In the Footsteps of Scribonius Largus, a Pioneer of Clinical Pharmacy in Ancient Rome

Clinical pharmacy involves pharmacists in direct patient care concerning optimizing medicines and promoting health awareness and disease prevention. The whereabouts of the field can be traced to Scribonius Largus, a renowned physician and pharmacist in ancient Rome. Although Largus served as an imperial physician, he has also been an exemplary pharmacist authoring a comprehensive pharmacognosy textbook and dedicated a big part of his life to improving pharmacotherapy and advancing ethics in the field. Revisiting his contributions provides valuable lessons for contemporary clinical pharmacists

The Explanations for Unemployment Scale: An Eight-Country Study on Factor Equivalence

Explanations for Unemployment have been studied through a 20-item scale created by Furnham (1982) on three theoretical dimensions: the individualistic, the societal, and the fatalistic. In this study we revised this scale to co-ordinate it with contemporary social and economic facts and through metric testing-adjustments and multivariate statistical analysis we arrived at a 19-item scale retaining eight of the original scale items. This revised scale was statistically and theoretically valid as its factor structure closely resembled the original factor structure Furnham had described. For the second stage of the study, data were collected from eight countries and multilevel covariance structure analysis was applied to the data pool. The final structure can be considered universal for seven of these countries, meaning that the structure people employ to explain unemployment is the same across countries. The individualistic factor was clearly supported in this structure. The second factor narrowed the societal spectrum to industrial management and educational provision and the third factor appeared as a transformation of the fatalistic dimension to a “helplessness” factor. The three factors were investigated for their scoring differences across countries and overall

Tumor-activated lymph node fibroblasts suppress T cell function in diffuse large B cell lymphoma

Recent transcriptomic-based analysis of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has highlighted the clinical relevance of LN fibroblast and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) signatures within the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, the immunomodulatory role of fibroblasts in lymphoma remains unclear. Here, by studying human and mouse DLBCL-LNs, we identified the presence of an aberrantly remodeled fibroblastic reticular cell (FRC) network expressing elevated fibroblast-activated protein (FAP). RNA-Seq analyses revealed that exposure to DLBCL reprogrammed key immunoregulatory pathways in FRCs, including a switch from homeostatic to inflammatory chemokine expression and elevated antigen-presentation molecules. Functional assays showed that DLBCL-activated FRCs (DLBCL-FRCs) hindered optimal TIL and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell migration. Moreover, DLBCL-FRCs inhibited CD8+ TIL cytotoxicity in an antigen-specific manner. Notably, the interrogation of patient LNs with imaging mass cytometry identified distinct environments differing in their CD8+ TIL-FRC composition and spatial organization that associated with survival outcomes. We further demonstrated the potential to target inhibitory FRCs to rejuvenate interacting TILs. Cotreating organotypic cultures with FAP-targeted immunostimulatory drugs and a bispecific antibody (glofitamab) augmented antilymphoma TIL cytotoxicity. Our study reveals an immunosuppressive role of FRCs in DLBCL, with implications for immune evasion, disease pathogenesis, and optimizing immunotherapy for patients

Cold atoms in space: community workshop summary and proposed road-map

We summarise the discussions at a virtual Community Workshop on Cold Atoms in Space concerning the status of cold atom technologies, the prospective scientific and societal opportunities offered by their deployment in space, and the developments needed before cold atoms could be operated in space. The cold atom technologies discussed include atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters and accelerometers, and atom interferometers. Prospective applications include metrology, geodesy and measurement of terrestrial mass change due to, e.g., climate change, and fundamental science experiments such as tests of the equivalence principle, searches for dark matter, measurements of gravitational waves and tests of quantum mechanics. We review the current status of cold atom technologies and outline the requirements for their space qualification, including the development paths and the corresponding technical milestones, and identifying possible pathfinder missions to pave the way for missions to exploit the full potential of cold atoms in space. Finally, we present a first draft of a possible road-map for achieving these goals, that we propose for discussion by the interested cold atom, Earth Observation, fundamental physics and other prospective scientific user communities, together with the European Space Agency (ESA) and national space and research funding agencies.publishedVersio

Cold atoms in space: community workshop summary and proposed road-map

We summarise the discussions at a virtual Community Workshop on Cold Atoms in Space concerning the status of cold atom technologies, the prospective scientific and societal opportunities offered by their deployment in space, and the developments needed before cold atoms could be operated in space. The cold atom technologies discussed include atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters and accelerometers, and atom interferometers. Prospective applications include metrology, geodesy and measurement of terrestrial mass change due to, e.g., climate change, and fundamental science experiments such as tests of the equivalence principle, searches for dark matter, measurements of gravitational waves and tests of quantum mechanics. We review the current status of cold atom technologies and outline the requirements for their space qualification, including the development paths and the corresponding technical milestones, and identifying possible pathfinder missions to pave the way for missions to exploit the full potential of cold atoms in space. Finally, we present a first draft of a possible road-map for achieving these goals, that we propose for discussion by the interested cold atom, Earth Observation, fundamental physics and other prospective scientific user communities, together with the European Space Agency (ESA) and national space and research funding agencies

Cold atoms in space: community workshop summary and proposed road-map

We summarise the discussions at a virtual Community Workshop on Cold Atoms in Space concerning the status of cold atom technologies, the prospective scientific and societal opportunities offered by their deployment in space, and the developments needed before cold atoms could be operated in space. The cold atom technologies discussed include atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters and accelerometers, and atom interferometers. Prospective applications include metrology, geodesy and measurement of terrestrial mass change due to, e.g., climate change, and fundamental science experiments such as tests of the equivalence principle, searches for dark matter, measurements of gravitational waves and tests of quantum mechanics. We review the current status of cold atom technologies and outline the requirements for their space qualification, including the development paths and the corresponding technical milestones, and identifying possible pathfinder missions to pave the way for missions to exploit the full potential of cold atoms in space. Finally, we present a first draft of a possible road-map for achieving these goals, that we propose for discussion by the interested cold atom, Earth Observation, fundamental physics and other prospective scientific user communities, together with the European Space Agency (ESA) and national space and research funding agencies

Cav3 T-Type Voltage-Gated Ca2+ Channels and the Amyloidogenic Environment: Pathophysiology and Implications on Pharmacotherapy and Pharmacovigilance

Voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) were reported to play a crucial role in neurotransmitter release, dendritic resonance phenomena and integration, and the regulation of gene expression. In the septohippocampal system, high- and low-voltage-activated (HVA, LVA) Ca2+ channels were shown to be involved in theta genesis, learning, and memory processes. In particular, HVA Cav2.3 R-type and LVA Cav3 T-type Ca2+ channels are expressed in the medial septum-diagonal band of Broca (MS-DBB), hippocampal interneurons, and pyramidal cells, and ablation of both channels was proven to severely modulate theta activity. Importantly, Cav3 Ca2+ channels contribute to rebound burst firing in septal interneurons. Consequently, functional impairment of T-type Ca2+ channels, e.g., in null mutant mouse models, caused tonic disinhibition of the septohippocampal pathway and subsequent enhancement of hippocampal theta activity. In addition, impairment of GABA A/B receptor transcription, trafficking, and membrane translocation was observed within the septohippocampal system. Given the recent findings that amyloid precursor protein (APP) forms complexes with GABA B receptors (GBRs), it is hypothesized that T-type Ca2+ current reduction, decrease in GABA receptors, and APP destabilization generate complex functional interdependence that can constitute a sophisticated proamyloidogenic environment, which could be of potential relevance in the etiopathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The age-related downregulation of T-type Ca2+ channels in humans goes together with increased Aβ levels that could further inhibit T-type channels and aggravate the proamyloidogenic environment. The mechanistic model presented here sheds new light on recent reports about the potential risks of T-type Ca2+ channel blockers (CCBs) in dementia, as observed upon antiepileptic drug application in the elderly

"Αξιοποίηση Ψηφιακού Επιχειρηματολογικού Χάρτη για τη Βελτίωση των Επιχειρηματολογικών Δεξιοτήτων μαθητών της Γ’ Λυκείου"

Αντικείμενο της παρούσας διπλωματικής αποτελεί η έρευνα περίπτωσης που έγινε σε μαθητές της Γ' Λυκείου προκειμένου να γίνει φανερό αν η κατασκευή ψηφιακού επιχειρηματολογικού χάρτη συμβάλλει στη βελτίωση των επιχειρηματολογικών τους δεξιότητων. Το ψηφιακό εργαλείο που αξιοποιήθηκε είναι το Rationale TM. Οι μαθητές, αρχικά, συνέγραψαν στο Microsoft Word σε ομάδες των δύο ατόμων ένα κείμενο χωρίς κάποια διευκρίνιση από τον εκπαιδευτικό για τη διάρθρωση και το περιεχόμενο του. Στη συνέχεια, εμπλέχτηκαν σε δραστηριότητες κατασκευής επιχειρηματολογικού χάρτη με σκοπό να εξοικειωθούν με το ψηφιακό εργαλείο αλλά και να επισημανθούν από τον εκπαιδευτικό βασικά σημεία θεωρίας.Τέλος, οι μαθητές ενθαρρύνθηκαν να μεταφέρουν το αρχικό κείμενο τους σε σχεδιαγραμματική μορφή στο RationaleTM, κάνοντας, χωρίς κανένα περιορισμό, όποιες αλλαγές έκριναν απαραίτητες. Τα δεδομένα της έρευνας προέκυψαν από τις απομαγνητοφωνήσεις των μαθητών και από τα παραγόμενα κείμενα, αρχικά και τελικά. Η έρευνα αυτή συμβαδίζει με το Ελληνικό αναλυτικό πρόγραμμα στο οποίο οι μαθητές στην Γ΄ Λυκείου διδάσκονται έννοιες σχετικά με τα μέσα και τις μορφές της πειθούς, μελετούν τα στοιχεία που χαρακτηρίζουν το δοκίμιο μέσα από την επεξεργασία επιχειρηματολογικών κειμένων αλλά και μέσα από τη συγγραφή απλών δοκιμίων.The general purpose of this case study is to discover if the use of a digital argumentative midmap impacts on senior students’ argumentative skills. Τhe digital tool is the RationaleTM. At first, the students wrote collaborative an essay on a specific topic, without any specification of their tutor. Then, they involved in tasks in the aim of familiarized with the digital tool. At the end, the students wrote their essay on the digital argumentative midmap, with the directive to change the first essay as much as they want. The results of this case study based on the discourse between students, the first and the last essay