Specific Populations Research Articles

A Panorama of Extracellular Vesicle Applications: From Biomarker Detection to Therapeutics.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by all cell types are involved in the cell-to-cell transfer of regulatory factors that influence cell and tissue phenotypes in normal and diseased tissues. EVs are thus a rich source of biomarker targets for assays that analyze blood and urinary EVs for disease diagnosis. Sensitive biomarker detection in EVs derived from specific cell populations is a key major hurdle when analyzing complex biological samples, but innovative approaches surveyed in this Perspective can streamline EV isolation and enhance the sensitivity of EV detection procedures required for clinical application of EV-based diagnostics and therapeutics, including nanotechnology and microfluidics, to achieve EV characterizations. Finally, this Perspective also outlines opportunities and challenges remaining for clinical translation of EV-based assays.

Facilitators and barriers to the development of giftedness in children

Giftedness can be interpreted as a multifactorial set of special abilities and skills, that the individual begins to express from an early developmental age. Many believe that the concept of giftedness goes beyond and includes not only IQ but also other factors. The purpose of this literature review is to collect recent data according to factors other than socio/cultural and economic that may influence the expression of giftedness in children. In the introduction giftedness is discussed according to several elements that may intervene in the acceptance of a universal definition and identification of this specific population and the main part explores several factors that may prevent giftedness through inhibition of cognitive and emotional aspects of daily living of children including children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

Abstract 122: Fusobacterium nucleatum in saliva of oral cancer patients induces tumor stemness defense phenotype in cancer stem cells

Abstract Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a highly aggressive cancer. Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) having cell surface markers CD44, ALDH, and EpCAM+ have been identified in OSCC. However, the host pathogen interaction between CSCs and oral microbiome has not yet been studied. A number of studies have recently demonstrated the presence of specific oral bacteria populations and their lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in the tumor microenvironment (1). We previously reported pathogenic bacterial internalization in the CSCs (2). Based on the findings, we have developed an in-vitro model to investigate how oral microbiota may integrate into the tumor microenvironment's CSC population and control its activity. Here, we investigated the host/pathogen interaction between CSCs and FN. Methods: Oral bacteria FN was selectively isolated using FEA agar plates from oral saliva of oral cancer patients (n=10) at stage 3 or 4. The isolated bacteria was co cultured with SCC 25 cells at MOI of 1:50. After co culturing the stemness genes such as SOX 2, OCT 4, Nanog,LPS and ABCG2+ cancer stem cell markers were analysed. ABCG2+ CSCs and ABCG2- cells were immunomagnetically sorted and lysed followed by RNA extraction and RT QPCR was performed to observe if FN has selectively internalised in the CSCs. Also ABCG2+ and ABCG 2- cells were used to perform clonogenic assay. Results: Coculture of FN with SCC 25 cell line induced high expression of stemness genes SOX, OCT 4 and Nanog along with CSC markers ABCG2+. Moreover high expression of LPS was observed indicating the presence of FN in the coculture. Importantly live bacteria was found internalized in ABCG2+ cells but not in ABCG2- cells. High clonogenicity was observed in ABCG2+ CSCs compared to ABCG2- cells. Notably, we found that live bacteria and their LPS, mostly Fusobacterium nucleatum isolated (FN) from clinical subjects, were capable of invading CSCs in the in-vitro setting. Post the host-pathogen interaction; it enabled the activation of a niche modulatory tumor stemness defense (TSD) phenotype in the CSCs. These aggressive CSCs with the TSD phenotype have been found to have a critical role in the progression and relapse of oral cancer. Conclusion: Expression of stemness genes infers the niche defence mechanism of the CSCs of the tumour microenvironment due to infection of FN. Importantly presence of live bacteria in ABCG2+ CSCs indicates that FN selectively infects ABCG2+ CSCs but not ABCG2- cells. High clonogenicity of ABCG2+ CSCs confirms the TSD phenotypic attributes of the CSCs.

Testing Cancer Patients for HIV: Just Do It

Who do we test for HIV? In a perfect world, the answer to this question is, “Everyone.” The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that anyone between the age of 13 to 64 years old should have at least one HIV test as part of routine healthcare. 1 In addition, they recommend that anyone who comes into contact with the healthcare system be tested, along with all pregnant women. The main justification for these recommendations is that 40% of new HIV infections in the United States are transmitted by people who do not know their HIV status, which is about 10% of their people living with HIV (PLHIV). 2
 In the Philippines, the testing gap is even wider. Out of an estimated 160,000 PLHIV in 2022, only 102,931 PLHIV were tested and diagnosed. This translates to nearly 40% of all Filipino PLHIV remaining undiagnosed and potentially infecting others. 3 The testing coverage for the most-at-risk populations in the Philippines remains dismal at 67% for female sex workers (FSW), 28% for men who have sex with men (MSM), and 27% for persons who inject drugs (PWID). Successfully addressing the HIV epidemic begins at diagnosis, and so improving testing is of paramount importance.
 There are two major compelling public health reasons to test people for HIV. First is to start life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART) as soon as possible. The sooner a PLHIV starts ART and stays on it, the more life years are recovered up to nearly restoring life expectancy. 4 The second reason is to eliminate the risk of transmission to other people. Starting ART and achieving a suppressed viral load renders a PLHIV virtually unable to transmit. 5
 In this issue of the journal, Poblete and his colleagues6 try to make the case for universal HIV screening of Filipino cancer patients. While they did not find any HIV cases among the 124 patients they screened, they did note that risk factors among the study population were low. They still encouraged physicians to offer HIV screening to all cancer patients given the overwhelming benefits of treatment.
 Targeted versus universal HIV screening has been a long ongoing academic debate and there are pros and cons supporting each approach. 7 A low overall prevalence like in the Philippines will be associated with higher costs per case detected with universal screening, but this could potentially be offset by the cost of missed cases in targeted screening. The CDC in past guidance has asserted that universal HIV screening in a specific risk population with an HIV prevalence of at least 0.1% is cost-effective. However, it eventually updated this guidance, urging universal screening regardless of risk factors or prevalence due to the clear benefits of early antiretroviral therapy both from an improved survival and decreased transmission standpoint. 1 In 2010, we did a study doing universal screening on cervical cancer patients and found no cases of HIV among 394 subjects at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). 8 However, we do have several PLHIV with cervical cancer in the SAGIP clinic in PGH. The failure to capture these patients in the study could be due to several reasons, including an underpowered sample size, poor random sampling, or those with higher risk factors declined to participate due to stigma. In a parallel study, we found no HIV cases in 400 pregnant women. 9 Despite this finding, universal screening among pregnant women continues to be recommended and is needed to eliminate maternal to child transmission of HIV.
 There are more aspects to consider in recommending an HIV test beyond cost-effectiveness, underlying prevalence, and risk factors. Many infectious diseases physicians, including myself, recommend universal HIV screening for all cancer patients, especially those who are going to undergo chemotherapy regardless of risk factors. Given the severe immunosuppression that results from chemotherapy, the presence of an undetected HIV diagnosis can result in catastrophic medical consequences. Furthermore, certain AIDS-defining illness such as Kaposi’s sarcoma and lymphomas respond to treatment much better once antiretrovirals have been started.
 Studies like Poblete et al. 6 are ultimately useful for periodic surveillance to check whether the prevalence of HIV in special populations is increasing, but negative findings from these studies should not be seen as a reason to defer HIV testing in this population. The benefits of HIV screening in cancer patients far outweigh any drawbacks, given the tremendous public health benefits of early diagnosis. We still have a long way to go in finding all the PLHIV in our country, and any opportunity to test is an opportunity to save a life.

Health-related quality of life measured using the EQ-5D-3L: iranian population norms

ABSTRACT Background Normative values are valuable for comparing a specific population with the general population, making them particularly useful in disease burden studies and cost-effectiveness analysis. The objective of this study was to estimate HRQoL normative values for the EQ-5D measure in Iran. Methods The analysis was performed using a sample (n = 27,704) of the Iranian adult population, which was extracted from a nationwide survey conducted in 2021. Participants assessed their health-related quality of life using the EQ-5D-3 L instrument and a visual analogue scale (EQ VAS). Multivariable regression analyses were performed to examine the relationships between utility scores, EQ VAS scores, and various socio-demographic factors. Results The mean utility and EQ VAS scores of the total sample were 0.87 (95% CI: 0.86, 0.88) and 72.9 (95% CI: 72.7, 73.1), respectively. Almost half of the respondents (46.8%) reported a health state without any problems. The most prevalent problems were pain/discomfort (38.3%) and anxiety/depression (35.2%). Furthermore, EQ-5D values and EQ VAS scores were associated with gender, age, employment status, education level, marital status, and chronic illness. Conclusions This study provided normative values for the general population in Iran. Policymakers and researchers can use these values as a reference for population norms in economic assessments and studies focusing on the population’s health.

Ten-year results from the UK National Ligament Registry: Patient characteristics and factors predicting nonresponders for completion of outcome scores.

The aim of this study was to report the demographic and mechanism of injury data in the UK National Ligament Registry (NLR) at 10 years and determine factors leading to poor compliance with completion of Patient-Reported Outcome Scores (PROMs). A retrospective review was performed for prospectively collected data on the NLR between January 2013 and December 2022. All patients who underwent primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) were included. Patient demographics, mechanism of injury and patient compliance with completing PROMs were analysed. Patient characteristics were further analysed in relation to compliance with completing the different PROMs at the predefined time points. Patients were identified as nonresponders if they had not completed either 1- or 2-year postoperative Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). A total of 17,492 patients were included in this study. The average age for patients undergoing ACLR between 2013 and 2022 was 29.4 (SD, 10.3). Seventy percent were men and 30% women. Football was the most common activity associated with an ACL injury. Patient compliance with recording PROMs was 55% preoperatively and 37%, 32% and 24% at 1-, 2- and 5-year postoperative follow-up, respectively. Nonresponders represented 54% of eligible patients. Multivariate analyses showed that sex, age, smoking, time interval between injury and surgery and low socioeconomic status were associated with low compliance with postoperative PROM completion (p < 0.001). This study reports the demographic characteristics for patients on the NLR since 2013. Male sex, young age, increased waiting time between injury and surgery, smoking and lower socioeconomic class were predictors of low compliance with completion of postoperative PROMs on the UK NLR. Understanding the factors that affect patient compliance with PROMs improves our ability to provide targeted interventions and information to specific patient populations with the aim of enhancing inclusiveness and representation of population in the registry. Level III.

Lipid-lowering drug targets and lung related diseases: a Mendelian randomization study

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES This genetics-based study aimed to evaluate the relationships of long-term lipid-lowering agents on lung-related diseases (LRD) outcomes. METHODS We extracted genetic variations of six drug target genes from a major genome-wide association study of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in individuals predominantly of European ancestry to represent the effects of LDL-C-lowering treatment. We conducted drug-targeted Mendelian randomization and utilized a range of outcomes to capture evidence of adverse side effects related to the inhibition of the gene. RESULTS Our study did not find any significant association between genetically proxied APOB, CETP, HMGCR, NPCIL, PCSK9, and LDLR inhibition (equivalent to a one standard deviation reduction in LDL-C) with the risk of Small Cell Lung Cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and Pneumonia (P > 0.05). However, long-term inhibition of NPC1L that mimics the use of statin drugs may have contradictory effects on pulmonary edema (OR = 0.508, 95%CI = 0.328–0.786,P = 0.002) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR = 1.524, 95%CI = 1.099–2.115, P = 0.012). A series of sensitivity analyses and positive control analyses have been conducted to confirm the reliability of the results. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, this study reveals inconsistent associations between genetic proxy inhibition of APOB, CETP, HMGCR, NPCIL, PCSK9 and LDLR with LRD in specific populations.

Pressure Support Ventilation Versus T-piece as Spontaneous Breathing Trials for Extubation of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Weaning patients with COPD from mechanical ventilation (MV) presents a challenge, as literature on this topic is limited. This study compares PSV and T-piece during spontaneous breathing trials (SBT) in this specific population. A search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane in September 2023 yielded four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) encompassing 560 patients. Among these, 287 (51%) used T-piece during SBTs. The PSV group demonstrated a significant improvement in the successful extubation rate compared to the T-piece (risk ratio [RR] 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.26; p = 0.02). Otherwise, there was no statistically significant difference in the reintubation (RR 1.07; 95% CI 0.79-1.45; p = 0.67) or the ICU mortality rates (RR 0.99; 95% CI 0.63-1.55; p = 0.95). Although PSV in SBTs exhibits superior extubation success, consistent weaning protocols warrant further exploration through additional studies.

A Novel Polymer Nanoparticle Polydimethyl Diallyl Ammonium Chloride as An Adjuvant Enhances the Immune Response of SARS-CoV-2 Subunit Vaccine.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has a significant impact on global health and the economy. It has underscored the urgent need for a stable, easily produced and effective vaccine. This study presents a novel approach using SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein-conjugated nanoparticles (NPs) in combination with cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) (S-NPs-cGAMP) as a subunit vaccine. When mice are immunized, the antiserum of S-NPs-cGAMP group exhibits a 16-fold increase in neutralizing activity against a pseudovirus, compared to S protein group. Additionally, S-NPs-cGAMP induces even higher levels of neutralizing antibodies. Remarkably, the vaccine also triggers a robust humoral immune response, as evidenced by a notable elevation in virus-specific IgG and IgM antibodies. Furthermore, after 42 days of immunization, there is an observed increase in specific immune cell populations in the spleen. CD3+ CD4+ and CD3+ CD8+ T lymphocytes, as well as B220+ CD19+ and CD3- CD49b+ NK lymphocytes, show an upward trend, indicating a positive cellular immune response. Moreover, the S-NPs-cGAMP demonstrates promising results against the Delta strain and exhibits good cross-neutralization potential against other variants. These findings suggest that pDMDAAC NPs is potential adjuvant and could serve as a versatile platform for future vaccine development.

Analysis of the differences in the characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells derived from jaw and long bones based on single-cell RNA-sequencing

Objective: To study the whole bone marrow cellular composition of jaw and long bones, and further analyze the heterogeneity of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from these two tissue, aiming at exploring the differences in functional characteristics of bone MSCs from different lineage sources. Methods: The Seurat package of R language was used to analyze the mandibular and femur whole bone marrow single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets in the literature, and the subpopulations were annotated by reference to the marker genes reported by previous studies. The differentially expressed genes between mandible-derived MSCs (M-MSCs) and femur-derived MSCs (F-MSCs) were calculated, and cell-cell communication analysis between M-MSCs or F-MSCs with other cell populations was performed. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed on up-regulated and down-regulated differentially expressed genes of M-MSCs, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was performed on M-MSCs or F-MSCs. Results: cRNA-seq analysis showed that the mandible and femur had the same bone marrow cell composition, but there were differences in the proportion of specific cell populations. Also, there were significantly differentially expressed genes between M-MSCs and F-MSCs. In addition, cell-cell communication analysis revealed differences in numbers of ligand-receptor pairs between M-MSCs or F-MSCs with other cell populations. Furthermore, GO, KEGG and GSEA analysis showed that M-MSCs had higher extracellular matrix production potential than F-MSCs, but had lower ability to regulate other cells in the bone marrow, especially immune cells. Conclusions: M-MSCs and F-MSCs showed distinct differences in the gene expression pattern and up-regulated signaling pathways, which may be closely related to the developmental sources and functional characteristics of jaw and long bones.

Unlocking the power of motor imagery: a comprehensive review on its application in alleviating foot pain.

Motor imagery is a cognitive process that involves mentally simulating movements without physical execution. It has been studied in the context of foot pain to understand the role of motor cortical reorganization and its impact on motor imagery abilities. However, further research is needed to establish consistent evidence regarding the relationship between motor imagery and foot pain. This review analyzed five relevant articles that investigated motor imagery in the context of foot pain. The studies involved participants with various conditions, including leg amputation, chronic leg pain, complex regional pain syndrome, and Achilles tendinopathy. Different methodologies were employed, including motor cortical mapping, foot laterality recognition tasks, EEG recordings, and treatment interventions incorporating motor imagery. The findings indicated that individuals with leg amputation exhibited functional reorganization in upper limb motor cortical maps, with a breakdown in the inhibitory relationship between foot and hand representations. Participants with chronic leg pain demonstrated slower and less accurate performance on foot laterality recognition tasks compared to healthy controls. Complex regional pain syndrome patients displayed distinct motor imagery strategies and responded differently to first-person and third-person perspectives. EEG studies revealed differences in brain activity during motor imagery tasks under pain-free and pain conditions. Treatment interventions incorporating motor imagery showed promising outcomes in improving functional outcomes and reducing pain levels. Motor imagery plays a significant role in foot pain conditions, although the evidence is still emerging. The findings suggest that motor imagery abilities may be affected by leg amputation, chronic pain, and complex regional pain syndrome. Further research is needed to establish standardized protocols for assessing motor imagery, identify specific patient populations that may benefit most from motor imagery interventions, and explore long-term effects. Integrating motor imagery into clinical practice has the potential to enhance rehabilitation approaches and improve outcomes in foot pain management.

Development and Validation of the Adolescent and Children Risk of Abuse and Maltreatment Unaccompanied Scale (ACRAM-US)

AbstractIndependent migration of children and adolescents is becoming a political and social issue in recent years. Literature documents that the migration process of young people without an adult referent entail serious psychological problems. Moreover, the lack of coherence in the assessment and care processes aggravates the damage suffered by minors, which requires a greater investment of institutional resources. The aim of this research is to describe the development and provide psychometric properties of Adolescent and Children Risk of Abuse and Maltreatment Unaccompanied Scale (ACRAM-US), a 9-items scale for the assessment of risks factors of child abuse and neglect in the specific population of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and adolescents. Structural validity, reliability and convergent-related validity were studied for this measure in a sample of 128 unaccompanied children and adolescents. The sample included cases of 14 different nationalities. Children’s mean age was 16.94 (SD = 1.84), and 96.9% were male and 3.1% were female. Cases were informed by child welfare workers from different protective services in the XXXX Community (XXXX). The results of Exploratory Factor Analyses (EFA) indicate performance better solution with 2-dimensions which was also in line with theoretical formulation (χ2 = 31.55, df = 19, p = .035, CFI = 0.991, SRMR = 0.081, RMSEA = 0.072, [90% CI: 0.019 − 0.115]). Results of convergent validity showed significant correlation with the Children Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF). Therefore, this study provides data of the first scale that assess risks factors of maltreatment for the unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and adolescents.

Immune landscape and response to oncolytic virus-based immunotherapy.

Oncolytic virus (OV)-based immunotherapy has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer treatment, offering a unique potential to selectively target malignant cells while sparing normal tissues. However, the immunosuppressive nature of tumor microenvironment (TME) poses a substantial hurdle to the development of OVs as effective immunotherapeutic agents, as it restricts the activation and recruitment of immune cells. This review elucidates the potential of OV-based immunotherapy in modulating the immune landscape within the TME to overcome immune resistance and enhance antitumor immune responses. We examine the role of OVs in targeting specific immune cell populations, including dendritic cells, T cells, natural killer cells, and macrophages, and their ability to alter the TME by inhibiting angiogenesis and reducing tumor fibrosis. Additionally, we explore strategies to optimize OV-based drug delivery and improve the efficiency of OV-mediated immunotherapy. In conclusion, this review offers a concise and comprehensive synopsis of the current status and future prospects of OV-based immunotherapy, underscoring its remarkable potential as an effective immunotherapeutic agent for cancer treatment.

SGLT2 inhibitors: from glucose-lowering to cardiovascular benefits.

An increasing number of individuals are at high risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its cardiovascular complications, including heart failure (HF), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and eventually premature death. The sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) protein sits in the proximal tubule of human nephrons to regulate glucose reabsorption and its inhibition by gliflozins represents the cornerstone of contemporary T2D and HF management. Herein, we aim to provide an updated overview of the pleiotropy of gliflozins, provide mechanistic insights and delineate related cardiovascular (CV) benefits. By discussing contemporary evidence obtained in preclinical models and landmark randomized controlled trials, we move from bench to bedside across the broad spectrum of cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases. With landmark randomized controlled trials confirming a reduction in major adverse CV events (MACE; composite endpoint of CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke), SGLT2 inhibitors strongly mitigate the risk for heart failure hospitalization in diabetics and non-diabetics alike while conferring renoprotection in specific patient populations. Along four major pathophysiological axes (i.e. at systemic, vascular, cardiac, and renal levels), we provide insights into the key mechanisms that may underlie their beneficial effects, including gliflozins' role in the modulation of inflammation, oxidative stress, cellular energy metabolism, and housekeeping mechanisms. We also discuss how this drug class controls hyperglycaemia, ketogenesis, natriuresis, and hyperuricaemia, collectively contributing to their pleiotropic effects. Finally, evolving data in the setting of cerebrovascular diseases and arrhythmias are presented and potential implications for future research and clinical practice are comprehensively reviewed.

Sensory properties of thickened and protein-enriched plant-based frozen desserts.

The number of consumers following plant-based diets has increased and in turn, the variety of plant-based foods available on the market has also increased. Many plant-based foods aim to mimic the functionality and sensory properties of conventional dairy products; however, they may not be suitable for specific populations. Dysphagia, for example, is a swallowing condition requiring texture-modified foods that meet specific criteria. While many conventional thickened products exist that are safe for individuals with dysphagia, the growing interest in plant-based eating alongside the increasing prevalence of dysphagia prompts a need for research on the use and safety of thickened plant-based alternatives. This study investigated the sensory properties of a thickened protein-enhanced ice cream (dairy and whey) compared to thickened protein-enhanced plant-based frozen desserts (cashew and pea, and coconut and pea). The formulations were evaluated using the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization (IDDSI) Spoon Tilt Test and a sensory trial (n = 104 participants, 47 flexitarians and 57 typical consumers) using static (hedonic scales and check-all-that-apply [CATA]), and dynamic (temporal check-all-that-apply (TCATA)) methods. The dairy and whey sample consistently passed the IDDSI test, while the plant-based samples did not. TCATA identified that the plant-based samples had an increased cohesiveness and adhesiveness, and decreased slipperiness when compared to the dairy and whey sample. The differences in textural properties may explain why the plant-based samples did not pass the IDDSI test. The study identified that although plant-based foods strive to mimic conventional dairy products, they have different textural and flavor properties.

Converging Effects of Chronic Pain and Binge Alcohol Consumption on Anterior Insular Cortex Neurons Projecting to the Dorsolateral Striatum in Male Mice.

Chronic pain and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are highly comorbid, and patients with chronic pain are more likely to meet the criteria for AUD. Evidence suggests that both conditions alter similar brain pathways, yet this relationship remains poorly understood. Prior work shows that the anterior insular cortex (AIC) is involved in both chronic pain and AUD. However, circuit-specific changes elicited by the combination of pain and alcohol use remain understudied. The goal of this work was to elucidate the converging effects of binge alcohol consumption and chronic pain on AIC neurons that send projections to the dorsolateral striatum (DLS). Here, we used the Drinking-in-the-Dark (DID) paradigm to model binge-like alcohol drinking in mice that underwent spared nerve injury (SNI), after which whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiological recordings were performed in acute brain slices to measure intrinsic and synaptic properties of AIC→DLS neurons. In male, but not female, mice, we found that SNI mice with no prior alcohol exposure consumed less alcohol compared with sham mice. Electrophysiological analyses showed that AIC→DLS neurons from SNI-alcohol male mice displayed increased neuronal excitability and increased frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents. However, mice exposed to alcohol prior to SNI consumed similar amounts of alcohol compared with sham mice following SNI. Together, our data suggest that the interaction of chronic pain and alcohol drinking have a direct effect on both intrinsic excitability and synaptic transmission onto AIC→DLS neurons in mice, which may be critical in understanding how chronic pain alters motivated behaviors associated with alcohol.

Challenges faced by learners with multiple disabilities at a resource school in the Oshana region of Namibia

AbstractUpon attaining freedom from the South African regime in 1990, Namibia adopted a constitution according to which access to education is a fundamental right. Before the Salamanca Statement in 1994 and Namibia's consequent ratification thereof, education in Namibia was mainly divided into two distinct streams: general education and special education. Post‐Salamanca, there has been a slight shift in the provision of education for learners with special educational needs in that special education was, and mainly continues to be, offered in special schools, now called resource schools; in special classes and units attached to regular schools; and in mainstream classrooms with an inclusive education orientation. Learners with severe to profound special educational needs are mainly educated in resource schools, and this remains the preferred option for most parents and communities of children with severe to profound special needs. The resource schools are constructed for a specific set of disabilities, such as sensory, physical or intellectual disabilities. They are assumed to be well‐equipped with material and personnel resources that enable staff to respond effectively to the needs of their learners. Most, if not all, the resource schools in Namibia were built a long time ago, to serve a specific population of learners. However, some learners present with a range of disabilities and barriers to learning that could be beyond the original scope of the specific school. Consequently, more and more teachers in resource schools report that they observe daily how learners struggle to function in schools in which the infrastructure and resources can barely accommodate their complex needs. This is mainly because of the diversity and comorbid conditions of these learners. This research focused on the challenges encountered by learners with multiple disabilities in a resource school for learners with sensory disabilities. The study followed a qualitative approach, with an intrinsic case study design. Purposive, criterion sampling procedures were employed to select the participants. Data were collected through semi‐structured, face‐to‐face, in‐depth interviews, complemented by observation. The main findings of the study are that learners with multiple disabilities faced challenges associated with the physical infrastructure of the school (accessibility), the inability of staff to respond effectively to their needs, a lack of teaching and learning resources (leading to their exclusion from certain learning activities), as well as a poorly structured curriculum that undermines their multiple disabilities. The research reveals that there is limited agency and acknowledgement of the complex needs of children with multiple disabilities. The study concludes that learners with multiple disabilities need to access a curriculum that is cognisant of their needs and receive the quality education that they deserve, as set out in the Sector Policy on Inclusive Education. In addition to the curriculum, the school environment should be welcoming and stigma‐free, to enable learners to experience a sense of belonging, love and security. We recommend an audit of the needs of learners with multiple disabilities in order to create a conducive learning and socialisation environment for them. Furthermore, the government could invest in renovating old buildings, as well as adjusting infrastructure to the complex needs of learners, so that resource schools can become more inclusive by identifying and responding to the needs of all learners.

Personality Traits and Healthy Eating Habits and Behaviors: A Narrative Review

‘Findings from many interdisciplinary studies have revealed the important roles of nutrition in improving people’s physical mental and social health. Among other factors, personality influences the type of food consumed and consequently is predictive of health-related state. The aim of this review is to appraise the available scientific evidence regarding the effect of personality on eating habits, and whether personality traits are associated with behaviors that are conductive to a healthy lifestyle in general. A total of 2237 relevant articles were identified through a literature search, 21 of which were included in this review. Articles involving studies in only children, animal studies, studies on eating disorders, studies with specific types of diets that were clearly unrelated to health issues and studies conducted for marketing purposes were excluded. A variety studies have indicated that personality traits affect both the eating habits and types of diets chosen by individuals, including the preference for healthy or unhealthy foods. The analysis of personality traits indicated that conscientiousness is associated with healthy eating and maintaining health-promoting habits in general. Openness is positively associated with variety in food consumption and negatively associated with "food neophobia". Agreeableness is associated with low meat consumption. Extraversion is associated primarily with the consumption of sweet and salty foods, meat and soft drinks. Finally, neurotic and emotionally unstable people appear to have emotional dietary patterns, which are associated with unhealthy eating habits, such as relatively low fruit and vegetable consumption, and high sugar and saturated fat consumption. However, contradictory results have been found among studies. Interpretation of these results should be weighed against the different cultural environments in which the studies were taken place, and the extremely high heterogeneity among the instruments used to measure personality and eating habits. Future research should clarify whether personality influences eating habits in specific populations, such as individuals with eating disorders.&#x0D; &#x0D; Received: 16 October 2023 / Accepted: 20 February 2024 / Published: 5 March 2024

Selective Medial Septum Lesions in Healthy Rats Induce Longitudinal Changes in Microstructure of Limbic Regions, Behavioral Alterations, and Increased Susceptibility to Status Epilepticus.

Septo-hippocampal pathway, crucial for physiological functions and involved in epilepsy. Clinical monitoring during epileptogenesis is complicated. We aim to evaluate tissue changes after lesioning the medial septum (MS) of normal rats and assess how the depletion of specific neuronal populations alters the animals' behavior and susceptibility to establishing a pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected into the MS with vehicle or saporins (to deplete GABAergic or cholinergic neurons; n = 16 per group). Thirty-two animals were used for diffusion tensor imaging (DTI); scanned before surgery and 14 and 49days post-injection. Fractional anisotropy and apparent diffusion coefficient were evaluated in the fimbria, dorsal hippocampus, ventral hippocampus, dorso-medial thalamus, and amygdala. Between scans 2 and 3, animals were submitted to diverse behavioral tasks. Stainings were used to analyze tissue alterations. Twenty-four different animals received pilocarpine to evaluate the latency and severity of the status epilepticus 2weeks after surgery. Additionally, eight different animals were only used to evaluate the neuronal damage inflicted on the MS 1week after the molecular surgery. Progressive changes in DTI parameters in both white and gray matter structures of the four evaluated groups were observed. Behaviorally, the GAT1-saporin injection impacted spatial memory formation, while 192-IgG-saporin triggered anxiety-like behaviors. Histologically, the GABAergic toxin also induced aberrant mossy fiber sprouting, tissue damage, and neuronal death. Regarding the pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus, this agent provoked an increased mortality rate. Selective septo-hippocampal modulation impacts the integrity of limbic regions crucial for certain behavioral skills and could represent a precursor for epilepsy development.

Abstract P35: High-grade B-cell lymphomas with 11q aberrations show a dark zone expression profile similar to Burkitt lymphoma but with additional extension towards intermediate germinal center B-cells

Abstract P35: High-grade B-cell lymphomas with 11q aberrations show a dark zone expression profile similar to Burkitt lymphoma but with additional extension towards intermediate germinal center B-cells