COVID-19 water, sanitation, and hygiene response: Review of measures and initiatives adopted by governments, regulators, utilities, and other stakeholders in 84 countries.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on handwashing as an inexpensive, widely applicable response measure. In consequence, most governments have taken action to promote access to water and sanitation services for all. This paper documents an overview of initiatives and interventions that countries have implemented during the first months of the COVID-19 response. Initiatives have been identified across 84 countries worldwide, and categorized into those that aimed at securing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) for all, and those that sought to provide technical and financial support to service providers. The pandemic has not hit countries in the same way. Accordingly, results show disparities in the response between and within regions, with the level of activity found in the countries varying largely in terms of ambition and scope. Hygiene promotion and infection prevention and control (IPC) has been widely adopted - at least one response measure found in 94% of mapped countries -, although not always matched in ambition with the assured availability of soap, water, and handwashing facilities. Support to vulnerable households to promote basic access to WASH services at scale was weak (38% of countries) or implemented locally (25%), and requiring additional focus, particularly in rural areas and small towns. In addition, parallel support needs to be extended to service providers or to households themselves in the form of cash transfers, in order to ensure the financial viability and the continuity of services. All lessons learned distilled from the pandemic should help strengthen the enabling environment for more resilient services in future emergencies. Areas for focus could include developing specific pandemic response strategies and plans; strengthening coordination; and establishing emergency financial support mechanisms for water operators, for example. Overall, findings presented herein contribute to enhance current and future pandemics prevention, mitigation, and recovery.

Evaluation of MIB-1 and p53 overexpression as risk factors in large cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma in adults.

BACKGROUND: Improvement of current results of therapy for large cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients can be achieved by optimization of initial treatment or application of risk-adapted therapy. The international prognostic index ( IPI), introduced to identify high-risk patients, was recently criticized because it was based on clinical risk factors only, ignoring important tumor molecular risk factors and it fails to identify a sector of high-risk patients, who ultimately relapse. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the value of two tumor biomarkers:MIB-1 and p53 as potential risk factors in diffuse large cell lymphoma. MIB-1 measures tumor cell proliferation, whereas p53 is related to tumor progression and response to chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was done on 69 adult patients with diffuse large cell NHL ( 58 B-phenotype and 11 T-phenotype). Clinical risk assessment was determined by the IPI and patients with a score of 3 or more were considered high-risk. Expression of MIB-1 and p53 was determined by immunohistochemistry and nuclear staining was quantitated by image analysis. Immunoexpression was considered high for MIB-1 nuclear count 50% and p53 counts 20%. Evaluation included both response to chemotherapy ( mostly CHOP), as well as 2- year overall survival analysis. RESULTS: The IPI was the only clinical variable which had a significant impact on survival. Overexpression of both MIB-1 and p53 was associated with poor response to treatment, as well as unfavorable survival. Combined risk factor analysis revealed that only MIB-1 was an independent variable. MIB-1 could also identify some high-risk patients previously categorized in the IPI lowrisk group. CONCLUSIONS: MIB-1 is an independent biologic risk factor for large cell NHL. In order to optimize risk assessment of these patients, it is recommended to construct a new prognostic index by adding MIB-1 overexpression to the other clinical factors of standard IPI. This may allow better identification of high-risk patients and help to guide planning of effective initial treatment. Key Words:NHL - MIB-1 - p53 - CHOP - Risk factors.

A prognostic index (bladder prognostic index) for bilharzial-related invasive bladder cancer.

PURPOSE: Bladder cancer is still the most common solid tumor among adult males in Egypt because of the prevalence of bilharzial infestation, especially in the countryside. In this prospective study, we have recorded the prognostic factors for 180 patients with invasive bladder cancer for whom standard radical cystectomy had been performed to develop a prognostic index (bladder prognostic index) that defines high risk patients who are more vulnerable to disease relapse after surgery and who may benefit from additional therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was performed between January 1997 and December 1999, in which 180 patients with histopathologically proved invasive bladder cancer associated with bilharziasis underwent radical cystectomy or anterior pelvic exenteration. After surgery, patients were regularly followed for a minimum of 2 years. RESULTS: Our patients included 141 males and 39 females. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common type (53.3%), and most of the tumors were grade II (61.1%). A total of 173 patients had their tumors operable, while 7 were inoperable. We had 5 (2.8%) operative related mortalities. At 5 years postoperatively, free and overall survival rates for the whole group of patients were 31.44%+/-5.9% and 32.5%+/-6.8%, respectively. Tumor pathologic stage, grade, and nodal affection were the only significant factors with impact on survival (P=0.008, 0.051, and 0.004, respectively). These 3 prognostic indexes were used to design a model to predict an individual patient's risk factor for recurrence. Patients were then assigned to one of the 4 risk groups according to the score achieved in this prognostic index (0=low risk, 1=intermediate risk, and 2 or 3=higher risk). These 4 risk groups had distinctly different rates of disease-free survival, i.e., 91.7%, 53%, 13%, and 7% for low, intermediate, and higher risk groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although this prognostic index appears to be of a significant clinical relevance, it needs to be more validated on a larger number of patients, and it could be a surrogate variable for biologic factors responsible for the heterogeneity of bladder cancer.

Multidisciplinary approach to breast cancer management in Kuwait, 1993-1998.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In Kuwait, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women. The present study reviews the clinical features, treatment methods and treatment results of breast cancer patients registered in the Kuwait Cancer Control Center (KCCC) and compares these features with those reported in other Arab countries, Europe and North America. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study examines 823 patients with breast cancer who were registered in the KCCC from 1993 to 1998. Patients were identified through the Kuwait Cancer Registry and their cases were followed for at least five years. RESULTS: Eleven males accounted for 1.3% of all patients. The average age was one decade younger than that reported in western countries but similar to reports from Egypt and GCC countries. Surgery was applied in 90.4% of patients. Breast conservation (lumpectomy and axillary clearance) was performed in 19.6% of patients, while mastectomy and axillary clearance was adopted in 60.8%. Radiotherapy was applied in 67.7% of patients and chemotherapy in 60.8%. The long-term overall survival and disease-free survival amounted to 76+/-6.4% and 54+/-4.6% respectively. Prognostic factors were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis. According to multivariate analysis the nodal status, the number of involved nodes and histopathology were independent prognostic factors. Comparable results were achieved after both breast conservation and mastectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Since breast conservation protocols yield results similar to mastectomy, its use should be extended. Search for biological prognostic indicators should continue for their potential use as guides for treatment decisions.

Cancer education in medical, nursing, and pharmacy schools in Egypt: features applicable to other countries.

The medical and health-related educational system in Egypt has advantages and limitations. Medical education includes a unique system of three-year community-based public health training, but better planning and collaboration among schools could notably increase new physicians' knowledge of cancer detection and prevention. Nurses and pharmacists exert great influence in the provision of health care. Yet, their training includes neither cancer education nor information about prevention. The medical and health-related educational system in Egypt has many limitations, but it has the structure and inherent ability to achieve cancer education goals.