Discordance of epstein-barr virus (ebv) specific humoral and cellular immunity in patients with malignant lymphomas:Elevated antibody titers and lowered invitro lymphocyte-reactivity

The relationship between specific viral cellular and humoral immunity to the Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) was investigated in thirty-one untreated patients with malignant lymphoma (ML) and sex- and age-matched controls. In vitro reactivity of peripheral blood lymphocytes to heatinactivated purified EBV, in an optimal stimulating concentration, was measured with 3H-thymidine uptake. In seropositive individuals EBV lymphocyte reactivity was positively related to EBV virus capsid antibody titres. In contrast, ML patients, especially those with Hodgkin's disease, showed markedly (P<0·01) impaired EBV lymphocyte reactivity in association with raised EBV virus capsid antibody titres. The disturbance of EBV lymphocyte reactivity was not related to the impairment of non-specific lymphocyte reactivity to mitogens and recall antigens in these patients. This study supports the hypothesis that depressed cellular immunity may cause raised EBV antibodies in ML, especially in Hodgkin's disease

Recommended ESTRO Core Curriculum for Radiation Oncology/Radiotherapy 4th edition

Introduction: In 2017 it was decided to revise the European Core Curriculum for Radiation Oncology/Radiotherapy to produce a 4th edition. The aims of the ESTRO curriculum are to develop comparable standards for training across Europe and to facilitate free movement of specialists across borders. It is also hoped that it will improve the level of training across Europe and will make the non-medical expert roles more explicit. Materials and methods: A wide range of stakeholders including National Society representatives, trainees, recently appointed specialists, members of the European Union Medical Specialists Radiotherapy section, an RTT, a radiobiologist, a physicist and lay members from ESTRO staff developed and commented on iterations of the curriculum. Results: The 4th edition is based on the CanMEDS 2015 framework and identifies 14 Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) and the competencies required to perform these. The manager role is replaced by competencies related to leadership. The levels of proficiency required for tumour sites is defined as levels of EPAs. Conclusions: It is hoped that the inclusive method of developing the 4th edition has resulted in a document that will have utility in the wide range of environments in which radiation oncology is practised in Europe

Recommended ESTRO Core Curriculum for Radiation Oncology/Radiotherapy 4th edition.

In 2017 it was decided to revise the European Core Curriculum for Radiation Oncology/Radiotherapy to produce a 4th edition. The aims of the ESTRO curriculum are to develop comparable standards for training across Europe and to facilitate free movement of specialists across borders. It is also hoped that it will improve the level of training across Europe and will make the non-medical expert roles more explicit. A wide range of stakeholders including National Society representatives, trainees, recently appointed specialists, members of the European Union Medical Specialists Radiotherapy section, an RTT, a radiobiologist, a physicist and lay members from ESTRO staff developed and commented on iterations of the curriculum. The 4th edition is based on the CanMEDS 2015 framework and identifies 14 Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) and the competencies required to perform these. The manager role is replaced by competencies related to leadership. The levels of proficiency required for tumour sites is defined as levels of EPAs. It is hoped that the inclusive method of developing the 4th edition has resulted in a document that will have utility in the wide range of environments in which radiation oncology is practised in Europe