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Existing ways of knowing how to prepare people to become teachers were insufficient when COVID-19 closed schools, and some enduring hierarchies in teacher preparation were unsettled. This re-positioned qualified and student teachers as equally inexperienced in the circumstances. We contribute to post-COVID-19 educational research by considering the impact on student teachers through the historical socio-cultural lenses of phylogenesis (societal), ontogenesis (cultural) and microgenesis (individual). Our small qualitative study conducted interviews with four student teachers from undergraduate and postgraduate programmes whose practical placements, in a range of geographical contexts, were disrupted by school closures. Thematic analysis of student teachers’ narratives during school closures identified how disrupted hierarchies became generative spaces for the development of student teacher professional agency. Though the initial ruptures of social activity have passed, successive global (financial, environmental, political) and personal crises characterise the current era, with implications for teacher education about developing student teachers’ professional agency to cope with ongoing types of disruption in professional practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to investigate owners' reactions to the occurrence of blindness in their dogs, how they supported their pets, and how their dogs adapted to the new situation. We conducted a questionnaire survey of people whose dogs had become blind in adulthood. To reach the audience, we contacted international associations (roughly 41,000 members) whose primary scope was to inform and support the owners of dogs with impaired vision. Participation was anonymous and resulted in 398 returned questionnaires. The research showed that owners' first reactions included mainly negative emotions, such as anxiety, sadness, anger, and unacceptance. However, 44% of the respondents accepted the diagnosis and actively explored tools, supplies, and techniques suitable to help their dog cope with the new situation. Only four dogs were euthanized; most owners (99.9%) refused to put their dogs to sleep, even those who stated they were initially unable to accept their dog's blindness. Canine responses to blindness were depression, increased dependency on their owner, changing postural behavior, and relying on different senses (mainly smell and hearing). Blind dogs maintained their usual daily behaviors (such as walking leash-free) except for engaging in sports, with 49.5% unable to deal with previous activity anymore. Owners found new ways to help their dogs stimulate or maintain their cognitive skills: they started guiding them through voice, little bells, and olfactory toys, exercising for mental stimulation, and finally restructuring their home space to make it easier for the dogs to orientate themselves. The improvements were valuable in reducing symptoms of depression in the dogs, helping them function with greater autonomy and independence. Finally, 89% of the respondents thought their dog was happy despite its blindness. The overall results of our research show that dog owners and their dogs adapt well to dog blindness in adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to evaluate the association between caffeine intake and sleep time in Brazilian adults. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 6,356 participants from the Cohort of Universities of Minas Gerais (CUME Study). Data was collected through an online self-report questionnaire. Of the total, 31.9% of the participants had insufficient sleep. Women were found to sleep less than men (64.1 vs. 35.9%; p < 0.001), as well as being more likely to consume higher doses of caffeine (55.2%, p < 0.001). Coffee (35.7%), dark chocolate (25.2%), milk chocolate (15.2%), and diet soda (11.0%) were the foods that more contributed to caffeine intake. Individuals in the highest quartile of caffeine intake (87.0 − 572.0 mg/day) had a 19% higher prevalence of insufficient sleep compared with the lowest quartile (PR: 1.19; 95%CI: 1.08 − 1.31). Future studies are needed to investigate the genetic and hormonal factors involved in the interindividual response in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcumin is the main phenolic compound in turmeric. It has been investigated recently due to its numerous medicinal properties and health benefits. However, few studies assessed the effects of curcumin supplementation on physical activity practice. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to assess the available evidences with human beings about the potential effects of curcumin supplementation on sport and physical exercise. This systematic review was conducted within the period from January to February, 2019, following the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes (PRISMA) guidelines. The LILACS, Medline, SciELO and PubMed databases were used for the search, with no publication date limit. The following terms, with the respective Boolean operators, were searched: "curcumin" AND sports; "curcumin" AND exercise; curcumin AND "aerobic exercise"; "curcumin" AND "resistance exercise"; "curcumin" AND "endurance exercise"; "curcumin" AND "strength exercise". Eleven papers were selected for this review. Most of the studies displayed positive effects of the curcumin supplementation for athletes and physical exercise practitioners, and no side effects were reported. Participants supplemented with curcumin displayed reduced inflammation and oxidative stress, decreased pain and muscle damage, superior recovery and muscle performance, better psychological and physiological responses (thermal and cardiovascular) during training and improved gastrointestinal function. Curcumin supplementation appears to be safe and beneficial for sport and physical exercise in human beings. PROSPERO (CRD42019126763). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a family carrying a γ-globin gene deletion associated with an increase of Hb A2level beyond the normal range. The family included the proband, his sister and their father, all with increased Hb A2and normal Hb F levels. The proband and his sister showed borderline values of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and reduced values of mean corpuscular hemoglobin (Hb) (MCH). The proband was referred to our Medical Genetics Service for preconception counseling together with his partner, a typical β-thalassemia (β-thal) carrier. The results were negative for the most frequent α-thalassemia (α-thal) mutations, and had no significant sequence variations of the coding sequences and promoter of the β- and δ-globin genes. Quantitative analysis by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MPLA) of the β-globin gene cluster detected a heterozygous deletion, ranging between 2.1 and 4.7 kb, in the proband, his sister and the father. The deletion involved theGγ gene andGγ-Aγ intergenic region, whereas the 3' region of theAγ gene was preserved. A subsequent gap-polymerase chain reaction (gap-PCR) showed that a hybridGAγ fusion gene was present. The deletion segregated with the elevation of Hb A2. The MLPA analysis of the β-globin gene cluster in 150 control alleles excluded a common polymorphism. Despite stronger evidence being needed, the described family suggests a possible role of this γ-globin gene deletion in contributing to Hb A2elevation, possibly by altering the transcription regulation of the cluster. We propose γ-globin gene dosage analysis to be performed in patients with unexplained elevated Hb A2levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospinning was used to fabricate fibrous scaffolds of lipase-catalyzed poly(ω-pentadecalactone) (PPDL). The slow resorbability of this biomaterial is expected to be valuable for tissue-engineering applications requiring long healing times. The effect of solvent systems and instrumental parameters on fiber morphology was investigated. PPDL electrospinning was optimized and defect-free fibers (diameter 410 ± 150 nm) were obtained by using a mixed three-solvent system. Scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXS). TGA showed no residual solvent in the scaffolds. DSC and WAXS results indicated that electrospun PPDL is semicrystalline. Biocompatibility of PPDL scaffolds was evaluated through indirect cytotoxicity tests using embryonic rat cardiac H9c2 cells. The ability of PPDL electrospun mats to support cell growth was verified by culturing H9c2 cells onto the scaffold. Cell adhesion, proliferation and morphology were evaluated. The results indicated that PPDL mats are not cytotoxic and they support proliferation of H9c2 cells. The cumulative results of this study suggest further exploration of PPDL fibrous mats as scaffolds for tissue-engineered constructs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims. The aim of this study was to evaluate and characterize the feasibility and safety of bone marrow-derived cell (BMC) mobilization following repeated courses of granulocyte–colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods. Between January 2006 and March 2007, 26 ALS patients entered a multicenter trial that included four courses of BMC mobilization at 3-month intervals. In each course, G-CSF (5 μg/kg b.i.d.) was administered for four consecutive days; 18% mannitol was also given. Mobilization was monitored by flow cytometry analysis of circulating CD34+ cells and by in vitro colony assay for clonogenic progenitors. Co-expression by CD34+ cells of CD133, CD90, CD184, CD117 and CD31 was also assessed. Results. Twenty patients completed the four-course schedule. One patient died and one refused to continue the program before starting the mobilization courses; four discontinued the study protocol because of disease progression. Overall, 89 G-CSF courses were delivered. There were two severe adverse events: one prolactinoma and one deep vein thrombosis. There were no discontinuations as a result of toxic complications. Circulating CD34+ cells were monitored during 85 G-CSF courses and were always markedly increased; the range of median peak values was 41–57/μL, with no significant differences among the four G-CSF courses. Circulating clonogenic progenitor levels paralleled CD34+ cell levels. Most mobilized CD34+ cells co-expressed stem cell markers, with a significant increase in CD133 co-expression. Conclusions. It is feasible to deliver repeated courses of G-CSF to mobilize a substantial number of CD34+ cells in patients with ALS; mobilized BMC include immature cells with potential clinical usefulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many world populations, mutations in the GJB2 gene (codifying for Connexin 26) are the most common causes of autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss and account for approximately 50% of cases. To date, more than 100 (dominant or recessive) mutations have been identified (The Connexin Deafness Homepage, 2009) and differences in frequency and distribution across the world are significant. In European and American Caucasian populations, the 35delG is the most common mutation found to account for nearly 70% of the pathological alleles. Mutations in the GJB6 gene (codifying for Connexin 30) can co-occur in some cases (we refer to the 342-kb truncating deletion, named as GJB6-D13S1830). Thus, these mutations have been associated with autosomal recessive and non-syndromic hearing loss, mostly as biallelic/digenic inheritance of the Cx26 and/or Cx30. Our objective in this study was to describe audiological features and genotypes in patients with GJB2 and/or GJB6 mutations. We performed a retrospective study on a deaf cohort of 566 patients who underwent specific genetic tests for Connexin 26 and 30; the latter was investigated in 385 cases. GJB2 mutations were found in 162 patients and GJB6 mutations in five. The most common mutation of GJB2 was 35delG, a truncating (T) mutation, although we also found other types of truncating (nine genotypes) and non-truncating (NT) (11 genotypes) mutations, such as M34T, L90P, R184P, IVS1 + 1G→A, V37I, and E47X. Even if more than 70% of patients with biallelic/digenic mutations exhibit a severe/profound hearing impairment (even between the simple heterozygotes), mild/moderate deafness is also possible. Other interesting clinical data, such as atypical history or phenotype, were considered. In accordance with the literature, all categories of HL were found. The severe-profound HL was predominant especially in T/T, T/NT forms. The 35delG is the most common mutation that we found, especially in profound hearing impairment. Mild-moderate HL was identified overall among NT/NT forms. Our findings confirm the importance of newborn screening, and the evaluation of genetic mutations to define genotype/phenotype correlation and clinical or audiological features useful to early diagnosis and improvement of therapeutic protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been utilized for the treatment of severe autoimmune diseases following the results of experimental studies and of coincidental diseases. While allogeneic transplantation is still being explored, autologous transplantation is the procedure most frequently utilized worldwide. The rationale for its utilization consists in its powerful immunosoppressive effect, but immune modulation polarized towards tolerance is also postulated. The mobilization of stem and progenitor cells from the marrow and the various conditioning regimens derive from the experience with hematologic malignancies. The greatest possible reduction of trasplant-related-mortality and of the autoimmune aggression are being actively pursued. Here, the main procedural modalities will be analyzed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author offers her views regarding the role played by dermatologists in eating disorders. According to her, dermatologists are interested in eating disorders because the human skin undergoes important changes when a person has anorexia nervosa (AN). She presents various reports and studies that found dermatological symptoms in eating disorder patients and offered information on the involvement of the skin in eating disorder.

A patient with severe Evans syndrome received an allo-BMT from his HLA-identical sister on November, 2000. Full marrow and blood donor chimerism were achieved only after 5 donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI), and coincided with complete clinical remission and disappearence of auto-antibodies. Five years later, hemolytic anemia recurred with rapid increase of serum bilirubin to over 50 mg%: he responded to combined therapy, but died on day +17 from admission of an acute hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). All circulating blood cells, including erythrocytes, were 100% donor. Ex vivo cultured and expanded T and B cells from the peripheral blood were also 100% donor. The supernatants from B cell cultures, containing either IgM or IgG, did not react with a panel of erythrocytes. Thus in this typical autoimmune disease with a predominant B cell pathogenesis the donor immune system resulted “innocent of autoimmunity”. The persistence of long-lived recipient autoreactive plasma-cell lines in survival niches, still producing autoantibodies, may be hypothesized for this and similar cases. The postulated graft-versus-autoimmunity (GVA) effect was apparently not sufficient to eradicate autoimmunity in this patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular screening for GJB2 (connexin 26) mutations represents the standard diagnostic approach for the genotype definition of non-syndromic deafness. Nevertheless, a single GJB2 pathogenic mutation is detectable in a relevant number of cases, therefore failing to explain the phenotype. We aimed at assessing the occurrence of the recently described del( GIB6 -D13S1830) mutation, occurring in the connexin 30 gene, in a group of Italian hearing-impaired patients carrying a single GJB2 mutated allele. A total of 59 non-syndromic hearing loss (NSHL) patients were screened for GJB2 mutations. Among these, nine NSHL patients were found to be heterozygous for a single GJB2 mutation. These patients, heterozygotes for different GJB2 mutated alleles (35delG, L90P, M34T, V153I), together with 11 additional 35delG/neg cases previously described, were studied for the presence of the del( GIB6 -D13S1830) mutation. Two double heterozygotes del( GIB6 -D13S1830)/35delG were identified. In both cases the degree of hearing loss was profound. Furthermore, GJB2 molecular screening led to the identification of a novel change (T55G) occurring in compound heterozygosity with the V37I mutation. In conclusion, our data suggest a significant frequency of del( GIB6 -D13S1830) mutation in Italian hearing-impaired subjects (10% of unexplained GJB2 heterozygotes) similar to that reported in other European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]