Paediatric prehospital emergencies and restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic : A population-based study

Background Children are less vulnerable to serious forms of the COVID-19 disease. However, concerns have been raised about children being the second victims of the pandemic and its control measures. Therefore, we wanted to study if the pandemic, the infection control measures and their consequences to the society projected to paediatric prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) contacts. Methods We conducted a population-based cohort study concerning all children aged 0–15 years with EMS contacts in the Helsinki University Hospital area during 1 March 2020–31 May 2020 (study period) and equivalent periods in 2017–2019 (control periods). We analysed the demographic characteristics, time of EMS contact, reason for EMS contact, priority of the dispatch, reason for transportation, priority of transportation, if any consultations were made or additional units required, any medication or oxygen or fluids given, if intubation was performed, and whether paramedics took precautions when COVID-19 infection was suspected. Results The number of paediatric EMS contacts decreased by 30.4% from mean of 1794 contacts to 1369 (p=0.003). The EMS contacts were more often due to trauma (+23.7%, p<0.05), dispatched in the most urgent category (+139.9%, p=0.001), additional help and the mobile intensive care unit were more frequently requested (+43.3%, p=0.040 and+46.3%, p=0.049, respectively). However, EMS contacts resulted less often in ambulance transport (−21.1%, p<0.001). Alarmingly, there were four deaths during the study period compared with 0–2 during the control periods. Conclusions The number of EMS contacts decreased during the pandemic. Nevertheless, the children encountered by the EMS were more seriously ill than during the control periods.Peer reviewe

Autophagy induced by nanomaterials

Autophagy: Principles, Regulation and Roles in Disease341-35

SGN-30 (Anti-CD30 Monoclonal Antibody) Is Active and Well Tolerated in Patients with Refractory or Recurrent Systemic Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL)

Abstract SGN-30 is a chimeric monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against the CD30 antigen expressed on hematologic malignancies, notably Hodgkin’s disease and ALCL. SGN-30 was well tolerated in phase I studies and objective responses were seen. In this multicenter phase II study, refractory or recurrent CD30-positive ALCL patients, ECOG performance status 0–2, are treated with SGN-30 at 6 mg/kg administered by IV over a 90 minute infusion weekly for 6 consecutive doses. A two stage statistical design provides a 90% power to detect an objective tumor response rate of at least 30%. Twenty patients (11M, 9F) with ALCL have been enrolled, with a median age of 53 (range 33–78) and 3 median prior therapies (range 2–5). Eighteen of 20 patients were Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) negative. Response evaluations demonstrate that one patient achieved a complete response and remains in remission more than one year after therapy. Three patients achieved a partial response, of which two had a lasting response of 27 and 53 days respectively. The third patient is currently still on treatment. Of the other 16 patients, 3 had stable disease, 10 progressed and 3 are not yet evaluable. SGN-30 has been well tolerated. Drug-related adverse events have been typically mild and consistent with the phase I experience. There were 2 grade 3/4 toxicities possibly related to SGN-30. No significant hematological or biochemical toxicities have been observed. One patient had a catheter related infection and another experienced urticaria. There was 1 definitely related grade 3/4 event in a patient who experienced an exacerbation of his cutaneous lesions after 2 doses of SGN-30 and followed by a partial response. The requisite number of responses have now been obtained to allow the study to continue