OBJECTIVES The terminology used to describe community participation in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is contested and frequently confusing. The terms patients, consumers, public, lay members, customers, users, citizens, and others have been variously used, sometimes interchangeably. Clarity in the use of terms and goals for including the different groups is needed to mitigate existing inconsistencies in the application of patient and public involvement (PPI) across HTA processes around the world. METHODS We drew from a range of literature sources in order to conceptualize (i) an operational definition for the "public" and other stakeholders in the context of HTA and (ii) possible goals for their involvement. Draft definitions were tested and refined in an iterative consensus-building process with stakeholders from around the world. RESULTS The goals, terminology, interests, and roles for PPI in HTA processes were clarified. The research provides rationales for why the role of the public should be distinguished from that of patients, their families, and caregivers. A definition for the public in the context of HTA was developed A community member who holds the public interest and has no commercial, personal, or professional interest in the HTA process. CONCLUSIONS There are two distinct aspects to the interests held by the public which should be explicitly included in the HTA process the first lies in ensuring democratic accountability and the second in recognising the importance of including public values in decision making.Childbearing postponement is a key demographic change that has been experienced by most European countries. It leads to a late-fertility pattern, with women realizing their reproductive plans preferentially after the age of 30. This may result in a lower fertility level. Since the ideal family size has not changed in most European countries, it has been argued that the end of the postponement transition further depends on the extent to which the lower fertility of younger women is compensated for by an increase in that of older women. Thus, the completion of the transition depends not only on the formation of a late childbearing pattern, but also on the capability of women to realize their reproductive plans if they commence childbearing later in their lives. This study employed a new approach to assess postponement transition based on analysis of the realization of the fertility intentions of women at later childbearing ages using survey panel data. A method that enables the differentiation between transitional and post-transitional cohorts was applied. The investigation was based on a comparison of the postponement transition in Czechia and France, the former being a post-communist and the latter a Western European country. It was found that despite having a similar pattern of fertility timing, Czechia and France underwent differing phases of postponement transition. The Czech population was identified as being transitional since only the 'transition' cohorts had completed their fertility during the period under study. These cohorts did not show a significant increase in realization of fertility intentions in later age. In contrast, the post-transitional French population is characterized by higher completed cohort fertility rates amongst women who entered motherhood at the age of 30 and over and by the significantly higher realization of fertility intentions for women aged 30-34 years.Adolescence is an important period for cognitive maturation and emotional regulation and this age group is particularly vulnerable to developing depression. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables have been associated with decreased risk of developing depressive disorders across the lifespan, an association that may be due to the high flavonoid content of these foods. Previously we have shown increases in transient positive affect in both children and young adults two hours after administration of a wild blueberry intervention. Here, using a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we investigated the effects of four weeks, daily wild blueberry supplementation (containing ~253mg anthocyanins) on transient and chronic mood in adolescents. Healthy 12-17-year old (N = 64, 35 females) were recruited and randomly assigned to receive either a wild blueberry or matched placebo supplementation. Depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed before and after the intervention period using the Mood and Feeling Questionnaire and Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale. Transient affect was assessed before, two weeks, and at four weeks using Positive and Negative Affects. Following the intervention period there were significantly fewer self-reported depression symptoms in participants who were supplemented with the wild blueberry intervention compared to those who received the matched placebo (p=0.02, 95% CI -6.71 to -5.35). There was no between group effect on anxiety symptoms or on transient affect. Further investigation is required to identify specific mechanisms that link flavonoids consumption and mood. If replicated, the observed effects of wild blueberry supplementation may be a potential prevention strategy for adolescent depression and may have benefits for public mental health.Peripheral metastases of glioblastoma (GBM) are very rare despite the ability of GBM cells to pass through the blood-brain barrier and be disseminated through the peripheral blood. selleck chemical Here, we describe a detailed genetic and immunological characterization of a GBM metastasis in the skeleton, which occurred during anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint therapy. We performed whole genome sequencing (WGS) and 850 K methylation profiling of the primary and recurrent intracranial GBM as well as one of the bone metastases. Copy number alterations (CNA) and mutational profiles were compared to known genomic alterations in the TCGA data base. In addition, immunophenotyping of the peripheral blood was performed. The patient who was primarily diagnosed with IDH-wildtype GBM. After the resection of the first recurrence, progressive intracranial re-growth was again detected, and chemotherapy was replaced by PD-1 checkpoint inhibition, which led to a complete intracranial remission. Two months later MR-imaging revealed multiple osseous lesions.