Uncovering the multifaceted roles played by neutrophils in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) is a life-saving procedure used for the treatment of selected hematological malignancies, inborn errors of metabolism, and bone marrow failures. The role of neutrophils in alloHSCT has been traditionally evaluated only in the context of their ability to act as a first line of defense against infection. However, recent evidence has highlighted neutrophils as key effectors of innate and adaptive immune responses through a wide array of newly discovered functions. Accordingly, neutrophils are emerging as highly versatile cells that are able to acquire different, often opposite, functional capacities depending on the microenvironment and their differentiation status. Herein, we review the current knowledge on the multiple functions that neutrophils exhibit through the different stages of alloHSCT, from the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) mobilization in the donor to the immunological reconstitution that occurs in the recipient following HSC infusion. We also discuss the influence exerted on neutrophils by the immunosuppressive drugs delivered in the course of alloHSCT as part of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Finally, the potential involvement of neutrophils in alloHSCT-related complications, such as transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA), acute and chronic GVHD, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation, is also discussed. Based on the data reviewed herein, the role played by neutrophils in alloHSCT is far greater than a simple antimicrobial role. However, much remains to be investigated in terms of the potential functions that neutrophils might exert during a highly complex procedure such as alloHSCT

Manual dexterity correlating with right lobule VI volume in right-handed 14-year-olds

BACKGROUND: Dexterity is a fundamental skill in our everyday life. Particularly, the fine-tuning of reaching for objects is of high relevance and crucially coordinated by the cerebellum. Although neuronal cerebellar structures mediate dexterity, classical whole brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM) has not identified structural correlates of dexterity in the cerebellum. METHODS: Clusters of gray matter (GM) volume associated with the Purdue Pegboard Dexterity Test, a test of fine motor skills and complex upper limb movements, were identified in a cerebellum-optimized VBM analysis using the Spatially Unbiased Infratentorial (SUIT) toolbox in 65 healthy, right-handed 14-year-olds. For comparison, classical whole brain VBM was performed. RESULTS: The cerebellum-optimized VBM indicated a significant positive correlation between manual dexterity and GM volume in the right cerebellum Lobule VI, corrected for multiple comparisons and non-stationary smoothness. The classical whole brain VBM revealed positive associations (uncorrected) between dexterity performance and GM volume in the left SMA (BA 6), right fusiform gyrus (BA 20) and left cuneus (BA 18), but not cerebellar structures. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that cerebellar GM volumes in the right Lobule VI predict manual dexterity in healthy untrained humans when cerebellum-optimized VBM is employed. Although conventional VBM identified brain motor network areas it failed to detect cerebellar structures. Thus, previous studies might have underestimated the importance of cerebellum in manual dexterity

Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Attention and Executive Function in Children and Adolescents—a Systematic Review

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions including mindful movements such as yoga on attention and executive function in children and adolescents. Systematic searches were conducted on five databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus). Included studies consisting of randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials with a mindfulness-based intervention were assessed for quality, and relevant data was extracted and collated. Thirteen randomized control trials were identified as meeting inclusion criteria, including mindfulness-based psychological interventions (n = 7), yoga (n = 3), and traditional meditation techniques (n = 2). Studies recruited adolescents or children that were typically developing, diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, orphans, or had reading difficulties, or in correctional schools/institutions. The quality of the 13 studies ranged from low to high based on the PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database) scale with the average score of 6.62 out of the highest possible score of 11 (the higher the score, the higher the quality). Five of the 13 studies found a statistically significant intervention effect for at least one outcome measure of attention or executive function with medium to large effect sizes (0.3–32.03). Mindfulness-based interventions are a promising approach to targeting attention and executive function in children and adolescence, especially with the use of computerized measures as outcome measures. All identified studies included interventions with multiple treatment components, so the effects attributable to mindfulness-based training still remain undetermined. Further quality trials are needed to assess the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in enhancing attention and executive function in children and adolescents