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Abstract Treatment for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has improved dramatically over the last decade, shifting from high-dose cytokine therapy in combination with surgical resection of tumors to targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and combination therapies. However, curative treatment, particularly for advanced-stage disease, remains rare. Cell therapy as a “living drug” has achieved hematological malignancy cures with a high response rate, and significant research efforts have been made to facilitate its translation to solid tumors. Herein, we overview the cellular therapies for RCC focusing on allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, T cell receptor gene-modified T cells, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, CAR natural killer (NK) cells, lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, γδ T cells, and dendritic cell vaccination. We have also included perspectives for using other recent approaches, such as CAR macrophages, dendritic cell-cytokine induced killer cells and regulatory CAR-T cells to shed light on preclinical development of cell therapy and advancing cell therapy into clinic to achieve cures for RCC.

Purpose: Indian government initiated several skill development policies and different types of vocational education and training (VET). Yet the participation in skill education is low because of poor labour market outcomes. This paper aims to calculate returns to skill education to understand the type of training that will have better labour market outcomes. Design/methodology/approach: In this paper nationally representative data from the periodic labour force survey (PLFS), collected by the national sample survey office for 2017-2018, are used to estimate the returns to formal and non-formal VET obtained (after different levels of general education) with the help of Heckman's two-stage method. Findings: Nearly 8% of the working-age population has received some form of VET (mostly non-formal), generating poor returns. For the overall population, formal on-job training (OJT) and full-time VET influence wage positively and significantly. Full-time VET obtained after secondary and below levels of education generates positive returns, whereas part-time VET is profitable only to those without formal education. At the graduate level, technical education obtained along with VET is associated with better wages. Originality/value: In India where a considerable proportion of the workforce is employed in the informal sector, different types of skill training like full-time, part-time and OJT influence labour market outcomes. This finding has policy implication for countries with large informal sector and calls for further research in such countries.

India's expectation of a demographic dividend owing to an increase in the working age population necessitated government measures aimed at skilling youth. Considerable emphasis was therefore placed on skill development policies and programmes, including revamping formal vocational education and training (VET) institutions that provide skills to students completing secondary schooling and opting vocational training. Although the number of VET institutions in India more than doubled in the last decade, their underutilisation calls for an analysis of underlying reasons. This paper analyses socio-economic factors influencing participation in VET using data from nationally representative survey on education. Findings of a multinomial logit analysis in the paper suggest that students in upper secondary VET institutions tend to belong to socially disadvantaged households, and that students in vocational courses are more likely to be male, urban, and from households whose principal occupation is blue-collar. Children from households belonging to higher socio-economic status and pursuing white-collar jobs are more likely to participate in general and professional education as compared to VET because of higher status assigned to the former in the society. These findings call for fine-tuning of current polices of promotion of VET in India.

Aim: Hypovitaminosis A is a leading cause of preventable childhood blindness, especially in developing nations. Vitamin A is a fat‐soluble essential micronutrient that serves vital functions in the visual system and in regulating bone resorption. We report on a series of four children with mixed nutritional and compressive optic neuropathy and provide a review of the literature. Methods: A retrospective observational study of four males (ages 9–12), three with autism spectrum disorder who presented with loss of vision and multiple vitamin deficiencies including hypovitaminosis A. Results: Patients presented with unexplained visual loss or a change in visual behaviour. All patients had severely restricted diet comprising of predominantly carbohydrates. Two of the four cases demonstrated optic nerve pallor at initial presentation with marked optic atrophy developing in all patients over time. Electrophysiology available in two patients demonstrated optic nerve dysfunction with preserved retinal function. Extensive investigations revealed profound deficiency in multiple vitamins including vitamin A (<0.1–0.2 μmol/L, normal = 0.9–1.7 μmol/L). Three patients also had low vitamin B12 (90–111 pmol/L, normal = 170–800 pmol/L) with normal folate. All four cases had radiological evidence of skull base thickening indicative of low vitamin A. Genetic testing did not find any relevant pathogenic variants. Conclusions: Hypovitaminosis A is a crucial form of nutritional deprivation that results in significant visual loss with potential hyperostosis and optic nerve compression exacerbating nutritional optic neuropathy. Additional micronutrient deficiencies usually co‐exist and may contribute. Extra vigilance in vitamin replacement is required of clinicians with patients with autism who have restricted diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The complexities of mitochondrial disease make epidemiological studies challenging, yet this information is important in understanding the healthcare burden and addressing service and educational needs. Existing studies are limited to quaternary centres or focus on a single genotype or phenotype and estimate disease prevalence at 12.5 per 100 000. New Zealand's (NZ) size and partially integrated national healthcare system make it amenable to a nationwide prevalence study. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of molecularly confirmed and suspected mitochondrial disease on 31 December 2015 in NZ. Methods: Cases were identified from subspecialists and laboratory databases and through interrogation of the Ministry of Health National Minimum Dataset with a focus on presentations between 2000 and 2015. Patient records were reviewed, and those with a diagnosis of 'mitochondrial disease' who were alive and residing in NZ on the prevalence date were included. These were divided into molecularly confirmed and clinically suspected cases. Official NZ estimated resident population data were used to calculate prevalence. Results: Seven hundred twenty‐three unique national health index numbers were identified. Five hundred five were excluded. The minimum combined prevalence for mitochondrial disease was 4.7 per 100 000 (95% confidence interval (CI): 4.1–5.4). The minimum prevalence for molecularly confirmed and suspected disease was 2.9 (95% CI 2.4–3.4) and 1.8 (95% CI 1.4–2.2) cases per 100 000 respectively. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, comparison to similar prevalence studies performed by specialist referral centres suggests mitochondrial disease is underdiagnosed in NZ. This highlights a need for improved education and referral pathways for mitochondrial disease in NZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Teaching and Learning About Family Literacy and Family Literacy Programs" is a comprehensive book that explores family literacy practices and programs in the USA, UK, and Canada. The authors emphasize the importance of family literacy programs in promoting literacy development in individuals, families, and communities. They discuss the different goals of adult education in relation to family literacy programs and highlight the benefits for both children and parents. The book also addresses the need for digital literacy integration and the importance of cultural sensitivity in family literacy programs. The authors recommend further research and documentation on various aspects of family literacy, including the role of fathers, incarcerated individuals, same-sex families, and developing nations. [Extracted from the article]

With advances in gene‐based therapies for heritable retinal diseases, primary eye care clinicians should be informed on ocular genetics topics. This cross‐sectional survey evaluated knowledge, attitudes, and concerns regarding genetic testing and gene therapy for retinal diseases among optometrists in Australia and New Zealand. Survey data included practitioner background, attitudes and practices towards genetic testing for monogenic inherited retinal disease (IRDs) and age‐related macular degeneration, and knowledge of ocular genetics and gene therapy. Responses were received from 516 optometrists between 1 April and 31 December 2022. Key perceived barriers to accessing genetic testing were lack of clarity on referral pathways (81%), cost (65%), and lack of treatment options if a genetic cause is identified (50%). Almost all respondents (98%) believed that ophthalmologists should initiate genetic testing for IRDs and fewer understood the role of genetic counsellors and clinical geneticists. This study found that optometrists in Australia and New Zealand have a high level of interest in ocular genetics topics. However, knowledge gaps include referral pathways and awareness of genetic testing and gene therapy outcomes. Addressing perceived barriers to access and promoting sharing of knowledge between interdisciplinary networks can set the foundation for genetic education agendas in primary eye care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess diabetes eye service use in New Zealand among people aged ≥15 years by estimating service attendance, biennial screening rate, and disparities in the use of screening and treatment services. Methods: We obtained Ministry of Health data from the National Non-Admitted Patient Collection on diabetes eye service events between 1 July 2006 and 31 December 2019 and sociodemographic and mortality data from the Virtual Diabetes Register and linked these using a unique patient identifier (encrypted National Health Index). We 1) summarized attendance at retinal screening and ophthalmology services, 2) calculated biennial and triennial screening rate, 3) summarized treatment with laser and anti-VEGF and used log-binomial regression to examine associations of all of these with age group, ethnicity, and area-level deprivation. Results: In total, 245,844 people aged ≥15 years had at least one diabetes eye service appointment attended or scheduled; half of these (n = 125,821, 51.2%) attended only retinal screening, one-sixth attended only ophthalmology (n = 35,883, 14.6%) and one-third attended both (n = 78,300, 31.8%). The biennial retinal screening rate was 62.1%, with large regional variation (73.9% in Southern District to 29.2% in West Coast). Compared with NZ Europeans, Māori were approximately twice as likely to never receive diabetes eye care or to access ophthalmology when referred from retinal screening, 9% relatively less likely to receive biennial screening and received the fewest anti-VEGF injections when treatment was commenced. Disparities in service access were also present for Pacific Peoples compared to NZ Europeans, younger and older age groups compared to those aged 50–59 years and those living in areas with higher deprivation. Conclusions: Access to diabetes eye care is suboptimal, with substantial disparity between age groups, ethnicity groups, area level deprivation quintile and across districts. Efforts to improve access to and quality of diabetes eye care services must include strengthening data collection and monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the promise of gene replacement therapy, eligible males and females with X‐linked inherited retinal dystrophy (XL‐IRD) should be identified. Methods: Retrospective observational cohort study to establish the phenotypic and genotypic spectrum of XL‐IRD within New Zealand (NZ). Thirty‐two probands, including 9 females, with molecularly proven XL‐IRD due to RP2 or RPGR mutations, and 72 family members, of which 43 were affected, were identified from the NZ IRD Database. Comprehensive ophthalmic phenotyping, familial cosegregation, genotyping, and bioinformatics were undertaken. Main outcome measures were: RP2 and RPGR pathogenic variant spectrum, phenotype in males and females (symptoms, age of onset, visual acuity, refraction, electrophysiology, autofluorescence, retinal appearance), and genotype–phenotype correlation. Results: For 32 families, 26 unique pathogenic variants were identified; in RP2 (n = 6, 21.9% of all families), RPGR exons 1–14 (n = 10, 43.75%), and RPGR‐ORF15 (n = 10, 34.3%). Three RP2 and 8 RPGR exons 1–14 variants are novel, rare, and cosegregate. Thirty‐one percent of carrier females were significantly affected, with 18.5% of families initially classified as autosomal dominant. Of five Polynesian families, 80% had novel disease‐causing variants. One Māori family showed keratoconus segregating with an ORF15 variant. Conclusions: Significant disease was present in 31% of genetically proven female carriers, often leading to an erroneous presumption of the inheritance pattern. Pathogenic variants in 44% of the families were in exon 1–14 of RPGR, more frequent than usually described, which may inform the gene testing algorithm. Proving cosegregation in families for novel variants and identifying affected females and males translates to optimised clinical care and potential for gene therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction Materials and methods Results Conclusions The development of population specific norms for the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) is to help expand the utility for use with other population groups. Currently, normative data are available for general military, special operations, athletic, and community populations. The current study provides normative reference values for use in assessing physicians.Retrospective data from a sample of 2,288 physicians who completed the ANAM were examined. The data were gathered from practicing civilian physicians serving in the National Guard or Reserves who completed the assessment as part of the mandated Department of Defense clinical testing policy. The effects of age and sex on performance were examined for all subtests. Normative tables were stratified by age (23–29, 30–34, 35–39, 40–44, 45–49, 50–54, 55–59, 60–64, 65–79) and sex. Base rates of low scores among the physician population were also examined.Older age was associated with lower performance on all subtests with small-to-medium effect sizes. A mixed pattern of performance was observed as a factor of sex with females scoring better on one subtest and males scoring better on three subtests. However, effects sizes associated with sex were small and likely of minimal clinical significance. A total of 11.3% of the physician sample scored below average on two or more tests in the battery.This study provides normative data for practicing physicians that can be used to help inform clinical decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) is one of the most widely used and validated neuropsychological instruments for assessing cognition. The ANAM Test System includes a reporting tool, the ANAM Validity Indicator Report that generates scores for the embedded effort measure, the ANAM Performance Validity Index (APVI). The current study seeks to develop a proxy for the APVI, using raw subtest summary test scores. This would be useful for situations where the APVI score is unavailable (e.g. validity report not generated at the time of the assessment) or when the item level data needed to generate this score are inaccessible. ANAM scores from a large data set of 1,000,000+ observations were used for this retrospective analysis. Results of linear regression analysis suggest that the APVI can be reasonably estimated from the raw subtest summary test scores that are presented on the ANAM Performance Report. Clinically, this means that an important step in the interpretation process, checking the validity of test data, can still be performed even when the APVI is not available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]