Adherence to guidelines on prophylaxis of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in the National Cancer Institute, Sudan

Objective: To evaluate the adherence to American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines for antiemetic prophylaxis of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and assess the outcomes of the prescribed antiemetic drugs. Methods: This prospective, observational study enrolled chemotherapy-naive cancer patients who were admitted to the National Cancer Institute between May and July 2015 for intravenous chemotherapy. Patient’s demographic data, chemotherapy protocols and types of antiemetic drugs were collected by reviewing patients’ files, chemotherapy prescription forms and interviewing the patients. Results: The data revealed that 90% of pre-chemotherapy antiemetic prescriptions did not adhere to antiemetic guidelines. The trends of non-adherence included an overuse of ondansetron (14%), under-prescribing of dexamethasone (16%) and corticosteroid duplication (14%). Regarding antiemetic use for the prevention of delayed emesis, the data showed that 90% of antiemetic prescriptions were non-adherent with ASCO guidelines, with overuse of ondansetron (20%) and metoclopramide (37%) and lack of dexamethasone prescriptions (80%) on days 2 and 3 being the most frequently reported trends. The percentage of patients with complete response (no emesis or rescue therapy) over 5 days post chemotherapy was 36%. Conclusion: The study indicated an extremely low adherence rate to ASCO guidelines for antiemetic prophylaxis of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Non-adherence included a trend of both underuse and overuse of indicated antiemetic medications

Mapping geographical inequalities in childhood diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17 : analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background Across low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), one in ten deaths in children younger than 5 years is attributable to diarrhoea. The substantial between-country variation in both diarrhoea incidence and mortality is attributable to interventions that protect children, prevent infection, and treat disease. Identifying subnational regions with the highest burden and mapping associated risk factors can aid in reducing preventable childhood diarrhoea. Methods We used Bayesian model-based geostatistics and a geolocated dataset comprising 15 072 746 children younger than 5 years from 466 surveys in 94 LMICs, in combination with findings of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017, to estimate posterior distributions of diarrhoea prevalence, incidence, and mortality from 2000 to 2017. From these data, we estimated the burden of diarrhoea at varying subnational levels (termed units) by spatially aggregating draws, and we investigated the drivers of subnational patterns by creating aggregated risk factor estimates. Findings The greatest declines in diarrhoeal mortality were seen in south and southeast Asia and South America, where 54·0% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 38·1–65·8), 17·4% (7·7–28·4), and 59·5% (34·2–86·9) of units, respectively, recorded decreases in deaths from diarrhoea greater than 10%. Although children in much of Africa remain at high risk of death due to diarrhoea, regions with the most deaths were outside Africa, with the highest mortality units located in Pakistan. Indonesia showed the greatest within-country geographical inequality; some regions had mortality rates nearly four times the average country rate. Reductions in mortality were correlated to improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) or reductions in child growth failure (CGF). Similarly, most high-risk areas had poor WASH, high CGF, or low oral rehydration therapy coverage. Interpretation By co-analysing geospatial trends in diarrhoeal burden and its key risk factors, we could assess candidate drivers of subnational death reduction. Further, by doing a counterfactual analysis of the remaining disease burden using key risk factors, we identified potential intervention strategies for vulnerable populations. In view of the demands for limited resources in LMICs, accurately quantifying the burden of diarrhoea and its drivers is important for precision public health

Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017

A double burden of malnutrition occurs when individuals, household members or communities experience both undernutrition and overweight. Here, we show geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 years of age in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017 and aggregate these to policy-relevant administrative units. Wasting decreased overall across LMICs between 2000 and 2017, from 8.4 (62.3 (55.1�70.8) million) to 6.4 (58.3 (47.6�70.7) million), but is predicted to remain above the World Health Organization�s Global Nutrition Target of <5 in over half of LMICs by 2025. Prevalence of overweight increased from 5.2 (30 (22.8�38.5) million) in 2000 to 6.0 (55.5 (44.8�67.9) million) children aged under 5 years in 2017. Areas most affected by double burden of malnutrition were located in Indonesia, Thailand, southeastern China, Botswana, Cameroon and central Nigeria. Our estimates provide a new perspective to researchers, policy makers and public health agencies in their efforts to address this global childhood syndemic. © 2020, The Author(s)

Author Correction: Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017 (Nature Medicine, (2020), 26, 5, (750-759), 10.1038/s41591-020-0807-6)

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper. © 2020, The Author(s)

Author Correction: Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017 (Nature Medicine, (2020), 26, 5, (750-759), 10.1038/s41591-020-0807-6)

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper. © 2020, The Author(s)

Проектування та моделювання компактної мікросмужкової антени для застосунків 5G у діапазоні (37–40) ГГц

У цій роботі описано просту, низькопрофільну прямокутну мікросмужкову антену для додатків 5G у діапазоні 37-40 ГГц. Початкова конструкція передбачала базову прямокутну мікросмужкову антену, яка була модифікована для ефективної роботи в цільовому діапазоні частот. Ефективність антени була покращена завдяки регулюванню S11 і VSWR за допомогою вставного каналу для покращення узгодження між живильною мікросмужковою лінією та випромінюючим елементом. Подальші вдосконалення були зроблені шляхом вставки двох щілин, що призвело до резонування на 37,9 ГГц і 39,68 ГГц і розширення смуги пропускання імпедансу. Антена була розроблена з використанням підкладки Rogers RT/Duroid5880 товщиною 0,381 мм з діелектричною проникністю 2,2 і тангенсом втрат 0,0009. Остаточна конструкція виміряла 6,11 x 6 x 0,381 мм3 і досягла мінімальних значень S11 – 32,14 дБ і – 17,8 дБ на 37,9 ГГц і 39,68 ГГц відповідно. Антена також досягла значень КСВ 1,05 і 1,3 на резонансних частотах. Крім того, була досягнута смуга пропускання імпедансу 3,57 ГГц, що розширюється від 36,65 ГГц до 40,22 ГГц. Запропонована антена досягла максимального посилення приблизно 7,98 дБі на частотах від 37,8 ГГц до 38,6 ГГц і мінімального 6,2 дБі на 40,2 ГГц. Крім того, антена реалізувала ефективність випромінювання понад 96 % у робочому діапазоні. Конструкція антени, моделювання та оптимізація були виконані з використанням HFSS, тоді як CST використовувався для перевірки результатів моделювання. Результати моделювання з обох програмних симуляторів показали високий рівень узгодженості.This paper proposes a simple, low-profile rectangular microstrip patch antenna for 5G applications in the 37-40 GHz band. The initial design involved a basic rectangular microstrip patch antenna, which was modified to operate efficiently in the target frequency band. The antenna's performance was improved by adjusting the S11 and VSWR through an inset feed to improve the matching between the feeding microstrip line and the radiating element. Further improvements were made by inserting two slits, leading to resonating at 37.9 GHz and 39.68 GHz and expanding the impedance bandwidth. The antenna was designed using a 0.381 mm thick Rogers RT/Duroid-5880 substrate with a dielectric constant of 2.2 and a loss tangent of 0.0009. The final design measured 6.11 x 6 x 0.381 mm3 and achieved minimum S11 values of – 32.14 dB and – 17.8 dB at 37.9 GHz and 39.68 GHz, respectively. The antenna also achieved VSWR values of 1.05 and 1.3 at the resonance frequencies. Moreover, an impedance bandwidth of 3.57 GHz extending from 36.65 GHz to 40.22 GHz was achieved. The proposed antenna achieved a maximum gain of approximately 7.98 dBi over frequencies ranging from 37.8 GHz to 38.6 GHz and a minimum of 6.2 dBi at 40.2 GHz. Additionally, the antenna realized a radiation efficiency above 96 % across the operational band. The antenna design, simulations, and optimizations were performed using HFSS, while CST was used to validate the simulation results. The simulation outcomes from both software simulators indicated a high level of agreement

Мікрополоскова патч-антена з високим коефіцієнтом посилення з круглим слотом для додатків WiGig у V-діапазоні

У даній статті представлено просту, низькопрофільну прямокутну мікросмужкову антену, яка працює у V-діапазоні для програм WiGig. Початкова конструкція включає в себе прямокутну мікросмужкову антену, модифіковану шляхом вставлення невеликого круглого отвору в випромінювальну ділянку для регулювання резонансу на 60 ГГц і підвищення її коефіцієнта відбиття. Для підтримки запропонованої структури використовується повністю заземлена діелектрична підкладка Rogers RT/Duroid-5880, що має діелектричну проникність 2,2, тангенс втрати 0,0009 і товщину 0,12 мм. Остаточна конструкція розміром 4 x 7.4 x 0.12 мм3 досягає стабільного посилення понад 10,33 дБ і в робочому діапазоні з максимальним реалізованим посиленням 10,61 дБі та мінімальним значенням S11 – 60 дБ на центральній частоті. Так само запропонована антена досягає мінімального КСВ 1,026. Крім того, антена реалізує імпеданс смуги пропускання 2,22 ГГц, що розширюється від 58,809 ГГц до 61,029 ГГц, і ефективність випромінювання вище 89%. CST використовується для проектування антени, моделювання та оптимізації, тоді як HFSS перевіряє результати моделювання. Результати моделювання обох програмних симуляторів вказують на хороший рівень узгодженості.This paper presents a simple, low-profile rectangular microstrip patch antenna operating in the V-band for WiGig applications. The initial design involves a rectangular microstrip patch antenna modified by inserting a small circular slot into the radiating patch to adjust the resonance at 60 GHz and enhance its reflection coefficient performance. To support the proposed structure, a fully grounded Rogers RT/Duroid-5880 dielectric substrate, having a dielectric constant of 2.2, a loss tangent of 0.0009, and a thickness of 0.12 mm, is employed. The final design measuring 4 x 7.4 x 0.12 mm3 attains a stable gain above 10.33 dBi over the operational band with a maximum realized gain of 10.61 dBi and a minimum S11 value of – 60 dB at the center frequency. Likewise, the proposed antenna achieves a minimum VSWR of 1.026. In addition, the antenna realizes an impedance bandwidth of 2.22 GHz extending from 58.809 GHz to 61.029 GHz and a radiation efficiency above 89%. The CST is utilized for antenna design, simulations, and optimizations, while HFSS validates the simulation results. The simulation outcomes from both software simulators indicate a good level of agreement

Enhanced anticancer activities of curcumin-loaded green gum acacia-based silver nanoparticles against melanoma and breast cancer cells

Nano-anticancer drugs are gaining importance in cancer treatment due to their unique properties and wide range of applications. The efforts are made to synthesize silver nanoparticles by a green method and used as nano-carriers for curcumin. Green synthesis of the gum-stabilized AgNPs was monitored by UV–Vis spectrophotometry and the possible interactions of gum with AgNPs were evaluated by FT-IR. The curcumin-loaded AgNPs were characterized for their size, polydispersity index, ζ potential, morphology, size distribution, drug loading efficiency, and excipients’ interactions. The prepared nano-anticancer formulations were characterized and tested for anti-cancer potentials against MM-138, FM-55 and MCF-7 cell lines, respectively. The AgNPs acted as excellent nano-carriers for an increased amount of curcumin. In in vitro anticancer study, the IC50 values for AgNPs, curcumin, and curcumin-loaded AgNPs were 166.3, 82.2 and 61.6 µg/mL; 153.2, 107.3 and 77.1 µg/mL; and 144.6, 81.2 and 60.6 µg/mL against MM-138, FM-55 and MCF-7 cell lines, respectively. It was observed that silver nanoparticles showed good loading capacity for curcumin. Also, the curcumin-loaded nanoparticles showed good anticancer activities against MM-138, FM-55 and MCF-7 cell lines, respectively. The reported nano-anticancer drug formulations may be tested in vivo studies and clinical trials for treating cancer in the future

A newly-developed multi-algorithm integration technique for mapping the potentially mineralized alteration zones

The present work introduces a newly-developed mathematical-based Multi-Algorithm Integration (MAI) technique, GIS weighted overlay model, and field investigations for delineating the potentially mineralized alteration zones. The introduced technique was tested on Semna area in Egypt as a case study. Three different algorithms were utilized to map the abundance of six alteration indicator minerals. The introduced MAI technique enabled combining the outputs of the utilized mapping algorithms allowing the delineation of only the localities that were successfully mapped as the potential for alteration zones occurrence by all the three algorithms together. Localities delineated by only one or even two techniques are not included in the output of the MAI technique, giving rise to a higher accuracy than that of individual techniques. The structural linear features were automatically depicted from a hill-shade image generated from a high-accuracy Digital Elevation Model (DEM). A Geographic Information System (GIS) Weighted Overlay Model (WOM) was then implemented to integrate the alteration maps resulting from the MAI technique with the density map of lineaments. A final hydrothermal-related mineralization potentiality map was obtained and validated through fieldwork and spectral analyses for confirming the occurrence of alteration indicator minerals. Samples were collected from the delineated potentially mineralized localities. The spectral signatures of the collected samples were measured, and spectral analyses were performed to reveal the identity of the existing alteration minerals. Various index alteration minerals were recorded in the measured samples including; kaolinite, montmorillonite, sericite, chlorite, carbonates (dolomite), and iron oxides/hydroxide minerals