A multi‐centre randomised controlled feasibility study

Abstract Aims This study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a new theory‐ and evidence‐based intervention designed to prevent return to pre‐admission smoking behaviours after discharge from a smokefree mental health in‐patient setting in the United Kingdom (UK). Design...

The evolution of China’s urban governance towards strategic statization: A perspective of state entrepreneurialism

This paper revisits the recent transformation of China’s urban governance through the lens of state entrepreneurialism. Its earlier model was characterized by the commodification of housing, export-oriented industrialization, and land-driven urban expansion. By examining new prac...

Autoantibodies to the Sodium/Potassium Pump Alpha-1 Subunit AT1A1 Identify At-Risk Pregnancies That Will Develop Fetal/Congenital Heart Block: Evidence and Translational Plan

Objectives Autoimmune congenital heart block (CHB) has been associated with maternal autoimmune disease for a century, particularly in lupus and Sjögren’s disease pregnancies. Although 80+% of affected pregnancies are anti-Ro positive, CHB develops in only 1 in 50 such pregnancie...

Use of the Il-1 Inhibitor (Anakinra) for the Treatment of Acute Myocarditis in Pediatric Patients: A Single-Center Experience

Objectives Myocarditis is an acute inflammatory process of the myocardium characterized by impaired contractile function. The incidence is 1-2 cases/100,000 children, but it has increased since 2020 due to Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C). The pathogenesis invo...

Influence of automated façades on the soundscape outside of buildings

As automation is progressively more present in buildings, it is important to understand its impact on people’s experience of urban environments. This case study investigated how one automated shading system with motorized venetian blinds affects sound perception of the acoustic e...

Collision safety design and engineering of a concrete-shielded SMR compartment in a 25,800 TEU SMR-powered containership

Ongoing debate on civil nuclear power has drawn attention to small modular reactors (SMRs) as a clean and cost-effective energy solution, particularly for marine propulsion and floating nuclear power plants. Ensuring the safety of SMR-powered ships under extreme environmental and...

When technical standards fail. Questionnaire wording and the comparability of PISA truancy data

Abstract This paper presents a case study of how an undetected wording change in the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) may have led to erroneous conclusions. We focus on a survey question intended to measure student truancy across countries and over tim...

Rationale and Design of ACO-REAL: A Real-World Non-Interventional Study of Acoramidis in Routine Clinical Practice

Acoramidis, an oral transthyretin stabilizer that achieves near-complete stabilization, is approved for the treatment of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) based on the phase 3 study, ATTRibute-CM (NCT03860935). To complement trial data, ACO-REAL (NCT07235462) was des...