Development of an intranasal, universal influenza vaccine in an EU-funded public-private partnership: the FLUniversal consortium

Influenza is a significant global health problem, causing disease and hospitalisations in elderly individuals and infants. While updated vaccines are available every year, their effectiveness is moderate at best. FLUniversal is a European Union funded consortium, aiming to develop a universal influenza vaccine by bringing together partners with expertise in different areas of vaccine development. An intranasal live attenuated vaccine, DeltaFLU, will be produced using an innovative platform; preclinical assessment in animal models and clinical studies using a controlled human infection model (CHIM) will be conducted for assessment of safety, immunogenicity and protective efficacy; and finally, comprehensive immunological analysis of blood and nasal mucosa will elucidate vaccine responses and potential new correlates of protection (CoPs). In addition to a universal influenza vaccine, listed as a top priority by the EU, FLUniversal seeks to deliver an enhanced vaccine manufacturing technology that is superior in terms of efficiency, production costs and production speed - especially critical in the face of a potential new pandemic. Moreover, an influenza CHIM with a focus on harmonisation of clinical procedures and assays will be established to generate translatable and reproducible data. Newly generated knowledge on mechanisms of protection, CoPs and new molecular analysis tools may significantly contribute to our knowledge on influenza infection and influenza vaccines. In conclusion, FLUniversal is an innovative and ambitious public-private partnership, aiming to present a new development pathway for influenza vaccines, and maximising impact by bringing together leading partners from academy and industry with a shared purpose of collaboration and innovation

Understanding venous leg ulcers

Venous leg ulcers are open lesions between the knee and the ankle joint, which occur in the presence of venous insufficiency. There are theories to explain the causes of venous insufficiency, which ultimately leads to venous hypertension and can result in leg ulceration. Although many patients present with evidence of venous hypertension, others do not, except for the manifestation of the ulcer. There are risk factors associated with venous insufficiency and a holistic approach must be taken in order to influence the management approach of venous leg ulceration. This article discusses venous insufficiency as a disease process, and explores the nursing assessment process, when assessing venous leg ulcers related to venous insufficiency

The psychology and policy of overcoming economic inequality

Data and materials’ availability: All data are publicly available for the survey data used (https://osf.io/njd62/) and from the UN Gender Inequality Index (https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/documentation-and-downloads). Financial transaction data were provided through an agreement with Columbia Business School.Recent arguments claim that behavioral science has focused – to its detriment – on the individual over the system when construing behavioral interventions. In this commentary, we argue that tackling economic inequality using both framings in tandem is invaluable. By studying individuals who have overcome inequality, “positive deviants,” and the system limitations they navigate, we offer potentially greater policy solutions.This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation (no. 2218595) and by Undergraduate Global Engagement at Columbia University. Additional support was provided to individual researchers from the Columbia University Office of the Provost, Masaryk University Centre for International Cooperation, and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Fund from the United States Department of State

The persistence of cognitive biases in financial decisions across economic groups

Data availability: All data will be posted open access via https://psyarxiv.com/mrxy6/ and in interactive form via https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/kai.ruggeri. We will post these only once an accepted version of all analyses is possible to avoid confusion based on version control.While economic inequality continues to rise within countries, efforts to address it have been largely ineffective, particularly those involving behavioral approaches. It is often implied but not tested that choice patterns among low-income individuals may be a factor impeding behavioral interventions aimed at improving upward economic mobility. To test this, we assessed rates of ten cognitive biases across nearly 5000 participants from 27 countries. Our analyses were primarily focused on 1458 individuals that were either low-income adults or individuals who grew up in disadvantaged households but had above-average financial well-being as adults, known as positive deviants. Using discrete and complex models, we find evidence of no differences within or between groups or countries. We therefore conclude that choices impeded by cognitive biases alone cannot explain why some individuals do not experience upward economic mobility. Policies must combine both behavioral and structural interventions to improve financial well-being across populations.This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation (#2218595) and by Undergraduate Global Engagement at Columbia University. Additional support was provided to individual researchers from the Columbia University Office of the Provost, Masaryk University Centre for International Cooperation, and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Fund from the United States Department of State. This research was funded in part, by the UKRI [MR/N013468/1]

Spätergebnisse nach Krossektomie und Sklerotherapie

ZusammenfassungMethode: 70 Patienten mit primärer Varikose, bei denen im Jahre 1994 die Krossektomie mit anschließender Sklerotherapie durchgeführt wurde, wurden nach 1, 2, und 4 Jahren klinisch, Doppler-/ duplexsonographisch und 40 von ihnen auch mit Strain-gauge-Plethysmographie kontrolliert. Ergebnis: Die Ergebnisse zeigten, daß der nach Krossektomie übriggebliebene Saphenastamm am Oberschenkel in 81,5% offen und insuffizient war und zum Rezidiv führte. Das durch diesen Reflux verursachte Varizenrezidiv kam vier Jahre nach der Operation in 51,4% vor. Von den präoperativ symptomatischen Patienten mit chronischer Veneninsuffizienz (CVI) waren vier Jahre nach der Operation 84,3% beschwerdefrei. Die Plethysmographie ergab bei allen Patienten vor der Operation eine schwere venöse Zirkulationsstörung, diese wurde durch die Behandlung während des ganzen Beobachtungszeitraums einschließlich vier Jahre nach der Operation statistisch hochsignifikant gebessert (p &lt;0,0005). Schlußfolgerung: Man kann den Schluß ziehen, daß die subjektive Besserung nicht als Plazeboeffekt, sondern aufgrund der wesentlich besseren hämodynamischen Situation zu erklären ist.</jats:p

Veränderungen der Perforansvenen und tiefen Unterschenkelvenen nach Beseitigung des Saphena-Refluxes

ZusammenfassungUm zu testen, ob zwischen dem Saphenareflux einerseits und der Größe der Perforansvenen und dem am Privatkreislauf nach Trendelenburg teilnehmenden Teil der tiefen Unterschenkelvenen andererseits ein Zusammenhang besteht, wurden bei 31 Perforansvenen und 18 Venae tibialis posterior von 18 Patienten mit primärer Varikose und einem deutlichen Reflux in der Vena saphena magna Messungen des phlebographisch dargestellten Durchmessers vor und sechs Monate nach Beseitigung des Saphenarefluxes durchgeführt. Die Auswirkung der Operation wurde bei 15 Patienten mit Strain-gauge-Plethysmographie verifiziert. Die Messungen haben gezeigt, daß sich der Durchmesser sowohl der Perforansvenen als auch der Vena tibialis posterior sechs Monate nach Beseitigung des Saphenarefluxes statistisch signifikant verkleinert hat. Man kann den Schluß ziehen, daß der Saphenareflux eine wichtige Rolle bei der Erweiterung der Perforansvenen als auch des am Privatkreislauf nach Trendelenburg teilnehmenden Teils der tiefen Unterschenkelvenen spielt.</jats:p