The initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis of new cancers at a large pathology laboratory in the public health sector, Western Cape Province, South Africa

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted cancer diagnostic services. A decline in the number of new cancers being diagnosed over a relatively short term implies a delay in diagnosis and subsequent treatment. This delay is expected to have a negative effect on cancerrelated morbidity and mortality. The impact of the pandemic on the number of new cancer diagnoses in our setting is unknown.Objectives. To assess the impact of COVID-19 on the number of new cancers diagnosed at our institution in the first 3 months following the implementation of lockdown restrictions, by focusing on common non-cutaneous cancers.Methods. A retrospective laboratory-based audit was performed at a large anatomical pathology laboratory in Western Cape Province, South Africa. The numbers of new diagnoses for six common cancers (breast, prostate, cervix, large bowel, oesophagus and stomach) from 1 April 2020 to 30 June 2020 were compared with the corresponding period in 2019.Results. Histopathological diagnoses for the six cancers combined decreased by 193 (–36.3%), from 532 new cases in the 2019 study period to 339 in the corresponding period in 2020. Substantial declines were seen for prostate (–58.2%), oesophageal (–44.1%), breast (–32.9%), gastric (–32.6%) and colorectal cancer (–29.2%). The smallest decline was seen in cervical cancer (–7%). New breast cancers diagnosed by cytopathology declined by 61.1%.Conclusions. The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated response resulted in a substantial decline in the number of new cancer diagnoses, implying a delay in diagnosis. Cancer-related morbidity and mortality is expected to rise as a result, with the greatest increase in mortality expected from breast and colorectal cancer

A rare case of heterotaxy and left ventricular non-compaction in an adult

Heterotaxy syndrome with left ventricular non-compaction is a rare co-existence of abnormalities with unknown cause. It can be isolated with no other associations, or associated with congenital heart diseases, or it can occur with multiple other congenital abnormalities. We describe the third reported case of heterotaxy syndrome with left ventricular non-compaction presenting in an adult.http://www.cvja.co.zaam2016Radiolog

Some considerations for miniaturized measurement shunts in high frequency power electronic converters.

Abstract: Power semi-conductors are able to achieve switching transients within a few nanoseconds and possibly even faster. These fast switching transients will need to be measured and analyzed thoroughly. In this paper four different types of shunt constructions and installations are tested on the same power electronics circuit, giving widely diverse results. Interpreting and analyzing these measurement results will assist in developing accurate current measurement devices for fast switching transient power electronic converters of the future

An experimental study of switching GaN FETs in a coaxial transmission line

Abstract: The switching characteristics of GaN FETs have not yet been measured accurately because of their small electromagnetic size in relation to the circuit and the electromagnetic environment the measurements are exposed to. Switching GaN FETs in a transmission line will allow for measurements to be taken in an electromagnetically defined environment. The transmission line is adapted to take optimum measurements. This is proven by the waveforms presented

Idea-caution before exploitation:the use of cybersecurity domain knowledge to educate software engineers against software vulnerabilities

The transfer of cybersecurity domain knowledge from security experts (‘Ethical Hackers’) to software engineers is discussed in terms of desirability and feasibility. Possible mechanisms for the transfer are critically examined. Software engineering methodologies do not make use of security domain knowledge in its form of vulnerability databases (e.g. CWE, CVE, Exploit DB), which are therefore not appropriate for this purpose. An approach based upon the improved use of pattern languages that encompasses security domain knowledge is proposed

The initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis of new cancers at a large pathology laboratory in the public health sector, Western Cape Province, South Africa

CITATION: Van Wyk, A. C., et al. 2021. The initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis of new cancers at a large pathology laboratory in the public health sector, Western Cape Province, South Africa. South African Medical Journal, 111(6):570-574, doi:10.7196/SAMJ.2021.v111i6.15580.Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access FundBackground. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted cancer diagnostic services. A decline in the number of new cancers being diagnosed over a relatively short term implies a delay in diagnosis and subsequent treatment. This delay is expected to have a negative effect on cancerrelated morbidity and mortality. The impact of the pandemic on the number of new cancer diagnoses in our setting is unknown. Objectives. To assess the impact of COVID-19 on the number of new cancers diagnosed at our institution in the first 3 months following the implementation of lockdown restrictions, by focusing on common non-cutaneous cancers. Methods. A retrospective laboratory-based audit was performed at a large anatomical pathology laboratory in Western Cape Province, South Africa. The numbers of new diagnoses for six common cancers (breast, prostate, cervix, large bowel, oesophagus and stomach) from 1 April 2020 to 30 June 2020 were compared with the corresponding period in 2019. Results. Histopathological diagnoses for the six cancers combined decreased by 193 (–36.3%), from 532 new cases in the 2019 study period to 339 in the corresponding period in 2020. Substantial declines were seen for prostate (–58.2%), oesophageal (–44.1%), breast (–32.9%), gastric (–32.6%) and colorectal cancer (–29.2%). The smallest decline was seen in cervical cancer (–7%). New breast cancers diagnosed by cytopathology declined by 61.1%. Conclusions. The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated response resulted in a substantial decline in the number of new cancer diagnoses, implying a delay in diagnosis. Cancer-related morbidity and mortality is expected to rise as a result, with the greatest increase in mortality expected from breast and colorectal cancer.http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/13301Publisher's versio

Thyrotropin and insulin-like growth factor I regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation in FRTL-5 cells : interaction between cAMP-dependent and growth factor-dependent signal transduction

Pretreatment of rat FRTL-5 thyroid cells with thyrotropin (TSH) markedly potentiated the mitogenic response to insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) (Tramontano, D., Moses, A. C., Veneziani, B. M., and Ingbar, S. H. (1988) Endocrinology 122, 127-132; Takahashi, S.-I., Conti, M., and Van Wyk, J. J. (1990) Endocrinology 126, 736-745). The present study was undertaken to determine whether this synergism between TSH and IGF-I in FRTL-5 cells was correlated with changes in tyrosine phosphorylation of intracellular proteins. Tyrosine phosphorylation in intact cells was determined by gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting using monospecific anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies. Cells were preincubated for up to 24 h with TSH, dibutyryl cAMP, forskolin, or cholera toxin and then incubated for an additional 1 min in the absence or presence of IGF-I. As reported by others, IGF-I rapidly increased tyrosine phosphorylation of a 175-kDa protein as well as a less intense band of 90-100 kDa. Pretreatment for 6-12 h with either TSH or other agents that elevate intracellular cAMP potentiated the IGF-I-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of the 175-kDa substrate by 3-5-fold. Since TSH did not increase IGF receptor number of kinase activity, the effect of TSH is assumed to be exerted at a step distal to IGF receptor tyrosine kinase. Surprisingly, IGF-I-independent tyrosine phosphorylation was also increased by pretreatment with TSH. When intact cells were analyzed TSH produced a time- and concentration-dependent increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of a prominent 120-125-kDa substrate and less prominent 100- and 80-kDa substrates. Assays using Triton X-100-soluble extracts incubated with MgCl2, ATP, and orthovanadate demonstrated that TSH pretreatment increased tyrosine phosphorylation over that observed in untreated cells. In this cell-free assay, TSH pretreatment enhanced the phosphorylation of multiple substrates. These studies suggest that a cAMP stimulus that initiates a trophic effect can be propagated indirectly through multiple pathways including enhancement of tyrosine phosphorylation