Changing Mortality and Place of Death in Response to Refugee Influx: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Jordan, 2005-2016.

Jordan faces complex health care challenges due to refugee influx and an aging population. Palliative care planning and delivery require data to ensure services respond to changing population needs. To determine the trend in mortality and place of death in Jordan.

The Predictive Value of the Eighth Edition of the Clinical TNM Staging System for the Likelihood of Eye Salvage for Intraocular Retinoblastoma by Systemic Chemotherapy and Focal Therapy.

Background: The American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union for International Cancer Control (AJCC/UICC) cTNM staging is emerging as a universal staging for all cancers, including retinoblastoma.

Methods: Here we evaluated the predictive value of the eighth edition AJCC/UICC cTNM staging in comparison with the International Intraocular Retinoblastoma Classification for eye globe salvage by primary systemic chemotherapy and focal therapy (CRD) using logistic regression model for the probability of treatment failure.

Results: The eye salvage rate for 565 treated eyes was 95% (n=139/147) for T1 tumors (98% for T1a and 93% for T1b), 56% (n=230/410) for T2 (81% for T2a and 53% for T2b), and 0% for T3 tumors, and was 98%, 93%, 76%, and 44% for group A, B, C, and D tumors, respectively.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in leukocyte adhesion deficiency type I and III.

Type I and III leukocyte adhesion deficiencies (LADs) are primary immunodeficiency disorders resulting in early death due to infections and additional bleeding tendency in LAD-III. The curative treatment of LAD-I and LAD-III is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). In this retrospective multicenter study, data were collected using the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation registry; we analyzed data from 84 LAD patients from 33 centers, all receiving an allo-HSCT from 2007 to 2017.

Management and Outcomes of Unilateral Group D Tumors in Retinoblastoma.

Purpose: Retinoblastoma presents most commonly as advanced unilateral disease, particularly in developing countries for which primary enucleation has been the preferred method of treatment. However, with the evolution of newer treatment modalities including intravitreal chemotherapy, intra-arterial chemotherapy and newer chemotherapeutic combinations, a trend towards more conservative approaches is being observed. Our aim is to evaluate outcomes of group D eyes following conservative and non-conservative treatment options.

Using cost-effectiveness analysis to support policy change: varenicline and nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation in Jordan.

Background: Smoking cessation pharmacotherapies (SCPs) have been established as cost-effective for the treatment of tobacco use disorder across a variety of settings. In Jordan, a resource-constrained country where smoking rates rank at one of the highest globally, the cost-effectiveness of SCPs has not yet been quantified. The lack of information about the value of SCPs has contributed to low demand for them (from public and private payers) and consequently low availability of these medications.

Hematological Indices of Distant Metastases and Prognostic Nomogram in Gastro-Pancreatic and Biliary Tract Cancers.

Purpose: The predictive value of inflammatory parameters as indicators of poor overall survival (OS) has been well studied in various tumors. This study aimed to explore the association of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), among other parameters in upper gastro-intestinal tract tumors with distant metastases and OS.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective analysis was done for 945 patients (males n= 539, 57.

Cancer research in the 57 Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries, 2008-17.

Background And Objectives: The 57 countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are experiencing rapid increases in their burden of cancer. The First Ladies Against Cancer meeting at the 2016 OIC meeting in Istanbul committed to the importance of cancer control and the need for more evidence to support national cancer control planning (NCCP). Strong research systems are a crucial aspect of NCCP, but few data exist to support policy-makers across this political grouping.

Irinotecan and temozolomide chemotherapy in paediatric and adult populations with relapsed Ewing Sarcoma.

Background: Irinotecan and temozolomide (IT) is a widely used regimen for relapsed Ewing sarcoma (ES), although studies are largely limited to paediatric populations.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed paediatric (< 18 years) and adult patients (≥ 18 years) treated with salvage IT at two institutions. Haematologic toxicities were graded according to common terminology criteria of adverse events.

How Telemedicine and Centralized Care Changed the Natural History of Retinoblastoma in a Developing Country: Analysis of 478 Patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of integrating a telemedicine-based twinning partnership and centralized care for retinoblastoma on survival and eye salvage.

Design: Four hundred seventy-eight retinoblastoma patients treated at a tertiary referral cancer center (King Hussein Cancer Centre [KHCC]) from 2003 through 2019.

Participants: Four hundred seventy-eight retinoblastoma patients treated at KHCC after implementing a telemedicine-based program with St.

The clinical value of peripheral immune cell counts in pancreatic cancer.

Background: Elevated neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is linked to poor overall survival (OS) in pancreatic cancer. We aim to investigate the association of the various hematologic markers, in particular NLR among others, with distant metastases, a common feature in pancreatic cancer.

Methods: Clinical data from 355 pancreatic cancer patients managed at King Hussein Cancer Center (Amman-Jordan) have been reviewed.

Childhood cancer care in the Middle East, North Africa, and West/Central Asia: A snapshot across five countries from the POEM network.

Background: The Pediatric Oncology East and Mediterranean (POEM) network, through this report, provides a snapshot view of an expected child's treatment journey in five countries in the region.

Methods: Pediatric oncologists from cancer centers in Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and Pakistan provided input on referral pathways, barriers to care, and patient outcomes, based on personal experience and published data. Outcome data were extracted from institutional registries.

Programmed screening for retinoblastoma enhances early diagnosis and improves management outcome for high-risk children.

Purpose: To study the impact of a Retinoblastoma (Rb) screening program in the absence of genetic testing on the management and outcome of high-risk children.

Methods: This is a retrospective, clinical case series of 76 children from families involved in a Rb screening program as they had higher than normal risk as calculated by the conventional ways without genetic testing. Data included calculated risk, method of diagnosis, demographics, tumor features, treatment modalities, and management outcome.

The economic burden of cancer care for Syrian refugees: a population-based modelling study.

Background: Cancer represents a substantial health burden for refugees and host countries. However, no reliable data on the costs of cancer care for refugees are available, which limits the planning of official development assistance in humanitarian settings. We aimed to model the direct costs of cancer care among Syrian refugee populations residing in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey.

Outcome of patients with Fanconi anemia developing myelodysplasia and acute leukemia who received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A retrospective analysis on behalf of EBMT group.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is curative for bone marrow failure in patients with Fanconi anemia (FA), but the presence of a malignant transformation is associated with a poor prognosis and the management of these patients is still challenging. We analyzed outcome of 74 FA patients with a diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (n = 35), acute leukemia (n = 35) or with cytogenetic abnormalities (n = 4), who underwent allo-HSCT from 1999 to 2016 in EBMT network. Type of diagnosis, pre-HSCT cytoreductive therapies and related toxicities, disease status pre-HSCT, donor type, and conditioning regimen were considered as main variables potentially influencing outcome.

Intravitreal Melphalan Chemotherapy for Vitreous Seeds in Retinoblastoma.

Objective: To evaluate our experience with intravitreal melphalan chemotherapy as a second-line regimen for RB patients with refractory or recurrent vitreous seeds.

Methods: A retrospective case series of 16 eyes from 16 patients with intraocular RB who received intravitreal melphalan chemotherapy using the antireflux injection technique. Data included demographics, stage at diagnosis, treatment modalities, side effects, eye salvage, and survival.

Medical and surgical management of obesity and diabetes: what's new?

We conducted a narrative review of the medical and surgical management of people with obesity and diabetes. Results of this review showed that a 5-10% loss in body weight can be achieved with a change in lifestyle, diet and behaviour and with approved pharmacological therapies in people with obesity and diabetes. New targeted therapies are now available for patients with previously untreatable genetic causes of obesity.

Relapse of Aplastic Anemia with Majority Donor Chimerism (Donor-Type Aplasia) Occurring Late after Bone Marrow Transplantation.

There have been sporadic reports of the development of delayed disease recurrence after bone marrow transplantation for severe aplastic anemia despite sustained majority or full donor chimerism. This is termed "donor-type aplasia" (DTA). We describe the management and outcome of 11 pediatric patients from 8 institutions in Europe, the United States, and the Middle East who developed DTA at a mean of 35 months post-transplant.

Leadership styles' influence on the quality of nursing care.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate managers' leadership styles, from the perspective of registered nurses, and its effects on the quality of nursing care in both the private and public healthcare sectors. An additional aim is to assess the relationship between leadership styles and particular organisational outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach: The sample for this quantitative research study was comprised of 400 respondents, among which 50 were nurse managers, 150 were staff nurses and the remaining respondents were patients.

Hematologic markers of distant metastases in gastric cancer.

Background: High neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is associated with poor overall survival (OS) in gastric cancer. This study evaluates whether NLR, in addition to other parameters including absolute neutrophil count (ANC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), absolute eosinophil count (AEC), absolute monocyte count (AMC), monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are associated with distant metastases, a common and poor prognostic feature of gastric cancer.

Methods: Clinical data from 502 gastric cancer patients treated at King Hussein Cancer Center (Amman, Jordan) have been retrospectively reviewed.

Characteristics, management, and outcome of squamous carcinoma of the conjunctiva in a single tertiary cancer center in Jordan.

Aim: To evaluate the features and outcome of management of malignant conjunctival squamous tumors in King Hussein Cancer Center (a referral tertiary cancer center in the Middle East).

Methods: Retrospective case series of 31 eyes for 31 patients with conjunctival squamous neoplasia. Main outcome measures included: age, gender, laterality, tumor location, pathological features, tumor stage, treatment modality, and outcome.

Characteristics, management, and outcome of patients with uveal melanoma treated by Iodine-125 radioactive plaque therapy in a single tertiary cancer center in Jordan.

Objective: To evaluate King Hussein Cancer Center experience in using Iodine-125 COMS radioactive plaque for treatment of Uveal Melanoma in Jordan.

Methods: Retrospective case series of eyes with uveal melanoma treated by Iodine-125 COMS radioactive plaque therapy. Data collection required access to medical, radiology, Labs and pathology reports.

Tumor necrosis and clinical outcomes following neoadjuvant therapy in soft tissue sarcoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The prognostic role of tumor necrosis following neoadjuvant therapy is established in bone sarcomas but remains unclear in soft tissue sarcomas (STS).

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, MEDLINE in progress, EMBASE and Cochrane to identify studies that investigated neoadjuvant therapy in STS. Studies were required to report survival data based on extent of necrosis, or provided individual patient data allowing estimation thereof.

SIOP PODC Adapted treatment guidelines for low grade gliomas in low and middle income settings.

Effective treatment of children with low grade glioma (LGG) requires a functioning multi-disciplinary team with adequate neurosurgical, neuroradiological, pathological, radiotherapy and chemotherapy facilities and personnel. In addition, the treating centre should have the capacity to manage a variety of LGG and treatment-associated complications. These requirements have made it difficult for many centers in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) to offer effective treatment and follow up.

Transplant results in adults with Fanconi anaemia.

The outcomes of adult patients transplanted for Fanconi anaemia (FA) have not been well described. We retrospectively analysed 199 adult patients with FA transplanted between 1991 and 2014. Patients were a median of 16 years of age when diagnosed with FA, and underwent transplantation at a median age of 23 years.