In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we rapidly implemented a plasma coordination center, within two months, to support transfusion for two outpatient randomized controlled trials. The center design was based on an investigational drug services model and a Food and Drug Administration-compliant database to manage blood product inventory and trial safety.

A core investigational team adapted a cloud-based platform to randomize patient assignments and track inventory distribution of control plasma and high-titer COVID-19 convalescent plasma of different blood groups from 29 donor collection centers directly to blood banks serving 26 transfusion sites.

We performed 1,351 transfusions in 16 months. The transparency of the digital inventory at each site was critical to facilitate qualification, randomization, and overnight shipments of blood group-compatible plasma for transfusions into trial participants. While inventory challenges were heightened with COVID-19 convalescent plasma, the cloud-based system, and the flexible approach of the plasma coordination center staff across the blood bank network enabled decentralized procurement and distribution of investigational products to maintain inventory thresholds and overcome local supply chain restraints at the sites.

The rapid creation of a plasma coordination center for outpatient transfusions is infrequent in the academic setting. Distributing more than 3,100 plasma units to blood banks charged with managing investigational inventory across the U.S. in a decentralized manner posed operational and regulatory challenges while providing opportunities for the plasma coordination center to contribute to research of global importance. This program can serve as a template in subsequent public health emergencies.

In persons with severe psychiatric disorders, distinct neurocognitive profiles hold differential associations to positive, negative and disorganized symptom dimensions of psychosis. These patterns portend specific functional outcomes, treatment efficacy, and prognoses. Similar associations have not been established in multimorbid samples in which persons present with a complex array of psychiatric symptoms. The objective of this study was to (1) establish neurocognitive profiles in a multimorbid, marginalized sample and (2) investigate their pattern(s) of association with psychiatric symptom dimensions and psychosocial outcomes.

Participants (n=370; Mage = 45 years; 74% male) were precariously housed, substance-using adults with multimorbidity, recruited from Single-Room Occupancy hotels and a community court within the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, BC, Canada. Data were collected as part of a longitudinal examination consisting of annual, bi-annual, and monthly neurocognitive, psychosocial, and psychiatric assessments. Neurocognitive scores were combined into five cognitive domains (Attentional Control [AC]; Processing Speed [PS]; Fluid Reasoning [Problem Solving and Reversal Learning; Gf]; Encoding and Retrieval [ER]; and Decision Making [DM]) and submitted to a latent profile analysis. The resulting profiles capturing neurocognition were validated on sociodemographic and clinical variables. Finally, the profiles were compared across previously validated, population-distinct factors derived from the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), as well as on measures of psychosocial functioning.

An optimal goodness-of-fit was reached for a three-profile model (BLRT=127.86, p=.01). Profile 1 (n=207, 55.9%) showed stronger neurocognition (all p<.05), with a within-profile strength in Gf (p<.001). With the exception of ER, Profile 2 (n=109, 29.5%) exhibited inferior neurocognition across all indicators compared to Profile 1 (all p <.05); yet showed a relative, within-profile strength in Gf (p < .01). Profile 3 (n=54, 14.6%) generally displayed comparable impairments to Profile 2. Additionally, their performance on Gf was remarkably low compared to Profiles 1 and 2 (p<.001). Psychiatrically, compared to Profile 1, Profile 2 exhibited more positive/disorganized symptoms and general psychopathology, as well as higher total PANSS (all p <.05), whereas Profile 3 showed the poorest insight/awareness (p<.01). Profiles 2 and 3 had lower levels of adaptive functioning and work productivity compared to Profile 1 (all p<.01).

Three neurocognitive profiles were detected in a sample of precariously housed adults with multimorbidity: one profile of comparatively higher neurocognitive capacity, with less symptoms of psychosis and better psychosocial functioning; a second profile of comparatively poorer neurocognition and psychosocial functioning, with more symptoms of psychosis; and a third profile with a severe deficit in fluid reasoning and poor insight and awareness. Given their poor insight, the third profile may be comprised of particularly vulnerable persons at greater risk of unmet healthcare needs. Interventions to improve these individuals' understanding of their personal health risks might facilitate their capacity to access services. Conversely, individuals from Profile 2 may benefit from outreach programs focusing on medication access and adherence to address their symptoms of psychosis. In sum, our findings suggest that the confluence of neurocognition and psychiatric symptoms may implicate unique treatment approaches and outcomes in precariously-housed persons with multimorbid conditions.

Cognitive dysfunction is prominent in homeless and precariously housed persons, and memory dysfunction is the most pervasive domain. The presence of multimorbid physical and mental illness suggests that several underlying mechanisms of memory impairment may be at play. The serial position phenomenon describes the tendency to best recall the beginning (primacy effect) and last (recency effect) words on a supra-span wordlist. Recency recall engages executive and working-memory systems, whereas primacy recall depends on long-term memory. This study investigates memory dysfunction in a homeless and precariously housed sample by identifying and characterizing unique subtypes of serial position profiles on a test of verbal memory.

Data were used from a 20-year study of homeless and precariously housed adults recruited from an impoverished neighbourhood in Vancouver, Canada. Participants were sub-grouped according to their serial position profile on the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised using a latent profile analysis (LPA; n = 411). Paired samples t-tests were conducted to determine differences in percent recall from each word-list region within classes. Linear regression analyses were used to examine between-class differences in mean serial position scores and other cognitive measures (memory, attention, processing speed, cognitive control). Covariates included age, sex, and education.

LPA identified two profiles characterized by (1) reduced primacy relative to recency (RP; n = 150); and (2) reduced recency relative to primacy (RR; n = 261). Pairwise comparisons within the RP class showed that recency was better than primacy (p < .001, d = .66) and middle recall (p < .001, d = .52), with no difference between primacy and middle recall (p = .68, d = .04). All pairwise comparisons differed within the RR class (primacy > middle recall: p < .001, d = 1.85; primacy > recency recall: p < .001, d = 1.32; middle > recency recall: p < .05, d = .132). The RP class had worse performance on measures of total immediate (ß = .47, p < .001) and delayed verbal recall (ß = .32, p < .001); processing speed (ß = .20, p < .001); and cognitive control (ß = .22, p < .001). The RR class made more repetition errors (ß = .25, p < .001).

These findings support substantial heterogeneity in memory functioning in homeless and precariously housed individuals. The RP profile was characterized by poorer cognitive functioning across several domains, which suggests multiple contributions to memory impairment, including dysfunction of long-term memory circuitry. The RR profile with their higher number of repetition errors, may experience difficulties with self-monitoring in verbal learning. Subsequent studies will explore the neurobiological underpinnings of these subgroups to further characterize profiles and identify targets for cognitive intervention.

Precariously housed individuals are exposed to multiple adverse factors negatively impacting neurocognitive functioning. Additionally, this population is subjected to poor life outcomes, such as impaired psychosocial functioning. Neurocognitive functioning plays an important role in psychosocial functioning and may be especially critical for precariously housed individuals who face numerous barriers in their daily lives. However, few studies have explicitly examined the cognitive determinants of functional outcomes in this population. Cognitive intraindividual variability (IIV) involves the study of within-person differences in neurocognitive functioning and has been used as marker of frontal system pathology. Increased IIV has been associated with worse cognitive performance, cognitive decline, and poorer everyday functioning. Hence, IIV may add to the predictive utility of commonly used neuropsychological measures and may serve as an emergent predictor of poor outcomes in at-risk populations. The objective of the current study was to examine IIV as a unique index of the neurocognitive contributions to functional outcomes within a large sample of precariously housed individuals. It was hypothesized that greater IIV would be associated with poorer current (i.e., baseline) and long-term (i.e., up to 12 years) psychosocial functioning.

Four hundred and thirty-seven adults were recruited from single-room occupancy hotels located in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, Canada (Mage = 44 years, 78% male) between November 2008 and November 2021. Baseline neurocognitive functioning was assessed at study enrolment. Scores from the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS), the Role Functioning Scale (RFS), the physical component score (PCS) and the mental component score (MCS) of the 36-Item Short Form Survey Instrument were obtained at participants’ baseline assessments and at their last available follow-up assessment to represent baseline and long-term psychosocial functioning, respectively. Using an established formula, an index of IIV was derived using a battery of standardized tests that broadly assessed verbal learning and memory, sustained attention, mental flexibility, and cognitive control. A series of multiple linear regressions were conducted to predict baseline and long-term social and role functioning (average across SOFAS and RFS scores), and PCS and MCS scores from IIV. In each of the models, we also included common predictors of functioning, including a global cognitive composite score, age, and years of education.

The IIV index and the global composite score did not explain a significant proportion of the variance in baseline and long-term social and role functioning (p > .05). However, IIV was a significant predictor of baseline (B = -3.84, p = .021) and long-term (B = -3.58, p = .037) PCS scores, but not MCS scores (p > .05). The global composite score did not predict baseline or long-term PCS scores.

IIV significantly predicted baseline and long-term physical functioning, but not mental functioning or social and role functioning, suggesting that IIV may be a sensitive marker for limitations in everyday functioning due to physical health problems in precariously housed individuals. Critically, the present study is the first to show that IIV may be a useful index for predicting poor long-term health-related outcomes in this population compared to traditional neuropsychological measures.

Long-term exposure to the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocanabinol (THC), has been consistently raised as a notable risk factor for schizophrenia. Additionally, cannabis is frequently used as a coping mechanism for individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. Cannabis use in schizophrenia has been associated with greater severity of psychotic symptoms, non-compliance with medication, and increased relapse rates. Neuropsychological changes have also been implicated in long-term cannabis use and the course of illness of schizophrenia. However, the impact of co-occurring cannabis use in individuals with schizophrenia on cognitive functioning is less thoroughly explored. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to examine whether neuropsychological test performance and symptoms in schizophrenia differ as a function of THC use status. A second aim of this study was to examine whether symptom severity moderates the relationship between THC use and cognitive test performance among people with schizophrenia.

Peer-reviewed articles comparing schizophrenia with and without cannabis use disorder (SZ SUD+; SZ SUD-) were selected from three scholarly databases; Ovid, Google Scholar, and PubMed. The following search terms were applied to yield studies for inclusion: neuropsychology, cognition, cognitive, THC, cannabis, marijuana, and schizophrenia. 11 articles containing data on psychotic symptoms and neurocognition, with SZ SUD+ and SZ SUD- groups, were included in the final analyses. Six domains of neurocognition were identified across included articles (Processing Speed, Attention, Working Memory, Verbal Learning Memory, and Reasoning and Problem Solving). Positive and negative symptom data was derived from eligible studies consisting of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Self-Evaluation of Negative Symptoms (SNS), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID) scores. Meta analysis and meta-regression was conducted using R.

No statistically significant differences were observed between SZ SUD+ and SZ SUD-across the cognitive domains of Processing Speed, Attention, Working Memory, Verbal Learning Memory, and Reasoning and Problem Solving. Positive symptom severity was found to moderate the relationship between THC use and processing speed, but not negative symptoms. Positive and negative symptom severity did not significantly moderate the relationship between THC use and the other cognitive domains.

Positive symptoms moderated the relationship between cannabis use and processing speed among people with schizophrenia. The reasons for this are unclear, and require further exploration. Additional investigation is warranted to better understand the impact of THC use on other tests of neuropsychological performance and symptoms in schizophrenia.

Most students in MD-PhD programs take a leave of absence from medical school to complete PhD training, which promotes a natural loss of clinical skills and knowledge and could negatively impact a student’s long-term clinical knowledge. To address this concern, clinical refresher courses in the final year of PhD training have traditionally been used; however, effectiveness of such courses versus a longitudinal clinical course spanning all PhD training years is unclear.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham MD-PhD Program implemented a comprehensive continuing clinical education (CCE) course spanning PhD training years that features three course components: (1) clinical skills; (2) clinical knowledge; and (3) specialty exposure activities. To evaluate course effectiveness, data from an anonymous student survey completed at the end of each semester were analyzed.

Five hundred and ninety-seven surveys were completed by MD-PhD students from fall 2014 to 2022. Survey responses indicated that the majority of students found the course helpful to: maintain clinical skills and knowledge (544/597, 91% and 559/597, 94%; respectively), gain exposure to clinical specialties (568/597, 95%), and prepare them for responsibilities during clinical clerkships. During semesters following lockdowns from the COVID-19 pandemic, there were significant drops in students’ perceived preparedness.

Positive student survey feedback and improved preparedness to return to clinic after development of the course suggests the CCE course is a useful approach to maintain clinical knowledge during research training.

To conduct a systematic review of experimental or quasi-experimental studies that aimed to improve the nutritional status of children under 5 years of age in Ethiopia.

Embase, MEDLINE/PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsychINFO, and Academic Search Database were used to locate peer-reviewed studies, and Google Scholar and Open Dissertation were used to locate grey literatures. All searches were conducted between 2000 and November 2022.

Ethiopia.

Pregnant women and mothers with children aged 0–59 months.

Ten cluster randomised controlled trials (RCT), six quasi-experimental studies and two individual RCT were included. Out of the identified eighteen studies, three studies targeted pregnant mothers. Our findings showed that almost two-thirds of published interventions had no impact on childhood stunting and wasting, and more than half had no impact on underweight. Some behaviour change communication (BCC) interventions, food vouchers, micronutrient supplementation and quality protein maize improved stunting. Similarly, BCC and fish oil supplementation showed promise in reducing wasting, while BCC and the provision of quality protein maize reduced underweight. Additionally, water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) interventions provided to pregnant mothers and children under 2 years of age were shown to significantly reduce childhood stunting.

Future childhood nutritional interventions in Ethiopia should consider adopting an integrated approach that combines the positive effects of interdependent systems such as BCC, food supplemental programmes (e.g. boosting protein and micronutrients), health interventions (e.g. strengthening maternal and childcare), WaSH and financial initiatives (e.g. monetary support and income schemes).