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Background The COVID-19 pandemic remains a significant global threat. However, despite urgent need, there remains uncertainty surrounding best practices for pharmaceutical interventions to treat COVID-19. In particular, conflicting evidence has emerged surrounding the use of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, alone or in combination, for COVID-19. The COVID-19 Evidence Accelerator convened by the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA, in collaboration with Friends of Cancer Research, assembled experts from the health systems research, regulatory science, data science, and epidemiology to participate in a large parallel analysis of different data sets to further explore the effectiveness of these treatments. Methods Electronic health record (EHR) and claims data were extracted from seven separate databases. Parallel analyses were undertaken on data extracted from each source. Each analysis examined time to mortality in hospitalized patients treated with hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, and the two in combination as compared to patients not treated with either drug. Cox proportional hazards models were used, and propensity score methods were undertaken to adjust for confounding. Frequencies of adverse events in each treatment group were also examined. Results Neither hydroxychloroquine nor azithromycin, alone or in combination, were significantly associated with time to mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. No treatment groups appeared to have an elevated risk of adverse events. Conclusion Administration of hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, and their combination appeared to have no effect on time to mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Continued research is needed to clarify best practices surrounding treatment of COVID-19.

Smallholder farmers across rural landscapes remain trapped in a vicious cycle of endemic poverty where interconnected challenges limit their ability to improve their livelihoods. Our study of smallholder farmers’ relationships with suppliers and several stakeholders across the Tanzanian rural agro-input supply chain offers an extended perspective on the persistence of endemic poverty and broadens the discussion on the future of sustainable food production and smallholder livelihoods. Through interviews and focus groups, we use a grounded theory methodology to develop a systemic approach to understanding the complexities of this landscape as related to smallholder agro-input sourcing activities. Our causal loop diagram framework provides a unique perspective on the poverty trap experienced by smallholder farmers in this context. Our findings may be useful in targeting practical and sustainable directions towards overcoming the poverty trap, ultimately enabling smallholders to increase wealth and improve their livelihoods through sustainable practices.

Introduction.Written narratives are used to develop reflective skills in health care students during clinical education. The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of using a framework in narrative writing to facilitate reflection in physical therapy students during their initial sho

Currently, five classes of Immunotherapy (IT) agents are available for over 20 cancer types, including a powerful new class utilizing T cells genetically engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-T). Additional classes include bi-specific T-cell engagers (BiTEs), immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), cancer vaccines, and oncolytic viruses. Despite promising antitumor activity, significant immune-related adverse events (irAE) have been reported. The most common CAR-T toxicity is cytokine release syndrome (CRS), and management typically includes supportive care and immunosuppression with corticosteroids or the IL-6 inhibitor tocilizumab. Documented CRS and tocilizumab use outside of CAR-T is rare, but recent evidence suggests that tocilizumab is emerging for management of other steroid-refractory irAE. Given the rapid evolution of this field, there remains a need to understand the utilization of IT and the pathophysiology of irAE in real-world settings. To identify cohorts of interest, a retrospective, multicenter review was conducted using Health Catalyst’s extended real-world data database, Touchstone, which includes >300 sources of data and over 70 multipayer and geographically diverse provider clients. Cohorts were selected from representative provider networks, including large and specialty academic medical centers (AMCs), integrated delivery networks, accountable care organizations, and community hospitals in the US. A total of 10 clients’ de-identified electronic medical records were searched for presence of cancer-associated diagnosis codes. The cohort was then restricted by the presence of medication order or administration of any IT-class drug, and among these, first administration of tocilizumab within 21 days. Across ten provider networks containing data for ~5.6 million cancer patients, 9,029 patients were identified: CAR-T, 116 patients (0-102); BiTEs, 112 patients (0-64); ICIs, 8,402 patients (0-4520); cancer vaccines, 182 patients (0-143); and oncolytic viruses, 217 patients (0-214). As expected, CAR-T administration was limited to approved treatment centers. Among the other classes, an average of 26% of identified patients were from the community setting. Additionally, of the 116 patients receiving CAR-T therapy, 75 patients (64.7%) were administered tocilizumab within 21 days. Evidence of tocilizumab use outside of CAR-T irAE was also identified, occurring in 21 patients (0.3%) receiving another class of IT within AMCs, and did not occur at other provider types. Together this analysis identified several real-world IT patient cohorts comprising diverse populations from a range of provider types, with corresponding access to rich patient-level clinical, molecular, and financial real-world data (RWD) elements. Immediate downstream applications will involve developing integrated methods for the real-time identification of patients who may be at risk for adverse events and standardization of toxicity management guidelines. Citation Format: Catherine Del Vecchio Fitz, Elizabeth Eldridge, Alyssa Antonopoulos, Paula Petrone, Will Caldwell, Ed Corbett, Amy Flaster, Holly Rimmasch, Adem Albayrak, Dale Sanders, Sadiqa Mahmood, Elia Stupka. Identification of multisite real-world patient cohorts to enable immunotherapy utilization and safety assessment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advancing Precision Medicine Drug Development: Incorporation of Real-World Data and Other Novel Strategies; Jan 9-12, 2020; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(12_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 28.

Successive years of drought in parts of Sudan have since 1983 caused famine social upheavals and disruption and widespread health problems. National and international emergency responses to the problems have been impeded by a lack of strategic and tactical information inadequate planning and an absence of preparedness. A 2-year project was therefore launched to develop an early warning system (EWS) within and for the government of Sudan to monitor agro-meteorological and socioeconomic data indicative of a developing food crisis. The EWS will also monitor the course of an existing crisis. This paper describes the project to develop and establish the EWS and presents the results of some initial data analyses. Observations are made on the indicators which appear to signal the approach of a food crisis including rainfall cereal and livestock prices and market throughput.