Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) causes significant long-term morbidity and mortality, particularly in children. There is some evidence that the innate immune system, in particular neutrophil activity, can be compromised in adult-onset lupus. Yet there is a paucity of data on neutrophil activity in pediatric SLE. 

This month on Pediapod, we join Early Career Investigator, Rakesh Kumar Pilania, an assistant professor at the postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, India to discuss his study of neutrophil activity in patients with pediatric SLE and what it reveals about the etiology of this condition.

Read the full article here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41390-022-02055-2

Neutrophil function in pediatric lupus.

The recreational drug MDMA, also known as Ecstasy or Molly, is particularly popular in social settings and raves, in large part because of how socially connected it makes the users feel. It’s being studied for use in psychotherapy —there’s a phase III clinical trial for the use of MDMA to treat PTSD. What’s clear is that the drug affects how users experience social interactions. But there are questions: Does the drug make positive social interactions feel better, or reduce the negative feelings associated with negative social interactions?

Related link -
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41386-019-0402-z

Brainpod - Effects of MDMA on attention to positive social cues and pleasantness of affective touch

Welcome to the Springer Nature Soundcloud page! Here you will find several podcasts from our journals across a range of scientific subjects, including Gene Pod, ModPath Chat, Pediapod, Hereditypod and Brainpod.