Medical students' knowledge on palliative care - a survey of teaching in Finland.

Background: Most studies on palliative medicine (PM) undergraduate education have focused on contents and organizational issues but not the outcome. Students' learning outcomes should be studied to improve teaching in medical schools.

Methods: A questionnaire about perceived PM education and attitudes on palliative care (PC) was sent to 543 last year students in all five Finnish medical schools in 2018-2019.

Dosimetric consequences of adapting the craniocaudal isocenter distance to daily patient position in craniospinal irradiation using volumetric modulated arc therapy.

Purpose: In craniospinal irradiation, two or three isocenter groups along the craniocaudal axis are required to cover the long treatment target. Adapting the isocenter distance according to daily deviations in patient position is challenging because dosimetric hot or cold spots may occur in the field junction. The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of adapting the isocenter distance to patient position on the dose distribution of the field overlap region in craniospinal irradiation using partial-arc volumetric modulated arc therapy.

Short- and long-term effects of imatinib in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A randomized trial.

Objectives: We studied the short- and long-term effects of imatinib in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Methods: Participants were randomized to receive standard of care (SoC) or SoC with imatinib. Imatinib dosage was 400 mg daily until discharge (max 14 days).

Dosimetric effect of rotational setup errors in volumetric modulated arc therapy and field-in-field treatment of left-sided breast cancer.

Setup errors are an important factor in the dosimetric accuracy of radiotherapy delivery. In this study, we investigated how rotational setup errors influence the dose distribution in volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and tangential field-in-field (FiF) treatment of left-sided breast cancer with supraclavicular lymph node involvement in deep inspiration breath hold. Treatment planning computed tomography images and radiotherapy plans of 20 patients were collected retrospectively for the study.

Allergy: Evaluation of 16 years (2007-2022) results of the shared external quality assessment program in Belgium, Finland, Portugal and The Netherlands.

Objectives: This paper evaluates 16 year results of the Allergy EQA program shared by EQA organisers in Belgium, Finland, Portugal, and The Netherlands.

Methods: The performance of Thermo Fisher and Siemens user groups (in terms of concordance between both groups, between laboratory CV, prevalence of clinically significant errors) and suitability of samples (stability and validity of dilution of patient samples) are evaluated using data of 192 samples in the EQA programs from 2007 to 2022. Measurands covered are total IgE, screens and mixes, specific IgE extracts and allergen components.