The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on organised cervical cancer screening: The first results of the Slovenian cervical screening programme and registry.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic threatens the impact of cervical cancer screening and global cervical cancer elimination goals. As cervical cancer screening programmes were adjusting to the new situation, we evaluated the intensity, quality, and outcomes of cervical cancer screening in Slovenia in the first seven months of the pandemic.

Methods: Historical observational study on data from a population-based cervical cancer screening registry.

Preference towards HIV Self-Testing above Other Testing Options in a Sample of Men Who Have Sex with Men from Five European Countries.

We analyzed men who have sex with men (MSM) from Denmark, Germany, Greece, Portugal and Spain to identify who would choose HIV self-testing as their preferred testing method and assessed their preferred setting to acquire a self-testing kit and to confirm a reactive result. In 2016, we recruited an online sample of 3725 HIV-negative MSM. We used Poisson regression to identify factors associated with choosing self-testing as the preferred testing option.

Opinions Towards Key Operational Aspects for the Implementation of HIV Self-Testing in Spain: A Comparison between Stakeholders and Potential Users.

We assessed previous knowledge about the existence of HIV self-testing of stakeholders in Spain, as well as their personal position towards this methodology. We also assessed their views on potential users' (PU) opinions towards several key operational aspects surrounding self-testing, and compared them to those expressed by a sample of PU comprised of men who have sex with men. In 2017, we recruited three types of stakeholders: public health professionals and policy makers (PHPPM) ( = 33), clinical providers ( = 290) and community-based/non-governmental organization (CBO/NGO) workers ( = 55).

Potential of HIV Self-Sampling to Increase Testing Frequency Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men, and the Role of Online Result Communication: Online Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Late HIV diagnosis remains frequent among the gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) population across Europe. HIV self-sampling could help remove barriers and facilitate access to testing for this high-risk population.

Objective: We assessed the capacity of HIV self-sampling to increase the testing frequency among GBMSM living in Denmark, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Romania, and Spain, and evaluated the role of new technologies in the result communication phase.

Knowledge, actual and potential use of HIV self-sampling testing kits among MSM recruited in eight European countries.

Aim: To describe the knowledge as well as current and potential use of self-sampling kits among men who have sex with men (MSM) and to analyse their preferred biological sample and result communication method.

Methods: We analyse data of MSM of HIV negative or unknown serostatus from an online survey conducted in eight countries (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Spain) between April and December 2016. It was advertised mainly in gay dating websites.

Short-term effect of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) on daily mortality due to diseases of the circulatory system in Madrid (Spain).

Introduction: Owing to their small size, fine particles, i.e., those having a diameter ≤ 2.

Prostate tumor alignment and continuous, real-time adaptive radiation therapy using electromagnetic fiducials: clinical and cost-utility analyses.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy, utility, and cost effectiveness of a new electromagnetic patient positioning and continuous, real-time monitoring system, which uses permanently implanted resonant transponders in the target (Calypso 4D Localization System and Beacon transponders, Seattle, WA) to continuously monitor tumor location and movement during external beam radiation therapy of the prostate.

Materials And Methods: This clinical trial studied 43 patients at 5 sites. All patients were implanted with 3 transponders each.

Accuracy of a wireless localization system for radiotherapy.

Purpose: A system has been developed for patient positioning based on real-time localization of implanted electromagnetic transponders (beacons). This study demonstrated the accuracy of the system before clinical trials.

Methods And Materials: We describe the overall system.

Long-term outcome by risk factors using conformal high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) boost with or without neoadjuvant androgen suppression for localized prostate cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to analyze, during the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) era, the long-term outcome of patients treated with conformal high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy boost to the prostate with or without androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) when patients are stratified by risk factors for failure.

Methods And Materials: Between 1986 and 2000, 611 patients were treated for clinically localized prostate cancer in three prospective trials of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and dose-escalating HDR brachytherapy (BT) boost. There were 104 patients treated at Seattle, 198 at Kiel University, and 309 at William Beaumont Hospital.

Adequate staging for uterine cancer can be performed through Pfannenstiel incisions.

Objective: To determine if the type of operative incision influences the adequacy of surgical staging in patients with uterine cancer.

Methods: All patients with uterine cancer referred to the Swedish Medical Center Cancer Institute for adjuvant radiotherapy between June 1, 1989, and June 1, 1999, who underwent comprehensive surgical staging and for whom complete records could be obtained were eligible. Data on type of incision, weight, medical comorbidities, histology, total number and distribution of lymph nodes (LN), estimated blood loss, complications, and length of stay were abstracted retrospectively.

An Internet-ready database for prospective randomized clinical trials of high-dose-rate brachytherapy for adenocarcinoma of the prostate.

Purpose: To demonstrate a new interactive Internet-ready database for prospective clinical trials in high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy for prostate cancer.

Methods And Materials: An Internet-ready database was created that allows common data acquisition and statistical analysis. Patient anonymity and confidentiality are preserved.

Adjuvant high dose rate vaginal brachytherapy as treatment of stage I and II endometrial carcinoma.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of high dose rate vaginal brachytherapy in the treatment of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IB, IC, and II endometrial carcinoma after surgical staging and complete lymphadenectomy.

Methods: All patients with stage IB, IC, or II adenocarcinoma or adenosquamous carcinoma of the endometrium who received postoperative high dose rate vaginal brachytherapy at our institution between June 1, 1989, and June 1, 1999, were eligible. High dose rate vaginal brachytherapy was delivered in three fractions of 700 cGy.

Brachytherapy for carcinoma of the prostate: techniques, patient selection, and clinical outcomes.

Brachytherapy for prostate carcinoma has developed as either low dose rate permanent implants or high dose rate afterloading. Both approaches offer unsurpassed dose escalation and, particularly with permanent implants, the convenience of a single outpatient treatment. These therapies have now entered the mainstream of treatment options and are in the refinement phase of development.

High dose-rate afterloading 192Iridium prostate brachytherapy: feasibility report.

Background: RESULTS from localized prostate cancer series using seed implants have been most encouraging. However, with current techniques, inadequate dosimetry sometimes occurs. Remote afterloading high dose rate 192Iridium brachytherapy (HDR-Ir192) theoretically remedies some potential inadequacies of seed implantation by performing the dosimetry after the needles are in place.

Extending the limits of lung cancer resection.

Patients with locally advanced bronchogenic carcinoma are often considered to have unresectable disease because of invasion into vital structures, or they undergo resection with questionable or involved margins, which results in local recurrence later. Brachytherapy (direct application of radioactive sources to the tumor bed) offers the potential to provide tumoricidal doses of radiation to the target area with minimal toxicity to surrounding structures. In this study, one of two different techniques of brachytherapy was utilized to treat 15 highly selected patients with histologically positive (n = 8) or suspicious (n = 7) margins after resection.

Malignant biliary obstruction: intracavitary treatment with a high-dose-rate remote afterloading device.

A new technique of intracavitary brachytherapy for malignant biliary obstruction is presented. The technique involves the use of a high-dose-rate remote afterloading device, which offers all the advantages of conventional brachytherapy with the added benefit that the dose can be delivered in a single treatment over a few minutes. The potential problems associated with conventional brachytherapy are thereby minimized.

Suppressor cells induced by total lymphoid irradiation affect proliferation and lymphokine production of murine T helper cell clones.

A key response to antigen is the activation of helper T cells to release lymphokines which stimulate and effect the immune reaction. This T cell population can secrete many different factors with diverse, often multifunctional roles, such as amplifying T or B cell antigen responses or being effectors of cell mediated delayed type hypersensitivity. Among these lymphokines are gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN), interleukin-2 (IL-2), or T cell growth factor, and lymphotoxin (LT) which has cytotoxic activity against a variety of cells.

A clinical and histopathologic analysis of the results of conservation surgery and radiation therapy in stage I and II breast carcinoma.

One hundred eighty women with clinical Stage I or II operable breast carcinoma were treated by radiotherapy following local tumor excision at Yale-New Haven Hospital through 1980. With a median follow-up time of 6.9 years, the actuarial 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 82% and 78%, respectively.

Reactions of tumors and normal tissues in mice to irradiation in the presence and absence of a perfluorochemical emulsion.

The effect of pre-treatment with the perfluorochemical emulsion, Fluosol-DA, on the radiation response of normal tissues and EMT6 mammary tumors in BALB/c mice was examined. Pre-treating tumor-bearing mice with .015 ml/g of Fluosol and 30 min of carbogen (95% O2/5% CO2) increased the number of tumor cells killed by irradiation with doses of 2.

Iodine-125 implants for carcinoma of the prostate.

One hundred-thirteen patients underwent Iodine-125 prostate implant and lymphadenectomy at Yale-New Haven Hospital from 1974 through 1980. The distribution by clinical stage was: 7 Stage A2, 86 Stage B, and 20 Stage C patients. Ninety-four patients had a negative lymphadenectomy (N-) and 19 patients (17%) had metastatic disease in the pelvic lymph nodes (N+).

Hodgkin's disease manifesting as Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Hodgkin's disease can be manifested in ways other than lymphadenopathy. Two patients had symptoms related to thyroid enlargement and were initially believed to have Hashimoto's thyroiditis on the basis of markedly elevated thyroid antibody titers. Involvement of the thyroid region by Hodgkin's disease was eventually diagnosed.

Aryl-hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in lymphocytes from lung cancer patients and normal controls.

A radiometric assay for the determination of AHH activity in lymphocytes is described. Subjects included eleven male patients with histologically verified lung cancer (nine squamous cell carcinoma and two adenocarcinoma) and eleven age- and sex-matched controls. Lung cancer patients exhibited considerably greater variation and elevated levels of both AHH activity per se and AHH activity adjusted for total cellular DNA than control individuals.