MR-OCTAVIUS 4D with 1500 MR and 1600 MR arrays is suitable for plan QA in a 1.5 T MRI-linac.

To ensure the accuracy of radiation delivery to patients in a 1.5 T MRI-linac, the implementation of quality assurance (QA) devices compatible with MR technology is essential. The OCTAVIUS 4D MR, made by PTW (Freiburg, Germany) is designed to ensure consistent and ideal alignment of its detectors with the direction of each beam segment.

Isolation and characterization of exopolysaccharides from kombucha samples of different origins.

Kombucha is prepared by fermenting sugared green or black tea with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). Some of the bacteria within the SCOBY are known to form exopolysaccharides (EPS) from sucrose. However, it is yet unknown whether water-soluble EPS are formed in kombucha, and if so, which specific EPS are present.

Assessment of the Surgical Oncology Case Volume Within the Public Sector in Tanzania.

Purpose: Surgery provides vital services to diagnose, treat, and palliate patients suffering from malignancies. However, despite its importance, there is little information on the delivery of surgical oncology services in Tanzania.

Methods: Operative logbooks were reviewed at all national referral hospitals that offer surgery, all zonal referral hospitals in Mainland Tanganyika and Zanzibar, and a convenience sampling of regional referral hospitals in 2022.

The Devil's in the Depot Details: Case of Iatrogenic Opioid Intoxication After Buprenorphine Injection Requiring Surgical Excision.

Monthly long-acting injectable buprenorphine (LAI-BUP) is a treatment option for moderate to severe opioid use disorder. Safe administration of LAI-BUP requires preexisting opioid tolerance to prevent sedation and respiratory depression. In the event of adverse medication effects including oversedation, LAI-BUP can be surgically excised up to 14 days after administration ( https://www.

Novel dual action PARP and microtubule polymerization inhibitor AMXI-5001 powerfully inhibits growth of esophageal carcinoma both alone and in combination with radiotherapy.

Esophageal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths globally with an incidence that is concentrated in specific hot spots in Eastern Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Africa, and South America. 10-year overall survival for patients treated with standard of care chemoradiation followed by surgical resection is below 40% highlighting the need for novel therapeutics to treat this disease. We assessed the effect of AMXI-5001, a novel small molecule poly ADP-Ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor and microtubule polymerization inhibitor on tumor growth inhibition in both and murine models.

A Pilot Study of the Convergent and Discriminant Validity of the Dutch Version of the Parametric Go/No-Go Task.

Background: The parametric go/no-go (PGNG) task is a computerized task that is designed to measure cognitive flexibility, response inhibition, and working memory. The PGNG task has been shown to measure core executive functions (EFs) in a psychometrically sound, brief, and ecologically valid manner.

Objective: To analyze the psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the PGNG task in a convenience sample of nonclinical adults.

Colorectal cancer in Tanzania: the current status and future directions.

Introduction: Globally, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy and the second most common cause of cancer death. By 2030, the incidence is expected to increase to reach 2.2 million cases and 1.

Report from the first Tanzania Liver Cancer Conference: a call for action to unite in the fight against liver cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa, 17-18 March 2023, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The first Tanzania Liver Cancer Conference (TLCC2023) took place on 17-18 March 2023 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania with the aim of raising awareness among healthcare providers on the problem that liver cancer poses to the Tanzanian population and the urgent need to address this important issue. The conference focused on the following agenda items: 1) to build awareness among local healthcare providers on the status of liver cancer in Tanzania and the available diagnostic and management options, 2) to update Tanzanian healthcare providers on the current standard of care for liver cancer provided in developed countries and recent advancements in liver cancer care and 3) to promote an inclusive and multidisciplinary approach in research and the clinical care of patients with liver cancer in Tanzania. TLCC2023 was preceded by community-facing pre-conference activities, including screening 684 community members for hepatitis B virus free of charge.

Genotypes and Risk of Childhood Burkitt Lymphoma in East Africa.

Interferon lambda 4 (IFN-λ4) is a novel type-III interferon that can be expressed only by carriers of the genetic variant rs368234815-dG within the first exon of the gene. Genetic inability to produce IFN-λ4 (in carriers of the rs368234815-TT/TT genotype) has been associated with improved clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The IFN-λ4-expressing rs368234815-dG allele (-dG) is most common (up to 78%) in West sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), compared to 35% of Europeans and 5% of individuals from East Asia.

Comparative genomics between matched solid and lepidic portions of semi-solid lung adenocarcinomas.

Background: Genetic changes that drive the transition from lepidic to invasive cancer development within a radiographic ground glass or semi-solid lung lesion (SSL) are not well understood. Biomarkers to predict the transition to solid, invasive cancer within SSL are needed.

Methods: Patients with surgically resected SSL were identified retrospectively from a surgical database.

Exploring the complexity and spectrum of racial/ethnic disparities in colon cancer management.

Background: Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality across U.S. racial/ethnic groups.

Association of Distance, Region, and Insurance With Advanced Colon Cancer at Initial Diagnosis.

This cross-sectional study examines factors associated with the stage at which colon cancer is diagnosed.

IFN-λ4 is associated with increased risk and earlier occurrence of several common infections in African children.

Genetic polymorphisms within the IFNL3/IFNL4 genomic region, which encodes type III interferons, have been strongly associated with clearance of hepatitis C virus. We hypothesized that type III interferons might be important for the immune response to other pathogens as well. In a cohort of 914 Malian children, we genotyped functional variants IFNL4-rs368234815, IFNL4-rs117648444, and IFNL3-rs4803217 and analyzed episodes of malaria, gastrointestinal, and respiratory infections recorded at 30,626 clinic visits from birth up to 5 years of age.

Mapping a high-level overview of information flows in the Dutch declaration chain for medical specialist health care.

This study is based on Philippe van der Voorn's master's dissertation at the Utrecht University, Department of Science, Information and Computing Sciences. The problem identified was a lack of an integrated information chain and clear governance structure for information flow in the Netherlands' health care sector. The method of Design Science was followed to construct an overview model of the chain, and towards a business process model that is intuitive for both technical and business users.

Interventions Addressing Barriers to Delayed Cancer Diagnosis in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.

Background: Delays to cancer diagnosis exist, resulting in worse survival outcomes for many cancers. Interventions targeting delays and barriers to cancer diagnosis and treatment have been investigated, but mostly in high-income countries. We conducted a systematic literature review to identify and characterize the interventions studied across cancers, within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Validity and reliability of forensic firearm examiners.

Forensic firearm examiners compare the features in cartridge cases to provide a judgment addressing the question about their source: do they originate from one and the same or from two different firearms? In this article, the validity and reliability of these judgments is studied and compared to the outcomes of a computer-based method. The features we looked at were the striation patterns of the firing pin aperture shear marks of four hundred test shots from two hundred Glock pistols, which were compared by a computer-based method. Sixty of the resulting 79,800 comparisons were shown to 77 firearm examiners.

Delays and Barriers to Cancer Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.

Background: Advanced stage presentation of patients with is common in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A comprehensive analysis of existing delays and barriers in LMICs has not been previously reported. We conducted a systematic literature review to comprehensively outline delays and barriers to identify targets for future interventions and provide recommendations for future research in this field.

Knowledge Summaries for Comprehensive Breast Cancer Control: Feedback From Target Audiences in Kenya.

Purpose: Comprehensive breast cancer control programs are needed to decrease breast cancer mortality, but few tools exist to assist stakeholders in limited-resource settings. The Knowledge Summaries for Comprehensive Breast Cancer Control (KSBCs) are a series of evidence-based publications intended to support cancer control planning at various resource levels. The goals of this evaluation research study were to learn about the extent to which the KSBCs could be useful to policymakers, health care providers, and breast cancer advocates in Kenya, and whether introducing the KSBCs led to their uptake, and if so, how they were used.

Histology and Cytopathology Capacity in the Public Health Sector in Kenya.

Purpose: Histology and cytopathology services are necessary for cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, the current capacity of Kenya's pathology laboratories is unknown. A national survey was conducted among public sector pathology laboratories to assess their capacity to perform histology, fine-needle aspiration, and bone marrow aspiration.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Pathology and 2-Year Postsurgical Recurrence of Breast Cancer in Kenyan Women.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to describe the pathologic findings and early follow-up experience of patients who underwent a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) between 2008 and 2017.

Patients And Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of women with breast cancer who underwent an SLNB at AKUH between 2008 and 2017. The SLNB was performed on patients with stage I and stage II breast cancer, and identification of the sentinel lymph node was made by radioactive tracer, blue dye, or both, per availability and surgeon preference.

The Kenya cancer research and control stakeholder program: Evaluating a bilateral partnership to strengthen national cancer efforts.

Background: In response to a growing cancer burden and need for improved coordination among stakeholders in Kenya, the US National Cancer Institute and the Kenya Ministry of Health collaboratively hosted a stakeholder meeting in 2014 which identified four priority areas of need (research capacity building, pathology and cancer registries, cancer awareness and education, and health system strengthening) and developed corresponding action plans.

Methods: Surveys were conducted with participants to collect input on the progress and impact of the 2014 stakeholder meeting.

Findings: Of 69 eligible participants, 45 responded from academia, healthcare institutions, civil society, government, and international agencies.

Improving pathology and laboratory medicine in low-income and middle-income countries: roadmap to solutions.

Insufficient awareness of the centrality of pathology and laboratory medicine (PALM) to a functioning health-care system at policy and governmental level, with the resultant inadequate investment, has meant that efforts to enhance PALM in low-income and middle-income countries have been local, fragmented, and mostly unsustainable. Responding to the four major barriers in PALM service delivery that were identified in the first paper of this Series (workforce, infrastructure, education and training, and quality assurance), this second paper identifies potential solutions that can be applied in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Increasing and retaining a quality PALM workforce requires access to mentorship and continuing professional development, task sharing, and the development of short-term visitor programmes.

Effect of different alcohols on stratum corneum kallikrein 5 and phospholipase A together with epidermal keratinocytes and skin irritation.

Objectives: The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate the effect of ethanol, isopropanol and n-propanol on stratum corneum (SC) enzymes and keratinocytes in vitro together with their effects on skin condition and function.

Methods: Activities of kallikrein 5 (KLK5) and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) as well as keratinocyte metabolic activity, interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured in vitro in the presence and absence of the different alcohols. We also measured transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin capacitance, visual dryness and visual redness on the volar forearms of 25 Caucasian women following application of the alcohols 20 and 100 times per day over a period of 14 days in a clinical study.