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While religion and spirituality (R/S) have been broadly studied for their positive mental health impacts, instances of abuse within religious or spiritual contexts remain under-researched. This scoping review aims to elucidate how individuals experiencing such abuse navigate their trauma, find meaning, and foster posttraumatic growth (PTG). The research was conducted using a scoping review methodology as a guide, and 10 articles were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Synthesizing these articles revealed the following three central themes: recognizing abuse, relaying one's story, and redefining spirituality. Survivors often face disbelief and stigma, hindering their ability to process their experiences. However, narrative sharing enables many to reclaim agency and healing through validation and the integration of the narrative into one's life story. Additionally, survivors often transform spirituality, shifting from rigid frameworks to more nuanced and flexible understandings of the Divine and self. These findings underscore the importance of trauma-informed, spiritually sensitive clinical approaches that validate survivors' experiences, facilitate narrative sharing, and support spiritual redefining. Future research must address knowledge gaps, including the development of improved assessment tools, exploration of effective treatment strategies, and the unifying of terms to better support survivors' healing journeys and promote meaning-making and PTG in the aftermath of R/S abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provide a powerful tool for identifying cellular and molecular mechanisms of disease. Macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel) is a rare, late-onset degenerative retinal disease with an extremely heterogeneous genetic architecture, lending itself to the use of iPSCs. Whole-exome sequencing screens and pedigree analyses have identified rare causative mutations that account for less than 5% of cases. Metabolomic surveys of patient populations and GWAS have linked MacTel to decreased circulating levels of serine and elevated levels of neurotoxic 1-deoxysphingolipids (1-dSLs). However, retina-specific, disease- contributing factors have yet to be identified. Here, we used iPSC-differentiated retinal pigmented epithelial (iRPE) cells derived from donors with or without MacTel to screen for novel cell-intrinsic pathological mechanisms. We show that MacTel iRPE cells mimicked the low serine levels observed in serum from patients with MacTel. Through RNA-Seq and gene set enrichment pathway analysis, we determined that MacTel iRPE cells are enriched in cellular stress pathways and dysregulation of central carbon metabolism. Using respirometry and mitochondrial stress testing, we functionally validated that MacTel iRPE cells had a reduction in mitochondrial function that was independent of defects in serine biosynthesis and 1-dSL accumulation. Thus, we identified phenotypes that may constitute alternative disease mechanisms beyond the known serine/sphingolipid pathway., Introduction Complex diseases of aging provide unique challenges for the identification of specific disease-causing genetic variants and associated cellular dysfunctions using traditional genetic approaches. Disease modeling using iPSCs is a [...]

Background:In December 2021, the Region 1 Disaster Health Response System, the state of Vermont, and the National Emergency Tele-Critical Care Network partnered to provide statewide access to disaster teleconsultations during COVID-19 surge conditions. In this case report, we describe how a disaster teleconsultation system was implemented in Vermont to provide access to temporary tele-critical care consultations during the Omicron COVID-19 surge. Methods:We measured the time from request of service to implementation and calculated descriptive statistics. Results:Seven of Vermont's 14 hospitals requested the service. Despite a technology solution capable of providing services within hours, mean time to service implementation was 27 days (interquartile range 20–41 days). Conclusions:Integration of disaster teleconsultation systems into state and local emergency management plans are needed to bring administrative start-up times in line with technical readiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our study, approximately 14% of patients with MCL developed a US FDA-approved treatment indication for second-line CAR-T cell therapy within 6 months of first-line bendamustine. To the editor: Bendamustine-rituximab (BR) is the most frequently administered first-line therapy for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) in the United States (US) [[1]]. Recent bendamustine treatment before apheresis has a negative impact on outcomes in patients with large B-cell lymphoma receiving chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. [Extracted from the article]

Restoration of coastal wetlands has the potential to deliver both climate change mitigation, called blue carbon, and adaptation benefits to coastal communities, as well as supporting biodiversity and providing additional ecosystem services. Valuing carbon sequestration may incentivize restoration projects; however, it requires development of rigorous methods for quantifying blue carbon sequestered during coastal wetland restoration. We describe the development of a blue carbon accounting model (BlueCAM) used within the Tidal Restoration of Blue Carbon Ecosystems Methodology Determination 2022 of the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF), which is Australia's voluntary carbon market scheme. The new BlueCAM uses Australian data to estimate abatement from carbon and greenhouse gas sources and sinks arising from coastal wetland restoration (via tidal restoration) and aligns with the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories. BlueCAM includes carbon sequestered in soils and biomass and avoided emissions from alternative land uses. A conservative modeled approach was used to provide estimates of abatement (as opposed to on‐ground measurements); and in doing so, this will reduce the costs associated with monitoring and verification for ERF projects and may increase participation in blue carbon projects by Australian landholders. BlueCAM encompasses multiple climate regions and plant communities and therefore may be useful to others outside Australia seeking to value blue carbon benefits from coastal wetland restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the New Zealand Parkinson's Progression Programme (NZP3), its goals, findings, and future plans. To date, 354 people with Parkinson's disease and 89 healthy older controls have participated over a 14-year period. A major focus of the programme has been the characterisation of current cognitive impairment, and the identification of biomarkers for its future emergence in people with Parkinson's. The programme has made significant contributions to the concept of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Parkinson's and the development and validation of standardised criteria for it. Brain imaging, both MRI and PET, has also been a focus, showing associations between increasing brain pathology and declining cognitive function. Additional biomarkers such as genetics, fluid biomarkers, eye movement, speech, and quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) are also under investigation. The programme has become a platform supporting many other avenues of research, from investigating the personal impacts of caregiver burden through to national-level epidemiology. To date, the programme has led to multiple journal publications and 17 completed and 9 ongoing PhDs, and many other postgraduate theses. It has led to the development of a skilled core of early-career through to senior researchers and clinicians. We discuss the future directions for the programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]