Edinburgh Napier University

About: Edinburgh Napier University is a education organization based out in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 2665 authors who have published 6859 publications receiving 175272 citations.

Vascular Manifestations of COVID-19 - Thromboembolism and Microvascular Dysfunction.

Abstract: The coronavirus pandemic has reportedly infected over 31.5 million individuals and caused over 970,000 deaths worldwide (as of 22nd Sept 2020). This novel coronavirus, officially named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), although primarily causes significant respiratory distress, can have significant deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system. Severe cases of the virus frequently result in respiratory distress requiring mechanical ventilation, often seen, but not confined to, individuals with pre-existing hypertension and cardiovascular disease, potentially due to the fact that the virus can enter the circulation via the lung alveoli. Here the virus can directly infect vascular tissues, via TMPRSS2 spike glycoprotein priming, thereby facilitating ACE-2-mediated viral entry. Clinical manifestations, such as vasculitis, have been detected in a number of vascular beds (e.g., lungs, heart, and kidneys), with thromboembolism being observed in patients suffering from severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19), suggesting the virus perturbs the vasculature, leading to vascular dysfunction. Activation of endothelial cells via the immune-mediated inflammatory response and viral infection of either endothelial cells or cells involved in endothelial homeostasis, are some of the multifaceted mechanisms potentially involved in the pathogenesis of vascular dysfunction within COVID-19 patients. In this review, we examine the evidence of vascular manifestations of SARS-CoV-2, the potential mechanism(s) of entry into vascular tissue and the contribution of endothelial cell dysfunction and cellular crosstalk in this vascular tropism of SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, we discuss the current evidence on hypercoagulability and how it relates to increased microvascular thromboembolic complications in COVID-19.

Treating Adults With Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Using a Modular Approach to Treatment: Rationale, Evidence, and Directions for Future Research.

Abstract: ICD-11 complex PTSD (CPTSD) is a new condition, and, therefore, there are as yet no clinical trials evaluating interventions for its treatment. In this paper, we provide the rationale for a flexible multimodular approach to the treatment of CPTSD, its feasibility, and some evidence suggesting its potential benefits. The approach highlights flexibility in the selection of empirically supported interventions (or a set of interventions) and the order of delivery based on symptoms that are impairing, severe, and of relevance to the patient. The approach has many potential benefits. It can incorporate the use of interventions for which there is already evidence of efficacy allowing the leveraging of past scientific efforts. It is also consistent with patient-centered care, which highlights the importance of patient choice in identification of the problems to target, interventions to select, and outcomes to monitor. Researchers on modular treatments of other disorders have found that, compared to disorder-specific manualized protocols, flexible multimodular treatment programs are superior in resolving identified problems and are associated with greater therapist satisfaction and reduced patient burden. We briefly identify types of interventions that have been successful in treating trauma-exposed populations as well as emerging interventions that are relevant to the particular problems associated with exposure to complex trauma. We conclude with examples of how such treatments can be organized and tested. Research is now urgently needed on the effectiveness of existing and new intervention approaches to ICD-11 CPTSD treatment.

Environmental Pollution and Restoration: A Role for Bioremediation

Abstract: With greater understanding of microbial diversity and the development of bioengineering, bioremediation is taking its place as a cost-effective technique in integrated environmental restoration efforts. The major reasons for the control of water and soil pollution and the consideration of bioremediation are first and foremost, public health concerns; second, environmental conservation; and finally, the cost of decontamination. A major aim of bioremediation, or any other remediation technology, must be the reduction of toxicity associated with the environmental contaminant, that is, the abatement of environmental impact. Bioremediation solutions can be used to reduce the impacts of environmental persistence of contaminants and thus to alleviate problems associated with chronic toxicity. The broadest classification of environmental pollutants is into two categories: organic and inorganic. Quantitatively, the organic pollutants of most concern are the hydrocarbons in their various forms. The most common are petroleum hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, surfactants, biocides, and a host of other compounds specific to particular industries, e.g., nitroaromatics from munitions. Fortunately, many of these pollutants are biodegradable by microorganisms in soils and waters. The biodegradability of environmental pollutants, and hence the degree of persistence of contaminants in natural environments, is influenced by various factors, most important of which are the chemical structure of the contaminant, the presence of a viable microbial population able to degrade the contaminant(s), and environmental conditions suitable for microbial biodegradative activities.