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Despite legislation affirming the rights of people with intellectual disabilities to take equal part in society, marginalization persists. Accessibility needs can impact this group’s ability to engage in the digital society and in aspects of daily living, such as employment and socializing. The Digi-ID PLUS study was established with a team of seven people with an intellectual disability. Team members were hired as a diverse group to give insight into their lived experiences in reviewing and validating research findings. Their insights were key to every aspect of Digi-ID PLUS. It has been recognized that user-centered design enhances technology development and accessibility; therefore, the aim of establishing a Citizen Advisory Panel (CAP) in our program design and delivery is to include the critical role of users by experience to review, validate and test our solution to enhance the accessibility of all aspects of the program. Working with Digi-ID PLUS, the CAP spoke of the impact being paid team members had on their lives. Analysis of insights shared indicated that being a part of the team had a positive impact on their self-image confidence and digital skills acquisition CAP members discussed the importance of supporting each other and the value of being paid for their insights.

Background: The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began in Ireland with the first confirmed positive case in March 2020. In the early stages of the pandemic clinicians and researchers in two affiliated Dublin hospitals identified the need for a COVID-19 biobanking initiative to support and enhance research into the disease. Through large scale analysis of clinical, regional, and genetic characteristics of COVID-19 patients, biobanks have helped identify, and so protect, at risk patient groups The STTAR Bioresource has been created to collect and store data and linked biological samples from patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and healthy and disease controls. Aim: The primary objective of this study is to build a biobank, to understand the clinical characteristics and natural history of COVID-19 infection with the long-term goal of research into improved disease understanding, diagnostic tests and treatments. Methods: This is a prospective dual-site cohort study across two tertiary acute university teaching hospitals. Patients are recruited from inpatient wards or outpatient clinics. Patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection as well as healthy and specific disease control groups are recruited. Biological samples are collected and a case report form detailing demographic and medical background is entered into the bespoke secure online Dendrite database. Impact: The results of this study will be used to inform national and international strategy on health service provision and disease management related to COVID-19. In common with other biobanks, study end points evolve over time as new research questions emerge. They currently include patient survival, occurrence of severe complications of the disease or its therapy, occurrence of persistent symptoms following recovery from the acute illness and vaccine responses.

Background. Malignant lymphoma of the testis involves the adjacent epididymis in approximately 60% of cases, but isolated epididymal lymphoma is rare. Methods. The file of a 34-year-old man was reviewed, and the biopsy material was studied by conventional morphology, immunohistochemistry, and polymerase chain reaction. Results. The patient presented with painless bilateral epididymal enlargement. Sequential bilateral epididymal biopsies revealed follicular lymphoproliferation with minimal involvement of one testis. Immunoglobulin M antibodies to the Coxsackie B4 virus were increased, and the lesions were interpreted as an atypical reactive process. Chemotherapy was not pursued. Four years after presentation, there was no evidence of local disease, but a 3-cm lesion involving the skin of the forehead developed. An excision biopsy revealed a large cell follicular lymphoma with features resembling the epididymal lesion. Analysis by polymerase chain reaction revealed a t(14-18) translocation in skin and epididymal lesions confirming that the epididymal lesions were also lymphomatous. Staging revealed no other site of disease. To date, the patient, who was treated with methotrexate chemotherapy, remains well 28 months after treatment. Conclusions. Most lymphomas of the testis and epididymis occur in older men, have an intermediate or high grade, diffuse histology, disseminate early, and follow an aggressive clinical course. In contrast, this case is similar to the occasional reports of pseudolymphoma and follicular lymphoma that occur in younger men, are confined largely to the testis and epididymis, and have a good prognosis. Cancer 1995 ;75 :2174-9.

Background: Tumorgenicity studies show that Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) but not their differentiated counterparts efficiently generate tumors. Therapeutically targeting CSCs could remove the malignant potential from tumours, while circumventing chemoresistance, relapse and metastasis. CSCs are difficult to study as they usually represent a small fraction of tumors. We will present a systematic approach we developed to investigate CSCs within any malignancy. We will present the data obtained thus far in the application of this system to the study of Ovarian CSCs. Methods: We developed a four phase model for investigating CSCs: Screening - Validation - Characterisation - Identification of novel therapeutic targets. Six cell lines modelling various stages of ovarian cancer (A2780, A2780cis, IGROV-1, IGROV(CDDP), SK-OV-3 and 59M) and one cell line (HIO-80) modelling non malignant ovarian surface epithelium were screened for the presence of CSCs and somatic stem cells respectively. Three flow cytometry based screens were implemented; ALDEFLUOR, Hoechst Side Population and Cell Surface Protein Screens. Cells of interest were isolated via Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting. Mouse Tumorgenicity and Asymmetric Division Assays have been developed to validate putative CSCs (pCSCs) as true CSCs. Hypoxic growth, chemotherapeutic and matrigel invasion assays have all been developed to investigate the role of Ovarian CSCs in these commonly observed phenotypes of Ovarian cancer. Results: Six pCSC populations have been identified. No overlap has been observed between the three screening approaches. ALDEFLUOR identified pCSCs within A2780 and A2780cis. Hoechst Side Population identified pCSCs within IGROV-1 and IGROV(CDDP). CD44/CD117 identified pCSCs within SK-OV-3 and 59M. No somatic stem cells were identified within HIO-80. To date pCSC and non-pCSCs have been sorted from two cell lines. In both models the isolated pCSCs regenerated the non-pCSC phenotype. Both the isolated pCSCs and non-pCScs from each model are resistance to cisplatin and paclitaxel. In both cases the parent lines were chemoresistant, so this finding is not unexpected. All pCSCs are currently being validated via Mouse Tumourgenicity and Single Cell Asymmetric Division Assays. All validated CSCs will be described. Conclusion: A systematic approach has been established for the isolation and study of CSCs. Each ‘type’ of ovarian CSC appears to be mutually exclusive. This may reflect different stages/histologies of ovarian disease, or perhaps the selective conditions of tissue culture. pCSCs have been identified within chemosensitive cell lines. Investigation of the differences between chemoresistant and chemosensitive CSCs could elucidate the mechanisms behind chemoresistant relapse. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3382. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3382