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PURPOSE: To critically synthesise qualitative research to understand experiences of supportive care in people affected by brain cancer and their informal caregivers. METHODS: A qualitative systematic review was conducted according to the Joanna Briggs methodology and has been reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) Guidelines. Electronic databases were searched by an expert systematic review librarian for all qualitative studies irrespective of research design. All publications were double screened by two reviewers using a pre-determined exclusion and inclusion criteria. The review was managed using Covidence systematic review software. Methodological quality assessment and data extraction were performed. Qualitative findings accompanied by illustrative quotes from included studies were extracted and grouped into categories, which created the overall synthesised findings. RESULTS: A total of 33 studies were included which represented a total sample of 671 participants inclusive of 303 patients and 368 informal caregivers. There was a total of 220 individual findings included in this review, which were synthesised into two findings (1) caregivers and patients perceived supports which would have been helpful and (2) caregiver and patient experiences of unmet supportive care needs. CONCLUSION: This review highlighted the suffering and distress caused by brain cancer and associated treatments. Both patients and their informal caregivers experienced disconnect from themselves in renegotiating roles, and a profound sense of loneliness as the physical deterioration of the disease progressed. Both patients and informal caregivers reported similar unmet needs within the current service provision for brain cancer. However, what is apparent is that current cancer services are provided solely for patients, with little or no consideration to the support needs of both the patient and their informal caregiver. Service re-design is needed to improve care coordination with individualised informational support, implementation of holistic needs assessments for both the patients and their caregivers, better community support provision, improved opportunities for emotional care with early referral for palliative care services. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: It is recommended that members of the multidisciplinary brain cancer team reflect on these findings to target holistic needs assessments and develop shared self-management care plans for both the patient and the informal caregiver.
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Focusing on English Studies in South Africa, this article considers adaptations to university teaching in a time of Covid-19 and the potential and limitations of such adaptations post Covid-19. The argument is divided into sections, "English Studies, Yesterday and Today" and "English Studies, Today and Tomorrow", together with a coda, "English, the Language of the Modern World". An African folktale, "Elephant, Chameleon, and Lizard", offers a metaphor of before, in, and beyond Covid-19.
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This paper explores the effect of COVID-19 outbreaks on human activity through nighttime light images of Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Canada. The methods used in this paper include image preprocessing, image classification, and spatial analysis. By using the nighttime light radiance data from VIIRS/NPP data products and COVID-19 cases and comparing this data from the pre-pandemic year, the impact of COVID-19 was analyzed. The result shows that during the pandemic year the monthly average nighttime light radiance has decreased about 4.3-5.0% compared to the pre-pandemic year. The classification results shows that the average percentage of changes in residential areas, public facilities, and commercial areas are 0.3%, -0.7%, and -1.2%, respectively of each corresponding month. Meanwhile, the spatial analysis results show population distribution patterns in GTA during the pandemic year. Overall, the nighttime lights (NTL) images can be used for a preliminary understanding of how COVID-19 affected human activities and is corroborated with other forms data collection used for the pandemic analysis.
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Background: A simple, accurate and rapid whole blood-based T-cell test was previously developed to determine SARS-CoV- 2- specific T-cell immunity. Herein, the test was utilized to measure the magnitude of T-cell responses up to 6 months post-vaccination, assess the effects of vaccine boosters, and to elucidate any effect that Delta and Omicron variants may have on T-cell immunity. Method(s): Immunocompetent individuals (n = 44) were recruited to donate a blood sample between one-and six-months post-vaccination. Whole blood was stimulated overnight with peptides spanning immunodominant regions specific for ancestral SARS-CoV- 2. Blood plasma samples were analysed for IL-2 production via Luminex xMAP cytokine array, as this was previously demonstrated to be the most accurate biomarker for the test. Following booster vaccinations, 58 individuals donated a blood sample between one-and four-months post-booster and T-cell responses after overnight stimulations were assessed. Additionally, 30 samples were stimulated with peptides from the immunodominant regions of the Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV- 2 variants and IL-2 levels were compared. Result(s): A comparison of T-cell responses from samples donated up to one-month and six-months post-vaccination revealed no significant differences in the magnitude of IL-2 production (p = 0.9252), with near equivalent means. Booster vaccinations increased the magnitude of the T-cell response in 69% of individuals analysed, with the mean production of IL-2 rising from 77pg/ml six-months pre-booster to 141pg/ml 3-weeks post-booster. Analysis of the longevity of post-booster T-cell response demonstrated no significant differences in the magnitude of IL-2 (p = 0.8141) production, with near equivalent means at one-month and 4-months post-booster (119pg/ml and 111pg/ml, respectively). Finally, no significant differences in the magnitude of IL-2 were observed between samples stimulated with either ancestral, Delta or Omicron peptides, with the means of each group being highly comparable. Conclusion(s): Results from this rapid whole blood-based T-cell test indicate that T-cell immunity to multiple variants of SARS-CoV- 2 within immunocompetent cohorts does not wane significantly over time. However, booster vaccinations may be important for individuals who have lower levels of immunity following their first complete vaccination doses. This test could be a valuable tool in the assessment of SARS-CoV- 2 immunity in multiple cohorts of clinical vulnerable individuals.
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Focusing on English Studies in South Africa, this article considers adaptations to university teaching in a time of Covid-19 and the potential and limitations of such adaptations post Covid-19. The argument is divided into sections, "English Studies, Yesterday and Today" and "English Studies, Today and Tomorrow", together with a coda, "English, the Language of the Modern World". An African folktale, "Elephant, Chameleon, and Lizard", offers a metaphor of before, in, and beyond Covid-19.
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Despite improvements in cancer outcomes over time, significant disparities remain between Black and White cancer survivors. Medical care is estimated to account for 10-20% of health outcomes, while other modifiable factors explain as much as 80-90% of outcomes. These disparities may thus be driven by multiple factors including social determinants of health, differences in treatment or follow up, or attitudes and behaviors of care teams. As part of a larger project, we conducted a qualitative study to understand cancer survivor preferences for and experiences with social needs screening and referrals. The results of this assessment will inform the delivery of social risk screening for breast and prostate cancer survivors in the multi-site study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in English between March and April 2022 with breast and prostate cancer survivors from two cancer institutes in Washington DC. Patients were purposively recruited to ensure diversity in age, race, and cancer stage (I-III). Each interview lasted 60 minutes. Transcripts were reviewed for consensus and preferences for social needs screening. Thirteen survivors participated in the interviews. Participants were mostly breast cancer survivors (n=10), African American (n=6), were equal in stages I and II at time of diagnosis (n=5), and ranged in age from 34 to 81 with a median age of 64. Most patients (n=7) did not report social needs screening during their treatment, though all patients welcomed having these conversations with their care team. The majority of patients (n=9) desired face-to-face conversations as opposed to on paper (n=1) or through the patient portal (n=1). Similarly, most patients (n=7) did not mind who on their care team held the conversations. There was difference in opinion on how often social needs should be discussed, with four participants suggesting every appointment to another patient suggesting once at diagnosis. When asked about the needs patients experienced during treatment, food insecurity and nutrition were most cited (n=6), followed by transportation (n=4) and emotional resources (n=4). Only one patient reported not desiring social needs referrals during treatment. Other avenues for seeking out social resources included self-initiated research online or through books (n=2), and another patient described utilizing their local church (n=1). Finally, patients also spoke about challenges in receiving treatment and transitioning to survivorship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including hospital staff turnover and care team inconsistency (n=1), bringing loved ones to appointments (n=1), and transportation challenges for individuals who relied on public transport to and from the clinic (n=1). This research reveals important insight to the perspective on social needs screening among a group of breast and prostate cancer survivors in the Washington DC region and highlights the ways in which patients have experienced and desire screening for social needs. In future work we will expand the number of interviews and apply these findings into practice.
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Allergy to excipients used in drug formulations is an often overlooked issue, recently highlighted by cases of severe reaction to the Pfizer-Biontech COVID-19 vaccination. Sulphites, including metabisulphites, are antioxidant preservatives found in many foods but also in certain drugs used by anaesthetists, including metaraminol, catecholamines, metoclopramide and some forms of propofol. Patients may present with a variety of intolerances to sulphites. Anaesthetists need to know how to counsel them, which drugs to avoid, and whether to administer sulphite-containing adrenaline in an emergency scenario. Description A patient with reported sulphite allergy following previous reactions to metabisulphite-containing local anaesthetic presented for an elective operation. The hospital pharmacist took several weeks to confirm the sulphite content of key anaesthetic drugs and to find alternatives. In particular, sulphite-free adrenaline had to be sourced from France. General anaesthesia proceeded uneventfully, and a 'green bag' of safe emergency drugs stayed with the patient until her discharge. The patient was referred for further allergy testing, but as the allergy centre could not provide sulphite-free adrenaline, she declined challenge with metabisulphites and with preparations of adrenaline available in the UK. This will clearly pose a challenge in the future should she present with anaphylaxis or for emergency surgery or critical care. Discussion Documented reactions to parenteral sulphites are uncommon, varied and cover a variety of suggested pathophysiologies, of which IgE-mediated allergy is rare [1]. Additionally, asthmatics may report bronchospasm related to sulphite containing foodstuffs, but this results from direct irritation from sulphur dioxide and is not immune mediated. Establishing the diagnosis is difficult, requiring challenge testing in specialist allergy centres;skin prick testing can be unreliable. Challenge with sulphite-containing adrenaline, thus establishing safety of use in case of anaphylaxis, is one pragmatic option. Sensible precautions include close liaison with the hospital pharmacist, an easily accessible list of sulphite-free alternatives and a policy on adrenaline use in anaphylaxis. Although evidence is scant, expert opinion suggests that in anaphylaxis the benefit of administering sulphite-containing adrenaline outweighs the risks [2].
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Background: A simple, accurate and rapid whole blood-based T cell test was previously developed to determine SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell immunity. The test was established by comparing cytokine production from naturally infected convalescent donors with covid-19 negative donors. The data revealed IL-2 production to be the most indicative of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, accurately identifying vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell immunity via this method was still to be confirmed. Herein, we sort to address if this was possible. Method: A cohort of unvaccinated healthy individuals was recruited to donate a single blood sample for an overnight in vitro stimulation with peptides spanning immunodominant regions specific for SARS-CoV-2. Blood plasma samples were harvested and analysed for a broad panel of cytokines using ELISA for IFN-g and Luminex xMAP cytokine arrays for IL-2 and other TH1/TH2 cytokines. The same cohort were then asked to donate a second blood sample following SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations, and the same stimulations and analyses were performed. In addition, plasma anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels were assessed in both pre-and post-vaccination samples by direct ELISA against the whole spike protein. Results: A multiplex cytokine array revealed IL-2 to be the most reliable biomarker in indicating a vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell response, with 100% of post-vaccinated donors mounting a significant IL-2 response above a pre-determined cut off level for positivity of 19.91pg/ml. All donors demonstrated a considerable increase in magnitude of IL-2 responses from pre-vaccination to post-vaccination, with results ranging from ∼125% change to >36,000% change. In addition, IFN-g and plasma IgG ELISAs revealed both to be reliable biomarkers, with post-vaccination levels of each being significantly raised above pre-vaccination levels. However, the magnitude of these responses was not as greatly increased as those observed with IL-2, nor did they achieve an increase in 100% of donors assessed. Conclusion: This standardisable, rapid, and accurate T cell test approach can be utilised to make accurate and comparable assessments of vaccine-induced T cell immunity across multiple population cohorts. This could provide valuable insight into the extremely important question of how long vaccine-induced immunity may last, and aid decision making around if and when vaccine boosters should be administered.
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Background: The role of upfront ASCT for NDTE MM remains under evaluation with high MRD rates following novel induction and consolidation (cons) strategies. K maintenance represents an alternative strategy to lenalidomide maintenance. The CARDAMON trial investigated K maintenance following KCd induction plus either ASCT or KCd cons. Methods: NDTE pts received 4 x KCd induction (K 20/56 mg/m2 biweekly, C 500 mg D 1,8,15, d 40mg weekly) before 1:1 randomisation to ASCT or 4 x KCd cons followed by 18 cycles K maintenance (56mg/m2 D1,8,15). Flow cytometric MRD (10-5) was assessed post induction, pre-maintenance and at 6 months maintenance. Primary endpoints were ≥VGPR post induction and 2-year PFS from randomisation. Secondary endpoints included improvements in disease response and MRD conversion following ASCT/ cons and maintenance. Results: 281 patients were registered, with 218 randomised to either ASCT or cons. The median PFS for ASCT was not yet reached vs 3.4 years for cons, with cons failing to show non-inferiority (difference in 2-year PFS 6.5%, 70% CI 1.0% to 11.1%). 196 patients received K maintenance (99 ASCT, 97 cons), 17 remain on treatment. A median of 16 cycles (1-18) were given over a median of 15.9 months (0-21.5). COVID-19 led to maintenance treatment interruptions in 41 (8 ASCT, 6 Cons) and treatment discontinuation in 15 (9 ASCT, 6 Cons). The median K dose given was 50.6mg/m2 and was similar across both arms (51.2 vs 49.4mg/m2, p=0.03). K maintenance was discontinued for PD in 14.1% (ASCT) vs 22.7% (cons), and for adverse events (AEs) in 7.1% (ASCT) vs 4.1% (cons). Most common AEs were hypertension and infections and more ≥G3 AEs were noted in ASCT vs cons (p=0.01). Patient/ clinician withdrawals from maintenance were low but occurred more in the ASCT arm (9.1% vs 1%). MRD neg patients post ASCT/ Cons had a longer PFS than MRD pos (p=0.002);with a higher MRD neg rate in the ASCT arm (53.6% vs 35.1% in Cons, p=0.01). MRD neg patients at 6 months post maintenance also had longer PFS (p=0.004 cf MRD pos patients);again with higher MRD neg rates in the ASCT arm (58.1% ASCT vs 40.5% Cons, p=0.02). There was no difference in PFS for MRD neg patients according to treatment arm from PBSCH, post-ASCT/ Cons or 6 months maintenance timepoints. Overall, 27.8% of MRD pos patients converted to MRD neg post ASCT/ Cons with more converting with ASCT (39.1% ASCT vs 16.1%, p=0.004). 23.5% of MRD pos patients converted to neg during maintenance (30.6% ASCT, 17.8%: p=0.2). Maintenance of MRD negativity over the first 6 months was similar between ASCT and Cons arms (p=0.3). There was no evidence that the timing of achievement of MRD negativity impacted PFS. Conclusions: K maintenance at 56mg/m2 weekly was deliverable and tolerable, with continued higher MRD neg rates at 6 months post-ASCT compared to post-Cons. However more ≥G3 AEs and discontinuations for AEs/ patient choice were noted for K maintenance after ASCT.
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Phenotyping is an effective way to identify cohorts of patients with particular characteristics within a population. In order to enhance the portability of a phenotype definition across institutions, it is often defined abstractly, with implementers expected to realise the phenotype computationally before executing it against a dataset. However, un-clear definitions, with little information about how best to implement the definition in practice, hinder this process. To address this issue, we propose a new multi-layer, workflow-based model for defining phenotypes, and a novel authoring architecture, Phenoflow, that supports the development of these structured definitions and their realisation as computable phenotypes. To evaluate our model, we determine its impact on the portability of both code-based (COVID-19) and logic-based (diabetes) definitions, in the context of key datasets, including 26,406 patients at North-western University. Our approach is shown to ensure the portability of phenotype definitions and thus contributes to the transparency of resulting studies.
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Whilst the need to record and understand the evolution of data, together with the processes and users associated with those changes, is now widely appreciated, the uptake of solutions to these issues remains slow. Data provenance techniques have the potential to provide such an understanding, but their use is often considered a specialist activity, requiring detailed knowledge of standards such as W3C PROV. In this work, we introduce ProvIt, a suite of tools designed to lower the barriers to entry for the use of provenance technology. We demonstrate the utility of ProvIt by using it to add provenance capabilities to the Jupyter IDE, in order to provide insight into the tools used by a group of researchers analysing a COVID-19 dataset. © 2021, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
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The heterogeneous disease course of COVID-19 is unpredictable, ranging from mild self-limiting symptoms to cytokine storms, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multi-organ failure and death. Identification of high-risk cases will enable appropriate intervention and escalation. This study investigates the routine laboratory tests and cytokines implicated in COVID-19 for their potential application as biomarkers of disease severity, respiratory failure and need of higher-level care. From analysis of 203 samples, CRP, IL-6, IL-10 and LDH were most strongly correlated with the WHO ordinal scale of illness severity, the fraction of inspired oxygen delivery, radiological evidence of ARDS and level of respiratory support (p ≤ 0.001). IL-6 levels of ≥3.27 pg/ml provide a sensitivity of 0.87 and specificity of 0.64 for a requirement of ventilation, and a CRP of ≥37 mg/l of 0.91 and 0.66. Reliable stratification of high-risk cases has significant implications on patient triage, resource management and potentially the initiation of novel therapies in severe patients.
Subject(s)
C-Reactive Protein/metabolism , COVID-19/diagnosis , Cytokine Release Syndrome/diagnosis , Interleukin-6/blood , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/diagnosis , SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Biomarkers/blood , COVID-19/blood , COVID-19/therapy , COVID-19/virology , Cytokine Release Syndrome/blood , Cytokine Release Syndrome/therapy , Cytokine Release Syndrome/virology , Female , Hospitalization , Humans , Interleukin-10/blood , L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/blood , Male , Middle Aged , Respiration, Artificial , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/blood , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/therapy , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/virology , Risk Factors , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
Background and Purpose- Hyperacute assessment and management of patients with stroke, termed code stroke, is a time-sensitive and high-stakes clinical scenario. In the context of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the ability to deliver timely and efficacious care must be balanced with the risk of infectious exposure to the clinical team. Furthermore, rapid and effective stroke care remains paramount to achieve maximal functional recovery for those needing admission and to triage care appropriately for those who may be presenting with neurological symptoms but have an alternative diagnosis. Methods- Available resources, COVID-19-specific infection prevention and control recommendations, and expert consensus were used to identify clinical screening criteria for patients and provide the required nuanced considerations for the healthcare team, thereby modifying the conventional code stroke processes to achieve a protected designation. Results- A protected code stroke algorithm was developed. Features specific to prenotification and clinical status of the patient were used to define precode screening. These include primary infectious symptoms, clinical, and examination features. A focused framework was then developed with regard to a protected code stroke. We outline the specifics of personal protective equipment use and considerations thereof including aspects of crisis resource management impacting team role designation and human performance factors during a protected code stroke. Conclusions- We introduce the concept of a protected code stroke during a pandemic, as in the case of COVID-19, and provide a framework for key considerations including screening, personal protective equipment, and crisis resource management. These considerations and suggested algorithms can be utilized and adapted for local practice.