Clinical profile, treatment and survival outcomes of peadiatric germ cell tumours: A Pakistani perspective.

Germ Cell Tumours (GCTs) are rare tumours. Generally 80% are benign and 20% malignant with a bimodal age distribution. The retrospective study was conducted at Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, and comprised all paediatric patients below 18 years of age who received treatment for histology-proven GCT from 2006 to 2014. Of the 207 patients, 98(42.3%) were males and 109(52.7%) were females. The most common GCT was yolk sac tumour in 90(43.5%) children followed by mixed GCT in 40(19.3%) and dysgerminoma in 34(16.4%). Gonads were most commonly involved in 165(79.7%) patients with metastasis in 24(11.6%) at presentation and recurrence in 26(12.5%) patients. Overall, 133(64.3%) patients are well and followed up at regular intervals and 55(26.5%) have been lost to follow-up with an expected overall 5-year median survival of 45%. Despite the distinct clinical profile of paediatric GCT, survival can be improved by early diagnosis, regimented treatment according to set guidelines, protocols and by improving follow-up.

Wood as a green and sustainable alternative for environmentally friendly & flexible electronic devices.

Electronic are usually constructed from non-renewable, non-biodegradable, and hazardous materials. Due to the frequent upgrading or discarding of electronic devices, which contributes significantly to environmental pollution, there is a high demand for electronics made from renewable and biodegradable materials with less harmful components. To this end, due to their flexibility, strong mechanical, and optical properties, wood-based electronics have become very appealing as substrates especially for flexible electronics and optoelectronics. However, incorporating numerous features including high conductivity and transparency, flexibility, and mechanical robustness into an environmentally friendly electronic device remains very challenging. Herein, authors have provided the techniques used to fabricate sustainable wood based flexible electronics coupled with their chemical, mechanical, optical, thermal, thermomechanical, and surface properties for various applications. Additionally, the synthesis of a conductive ink based on lignin and the development of translucent wood as a substrate are covered. Future developments and broader applications of wood-based flexible materials are discussed in the final section of the study, with an emphasis on their potential in fields including wearable electronics, renewable energy, and biomedical devices. This research improves upon prior efforts by demonstrating new ways to simultaneously attain better mechanical and optical qualities and environmental sustainability.