Dental students require a basic ability to explain and apply general principles of pathology to systemic, dental, and oral pathology. Although there have been recent advances in electronic and online resources, the academic effectiveness of using self-directed e-learning tools in pathology courses for dental students is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine if blended learning combining e-learning with traditional learning methods of lectures and tutorials would improve students' scores and satisfaction over those who experienced traditional learning alone. Two consecutive cohorts of Bachelor of Dentistry and Oral Health students taking the general pathology course at Griffith University in Australia were compared. The control cohort experienced traditional methods only, while members of the study cohort were also offered self-directed learning materials including online resources and online microscopy classes. Final assessments for the course were used to compare the differences in effectiveness of the intervention, and students' satisfaction with the teaching format was evaluated using questionnaires. On the final course assessments, students in the study cohort had significantly higher scores than students in the control cohort (p<0.01). Analysis of questionnaire results showed improved student satisfaction with the course in the study cohort. These findings suggest that the use of e-learning tools such as virtual microscopy and interactive online resources for delivering pathology instruction can be an effective supplement for developing dental students' competence, confidence, and satisfaction. Dr. Ariana is at

miR-205 plays a crucial role in angiogenesis and has been found in association with several types of cancers. The aims of this study were to investigate the clinical and functional roles of miR-205 on as the major initiator and modulator of angiogenesis in thyroid cancer. 101 thyroid carcinomas, including 51 conventional and 37 follicular variants of papillary thyroid carcinomas, and 13 undifferentiated thyroid carcinomas in addition to 13 lymph nodes with metastatic thyroid carcinoma were recruited to be compared with 14 nodular goitre and seven normal thyroid tissues. Five thyroid carcinoma cell lines, of papillary and undifferentiated origin with and without history of metastasis, were also used. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and miR-205 were measured and exogenous miR-205 were transfected to observe the changes of VEGFA (by immunofluorescence and western blot techniques). Proliferation assay, cell cycle analysis and apoptosis assays were also used to evaluate the role of miR-205 in these events. Significant under-expression of miR-205 and over-expression of VEGFA mRNA and protein were noticed in thyroid cancer tissues and cell lines compared to normal thyroid control. Transfection of miR-205 into the cancer cell lines caused significant reduction of VEGFA protein and significant inhibition in cell proliferation, arrest in G0-G1 of the cell cycle and promotion of total apoptosis (P!0.05). The angiogenic and tumour-suppressive roles of miRNA-205 were demonstrated for the first time in thyroid cancer. The current experiments provided specific information on the functional consequences of VEGF manipulation via miRNA on cancer.

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Multiple sclerosis (MS) produces demyelination and degeneration in both gray and white matter. Both cortical and deep gray matter injury is observed during the course of MS. Among deep gray matter structures, the thalamus has received special attention, as it undergoes volume loss in different MS subtypes and is involved in the earliest form of the disease, radiologically isolated syndrome. The thalamus plays an important role as an information relay center, and involvement of the thalamus in MS has been associated with a variety of clinical manifestations in MS, including fatigue, movement disorders, pain, and cognitive impairment (CI). Similar to thalamic volume loss, CI is seen from the earliest stages of MS and is potentially one of the most debilitating manifestations of the disease. The thalamus, particularly the dorsomedial nucleus as part of the basolateral limbic circuit and anterior thalamic nuclei through connections with the prefrontal cortex, has been shown to be involved in CI. Specifically, several cognitive performance measures such as processing speed and memory correlate with thalamic volume. Thalamic atrophy is one of the most important predictors of CI in MS, and both thalamic volume, diffusion tensor imaging measures, and functional activation correlate with the degree of CI in MS. Although the exact mechanism of thalamic atrophy is not well-understood, it is hypothesized to be secondary to degeneration following white matter injury resulting in secondary neurodegeneration and neuronal loss. The thalamus may represent an ideal biomarker for studies aiming to test neuroprotective or restorative therapies aimed at cognition.

This study suggests that BRCA1 protein is a prognostic marker in sporadic OC patients with minimal RD. Further research is needed to evaluate BRCA1 as a predictive biomarker and to target BRCA1 expression to enhance chemotherapeutic sensitivity.

Siglec-2 undergoes constitutive endocytosis and is a drug target for autoimmune diseases and B cell-derived malignancies, including hairy cell leukaemia, marginal zone lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). An alternative to current antibody-based therapies is the use of liposomal nanoparticles loaded with cytotoxic drugs and decorated with Siglec-2 ligands. We have recently designed the first Siglec-2 ligands (9-biphenylcarboxamido-4-meta-nitrophenyl-carboxamido-Neu5Acα2Me, 9-BPC-4-mNPC-Neu5Acα2Me) with simultaneous modifications at C-4 and C-9 position. In the current study we have used Saturation Transfer Difference (STD) NMR spectroscopy to monitor the binding of 9-BPC-4-mNPC-Neu5Acα2Me to Siglec-2 present on intact Burkitt’s lymphoma Daudi cells. Pre-treatment of cells with periodate resulted in significantly higher STD NMR signal intensities for 9-BPC-4-mNPC-Neu5Acα2Me as the cells were more susceptible to ligand binding because cis-binding on the cell surface was removed. Quantification of STD NMR effects led to a cell-derived binding epitope of 9-BPC-4-mNPC-Neu5Acα2Me that facilitated the design and synthesis of C-2, C-3, C-4 and C-9 tetra-substituted Siglec-2 ligands showing an 88-fold higher affinity compared to 9-BPC-Neu5Acα2Me. This is the first time a NMR-based binding study of high affinity Siglec-2 (CD22) ligands in complex with whole Burkitt’s lymphoma Daudi cells has been described that might open new avenues in developing tailored therapeutics and personalised medicine.

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Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) with onset in the setting of acute SARS-CoV-2 virus infection has been reported, and reactivation of MS following non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccination has been noted, but there have only been three reports of newly diagnosed MS following exposure to mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. The association cannot be determined to be causal, as latent central nervous system demyelinating disease may unmask itself in the setting of an infection or a systemic inflammatory response. We report a series of 5 cases of newly diagnosed MS following recent exposure to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Latency from vaccination to initial presentation varied. Neurological manifestations and clinical course appeared to be typical for MS including response to high dose steroids in 4 cases and additional need for plasmapheresis in one case. Conclusion Acute neurological deficits in the setting of recent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine administration may represent new onset multiple sclerosis.