Targeting the Siglec-sialic acid axis promotes antitumor immune responses in preclinical models of glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive form of primary brain tumor, for which effective therapies are urgently needed. Cancer cells are capable of evading clearance by phagocytes such as microglia- and monocyte-derived cells through engaging tolerogenic programs. Here, we found that high expression of sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin 9 (Siglec-9) correlates with reduced survival in patients with GBM. Using microglia- and monocyte-derived cell-specific knockouts of Siglec-E, the murine functional homolog of Siglec-9, together with single-cell RNA sequencing, we demonstrated that Siglec-E inhibits phagocytosis by these cells, thereby promoting immune evasion. Loss of Siglec-E on monocyte-derived cells further enhanced antigen cross-presentation and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which resulted in more efficient T cell priming. This bridging of innate and adaptive responses delayed tumor growth and resulted in prolonged survival in murine models of GBM. Furthermore, we showed the combinatorial activity of Siglec-E blockade and other immunotherapies demonstrating the potential for targeting Siglec-9 as a treatment for patients with GBM.

[Introduction of an Ultrasound Course Based on Peer-Tutoring - An Update on the Blended Learning Basic Course Sonography]. / Einführung eines «Peer Tutoring¼ -basierten, Ultraschallkurses ­ ein Update zum «Blended-Learning¼-Basiskurs Sonografie.

Introduction of an Ultrasound Course Based on Peer-Tutoring - An Update on the Blended Learning Basic Course Sonography Abstract. Following the introduction of the new Swiss learning objectives catalogue 'PROFILES', the ability to carry out simple ultrasound examinations has become mandatory for undergraduates. Thanks to a collaboration between the Bern Institute of Primary Health Care and the 'Young Sonographers' SGUM section, the SGUM's classic-format basic abdomen teaching module has been changed into a 'blended learning' teaching format with 'peer tutoring'. It is particularly intended for students and junior doctors. Since the beginning of 2019, local 'Young Sonographers' subsections have gradually introduced the basic ultrasound course for students at four different Swiss universities. This article describes the implementation of the 'Blended Learning Basic Sonography Course' in Switzerland and the current student peer tutor activity at Swiss universities. We discuss the project's successes and current challenges, the Young Sonographers section, and look into the future of ultrasound training in Switzerland.

The role of parental, school, and peer factors in adolescent bullying involvement: results from the Turkish HBSC 2005/2006 study.

The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between involvement in bullying behaviors and school, family, and peer factors. Health Behavior in School Age Children survey questionnaire was used. Of the students surveyed, 20% were both bully and victim, 11% were bully, and 21% were victim. Being male, poor parental support, and poor monitoring by the father were found to be risk factors for being both bully and victim. Poor academic achievement, having peers at different ages, poor quality of friendship, poor communication with parents, and not being isolated by peers were found to be risk factors for being bully. Not liking school, feeling pressured by school work, poor quality of friendship, poor monitoring by the father, close bonding with mother, and poor status of the peer group were found to be risk factors for being victim. These findings highlight the importance that bullying intervention programs should include country-specific and culture-specific influences for success.

Bullying behaviours and psychosocial health: results from a cross-sectional survey among high school students in Istanbul, Turkey.

The aim of this study was to investigate bullying behaviours and their associations with health and health risk behaviours. This study involved completion of the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) and Youth Self Report (YSR) questionnaires by 3,519 students. Of the students, 59.4% (n=2,091) were neither bullies/nor victims, 22% (n=774) victims, 9.4% (n=331) bully/victims and 9.2% (n=323) bullies. Generally, students involved in bullying behaviours were more likely to have higher YSR scale scores than students who were not involved in bullying behaviours. Bully/victims had higher scores on the YSR subscales than others. Students involved in bullying behaviours were more likely not to use seat belts, to watch TV >or= 4 h/day, to be involved in a physical fight, to skip class and to spend time with friends than students who were not involved in bullying behaviours. Bully/victims and bullies were more likely to smoke cigarettes, to drink alcohol, to be drunk, to play computer games and to be sexually active than others. Bully/victims were more likely to have less educated mothers and to have difficulty in talking to both parents than others. Victims were more likely to have a lower socioeconomic status, to have difficulty in talking to opposite gender friends and to have difficulty in making new friends than others. Bullying behaviour is common and associated with other risk behaviours and psychological health problems in Istanbul high school students. Health professionals should be aware of the influence of bullying on health and particularly on bully/victims' health. There is a strong need for bullying prevention programmes in schools in Turkey.

Sexual abuse among female high school students in Istanbul, Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of sexual abuse in female adolescents in Istanbul, Turkey from data collected as part of a school-based population study on health and health behaviors. METHOD: A stratified cluster sampling procedure was used for this cross-sectional study. The study sample included 1,955 randomly selected 9th through 11th grade female students attending 26 randomly-selected high schools in Istanbul. A self-report questionnaire was administered anonymously in the classroom. Information on sexual abuse history was collected through the questions investigating "touching" and "intercourse." RESULTS: Of 1,955 female students, 1,871 (95.7%) provided answers to the questions addressing unwanted sexual experience. Of these, 250 (13.4%) reported sexually abusive experiences. Two hundred and thirteen (11.3%) students reported that someone touched their private parts in a way they did not like; 91 (4.9%) reported they were forced to have sexual intercourse; 54 (3.0%) reported both types of sexual abuse. Incest was reported by 1.8% of the subjects. Ninety-three percent of the perpetrators were reported to be male. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported school-based study to determine the prevalence of sexual abuse in Turkey. The results show that at least 13.4% of female high school students disclosed having experienced sexual abuse during childhood.

Violent behaviour among Turkish high school students and correlates of physical fighting.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to provide data about the prevalence of violent behaviour among high school students living in Istanbul and to determine the correlates of physical fighting. METHOD: This study involved the completion of a modified version of 'Health Behaviour in School Age Children (HBSC) 1997/1998' survey questionnaire by 4153 grade 9-11 students. Chi square tests and forward stepwise multiple logistic regression models were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: During the last 12 months preceding the survey 42% of students (n=1720) reported that they had been in a physical fight; 7% (n=274) reported that they were involved in a fight which required medical treatment. During the last school term 19% (n=768) bullied others at school; 30% (n=1255) reported having been bullied at school; 7% (n=309) reported that they had been bullied with a weapon on school grounds; 8% (n=346) reported that they carried a weapon on school grounds. In logistic regression analyses being male, poor mental health score, being sexually active, current cigarette use, illicit drug use, not using seat belts, bullying, being bullied with a weapon, carrying a weapon, spending more time with friends, poor school image and physical abuse were found to be associated with fighting. CONCLUSION: Violent behaviour is common in high school students. There is a strong need for violence prevention programmes in schools.

Perceived health status in a Turkish adolescent sample: risk and protective factors.

UNLABELLED: The objective of this study was to investigate health status of Turkish adolescents and to determine the factors affecting their self perceptions of health. The subjects of the study were 4,153 grade 9-11 students from 26 randomly selected high schools in Istanbul. In total, 78% (n = 3231) and 62% (n = 2537) of the students reported that they were feeling healthy and happy, respectively. Prevalence of headache, abdominal pain and backache; feeling low, irritable, nervous and dizzy; medication use for headache, abdominal pain and nervousness were higher in females than in males (P < 0.05 for each comparison). Prevalence of difficulty in getting to sleep and medication use for it were quite similar in both genders. Perceived higher socio-economic status, feeling happy and exercising longer than 2-3 h a week were found as protective factors related to feeling healthy for both genders. In females, ease of talking to mother and perceived adequate parental support on school matters and in males, ease of talking to father and satisfaction with body size were protective factors related to feeling healthy, respectively. Cigarette smoking and having headaches put feeling healthy at risk in both genders. In females, feeling left out of things, having backache and dizziness and medication use for nervousness and in males, feeling pressured by school work, abdominal pain and difficulty in getting to sleep were risk factors related to feeling healthy, respectively. CONCLUSION: the findings of this study suggest that a significant number of Turkish adolescents perceive themselves as not very healthy and experience psychosomatic symptoms. Perception of health differed to some extent according to gender. Programmes promoting health-related activities and coping strategies with parental participation need to be developed for improving health in high school students.

Alcohol drinking behaviors among Turkish high school students.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, behavioral patterns and correlates of regular alcohol drinking in high school students. This cross-sectional study involved the completion of a modified version of "Health Behavior in School Age Children" (HBSC 1997/1998) questionnaire by 4,153 grade 9-11 students from 26 randomly selected high schools in Istanbul. Chi-square test, Spearman correlation test and forward stepwise multiple logistic regression model were used for statistical analyses as appropriate. Overall, 61% of students were experimental drinkers, and 46% of the students were current drinkers. There was a significant difference between female and male students with respect to reporting current alcohol drinking at grade 9 and 11 (p > 0.05 for each comparison). Regular drinking was reported by 6% of students. Male students were more likely than female students to report regular drinking at each grade (p < 0.01 for each comparison). Nineteen percent of the students reported that they had been really drunk at least once during their lifetime. Malestudents were more likely than female students to report an occasion of drunkenness at each grade (p < 0.05 for each comparison). All types of drinking behavior rates tended to increase across grades for both genders (p < 0.05 for each comparison). In logistic regression analysis the following were all independently associated with regular drinking: being in grade 11, smoking cigarettes currently, lifetime drug use, bullying others, being sexually active, playing computer games > or = 4 h/week, exercising < or = 1 h/week, spending > or = four evenings with friends, at ease in talking to same gender friends, tiredness in the morning, perceived as good-looking/beautiful, higher educational level of the mother and perceived poor academic achievement. The results of this study showed that alcohol consumption is prevalent among high school students. There is therefore a need for school-based alcohol prevention programs which also deal with family and peer influences on drinking.