Foundation for laboratory medicine

We describe the development, delivery, and evaluation of a program to support junior professionals to publish their work in a scientific journal. Conference delegates with an accepted abstract at the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP), self-identifying as junior professionals and from a low- or middle-income country (LMIC) or working predominantly in LMIC settings, were eligible for the program. The program involved: (1) Four face-to-face workshops at ICFP from the 14th to 17th of November 2022; (2) mentoring meetings at ICFP; (3) a six-month post-conference online coaching program; and (4) post-conference learning webinars from December 2022 to May 2023. We used online surveys to assess the participants' reactions, learning, and behaviour changes to the workshops and the online coaching program. We present participants' self-reported progress towards achieving a scientific publication. Sixty-seven participants from 29 countries participated in the workshops, and 40 attended the post-conference program. Workshops were rated positively, though the in-conference mentoring program faced challenges, including low attendance. The post-conference program was highly rated, with most participants engaging well with coaching and the webinars. At the end of the six-month program, 31 (46%) participants reported some progress in manuscript writing, with five completed manuscripts submitted. Scientific writing is a complex skill, and whilst our program had several positive elements, our participants faced many challenges completing their manuscripts within six months. The post-conference coaching and webinar program was rated highly, emphasising the need for ongoing support. Future programs should address this and other difficulties we highlight.

Gender-based violence (GBV) comes in many different forms, including emotional, physical, economic, and cultural. Regardless of its form, it represents an evil that the international community must work hard to eliminate. A crucial step in eradicating men's violent behavior is implementing initiatives aimed at prevention. However, effective prevention requires collaboration among various stakeholders, including policymakers, healthcare providers, psychological and social services, and community organizations. One major obstacle in combating GBV is the fragmentation of efforts. To improve the chances of success, all stakeholders must unite, fostering a dialogue and joint action. It is important that this dialogue includes scientific harmonization between anthropology and social sciences to better understand the origins and nature of male violence. The United Nations have been extremely active in this respect. In 2023, they posted online a document entitled "Ten ways to prevent violence against women and girls." Progress has also been made in enrolling men in programs for the prevention of violence and in preventing partner violence among adolescents. However, despite these success stories, there remain significant gaps in ensuring effective prevention among marginalized groups and young women with disabilities, groups that are at elevated risk of becoming victims of violence. In conclusion, success in combating GBV depends on effective collaboration among all those committed to prevention. Unfortunately, reproductive health specialists have often failed to work alongside psychologists and social scientists. The time has come to encourage full cooperation and overcome these barriers.

ABSTRACT Non-invasive electroencephalographic (EEG) experiments have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of the brain mechanisms involved in the production and perception of sounds and human speech. Performing similar experiments in non-human primates (NHPs) would help further deepen our knowledge by allowing us to investigate the evolutionary roots of these processes. However, performing EEG on NHPs is a challenge, given its sensitivity to motion artefacts, device cost and durability, and animal training requirements. For these reasons, most attempts have used invasive intracranial recordings, which led us to develop an alternative that minimises stress and prioritises animal welfare. By using mild propofol sedation, neurophysiological experimentation can easily be integrated into the routine sanitary checks of captive animals and allows the optimisation of both EEG quality and animal welfare. To assess the influence of propofol on brain activity in NHPs, we sedated three olive baboons ( Papio anubis ), scored their sleep stages under different doses, and recorded auditory event-related potentials (ERP)in response to grunts. Analyses of the EEG recordings with regards to sleep stage and ERP components indicate that at low dose (< 0.1mg/kg/h), propofol induces a light sleep state conducive to recording stimulus-elicited auditory activity. Overall, this experiment confirms the use of propofol sedation as an appropriate technique to study auditory processes through unrestrained, non-invasive EEG in NHPs.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate current practices among gynecologists in managing large endometriomas before in vitro fertilization (IVF). Design: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted. Participants/Materials: The survey was distributed to an estimated 410 gynecologists, with 111 specialists completing the survey (response rate: 27.8%). Among respondents, 73% practiced in academic settings, and 61% had more than 15 years of clinical experience. Setting: Gynecologists involved in IVF treatments or endometrioma surgery were recruited via email through professional societies across multiple countries. Methods: An online survey consisting of 18 questions covering clinical experience, surgical thresholds, techniques, hormonal protocols, and timing of ovarian stimulation post-surgery was distributed through professional societies. Responses were collected anonymously and analyzed using SPSS version 29.0.2.0. Results: Laparoscopic cystectomy was the most common procedure (48.2%). The median threshold size for surgery was 50 mm (interquartile range [IQR] 40–60). Despite the same median threshold, surgeons performing laparoscopic surgery as their main clinical activity had a significantly different distribution of thresholds (IQR 40–60 vs. 47–89, p = 0.006), with a tendency to recommend surgery for smaller endometriomas. Techniques like CO2 laser ablation and plasma energy were less commonly used. Notably, 40.5% of participants indicated they would change their practice if a CO2 laser or plasma energy device were available in their surgical armamentarium. Most participants (67.9%) adjusted their strategy based on preoperative anti-Müllerian hormone levels. The average timing for IVF stimulation post-surgery was 6 weeks (IQR 4–8) with no difference across different experiences. Limitations: The survey-based design may introduce response bias and reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate. Additionally, the study may not capture regional or institutional differences comprehensively. Conclusion: Managing large endometriomas before IVF involves balancing surgical benefits with risks to ovarian reserve. The survey highlights significant variability in practices, with a median surgical threshold size of 50 mm. Laparoscopic cystectomy, while common, is associated with ovarian tissue loss, whereas emerging techniques like CO2 laser ablation show promise in preserving ovarian reserve. The need for up-to-date evidence-based guidelines is essential to standardize practices and optimize outcomes for IVF patients.

Abstract Impact entrepreneurship is a pivotal force in harmonizing environmental, social, and economic objectives, yet in the early stages of their ventures, entrepreneurs face complex challenges. Grounded in institutional theory, this study investigates the unique needs of impact entrepreneurs and uncovers shortcomings in the existing institutional support frameworks. An in‐depth qualitative analysis was conducted involving semi‐structured interviews with successful impact entrepreneurs and identifying key needs across four main categories: knowledge frameworks, entrepreneurial skill sets, resource dependencies, and sociocultural and personal elements. We deduced essential requirements for clear operational guidelines, financial and legal support systems, collaborative academic interactions, and access to a skilled workforce. Our findings challenge the efficiency and alignment of current support mechanisms with the unique demands of impact entrepreneurship. Finally, this investigation not only sheds light on the complex needs of impact entrepreneurs but also contributes significantly to the academic discourse by recommending improvements in institutional support structures, potentially reshaping the field of impact entrepreneurship.

There has been considerable progress in our understanding of endometriosis, but its pathophysiology remains uncertain. Uncovering the underlying mechanism of the rare instances of endometriosis reported in early postmenarcheal years and in girls before menarche can have wide implications. We conducted a literature review of all relevant articles on Medline. In the review, we explore the pathogenetic theories of premenarcheal endometriosis, the role of retrograde menstruation in the adult and its potential role in early-onset disease, as well as the factors that argue against the existence of a link between early-onset endometriosis (EOE) and neonatal uterine bleeding (NUB). As with endometriosis in adult women, the pathogenesis of early-onset disease remains unclear. A link between NUB and EOE is plausible, but there are considerable challenges to collating supporting evidence. The state of our understanding of early uterine development and of the pathophysiology of NUB leaves many unknowns that need exploration. These include proof of the existence of viable endometrial cells or endometrial mesenchymal stem cells in NUB, their passage to the pelvic cavity, their possible response to steroids, and whether they can reside within the pelvic cavity and remain dormant till menarche.

Today, there is strong and diversified evidence that in humans at least 50% of early embryos do not proceed beyond the pre-implantation period. This evidence comes from clinical investigations, demography, epidemiology, embryology, immunology, and molecular biology. The purpose of this article is to highlight the steps leading to the establishment of pregnancy and placenta formation. These early events document the existence of a clear distinction between embryonic losses during the first two weeks after conception and those occurring during the subsequent months. This review attempts to highlight the nature of the maternal-embryonic dialogue and the major mechanisms active during the pre-implantation period aimed at "selecting" embryos with the ability to proceed to the formation of the placenta and therefore to the completion of pregnancy. This intense molecular cross-talk between the early embryo and the endometrium starts even before the blastocyst reaches the uterine cavity, substantially initiating and conditioning the process of implantation and the formation of the placenta. Today, several factors involved in this dialogue have been identified, although the best-known and overall, the most important, still remains Chorionic Gonadotrophin, indispensable during the first 8 to 10 weeks after fertilization. In addition, there are other substances acting during the first days following fertilization, the Early Pregnancy Factor, believed to be involved in the suppression of the maternal response, thereby allowing the continued viability of the early embryo. The Pre-Implantation Factor, secreted between 2 and 4 days after fertilization. This linear peptide molecule exhibits a self-protective and antitoxic action, is present in maternal blood as early as 7 days after conception, and is absent in the presence of non-viable embryos. The Embryo-Derived Platelet-activating Factor, produced and released by embryos of all mammalian species studied seems to have a role in the ligand-mediated trophic support of the early embryo. The implantation process is also guided by signals from cells in the decidualized endometrium. Various types of cells are involved, among them epithelial, stromal, and trophoblastic, producing a number of cellular molecules, such as cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and adhesion molecules. Immune cells are also involved, mainly uterine natural killer cells, macrophages, and T cells. In conclusion, events taking place during the first two weeks after fertilization determine whether pregnancy can proceed and therefore whether placenta's formation can proceed. These events represent the scientific basis for a clear distinction between the first two weeks following fertilization and the rest of gestation. For this reason, we propose that a new nomenclature be adopted specifically separating the two periods. In other words, the period from fertilization and birth should be named "gestation", whereas that from the completion of the process of implantation leading to the formation of the placenta, and birth should be named "pregnancy".

ObjectivesCommunity-based early autism intervention programs in Geneva, Switzerland, converted their in-person services to a telehealth format during the COVID-19 home confinement period. The current study was aimed at measuring the engagement and satisfaction of service providers and caregivers as they experienced telehealth services for the first time and at monitoring child progress.MethodsForty-five families from diverse backgrounds and their 45 service providers had daily videoconferencing sessions of primarily parent-mediated intervention. Satisfaction questionnaires were completed at three time points over a 2-month period. Session frequency and program participation were recorded. Caregiver and service provider’s answers were compared. Results were also analyzed by family annual income. Child progress was monitored using the Early Start Denver Model Curriculum Checklist.ResultsCaregivers and service providers maintained high levels of participation and satisfaction throughout the telehealth service period and appreciated how the telehealth format allowed them to meet more frequently. Lower-income families tended to be more unanimously positive about the services when compared with mid- and high-income families. We found significant group differences in service providers’ and caregivers’ perceptions of each other’s comfort level with the remote sessions. Child progress followed a pattern of continued significant improvement across most developmental domains during the telehealth service period.ConclusionsThese findings underscore the potential of telehealth as a promising and appreciated approach for delivering intensive early autism interventions in community settings. Further research is needed to determine optimal session frequency for remote parent-mediated intervention and to determine ways to make telehealth services more accessible for low-income families.