1.19 Questionable suitability of OECD 237 protocol in risk assessment scheme?

Persistent xenobiotics are potentially hazardous for the bee larvae despite that they are not directly exposed in contrary to adult foraging bees. The crucial phase of larval development is the first six days after hatching when young larva grows exponentially and during this phase larvae are potentially exposed to xenobiotics via diet. That is why the life cycle of honeybee is still a great challenge for scientists. OECD reflected “this need” and adopted the OECD 237 protocol (Honey bee (Apis mellifera) larval toxicity test, single exposure) on 26th July 2013. The protocol addresses the requirements formulated by the United States, Canada, and Europe to test the toxicity of chemicals compounds on larvae fed with spiked food under laboratory conditions in a tier1 strategy.Persistent xenobiotics are potentially hazardous for the bee larvae despite that they are not directly exposed in contrary to adult foraging bees. The crucial phase of larval development is the first six days after hatching when young larva grows exponentially and during this phase larvae are potentially exposed to xenobiotics via diet. That is why the life cycle of honeybee is still a great challenge for scientists. OECD reflected “this need” and adopted the OECD 237 protocol (Honey bee (Apis mellifera) larval toxicity test, single exposure) on 26th July 2013. The protocol addresses the requirements formulated by the United States, Canada, and Europe to test the toxicity of chemicals compounds on larvae fed with spiked food under laboratory conditions in a tier1 strategy

Detection system of magnetic nanoparticles in biological tissues by Magnetoencephalography

Magnetic nanoparticles are useful for a wide range of applications from data storage to medical imaging. Their unique features (controllable size in the nanoscale range, possibility to be coated with biological molecules, response to the application of a magnetic field...) make the development of a variety of medical applications possible, both for diagnosis and therapy [1-3]. On the other hand, Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a non-invasive functional imaging technique that enables the description of the temporal and spatial patterns of brain activity in resting conditions or related to different basic cognitive processes, by detecting the weak magnetic fields generated by currents in the neurons [4,5]. The detection of the weak magnetic fields depends on gradiometer detection coils coupled to a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). However, MEG systems are not currently being used for the detection of MNPs in biological tissues. A system to newly detect Magnetic Nanoparticles (MNPs) in the brain and in biological tissues will be described. The method uses a commercial Magnetoencephalograph (MEG) and opens new possibilities to extend the use of MEG systems to new applications for both diagnosis and therapy of medical diseases, different from its common use in neurological diagnosis. To test the validity of the system, in this work, we will show its ability to detect MNPs in biological tissues and their possible use in diagnosis of cerebral brain microinjurie

Structural insight into the Scribble PDZ domains interaction with the oncogenic Human T-cell lymphotrophic virus-1 (HTLV-1) Tax1 PBM

First published: 27 August 2022. OnlinePublScribble (Scrib) is a highly conserved cell polarity regulator that harbours potent tumour suppressor activity and plays an important role in cell migration. Dysregulation of polarity is associated with poor prognosis during viral infections. Human T-cell lymphotrophic virus-1 (HTLV-1) encodes for the oncogenic Tax1 protein, a modulator of the transcription of viral and human proteins that can cause cell cycle dysregulation as well as a loss of genomic integrity. Previous studies established that Scribble interacts with Tax1 via its C-terminal PDZ binding motif (PBM), leading to aggregation of polarity regulators and subsequent perturbation of host cell adhesion, proliferation, and signalling. Using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) we now show that all four PDZ domains of Scribble bind to Tax1 PBM. We then determined crystal structures of Scribble PDZ1, PDZ2 and PDZ3 domains bound to Tax1 PBM. Our findings establish a structural basis for Tax1 mediated subversion of Scribble mediated cell polarity signalling and provide the platform for mechanistic studies to examine Tax1 induced mislocalisation of Scribble and the associated changes in cellular architecture and subsequent tumorigenesis.Airah Javorsky, Janesha C. Maddumage, Emily R. R. Mackie, Tatiana P. Soares da Costa, Patrick O. Humbert and Marc Kvansaku

Feelings and Perceptions of Women in the Pregnancy-Puerperal Cycle Who Survived Severe Maternal Morbidity

This study aimed to understand severe maternal morbidity from the perspective of women who experienced it. The methodological precepts of qualitative research were adopted and the Collective Subject Discourse was the methodological framework chosen. A total of 16 women who experienced severe maternal morbidity were interviewed. Results were discussed based on four themes: describing the desire and plan for having a child; acknowledging the health problem and its influence on pregnancy and on the conceptus; overcoming the initial shock postpartum, and experiencing the risk situation: desires, frustration, and overcoming. This study will contribute to qualifying nursing care, specifically acknowledging the diversity and breadth of the needs presented by women in situations of severe morbidity during the pregnancy-puerperal cycle.Se tuvo por objetivo comprender la experiencia relativa a morbosidad materna grave, a partir de un grupo de mujeres que experimentó ese problema. Se adoptaron los preceptos metodológicos de la investigación cualitativa, siendo el Discurso del Sujeto Colectivo el referencial metodológico. Fueron entrevistadas 16 mujeres que experimentaron morbosidad materna grave. Los resultados fueron discutidos a partir de cuatro temas: describiendo el deseo y la planificación para tener un hijo; percibiendo su problema de salud, su influencia en la gestación y en el concepto; pasando por el choque inicial del post-parto; y, experimentando la situación de riesgo: deseos, frustraciones y superación. Se espera que este trabajo pueda contribuir para calificar la asistencia de enfermería, especialmente reconocer la diversidad y amplitud de las necesidades que las mujeres presentan en situaciones de morbosidad grave durante el ciclo de embarazo y puerperio.Objetivou-se compreender a experiência relativa à morbidade materna grave, a partir de um grupo de mulheres que vivenciou esse problema. Adotaram-se os preceitos metodológicos da pesquisa qualitativa, sendo o Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo o referencial metodológico. Foram entrevistadas 16 mulheres que vivenciaram a morbidade materna grave. Os resultados foram discutidos a partir de quatro temas: descrevendo o desejo e o planejamento para ter um filho, percebendo seu problema de saúde, sua influência na gestação e para o concepto, passando pelo choque inicial no pós-parto e experienciando a situação de risco: desejos, frustrações e superação. Espera-se que este trabalho possa contribuir para qualificar a assistência de enfermagem, especialmente para reconhecer a diversidade e amplitude de necessidades que mulheres apresentam em situações de morbidade grave, durante o ciclo gravídico puerperal

Effects of inservice education on knowledge, empathy, and practices of teachers for students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

During the past decade, the U.S. Department of Education-Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) funded several projects designed to develop, implement, and evaluate professional development programs (i.e., inservice education) for educators who teach children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD). With support from the OSEP, the Activity- and Novelty-Based (A.NB) curriculum was a designed to address the increased prevalence of AD/HD, magnitude of their academic and social problems, and the fact that a significant percentage of these students are placed in general education classrooms without supplementary services. To evaluate the effectiveness of the A.NB curriculum, the author implemented a three month field study in which this curriculum was compared to a professional AD/HD workshop presented by a local school district (LEA). Comparisons were based on measures of teachers\u27 ratings of empathy, student behavior, classroom practices, which were assessed at pre- and post-inservice (i.e., after three months). In addition, weekly behavior counts of teacher practices and student behavior were collected. This study differs from previous evaluations of OSEP funded AD/HD inservice programs in that a comparison inservice condition was used with multiple measures. Findings indicated that participants trained in the A.NB curriculum employed more positive methods associated with the curriculum three months after inservice education, were more empathic, and more willing to accommodate for individual differences in their classrooms than the LEA group. After three months, participants in the A.NB curriculum group reported an improvement in their classroom averages on the ACTeRS Social Skills Rating Scale. Finally, the participants who received the additional day of training in functional behavior analysis reported significant improvements for their students\u27 ACTeRS Hyperactivity and Oppositionality rating. Additional findings across inservice conditions provide support to the use of inservice education for preparing teachers to work with children with AD/HD. Several findings were also documented for the LEA suggesting collaboration between local specialists and university researchers may be beneficial