Sandplay therapy could be a method to decrease disease activity and psychological stress in children with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective Although the prevalence rate of childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) is far lower than that of adults, cSLE has a high rate of organ involvement, rapid development and poor prognosis, which is more serious than that in adults. And studies have shown that a wide range of physiological, functional, nerve, and organ damage will have a great impact on the mental health of children. At present, there is no relevant psychological intervention research for cSLE in China. This paper aimed to explore the effect of Sandplay therapy on mental health and disease activity of children with cSLE. Methods Forty childrens with cSLE were randomly divided into control group (CG) and intervention group (IG); the CG were treated with glucocorticoid, immunosuppressant and other drugs, while the IG were treated with Sandplay therapy in addition to drug therapy, at the time of 0, 2, and 4 weeks after initial diagnosis, respectively. The questionnaire evaluation and related clinical indicators of the two groups were compared and analyzed (before psychotherapy intervention) at 0, 2, 4, and 12 weeks after initial diagnosis. Results There was no significant difference between the two groups in the evaluation of questionnaire and related clinical indicators at the time 0, 2 weeks after initial diagnosis respectively. At 12 weeks after the intervention, the score of Short version of the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI-S) in the IG was significantly lower than that in the CG, the score of The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) scale in the IG was significantly lower than that in the CG, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL 4.0) showed that the scores of social function, school performance, and emotional health of the IG were higher than those of the CG ( p < 0.05), and the clinical indexes of the IG were better than those of the CG ( p < 0.05). Conclusion Sandplay therapy may help to slow down the occurrence and development of anxiety and depression and reduce disease activity in patients with cSLE.

Pattern of breast cancer presentation during the coronavirus disease pandemic: results from a cohort study in the UK

Background: This study aimed to explore the hypothesis that the stage of breast cancer at initial diagnosis in 2020 is more advanced compared with 2019. Methods: Tumor, node, metastasis and Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stages of new breast cancer diagnoses at the Bucks Breast Unit from May to October 2019 and 2020 were reviewed. A p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Average UICC stage increased from 1a in 2019 to 2a in 2020 (p < 0.01). Excluding cancers detected through screening, UICC stage still increased from 1b in 2019 to 2a in 2020 (p = 0.0184). There was a significant increase in the percentage of node-positive patients (p = 0.0063) and patients with metastatic disease (p = 0.0295) on initial presentation. Conclusion: Overall, patients presented with higher UICC stages and more node-positive and metastatic disease on initial diagnosis in 2020 compared with 2019.

Risk factors for the accuracy of the initial diagnosis of malaria cases in China: a decision-tree modelling approach

Background Early accurate diagnosis and risk assessment for malaria are crucial for improving patients’ terminal prognosis and preventing them from progressing to a severe or critical stage. This study aims to describe the accuracy of the initial diagnosis of malaria cases with different characteristics and the factors that affect the accuracy in the context of the agenda for a world free of malaria. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 494 patients admitted to hospitals with a diagnosis of malaria from January 2014 through December 2016. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and decision tree analysis was performed to predict the probability of patients who may be misdiagnosed. Results Of the 494 patients included in this study, the proportions of patients seeking care in county-level, prefecture-level and provincial-level hospitals were 27.5% (n = 136), 26.3% (n = 130) and 8.3% (n = 41), respectively; the proportions of patients seeking care in clinic, township health centre and Centres for Disease Control and Prevention were 25.9% (n = 128), 4.1% (n = 20), and 7.9% (n = 39), respectively. Nearly 60% of malaria patients were misdiagnosed on their first visit, and 18.8% had complications. The median time from onset to the first visit was 2 days (IQR: 0-3 days), and the median time from the first visit to diagnosis was 3 days (IQR: 0–4 days). The decision tree classification of malaria patients being misdiagnosed consisted of six categorical variables: healthcare facilities for the initial diagnosis, time interval between onset and initial diagnosis, region, residence type, insurance status, and age. Conclusions Insufficient diagnostic capacity of healthcare facilities with lower administrative levels for the first visit was the most important risk factor in misdiagnosing patients. To reduce diagnostic errors, clinicians, government decision-makers and communities should consider strengthening the primary care facilities, the time interval between onset and initial diagnosis, residence type, and health insurance status.

Comparison of Tumor Immune Environment Between Newly Diagnosed and Recurrent Glioblastoma in Matched Patients

Purpose: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most lethal primary brain tumor in adult patients. The disease progression, response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy at initial diagnosis, and prognosis are profoundly associated with the tumor microenvironment (TME), especially the features of tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TII). Recurrent GBM is even more challenging to manage. Differences in the immune environment between newly diagnosed and recurrent GBM and an association with tumor prognosis are not well defined. Methods: To address this knowledge gap, we analyzed the clinical data and tissue specimens from 24 GBM patients (13 at initial diagnosis and 11 at recurrence). The expression levels of multiple immunobiological markers in patients’ GBM at initial diagnosis versus at recurrence were compared, including five patients with both specimens available (paired). The distribution patterns of TII were evaluated in both the intratumoral and perivascular regions. Results: We found that tumors from recurrent GBM have significantly more tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and macrophages and higher PD-L1 expression than tumors at primary diagnosis and benign brain specimens from epilepsy surgery. The pattern changes of the TILs and macrophages of the five paired specimens were consistent with the unpaired patients, while the CD8 to CD4 ratio remained constant from diagnosis to recurrence in the paired tissues. The levels of TILs and macrophages at initial diagnosis did not correlate with OS. TILs and macrophages were increased in recurrent tumors both in intratumoral and perivascular areas, with higher distribution levels in intratumoral than perivascular regions. Higher CD4 or CD8 infiltration at recurrence was associated with worse prognosis, respectively. Conclusion: Our study elucidated that TIL and TAM tend to accumulate in perivascular region and are more abundant in recurrent GBM than newly diagnosed GBM.

Variation between Initial and Final Diagnosis as A Predictor of Adverse Obstetric Outcome among Post-Natal Women at Bungoma Hospitals, Kenya

Despite diagnosis being an important part of clinical or medical consultations, the diagnosis might fail leading to adverse effects. This is a global problem, where developed and developing countries go through. In sub-Saharan Africa, variations between initial diagnosis and final diagnosis lead to diagnostic errors with high maternal mortalities. In Kenya, a lot of measures have been put in place but still, variation in diagnosis appear to have become rampant. Bungoma county is one of the counties with a high mortality ratio, especially for pregnant women attributed to the variation between initial and final diagnosis. Therefore, it was crucial to investigate the variation between initial and final diagnosis in relation to obstetric outcomes at hospitals in Bungoma County. The cross-sectional research design was used (Bungoma and Webuye hospitals). Systematic sampling was used to obtain 384 respondents after proportionate allocation to each hospital, and purposive sampling to select 8 health care workers as key informants. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and an interview guide. The pre-test was done with validity established through crosschecking and reliability calculated using the Cronbach method (0.89). Using a statistical package for social sciences version 25, descriptive and inferential statistics was run where chi-square and odds ratio was used to determine the influence between variables, significance and prediction. The study revealed a variation between initial diagnosis and the final diagnosis was 20.8% while diagnostic errors were significant predictors of obstetric outcomes among post-natal mothers at level five with a p-value of 0.045 at a significance of 5%(P=0.045). Demographic characteristics showed no relationship with obstetric outcomes (P=0.54>0.05). Matched diagnostic had no variations (N=327, M=1.00, SD=0.000); while unmatched diagnostic had variations (N=327, M=1.82, SD=.384). There was a relationship between diagnostic errors and obstetric outcome (ꭓ2 (1) = 251.86, p< .001). An association between diagnostic error with unsafe obstetric outcomes was significant at the odds ratio of 2.03(OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.31–2.16). The study demonstrates that a correct diagnosis is a viable strategy in preventing unsafe obstetric outcomes and by extension minimizing morbidity and mortality among pregnant women. The study concluded that there was a variation between initial diagnosis and final diagnosis which had an adverse obstetric outcome. it was recommended to build capacities for the health workers in order to address increased diagnostic errors.

„Kocha, lubi, szanuje – nie chce, nie dba, żartuje”... Uczeń klasy pierwszej liceum i technikum w relacji do lektury obowiązkowej w szkole podstawowej (raport z diagnozy)

The article presents the results of a survey (concerning the reading experience of the canon) conducted among students of four first grades of secondary school (one grade of high school divided into elementary and advanced levels, and three classes of technical secondary school). The research was part of the initial diagnosis of the first and second year of graduates of the reformed primary school at the threshold of secondary school (in 2019/2020 and 2020/2021). Students declared reading compulsory reading books in grades 7–8 of primary school according to the scale: I have read all / excerpts / abstract / not at all / don’t remember. The results show not only the respondents’ reading preferences, but also their specific strategies of “acquiring” the content of the obligatory texts and their attitude towards compulsory reading in general. They also allow to pose questions about the literary competences of the graduates of the reformed elementary school at the start of the next stage of education. Scientific studies in the field of reading were used as a context, including the latest results of surveys among teachers on reading books by elementary school students prepared by Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Oświatowe (2020).

Clinicopathological characteristics and survival outcomes in patients with synchronous lung metastases upon initial metastatic breast cancer diagnosis in Han population

Background We investigated the clinicopathological characteristics and survival of breast cancer lung metastases (BCLM) patients at initial diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in the Han population. Methods We attained clinical data of 3155 MBC patients initially diagnosed between April 2000 and September 2019 from the China National Cancer Center and finally included 2263 MBC patients in this study, among which 809 patients presented with lung metastases at first MBC diagnosis. The risk factors for BCLM were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis and the prognostic factors of BCLM patients were assessed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Results Patients with triple-negative subtype (42.3%) harbored the highest incidence proportions of lung metastases. Age ≥ 50 years, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 2, M1, hormone receptor-negative (HR-)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2) + subtype, triple-negative subtype and disease-free survival (DFS) > 2 years were remarkably associated with higher incidence of lung metastases, while invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) and bone metastases were significantly correlated with lower odds of lung metastases at diagnosis. The median survival of BCLM patients was 41.7 months, with triple-negative subtype experiencing the worst prognosis of 26.8 months. ECOG 2, triple-negative subtype, liver metastases, multi-metastatic sites and DFS ≤ 2 years were significantly correlated with poor survival of BCLM patients. Conclusions Our study provides essential information on clinicopathological features and survival outcomes of BCLM patients at initial diagnosis of MBC in China.

Degradation of skeletal mass in locally advanced oesophageal cancer between initial diagnosis and recurrence

Background The prognostic value of a low skeletal mass index (SMI) has been investigated in locally advanced oesophageal (LAE) cancer at diagnosis. However, nothing is known about its evolution and clinical impact between initial diagnosis and recurrence. Methods A total of 89 patients treated for LAE cancer between January 2009 and December 2019 were included in this study. Computed tomography (CT) scans before treatment and at recurrence were evaluated. SMI and other body composition parameters were analysed by the L3 scan method. Results Participants were aged 66.0 (36.0–86) years. The incidence of low SMI increased by 12.3% between diagnosis and recurrence (70.7% vs. 83.0%, respectively) over a median follow-up of 16.9 (1.7–101.6) months. Patients with high SMI at diagnosis showed loss of muscle mass (58.0 vs. 55.2 cm2/m2, respectively; P < 0.001) and decreased body mass index (BMI) (27.9 vs. 26.3 kg/m2, respectively; P = 0.05), but fat mass was increased (68.9 vs. 72.0 cm2/m2, respectively; P = 0.01). Patients with low SMI at diagnosis showed no significant changes in body composition parameters and no improvement of SMI, even with nutritional support. Low SMI (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–3.16) was an independent predictor (P = 0.041) of high nutritional risk index (HR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.03–3.11; P = 0.039) at diagnosis. Conclusions The percentage of patients with a low SMI increased during follow-up. Our data suggest that an assessment of skeletal muscle parameters and nutrition support may be more useful in patients with a high SMI.