Pediatric HIV patients often suffer with neurodevelopmental delay and subsequently cognitive impairment. While tissue injury in cortical and subcortical regions in the brain of adult HIV patients has been well reported there is sparse knowledge about these changes in perinatally HIV infected pediatric patients. We analyzed cortical thickness, subcortical volume, structural connectivity, and neurocognitive functions in pediatric HIV patients and compared with those of pediatric healthy controls. With informed consent, 34 perinatally infected pediatric HIV patients and 32 age and gender matched pediatric healthy controls underwent neurocognitive assessment and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on a 3 T clinical scanner. Altered cortical thickness, subcortical volumes, and abnormal neuropsychological test scores were observed in pediatric HIV patients. The structural network connectivity analysis depicted lower connection strengths, lower clustering coefficients, and higher path length in pediatric HIV patients than healthy controls. The network betweenness and network hubs in cortico-limbic regions were distorted in pediatric HIV patients. The findings suggest that altered cortical and subcortical structures and regional brain connectivity in pediatric HIV patients may contribute to deficits in their neurocognitive functions. Further, longitudinal studies are required for better understanding of the effect of HIV pathogenesis on brain structural changes throughout the brain development process under standard ART treatment.

Owing to the genetic similarities and conserved pathways between a fruit fly and mammals, the use of the Drosophila model as a platform to unveil novel mechanisms of infection and disease progression has been justified and widely instigated. Gaining proper insight into host-pathogen interactions and identifying chief factors involved in host defense and pathogen virulence in Drosophila serves as a foundation to establish novel strategies for infectious disease prevention and control in higher organisms, including humans.

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The purpose of this study is the synthesis of α-MnO2-based cathode materials for rechargeable aqueous zinc ion batteries by hydrothermal method using KMnO4 and MnSO4 as starting materials. The aim is to improve the understanding of Zn2+ insertion/de-insertion mechanisms. The as-prepared solid compounds were characterized by spectroscopy and microscopy techniques. X-ray diffraction showed that the hydrothermal reaction forms α-MnO2 and Ce4+-inserted MnO2 structures. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the formation of α-MnO2 with hexagonal MnO2 and Ce-MnO2 structures. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the formation of nanostructured MnO2 (nanofibers) and Ce-MnO2 (nanorods). The electrochemical performance of MnO2 was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) tests in half-cells. CV results showed the reversible insertion/de-insertion of Zn2+ ions in MnO2 and Ce-MnO2. GCD cycling tests of MnO2 and Ce-MnO2 at 2500 mA/g demonstrated an impressive electrochemical performance, excellent cycling stability throughout 500 cycles, and high rate capability. The excellent electrochemical performance and the good cycling stability of MnO2 and Ce-MnO2 nanostructures by simple method makes them promising cathode materials for aqueous rechargeable zinc-ion batteries.

Moza Al- Khulaifi1, Asma Al-Sulaiti1, Bella S. Guerrouahen1, Sara Al-Khawaga1, Chiara Cugno1, Zohreh Tatari Calderone1 1 Clinical Research Center, Research Division, Translational Medicine, Sidra Medicine, Qatar. Correspondence: Dr. Zohreh Tatari Calderone; Clinical Research Center, Research Division, Translational Medicine Sidra Medicine, Qatar. Email: zcalderone@sidra.org Keyword list: MSC, Foreskin, GMP, ISCT criteria. Abstract 1. Background: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are known for their multipotent, immune-privileged and regenerative properties. MSCs can be obtained from different sources such as bone marrow, fat, umbilical cord, synovial fluid, tendons, muscles, periosteum, peripheral blood and nervous system. The International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) has stated minimal characteristics for defining the MSCs as multipotent fibroblast-like cells highly adherent to plastic, positive for CD73, CD105 and CD90 but negative for CD45, CD34, CD14 or CD11b, CD19 or CD79a, and HLA-DR. The MSCs constitute a promising tool for regenerative medicine, due to their self-renewal capacity, multilineage differentiation potential, paracrine effects and immunosuppressive properties. They are extensively used in the treatment of several clinical settings including but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, liver dysfunction, rheumatological disorders and diabetes. Bone Marrow-derived MSCs has been considered as the gold standard for cell-based therapy, but bone marrow aspiration is an invasive method that limits the access to a large number of MSC donor sources. Recently, the foreskin, which has been always retained as medical waste, has been recently shown as a source for MSCs. Sidra Medicine is performing 4000- 5000 circumcisions annually, therefore foreskin can be considered as a highly abundant and easily accessible source for the isolation of MSCs. Therefore, the aim of our study is: Specific Aim: To demonstrate that MSC isolated from foreskins (FSK-MSC) meet the high standard criteria of ISCT and to compare their phenotype, potency and multilineage potential with MSCs obtained from a classical source such as adipose tissue for the clinical application. 2. Method: Specimen Collection and MSC Isolation: Upon approval by the IRB committee, foreskins were collected after the circumcision from the Surgery Department at Sidra Medicine (age range: 1.5 -14 years old). Epidermis was manually separated from the dermis and was then subjected to enzymatic digestion by liberase. Cell suspension was cultured in T75 flasks containing low-Glucose media, complemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and 1% antibiotics for 3-5 days. After 3-5 days, the non-adherent cells were removed and fresh media was added to allow the adherent MSCs to grow. MSC Characterization:Cell Surface expression: Phenotypic characterization was determined using flow cytometry. Briefly cells were stained for the surface markers using fluorochrome conjugated antibodies for CD14, CD19, CD34, HLA-DR, CD45, CD73, CD105 and CD90 according to the ISCT criteria. Differentiation: FSK-MSCs were treated with osteogenic and adipogenic mediums in separate cultures for 7, 14 and 21 days and stained with Alizarin Red and Oil Red O staining respectively. The lineage differentiation was visualized using the inverted microscopy. Colony Forming Units (CFU): Colony formations Units measures the viable clonogenic cell numbers that is an important indication of the quality of cell preparation. The CFU assay was performed according to commonly used protocol and using crystal violet staining. 3. Results: FSK-MSC displayed a typical fibroblast-like morphology and an ISCT-compliant phenotype; FSK-MSCs were highly proliferative and had a marked clonogenic potential. FSK-MSCs displayed osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation capacities. 4. Conclusion: The isolated FSK-MSCs were shown to be compliant with ISCT criteria and can be considered as a reliable source of MSC. Their compliance allows considering the standardization of clinical grade FSK-MSCs production at Sidra Medicine GMP facility, and setting the ground for the potential establishment of a MSC biorepository.