Opium poisoning following self-medication of radiation-induced dermatitis with topical use of opium latex traditional extract; a teaching case.

Despite Radiation-induced dermatitis is a self-limiting complication, it can be complicated if inappropriate self-medications have been used such as opium latex traditional extract.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of COVID-19 in 1294 New Cancer Patients: Single-Center, Prospective Cohort Study from Iran.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in a large cohort of new cancer patients referred to an oncology clinic in the north of Iran. METHODS: During the 20-month COVID-19 pandemic, new cancer patients were followed-up. Demographic, pathologic, and clinical variables were collected for each patient. COVID-19 was confirmed based on a positive polymerase chain reaction test. Analyses were performed using the STATA version 14.0 at a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: In this study, 1294 new cancer patients were followed for 24 months (mean age: 58.7 years [range 10-95]). During the study period, COVID-19 was diagnosed in 9.4% of the patients with hospitalization rate of 3.4%, an ICU admission rate of 0.7%, and COVID-19 mortality rate of 4.9%. Hematological malignancies (ORU= 2.6, CI95% 1.28-5.34), receiving palliative treatments (ORA=3.03, CI95% 1.6-5.45) and receiving radiotherapy (ORA=2.07, 1.17-3.65) were the most common predictive factors of COVID infection in cancer patients. Also, the COVID mortality was higher in brain cancer patients (p = 0.07), metastatic disease (p = 0.01) and patients receiving palliative treatments (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: In patients suffering from cancer, COVID-19 infection can be predicted by cancer type, palliative care, and radiotherapy in cancer patients. Furthermore, brain cancers, metastasis, and palliative care were all associated with COVID-19-related mortality.

A case report of mediastinal cavernous hemangioma.

When faced with a hypervascular mediastinal tumor, mediastinal hemangioma should be taken into consideration. Although it is uncommon, considering this important diagnosis may avoid a possible extensive surgery that is not necessary.

A Cohort Study on the Immunogenicity and Safety of the Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (BBIBP-CorV) in Patients With Breast Cancer; Does Trastuzumab Interfere With the Outcome?

Aim: To determine the efficacy and safety of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (BBIBP-CorV) in patients with breast cancer. Methods: In this multi- institutional cohort study, a total of 160 breast cancer patients (mean age of 50.01 ± 11.5 years old) were assessed for the SARS-CoV-2 Anti-Spike IgG and SARS-CoV2 Anti RBD IgG by ELISA after two doses of 0.5 mL inactivated, COVID-19 vaccine (BBIBP-CorV). All patients were followed up for three months for clinical COVID-19 infection based on either PCR results or imaging findings. Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events were used to assess the side effects. Results: The presence of SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike IgG, SARS-CoV2 anti-RBD IgG, or either of these antibodies was 85.7%, 87.4%, and 93.3%. The prevalence of COVID-19 infection after vaccination was 0.7%, 0% and 0% for the first, second and third months of the follow-up period. The most common local and systemic side-effects were injection site pain and fever which were presented in 22.3% and 24.3% of patients, respectively. Discussion: The inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (BBIBP-CorV) is a tolerable and effective method to prevent COVID-19.

Multicenter Study of Antibody Seroprevalence against COVID-19 in Patients Presenting to Iranian Cancer Centers after One Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Patients with cancer are at significantly greater risk of COVID-19 and its complications than the general population. Since IgG antibodies remain detectable well after infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, seroprevalence can be used to estimate the proportion of the cancer population previously infected and potentially immune to SARS-CoV-2. The current study is a multi-center, prospective observational study to assess the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody in a cancer population referred for vaccination between April and June 2021. Of a total of 270 adult patients with cancer accrued, 16% reported a history of COVID-19 more than four weeks previously confirmed by PCR. At the same time, serologic positivity for SARSCoV2 IgG was found in 29% of patients prior to vaccination including nearly 20% of patients without a history of confirmed COVID-19. Seropositivity was significantly greater in females consistent with higher rates in patients with breast cancer and gynecologic cancers. A seroconversion rate of 79.5% was observed in cancer patients with a history of PCR confirmed COVID-19, less than observed in the general population. In multivariable analysis, gender and prior history of COVID-19 were both independently associated with seropositivity prior to vaccination. Follow-up is continuing of this cohort of patients with cancer following vaccination to assess antibody and clinical outcomes.

Immunogenicity and Safety of the Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (BBIBP-CorV) in Patients with Malignancy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 364 cancer patients who received two doses of vaccine were enrolled. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 anti-Spike protein IgG and neutralizing antibody 2 months following vaccination were measured by ELIZA. RESULTS: Injection site pain and fever were the most common local and systemic side effects. The overall seroconversion rate was 86.9% that was lower in older age, those with hematological malignancies and chemotherapy receivers. CONCLUSION: The result of study confirmed the safety and short-term efficacy of inactivated vaccine in patients with malignancies.