Network approaches have become pervasive in many research fields. They allow for a more comprehensive understanding of complex relationships between entities as well as their group-level properties and dynamics. Many networks change over time, be it within seconds or millions of years, depending on the nature of the network. Our focus will be on comparative network analyses in life sciences, where deciphering temporal network changes is a core interest of molecular, ecological, neuropsychological and evolutionary biologists. Further, we will take a journey through different disciplines, such as social sciences, finance and computational gastronomy, to present commonalities and differences in how networks change and can be analysed. Finally, we envision how borrowing ideas from these disciplines could enrich the future of life science research.Honeybees have developed many unique mechanisms to help ensure the proper maintenance of homeostasis within the hive. One method includes the collection of chemically complex plant resins combined with wax to form propolis, which is deposited throughout the hive. Propolis is believed to play a significant role in reducing disease load in the colony due to its antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. However, little is known about how propolis may interact with bee-associated microbial symbionts, and if propolis alters microbial community structure. In this study, we found that propolis appears to maintain a stable microbial community composition and reduce the overall taxonomic diversity of the honeybee microbiome. Several key members of the gut microbiota were significantly altered in the absence of propolis, suggesting that it may play an important role in maintaining favourable abundance and composition of gut symbionts. Overall, these findings suggest that propolis may help to maintain honeybee colony microbial health by limiting changes to the overall microbial community.Deepening crises now affect not only the capitalist health system in the United States, but also the national health programs of countries that have achieved universal access to services. In our recent collaborative book, Health Care Under the Knife Moving Beyond Capitalism for Our Health, we analyze these changing structural conditions and argue that the struggle toward viable national health programs now must become part of a struggle to move beyond capitalism. Privatization, cutbacks in public-sector services and institutions, and public subsidization of private profit-making through transfer of tax revenues into private insurance corporations have worsened under neoliberal policies. Financialization of capitalist economies includes the increasingly oligopolistic and financialized character of health insurance, both public and private. Those struggling for just and accessible health systems now need to confront the shifting social class position of health professionals. Due to loss of control over the work process and a reduced ability to generate high incomes compared to other professional workers, the medical profession has become proletarianized. To achieve national health programs that will remain viable over a long term, a much more fundamental transformation needs to reshape not just health care, but also the capitalist state and capitalist society.Paediatric central venous access devices are associated with significant complications. Failure rates have been estimated to be as high as 25%, with securement failure a significant contributing factor. In this study, we evaluate the use of a subcutaneous securement device, securAcathTM, in minimising rates of central venous access device dislodgement and unintended early removal within a paediatric population. Data were collected on 52 consecutive paediatric patients, aged less than 18 years old, who required peripherally inserted central catheters and non-cuffed tunnelled centrally inserted central catheters. We found that the rate of securement failure with securAcathTM was 2.01 per 1000 catheter days. This compared to 2.58 in our previous practice without securAcathTM. With the use of securAcathTM, no securement failures were observed in our patients with non-cuffed tunnelled centrally inserted central catheters. There were three instances of securement failure in patients with peripherally inserted central catheters. We conclude that the use of a securAcathTM fixation device in central venous access devices is an effective method of securement, especially in use with non-cuffed tunneled centrally inserted central catheters. However, when significant tension is applied to the central venous access devices migration is still possible.BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the effect of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers on the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients undergoing coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS A systematic literature search of several databases was conducted to identify studies that met the inclusion criteria. A total of 12 studies with 14 trials that performed studies on a total of 4864 patients (2484 treated with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers and 2380 in the control group) were included. The primary endpoint was the overall incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy. Analyses were performed with STATA version 12.0. RESULTS The overall contrast-induced nephropathy incidence in renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blocker and control groups was 10.43% and 6.81%, respectively. The pooled relative risk of contrast-induced nephropathy incidence was 1.22 (95% confidence interval 0.81-1.84) in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blocker group. An increased risk of developing contrast-induced nephropathy in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blocker group was observed among older people, non-Asians, chronic users, and studies with larger sample size, and the pooled RRs and 95% confidence intervals were 2.02 (1.21-3.36), 2.30 (1.41-3.76), 1.69 (1.10-2.59) and 1.83 (1.28-2.63), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Intervention with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers was associated with an increased risk of contrast-induced nephropathy among non-Asians, chronic users, older people, and studies with larger sample size. Large clinical trials with strict inclusion criteria are needed to confirm our results and to evaluate the effect further.Regularly engaging in aerobic exercise is associated with improved asthma control and quality of life in adults with mild to moderate severity asthma. Previous intervention research has primarily employed moderate intensity continuous aerobic exercise protocols. As such, the impact of high intensity interval training (HIIT) on asthma control is poorly understood. METHODS A six-week, low volume HIIT intervention (3 times/week, 20 minute bouts) was conducted in adults with asthma (n = 20). Asthma control was assessed using the Asthma Control Questionnaire-7 (ACQ-7). RESULTS ACQ-7 improved from pre to post-intervention (pre 0.8 ± 0.6; post 0.5 ± 0.4, p = 0.02, Cohens d = 0.5). In total, 7/20 (35%) participants experienced clinically meaningful improvements in ACQ-7. CONCLUSION A low-volume HIIT intervention led to statistically and clinically significant improvements in asthma control as well as improved exertional dyspnea and exercise enjoyment.Mental health conditions (MHCs) are often unrecognised which can result in detrimental physical health outcomes and poor quality of life. This can be compounded by the impact of deprivation. People living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) are more likely to be affected by MHCs which if untreated, may result in both clinical and psychosocial adversities. To ascertain the prevalence of and factors associated with MHCs in the human immunodeficiency virus cohort of Stoke-on-Trent, which is the 13th most deprived locality in England, we conducted a cross-sectional service evaluation using electronic records of 302 PLWH attending the service between October 2018 and January 2019. The prevalence of MHCs amongst PLWH was 33.4% (101/302). Depression was the most prevalent MHC affecting 17.2% (52/302). Those of white ethnicity were at higher risk (odds ratio [OR] = 3.14; p  less then  0.01) of MHCs compared to black Asian and minority ethnic groups. Women were at higher risk of having an MHC (OR = 3.15; p  less then  0.01), and recreational drug use was also a significant factor (OR = 16.18; p = 0.01) associated with MHCs. There is sub-optimal access and heterogeneity in the modes of referral to mental health support services. Commissioning constraints will further detrimentally affect our ability to provide support in an already deprived area, thus widening health inequalities affecting the most vulnerable.BACKGROUND In prevention, sedentary behaviour and physical activity have been associated with risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Less is known about associations with utilization of hospital care. AIM To investigate whether physical activity level and sedentary behaviour prior to cardiac ward admission can predict utilization of hospital care and mortality among patients with cardiovascular disease. METHODS Longitudinal observational study including 1148 patients admitted and treated in cardiac wards in two hospitals. Subjective reports of physical activity levels and sedentary time prior to admission were collected during inpatient care and categorized as low, medium or high. The associations between physical activity level and sedentary time with hospital stay, readmission and mortality were analysed using linear, logistic and Cox regressions. RESULTS Median hospital stay was 2.1 days. One higher step in the physical activity level, or lower sedentary time, was related to an approximately 0.9 days shorter hospital stay. Sixty per cent of patients were readmitted to hospital. The risk of being readmitted was lower for individuals reporting high physical activity and low sedentary time (odds ratios ranging between 0.44 and 0.91). A total of 200 deaths occurred during the study. Mortality was lower among those with high and medium physical activity levels and low sedentary time (hazard ratios ranging between 0.36 and 0.90). CONCLUSION Both physical activity level and sedentary time during the period preceding hospitalization for cardiac events were predictors of hospital utilization and mortality. This highlights the prognostic value of assessing patients’ physical activity and sedentary behaviour.BACKGROUND Palliative care can improve outcomes for patients with advanced chronic heart failure and their families, but timely recognition of palliative care needs remains challenging. AIM The aim of this study was to identify characteristics of a tool to assess palliative care needs in chronic heart failure that are needed for successful implementation, according to patients, their family and healthcare professionals in The Netherlands. METHODS Explorative qualitative study, part of the project 'Identification of patients with HeARt failure with PC needs’ (I-HARP), focus groups and individual interviews were held with healthcare professionals, patients with chronic heart failure, and family members. Data were analysed using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. RESULTS A total of 13 patients, 10 family members and 26 healthcare professionals participated. Direct-content analysis revealed desired tool characteristics for successful implementation in four constructs relative advantage, adaptability, complexity, and design quality and packaging.