Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) have a well-established tumor-homing capacity, highlighting potential as tumor-targeted delivery vehicles. MSCs secrete extracellular vesicle (EV)-encapsulated microRNAs, which play a role in intercellular communication. The aim of this study was to characterize a potential tumor suppressor microRNA, miR-379, and engineer MSCs to secrete EVs enriched with miR-379 for in vivo therapy of breast cancer. miR-379 expression was significantly reduced in lymph node metastases compared to primary tumor tissue from the same patients. A significant reduction in the rate of tumor formation and growth in vivo was observed in T47D breast cancer cells stably expressing miR-379. In more aggressive HER2-amplified HCC-1954 cells, HCC-379 and HCC-NTC tumor growth rate in vivo was similar, but increased tumor necrosis was observed in HCC-379 tumors. In response to elevated miR-379, COX-2 mRNA and protein was also significantly reduced in vitro and in vivo. MSCs were successfully engineered to secrete EVs enriched with miR-379, with the majority found to be of the appropriate size and morphology of exosomal EVs. Administration of MSC-379 or MSC-NTC cells, or EVs derived from either cell population, resulted in no adverse effects in vivo. While MSC-379 cells did not impact tumor growth, systemic administration of cell-free EVs enriched with miR-379 was demonstrated to have a therapeutic effect. The data presented support miR-379 as a potent tumor suppressor in breast cancer, mediated in part through regulation of COX-2. Exploiting the tumor-homing capacity of MSCs while engineering the cells to secrete EVs enriched with miR-379 holds exciting potential as an innovative therapy for metastatic breast cancer.

Publication in peer-reviewed journals, and serving on editorial boards, is considered an indicator of academic productivity and success, and a means of influencing discourse and practice in a field. This bibliometric review explored gender in authorship, and editorship, across the 3 existing English language, nonspecialty specific healthcare simulation journals. In total, 40.4% of publications had women first authors and 34.4% had women senior authors. There were no differences by journal and no apparent changes over time. Poor participation of women on editorial boards (38.1% of editorial board members were women) was observed. The observed level of representation of women as first and senior authors, and on editorial boards, is comparable with other health sciences domains but nonetheless warrants attention and improvement. Future research examining the profile of those working within simulation or evaluating strategies to improve the participation of women within healthcare simulation research and journals would be of interest.

and disseminate the research findings of this six step approach (Arksey and O'Malley, 2005). Summary of project A search strategy was developed and refined in order to answer the research question 'What is known about how individuals, and their experiences of illness/ healthcare are represented by Simulated Participants (SP's) in Healthcare Professional Education (HPE)'. The search strategy was entered into five electronic databases-MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science and CINAHL. Initial citations were 9,795. Databases were modified, limiters applied to reflect <10 yrs, English, Article, Journal and Reviews. All 5,437 citations were imported into Covidence a review software. Once the duplicates were removed, 2,948 articles were independently screened by title and abstract. Disagreements were discussed until consensus was reached. Finally, full texts were reviewed to determine the articles eligible for inclusion in the review. In an iterative process key elements from articles were charted and a data extraction template was developed. To ensure that all relevant data is extracted according to the research question, all articles were assessed, and charted by the research team. Summary of results A summary of the information found will be shared, and results will be categorized by how patients are being represented by SP in the different articles. Finally, the results will be discussed and implications for further research, practice, and policy will be described. Discussion The implications of these findings will be discussed. Conclusions and recommendations Reviewers will consider how health professions educators can guarantee that authentic patient voices, and their experiences, are not lost or devalued in the Simulation Based Education (SBE) process; and will identify recommendations.