Utilization of COVID-19 Treatments and Clinical Outcomes among Patients with Cancer: A COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19) Cohort Study.

Among 2,186 U.S. adults with invasive cancer and laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, we examined the association of COVID-19 treatments with 30-day all-cause mortality and factors associated with treatment. Logistic regression with multiple adjustments (e.g., comorbidities, cancer status, baseline COVID-19 severity) was performed. Hydroxychloroquine with any other drug was associated with increased mortality versus treatment with any COVID-19 treatment other than hydroxychloroquine or untreated controls; this association was not present with hydroxychloroquine alone. Remdesivir had numerically reduced mortality versus untreated controls that did not reach statistical significance. Baseline COVID-19 severity was strongly associated with receipt of any treatment. Black patients were approximately half as likely to receive remdesivir as white patients. Although observational studies can be limited by potential unmeasured confounding, our findings add to the emerging understanding of patterns of care for patients with cancer and COVID-19 and support evaluation of emerging treatments through inclusive prospective controlled trials. SIGNIFICANCE: Evaluating the potential role of COVID-19 treatments in patients with cancer in a large observational study, there was no statistically significant 30-day all-cause mortality benefit with hydroxychloroquine or high-dose corticosteroids alone or in combination; remdesivir showed potential benefit. Treatment receipt reflects clinical decision-making and suggests disparities in medication access.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1426

The Emergence of Hospital Federations: An Integration of Perspectives from Organizational Theory

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68464/2/10.1177_107755878704400206.pd

Monte Carlo Simulation Of Two Interacting Liquid/vapour Interfaces

Two interacting liquid/vapor interfaces are modelled via a grand canonical Monte Carlo simulation of a Lennard-Jones 12-6 fluid. The resulting density profiles and interfacial free energies suggest that at a critical separation equal to or greater than four atomic diameters, an instability develops in the interstitial region, and coalescence takes place. © 1985

Impending challenges of the burden of end-stage kidney disease in Australia

Sex and age-specific incidence rates of patients with treated end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in Australia are comparable to those in European countries, but substantially lower compared with those in the United States, Canada and many Asian countries. The incidence rates of treated ESKD in Australia increase with advancing age; however, the incidence of ESKD is likely to be underestimated because a proportion of patients with ESKD (about 50%) remain untreated. Late referral to nephrologists has reduced over the past decade, temporally associated with improved ESKD recognition. However, late referral still occurs in one in five Australians with ESKD. One in two Australians with ESKD has diabetes, with up to 35% of cases directly attributed to diabetes. Mortality rates for patients with ESKD remain substantially higher compared with the age-matched general population, although there has been a significant improvement in survival over time. Cardiovascular disease and cancer are the two most common causes of death in patients with ESKD.Wai H Lim, David W Johnson, Stephen P McDonald, Carmel Hawley, Philip A Clayton, Matthew D Jose, Germaine Won

Electrochemical control of brightener in acid copper sulfate plating solutions

Electrochemical methods have been evaluated that attempt the indirect measurement of the effective concentration of a brighter additive in acid copper sulfate plating baths. The procedures all employed electrodeposition of copper on a platinum working electrode under carefully controlled conditions of mass transport, time, temperature, and potential, followed by the measurement of the charge that was required to strip the copper deposit from the working electrode. The amount of charge that was required to strip the copper deposit at a given concentration of additive varied significantly from fresh to production baths and from lot to lot of the additive. The feasibility of using electrochemical methods to control brightener additive in acid copper sulfate plating baths is discussed. 3 figs., 11 refs