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Students with General Learning Difficulties present low levels of social competence. In order to increase them, students participate in school psychological support programmes. There are no research data available in Greece regarding social competence in students with General Learning Difficulties in the first grades of elementary school. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the efficiency of an intervention programme, which focused on strengthening their social competence, in the first grades of primary school. The levels of social competence of the students were evaluated before and after the implementation of an 8-month social empowerment programme, following a mixed-methods approach with the use of semi-structured interviews and observation in the school context. The participants were 21 students with General Learning Difficulties, 18 education professionals, whose classes the 21 students attended, together with the 21 parents of these students (one parent per student). The results showed that the social competence of the participants was low before and that it increased after their participation in the intervention programme. In addition, girls had higher social competence than boys both before and after their participation in the intervention programme. These results highlight the benefits of classroom intervention programmes for children with General Learning Difficulties.

Minas Sakellakis,1 Karolina Akinosoglou,1 Anastasia Kostaki,2 Despina Spyropoulou,1 Angelos Koutras,1 1Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, University Hospital, Patras Medical School, Patras, 2Department of Statistics, Athens University of Economics and Business, Athens, Greece Background: The primary end point of our study was to test whether the concurrent use of a statin is related to a lower risk of recurrence and increased relapse-free survival in patients with early breast cancer. Materials and methods: We reviewed 610 female patients with stage I, II, or III breast cancer who had been surgically treated and who had subsequently received at least adjuvant chemotherapy in order to prevent recurrence. Results: Among the 610 patients with breast cancer, 83 (13.6%) were receiving a statin on a chronic basis for other medical purposes. Overall, statin users displayed longer mean relapse-free survival (16.6 vs 10.2 years, P=0.028). After data had been adjusted for patient and disease characteristics, statin users maintained a lower risk of recurrence. This favorable outcome in statin users was particularly evident when we included only younger patients in the analysis (20 vs 10 years, P=0.006). Conclusion: Statins may be linked to a favorable outcome in early breast cancer patients, especially in younger age-groups. Keywords: statins, breast, cancer, adjuvant, recurrence

Key Clinical Message Herein, we report a rare case of nyctalopia diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy due to vitamin A deficiency as a result of a bariatric gastrectomy. Low serum vitamin A levels establish the diagnosis and the patient was treated with oral vitamin A supplements. Moreover, due to the teratogenic effects of exceed Vitamin A levels in early pregnancy, supplements' dosages should be prescribed with respect to the safe limits. Our case aims to highlight the importance of checking micronutricients and vitamins levels before and during pregnancy in women that had a previous bariatric surgery. Abstract Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) has been identified as the predominant factor in the development of night blindness during pregnancy, a high‐risk for morbidity situation. Herein, we report a rare case of nyctalopia diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy due to VAD as a result of a bariatric gastrectomy. Our case aims to highlight the importance of checking micronutricients and vitamins levels before and during pregnancy in women that had a previous bariatric surgery. Low serum vitamin A levels establish the diagnosis and the patient was treated with oral vitamin A supplements. An uneventful antenatal course resulted in the birth of a healthy live neonatal at 38 weeks of gestation. In conclusion, nyctalopia is a rare condition in pregnant women that is often caused by VAD that poses significant health risks for both the mother and the infant, especially in women with a history of gastrointestinal bypass surgery, or any factors leading to malnutrition. Clinicians have to be alerted for micronutrients deficient in pregnant women who have a bariatric operation in their medical history.

Minas Sakellakis,1 Angelos Koutras,1 Maria Pittaka,2 Dimitrios Kardamakis,2 Melpomeni Kalofonou,1 Haralabos P Kalofonos,1 Despina Spyropoulou2 1Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, 2Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital, Patras Medical School, Rion, Patras, GreeceWe have previously tested our hypothesis that there is a seasonality in the incidence of carcinomatous meningitis.1 Although further validation is needed in a larger cohort, we found that leptomeningeal metastasis occurred more often during warm months of the year which, in the case of Greece, is the period generally marked with the larger daytime length.1 Carcinomatous meningitis is closely related to brain metastasis, and a logical question is whether warm season is marked by a greater propensity also for brain metastasis.2

The tyrosine kinase Lck is mandatory for initiating signaling responses downstream the antigenic T cell receptor (TCR). Numerous studies have shown that a prerequisite for efficient and well-balanced Lck regulation and function is its finely orchestrated spatial distribution pattern, especially at the plane of the plasma membrane. There is a wealth of knowledge on Lck localization sites, preference for specialized lipid microenvironments and colocalization partners. However, several questions concerning the spatial organization of its differentially phosphorylated conformers and the dynamics of their juxtaposition in relation to ligated and non-ligated TCRs remain elusive. In this brief report we introduce a non-invasive nanobody-based approach for mapping Lck subcellular allocation with high precision. Our initial data using this methodology, provide insight into the topology of Lck in resting T cells and its confined localization in a strictly delimited environment within the plane of the plasma membrane.

The extensive studies on Filifactor alocis (Fa) show a positive association with periodontitis, demonstrating elevated Fa levels compared to traditional periodontal pathogens in severe disease. Periodontitis is a chronic multifactorial disease induced by a dysbiotic microbiota in a susceptible host whilst diabetes is an established risk factor for periodontitis. Diabetes has been shown to alter the subgingival microbiota into distinct microbial communities which favours the shift towards disease. It is these very distinct subgingival microbiota that are believed to contribute to the high prevalence and severity of periodontitis in diabetic patients. This dysbiotic microbiota constitute traditional periodontal pathogens which include among others the red complex triad (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, Tannerella forsythia), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, the orange complex (Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia etc.) and other emerging pathogens such as Fa that were previously unrecognised as role players in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Fa is an asaccharolytic anaerobic gram-positive rod (AAGPR) currently considered to be one of the potential drivers of periodontitis progression and worsening through its unique virulence characteristics. Various mechanisms through which Fa contributes to the pathogenesis and severity of periodontitis have been reported. The mechanisms involved in the bidirectional relationship between periodontitis and diabetes are continuously being explored in order to enhance individualised preventative and management approaches in affected patients. This review aims to report on this emerging periodontal pathogen and its capacity to influence dysbiosis within a complex subgingival microbial community; including its potential role in the bidirectional relationship between diabetes and periodontitis. This review will highlight Fa as a potential prognostic indicator for disease worsening, which will help improve management protocols for periodontitis and diabetes.

Filmmakers and editors have empirically developed techniques to ensure the spatiotemporal continuity of a film's narration. In terms of time, editing techniques (e.g., elliptical, overlapping, or cut minimization) allow for the manipulation of the perceived duration of events as they unfold on screen. More specifically, a scene can be edited to be time compressed, expanded, or real-time in terms of its perceived duration. Despite the consistent application of these techniques in filmmaking, their perceptual outcomes have not been experimentally validated. Given that viewing a film is experienced as a precise simulation of the physical world, the use of cinematic material to examine aspects of time perception allows for experimentation with high ecological validity, while filmmakers gain more insight on how empirically developed techniques influence viewers' time percept. Here, we investigated how such time manipulation techniques of an action affect a scene's perceived duration. Specifically, we presented videos depicting different actions (e.g., a woman talking on the phone), edited according to the techniques applied for temporal manipulation and asked participants to make verbal estimations of the presented scenes' perceived durations. Analysis of data revealed that the duration of expanded scenes was significantly overestimated as compared to that of compressed and real-time scenes, as was the duration of real-time scenes as compared to that of compressed scenes. Therefore, our results validate the empirical techniques applied for the modulation of a scene's perceived duration. We also found interactions on time estimates of scene type and editing technique as a function of the characteristics and the action of the scene presented. Thus, these findings add to the discussion that the content and characteristics of a scene, along with the editing technique applied, can also modulate perceived duration. Our findings are discussed by considering current timing frameworks, as well as attentional saliency algorithms measuring the visual saliency of the presented stimuli.

Blood glucose monitoring constitutes a pivotal element in the clinical management of Type 1 diabetes (T1D), a globally escalating metabolic disorder. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices have demonstrated efficacy in optimizing glycemic control, mitigating adverse health outcomes, and augmenting the overall quality of life for individuals afflicted with T1D. Recent progress in the field encompasses the refinement of electrochemical sensors, which enhances the effectiveness of blood glucose monitoring. This progress empowers patients to assume greater control over their health, alleviating the burdens associated with their condition, and contributing to the overall alleviation of the healthcare system. The introduction of novel medical devices, whether derived from existing prototypes or originating as innovative creations, necessitates adherence to a rigorous approval process regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Diverse device classifications, stratified by their associated risks, dictate distinct approval pathways, each characterized by varying timelines. This review underscores recent advancements in blood glucose monitoring devices primarily based on electrochemical sensors and elucidates their regulatory journey towards FDA approval. The advent of innovative, non-invasive blood glucose monitoring devices holds promise for maintaining stringent glycemic control, thereby preventing T1D-associated comorbidities, and extending the life expectancy of affected individuals.

Objective: Maternal obesity has been previously linked to increased risk of preterm birth; however, the actual pathophysiology behind this observation remains unknown. Cervical length seems to differentiate among overweight, obese and extremely obese patients, compared to normal weight women. However, to date the actual association between body mass index and cervical length remains unknown. In this systematic review, accumulated evidence is presented to help establish clinical implementations and research perspectives. Methods: We searched Medline, Scopus, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials CENTRAL, Google Scholar, and Clinicaltrials.gov databases from inception till February 2023. Observational studies that reported on women undergone ultrasound assessment of their cervical length during pregnancy were included, when there was data regarding their body mass index. Statistical meta-analysis was performed with RStudio. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS). Results: Overall, 20 studies were included in this systematic review and 12 in the meta-analysis. Compared to women with normal weight, underweight women were not associated with increased risk of CL

Background: Dose-dense sequential (dds) chemotherapy has changed the clinical outcome of patients with early breast cancer (BC). To investigate the impact of dose intensity (DI) in the adjuvant setting of BC, this observational trial (HE 10/10) was conducted assessing the long-term survival outcome, safety and toxicity of a currently widely used chemotherapeutic regimen. In addition, the prognostic significance of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and infiltrating CD8+ lymphocytes were also evaluated in the same cohort. Patients and methods: Totally, 1054 patients were prospectively enrolled in the current study with 1024 patients being eligible, while adequate tissue was available for 596 of them. TILs, CD8+ lymphocytes in intratumoral areas in contact with malignant cells (iCD8), CD8+ lymphocytes in tumor stroma (sCD8) as well as the total number of CD8+ lymphocytes within the tumor area (total CD8) were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Results: Within a median follow-up of 125.18 months, a total of 200 disease-free survival (DFS) events (19.5%) were reported. Importantly, the 10-year DFS and OS rates were 78.4% (95% CI 75.0–81.5) and 81.7% (95% CI 79.0–84.1), respectively. Interestingly, higher CD8+ T cells as well as TILs in the tumor microenvironment were associated with an improved long-term survival outcome. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study confirms the significance of dds adjuvant chemotherapeutic regimen in terms of long-term survival outcome, safety and toxicity as well as the prognostic significance of TILs and infiltrating CD8+ lymphocytes in BC patients with early-stage disease.

Globally, the efforts to find the best cancer treatment are demanding and very intensive. Immunotherapy has gained an important role as a second or sometimes first line of treatment for various types of cancer. PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors are an impending category of immunotherapy, and their mechanism, as well as their interaction with T cells, are well studied. However, our knowledge about any possible effect(s) of immunotherapy on B cells is limited. In this prospective study, we asked the question of any possible alterations of circulating B cells (numbers and subsets) occurring during immunotherapy in patients with cancer and of the potential correlation of such changes with the outcomes and with development of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). We enrolled 20 cancer patients who received PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors and 8 healthy donors (HD). Patients underwent regular clinical assessment and imaging using the iRECIST criteria for 6 months following immunotherapy. Peripheral blood samples were collected before and during PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor therapy, and flow cytometry analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was performed, evaluating various circulating B cell subset phenotypes, including mature naïve B cells, memory B cells, regulatory B cells (Bregs), antibody-secreting cells (ASCs), and age-related B cells (ABCs). Statistical analysis was employed to compare the differences of B cells between different groups and among sequential data within the same group. Total circulating CD19+ B cell counts remained stable across both groups (responders (R), nonresponders (NR)) and timepoints. However, there was a significant rise in mature naïve B cells and decline in memory B cells at the initiation of the treatment in the R group compared to healthy donors and to the NR group. Such changes were correlated with a good response to immunotherapy. On the contrary, higher numbers of ABCs at baseline were seen in the NR group and were correlated with resistance to treatment. As far as immune-related adverse events are concerned, no significant changes were recorded among the different B cell subpopulations evaluated in both groups. Our study provides preliminary data suggesting that B cell subset changes during immunotherapy may correlate with immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced clinical responses in patients with neoplasia. Further investigations to delineate the potential role(s) of B cells in patients undergoing immunotherapy are needed.