BACKGROUNDWithin academic development, it is important for students to use effective study strategies to facilitate learning. Techniques used for long-term information retention include note taking strategies, time management, methods of self-testing and active recall. These strategies are explored to help students learn more effectively to attain their academic goals.METHODA mixed-methods systematic review of peer-review articles and grey literature was conducted with a predetermined criteria for a convergent integrated synthesis approach. PsychInfo (Ovid), Web of Science, and ProQuest databases were searched with guidance of a PICO-P logic grid and search strategy using keywords of student, study strategies, and achievement alongside filters. Initial studies were screened and reconciled by two independent authors with the use of a piloted screening tool. Using the Mixed Methods Assessment Tool (MMAT), included studies were assessed for quality. Two authors independently performed data extraction. Heterogeneity in study designs, outcomes, and measurements precluded meta and statistical analyses; thus, a qualitative analysis of studies was provided.RESULTSFour major themes contributing to academic performance were identified among the appraised articles. These themes were self-testing, scheduling/time management, concept maps, and learning styles. Self-testing, scheduling, and concept maps were positively correlated with increased academic performance, while no correlation was found with learning styles and academic performance.CONCLUSIONIncluded studies provided evidence for significant differences in study strategies implemented by high and low achieving students, such as areas of motivation for learning, efficiency, active recall, retrieval practices, and concept maps. Understanding the effectiveness of certain study strategies is critical for students and educational facilitators to maximize learning.

Melanoma is one of the most fatal skin cancers, with rising incidence and mortality worldwide. From diagnosis to treatment, patient experiences often involve anxiety, symptom burden, and limited access to information which profoundly impacts health outcomes. This systematic review aims to identify and analyze major barriers melanoma patients face throughout their healthcare journey. Studies were identified from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library, supplemented by manual hand-searching. Eligible studies focused on the experiences of melanoma patients, addressed knowledge gaps and barriers to care throughout the patient journey, and were published in English between 2013 and 2023. Screening and extraction were conducted independently and in duplicate. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria. Out of 2,257 screened articles, 183 met the inclusion criteria. Studies were categorized into four major themes: intersectionality, treatment, diagnosis/prognosis, and patient/societal burden. Commonly explored subcategories included self-examination, risk factors, and drug efficacy. Melanoma patients experience significant gaps throughout their healthcare journey. Identifying areas of improvement in current practices is the first step toward developing targeted solutions that improve the patient experience and quality of life.

The role of viruses has been studied extensively for use as curative cancer therapies. However, the natural immunogenicity of viruses and their interaction with the host’s immune system needs to be examined to determine the full effectiveness of the viral treatment. The prevalence of cancer is increasing globally, and treatments are needed to support the increasing body of patient care. Oncolytic viral therapies used existing pathogenic viruses, which are genetically modified to not cause disease in humans when administered using a vaccine viral vector. Immunotherapies are another avenue of recent interest that has gained much traction. This review will discuss oncolytic viral approaches using three DNA-based viruses, including herpes simplex virus (HSV), vaccinia virus, and adenovirus; as well as four RNA-based viruses, including reovirus, Newcastle disease virus (NDV), poliovirus, and measles virus (MV). It also examines the novel field of cancer-based immunotherapies.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) resistance to BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) can arise from ABL kinase domain mutations, BCR-ABL fusion gene amplification, or kinase-independent mechanisms. To investigate imatinib-resistance, we performed quantitative mass spectrometry comparing the proteome and phosphoproteome of K562 cells (a standard CML model) and ImR cells, an imatinib-resistant K562 derivative that also exhibits cross-resistance to second- and third-generation BCR-ABL TKIs. In addition to revealing global proteome and phosphoproteome changes associated with drug resistance, we identified LIN28A-a multi-functional RNA-binding protein-as a critical mediator of imatinib resistance. LIN28A was significantly overexpressed and hyperphosphorylated in ImR cells. Depleting LIN28A via shRNA restored imatinib sensitivity, while its ectopic expression in parental K562 cells induced imatinib resistance. Mechanistically, LIN28A coordinates an extensive kinase-substrate network regulating proliferation, survival, and metabolism to drive resistance. Notably, pharmacological inhibition of LIN28A-dependent kinases (PKC, AKT, SGK1, and RPS6K) suppressed ImR proliferation. Midostaurin, a clinical PKC/FLT3 inhibitor used in FLT3-ITD-positive AML, potently re-sensitized ImR cells to imatinib. Our findings suggest that targeting LIN28A and its downstream effectors, particularly PKC, could overcome resistance to imatinib and next-generation BCR-ABL inhibitors.

Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone characterized by a loss in bone mineral density. Although this disease is commonly diagnosed in adults, it is not directly associated with increasing age. There are many links and potential risk factors to developing osteoporosis, including hormonal imbalances, nutrient deficiency, cardiovascular health, and exercise. This review examines how osteoporotic fractures are diagnosed using bone imaging techniques, including dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans. The quality of life for patients with osteoporosis is discussed concerning the protective and risk factors associated with osteoporosis. Specifically, the risk factors for osteoporosis include genetic inheritance patterns, BMI, age, and lifestyle choices (including alcohol consumption, smoking, and physical exercise). There are many protective factors for preventing osteoporotic fractures, including natural bone supplements and prebiotics. These supplements can be found in most dairy products, which are fortified with vitamin D, which can be consumed in the diet to support bone health. Prebiotics can also be used to increase the healthy proliferation of commensal gut bacteria that are used to improve the bone-building process, relieving bone breakdown during the stages of bone turnover. These therapeutic interventions can be applied to support existing patient care to prevent and maintain overall bone health.