Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Our Schools: A Review and Research-Informed Guidelines for School Mental Health Professionals

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), the immediate and deliberate destruction of one’s own body tissue, without suicidal intent, and not for purposes that are socially accepted, is a critical concern for youth in schools. Despite significant scholarly advances and increasing clinical awareness of NSSI, many school mental health professionals (MHPs) continue to report feeling ill equipped to support students who self-injure, and emphasize a need for formal education about NSSI and its management in schools. Thus, the first part of this article summarizes current NSSI research on prevalence, age of onset, gender differences, functions, risk factors, and associations with suicide. Emerging from this review, the second part offers research-informed recommendations for MHPs managing NSSI in schools, including guidelines for (a) identifying students at elevated risk of self-injury, (b) developing a protocol for school personnel’s initial response to student self-injury, (c) first-level assessment of NSSI, and (d) managing critical issues related to NSSI contagion and online activity. </jats:p

A recurrent polyalanine expansion in the transcription factor FOXL2 induces extensive nuclear and cytoplasmic protein aggregation

Blepharophimosis syndrome is an autosomal dominant disease characterised by eyelid malformations, associated or not with premature ovarian failure. It is caused by mutations in the FOXL2 gene, which encodes a forkhead transcription factor containing a polyalanine (polyAla) domain of 14 alanines. Expansions of the polyAla tract from 14 to 24 residues account for 30% of the reported mutations and lead mainly to isolated palpebral defects. We have transfected COS-7 cells with DNA constructs driving the expression of the wildtype and mutant FOXL2 proteins fused to the green fluorescent protein. The polyAla expansion was found to induce the formation of intranuclear aggregates and a mislocalisation of the protein due to extensive cytoplasmic aggregation. These findings were confirmed by immunofluorescence. Co-transfection experiments suggest that the wildtype and mutant proteins can co-aggregate. We propose that the mechanism for the molecular pathogenesis of the polyAla expansions of FOXL2 may be its mislocalisation concomitant with its inclusion into nuclear aggregates. This may diminish the pool of active protein. Potential effects of aggregation on cell viability are under study

MITOGEN AND STRESS-ACTIVATED KINASE-1 DEFICIENCY AND TRANSCRIPTIONAL DYSREGULATION IN HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE

8th Plenary Meeting of the European-Huntingtons-Disease-Network, Barcelona, SPAIN, SEP 19-21, 2014International audienceno abstrac

BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF STRIATAL RESTORATION OF CYP46A1 EXPRESSION ON CHOLESTEROL METABOLISM AND NEURODEGENERATION IN HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE MOUSE MODEL (R6/2)

8th Plenary Meeting of the European-Huntingtons-Disease-Network, Barcelona, SPAIN, SEP 19-21, 2014International audienceno abstrac

A novel polyalanine expansion in FOXL2: the first evidence for a recessive form of the blepharophimosis syndrome (BPES) associated with ovarian dysfunction

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Implications of the vaginal microbiome and potential restorative strategies on maternal health: a narrative review

Abstract The vaginal microbiome undergoes dramatic shifts before and throughout pregnancy. Although the genetic and environmental factors that regulate the vaginal microbiome have yet to be fully elucidated, high-throughput sequencing has provided an unprecedented opportunity to interrogate the vaginal microbiome as a potential source of next-generation therapeutics. Accumulating data demonstrates that vaginal health during pregnancy includes commensal bacteria such as Lactobacillus that serve to reduce pH and prevent pathogenic invasion. Vaginal microbes have been studied as contributors to several conditions occurring before and during pregnancy, and an emerging topic in women’s health is finding ways to alter and restore the vaginal microbiome. Among these restorations, perhaps the most significant effect could be preterm labor (PTL) prevention. Since bacterial vaginosis (BV) is known to increase risk of PTL, and vaginal and oral probiotics are effective as supplemental treatments for BV prevention, a potential therapeutic benefit exists for pregnant women at risk of PTL. A new method of restoration, vaginal microbiome transplants (VMTs) involves transfer of one women’s cervicovaginal secretions to another. New studies investigating recurrent BV will determine if VMTs can safely establish a healthy Lactobacillus-dominant vaginal microbiome. In most cases, caution must be taken in attributing a disease state and vaginal dysbiosis with a causal relationship, since the underlying reason for dysbiosis is usually unknown. This review focuses on the impact of vaginal microflora on maternal outcomes before and during pregnancy, including PTL, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and infertility. It then reviews the clinical evidence focused on vaginal restoration strategies, including VMTs.</jats:p

AAV-CYP46A1 brain administration restores cholesterol metabolism and is neuroprotective in Huntington's disease

Conference on Changing the Face of Modern Medicine - Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, Florence, ITALY, OCT 18-21, 2016International audienceno abstrac

Enantioselective synthesis of alpha-fluorinated beta(2)-amino acids

Copyright © 2008 American Chemical SocietyA methodology for the enantioselective synthesis of α-fluorinated β²-amino acids has been developed from readily available carboxylic acids 3. Conversion to the Evan's oxazolidinone followed by enantioselective fluorination and alkylation gave 7 in high diastereomeric excess (>95%). Subsequent removal of the oxazolidinone and amination at the Bn-protected hydroxyl center gave optically active α-fluorinated β²-amino acids.Michael K. Edmonds, Florian H. M. Graichen, James Gardiner, and Andrew D. Abel