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Epidemics can prove to be disastrous, which has been further emphasized by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, and several countries like India lack sufficient resources to meet the population's needs. It is therefore important that the limited testing and protective resources are utilized such that the disease spread is minimized and their reach to the most vulnerable demographic is maximized. This paper studies the scope of intelligent agents in aiding authorities with such policy-making decisions. This is done by exploring the performance of various action selection methods on custom environments dealing with socio-economic groups and Indian states. Experiments using multi-armed bandit techniques provide greater insight into administrative decisions surrounding resource allocation and their future potential for greater use in similar scenarios. © 2022 IEEE.
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Background: SARS-CoV-2 is associated with diverse clinical presentations ranging from asymptomatic infection to lethal complications. Small studies have suggested inferior outcomes in patients (pts) on active cancer treatment. This finding was not independently validated in our prior report on 928 pts, which included treatments administered within 4 weeks of COVID-19 diagnosis. Here, we examine outcomes related to systemic cancer treatment within one year of lab-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in an expanded cohort. Method(s): The COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19) registry (NCT04354701) was queried for pts ever receiving systemic treatment. Treatment type, cancer type, stage, and COVID-19 outcomes were examined. Pts were stratified by time from last treatment administration: <2 wk, 2-4 wk, 1-3 mo, or 3-12 mo. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) of mortality by treatment type and timing were calculated. Result(s): As of 31 July 2020, we analyzed 3920 pts;42% received systemic anti-cancer treatment within 12 mo (Table). 159 distinct medications were administered. The highest rate of COVID-19-associated complications were observed in pts treated within 1-3 months prior to COVID-19;all-cause mortality in this group was 26%. 30-day mortality by most recent treatment type was 20% for chemotherapy, 18% for immunotherapy, 17% for chemoradiotherapy, 29% for chemoimmunotherapy, 20% for targeted therapy, and 11% for endocrine therapy. SIR of mortality was highest for chemoimmunotherapy or chemotherapy <2 wks, and lowest for endocrine treatments. A high SIR was also found for targeted agents within 3-12 mo. Pts untreated in the year prior to COVID-19 diagnosis had a mortality of 14%. [Formula presented] Conclusion(s): 30-day mortality was highest amongst cancer pts treated 1-3 months prior to COVID-19 diagnosis and those treated with chemoimmunotherapy. Except for endocrine therapy, mortality for subgroups was numerically higher than in pts untreated within a year prior to COVID-19 diagnosis. Clinical trial identification: NCT04354701. Legal entity responsible for the study: The COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19). Funding(s): National Cancer Institute (P30 CA068485). Disclosure: T.M. Wise-Draper: Research grant/Funding (self), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: AstraZeneca;Research grant/Funding (self): BMS;Research grant/Funding (self): Tesaro/GSK;Advisory/Consultancy: Shattuck Labs;Leadership role, Travel/Accommodation/Expenses, HNC POA Lead: Caris Life Sciences;Research grant/Funding (self), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Merck;Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Eli Lilly;Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Bexion. A. Elkrief: Research grant/Funding (self): AstraZeneca. B.I. Rini: Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (self), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Merck;Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (self): Roche;Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (self), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Pfizer;Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (self): AVEO;Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (self), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: BMS;Advisory/Consultancy: arravive;Advisory/Consultancy: 3D medicines;Advisory/Consultancy: Synthorx;Advisory/Consultancy: Surface Oncology;Shareholder/Stockholder/Stock options: PTC Therapeutics;Research grant/Funding (self): AstraZeneca. D.B. Johnson: Advisory/Consultancy: Array Biopharma;Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (self): BMS;Advisory/Consultancy: Janssen;Advisory/Consultancy: Merck;Advisory/Consultancy: Novartis;Research grant/Funding (self): Incyte;Leadership role: ASCO melanoma scientific committee chair;Leadership role: NCCN Melanoma committee. G. Lopes: Honoraria (self), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Boehringer Ingelheim;Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Pfizer;Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (self), Research grant/Funding (institution): AstraZeneca;Research grant/Funding (institution): Merck;Research grant/Funding (institution): EMD Serono;Research gr
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Background: Racial/ethnic minorities have disproportionately increased risk of contracting COVID-19 and experiencing severe illness;they also have worse breast cancer (BC) outcomes. COVID-19 outcomes among racial/ethnic minorities with BC are currently unknown. We sought to compare clinicopathologic characteristics and COVID-19 outcomes stratified by race/ethnicity. Methods: The COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium registry (NCT04354701) was used to identify patients with invasive BC and laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 diagnosed in the U.S. between 2020-03-06 and 2021-02-04. The primary analysis was restricted to women who selfidentified as non-Hispanic White (NHW), nonHispanic Black (NHB), or Hispanic (H). Demographic, cancer characteristics, and COVID-19 outcomes were evaluated. COVID-19 outcomes included: hospital admission, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mechanical ventilation, death within 30 days of COVID-19 diagnosis and death from any cause during follow-up. Descriptive statistics were used to compare clinicopathologic characteristics and Fisher exact tests were used to compare COVID19 outcomes across the 3 racial/ethnic groups. Results: A total of 1133 patients were identified of which 1111 (98%) were women;of which 575 (52%) NHW, 243 (22%) NHB, 183 (16%) H, and 110 (10%) other/unknown. Baseline characteristics differed among racial/ethnic groups. H were younger (median age: NHW 63y;NHB 62y;H 54y) and more likely to be never smokers (NHW 62%;NHB 62%;H 78%). NHB had higher rates of obesity (NHW 40%;NHB 54%;H 46%), diabetes (NHW 16 %;NHB 32%;H 20%) and combined moderate and severe baseline COVID-19 at presentation (NHW 28%;NHB 42%;H 28%). Cancer characteristics are as shown (Table). Significant differences were observed in outcomes across racial/ethnic groups including higher rates of hospital admission (NHW 34%;NHB 49%;H 34%;P <0.001), mechanical ventilation (NHW 3%;NHB 9%;H 5%;P=0.002), 30-day mortality (NHW 6%;NHB 9%;H 4%;P=0.043) and total mortality (NHW 8%;NHB 12%;H 5%;P=0.05) among NHB compared to NHW and H. Conclusions: This is the largest study to show significant differences in COVID-19 outcomes by racial/ethnic groups of women with BC. The adverse outcomes in NHB could be due to higher moderate to severe COVID-19 at presentation and preexisting comorbidities. H did not have worse outcomes despite having more active disease and recent anti-cancer therapy, including with cytotoxic chemotherapy - potentially due to younger age and nonsmoking status. (Table Presented).
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Aim: To study the efficacy of online pre-recorded practical demonstrations and live streamed practical demonstrations in Third year physiotherapy students during the COVID-19 pandemic- A survey Objectives: • To understand efficacy of online pre-recorded practical demonstrations • To understand the live streamed practical demonstrations • To compare live streamed practical demonstrations versus online pre-recorded practical demonstrations. Study Design: Cross Sectional Study Sampling method: Complete enumeration Sample size: All 44 Third B.P.Th students from TMV's Lokmanya Medical College of Physiotherapy, Navi Mumbai. Methodology: All 44 students of Third year B.P.Th from TMV's Lokmanya Medical college of Physiotherapy,Kharghar were enrolled for this study. Survey among students was done on pre-recorded videos and live demonstration conducted by the college as per the curriculum. Since this study was done in the COVID-19 pandemic the consent forms were mailed to the students. The practical topics to be covered during complete lockdown were taught by posting online videos of the said topic on Google classroom. The theory part of the concerned topics was taught via Zoom platform. The students were expected to go through the videos and practise their techniques at home. In the partial lockdown phase, students were allowed to visit the campus in batches of 5. During this time the practical topics were covered via live streaming. Voluntary consent was taken from each student. They were asked to fill a questionnaire regarding aspects of class experience, learning effect and evaluation of the teachers. Statistical Analysis: Data analysis done using Excel 2013 Results: Pre-recorded video is equally as effective as a live demonstration. However, students preferred live demonstration technique over pre-recorded videos. Each method has its own advantages and limitations, therefore both methods can be combined in teaching undergraduate physiotherapy courses in order to improve learning experiences and to match different learning preferences of students.
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BACKGROUND: Patients with cancer may be at high risk of adverse outcomes from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We analyzed a cohort of patients with cancer and coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) reported to the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19) to identify prognostic clinical factors, including laboratory measurements and anticancer therapies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with active or historical cancer and a laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis recorded between 17 March and 18 November 2020 were included. The primary outcome was COVID-19 severity measured on an ordinal scale (uncomplicated, hospitalized, admitted to intensive care unit, mechanically ventilated, died within 30 days). Multivariable regression models included demographics, cancer status, anticancer therapy and timing, COVID-19-directed therapies, and laboratory measurements (among hospitalized patients). RESULTS: A total of 4966 patients were included (median age 66 years, 51% female, 50% non-Hispanic white); 2872 (58%) were hospitalized and 695 (14%) died; 61% had cancer that was present, diagnosed, or treated within the year prior to COVID-19 diagnosis. Older age, male sex, obesity, cardiovascular and pulmonary comorbidities, renal disease, diabetes mellitus, non-Hispanic black race, Hispanic ethnicity, worse Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, recent cytotoxic chemotherapy, and hematologic malignancy were associated with higher COVID-19 severity. Among hospitalized patients, low or high absolute lymphocyte count; high absolute neutrophil count; low platelet count; abnormal creatinine; troponin; lactate dehydrogenase; and C-reactive protein were associated with higher COVID-19 severity. Patients diagnosed early in the COVID-19 pandemic (January-April 2020) had worse outcomes than those diagnosed later. Specific anticancer therapies (e.g. R-CHOP, platinum combined with etoposide, and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors) were associated with high 30-day all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical factors (e.g. older age, hematological malignancy, recent chemotherapy) and laboratory measurements were associated with poor outcomes among patients with cancer and COVID-19. Although further studies are needed, caution may be required in utilizing particular anticancer therapies. CLINICAL TRIAL IDENTIFIER: NCT04354701.