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Abstract: Izhodišče: Finančna toksičnost (FT) predstavlja vse objektivne finančne posledice in subjektivne finančne skrbi, ki se pojavljajo pri bolnikih z rakom in njihovih svojcih zaradi bolezni in zdravljenja. Finančno breme, ki ga imajo slovenski bolniki z rakom, pred našo raziskavo še ni bilo opredeljeno, prav tako ni bil poznan vpliv FT na kakovost življenja (QoL).Namen: Cilj raziskave je bila ocena FT pri bolnikih z rakom v Sloveniji, njen vpliv na QoL bolnikov in preizkus dosedanjih inštrumentov za oceno FT in QoL.Metode: Za merjenje FT smo uporabili anketno metodologijo. Razvili smo lasten vprašalnik za oceno FT in uporabili mednaro-dno validirana vprašalnika FACIT-COST in EORTC QLQ-C30. Raziskava je bila prospektivna in presečna, potekala je na Onkolo-škem inštitutu Ljubljana od junija do oktobra 2023. Rezultati: Analizirali smo 590 veljavnih anket. Na podlagi vprašalnika FACIT-COST smo ugotovili, da večina anketiranih bolnikov (53,7 %) nima FT, pri 42,9 % anketiranih bolnikov pa je bila ta večinoma blaga do zmerna. Nizko FT med slovenski-mi bolniki z rakom smo potrdili tudi z vprašalnikom EORTC QLQ-C30 in lastnim vprašalnikom. Večina bolnikov (85,1 %) je ocenila, da zaradi bolezni in zdravljenja niso imeli večjih stroškov. Na podlagi kazalnika finančnega bremena FACIT-COST in EORTC QLQ-C30 smo ugotovili, da so rizične skupine za večjo FT predvsem bolniki z nižjim neto dohodkom na gospodinjstvo (p ≤0,001), mlajši bolniki (p < 0,001), bolniki z rakom dojk (p = 0,016), zaposleni (p < 0,001), pa tudi bolniki na aktivnem onkološkem zdravljenju (p = 0,039). Pri lastnem vprašalniku so se za statistično pomembne pokazali še nižja stopnja izobrazbe (p ≤ 0,001), pode-želsko okolje (p = 0,033) in vrsta zdravstvenega zavarovanja (p = 0,006). Vpliv veroizpovedi na FT na podlagi lastnega vprašalnika ni povezan z večjo FT, kot je to razvidno iz vprašalnikov FACI-T-COST in EORTC QLQ-C30. Potrdili smo tudi vpliv nižjega dohodka na slabšo QoL, ostali parametri, ki vplivajo na QoL, pa so še: zelo nizka ali zelo visoka stopnja izobrazbe, rak glave in vratu in aktivnost onkološkega zdravljenja.Zaključki: V Sloveniji večina bolnikov z rakom ne občuti FT, v 42,9 % pa je ta blaga do zmerna. FT je statistično značilno povezana z višino dohodka, starostjo, vrsto raka, zaposlitvenim statusom, aktivnostjo onkološkega zdravljenja, pa tudi s stopnjo izobrazbe, podeželskim okoljem in vrsto zdravstvenega zavarova-nja. Večja FT je povezana s slabšo QoL. Ta je povezana prav tako z višino dohodka, stopnjo izobrazbe, vrsto raka in aktivnostjo onkološkega zdravljenja.
Keywords: finančno breme, kakovost življenja, breme raka
Published in DiRROS: 26.07.2024; Views: 215; Downloads: 122
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Abstract: The use of acoustic cavitation for water and wastewater treatment (cleaning) is a well known procedure. Yet, the use of hydrodynamic cavitation as a sole technique or in combination with other techniques such as ultrasound has only recently been suggested and employed. In the first part of this paper a general overview of techniques that employ hydrodynamic cavitation for cleaning of water and wastewater is presented. In the second part of the paper the focus is on our own most recent work using hydrodynamic cavitation for removal of pharmaceuticals (clofibric acid, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, carbamazepine), toxic cyanobacteria (Microcystis aeruginosa), green microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris), bacteria (Legionella pneumophila) and viruses (Rotavirus) from water and wastewater. As will be shown, hydrodynamic cavitation, like acoustic, can manifest itself in many different forms each having its own distinctive properties and mechanisms. This was until now neglected, which eventually led to poor performance of the technique. We will show that a different type of hydrodynamic cavitation (different removal mechanism) is required for successful removal of different pollutants. The path to use hydrodynamic cavitation as a routine water cleaning method is still long, but recent results have already shown great potential for optimisation, which could lead to a low energy tool for water and wastewater cleaning.
Keywords: wastewater, cleaning, hydrodynamic cavitation, pharmaceuticals, cyanobacteria, microalgae, viruses, Legionella bacteria
Published in DiRROS: 25.07.2024; Views: 193; Downloads: 96
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Abstract: DNA extraction before amplification is considered an essential step for quantification of viral DNA using real-time PCR (qPCR). However, this can directly affect the final measurements due to variable DNA yields and removal of inhibitors, which leads to increased inter-laboratory variability of qPCR measurements and reduced agreement on viral loads. Digital PCR (dPCR) might be an advantageous methodology for the measurement of virus concentrations, as it does not depend on any calibration material and it has higher tolerance to inhibitors. DNA quantification without an extraction step (i.e. direct quantification) was performed here using dPCR and two different human cytomegalovirus whole-virus materials. Two dPCR platforms were used for this direct quantification of the viral DNA, and these were compared with quantification of the extracted viral DNA in terms of yield and variability. Direct quantification of both whole-virus materials present in simple matrices like cell lysate or Tris-HCl buffer provided repeatable measurements of virus concentrations that were probably in closer agreement with the actual viral load than when estimated through quantification of the extracted DNA. Direct dPCR quantification of other viruses, reference materials and clinically relevant matrices is now needed to show the full versatility of this very promising and cost-efficient development in virus quantification.
Keywords: molecular diagnostics, direct quantification, viruses, virus reference materials, human cytomegalovirus, digital PCR
Published in DiRROS: 25.07.2024; Views: 195; Downloads: 163
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Abstract: Background. The evidence shows that risk-based strategy could be implemented to avoid unnecessary harm in mammography screening for breast cancer (BC) using age-only criterium. Our study aimed at identifying the uptake of Slovenian women to the BC risk assessment invitation and assessing the number of screening mammographies in case of risk-based screening.Patients and methods. A cross-sectional population-based study enrolled 11,898 women at the age of 50, invited to BC screening. The data on BC risk factors, including breast density from the first 3,491 study responders was col-lected and BC risk was assessed using the Tyrer-Cuzick algorithm (version 8) to classify women into risk groups (low, population, moderately increased, and high risk group). The number of screening mammographies according to risk stratification was simulated. Results. 57% (6,785) of women returned BC risk questionnaires. When stratifying 3,491 women into risk groups, 34.0% were assessed with low, 62.2% with population, 3.4% with moderately increased, and 0.4% with high 10-year BC risk. In the case of potential personalised screening, the number of screening mammographies would drop by 38.6% com-pared to the current screening policy. Conclusions. The study uptake showed the feasibility of risk assessment when inviting women to regular BC screen-ing. 3.8% of Slovenian women were recognised with higher than population 10-year BC risk. According to Slovenian BC guidelines they may be screened more often. Overall, personalised screening would decrease the number of screening mammographies in Slovenia. This information is to be considered when planning the pilot and assessing the feasibility of implementing population risk-based screening.
Keywords: breast cancer screening, personalised screening, risk assessment, mammography
Published in DiRROS: 25.07.2024; Views: 200; Downloads: 195
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Abstract: In Slovenia, cancer care services were exempt from government decrees for COVID-19 containment. Nevertheless, cancer control can be impacted also by access to other health services and changes in health-seeking behaviour. In this follow up study, we explored changes in cancer burden and cancer care beyond the first months after the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic.Materials and methods. We analysed routinely collected data for the period January 2019 through July 2022 from three sources: (1) pathohistological and clinical practice cancer notifications from two major cancer centres in Ljubljana and Maribor (source: Slovenian Cancer Registry); (2) referrals issued for oncological services (source: e-referral system); and (3) outpatient appointments and diagnostic imaging performed (source: administrative data of the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana – IOL). Additionally, changes in certain clinical and demographic characteristics in patients diagnosed and treated during the epidemic were analysed using the Hospital-Based Cancer Registry of the IOL (period 2015–2021).Results. After a drop in referrals to follow-up cancer appointments in April 2020, in June-August 2020, there was an increase in referrals, but it did not make-up for the drop in the first wave; the numbers in 2021 and 2022 were even lower than 2020. Referrals to first cancer care appointments and genetic testing and counselling increased in 2021 compared to 2019 and in 2022 increased further by more than a quarter. First and follow-up outpatient appointments and cancer diagnostic imaging at the IOL dropped after the onset of the epidemic in March 2020 but were as high as expected according to 2019 baseline already in 2021. Some deficits remain for follow-up outpatients’ appointments in surgical and radiotherapy departments. There were more CT, MRI and PET scans performed during the COVID-19 period than before. New cancer diagnoses dropped in all observed years 2020, 2021 and until July 2022 by 6%, 3% and 8%, respectively, varying substantially by cancer type. The largest drop was seen in the 50−64 age group (almost 14% in 2020 and 16% in 2021), while for patients older than 80 years, the numbers were above expected according to the 2015–2019 average (4% in 2020, 8% in 2021).Conclusions. Our results show a varying effect of COVID-19 epidemic in Slovenia for different types of cancers and at different stages on the patient care pathway – it is probably a mixture of changes in health-seeking behaviour and systemic changes due to modifications in healthcare organisation on account of COVID-19. A general drop in new cancer cases reflects disruptions in the pre-diagnostic phase and could have profound long-term consequences on cancer burden indicators.
Keywords: cancer, covid-19, delay in diagnosis
Published in DiRROS: 25.07.2024; Views: 215; Downloads: 140
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