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The etiology of childhood neuroblastoma remains largely unknown. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we summarized and quantitatively synthesized published evidence on the association of maternal modifiable lifestyle factors with neuroblastoma risk in the offspring. We searched MEDLINE up to December 31, 2020 for eligible studies assessing the association of maternal smoking, alcohol consumption and nutritional supplementation during pregnancy with childhood (0–14 years) neuroblastoma risk. Random-effects models were run, and summary odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) on the relevant associations were calculated, including estimates derived from primary data (n = 103 cases and n = 103 controls) of the Nationwide Registry for Childhood Hematological Malignancies and Solid Tumors (NARECHEM-ST) case control study (2009–2017) in Greece. Twenty-one eligible studies amounting 5163 cases participating in both case-control and cohort/linkage studies were included in the meta-analysis. Maternal smoking and alcohol consumption were not statistically significantly associated with neuroblastoma risk (summary ORsmoking: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.96–1.22, I2 =12.0%, n = 17 studies; summary ORalcohol: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.82–1.18, I2 =0.0%, n = 8 studies). By contrast, maternal vitamin intake during pregnancy was associated with significantly lower neuroblastoma risk (summary OR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.34–0.95, I2 =58.9%, n = 4 studies). The results of the largest to-date meta-analysis point to an inverse association between vitamin intake during pregnancy and childhood neuroblastoma risk. Future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm and further specify these associations as to guide preventive efforts on modifiable maternal risk factors of childhood neuroblastoma. © 2022

Pediatric refractory or relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) poses unique therapeutic challenges, with novel immunotherapy approaches offering potential cure opportunities. In this frame, the use of Blinatumomab may induce durable remissions, serving as a successful bridge to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Herein, we retrospectively summarize the Greek experience on pediatric relapsed/refractory B-cell precursor ALL patients that were treated with Blinatumomab in a compassionate, off-label setting as an effort to achieve disease clearance and proceed to allo-HSCT. In our cohort of 9 patients, 6/9 (66.7%) responded to Blinatumomab, achieving complete morpho-logical remission (CR) after the 1st cycle, while minimal/measurable residual disease (MRD)-negativity (=2-log reduction of MRD value before and after Blinatumomab administration), was associated with a median RFS/OS of 7.4/7.6 months, while lack of MRD response was associated with a median RFS/OS of 0.5/3.0 months, respectively. Novel therapeutic maneu-vers, in order to overcome disease resistance, i.e. increased usage of Blinatumomab dose (45 μg/m2/day), combination with donor lymphocyte infusions (DLIs), use of other immunotherapy salvage approaches (inotuzumabozogamicin), are herein discussed. Additionally, the optimal number of Blinatumomab cycles, the CD19-negative relapses and lineage switch, are also addressed. Our data although referred to a limited, however refractory or relapsed and heavily pretreated number of patients, strongly suggest that Blinatumomab may well induce sustained remissions and serve as an effective bridge to HSCT. Whether immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy can outweigh the need for subsequent allo-HSCT, if incor-porated into frontline high-risk ALL therapy, remains an optimistic issue to be verified in future randomized clinical trials. © 2020, AEPress, s.r.o.. All rights reserved.

Treatment of bone sarcomas in children is associated with wide tumor resection and segmental reconstruction. The optimal surgical approach is still under debate in the literature. During the past decade, the application of expandable prostheses has gained remarkable attention because it improves patients' appearance and allows limb growth preventing leg length discrepancy. A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify studies focusing on the functional and surgical outcomes of the application of expandable endoprostheses. © 2019 Slack Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Respiratory infections in oncology are both common and potentially severe. However, there is still a gap in the literature, regarding the epidemiology of viral respiratory infections in children with cancer. We prospectively enrolled 224 patients, from September 2012 to August 2015. The cohort included children with hematologic or solid malignancies receiving chemotherapy, or undergoing hemopoietic stem cell transplantation, outpatients/inpatients exhibiting signs/symptoms of febrile/afebrile upper/lower respiratory infection. Viral infection was diagnosed by detection of ≥1 viruses from a sample at time of enrollment, using the CLART® PneumoVir kit (GENOMICA, Spain). Α detailed questionnaire including demographics and medical history was also completed. Samples were processed in batches, results were communicated as soon as they became available. Children recruited in whom no virus was detected composed the no virus detected group. Viral prevalence was 38.4% in children presenting with respiratory illness. A single virus was found in 30.4%, with RSV being the most frequent. Viral coinfections were detected in 8%. Children with viral infection were more likely to be febrile upon enrollment and to present with lower respiratory signs/symptoms. They had longer duration of illness and they were more likely to receive antibiotics/antifungals. Only 22% of children with influenza received oseltamivir. Mortality was low (2.7%), however, pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission and death were correlated with virus detection. In our study mortality was low and PICU admission was related to virus identification. Further research is needed to clarify whether antibiotics in virus-proven infection are of value and underline the importance of oseltamivir’s timely administration in influenza. © 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Background: The childhood peak of brain tumors suggests that early-life exposures might have a role in their etiology. Hence, we examined in the Greek National Registry for Childhood Hematological Malignancies and Solid tumors (NARECHEM-ST) whether perinatal and early-life risk factors influence the risk of childhood brain tumors. Methods: In a nationwide case-control study, we included 203 cases (0–14 years) with a diagnosis of brain tumor in NARECHEM-ST (2010–2016) and 406 age-, sex-, and center-matched hospital controls. Information was collected via interviews with the guardians and we analyzed the variables of interest in multivariable conditional logistic regression models. Results: Instrument-assisted delivery was associated with higher (OR: 7.82, 95%CI: 2.18–28.03), whereas caesarean delivery with lower (OR: 0.67, 95%CI: 0.45-0.99) risk of childhood brain tumors, as compared to spontaneous vaginal delivery. Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy (OR: 2.35, 95%CI: 1.45–3.81) and history of living in a farm (OR: 4.98, 2.40–10.32) increased the odds of childhood brain tumors. Conversely, higher birth order was associated with lower risk (OR for 2nd vs. 1st child: 0.60, 95%CI: 0.40-0.89 and OR for 3 rd vs. 1 st : 0.34, 95%CI: 0.18-0.63). Birth weight, gestational age, parental age, history of infertility, smoking during pregnancy, allergic diseases, and maternal diseases during pregnancy showed no significant associations. Conclusions: Perinatal and early-life risk factors, and specifically indicators of brain trauma, exposure to toxic agents and immune system maturation, might be involved in the pathogenesis of childhood brain tumors. Larger studies should aim to replicate our findings and examine associations with tumor subtypes. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd

Aim: Neuroblastoma outcomes vary with disease characteristics, healthcare delivery and socio-economic indicators. We assessed survival patterns and prognostic factors for patients with neuroblastoma in 11 Southern and Eastern European (SEE) countries versus those in the US, including—for the first time—the Nationwide Registry for Childhood Hematological Malignancies and Solid Tumours (NARECHEM-ST)/Greece. Methods: Overall survival (OS) was calculated in 13 collaborating SEE childhood cancer registries (1829 cases, ∼1990–2016) and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER), US (3072 cases, 1990–2012); Kaplan–Meier curves were used along with multivariable Cox regression models assessing the effect of age, gender, primary tumour site, histology, Human Development Index (HDI) and place of residence (urban/rural) on survival. Results: The 5-year OS rates varied widely among the SEE countries (Ukraine: 45%, Poland: 81%) with the overall SEE rate (59%) being significantly lower than in SEER (77%; p < 0.001). In the common registration period within SEE (2000–2008), no temporal trend was noted as opposed to a significant increase in SEER. Age >12 months (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.8–4.7 in subsequent age groups), male gender (HR: 1.1), residence in rural areas (HR: 1.3), living in high (HR: 2.2) or medium (HR: 2.4) HDI countries and specific primary tumour location were associated with worse outcome; conversely, ganglioneuroblastoma subtype (HR: 0.28) was associated with higher survival rate. Conclusions: Allowing for the disease profile, children with neuroblastoma in SEE, especially those in rural areas and lower HDI countries, fare worse than patients in the US, mainly during the early years after diagnosis; this may be attributed to presumably modifiable socio-economic and healthcare system performance differentials warranting further research. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd

Neuroblastoma comprises the most common neoplasm during infancy (first year of life). Our study describes incidence of neuroblastoma in Southern–Eastern Europe (SEE), including – for the first time – the Nationwide Registry for Childhood Hematological Malignancies and Solid Tumors (NARECHEM-ST)/Greece, compared to the US population, while controlling for human development index (HDI). Age-adjusted incidence rates (AIR) were calculated for 1,859 childhood (0–14 years) neuroblastoma cases, retrieved from 13 collaborating SEE registries (1990–2016), and were compared to those of SEER/US (N = 3,166; 1990–2012); temporal trends were assessed using Poisson regression and Joinpoint analyses. The overall AIR was significantly lower in SEE (10.1/million) compared to SEER (11.7 per million); the difference was maximum during infancy (43.7 vs. 53.3 per million, respectively), when approximately one-third of cases were diagnosed. Incidence rates of neuroblastoma at ages

Background Exploring the effect of maternal and/or childhood diet on offspring leukemogenesis is challenging, given differences in food group categories, their potentially variable impact depending on time window of exposure and the multiple leukemia subtypes. We opted to quantitatively synthesize published data on the association of maternal/child diet with leukemia risk. Methods Medline was searched until June 30th, 2016 for eligible articles on the association of childhood leukemia with consumption of (i) food groups, excluding alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and (ii) specific dietary supplements before/during index pregnancy and childhood. Results Eighteen studies of case-control design (N = 11,720 cases/18,721 controls) were included, of which nine assessed maternal dietary components, five index child's and four both, mainly focusing on acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Statistically significant inverse estimates for ALL were found (2 studies, 413 cases, 490 controls) for fruit (OR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.67, 0.99); vegetables (OR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.94); legumes (OR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.62, 0.94); fish (OR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.53, among the 0–4 year old; 2 studies 215 cases, 215 controls); preconception folic acid supplementation (OR: 0.69, 95%CI: 0.50–0.95; published meta analysis plus 2 studies, 3511 cases, 6816 controls); and use of vitamins during pregnancy (OR: 0.81, 95%CI: 0.74–0.88; published meta analysis plus one study, 5967 cases, 8876 controls). The associations (2 studies) of the remaining food groups and maternal dietary supplements consumption during pregnancy as well as of childhood diet and supplements intake (2–4 studies) were non significant. Conclusions Maternal consumption of specific food groups comprising“healthy” items of the Mediterranean diet, preconception use of folic acid and intake of vitamins during pregnancy were associated with decreased ALL risk. Further research is needed, however preferably with homogeneous dietary information and data on immunophenotypic/cytogenetic subtypes to also explore the interaction of specific macro- and micronutrients intake with gene polymorphisms. © 2017

Nowadays, the application of glass-fibre composites in light-weight structures is growing. Although mechanical characterizations of those structures are commonly performed in testing, chemical changes of materials under stresses have not yet been well documented. In the present work coupon tests and Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) have been used to categorise possible chemical changes of glass-fibre reinforced polymers (GFRP) which are currently used in the aircraft industry. HSI is a hybrid technique that combines spectroscopy with imaging. It is able to detect chemical degradation of surfaces and has already been successfully applied in a wide range of fields including astronomy, remote sensing, cultural heritage and medical sciences. GFRP specimens were exposed to two different thermal loading conditions. One thermal loading condition was a continuous thermal exposure at 120°C for 24h, 48 h and 96h, i.e. ageing at a constant temperature. The other thermal loading condition was thermal cycling with three different numbers of cycles (4000, 8000, 12000) and two temperature ranges (0°C to 120°C and -25°C to 95°C). The effects of both conditions were measured using both HSI and interlaminar shear (ILSS) tests. No significant changes of the physical properties of the thermally cycled GFRP specimens were detected using interlaminar shear strength tests and optical microscopy. However, when using HIS, differences of the surface conditions were detected. The results showed that the different thermal loading conditions could be successfully clustered in different colours, using the HSI linear unmixing technique. Each different thermal loading condition showed a different chemical degradation level on its surface which was indicated using different colours.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a contactless and non-destructive testing (NDT) technique based on lowcoherence interferometry. It has recently become a popular NDT-tool for evaluating cultural heritage. In this study, protective coatings on wood and their penetration into the wood structure were measured with a customized infrared fiber optic OCT instrument. In order to enhance the understanding of the OCT measurements of coatings on real wooden samples, an optimization of the measuring and analyzing methodology was performed by developing an averaging approach and by post-processing the data. The collected information was complemented by data obtained with hyperspectral imaging to allow data from local OCT A-scans to be used in mapping the coating thicknesses over larger areas.

The present paper presents the study of the conversion of certain organic materials into an organic fertilizer through the process of composting within specific plastic composters. Two different composting experiments were carried out with different materials in each bucket and in different time periods. These experiments were conducted in order to record the levels of temperature, oxygen and humidity inside compost plastic buckets. In the first experiment the four plastic buckets were filled with grass, tree lops and a mixture of lopping and grass of different proportions. In the second, the first bucket was filled with grape dregs, the second with a combination of grape dregs and pine needles, the third with a mixture of seaweed and grape dregs, and the fourth grape dregs with grape stalks. Furthermore, during the experiments the percentage of nitrogen, available phosphorous, potassium and sodium were recorded. Also, measurements of the total organic carbon (TOC), as well as organic matter (OM), were recorded. Those measurements lead to the definition of C/N ratio which is the most important factor of the quality of the final products. This paper examines the exploitation of the surplus of the enormous lopping and grass quantities which are gathered each year., Proceedings of the 21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 3-7 June 2013, Copenhagen, Denmark, pp. 227-229