Background: Coronary artery calcium score incrementally improves coronary risk prediction beyond that provided by conventional risk factors. Limited information is available regarding rates of progression of coronary calcification in women, particularly those with baseline scores above zero. Further, determinants of progression of coronary artery calcification in women are not well understood. This study prospectively evaluated rates and determinants of progression of coronary artery calcium score in a group of healthy postmenopausal women.

Upon extreme water loss, some organisms pause their life cycles and escape death, in a process called anhydrobiosis. While widespread in microbes, this is uncommon in animals. Mosquitoes of the Aedes genus are vectors for several viral diseases in humans. These mosquitoes lay eggs that survive extreme desiccation and this property greatly enhances geographical expansion of these insects. The molecular principles of egg survival and hatching post-desiccation in these insects remain obscure. In this report, we find that eggs of Aedes aegypti, in contrast to those of Anopheles stephensi, are true anhydrobiotes. Aedes embryos acquire desiccation tolerance at a late developmental stage. We uncover unique proteome-level changes in Aedes embryos during desiccation. These changes reflect a metabolic state with reduced central carbon metabolism, and precise rewiring towards polyamine production, altered lipid levels and enhanced lipid utilization for energy. Using inhibitor-based approaches targeting these processes in blood-fed mosquitoes that lay eggs, we infer a two-step process of anhydrobiosis in Aedes eggs, where polyamine accumulation as well as lipid breakdown confer desiccation tolerance, and rapid lipid breakdown fuels energetic requirements enabling the revival of mosquito larvae post rehydration.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the value of global exchange around knowledge, skills and attitudes among senior healthcare professionals (SHPs). It has also revealed the need for strong peer-led networks and mentorship to tackle the high levels of burnout and ‘brain-drain’ already plaguing the National Health Service (NHS). We designed a survey to gauge the appetite for exchange programmes among SHPs.MethodsData collection was carried out via an online qualitative survey generated by SurveyMonkey software and analysed by three independent authors.Results155 responses were collected of which 87.7% were pre-COVID-19 pandemic. 74.2% had ideas to improve healthcare but could not take it forward. 86.6% felt frustrated/down-heartened about work. 74.3% wanted more sharing of teaching resources. 74.2% expressed interest in sabbatical programmes.ConclusionOur survey confirms the desire for more connection, collaboration and exchange among SHPs who are at high risk of burnout, silo-working and leaving the profession early. Sabbaticals have been used successfully in other industries, especially academia, for many years and show long-term investment and value from employers in their employees. Almost 75% of the SHPs in this survey were interested in this but logistics precluded easy access to them. HealthProMatch (HPM) is a platform where SHPs can connect, collaborate and arrange exchanges/sabbaticals with logistical ease. It focuses on bringing leadership, mentorship and quality improvement back home. HPM will pilot in the NHS within anaesthesia and hopes to increase job satisfaction and retention in this precious workforce group.

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