Essential Review of Oncological Emergencies.

Innovations in oncology have expanded treatment eligibility, leading to a rise in cancer patients requiring critical care. This necessitates that all critical care clinicians possess a fundamental knowledge of prevalent oncological conditions and identify emergent scenarios requiring immediate action. This article will explore key oncological complications and their management approaches.

Factors affecting utilization of modern contraceptive methods among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Modern contraceptive use is important for improving health and socioeconomic outcomes, but Ethiopia is among the lowest-using countries. Therefore, this study aimed to determine factors affecting modern contraceptive use among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia. METHODS: This population-based cross-sectional study used data obtained from the 2019 Ethiopia Mini Demographic and Health Survey (EMDHS). A total of 8,885 reproductive-age women were included in the analysis. A weighted generalized estimating equation approach was used to account for the clustering and weighting effects in the assessment of associations between modern contraceptive usage and socioeconomic and demographic variables. RESULTS: Modern contraceptive use among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia is low (28%). Prevalence is highest among women aged 25-34 (40.11%), with higher education (30.97%), who are Orthodox Christians (31.67%), married (40.40%), middle wealth index (31.70%), female-headed households (31.42%), with 1-3 living children (44.85%), who headed by under 31 years old (40.07%), and in the Amhara region (34.45%). In the generalized estimating equation analysis, women aged 35-44 and over 45, Muslims, households heads aged 41-50 and over 50, and in female-headed households were less likely to use modern contraceptives, while women with primary, secondary, and higher education, married, middle and rich wealth index, and with 1-3 and more living children were more likely to use modern contraceptive than their counterparts (reference group) and were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Modern contraceptive use is notably low among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia. Factors such as age, women's educational level, religion, marital status, number of living children, wealth status, gender and age of household head, and region were identified as significant factors associated with modern contraceptive use. Therefore, to increase modern contraceptive use, governmental and non-governmental organizations should invest in women's education and financial empowerment and raise awareness about the benefits of modern contraceptives, especially among older, unmarried, financially poor, elderly-led households, with few living children, and uneducated women.

Modeling non-Gaussian data analysis on determinants of underweight among under five children in rural Ethiopia: Ethiopian demographic and health survey 2016 evidences.

BACKGROUND: Childhood under-nutrition is a major global health problem. Although the rate of under-nutrition in Ethiopia has declined in the last decade, but it still remains being the major causes of morbidity and mortality of children under-five years. The problem is even worse in rural areas. The prevalence of underweight among rural children was 25% compared with 13% among urban children. To alleviate this problem, it is necessary to determine the magnitude and determinants of underweight. The study models non-Gaussian data analysis to identify risk factors associated with underweight among under-five children in rural Ethiopia. METHODOLOGY: The data source for this study was secondary data, which was retrieved from EDHS 2016 database. It was analyzed using two model families; one with marginal models (GEE and ALR) in which responses are modeled and marginalized overall other responses, and the other is random effects model (GLMM) which is useful when the interest of the analyst lies in the individual's response profiles as well as to evaluate within and between regional variations of underweight. RESULT: From fitting non-Gaussian data analysis to identify risk factors associated with underweight among under five children in rural Ethiopia, the independent variable which have significant effect on underweight were:-Age of child, birth interval, mothers education, fathers education, wealth index, diarrhea in last two weeks, fever in last two weeks are significant and also father's work status shows that difference in significance among the category. CONCLUSION: Child age, preceding birth interval, mother's education, household's wealth index, fever, diarrhea, father's education and father's work status were associated with child underweight. Furthermore, there is both within and between regional heterogeneity of underweight among children in rural Ethiopia. Therefore, rigorous community-based interventions (such as uplifting mother's education by providing formal education and preventing infectious diseases that cause diarrhea and fever) should be developed and executed throughout the country to improve this grave situation of underweight prevalence in rural areas of Ethiopia.

WT1 peptide vaccinations induce CD4 and CD8 T cell immune responses in patients with mesothelioma and non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The transcription factor, WT1, is highly overexpressed in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and immunohistochemical stains for WT1 are used routinely to aid in its diagnosis. Using computer prediction analysis we designed analog peptides derived from WT1 sequences by substituting amino acids at key HLA-A0201 binding positions. We tested the safety and immunogenicity of a WT1 vaccine comprised of four class I and class II peptides in patients with thoracic neoplasms expressing WT1. METHODS: Therapy consisted of six subcutaneous vaccinations administered with Montanide adjuvant on weeks 0, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12, with 6 additional monthly injections for responding patients. Injection sites were pre-stimulated with GM-CSF (70 mcg). Immune responses were evaluated by DTH, CD4 T-cell proliferation, CD8 T-cell interferon gamma release, intracellular cytokine staining, WT1 peptide MHC-tetramer staining, and cytotoxicity against WT1 positive tumor cells. RESULTS: Nine patients with MPM and 3 with NSCLC were vaccinated, with 8 patients receiving at least 6 vaccinations; in total, 10 patients were evaluable for immune response. Six out of nine patients tested demonstrated CD4 T-cell proliferation to WT1 specific peptides, and five of the six HLA-A0201 patients tested mounted a CD8 T-cell response. Stimulated T cells were capable of cytotoxicity against WT-1 positive cells. Vaccination also induced polyfunctional CD8 T cell responses. CONCLUSIONS: This multivalent WT1 peptide analog vaccine induces immune responses in a high proportion of patients with thoracic malignancies with minimal toxicity. A randomized trial testing this vaccine as adjuvant therapy in MPM is planned.