Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the care of patients with noncommunicable diseases, including those suffering from kidney-related ailments. Many parts of the world, including India, adopted lockdown to curb community transmission of disease. The lockdown affected transportation, access to health care facilities, and availability of medicines and consumables as well as outpatient and inpatient services. We aimed to analyze the effect of lockdown imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic on the care of patients with kidney diseases in India. Methods: We surveyed 19 major hospitals (8 in the public and 11 in the private sector) to determine the effect of lockdown on the care of patients with kidney disease, including those on dialysis after the first 3 weeks of lockdown. Results: The total number of dialysis patients in these centers came down from 2517 to 2404. Approximately 710 (28.2%) patients missed 1 or more dialysis sessions, 69 (2.74%) required emergency dialysis sessions, 104 (4.13%) stopped reporting for dialysis, and 9 (0.36%) were confirmed to have died. Outpatient attendance in the surveyed hospital came down by 92.3%, and inpatient service reduced by 61%. Tele-consultation was started but was accessed by only a small number of patients. Conclusion: Lack of preparedness before lockdown resulted in an interruption in health care services and posed an immediate adverse effect on the outcome of dialysis patients and patients with kidney disease in India. The long-term impact on the health of patients with less severe forms of kidney disease remains unknown.

The development of bispecific antibodies that redirect the cytotoxic activity of CD3+ T cells to tumours is a promising immunotherapeutic strategy for the treatment of haematological malignancies and solid cancers. Since the landmark FDA approval at the end of 2014 of the anti-CD3 × anti-CD19 bispecific antibody blinatumomab (Blincyto®) for the treatment of relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, ~100 clinical trials investigating the safety and efficacy of CD3+ bispecific T-cell redirectors for cancer have been initiated. However, despite early success, numerous challenges pertaining to CD3+ T-cell redirection in the context of cancer exist, including the recruitment of counterproductive CD3+ T-cell subsets, the release of systemic cytokines, the expansion of immune checkpoint molecules, the presence of an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment, tumour antigen loss/escape, on-target off-tumour toxicity and suboptimal potency. The aim of the present review is to discuss novel approaches to overcome the key challenges associated with CD3+ bispecific T-cell redirection in order to achieve an optimal balance of anti-tumour activity and safety.

EGFR negative patients respond better to therapy along with longer duration of survival as compared to EGFR positive patient.

The study explored the lockdown and quarantine on the perceived psychological distress and other life outcomes of children after the outbreak of COVID-19 in recent past. The study employed the Narrative Thematic Research Design and chose a heterogeneous sample of 20 full-time mothers to report the experiences of the restrictions of their children aged 9-11 years. These mothers were the primary source of data about the impacts of lockdown and quarantine on their children. A telephonic semistructured interview protocol was used to collect data. Four themes were generated: poor social and emotional responsivity, decreased interest in studies and other creative activities, psychological distress symptoms and negative health outcomes. Anxiety, irritation, quarrelling behaviours, anger, frustration, low feeling, reduced interest in games, boredom etc. were observed in children. Sleep disturbances, complaints of indigestion and multiple complaints of body aches were major negative health outcomes. The findings showed a variety of negative psychological and health outcomes for children due to the extreme restrictions, uncertainty, apprehension, reduced positive engagement and lowered social connection after the outbreak of the pandemic. Preventive and protective measures are recommended with concerted efforts of parents, school and community to guard children against the ill-consequences of current and future pandemics.

Context:Efficacy of immunocytochemistry (ICC) in determining molecular biomarkers like estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptors (PRs), and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2).Aims:To evaluate biomarkers using ICC in breast cancer as per American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathology (ASCO/CAP) guidelines.Settings and Design:The study was conducted over a period of 2 years from September 2012 to August 2014 and is the first such study in eastern India.Materials and Methods:Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was done for suspected cases of breast cancers and slides were prepared using ThinPrep (TP) technology of liquid-based cytology (LBC) for ICC and corresponding biopsy specimens were processed as formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) sections for comparison. Both the LBC slides and tissue sections were subjected to immunostaining for ER, PR, and HER2. ICC was evaluated by Allred Scoring and IHC by Quick Scoring.Statistical Analysis Used:Statistical analysis done by Wilconxon Signed rank test on the SPSS program, Chicago, Illinois, USA. The results of ICC and IHC were compared by evaluation of sensitivity, specificity, kappa-value (k-value), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV).Results:The comparison of ICC with immunohistochemistry (IHC), ER, and PR showed very good correspondence rate, sensitivity, specificity, NPV, PPV, and agreement with k-value; whereas for HER2 the results were only good.Conclusion:ICC using LBC can be a useful tool in assessing biomarkers in advanced cases of breast cancer where surgery is not possible or cases where ASCO/CAP guidelines for management are not followed.