An analysis of paediatric clinical presentations in Northwest Syria and the effect of forced displacement, 2018-2022.

Background: One in six children worldwide lives in a region exposed to armed conflict. In conflicts, children are among the most vulnerable, and at risk of adverse health outcomes. We sought to describe trends in child and adolescent morbidity in northwest Syria (NWS) and understand how forced displacement affects clinical utilisation during the Syrian conflict.

Impact of the Syrian conflict and forced displacement on respiratory health: an analysis of primary data from a humanitarian organisation.

Background: Despite a decade of conflict, there has been little exploration of respiratory health in Syria, notwithstanding the known impacts of conflict on lung health. Our aim is to explore the burden and trends of respiratory consultations in Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) facilities in northwest Syria through an ecological analysis.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of routinely collected data relating to respiratory presentations in SAMS' facilities between March 2017 and June 2020; we compared data by facility type, infectious versus non-infectious aetiologies and age.

The impacts of the Syrian conflict on child and adolescent health: a scoping review.

Background: The Syrian conflict has had a profound impact on Syrian children and adolescents. We sought to determine the extent and range of literature on the conflict's health effects on this vulnerable population.

Methods: A scoping review describing the impact of the Syrian conflict on children was undertaken while utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-Extension for Scoping Reviews methodology.

Abiraterone acetate for treatment of ectopic Cushing syndrome caused by ACTH-producing neuroendocrine tumor: a case report.

Background: Ectopic Cushing syndrome (EAS) secondary to an adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH)-releasing neuroendocrine tumor (NET) is a rare diagnosis that can be resistant to standard treatments. Abiraterone acetate (AA) is a selective and irreversible inhibitor of 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase that blocks adrenal steroidogenesis, including cortisol synthesis. In this case, we present the novel use of AA in treating malignant EAS by blocking cortisol synthesis.

Protracted armed conflict and maternal health: a scoping review of literature and a retrospective analysis of primary data from northwest Syria.

Introduction: Syria's protracted conflict has devastated the health system reversing progress made on maternal health preconflict. Our aim is to understand the state of maternal health in Syria focused on underage pregnancy and caesarean sections using a scoping review and quantitative analysis; the latter draws on data from the Syrian American Medical Society's (SAMS) maternal health facilities in northwest Syria.

Methods: We performed a scoping review of academic and grey literature on the state of maternal health across Syria since the onset of conflict (taken as March 2011).

Cardiac Rehabilitation Improves Fitness in Patients With Subclinical Markers of Cardiotoxicity While Receiving Chemotherapy: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY.

Purpose: Heart failure (HF) due to cardiotoxicity is a leading non-cancer-related cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer survivors. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and reduces morbidity and mortality in patients with HF, but little is known about its effects on cardiotoxicity in the cancer population. The objective of this study was to determine whether participation in CR improves CRF in patients undergoing treatment with either doxorubicin or trastuzumab who exhibit markers of subclinical cardiotoxicity.

Evaluation of a Multidisciplinary Team Approach for Generating Survivorship Care Plan Treatment Summaries in Patients With Breast Cancer.

Introduction: The optimal structure for survivorship care plan (SCP) programs and methodology for generating treatment summaries (TSs) has not yet been defined, but the Commission on Cancer and the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers both mandate that participating oncology programs implement SCP-TS processes for patients that have completed treatment.

Methods: We used the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Plan-Do-Study-Act model for conducting a quality improvement project evaluating two different SCP-TS programs implemented at the Henry Ford Health System/Henry Ford Cancer Institute's Breast Oncology Program in Detroit, Michigan. System I involved TSs drafted by nonspecialist breast clinic staff; System II involved TSs vetted through a multidisciplinary breast specialist conference approach.

Utilization of the 21-Gene Recurrence Score in a Diverse Breast Cancer Patient Population: Development of a Clinicopathologic Model to Predict High-Risk Scores and Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

Introduction: The 21-gene expression profile [Oncotype DX Recurrence Score (RS)] stratifies benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy in hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2/neu-negative, node-negative breast cancer. It is not routinely applied to predict neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) response; data in diverse patient populations also are limited. We developed a statistical model based on standard clinicopathologic features to identify high-risk cases (RS > 30) and then evaluated ability of predicted high RS to predict for NACT downstaging.

Randomized trial of a question prompt list to increase patient active participation during interactions with black patients and their oncologists.

Objective: Communication during racially-discordant interactions is often of poor quality and may contribute to racial treatment disparities. We evaluated an intervention designed to increase patient active participation and other communication-related outcomes during interactions between Black patients and non-Black oncologists.

Methods: Participants were 18 non-Black medical oncologists and 114 Black patients at two cancer hospitals in Detroit, Michigan, USA.

EMERGE: A Randomized Phase II Study of the Antibody-Drug Conjugate Glembatumumab Vedotin in Advanced Glycoprotein NMB-Expressing Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Glycoprotein NMB (gpNMB), a negative prognostic marker, is overexpressed in multiple tumor types. Glembatumumab vedotin is a gpNMB-specific monoclonal antibody conjugated to the potent cytotoxin monomethyl auristatin E. This phase II study investigated the activity of glembatumumab vedotin in advanced breast cancer by gpNMB expression.

Bevacizumab and irinotecan treatment for progressive diffuse brainstem glioma: case report.

Diffuse brainstem glioma carries a dismal prognosis. The current cornerstone of treatment is radiation therapy. Chemotherapy appears to be ineffective and the role of this treatment in the recurrent or progressive setting is not known.