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Background: Cardiometabolic morbidity and medications, specifically Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs), have been linked with adverse outcomes from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aims to investigate, factors associated with COVID-19 positivity in hospital for 1,436 UK Biobank participants; compared with individuals who tested negative, and with the untested, presumed negative, rest of the cohort.Methods: We studied 7,099 participants from the UK Biobank who had been tested for COVID-19 in hospital. We considered the following exposures: age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, ACEi/ARB use, prior myocardial infarction (MI), and smoking. We undertook comparisons between (1) COVID-19 positive and COVID-19 negative tested participants; and (2) COVID-19 tested positive and the remaining participants (tested negative plus untested, n = 494,838). Logistic regression models were used to investigate univariate and mutually adjusted associations.Results: Among participants tested for COVID-19, Black, Asian, and Minority ethnic (BAME) ethnicity, male sex, and higher BMI were independently associated with a positive result. BAME ethnicity, male sex, greater BMI, diabetes, hypertension, and smoking were independently associated with COVID-19 positivity compared to the remaining cohort (test negatives plus untested). However, similar associations were observed when comparing those who tested negative for COVID-19 with the untested cohort; suggesting that these factors associate with general hospitalization rather than specifically with COVID-19.Conclusions: Among participants tested for COVID-19 with presumed moderate to severe symptoms in a hospital setting, BAME ethnicity, male sex, and higher BMI are associated with a positive result. Other cardiometabolic morbidities confer increased risk of hospitalization, without specificity for COVID-19. ACE/ARB use did not associate with COVID-19 status.

Rosai-Dorfman-Destombes disease is a rare nonmalignant histiocytic condition. Cutaneous disease is common and typically treated with surgical resection, but the optimal medical therapy for inoperable disease has not been determined. We present a 30-year-old man with a large unresectable cutaneous facial mass refractory to corticosteroids and rituximab. He had an excellent response to 13 cycles of lenalidomide 15 mg for 21 out of 28 day cycles and dexamethasone 40 mg/wk with no adverse effects. This is the second case of Rosai-Dorfman-Destombes disease in the literature responsive to lenalidomide-based therapy and confirms the potential efficacy of an immunomodulatory regimen in this disease.

The 16,17-dehydrodeacetyl-5α-oleandrin was isolated from an active fraction of Nerium indicum Mill leaves (fam. Apocynaceae). This compound was cytotoxic against various cancer cells, and selective on A498 cells (Renal cancer). However, the apoptosis mechanism was still unknown yet. Therefore, the aim of this study was to know the apoptotic mechanism of 16,17-dehydrodeacetyl-5α-oleandrin on A498 cells by FITC labeled annexin V and immunucytochemical assays. The detection of apoptotic mechanism on A498 cells was performed with FITC-conjugated annexin V using Flow Cytometry. The p53 protein expression were detected using immunocytochemical. Treatment with 16,17-dehydrodeacetyl-5α-oleandrin (3.88 x 10-4 mM) using FITC-annexin V increased the percentage of the dead cells in the 24th and 48th hours incubation period. The 16,17-dehydrodeacetyl-5α-oleandrin (1,94x10-4 and 3,88x10-4 mM) raised significanly p53 protein expression (p

BackgroundIn recent years the functions of astrocytes have shifted from conventional supportive roles to also include active roles in altering synapses and engulfment of cellular debris. Recent studies have implicated astrocytes in both protective and pathogenic roles impacting Huntington's disease (HD) progression.ObjectiveThe goal of this study is to determine if phagocytosis of cellular debris is compromised in HD striatal astrocytes.MethodsPrimary adult astrocytes were derived from two HD mouse models; the fast-progressing R6/2 and slower progressing Q175. With the use of laser nanosurgery, a single astrocyte was lysed within an astrocyte network. The phagocytic response of astrocytes was observed with phase contrast and by fluorescence microscopy for GFP-LC3 transiently transfected cells.ResultsAstrocyte phagocytosis was significantly diminished in primary astrocytes, consistent with the progression of HD in R6/2 and Q175 mouse models. This was defined by the number of astrocytes responding via phagocytosis and by the average number of vesicles formed per cell. GFP-LC3 was found to increasingly localize to phagocytic vesicles over a 20-min imaging period, but not in HD mice, suggesting the involvement of LC3 in astrocyte phagocytosis.ConclusionWe demonstrate a progressive decrease in LC3-associated phagocytosis in HD mouse striatal astrocytes.

Motivation allows students to get interested in learning, serving as a "bridge" to academic achievement. However, mathematics is deemed as a complex one and involves a lot of thinking to understand its concepts which leads students to get discouraged which transforms motivation into a "broken bridge" due to several aspects. The study traverses and elucidates the lived experiences of students in terms of their motivation in learning mathematics lessons. The study, with a qualitative approach, uses Heideggerian Phenomenology and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) anchored on the modified Van Kaam Approach popularized by Moustakas. The selection of the participants was done with a purposive strategy aligning with the inclusion criteria set in this study. The process of gathering the data was done through conducting interviews with ten student participants from BSEd-Math 1 in Cebu Technological University - Moalboal Campus. The themes of the study are Theme 1: The Broken Drive, Theme 2: The Rebuilding, and Theme 3: The Hope collectively represent the lived experiences of the students in terms of their motivational aspect in learning the mathematics subject. Results of this study show that there are varieties of reasons why students have low motivation in learning mathematics, and at the same time have a different way of coping with such difficulties encountered. It is recommended that parents should encourage their children to cope with their learning difficulties, and teachers should encourage students academically in a way of employing the interest of their students in discussing the mathematics lessons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to understand the phagocytic response of astrocytes to the injury of neurons or other astrocytes at the single cell level. Laser nanosurgery was used to damage individual cells in both primary mouse cortical astrocytes and an established astrocyte cell line. In both cases, the release of material/substances from laser-irradiated astrocytes or neurons induced a phagocytic response in near-by astrocytes. Propidium iodide stained DNA originating from irradiated cells was visible in vesicles of neighboring cells, confirming phagocytosis of material from damaged cortical cells. In the presence of an intracellular pH indicator dye, newly formed vesicles correspond to acidic pH fluorescence, thus suggesting lysosome bound degradation of cellular debris. Cells with shared membrane connections prior to laser damage had a significantly higher frequency of induced phagocytosis compared to isolated cells with no shared membrane. The increase in phagocytic response of cells with a shared membrane occurred regardless of the extent of shared membrane (a thin filopodial connection vs. a cell cluster with significant shared membrane). In addition to the presence (or lack) of a membrane connection, variation in phagocytic ability was also observed with differences in injury location within the cell and distance separating isolated astrocytes. These results demonstrate the ability of an astrocyte to respond to the damage of a single cell, be it another astrocyte, or a neuron. This single-cell level of analysis results in a better understanding of the role of astrocytes to maintain homeostasis in the CNS, particularly in the sensing and removal of debris in damaged or pathologic nervous tissue.

Artificial Intelligence is considered a technological platform that impacts the teaching and learning process, particularly on its effect on assessment and grading and influence on graduates' future careers. However, the use of AI in the field of education, specifically on effective teaching strategies and classroom management poses issues experienced by teachers in the field. The increased use of AI in the classroom faces significant challenges because of insufficient resources for complete implementation. Nevertheless, researchers ground the argument in the gap and observed the need to find out more in the context of the experiences, coping mechanisms, and insights of Filipino and Indonesian teachers regarding the role of AI in shaping effective teaching strategies to improve student learning outcomes within the Philippine and Indonesian education system. Through this study initiative, an international university collaboration is established to conduct a multiple case study using qualitative interviews to gather essential information. Face-to-face interviews and online interviews were conducted with the participants with the guide of a given research questionnaire. Thus, semi-structured interviews are conducted with three Filipino and two Indonesian teachers as participants from private schools to gather their experiences in implementing and using AI-driven teaching strategies in their classrooms, forming the basis of this multiple case study. The researchers then proceeded to analyze the gathered information using descriptive-case analysis, within-case analysis, and cross-case analysis. In the concluding part of this study, from technical obstacles to systemic issues of digital infrastructure and technological inequality, these complexities underscore the need for concerted efforts to address barriers to AI-driven education. Despite these challenges, teachers demonstrate resilience and resourcefulness in navigating technological hurdles and promoting student engagement. By investing in professional development and fostering collaboration, educators unlock the full potential of AI in education and create inclusive learning environments that empower all students to succeed in the digital age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess whether the sense of purpose and identity status of graduating higher education students at St. Dominic College of Asia affects their intrinsic motivation. Using a quantitative survey research design, respondents consisted of 200 selected graduating students from St. Dominic College of Asia. The Dominican Life Success Scale (DLSS), a 90-item scale constructed by the researchers and validated by subject-matter experts (SMEs) in the field of Psychology, was employed. The results showed that students who have a clear sense of purpose in their academic journey are highly motivated by personal growth and fulfillment, rather than external rewards. Those with a strong sense of personal identity also exhibit high levels of intrinsic motivation in their studies. Overall, having a clear purpose and strong identity significantly influence students' motivation and academic success in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]