Biological Nature Research Articles

Utilization of Low Cost Biofertilizers for Adsorptive Removal of Congo Red Dye.

Presence of colors, organic surface finishing agents and surfactants in textile industry effluent makes it highly detrimental for surrounding environment. Hence the effluent from textile industry needs treatment for removal of these colors, organic and inorganic components before its disposal. Hence applicability of low cost and environmental friendly biosorbents, Azospirillium biofertilizer and Rhizobium biofertilizer were investigated for removal of Congo red dye. Batch experimentation was carried out to check operating parameters like, temperature, dose of adsorbent, pH, agitation speed, contact time and initial concentration. The biosorption capacity for Congo red dye was 67.114 and 101.01mg/g, for Azospirillium biofertilizer and Rhizobium biofertilizer, respectively at optimized parameters. RL factor was 0.558 and 0.568 for Azospirillium biofertilizer and Rhizobium biofertilizer. The data showed combination of interaction-based separation through better fitting of Langmuir isotherm compared to Freundlich. Its separation is well described by Pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion model. Adsorption was favorable at lower temperature suggesting exothermic and spontaneous nature. Reusability for Azospirillium biofertilizer and Rhizobium biofertilizer was checked for 25mg/land. While the biological nature of Azospirillium and Rhizobium biofertilizer makes removal of Congo red dye environmentally benign.

Holographic Recording of Unslanted Volume Transmission Gratings in Acrylamide/Propargyl Acrylate Hydrogel Layers: Towards Nucleic Acids Biosensing.

The role of volume hydrogel holographic gratings as optical transducers in sensor devices for point-of-care applications is increasing due to their ability to be functionalized for achieving enhanced selectivity. The first step in the development of these transducers is the optimization of the holographic recording process. The optimization aims at achieving gratings with reproducible diffraction efficiency, which remains stable after reiterative washings, typically required when working with analytes of a biological nature or several step tests. The recording process of volume phase transmission gratings within Acrylamide/Propargyl Acrylate hydrogel layers reported in this work was successfully performed, and the obtained diffraction gratings were optically characterized. Unslanted volume transmission gratings were recorded in the hydrogel layers diffraction efficiencies; up to 80% were achieved. Additionally, the recorded gratings demonstrated stability in water after multiple washing steps. The hydrogels, after functionalization with oligonucleotide probes, yields a specific hybridization response, recognizing the complementary strand as demonstrated by fluorescence. Analyte-sensitive hydrogel layers with holographic structures are a promising candidate for the next generation of in vitro diagnostic tests.

Study of reasons for discarding whole blood and its components in a blood bank in a rural tertiary care teaching hospital in Maharashtra

Abstract Introduction: Each unit of blood is valuable; thus, it must be used as efficiently as possible with the least amount of waste. Supply of blood in an emergency requires stringent storage conditions with quality checked and should be available at the time of demand to the needy. So blood banks play a vital role in this demand-supply process. On the other hand, because of the biological nature of blood, it is very vulnerable to contamination by infections, early expiry and hemolysis. The purpose of this study was to determine the reasons for the wastage of blood and blood components. Materials and Methods: At our tertiary care teaching hospital blood bank we conducted a retrospective analysis of data of all whole blood and blood component samples collected from January 2013 to December 2020. Results: 391 (9%) of the 4022 entire blood bags collected were discarded 132 (32%) of them were eliminated due to hemolysis and lipolysis and the same 32% expired due to completion of the life span of RBC. Sero-reactivity for TTI or transfusion-transmitted diseases was 22.4% and only 13% were rejected for use because of some leakage or inadequate quantity of blood in the bag. Conclusion: An adequately conducted donor screening, notification and counseling of permanently deferred donors will help in discarding less number of bags that are positive for different TTI. Properly implemented blood transfusion policies will help to utilize the blood components in a proper way resulting in discarding the number of blood bags due to expiry.

Physical Properties and Cellular Metabolic Characteristics of 3D Spheroids Are Possible Definitive Indices for the Biological Nature of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts.

The current study's objective was to elucidate some currently unknown biological indicators to evaluate the biological nature of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). For this purpose, four different CAFs, CAFS1, CAFS2, SCC17F and MO-1000, were established using surgical specimens from oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) with different clinical malignant stages (CAFS1 and CAFS2, T2N0M0, stage II; SCC17F and MO-1000, T4aN2bM0, stage IVA). Fibroblasts unrelated to cancer (non-CAFs) were also prepared and used as controls. Initially, confirmation that these four fibroblasts were indeed CAFs was obtained by their mRNA expression using positive and negative markers for the CAF or fibroblasts. To elucidate possible unknown biological indicators, these fibroblasts were subjected to a cellular metabolic analysis by a Seahorse bioanalyzer, in conjugation with 3D spheroid cultures of the cells and co-cultures with a pancreas ductal carcinoma cell line, MIA PaCa-2. The mitochondrial and glycolytic functions of human orbital fibroblasts (HOF) were nearly identical to those of Graves'-disease-related HOF (GOF). In contrast, the characteristics of the metabolic functions of these four CAFs were different from those of human conjunctival fibroblasts (HconF), a representative non-CAF. It is particularly noteworthy that CAFS1 and CAFS2 showed markedly reduced ratios for the rate of oxygen consumption to the extracellular acidification rate, suggesting that glycolysis was enhanced compared to mitochondrial respiration. Similarly, the physical aspects, their appearance and stiffness, of their 3D spheroids and fibroblasts that were induced effects based on the cellular metabolic functions of MIA PaCa-2 were also different between CAFs and non-CAFs, and their levels for CAFS1 or SCC17F were similar to those for CAFS2 or MO-1000 cells, respectively. The findings reported herein indicate that cellular metabolic functions and the physical characteristics of these types of 3D spheroids may be valuable and useful indicators for estimating potential biological diversity among various CAFs.

Monkeypox Virus: A Comprehensive Overview of Viral Pathology, Immune Response, and Antiviral Strategies.

The years 2022-2023 witnessed a monkeypox virus (mpox) outbreak in some countries worldwide, where it exists in an endemic form. However, the number of infectious cases is continuously on the rise, and there has been an unexpected, drastic increase in cases that result from sustained transmission in non-endemic regions of the world. Under this scenario, it is pertinent for the world to be aware of healthcare threats to mpox infection. This review aimed to compile advanced data regarding the different aspects of mpox disease. A comprehensive strategy for the compilation of recent data was adopted to add data regarding mpox, biology, viral pathology, immune response, and brief details on the antiviral strategies under trial; the search was limited to 2016-2023. The aim is to make the scientific community aware of diverse aspects of mpox. Consequently, detailed insights have been drawn with regard to the nature, epidemiology, etiology, and biological nature of mpox. Additionally, its host interaction and viral infectious cycle and immune interventions have been briefly elaborated. This comprehensively drawn literature review delivers brief insights into the biological nature, immune responses, and clinical developments in the form of therapeutics against mpox. This study will help scientists understand the biological nature and responses in hosts, which will further help clinicians with therapeutic handling, diagnosis, and treatment options. This study will provide updated information on mpox's pathology, immune responses, and antiviral strategies. Moreover, it will also help the public to become educated on the healthcare-associated threat and take timely mitigation measures against expected mpox outbreaks in the future.

Viral protein-based nanoparticles (part 2): Pharmaceutical applications

Viral protein nanoparticles (ViP NPs) such as virus-like particles and virosomes are structures halfway between viruses and synthetic nanoparticles. The biological nature of ViP NPs endows them with the biocompatibility, biodegradability, and functional properties that many synthetic nanoparticles lack. At the same time, the absence of a viral genome avoids the safety concerns of viruses. Such characteristics of ViP NPs offer a myriad of opportunities for theirapplication at several points across disease development: from prophylaxis to diagnosis and treatment. ViP NPs present remarkable immunostimulant properties, and thus the vaccination field has benefited the most from these platforms capable of overcoming the limitations of both traditional and subunit vaccines. This was reflected in the marketing authorization of several VLP- and virosome-based vaccines. Besides, ViP NPs inherit the ability of viruses to deliver their cargo to target cells. Because of that, ViP NPs are promising candidates as vectors for drug and gene delivery, and for diagnostic applications. In this review, we analyze the pharmaceutical applications of ViP NPs, describing the products that are commercially available or under clinical evaluation, but also the advances that scientists are making toward the implementation of ViP NPs in other areas of major pharmaceutical interest.

Children’s Essentialist Beliefs About Weight

ABSTRACT Striking weight biases emerge early in development, yet cognitive-developmental research has largely ignored weight as a social characteristic of interest. How do children conceive of weight? In particular, do children hold essentialist views of weight (i.e. do they view weight as natural, stable, inductively meaningful, and reflective of people’s insides) as they do of so many other social characteristics? We conducted an exploratory investigation of children’s weight essentialism across two studies. In total, 356 participants (280 4- to 11-year-old children and 76 adults from the United States, mostly White and from middle- to high-income families) participated in three tasks, respectively assessing three dimensions of essentialism of social categories: Beliefs about weight stability, heritability, and inductive potential despite transformation. Results revealed that children viewed weight as stable (similarly so to race) and informative of someone’s food choices, but they did not view it as biologically- or genetically-determined. Thus, children may not view weight as reflecting people’s biological nature (biological essentialism), but they may view weight as reflecting people’s stable personal character (moral essentialism) – a view which is also highly compatible with weight bias, unlike biological essentialism. Children also demonstrated stronger essentialist views of lightness than heaviness across tasks, though essentialism of heaviness increased over development. Findings are discussed as they relate to early conceptions of weight and weight bias. Implications for conceptualizations and measurement of essentialism are also discussed.

The Movement of Female Journalists in News Coverage in Indonesia

The world of media and the journalistic profession tend to be dominated by men, which can be called a macho atmosphere. The list of names of journalists known to the public are mostly filled by men. In contrast, for female workers, they are often placed in a more relaxed role as presenters in the studio or as editors who work behind the scenes. many places and opportunities, women often face injustice in society. The role of women is limited to sectors that are considered in accordance with their biological nature, belief system and certain culture, which causes gender inequality and injustice. This research method uses literature review and looks at existing cases and news.

ProtoCell4P: an explainable prototype-based neural network for patient classification using single-cell RNA-seq.

The rapid advance in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology over the past decade has provided a rich resource of gene expression profiles of single cells measured on patients, facilitating the study of many biological questions at the single-cell level. One intriguing research is to study the single cells which play critical roles in the phenotypes of patients, which has the potential to identify those cells and genes driving the disease phenotypes. To this end, deep learning models are expected to well encode the single-cell information and achieve precise prediction of patients' phenotypes using scRNA-seq data. However, we are facing critical challenges in designing deep learning models for classifying patient samples due to (i) the samples collected in the same dataset contain a variable number of cells-some samples might only have hundreds of cells sequenced while others could have thousands of cells, and (ii) the number of samples available is typically small and the expression profile of each cell is noisy and extremely high-dimensional. Moreover, the black-box nature of existing deep learning models makes it difficult for the researchers to interpret the models and extract useful knowledge from them. We propose a prototype-based and cell-informed model for patient phenotype classification, termed ProtoCell4P, that can alleviate problems of the sample scarcity and the diverse number of cells by leveraging the cell knowledge with representatives of cells (called prototypes), and precisely classify the patients by adaptively incorporating information from different cells. Moreover, this classification process can be explicitly interpreted by identifying the key cells for decision making and by further summarizing the knowledge of cell types to unravel the biological nature of the classification. Our approach is explainable at the single-cell resolution which can identify the key cells in each patient's classification. The experimental results demonstrate that our proposed method can effectively deal with patient classifications using single-cell data and outperforms the existing approaches. Furthermore, our approach is able to uncover the association between cell types and biological classes of interest from a data-driven perspective. https://github.com/Teddy-XiongGZ/ProtoCell4P.

Recent advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: Evidence update of surgical concept, risk stratification, and BCG-treated disease.

In the management of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), disease progression and long-term control are determined by the intensity of delivered treatment and surveillance and the cancer cells' biological nature. This requires risk stratification-based postoperative management, such as intravesical instillation of chemotherapy drugs, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), and radical cystectomy. Advancements in mechanical engineering, molecular biology, and surgical skills have evolved the clinical management of NMIBC. In this review, we describe the updated evidence and perspectives regarding the following aspects: (1) advancements in surgical concepts, techniques, and devices for transurethral resection of the bladder tumor; (2) advancements in risk stratification tools for NMIBC; and (3) advancements in treatment strategies for BCG-treated NMIBC. Repeat transurethral resection, en-bloc transurethral resection, and enhanced tumor visualization, including photodynamic diagnosis and narrow-band imaging, help reduce residual cancer cells, provide accurate diagnosis and staging, and sensitive detection, which are the first essential steps for cancer cure. Risk stratification should always be updated and improved because the treatment strategy changes over time. The BCG-treated disease concept has recently diversified to include BCG failure, resistance, refractory, unresponsiveness, exposure, and intolerance. A BCG-unresponsive disease is an extremely aggressive subset unlikely to respond to a rechallenge with BCG. Numerous ongoing clinical trials aim to develop a future bladder-sparing approach for very high-risk BCG-naïve NMIBC and BCG-unresponsive NMIBC. The key to improving the quality of patient care lies in the continuous efforts to overcome the clinical limitations of bedside management.

Fusion transcriptome profiling defines the monoclonal origin of multifocal epithelioid haemangioma of bone.

Epithelioid haemangioma (EH) of bone remains a highly controversial entity. Indeed, the WHO classifies EHs of soft tissues as benign tumours, whereas bone EHs are considered intermediate-locally aggressive tumours due to common multifocal presentation and local destructive growth. To gain insights into theclinical behaviour and biology of EH of bone we retrospectively analysed 42 patients treated in a single institution from 1978 to 2021. Multifocal presentation was detected in 17 of 42 patients (40%) primarily as synchronous lesions. Patients were treated with curettage (57%), resection (29%) or biopsy, followed by radiotherapy or embolisation (14%). Follow-up (minimum 24 months) was available for 38 patients, with only five local recurrences (13%) and no death of disease. To clarify whether the synchronous bone lesions in multifocal EH represent multicentric disease or clonal dissemination, four cases were profiled by RNA-sequencing. Separate lesions from the same patient, which showed a similar transcriptional profile, expressed the same fusion transcript (involving FOS or FOSB) with identical gene breakpoints. These results indicate that, in EH of bone, multifocal lesions are clonally related and therefore represent the spread of a same neoplastic clone rather than simultaneous independent tumours. This finding is in apparent contradiction with the benign clinical course of the disease, and suggests that tumour dissemination in bone EH probably reflects a phenomenon of passive spreading, with tumour cells colonising distal sites while maintaining their benign biological nature.

Diversity and distribution of microbial communities on the surface of External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS) facades in residential buildings

External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS) are frequently used to enhance the energy efficiency of the built environment. However, stains of presumable biological nature are often detected shortly after application, causing cladding defacement and altering the building aesthetics. To address which microbiota could contribute to these biodeterioration related color/aesthetic anomalies, samples collected from stains detected on the surface of building facades with ETICS in three residential sites in Lisbon, Portugal, were analyzed through microbiological culture-dependent technique and culture-independent amplicon DNA high throughput sequencing taxonomic profiling. The obtained data provided a comprehensive description of microbial communities assigned to diverse taxa of the major microbial groups of heterotrophic bacteria, fungi, cyanobacteria, and microalgae (through DNA plastid detection) in the sampled stains. Based on that, we propose that new microorganisms could be added to the list of bio-susceptibility testing organisms in ETICS. Furthermore, microbiota diversity depended more on facade location and cardinal orientation than on ETICS material composition. Overall, this study reveals the unique microbial communities of color/aesthetic biodeterioration stains in ETICS facades, unlike those of other surfaces, and the associated environmental dynamics.

VAMP8 suppresses the metastasis via DDX5/β-catenin signal pathway in osteosarcoma

ABSTRACT Osteosarcoma is a highly metastatic malignant bone tumor, necessitating the development of new treatments to target its metastasis. Recent studies have revealed the significance of VAMP8 in regulating various signaling pathways in various types of cancer. However, the specific functional role of VAMP8 in osteosarcoma progression remains unclear. In this study, we observed a significant downregulation of VAMP8 in osteosarcoma cells and tissues. Low levels of VAMP8 in osteosarcoma tissues were associated with patients’ poor prognosis. VAMP8 inhibited the migration and invasion capability of osteosarcoma cells. Mechanically, we identified DDX5 as a novel interacting partner of VAMP8, and the conjunction of VAMP8 and DDX5 promoted the degradation of DDX5 via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Moreover, reduced levels of DDX5 led to the downregulation of β-catenin, thereby suppressing the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Additionally, VAMP8 promoted autophagy flux, which may contribute to the suppression of osteosarcoma metastasis. In conclusion, our study anticipated that VAMP8 inhibits osteosarcoma metastasis by promoting the proteasomal degradation of DDX5, consequently inhibiting WNT/β-catenin signaling and EMT. Dysregulation of autophagy by VAMP8 is also implicated as a potential mechanism. These findings provide new insights into the biological nature driving osteosarcoma metastasis and highlight the modulation of VAMP8 as a potential therapeutic strategy for targeting osteosarcoma metastasis.

CASES OF CRIMES COMMITTED BY PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM SCHIZOPHRENIA AN ATTEMPT TO BRING THE PROBLEM CLOSER

The article presents in detail the issue of punishable criminal acts in the course of severe, especially untreated schizophrenia. Psychiatric and legal awareness is high among experts, while stereotypes and myths that harm calm people with schizophrenia, who outnumber aggressive ones, still exist in wide circles of society. Just like among the healthy, i.e. mentally normalized, there are crimes, so also in the population of schizophrenics, who constitute only 1% of the population, there are statistically cases of aggression. Most often, patients commit prohibited acts after discontinuing pharmacological treatment, which, according to the unanimous opinion of psychiatrists, should be the basis of therapy for this disease. Also very often the families and friends of schizophrenic people deny the biological nature of schizophrenia and persuade them to discontinue or reduce the dose of medication, which in most cases ends in exacerbation or even full-blown relapse. A patient who, under the influence of the most frequently heard whispers and voices in the head (auditory hallucinations, the most common hallucination in schizophrenia), which tell him to kill himself and/or someone else, is often not sane at all, commanded by commanding voices and cannot go to prison where his mental state would deteriorate further. Compulsory treatment is the only way to protect the life and health of both the patient and people around them. The only way to prevent crimes in schizophrenia, especially the most serious ones (murder, rape, robbery), is psychoeducation of the society in the basic knowledge of psychopathology and the acquisition of a healthy habit of not being indifferent, but reacting to any disturbing signals.

An insight into the functional genomics and species classification of Eudiplozoon nipponicum (Monogenea, Diplozoidae), a haematophagous parasite of the common carp Cyprinus carpio

BackgroundMonogenea (Platyhelminthes, Neodermata) are the most species-rich class within the Neodermata superclass of primarily fish parasites. Despite their economic and ecological importance, monogenean research tends to focus on their morphological, phylogenetic, and population characteristics, while comprehensive omics analyses aimed at describing functionally important molecules are few and far between. We present a molecular characterisation of monogenean representative Eudiplozoon nipponicum, an obligate haematophagous parasite infecting the gills of the common carp. We report its nuclear and mitochondrial genomes, present a functional annotation of protein molecules relevant to the molecular and biochemical aspect of physiological processes involved in interactions with the fish hosts, and re-examinate the taxonomic position of Eudiplozoon species within the Diplozoidae family.ResultsWe have generated 50.81 Gbp of raw sequencing data (Illumina and Oxford Nanopore reads), bioinformatically processed, and de novo assembled them into a genome draft 0.94 Gbp long, consisting of 21,044 contigs (N50 = 87 kbp). The final assembly represents 57% of the estimated total genome size (~ 1.64 Gbp), whereby repetitive and low-complexity regions account for ~ 64% of the assembled length. In total, 36,626 predicted genes encode 33,031 proteins and homology-based annotation of protein-coding genes (PCGs) and proteins characterises 14,785 (44.76%) molecules. We have detected significant representation of functional proteins and known molecular functions. The numbers of peptidases and inhibitors (579 proteins), characterised GO terms (16,016 unique assigned GO terms), and identified KEGG Orthology (4,315 proteins) acting in 378 KEGG pathways demonstrate the variety of mechanisms by which the parasite interacts with hosts on a macromolecular level (immunomodulation, feeding, and development). Comparison between the newly assembled E. nipponicum mitochondrial genome (length of 17,038 bp) and other diplozoid monogeneans confirms the existence of two distinct Eudiplozoon species infecting different fish hosts: Cyprinus carpio and Carassius spp.ConclusionsAlthough the amount of sequencing data and characterised molecules of monogenean parasites has recently increased, a better insight into their molecular biology is needed. The E. nipponicum nuclear genome presented here, currently the largest described genome of any monogenean parasite, represents a milestone in the study of monogeneans and their molecules but further omics research is needed to understand these parasites’ biological nature.

Altruism as an anthropological-biological determinant of the contractual regulation of relations

The application of the anthropological and sociological research approach, according to which the patterns of emergence, existence and development of law are determined exclusively by the social dimension of human existence, actually leaves out of consideration the biological nature of the creator of legal norms. And this nature, as confirmed by the results of numerous studies of the behaviour of various social animals, significantly affects the social existence of the latter. Therefore, for the sake of comprehensive knowledge of these regularities, an anthropological and biological approach (based on the recognition of the evolutionary nature of humans and the conditioning of the state and law by certain biological properties of the human individual) should also be applied. This will contribute to interdisciplinary research and the development of legal science based on them.The article is devoted to individual manifestations of human biological nature, namely altruism as an anthropological-biological determinant of contractual regulation of social relations. The concepts and types of this determinant are clarified, and the signs of kin and reciprocal altruism are characterized. It is substantiated that the latter contributes to the spread of social ties and the establishment of norms of physical behaviour. The dependence between the manifestation of altruistic behaviour, the emergence of contractual relations and their regulation in both animals and humans has been demonstrated. A parallel is made with the psychological theory of law of L. Petrażyсki regarding the justification of the emergence of legal relations, in particular, in the field of private contracts. It was concluded that imperative-attributive emotions in the concept of this theorist are a manifestation of mutual altruism. It is noted that altruistic behaviour is aimed at the creating and recognising of protonorms, in particular, the emergence of duties and corresponding rights of a contractual nature. Therefore, the study of individual manifestations of altruism in the environments of animals and people can be useful for deepening the knowledge of the origins of legal regulation.

A Biopsychosocial Instrument to Study and Intervene in the Complexity of Changes and Stability of Family and Community System Health: The Genogram

The genogram is a tool that can be used by health professionals to provide a comprehensive, holistic picture of the client and his environment. The realization of the genogram in medicine allows recognizing, clarifying and expanding information on risks and health problems in the individual and the family, both of a biological, psychological and social nature. This has beneficial implications for the doctor-patient relationship, for diagnosis, treatment, long-term follow-up of the patient, prognosis, screening, preventive care, focus on care of those most at risk, and to implement proactive assessment and educational programs. The genogram has also applications on preventive medicine and public health, to identify pathways of transmission in epidemiological studies, and it is a biomedical, health economics and public health research tool, as well as a qualitative research method. The genogram is a tool that connects individual care with community care. The exercise of community medicine in general medicine is "contextual medicine", which means knowing, sharing, intervening on the connections in the patient's relational matrix. Physicians, patients, community and Health Public system benefit from the thorough histories collected by genograms.

Main directions for improving public health legislation in Russia

The subject.A comprehensive study of Russian legislation in the field of biological safety indicates the need to update and systematize the legal framework for protecting the health of citizens and ensuring the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population as an important part of the mechanism of legal regulation of the national security of the Russian Federation. The purposeof the article is to confirm or refute hypothesis that there is a possibility and necessity of systematization and codification of public health legislation.The methodology.The authors analyze the practice of applying international law acts regulating the prevention of the spread of dangerous infectious diseases, the conclusions and recommendations of the WHO, the UN and other international organizations, as well as Russian public health legislation.The main results,scope of application. The current problems of Russian public health legislation are investigated, problems, prospects and main directions for its improvement are considered. The issues of theory and practice of legal regulation of public administration in conditions of emergency situations of a biological nature, topical aspects of strategic planning in the field of ensuring the epidemiological safety of regions are studied. Based on the results of a study of the current state of public health legislation, the main directions for its improvement and prospects for further development are substantiated, the position of the authors on the systematization and possible codification of sectoral legislation is presented. Conclusions. Codification of public health legislation is necessary, taking into account the new goals and objectives of the strategy for ensuring biological safety, the experience of applying domestic and international health regulations in a pandemic. This type of systematization of legal norms seems to be the most appropriate for improving the efficiency of the system for ensuring the sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population of the Russian Federation.

FIGO staging of endometrial cancer: 2023.

Many advances in the understanding of the pathologic and molecular features of endometrial cancer have occurred since the FIGO staging was last updated in 2009. Substantially more outcome and biological behavior data are now available regarding the several histological types. Molecular and genetic findings have accelerated since the publication of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data and provide improved clarity on the diverse biological nature of this collection of endometrial cancers and their differing prognostic outcomes. The goals of the new staging system are to better define these prognostic groups and create substages that indicate more appropriate surgical, radiation, and systemic therapies. The FIGO Women's Cancer Committee appointed a Subcommittee on Endometrial Cancer Staging in October 2021, represented by the authors. Since then, the committee members have met frequently and reviewed new and established evidence on the treatment, prognosis, and survival of endometrial cancer. Based on these data, opportunities for improvements in the categorization and stratification of these factors were identified in each of the four stages. Data and analyses from the molecular and histological classifications performed and published in the recently developed ESGO/ESTRO/ESP guidelines were used as a template for adding the new subclassifications to the proposed molecular and histological staging system. Based on the existing evidence, the substages were defined as follows: Stage I (IA1): non-aggressive histological type of endometrial carcinoma limited to a polyp or confined to the endometrium; (IA2) non-aggressive histological types of endometrium involving less than 50% of the myometrium with no or focal lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) as defined by WHO criteria; (IA3) low-grade endometrioid carcinomas limited to the uterus with simultaneous low-grade endometrioid ovarian involvement; (IB) non-aggressive histological types involving 50% or more of the myometrium with no LVSI or focal LVSI; (IC) aggressive histological types, i.e. serous, high-grade endometrioid, clear cell, carcinosarcomas, undifferentiated, mixed, and other unusual types without any myometrial invasion. Stage II (IIA): non-aggressive histological types that infiltrate the cervical stroma; (IIB) non-aggressive histological types that have substantial LVSI; or (IIC) aggressive histological types with any myometrial invasion. Stage III (IIIA): differentiating between adnexal versus uterine serosa infiltration; (IIIB) infiltration of vagina/parametria and pelvic peritoneal metastasis; and (IIIC) refinements for lymph node metastasis to pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes, including micrometastasis and macrometastasis. Stage IV (IVA): locally advanced disease infiltrating the bladder or rectal mucosa; (IVB) extrapelvic peritoneal metastasis; and (IVC) distant metastasis. The performance of complete molecular classification (POLEmut, MMRd, NSMP, p53abn) is encouraged in all endometrial cancers. If the molecular subtype is known, this is recorded in the FIGO stage by the addition of "m" for molecular classification, and a subscript indicating the specific molecular subtype. When molecular classification reveals p53abn or POLEmut status in Stages I and II, this results in upstaging or downstaging of the disease (IICmp53abn or IAmPOLEmut ). The updated 2023 staging of endometrial cancer includes the various histological types, tumor patterns, and molecular classification to better reflect the improved understanding of the complex nature of the several types of endometrial carcinoma and their underlying biologic behavior. The changes incorporated in the 2023 staging system should provide a more evidence-based context for treatment recommendations and for the more refined future collection of outcome and survival data.

Abstract 15: Breast Cancer Patient Experiences in the Botswana Health System: Is it Time for Patient Navigators?

Abstract Purpose: New models of care are required to support women with breast cancer due to rising incidence and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. We evaluated experiences of breast cancer patients and their caregivers in Botswana to identify opportunities to improve service provision. Methods: Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were conducted to gather insights on the experiences of breast cancer patients navigating the healthcare system. A purposive sampling technique was employed to recruit participants from the oncology ward of Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone, Botswana. FGDs included 7 female breast cancer patients and 7 caregivers (2 male and 5 females). A semi-structured interview guide with probes was used to collect data. Results: Key emergent themes included patients’ experiences with healthcare professionals; delays in diagnosis; experiences with cancer treatment; information needs; views on cancer resources; the role of caregivers and attitudes towards cancer research. Patients reported experiencing poor communication or a lack of empathy from healthcare providers when receiving a diagnosis. Social support and spiritual beliefs were important to patients in handling the diagnosis. Delays in diagnosis were reported due to logistical challenges, poor appointment and referral systems, as well as delayed or missing laboratory results. Similar experiences with cancer treatment were reported including a lack of timely access to treatment and poor communication regarding chemotherapy and adverse effects. Patient and caregiver information needs, therefore, largely focused on a desire to understand chemotherapy side-effects and the biological nature of breast cancer. Discussions regarding availability of cancer resources revealed a lack of basic services to maximize patient comfort and difficulties accessing specialized cancer care infrastructure. Caregivers were found to have a largely positive role in providing emotional and practical support. Patients and caregivers appreciated the utility of cancer research in improving treatment. Conclusion: A number of barriers exist across the cascade of care for breast cancer patients in the Botswana health system. Although patient navigator programs may not address all barriers, they have potential utility in the context of improving communication, meeting information needs and providing emotional or practical support by addressing logistical barriers to cancer diagnosis and treatment in Botswana. Citation Format: Kirthana Sharma, Leyla Baghirova, G Gulubane, Shaheen Abkenari, Tapologo Leselwa, Morongwa Legwaila, Reena Antony, Refeletswe Lebelonyane, Peter Vuylsteke, Richard Marlink, Tendani Gaolathe, Tiny Masupe. Breast Cancer Patient Experiences in the Botswana Health System: Is it Time for Patient Navigators? [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 11th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; Closing the Research-to-Implementation Gap; 2023 Apr 4-6. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 15.