Income in Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the impact of childhood cancer on the personal income of survivors. We compared income between survivors and siblings, and determined factors associated with income. METHODS: As part of the Swiss Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (SCCSS), a questionnaire was sent to survivors, aged ≥18 years, registered in the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry (SCCR), diagnosed at age 4'500 CHF), even after we adjusted for socio-demographic and educational factors (OR = 0.46, p<0.001). Older age, male sex, personal and parental education, and number of working hours were associated with high income. Survivors of leukemia (OR = 0.40, p<0.001), lymphoma (OR = 0.63, p = 0.040), CNS tumors (OR = 0.22, p<0.001), bone tumors (OR = 0.24, p = 0.003) had a lower income than siblings. Survivors who had cranial irradiation, had a lower income than survivors who had no cranial irradiation (OR = 0.48, p = 0.006). DISCUSSION: Even after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, education and working hours, survivors of various diagnostic groups have lower incomes than siblings. Further research needs to identify the underlying causes

Monodisperse gold nanoparticles formed on bacterial crystalline surface layers (S-layers) by electroless deposition

The fabrication of patterned arrays of nanoparticles whose electronic, optical and magnetic properties will find technological applications, such as ultra-high-density memories, is currently one of the most important objectives of inorganic material research. In this study, the in situ electroless nucleation of ordered two-dimensional arrays of gold nanoparticles (5 nm in size) by using bacterial S-layers as molecular templates and their characterization by small spot X-ray photoelectron emission spectroscopy (XPS) is presented. This yielded the elemental composition of the nanoclusters, which consisted of almost entirely elemental gold, and possible side reactions on the cluster and protein surface. The preferential deposition of the gold nanoparticles on the S-layer suggests that topography and functional groups are important for superlattice formation. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier B.

Mental health-care utilization in survivors of childhood cancer and siblings: the Swiss childhood cancer survivor study

PURPOSE: We aimed to (1) describe the utilization of mental health-care in survivors and siblings, the association with severity of distress, and visits to other professionals in distressed survivors not utilizing mental health-care; and (2) identify factors associated with utilization of mental health-care in distressed survivors. METHODS: Within the Swiss Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, we sent postal questionnaires to all participants aged <16 years at diagnosis (1976-2003), who survived ≥5 years after diagnosis and were aged ≥16 years at study. Survivors and siblings could indicate if they utilized mental health-care in the past year. Psychological distress was assessed with the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18). Participants with scores T ≥ 57 on two of three scales or the Global Severity Index were considered distressed. RESULTS: We included 1,602 survivors and 703 siblings. Overall, 160 (10 %) and 53 (8 %), utilized mental health-care and 203 (14 %) and 127 (14 %) were considered distressed. Among these, 69 (34 %) survivors and 20 (24 %) siblings had utilized mental health-care. Participants with higher distress were more likely to utilize mental health-care. Distressed survivors not utilizing mental health-care were more likely to see a medical specialist than nondistressed. In the multivariable regression, factors associated with utilizing mental health-care were higher psychological distress and reporting late effects. CONCLUSIONS: Our results underline the importance of developing interventional programs and implementing psychological screening in follow-up of survivors. It is also important to systematically address siblings' needs. In follow-up, patients at risk should be informed about existing possibilities or advised to visit mental health professionals

Anisotropic etching of platinum electrodes at the onset of cathodic corrosion

Cathodic corrosion is a process that etches metal electrodes under cathodic polarization. This process is presumed to occur through anionic metallic reaction intermediates, but the exact nature of these intermediates and the onset potential of their formation is unknown. Here we determine the onset potential of cathodic corrosion on platinum electrodes. Electrodes are characterized electrochemically before and after cathodic polarization in 10 M sodium hydroxide, revealing that changes in the electrode surface start at an electrode potential of −1.3 V versus the normal hydrogen electrode. The value of this onset potential rules out previous hypotheses regarding the nature of cathodic corrosion. Scanning electron microscopy shows the formation of well-defined etch pits with a specific orientation, which match the voltammetric data and indicate a remarkable anisotropy in the cathodic etching process, favouring the creation of (100) sites. Such anisotropy is hypothesized to be due to surface charge-induced adsorption of electrolyte cations

Educational and occupational outcomes of childhood cancer survivors 30 ă years after diagnosis: a French cohort study

International audienceBackground: Although survival from childhood cancer has increased, ă little is known on the long-term impact of treatment late effects on ă occupational attainment or work ability. ă Methods: A total of 3512 five-year survivors treated before the age of ă 19 years in 10 French cancer centres between 1948 and 2000 were ă identified. Educational level, employment status and occupational class ă of survivors were assessed by a self-reported questionnaire. These ă outcome measures were compared with sex-age rates recorded in the French ă population, using indirect standardisation. Paternal occupational class ă was also considered to control for the role of survivors' socioeconomic ă background on their achievement. Multivariable analyses were conducted ă to explore clinical characteristics associated with the outcomes. ă Results: A total of 2406 survivors responded to the questionnaire and ă survivors aged below 25 years were included in the current analysis. ă Compared with national statistics adjusted on age and sex, male ă survivors were more likely to be college graduates (39.2% vs 30.9% ă expected; P<0.001). This higher achievement was not observed either for ă leukaemia or central nervous system (CNS) tumour survivors. ă Health-related unemployment was higher for survivors of CNS tumour ă (28.1% vs 4.3%; P<0.001) but not for survivors of other diagnoses. ă Survivors of non-CNS childhood cancer had a similar or a higher ă occupational class than expected. ă Conclusions: Survivors treated for CNS tumour or leukaemia, especially ă when treatment included cranial irradiation, might need support ă throughout their lifespan