Twelve-month observational study of children with cancer in 41 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction Childhood cancer is a leading cause of death. It is unclear whether the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted childhood cancer mortality. In this study, we aimed to establish all-cause mortality rates for childhood cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the factors associated with mortality. Methods Prospective cohort study in 109 institutions in 41 countries. Inclusion criteria: children <18 years who were newly diagnosed with or undergoing active treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, retinoblastoma, Wilms tumour, glioma, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, medulloblastoma and neuroblastoma. Of 2327 cases, 2118 patients were included in the study. The primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality at 30 days, 90 days and 12 months. Results All-cause mortality was 3.4% (n=71/2084) at 30-day follow-up, 5.7% (n=113/1969) at 90-day follow-up and 13.0% (n=206/1581) at 12-month follow-up. The median time from diagnosis to multidisciplinary team (MDT) plan was longest in low-income countries (7 days, IQR 3-11). Multivariable analysis revealed several factors associated with 12-month mortality, including low-income (OR 6.99 (95% CI 2.49 to 19.68); p<0.001), lower middle income (OR 3.32 (95% CI 1.96 to 5.61); p<0.001) and upper middle income (OR 3.49 (95% CI 2.02 to 6.03); p<0.001) country status and chemotherapy (OR 0.55 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.86); p=0.008) and immunotherapy (OR 0.27 (95% CI 0.08 to 0.91); p=0.035) within 30 days from MDT plan. Multivariable analysis revealed laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR 5.33 (95% CI 1.19 to 23.84); p=0.029) was associated with 30-day mortality. Conclusions Children with cancer are more likely to die within 30 days if infected with SARS-CoV-2. However, timely treatment reduced odds of death. This report provides crucial information to balance the benefits of providing anticancer therapy against the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with cancer

Maternal and child health interventions in Nigeria: a systematic review of published studies from 1990 to 2014

BACKGROUND: Poor maternal and child health indicators have been reported in Nigeria since the 1990s. Many interventions have been instituted to reverse the trend and ensure that Nigeria is on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. This systematic review aims at describing and indirectly measuring the effect of the Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) interventions implemented in Nigeria from 1990 to 2014. METHODS: PubMed and ISI Web of Knowledge were searched from 1990 to April 2014 whereas POPLINE® was searched until 16 February 2015 to identify reports of interventions targeting Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health in Nigeria. Narrative and graphical synthesis was done by integrating the results of extracted studies with trends of maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and under five mortality (U5MR) derived from a joint point regression analysis using Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey data (1990-2013). This was supplemented by document analysis of policies, guidelines and strategies of the Federal Ministry of Health developed for Nigeria during the same period. RESULTS: We identified 66 eligible studies from 2,662 studies. Three interventions were deployed nationwide and the remainder at the regional level. Multiple study designs were employed in the enrolled studies: pre- and post-intervention or quasi-experimental (n = 40; 61%); clinical trials (n = 6;9%); cohort study or longitudinal evaluation (n = 3;5%); process/output/outcome evaluation (n = 17;26%). The national MMR shows a consistent reduction (Annual Percentage Change (APC) = -3.10%, 95% CI: -5.20 to -1.00 %) with marked decrease in the slope observed in the period with a cluster of published studies (2004-2014). Fifteen intervention studies specifically targeting under-five children were published during the 24 years of observation. A statistically insignificant downward trend in the U5MR was observed (APC = -1.25%, 95% CI: -4.70 to 2.40%) coinciding with publication of most of the studies and development of MNCH policies. CONCLUSIONS: The development of MNCH policies, implementation and publication of interventions corresponds with the downward trend of maternal and child mortality in Nigeria. This systematic review has also shown that more MNCH intervention research and publications of findings is required to generate local and relevant evidence

Theoretical model analysis of molecular orientations in liquid protein dielectrics

In this study, some theoretical model functions have been used to explain the molecular behaviour of four different types of proteins; human haemoglobin, Insulin, egg-white lysozyme and &#946 - globulin molecules in solution. The results of the computational fitting procedures showed that the dielectric dispersion of the protein molecules generally followed the Debye and Cole-Cole functions. The dielectric parameters obtained from the dispersions, relating to the structural and electrical properties of the molecules were tabulated. The relationships between the dispersion amplitude &#916 and the molecular dipole moment &#956 of the proteins and also between the relaxation time &#964 and the energy of activation &#916H of the molecules have been highlighted. The molecular interpretation of the polarization effects responsible for the dielectric dispersions have been discussed. Journal of the Nigerian Association of Mathematical Physics Vol. 10 2006: pp. 15-2

Effects of gamma radiolysis on the D.C. electrical properties of Benzene

Effects of gamma rays on the d.c electrical properties of the aromatic hydrocarbon compound benzene have been studied as a function of temperature in the range from 50 to 500C. The ionic conductivity, pH and the bulk electrical potential of the benzene samples were measured for non-irradiated and irradiated samples at doses of 30.0, 80.0, 110.0 and 141.0 mGy, respectively. The resistance of the samples to radiolysis was investigated in terms of the activation or bonding energy, H. Results showed that benzene had high resistance to gamma radiolysis. In general, the ionic conductivity and bulk electrical potential were found to increase while the pH decreased with irradiation dose. The ionic conductivity increased from 50.0nS/m for 30.0mGy irradiated sample to 160.0nS/m for 141.0mGy irradiated sample at 22.5oC. The bulk electrical potential increased from -138mV for 30.0mGy irradiated sample to -24mV for 141.0mGy irradiated sample. Also the pH value decreased from 8.95 for 30.0mGy irradiated sample to 7.25 for 141.0mGy irradiated sample.Keywords: Benzene, Gamma radiolysis, Electrical conductivity, pH, Ionization, and Degradation

Effects of gamma rays on the low frequency dielectric dispersion of crude oil

The relative permittivity of irradiated and non- irradiated crude oil was investigated in the frequency range 1 to 100kHz and room temperature of 27.0 0.5°C. Samples of crude oil of specific gravity 0.828 0.005 were irradiated for periods of 2 months, 4 months and 6 months respectively using a cobalt 60 (60Co) gamma radiation source at a dose rate of 0.65 mSv per hour. The dielectric measurement was made using a Marconi TF 1313 Universal Bridge, working in conjunction with a Philip Harris signal generator. Results for irradiated and non-irradiated samples showed a decrease of relative permittivity (e') with frequency from 1 to 100 kHz. However, the relative permittivity of the irradiated samples was found to differ distinctly from the non-irradiated samples. This difference has been attributed to the ionization and weakening of molecular bonds in the irradiated samples. Increase in irradiation time of the samples from two months to four and six months respectively resulted in further increase of the relative permittivity owing to increased level of ionization. Keywords: dielectric, frequency, crude oil, dispersion, permittivityNigerian Journal of Physics Vol. 17, 2005: 99-10

A comparison of the effect of diagnostic X-rays on the radio frequency dielectric properties of bovine liver wint bovine kidney tissues

No Abstract.Nigerian Journal of Physics Vol. 20 (1) 2008: pp.11-2

Influence of x-rays on the radiofrequency dielectric properties of bovine kidney tissues

The radiofrequency dielectric properties of x-irradiated and non-irradiated bovine kidney tissues have been investigated. The relative permittivity α , the dielectric loss factor α , and the a.c conductivity α of the tissues have been measured in the frequency range 1.0 to 50.0 MHz using a Marconi Q-meter, TF 1245 working in conjunction with an Oscillator TF 1246 at a room temperature of 28 0.5°C.The tissues were irradiated at dose levels of 0 to 6.25mGy, using a 3 phase diagnostic xray machine, Watson PX 304 (Picker International, U.K.). The xray doses were determined by Thermoluminescence Dosimetry (TLD) technique using the LiF TLD discs and Automated SOLARO TLD Reader. The dielectric properties of the irradiated tissues were found to be distinctly different from those of the non-irradiated tissues, showing that the dielectric behaviour of the tissues is highly influenced by x-irradiation. Keywords: x-rays, radiofrequency, dielectric, permittivity, conductivity Nigerian Journal of Physics Vol. 17, 2005: 117-12