Immune Profiling of Meningiomas.

Though meningiomas are generally regarded as benign tumors, there is increasing awareness of a large group of meningiomas that are biologically aggressive and refractory to the current standards of care treatment modalities. Coinciding with this has been increasing recognition of the important that the immune system plays in mediating tumor growth and response to therapy. To address this point, immunotherapy has been leveraged for several other cancers such as lung, melanoma, and recently glioblastoma in the context of clinical trials. However, first deciphering the immune composition of meningiomas is essential in order to determine the feasibility of similar therapies for these tumors. Here in this chapter, we review recent updates on characterizing the immune microenvironment of meningiomas and identify potential immunological targets that hold promise for future immunotherapy trials.

The association between digit ratio (2D:4D) and overweight or obesity among Chinese children and adolescents: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between 2D:4D and childhood overweight or obesity, which might indirectly show the role of prenatal hormone in childhood overweight or obesity. METHODS: Using stratified cluster sampling approach, a school-based cross-sectional investigation was undertaken among 687 children and adolescents aged 8-15 years. Each participant's index finger (2D) and ring finger (4D) length, height, weight, testosterone, and estradiol levels were measured, and their dietary behaviors, physical and sedentary activities were also surveyed. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight or obesity among children and adolescents aged 8- and 12-15 years was 36.0% and 25.9%, respectively (P < 0.05). There were no associations between 2D:4D and overweight or obesity in both boys and girls (P > 0.05). However, 2D and multiplying index of digit ratio and length (MIDRL) associated directly with overweight or obesity among boys (OR (95%CI) were 1.45 (1.00, 2.14), 1.46 (1.01, 2.11), respectively), and was indirectly related to overweight or obesity by testosterone (OR were 1.30, 1.26, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In boys, 2D and MIDRL were directly related to overweight or obesity, and indirectly associated with overweight or obesity by testosterone, which suggested that prenatal hormone exposure might associate with overweight or obesity among boys.

Prevalence of Internet addiction and its association with social support and other related factors among adolescents in China.

A cross-sectional study design was applied amongst a random sample (n = 10158) of Chinese adolescents. Self-completed questionnaires, including demographic characteristics, Internet use situation, Youth Internet Addiction Test, Youth Social Support Rating Scale and Zung Self-rating Depression Scale were utilized to examine the study objectives. Among the study population, the prevalence rate of Internet addiction was 10.4%, with 1038 (10.2%) moderately and 21 (0.2%) severely addicted to the Internet. Results from the multivariate logistic regression analyses suggested that a variety of related factors have significant effects on Internet addiction (parental control, per capita annual household income, academic performance, the access to Internet, online activities). The correlation coefficients showed that Internet addiction was negatively correlated with social support and positively associated with depression. Social support had a significant negative predictive effect on Internet addiction. The mediating effect of depression between social support and Internet addiction was remarkable.

Vulnerability to extreme heat and climate change: is ethnicity a factor?

BACKGROUND: With a warming climate, it is important to identify sub-populations at risk of harm during extreme heat. Several international studies have reported that individuals from ethnic minorities are at increased risk of heat-related illness, for reasons that are not often discussed. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to investigate the underpinning reasons as to why ethnicity may be associated with susceptibility to extreme heat, and how this may be relevant to Australia's population. DESIGN: Drawing upon literary sources, the authors provide commentary on this important, yet poorly understood area of heat research. RESULTS: Social and economic disparities, living conditions, language barriers, and occupational exposure are among the many factors contributing to heat-susceptibility among minority ethnic groups in the United States. However, there is a knowledge gap about socio-cultural influences on vulnerability in other countries. CONCLUSION: More research needs to be undertaken to determine the effects of heat on tourists, migrants, and refugees who are confronted with a different climatic environment. Thorough epidemiological investigations of the association between ethnicity and heat-related health outcomes are required, and this could be assisted with better reporting of nationality data in health statistics. Climate change adaptation strategies in Australia and elsewhere need to be ethnically inclusive and cognisant of an upward trend in the proportion of the population who are migrants and refugees.