Kingdom. E-mail addresses; l.j.leslie@aston.ac.uk; vasanthp@aston.ac.uk; jacksop1@aston.ac.uk; mabialaa@aston.ac.uk; pallettr@aston.ac.uk; stillmac@aston.ac.uk; l.marshall@aston.ac.uk A comparative study of electronic cigarette vapour extracts on airwayrelated cell lines in vitroThe use of electronic cigarettes (ECs) is rapidly increasing worldwide, however scientific evidence regarding EC cytotoxicity is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute cytotoxicity of EC vapour extract (ECE) on airway-related cells in vitro.Cigarette smoke extract (CSE), vapour extract of fifteen brands/flavours of ECs and the extract from the E-vehicle (propylene glycol and glycerine) was collected. Extracts, in concentrations of 100% to 12.5%, were added to human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B, IB3-1 and C38), fibroblast (Wi-38) and macrophage (J774 and THP-1) cell lines.Viability was assessed after 24 hours using a standard XTT assay. Viability of less than 70% of control (no extract) was considered cytotoxic according to UNI EN ISO 10993-5 standards.CSE displayed a concentration-dependent influence on cell viability across all four cell lines with 100% producing the most toxic effect, therefore validating the model. ECEs reduced viability although this was not correlated with nicotine content or the Evehicle. However, several flavours proved cytotoxic, with variation between different brands and cell lines.These data indicate that not all ECs are the same and that use of a particular flavour or brand may have differing effects. The cell line used is also an important factor. More research is crucial to ascertain the health effects of different ECs before they can be accepted as a safe alternative to tobacco cigarettes.Keywords: Electronic cigarettes; airways; cytotoxicity; epithelials; in vitro models 3 IntroductionElectronic cigarettes (EC) first emerged onto the market in China in 2004 and entered the US market in 2007 (Regan et al. 2013). Advertised as a safe alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes, EC were soon introduced across different countries and their market has steadily risen. According to the UK's public health charity, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), 2.6 million adults in Great Britain currently use EC (ASH 2015). There has been a rapid global progression amongst high and low income countries, with EC use stabilising at around 17% of adult smokers, although awareness of these products is much higher, according to data pulled together in a recent Public Health England report (Britton and Bogdanovica 2014).The body of research performed on the acute and chronic effects of ECs on human health is limited (Breland et al. 2014). There are a number of challenges associated with EC research. The lack of a standardised testing protocol to evaluate different products means that there is no consensus between academic researchers, manufacturers and stake-holders (Orr 2014). Proper toxicological evaluations of ECs by the regulatory bodies are also lacking.The liquid component of EC, known as E-liq...

The airways of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) are abundantly colonised by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Co-infecting hypoxic regions of static mucus within CF airways, together with decreases in pulmonary function, mucus plugging and oxygen consumption by host neutrophils gives rise to regions of anoxia. This study determined the impact of anaerobiosis upon S. aureus - P. aeruginosa interactions in planktonic co-culture and mixed species biofilms in vitro . Whilst anoxia reduced the ability for P. aeruginosa CF isolates to dominate over S. aureus , this occurred in an isolate dependent manner. Investigations into the underlying mechanisms suggest that the anti-staphylococcal compound facilitating P. aeruginosa dominance under normoxia and anoxia is greater than 3 kDa in size and is heat-stable. Not all interspecies interactions studied were antagonistic, as S. aureus exoproducts were shown to restore and enhance P. aeruginosa motility under normoxia and anoxia in an isolate dependent manner. Collectively, this study suggests changes in oxygen availability within regions of the CF lung is likely to influence interspecies interactions and in turn, potentially influence disease progression.

In the clinical setting, collaboration between multidisciplinary teams is core to providing effective patient care. The delivery of traditional interprofessional education is associated with a number of logistical challenges, which were heightened by the Covid-19 pandemic. This workshop was developed to bring together Biomedical Science and Medical students using an online platform. The workshop consisted of (1) defining interprofessional education, (2) introducing the role of the Pathology laboratory, (3) Professional registration with regulatory bodies and (4) an insight into Covid-19 laboratory diagnosis. The session was supported by mixed group breakout rooms and interactive polling. Thirty four percent of students completed a post-workshop online survey which included open and closed questions. Thematic analysis revealed a better understanding the role of the pathology laboratory in diagnosing disease, an increased awareness of the similarities and differences in the roles of a Biomedical Scientist and a Medic and the importance of a multi-disciplinary team in achieving effective patient care. Quantitative analysis of survey data revealed that the majority of students reported positive experiences of interprofessional education online. Approximately 90% of students agreed that the workshop enabled them to increase their understanding of their own roles within healthcare, in addition to increasing their understanding of the roles of other healthcare professionals. 74.3% of participants reported that working with students from a different programme provided an alternative perspective. Seventy nine percent of students agreed that the online format enabled interactivity and discussion of the tasks. Of the 204 students, 85% engaged with the four polls during the workshop. This online workshop enabled discussion between degree programmes, enabled interactivity and allowed the learning outcomes to be met. Universities should embrace online platforms to provide a novel, engaging and effective interprofessional educational experience.

The integration of pathology service users into the biomedical science curriculum has been driven by the refinement of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Proficiency. This study aimed to design and implement a novel and innovative service user event with a reflective assessment to enhance students’ knowledge and understanding of the impact of pathology laboratory results on the patient pathway. The 4-h workshop consisted of a series of service users. Patients discussed how pathology services had contributed to their diagnosis and treatment, while service providers—a Microbiology Consultant, a director of primary care, and the patient referral optimisation officer—discussed their roles and their interactions with pathology services. Post-event, students completed a 750-word reflective assessment, highlighting challenges experienced by service users and providing suggestions for improving the delivery of pathology services. In total, 57.5% of respondents (57/99) completed a post-reflection survey, which included open- and closed-ended questions. Quantitative analysis of the survey data revealed that over 87.7% of respondents had increased knowledge and understanding of the revised HCPC standards. Following the assessment, students reported a significant increase in their confidence with respect to reflective writing (p < 0.001), with over 90% of respondents agreeing that the reflective assessment had increased their knowledge and understanding of the limitations that may negatively impact service users and patient care. Moreover, respondents highlighted how advancements in point-of-care testing (POCT) and improvements in communication can improve patient experiences. Thematic analysis revealed that respondents agreed that embedding patients into the curriculum reinforced the importance of there being a patient behind every sample. Respondents reported that reflecting upon service user experiences enabled them to identify improvements to the delivery of pathology services while recognising the essential role that Biomedical Scientists play in the patient pathway. This successful workshop has created a platform encompassing a range of pathology service users in the undergraduate curriculum. We recommend that other accredited biomedical science programmes adopt and embed this innovative workshop and reflective assessment into their programmes to help them meet these standards relating to service users while fostering important transferable skills in their students.

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