Burkitt lymphoma: The effect of age, sex and delay to diagnosis on treatment completion and outcome of treatment in 934 Patients in Cameroon.

Introduction: The role of age and sex in the presentation and outcome of endemic Burkitt lymphoma (BL) has not been studied recently. This study analysed these factors in 934 patients with BL who had received cyclophosphamide and intrathecal methotrexate as treatment.

Methods: Records of 934 children diagnosed with BL from 2004 to 2015 were obtained from our Paediatric Oncology Networked Database (POND) cancer registry.

Survey of the use of traditional and complementary medicine among children with cancer at three hospitals in Cameroon.

Introduction: There is lack of diagnostic and treatment resources with variable access to childhood cancer treatment in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), which may lead to subsequent poor survival. The primary aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and types of traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) used in Cameroon. Secondarily, we explored determinants of T&CM use, associated costs, perceived benefits and harm, and disclosure of T&CM use to medical team.

Outcome of retinoblastoma treatment protocol in Cameroon as per SIOP-PODC recommendation for a low-income setting.

Introduction: The International Society of Paediatric Oncology-Paediatric Oncology in Developing Countries (SIOP-PODC) group recommended graduated-intensity retinoblastoma treatment for children in low- and middle-income countries with limited local resources.

Aim: The aim was to improve outcome of children with retinoblastoma by means of a treatment protocol for low-income settings as recommended by the SIOP-PODC recommendation in Cameroon.

Methods: Children diagnosed with retinoblastoma between 2012 and 2016 were treated in two Baptist Mission hospitals in Cameroon, staging according to the International Retinoblastoma Staging System.

Treatment abandonment: A report from the collaborative African network for childhood cancer care and research-CANCaRe Africa.

Background: 'Treatmentabandonment' is a common and preventable cause of childhood cancer treatment failure in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Risk factors and effective interventions in LMIC are reported. Poverty and costs of treatment are perceived as overriding causes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Early death and treatment-related mortality: A report from SUCCOUR - Supportive Care for Children with Cancer in Africa.

Background: Deaths during paediatric cancer treatment are common in Africa. It is often difficult to distinguish between treatment-related and disease-related causes. To prevent these deaths, it is important to study them and identify the cause.

Fever and neutropenia outcomes and areas for intervention: A report from SUCCOUR - Supportive Care for Children with Cancer in Africa.

Background: Death during paediatric cancer treatment is common in sub-Saharan Africa. Using the infrastructure of Supportive Care for Children with Cancer in Africa (SUCCOUR), our objective was to describe fever and neutropenia (FN) characteristics and outcomes in order to identify potential areas for future intervention.

Methods: A multicentre prospective, observational cohort study was conducted in sub-Saharan Africa.

Two decades of childhood cancer care in Cameroon: 2000-2020.

Background: Before the year 2000, there was no dedicated childhood cancer service in Cameroon. The aim of this study was to investigate the progress made with pediatric oncology care in Cameroon from 2000 to 2020.

Method: A literature search was conducted for published articles on childhood cancer in Cameroon and relevant documents, and conference abstracts were reviewed.

The outcome and cost of a capacity-building training programme on the early recognition and referral of childhood cancer for healthcare workers in North-West Cameroon.

Aim: Early cancer diagnosis is necessary to improve survival rates. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome and cost of the childhood cancer training programme amongst healthcare workers.

Design: This was a prospective pre-post study design, using questionnaires for pre- and post-training testing.

The Evolution of a Hospital-Based Cancer Registry in Northwest Cameroon from 2004 to 2015.

Effective cancer registration is required for the development of cancer management policies, but is often deficient in the developing world. In 2008 cancer registration was set up Banso Baptist Hospital and Mbingo Baptist Hospital in the Northwest region of Cameroon, using the Pediatric Oncology Networked Database (POND). The objective of this study was to analyze the POND registry data for patients with cancer aged 0-15 years for the period 2004-15.

Pediatric Oncology Clinical Trials and Collaborative Research in Africa: Current Landscape and Future Perspectives.

Purpose: Adequate clinical services have yet to be established in the majority of African countries, where childhood cancer survival rates vary from 8.1% to 30.3%.

Improvement of overall survival in the Collaborative Wilms Tumour Africa Project.

Introduction: The Collaborative Wilms Tumour (WT) Africa Project implemented an adapted WT treatment guideline in six centres in sub-Saharan Africa. The primary objectives were to describe abandonment of treatment, death during treatment, event-free survival (EFS) and relapse following implementation. An exploratory objective was to compare outcomes with the baseline evaluation, a historical cohort preceding implementation.

Destitution, treatment adherence and survival of children with Burkitt lymphoma in a twinning programme in Northwest Cameroon.

Background: Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a curable childhood cancer. Treatment adherence is crucial for a good outcome, but is potentially problematic in low- and middle-income countries owing to parental financial constraints.

Aims: To investigate the association of destitution with treatment adherence and its effect on the survival of patients with BL.

Potentiation of antiseizure and neuroprotective efficacy of standard nerve agent treatment by addition of tariquidar.

Organophosphate (OP) induced seizures are commonly treated with anticholinergics, oximes and anticonvulsants. Inhibition of P-glycoprotein (PgP) has been shown to enhance the efficacy of nerve agent treatment in soman exposed rats. In the present study, the promising effects of the PgP inhibitor tariquidar were investigated in more detail in rats s.

Improved outcome at end of treatment in the collaborative Wilms tumour Africa project.

Background: The Collaborative Wilms Tumour (WT) Africa Project has implemented an adapted WT treatment guideline in sub-Saharan Africa as a multi-centre prospective clinical trial. A retrospective, baseline evaluation of end-of-treatment outcome was performed for a 2-year period prior to the introduction of this guideline. The collaborative project aims to reduce both treatment abandonment and death during treatment to less than 10% for improving survival.

Traditional and Complementary Medicine in Pediatric Oncology and Low-Middle Income Countries: Recommendations from the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP), T&CM Collaborative.

Significant strides have been made in the treatment of childhood cancer. Improvements in survival have led to increased attention toward supportive care indications; including the use of traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM). The use of T&CM among children and adolescents with cancer is well documented in both high-income countries (HICs) and low-middle income countries (LMICs).

International incidence of childhood cancer, 2001-10: a population-based registry study.

Background: Cancer is a major cause of death in children worldwide, and the recorded incidence tends to increase with time. Internationally comparable data on childhood cancer incidence in the past two decades are scarce. This study aimed to provide internationally comparable local data on the incidence of childhood cancer to promote research of causes and implementation of childhood cancer control.

The role of traditional healers in the diagnosis and management of Burkitt lymphoma in Cameroon: understanding the challenges and moving forward.

Background: Burkittlymphoma(BL) is the most common childhood cancer in Cameroon with a reported incidence of 3 per 100,000 children under 15 years in the Northwest region. Treatment at three Baptist mission hospitals has a recorded cure rate of over 50%. Traditional medicine(TM) is recognized by the national health system, but its scope is undefined and entraps children with BL.

Dopaminergic neurotransmission in ventral and dorsal striatum differentially modulates alcohol reinforcement.

Dopaminergic neurotransmission in the striatum has been widely implicated in the reinforcing properties of substances of abuse. However, the striatum is functionally heterogeneous, and previous work has mostly focused on psychostimulant drugs. Therefore, we investigated how dopamine within striatal subregions modulates alcohol-directed behaviour in rats.

Individual Variation in Alcohol Intake Predicts Reinforcement, Motivation, and Compulsive Alcohol Use in Rats.

Background: Alcohol is one of the most commonly used psychoactive substances. Prolonged alcohol use can result in alcohol use disorder (AUD), characterized by excessive and compulsive alcohol consumption. Importantly, however, the development of AUD only happens in a minority of individuals who consume alcohol.

Early social isolation augments alcohol consumption in rats.

There is a considerable degree of individual vulnerability for alcohol use disorder (AUD) as only a subpopulation of individuals who regularly consume alcohol develop AUD. It is therefore very important to understand the factors and mechanisms that contribute towards the individual risk for AUD. In this respect, social influences, in particular during development, may be relevant for AUD as disruptions in early social experiences are associated with an increased risk for AUD.

Altered performance in a rat gambling task after acute and repeated alcohol exposure.

Rationale: A bidirectional relationship between alcohol use disorder (AUD) and deficits in impulse control and decision making has been suggested. However, the mechanisms by which neurocognitive impairments predispose to, or result from AUD remain incompletely understood.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to gain more insight in the effects of alcohol exposure on decision making and impulse control.

An evaluation of a palliative care outreach programme for children with Burkitt lymphoma in rural Cameroon.

Background: Palliative care (PC) is the most appropriate treatment for patients with life-limiting, incurable diseases, but it is a relatively new concept in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A lack of curative treatment options for some conditions creates a great need for PC, but such services are rarely provided in SSA. More research into PC in SSA is urgently needed to create an evidence base to confirm the importance of appropriate PC services.

The Collaborative Wilms Tumour Africa Project; baseline evaluation of Wilms tumour treatment and outcome in eight institutes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Aim: Reported survival of Wilms tumour in sub-Saharan Africa is below 50%. A published International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) Pediatric Oncology in Developing Countries (PODC) consensus adapted treatment guideline is implemented as a multi-centre prospective clinical trial at eight centres in sub-Saharan Africa. A baseline evaluation has been done to help decide on priorities to improve outcome and to assess improvements over time.