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BackgroundScreen time has been identified as a risk factor for childhood obesity, but the media landscape has evolved rapidly. Children with autism tend to be heavy users of screens and have an elevated prevalence of obesity. We know little about screen use patterns among children with autism vs. typically developing (TD) peers and in association with obesity.MethodsBaseline data from 10,842 participants in the Adolescent Brain Cognition Development Study was used to characterize time spent with child-reported passive screen use (television/movies/watching videos), playing video games, and using social media. Duration of screen time by autism status and gender was summarized as mean time per day; obesity was defined using CDC/WHO criteria. A propensity score analysis was used to create a matched dataset for analysis.ResultsOverall, 1.7% of children were was identified as having autism. Significant mean differences were observed by autism status and gender for both passive viewing and playing video games. Compared to TD children, boys with autism spent more time (2.9 vs. 2.3 h, p

BackgroundThe consequences of obesity are ominous, yet healthcare professionals are not adequately preventing or treating obesity in youth with Down syndrome (DS). Total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) is the energy expended in 24 h through physical activity and life-sustaining physiologic processes. An individual's TDEE is essential for determining the daily caloric intake needed to maintain or change body weight. Successful prevention and treatment of obesity in youth with DS is severely compromised by the lack of data on TDEE and information on weight-related behaviors for this high-risk population. This manuscript describes the protocol for the federally funded study that is in process to determine daily energy expenditure in a large cohort of children with DS.MethodsThis observational cross-sectional study will include a national sample of 230 youth with DS, stratified by age (5–11 and 12–18 years of age) and sex. Doubly Labeled Water analysis will provide the criterion body fat%, fat-free mass, and TDEE. To increase accessibility and decrease the burden on participants, the entire study, including obtaining consent and data collection, is conducted virtually within the participant's home environment on weekdays and weekends. The study team supervises all data collection via a video conferencing platform, e.g., Zoom. This study will (1) examine and determine average TDEE based on age and sex, (2) develop a prediction equation based on measured TDEE to predict energy requirements with a best-fit model based on fat-free mass, sex, age, and height and/or weight, and (3) use 24-hour dietary recalls, a nutrition and physical activity screener, wearable devices, and sleep questionnaire to describe the patterns and quality of dietary intake, sleep, and physical activity status in youth with DS.DiscussionThe lack of accurate information on energy expenditure and weight-related behaviors in youth with DS significantly impedes the successful prevention and treatment of obesity for this vulnerable population. The findings of this study will provide a further understanding of weight-related behaviors as obesity risk factors, currently not well understood for this population. This study will advance the science of weight management in individuals with disabilities and shift clinical practice paradigms.

Abstract Background Although Anorexia Nervosa (AN) patients show dysfunctional behaviour in information processing, visual and verbal memory performance, and different cognitive fields, regardless of their BMI, the literature on the correlations between Eating Disorders (ED) and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDD) does not provide conclusive data. Rather than a consequence of the mental disorder, cognitive dysfunctions may be a risk factor for AN. Methods Our retrospective study investigates the prevalence of Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) among patients with ED. We considered 262 patients being treated at the Emilia Romagna Feeding and Eating Disorders Outpatient Service in Bologna, Italy. We compared the results with the Italian reference values, according to the most recent data provided by the Italian Ministry of Education. Results We found that 25 patients out of 262 (9.54%) presented a comorbid diagnosis of SLD. This SLD prevalence is higher than the Italian reference values (4.9% in the school year 2018/19, p

Meropi Plousiou,1 Alessandro De Vita,2 Giacomo Miserocchi,2 Erika Bandini,1 Ivan Vannini,1 Mattia Melloni,1 Nestory Masalu,3 Francesco Fabbri,1 Patrizia Serra4 1Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; 2Osteoncology Unit, Bioscience Laboratory IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo Per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST), “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; 3Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, Bioscience Laboratory IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo Per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST), “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; 4Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, IRCCS Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo Per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST), “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, ItalyCorrespondence: Meropi Plousiou, Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy, Tel +39 0543739298, Fax +39 0543739221, Email meropi.plousiou@irst.emr.itIntroduction: Retinoblastoma (Rb) is the most common ocular paediatric malignancy and is caused by a mutation of the two alleles of the tumor suppressor gene, RB1. The tumor microenvironment (TME) represents a complex system whose function is not yet well defined and where microvesicles, such as exosomes, play a key role in intercellular communication. Micro-RNAs (mRNAs) have emerged as important modifiers of biological mechanisms involved in cancer and been able to regulate tumor progression.Methods: Co-culture of monocytes with retinoblastoma cell lines, showed a significant growth decrease. Given the interaction between Rb cells and monocytes, we investigated the role of the supernatant in the cross-talk between cell lines, by taking the product of the co-culture and then using it as a culture medium for Rb cells.Results: miR-142-3p showed to be particularly over-expressed both in the Rb cell line and in the medium used for their culture, comparing to control cell line and the normal supernatant, respectively. Therefore, we provided evidence that miR-142-3p is released by monocytes in the co-culture medium’s exosomes and that it is subsequently up-taken by Rb cells, causing the inhibition of proliferation of Rb cell line by affecting cell cycle progression.Conclusion: This study highlights the role of exosomic miR-142-3p in the TME of Rb and identifies new molecular targets, which are able to control tumor growth aiming the development of a forward-looking miR-based strategy.Keywords: tumor microenvironment, microvescicles, microRNAs, co-culture, monocytes, cross-talk

Simple Summary: This paper explores the potential of Very High Energy Electron (VHEE) beams, with energies between 50 and 400 MeV, as a promising option for cancer treatment. VHEE beams combine deep tissue penetration, sharp beam edges, easy manipulation using magnetic components, and cost-effectiveness, making them highly precise and versatile for tumor targeting. They also enable FLASH radiotherapy with VHEE (FLASH-VHEET), which may reduce side effects by sparing healthy tissues while effectively treating deep tumors. However, clinical adoption requires advancements in accelerator technology, treatment planning systems, and validation of treatment protocols. FLASH-VHEET also introduces challenges related to time-dependent dose delivery. This paper reviews recent progress in VHEE research, focusing on dosimetric properties, beam delivery, radiobiological effects, and clinical applications. By addressing these aspects, this study provides a foundation for advancing VHEE therapy towards clinical implementation. The use of very high energy electron (VHEE) beams, with energies between 50 and 400 MeV, has drawn considerable interest in radiotherapy due to their deep tissue penetration, sharp beam edges, and low sensitivity to tissue density. VHEE beams can be precisely steered with magnetic components, positioning VHEE therapy as a cost-effective option between photon and proton therapies. However, the clinical implementation of VHEE therapy (VHEET) requires advances in several areas: developing compact, stable, and efficient accelerators; creating sophisticated treatment planning software; and establishing clinically validated protocols. In addition, the perspective of VHEE to access ultra-high dose–rate regime presents a promising avenue for the practical integration of FLASH radiotherapy of deep tumors and metastases with VHEET (FLASH-VHEET), enhancing normal tissue sparing while maintaining the inherent dosimetric advantages of VHEET. However, FLASH-VHEET systems require validation of time-dependent dose parameters, thus introducing additional technological challenges. Here, we discuss recent progress in VHEET research, focusing on both conventional and FLASH modalities, and covering key aspects including dosimetric properties, radioprotection, accelerator technology, beam focusing, radiobiological effects, and clinical outcomes. Furthermore, we comprehensively analyze initial VHEET in silico studies on coverage across various tumor sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes severe motor and sensory deficits, and there are currently no approved treatments for recovery. Nearly 70% of patients with SCI experience pathological muscle cocontraction and spasticity, accompanied by clinical signs such as patellar hyperreflexia and ankle clonus. The integration of epidural electrical stimulation (EES) of the spinal cord with rehabilitation has substantial potential to improve recovery of motor functions; however, abnormal muscle cocontraction and spasticity may limit the benefit of these interventions and hinder the effectiveness of EES in promoting functional movements. High-frequency excitation block introduced in peripheral nerve stimulation could reduce abnormal activity and lead to more physiological activation patterns. Here, we evaluated the application of high-frequency EES (HF-EES) in alleviating undesired muscular cocontraction and spasticity in two patients with motor incomplete SCI implanted with a commercial 32-channel EES paddle commonly used for pain therapy. To design custom HF-EES protocols, we first mapped the muscles targeted by different EES configurations. Our results showed that HF-EES substantially reduced patellar reflex in one participant and eliminated both patellar reflex and ankle clonus in the other participant. By combining HF-EES and low-frequency EES (LF-EES) to enhance functional movements with intensive rehabilitation, we observed notable improvements in lower limb kinematics, muscle strength, and clinical lower limb motor assessments over the trial period. This study suggests that HF-EES could be an important supplementary tool in SCI treatment, emphasizing the importance of personalized rehabilitation approaches and advanced tools to optimize EES treatments and offering hope for individuals with SCI-related motor deficits. Editor's summary: Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to severe motor impairments that can greatly limit a patient's quality of life. Residual neural signals to impaired limbs can cause undesirable movements such as simultaneous contraction of opposing muscles or spasticity, which can hinder functional movement and rehabilitation. Here, Romeni et al. tested the use of high-frequency epidural electrical stimulation (HF-EES) of the injured spinal cord as part of a broader physical rehabilitation program to attempt to mitigate these pathological movements. In two patients with motor incomplete SCI, the authors show that HF-EES reduced spasticity and pathologic muscle cocontraction. HF-EES was paired with low-frequency (LF)–EES, which enhances activation of the desired muscles for walking and other tasks. Both patients demonstrated improvements in motor ability over the course of rehabilitation, supporting the rationale for further examination of HF-EES as an adjuvant electrical stimulation protocol for patients recovering from SCI. —Molly Ogle [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A catalytic system comprising a gold(I) complex with an N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand in an ionic liquid as solvent exhibits higher catalytic efficiency compared to state of the art systems in the title reaction, which enables using down to 0.01 mol % gold. A commercial gold(I) catalyst such as IPrAuNTf2 can be employed for this purpose. In the case of less reactive substrates bearing electron‐withdrawing substituents at the phenol moiety, a tailor made NHC‐gold(I) precatalyst exhibits improved reactivity and can be advantageously employed compared to the commercial one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]