Christopher Baldwin

Intervening Early: Attendance and Performance Monitoring as a Trigger for First Year Support in the Biosciences.

Abstract A centralised system monitoring attendance and performance among first year students in Biomedical Sciences has been established at Newcastle University. Early signs of absence and poor performance trigger immediate intervention by academic staff, with the aim of providing support for students at risk of failure or withdrawal. Difficulties associated with monitoring attendance in large lecture classes are avoided by monitoring attendance only at ‘high stakes’ classes, namely practicals and seminars. Level of attendance at non-lecture classes was a predictor of academic achievement and the early intervention strategy was associated with improvements in attendance. Student perceptions of attendance monitoring were evaluated and found to be positive. Meeting with absent and underperforming students at the earliest possible opportunity has proved an effective way of promoting dialogue between staff and students who are experiencing difficulties.

Characterization of the Impaired Antipneumococcal Polysaccharide Antibody Production in Immunosuppressed Pediatric Patients Following Cardiac Transplantation

We previously have demonstrated impaired pneumococcal polysaccharide IgG antibody responses in children immunosuppressed following cardiac transplantation in early childhood. We have further characterized the antibody defect. To further investigate the production of antibody, anti-pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPS) specific IgM, IgG, IgG subclasses, and IgA were measured in postvaccination sera by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Two groups were studied: posttransplant children who made pneumococcal antibody in vivo following natural exposure or PPS immunization (R) and those with an impaired response (NR).There was no difference in IgM or IgA levels between R and NR. IgG and IgG2 levels were higher in R than NR (P = 0.002), even after adsorption of nonspecific common cell wall antigen antibody. Differences in anti-pneumococcal antibody levels suggest that immunoglobulin isotype switching from IgM to IgG and particularly IgG2 is impaired in patients immunosuppressed at a young age. These findings confirm data regarding the effect of immunosuppressive agents derived from animal models in humans.