ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 has disrupted the global health care system since March 2020. Lung cancer (LC) patients (pts) represent a vulnerable population highly affected by the pandemic. This multicenter Italian study aimed to evaluate whether the COVID-19 outbreak had an impact on access to cancer diagnosis and treatment of LC pts compared with pre-pandemic time. METHODS: Consecutive newly diagnosed LC pts referred to 25 Italian Oncology Departments between March and December 2020 were included. Access rate and temporal intervals between date of symptoms onset and diagnostic and therapeutic services were compared with the same period in 2019. Differences between the 2 years were analyzed using the chi-square test for categorical variables and the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables. RESULTS: A slight reduction (-6.9%) in newly diagnosed LC cases was observed in 2020 compared with 2019 (1523 versus 1637, P = 0.09). Newly diagnosed LC pts in 2020 were more likely to be diagnosed with stage IV disease (P < 0.01) and to be current smokers (someone who has smoked more than 100 cigarettes, including hand-rolled cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, in their lifetime and has smoked in the last 28 days) (P < 0.01). The drop in terms of new diagnoses was greater in the lockdown period (percentage drop -12% versus -3.2%) compared with the other months included. More LC pts were referred to a low/medium volume hospital in 2020 compared with 2019 (P = 0.01). No differences emerged in terms of interval between symptoms onset and radiological diagnosis (P = 0.94), symptoms onset and cytohistological diagnosis (P = 0.92), symptoms onset and treatment start (P = 0.40), and treatment start and first radiological revaluation (P = 0.36). CONCLUSIONS: Our study pointed out a reduction of new diagnoses with a shift towards higher stage at diagnosis for LC pts in 2020. Despite this, the measures adopted by Italian Oncology Departments ensured the maintenance of the diagnostic-therapeutic pathways of LC pts.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Lung Neoplasms , Communicable Disease Control , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis , Lung Neoplasms/epidemiology , Lung Neoplasms/therapy , PandemicsABSTRACT
In this study we relate our experience in 7 cases of photosensitive epilepsy and the effect of different types of filters upon the photoconvulsive response (PR). The study was performed with an 8 channels electroencephalograph and the patients were stimulated with a Joule lamp (1 c/sec-30 c/sec). Red, yellow, blue and green cellophane paper filters were used. The EEG response presented bilateral spikes or polyspikes and slow wave paroxysmal discharges. In the presence of a blue filter, the PR appeared later: an average of 6 seconds of closing the eyes and the response had a lower amplitude. In addition the PR did not appear or it was blocked when we used a double blue filter. These results support the role of the retina in the genesis of the PR. We suggest that the blue filter allows a small percentage of light transmission and under these conditions the electrical events that follow light stimulation do not occur.
Subject(s)
Color , Epilepsy/etiology , Photic Stimulation/adverse effects , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Electroencephalography , Epilepsy/physiopathology , Female , Filtration/instrumentation , HumansABSTRACT
In this study we relate our experience in 7 cases of photosensitive epilepsy and the effect of different types of filters upon the photoconvulsive response (PR). The study was performed with an 8 channels electroencephalograph and the patients were stimulated with a Joule lamp (1 c/sec-30 c/sec). Red, yellow, blue and green cellophane paper filters were used. The EEG response presented bilateral spikes or polyspikes and slow wave paroxysmal discharges. In the presence of a blue filter, the PR appeared later: an average of 6 seconds of closing the eyes and the response had a lower amplitude. In addition the PR did not appear or it was blocked when we used a double blue filter. These results support the role of the retina in the genesis of the PR. We suggest that the blue filter allows a small percentage of light transmission and under these conditions the electrical events that follow light stimulation do not occur.
