Incidence of pancreatic malignancies in the Russian Federation: a retrospective cohort trial

Background. Pancreatic malignancies pose a challenging medical and social problem. The assessment of oncology care requires an in-depth analysis of morbidity and lethality. At a relatively improved prevalence and lethality in other-locale malignancies, pancreatic cancer remains a disappointing situation. Medical statistics in pancreatic malignancy can be used for the specialty care prediction and implementation of measures to advance diagnostic algorithms and population screening.Objectives. An assessment of the pancreatic malignancy incidence and mortality in the adult population of Russian Federation over a six-year period.Methods. A retrospective descriptive cohort trial included statistical data on morbidity and mortality in pancreatic cancer patients (C 25.0-C 25.9) according to the ICD of 10th edition. A comparison cohort sampled patients with all-locale neoplasms (C00-C96) according to the ICD of 10th edition, excluding nosologies C25.0-C25.9. Information was sourced in the Federal Statistical Abstracts for the period of 2014-2019. Inclusion criteria: the study cohort included pancreatic cancer patients diagnosed at the age of 18 years on, and comparison cohort — malignancy patients diagnosed with at 18 years on. The main study indicator were the pancreatic cancer morbidity and mortality figures in Russia.Results. Pancreatic cancer was shown to co-increase main morbidity figures in 2014-2019 compared to malignant neoplasms of other localities. Other-locale malignancies decreased mortality over the study period, which was not the case with pancreatic cancer. The period exhibits more frequent morphologically verified diagnoses and higher population numbers registered with specialty dispensaries. Registered pancreatic cancer figures are significantly higher in the female population. The proportion of advanced pancreatic malignancies at primary diagnosis exceeds that of early stages.Conclusion. The findings expose a demand for improving the system of early pancreatic cancer detection via intensifying preventive measures to capture the patient’s predisposition and screening techniques for early disease diagnosis. An active outpatient surveillance is prerequisite to an effective population involvement in dispensary screening

Checking the possibility of equating a mathematics assessment between Russia, Scotland and England for children starting school

Is it possible to compare the results in assessments of mathematics across countries with different curricula, traditions and age of starting school? As part of the iPIPS project, a Russian version of the iPIPS baseline assessment was developed and trial data were available from about 300 Russian children at the start and end of their first year at school. These were matched with parallel data from representative samples of equal numbers of children from England and Scotland. The equating of the scales was explored using Rasch measurement. A unified scale was easiest to create for England and Scotland at the start and end of their first year at school when children only differ by a half a year in age, and live in adjacent countries with a common language. Although fewer items showed invariance across the three countries, it was possible to link iPIPS scores in mathematics from the start and end of the first year at school across Scotland, England and Russia. The findings of this study suggest that, despite the apparent difficulties, meaningful comparisons of mathematics attainment and development can be made. These will allow for substantive interpretations with policy implications

The role of iPIPS assessment in providing high quality value added information on school and system effectiveness within and between countries

Despite the growing influence of international surveys of student achievements such as PISA, TIMSS, and PIRLS on policy, there is currently no international baseline study of children’s development on starting school. As a result, nobody knows for sure the extent to which the differences in performance between countries which are observed in these later assessments are already present when children start school, and the impact of educational policy and school effectiveness. This working paper describes the development of such an international study (iPIPS) which aims to help answer some key questions relating to early years and schooling. iPIPS takes as its basis, the Performance Indicators in Primary Schools (PIPS) On-entry baseline and follow-up assessments which were developed by the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring (CEM) at Durham University (UK). PIPS has been used for twenty years in schools in a range of countries, providing a wealth of data for research purposes. iPIPS aims to collect assessment data from representative samples of children internationally. The paper will also report on the work undertaken in 2013-2014 to adapt and pilot the iPIPS instruments for use in Russia

Neonatal meconium aspiration: risk factors and adaptation by the newborns

Aim: to identify the risk factors of meconium aspiration and study its impact on neonatal adaptation. Materials and methods. Medical records of 44 women and their infants were studied. Results. In 85 % of cases, the diagnosis of complicated pregnancy was made, in 100 % cases – there was a complicated delivery; 100 % of newborns were put on mechanical ventilation, 95 % of them were diagnosed with cerebral depression syndrome, and 72.5 % – with aspiration pneumonia. Conclusion. A differentiated approach to the management of pregnancy and labor will reduce perinatal morbidity