An ethics framework for social listening and infodemic management

Issue

Successful response to an infodemic requires social listening and integrated analysis to produce infodemic insights by identifying questions, concerns, information voids and circulating narratives including health misinformation. There is currently a wide variation in social listening and infodemic insights generation practices, and a lack of frameworks to be applied on ethical values and standards.

Description of the problem

In the context of infodemic management, infodemic insights are generated based on social listening, health system and data from online and offline sources. Where there is a difference between health guidance and behaviors during an emergency, rapid infodemic insights can help understand the underlying drivers of this divergence. Integrated analysis of this data informs infodemic management strategies generate insights that advise a wide range of public health interventions. Present ethical challenges influence data processing and use.

Results

The World Health Organization (WHO) convened a group of experts to develop an ethical framework for social listening and infodemic management. It will guide health authorities and practitioners in planning and setting up infodemic insights teams and implementing infodemic management activities. To support the deliberation of the WHO expert group, a systematic review has been conducted to understand present ethical concerns and challenges.

Lessons

Infodemic management strategies raise ethical concerns that relate to data control, commercialization, transparency, accountability and implications. Power and power imbalances, human rights, privacy and dignity, trust and respect for cultural practices may arise during data collection, analysis, interpretation, and intervention design. Without proper ethical oversight and guidance, the implementation of infodemic management strategies could harm individuals and communities, erode trust, and undermine the effectiveness of responses to a public health emergency.

Key messages

• Social listening and infodemic management by health authorities require consideration of ethical principles and guidance.

• WHO ethics guidance will help public health authorities establish infodemic management practices, policies and strategies.

Understanding a mass in the paraspinal region: an anatomical approach

The paraspinal region encompasses all tissues around the spine. The regional anatomy is complex and includes the paraspinal muscles, spinal nerves, sympathetic chains, Batson's venous plexus and a rich arterial network. A wide variety of pathologies can occur in the paraspinal region, originating either from paraspinal soft tissues or the vertebral column. The most common paraspinal benign neoplasms include lipomas, fibroblastic tumours and benign peripheral nerve sheath tumours. Tumour-like masses such as haematomas, extramedullary haematopoiesis or abscesses should be considered in patients with suggestive medical histories. Malignant neoplasms are less frequent than benign processes and include liposarcomas and undifferentiated sarcomas. Secondary and primary spinal tumours may present as midline expansile soft tissue masses invading the adjacent paraspinal region. Knowledge of the anatomy of the paraspinal region is of major importance since it allows understanding of the complex locoregional tumour spread that can occur via many adipose corridors, haematogenous pathways and direct contact. Paraspinal tumours can extend into other anatomical regions, such as the retroperitoneum, pleura, posterior mediastinum, intercostal space or extradural neural axis compartment. Imaging plays a crucial role in formulating a hypothesis regarding the aetiology of the mass and tumour staging, which informs preoperative planning. Understanding the complex relationship between the different elements and the imaging features of common paraspinal masses is fundamental to achieving a correct diagnosis and adequate patient management. This review gives an overview of the anatomy of the paraspinal region and describes imaging features of the main tumours and tumour-like lesions that occur in the region.

Training health professionals in infodemic management to mitigate the harm caused by infodemics

Background

Due to their multifaceted impacts on health and society, understanding and controlling infodemics to support uptake of vaccines, public health and social measures, treatments, and health behaviours is rapidly becoming a priority for many health authorities. WHO has developed a comprehensive training programme to support health professionals in the new field of expertise of managing infodemics.

Objectives

The WHO infodemic management multiformat and transdisciplinary training program builds the skills and knowledge needed to prepare for and respond to infodemics. The trainings are built on WHO competency framework for building an infodemic response workforce. The methodology used relies on human-centred and emotional design evidence and practice and uses evaluation for continuous learning design improvement.

Results

Since November 2020, three WHO global trainings organized online with US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and other partners, including four-week-long simulation exercises, creating a network of 772 infodemic managers in 133 countries. A “train-the-trainers” companion package was prepared and by April 2022 delivered in Iran and Malaysia. Deep dive training modules on specialist infodemic management practice topics have been prepared for use at country level. In addition, a comprehensive set of self-paced free online courses enhances infodemic literacy and resilience to misinformation. Between December 2021 and April 2022, the OpenWHO Infodemic Management 101 course reached over 17 000 enrolments. The training programme will be updated based on evaluations, the feedback from field responders and the updated to the WHO competency framework for infodemic management workforce.

Conclusions

The WHO multiformat blended training program allows an efficient and rapid dissemination of infodemic management skills and knowledge.

Key messages

• A global network of trained infodemic managers is ready to support national preparedness and response planning.

• Skills and knowledge in infodemic management are accessible to all thanks to free online courses.

Delivering actionable infodemic insights and recommendations for the COVID-19 pandemic response

Issue

The COVID-19 pandemic and current recovery efforts have been complicated by a parallel infodemic. The infodemic has manifested itself in the rapid spread of questions, concerns and misinformation that can affect population attitudes and behavior harmful to health -promoting stigma and discrediting science, non-recommended treatments and cures, politicizing health programs and eroding trust in health workers and health systems.

Description

WHO's COVID-19 Pillar 2 (risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management) developed an integrated public health infodemic insights methodology for weekly analysis of social media, traditional media and other data sources to identify, categorize, and understand the key concerns and narratives expressed, and inform risk communication and response activities.

Results

The infodemic characterization, integrated analysis and insights generation consisted of a 3-step mixed-methods approach. First, data was collected from publicly available social and news media and categorized into categories of conversations by a COVID-19 public health taxonomy. Second, the dataset was analyzed and compared week-on-week to identify changes in narratives and conversation sentiment. Third, the digital infodemic intelligence was reviewed by a group of subject matter experts and triangulated with other data sources to derive infodemic insights and provide recommendations for action for the week. The methodology has been applied to inform COVID-19 response, COVID-19 vaccine demand promotion, and preparing for mass gatherings or mass immunization campaigns.

Lessons

The methodology for infodemic intelligence generation and integration has introduced evidence-based analytical practices for generation of infodemic insights and recommendations for action into the work of WHO. It must be further adapted for use by different health programmes and preparedness functions, and is described WHO Field Infodemiology Manual.

Key messages

• Health authorities can use infodemic insights to respond to people’s concerns, questions and information deficits in a timely and effective manner.

• An evidence-based methodology has been developed and validated to generate infodemic insights and recommendations for action during an acute health event or emergency.

The WHO initiative to measure the effectiveness and impact of PHSM – key activities in 2022

The presentation will focus on two main outcomes of the WHO initiative: a global research agenda to steer future evidence generation on PHSM, and a central monitoring system for PHSM research. In September 2021, a global technical consultation with over 60 global experts was organized to review the existing evidence on PHSM and identify the initiative's priorities. The consultation provided an opportunity to have an initial discussion on potential research priorities. This became the basis for an iterative online consultation process. The draft research agenda includes seven main research themes including effectiveness, unintended consequences, methodological challenges and implementation considerations affecting the uptake of and adherence to PHSM. Workshop participants will be invited to comment on the suggested themes and propose additional priority questions for the research agenda. The central research monitoring system will consist of a global repository of primary studies and reviews investigating the effectiveness and broader multisectoral impact of PHSM. Indexed studies will be mapped against the key themes of the research agenda, facilitating real-time monitoring and evaluation of its progress. An AI-based mechanism for automated updating of systematic reviews will complement the database. This one-stop shop will allow researchers and decision-makers worldwide to access the latest evidence on PHSM and keep track of the synthesized effectiveness and impact of different interventions and combinations. The platform will further provide a protected working interface. This monitoring system for PHSM research enables timely access to and utilization of evidence indecision-making processes during health emergencies and fosters international collaboration on the analysis and interpretation of data. Workshop participants will be invited to review the alpha version of the platform.

Infodemic management for public health practitioners: landscape analysis and practical tools

Issue

Infodemics (i.e., overflow of information in physical and digital spaces that makes it difficult for people to make good health decisions) can undermine emergency response, but capacity for infodemic management has been limited in countries thus far. Specifically, there is a need to build capacities in the field with practical and scalable tools.

Description of the problem

WHO has developed tools and trainings to quickly build and enhance infodemic management (IM) capacity at the country-level, such as tools for rapid generation of IM insights and a framework for conducting landscape analyses to establish sustainable IM capacities. These were developed in collaboration with multidisciplinary experts who provided feedback. We sought to create tools that can be a basis for introducing evidence-generation in health information systems to inform emergency preparedness and response, and mainstream methods into routine infodemic diagnostics activities.

Results

The tools and trainings provide a comprehensive framework for diagnosing and addressing infodemics, such as a public health taxonomy to guide digital intelligence analysis and integrated analysis methods for generation of actionable insights. Additionally, the landscape analysis framework outlines steps for assessing strategic needs and assets for routinizing IM functions as part of existing public health systems and programs.

Lessons

The tools and trainings will be deployed in the field to evaluate utility. Feedback from users in the global WHO infodemic manager community will be systematically captured.

Key messages

• Field responders need practical tools and trainings that guide quick infodemic response during health emergencies.

• These tools and trainings can be used to diagnose and intervene on infodemics, even in settings where infodemic insights units are not yet established.

Measuring the burden of infodemics on health outcomes through harmonized global metrics

Issue/problem

Infodemics happen when an excess of information makes it difficult for people to discern what they see and hear to make good health decisions. Several challenges limit the usefulness of applying infodemiology research to the practice of managing infodemics including inconsistency in how information exposure is measured and a lack of focus on assessing associations with health behaviors.

Description of the problem

In 2021, WHO partnered with the University of Sydney to develop a study toolkit. We sought to create novel tools for measuring information exposure that can be easily deployed, linked to surveys measuring health behaviors, and implements a standardized study protocol so that data can be directly synthesized into a global analysis of information risk factors associated with health behaviors.

Results

A web-based study platform was developed, comprising tools for capturing information exposures within studies that link to health behavior surveys. The first tool is a smartphone application that asks users to actively record relevant information they see or hear in diary. The second application is a web browser plugin that passively tracks webpages with relevant keywords. Because localized studies follow a standardized protocol and de-identified participant data are recorded in a common format, local study investigators can opt-in to contributing study data to support global surveillance efforts.

Lessons

Through standardization of measurement tools and relevant study protocols, the toolkit can be used to quickly collect and synthesize data for global or regional analysis of infodemics, including in Europe. Validation of the toolkit in the field is needed to inform its open-source release.

Key messages

• A toolkit for measuring information risk factors associated with behavioral outcomes was developed.

• Global collaboration using the toolkit can improve synthesisability of studies investigating infodemic burden of disease.

Single-agent gemcitabine in patients with advanced, pre-treated angiosarcoma: A multicenter, retrospective study

Gemcitabine has shown clinical activity against angiosarcoma in small series, alone, or combined with taxanes. We aimed to evaluate its activity as a single-agent in a larger series of patients with advanced angiosarcoma. We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of consecutive adult patients with advanced angiosarcoma treated with single-agent gemcitabine at our institutions from January 2010 to January 2021. Response was evaluated according to RECIST 1.1, and toxicity was graded according to NCI-CTC v5.0. 42 patients were identified. 38 patients (90%) had received prior anthracyclines and weekly paclitaxel, and 9 (21%) had received pazopanib. The best tumor response was partial response (PR) in 16 patients (38%), or stable disease (10 patients, 24%). All 8 patients with cardiac angiosarcoma experienced a PR. Median PFS was 5.4 months (95%CI: 3.1-6.5), and median OS was 9.9 months (95%CI: 6.6-13.4). Single-agent gemcitabine has clinically meaningful activity in advanced, heavily pre-treated angiosarcoma.

Management of chordoma of the sacrum and mobile spine

Chordoma is a very rare, poorly known malignancy, with slow progression, mainly located in the sacrum and spine. All age groups may be affected, with a diagnostic peak in the 5th decade of life. Clinical diagnosis is often late. Histologic diagnosis is necessary, based on percutaneous biopsy. Specific markers enable diagnosis and prediction of response to novel treatments. New radiation therapy techniques can stabilize the tumor for 5 years in inoperable patients, but en-bloc resection is the most effective treatment, and should be decided on after a multidisciplinary oncology team meeting in an expert reference center. The type of resection is determined by fine analysis of invasion. According to the level of resection, the patients should be informed and prepared for the expected vesico-genito-sphincteral neurologic sequelae. In tumors not extending above S3, isolated posterior resection is possible. Above S3, a double approach is needed. Anterior release of the sacrum is performed laparoscopically or by robot; resection uses a posterior approach. Posterior wall reconstruction is performed, with an associated flap. Spinopelvic stabilization is necessary in trans-S1 resection. Total or partial sacrectomy shows high rates of complications: intraoperative blood loss, infection or mechanical issues. Neurologic sequelae depend on the level of root sacrifice. No genital-sphincteral function survives S3 root sacrifice. Patient survival depends on initial resection quality and the center's experience. Immunotherapy is an ongoing line of research.

Listening to community concerns in the COVID-19 infodemic: A WHO digital approach

Background

The Infodemic (too much information including false or misleading information in digital and physical environments) during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to confusion, risk-taking and behaviors that can amplify outbreaks, and reduce effectiveness of pandemic response efforts. To address this challenge, the WHO Information Network for Epidemics (EPI-WIN), in collaboration with research partners, developed a public health Infodemic intelligence analysis methodology for weekly analysis of digital media data to identify, categorize, and understand key concerns expressed in online conversations.

Methods

Thirty-five keyword-based searches (per language) using Meltwater Explore and Google Trends were created and grouped according to a set of pandemic public health taxonomy categories developed specifically for this analysis. The taxonomy has five thematic categories of conversation about COVID-19 and public health response: (1) the cause of the illness, (2) the illness, (3) the treatment, (4) the interventions and (5) Information.

Results

The two most recurring topics to attract increasing interest were Vaccines and Asymptomatic transmission followed by Immunity, Cause of the virus, Vulnerable communities and Reduction of movement, and Risk factors based on demographics and risk of misinformation.

Conclusions

The application of this taxonomy to online social listening week-on-week resulted in a better in-time understanding of the evolution and dynamics of high velocity conversations about COVID-19 globally during the pandemic and proposes a quantifiable approach to support planning of risk communication response.

Key messages

Describe widespread innovation in social listening methods for greater accountability to affected populations. Formulate insights into how digital media can be better utilized for more rapidly responding to the evolving needs of communities.

WHO public health research agenda for managing infodemics

Background

Following the World Health Organization's initial infodemic consultation in April 2020, a major infodemic conference was organised virtually in June-July 2020. Hundreds of experts participated to define science of infodemiology and build a public health research agenda that serves as a playbook for conducting relevant researches. Research Agenda provides guidance to invest in research and innovation so that we have better interventions and tools to understand, measure and respond to infodemics, and steer people towards timely, accessible, understandable information for good health choices.

Methods

The research agenda was developed during a virtual meeting, followed by research question prioritization exercise. It consisted of eight days spread out over four weeks. These were made up of: public preconference meeting; scientific conference, consisting of opening/closing plenary meetings either side of four separate “topic sprint” days; final public meeting to present the meeting outcomes.

After the meeting, a process took place to gather and rank research questions based on the research agenda created during the meeting.

Results

The following five streams and 65 research questions were developed. Measuring and monitoring the impact of infodemics during health emergencies Detecting and understanding the spread and impact of infodemics Responding and deploying interventions that protect against the infodemic and mitigate its harmful effects Evaluating infodemic interventions and strengthening resilience of individuals and communities to infodemics Promoting the development, adaptation and application of tools for managing infodemics.

Conclusions

Five streams with 65 research questions were developed and prioritized to structuralise infodemic management based on evidence. The conference yielded on the development of an infodemiology glossary, which can be used by the community of research.

Key messages

Discuss investments in research and innovation to enable a whole-of-society response to infodemics. Explain the practice of infodemic management as a discipline.

Advances in real-time social listening for an adaptive public health response: WHO’s EARS platform

Background

COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by an Infodemic (overabundance of information, including misinformation and disinformation, both online and offline); in response to this Infodemic, WHO launched the EARS platform (Early AI-assisted Response with Social Listening), showing real-time information about how people are talking about COVID-19 online. This information is intended to serve health information professionals to understand narratives and needs of the general public, in order to inform policy or communications decisions.

Methods

Data is collected daily from online conversations in publicly available sources, including Twitter, online forums, and blogs in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, for 20 pilot countries. Once the data is collected, it is processed and classified into 39 categories, according to a set of pandemic public health taxonomy. The classification is made based on semi-supervised machine learning.

Results

Top 5 categories across regions are Covid-19 vaccine, Transmission settings, Personal measures, Testing and Industry (industry refers to the impact of the pandemic on the economy). We find that conversations around Covid-19 vaccines usually rank in the second or third position in all regions and represent 9%-12% of the conversation.

Conclusions

The configuration and application of the EARS platform has enabled progress towards more scalable and sustainable social listening to inform Infodemic management and response, compared to previous methods which were more manual, required data scientists in the team, or had fewer analytics capabilities. Future work will focus on gradually adding more data sources which can expand coverage and representativity.

Key messages

Discuss social listening methods for greater accountability to affected populations. Formulate insights into how digital media and information technology can be better utilized for more rapidly responding to the evolving needs of communities.

50 Global Actions to Manage the COVID-19 Infodemic: A WHO Framework

Issue

The World Health Organization describes an infodemic as an “overabundance of information - good or bad - that makes it difficult for people to make decisions for their health.”

Description of the problem

On April 7-8, 2020, the WHO Information Network for Epidemics (EPI-WIN) held a global online to crowdsource ideas from an interdisciplinary group of experts to form a novel COVID-19 infodemic response framework. The online consultation comprised of four plenary sessions and a brainstorming session conducted entirely online. Nearly 1500 individuals from over 100 countries and territories spanning social scientists, epidemiologists, staff from ministries of health and institutes of public health, registered for the consultation.

Results

A set of 50 proposed actions for a framework for managing infodemics in health emergencies was developed that will provide guidance for governments and public health institutions to take in five key areas of action that emerged from the consultation:

strengthening evidence and information

simplifying and explaining what is known fact-checking and addressing misinformation

amplifying messages and reaching the communities and individuals who need the information

quantifying and analysing the infodemic, including information flows, monitoring the acceptance of public health interventions, and assessing factors affecting behaviour at individual and population levels

strengthening systems for infodemic management in health emergencies

Lessons

Everyone has a role to play

Read the Call for Action

Sign the Call for Action

https://www.who.int/news/item/11-12-2020-call-for-action-managing-the-infode

Key messages

The confusion due to Infodemic can lead people to ignore public health measures and take risks that can cause serious harm.

Recognizing this WHO convened an interdisciplinary group of experts 7-8 April 2020 virtually to form a novel COVID-19 infodemic response framework.

Chemotherapy in the management of periosteal osteosarcoma: A narrative review

Periosteal osteosarcoma (PO), an intermediate-grade chondroblastic osteosarcoma (OST) arising from the surface of the bones, is a rare histological subtype among primary bone sarcomas, most commonly diagnosed in young patients. It is characterized by distinct specific radiological and pathological features. The current management strategy is based on several case reports and series, without any solid international recommendations. Most sarcoma experts agree on the crucial role of an optimal complete surgical approach. However, with the paucity of available reports, the role of systemic treatment and its timing remains debatable. With this paper, we will review the available data on the actual impact of chemotherapy in PO patients with emphasis on the radiological, pathological, and therapeutic characteristics of this rare entity.

Activity of single-agent gemcitabine in patients (pts) with advanced angiosarcoma: A retrospective study

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Background: Gemcitabine has shown clinical activity against angiosarcoma in single cases or small series, as a single agent or in combination with taxanes. We aimed to evaluate its activity in a larger, homogeneous series of pts with advanced angiosarcoma. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of consecutive adult pts with advanced angiosarcoma treated with gemcitabine(1000 mg/m2 IV days 1, 8 and 15 of a 28-days cycle) at our institutions from January 2010 to January 2021. All cases were confirmed by an expert pathologist from the French network of Sarcoma pathologists (RRePS). Response was evaluated according to RECIST 1.1, and survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Fourty-two pts [median age : 52 years (range : 25-90), median PS : 1 (range : 0-2), 36 women)] were identified. Ten (24%) had locally advanced disease; the median number of metastatic sites was 2 (range : 1-4) in the remaining 32 pts. Primary tumor site was breast/chest wall (12), face/scalp (9), heart (8), other viscera (7) or limbs (7). Eleven (26%) occurred in previously irradiated field. All pts but 4 had received prior anthracyclines (peri-operatively or in the metastatic setting) and weekly paclitaxel, and 9 (21%) had received pazopanib. Gemcitabine was given as second, third and fourth line in 7 (17%), 20 (47%) and 15 (36%) pts, respectively. Best tumor response by RECIST 1.1 was PR (16 pts, 38%), SD (10 pts, 24%) or PD (16 pts, 38%). All pts with cardiac angiosarcoma experienced a PR, as well as 4 of 10 pts with angiosarcoma arising in irradiated field and 3 of the 4 pts with CNS metastases. Median PFS was 5.4 months (95%CI : 3.1-6.5), and median OS was 9.9 months (95%CI : 6.6-13.4). Two febrile neutropenia occurred. No new safety signal was observed. Ongoing studies are exploring whether candidate biomarkers such as hENT1 expression could help predicting the benefit of gemcitabine in pts with angiosarcoma of the heart and large vessels. Conclusions: Single agent gemcitabine has clinically meaningful activity in advanced, heavily pre-treated angiosarcoma (including cardiac angiosarcoma). This series may serve as a benchmark for future clinical trials in angiosarcoma.

Activity of erlotinib in patients (pts) with advanced chordoma: A retrospective study

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Background: Chordoma is a rare tumor with no approved therapy. Preclinical studies have shown expression of EGFR and activated EGFR family kinases (EGFR, HER2 and HER4). Erlotinib and other anti-EGFR agents (gefitinib and cetuximab) have shown clinical activity in advanced chordoma in single case reports or small series. We aimed to evaluate the activity of erlotinib in a larger, homogeneous series of pts with advanced chordoma. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of consecutive adult pts with advanced chordoma progressive over 6 months (+/- 2 weeks, according to RECIST 1.1), treated with erlotinib (150 mg daily) at Gustave Roussy (Villejuif, France) following multidisciplinary tumor board discussion, from January 2010 to January 2021. All cases were confirmed by an expert pathologist. Response was evaluated according to RECIST 1.1, and survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Thirty-one pts [median age : 60 years (range : 32-88), median PS : 2 (range : 1-3), 30 males)] were identified. Twenty-seven (87%) had locally advanced disease; the median number of metastatic sites was 1 (range : 1-2) in the remaining 4 pts. Primary tumor site was sacral (25), lumbar (3) or cervical (3). All pts but 6 had undergone prior surgery, and 29 (94%) had undergone radiotherapy of the primary tumor. Eight pts had received previous systemic treatments (imatinib in 4, sorafenib and regorafenib in 2 each). Best tumor response by RECIST 1.1 was PR (4 pts, 13%), SD (14 pts, 45%) or PD (13 pts, 42%). Median PFS was 6.2 months (95%CI : 4.5-9.8), and median OS was 15.9 months (95%CI : 10.6-20.2). Fourteen pts (45%) remained progression-free after 1 year, and three (10%) after two years under erlotinib. Grade 3 diarrhea occurred in 4 pts (13%) and grade 3 skin rash in 13 pts (42%). Twelve pts (39%) required dose reduction to 100 mg daily due to multiple grade 2 toxicities. Ongoing studies are exploring whether candidate biomarkers such as EGFR and HER2 expression or amplification, and their mutational status could help predicting the benefit of erlotinib in pts with advanced chordoma. Conclusions: Erlotinib has clinically meaningful but unpredictable activity in advanced chordoma. Molecular profiling would probably be of high interest in this setting. This series may serve as a benchmark for future clinical trials in chordoma.

Non image-guided core needle biopsies can be used safely to improve diagnostic efficiency for soft tissue tumors

INTRODUCTION

Front-line biopsy remains the rule in the management of soft tissue mass syndromes. Although open biopsy has long been considered the gold standard, it has recently been shown that a percutaneous biopsy is associated with a reduction in the rate of complications and cost, while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy. Though there is much literature regarding the diagnostic accuracy of image-guided and open biopsies for soft tissue tumors, the accuracy of percutaneous non image-guided biopsies has not been well documented. The objective of this study was to compare the failure rate of non image-guided biopsies, image-guided biopsies and open biopsies for the diagnosis of soft tissue tumors. We also attempted to identify the failure risk factors for non image-guided biopsies and we compared the diagnostic delay of the three types of biopsy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a continuous, single-center retrospective study. We reviewed the results from 337 patients managed with a biopsy (percutaneous or open) for a soft tissue tumor, all carried out in our center between January 2010 and December 2015. Biopsy technique was chosen by the treating orthopedic surgeon, according to the clinical and radiological characteristics of the mass. 141 patients (41.8%) had a non-image-guided biopsy as the first-line diagnostic procedure, 81 (24.0%) had an image-guided biopsy, and 115 (34.1%) an open biopsy. Diagnostic failure was defined either by a non-contributory biopsy, the need for repeat biopsy, or a major histological discordance obtained from the resected tumor piece. The risk factors studied were tumor characteristics, patient' characteristics and sampling modalities. Diagnostic delay was defined as the period between the day of the first external consultation at the hospital and the day of the notification of the diagnosis by the physician.

RESULTS

We obtained a failure rate of 9.9% (14 patients) for non image-guided biopsies. Eleven were non-contributive and three were considered as errors of diagnosis. The failure rate for image-guided biopsies was 18.5% (15 patients), with no significant difference compared with non image-guided biopsies. The open biopsies were associated with a failure rate of 6.9% (eight patients). We found no failure risk factors for non image-guided biopsies. Diagnostic delay was significantly shorter for non image-guided biopsies (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

When performed in a referral center by the patient's surgeon, a non-image-guided core needle biopsy is a safe procedure which ensures equivalent diagnostic accuracy for soft tissue tumors, while reducing the diagnostic delay.

Efficacy and safety of oral metronomic etoposide in adult patients with metastatic osteosarcoma

Therapeutic options in patients with metastatic osteosarcoma are limited and effective systemic treatments are needed in this setting. The aim of this case series was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of oral metronomic etoposide in adult patients with progressive metastatic osteosarcoma. We retrospectively reviewed the electronic records of patients treated with oral metronomic etoposide (25 mg thrice daily, 3 weeks out of 4) from December 2002 to December 2018 at Gustave Roussy (Villejuif, France). The primary endpoint was progression-free rate (PFR) at 4 months; secondary endpoints were: best response (according to RECIST v1.1), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety. With a median follow-up of 9.8 months, 37 patients were eligible for this analysis: 68% males, median age 42 (range: 21-75), 19% with synchronous metastases, 92% with lung metastases, median PS: 1 (range: 0-3). Median number of previous treatment lines in the metastatic setting was 1 (range: 0-4). Progression-free rate at 4 months was 40.3% (95% CI: 24.5-56.2). Best response was partial response in 11% and stable disease in 35% of patients (disease control rate: 46%). Median PFS was 3.1 months (95% CI: 2.5-4.7) and median OS was 9.8 months (95% CI: 5.1-12.3). Toxicity profile was acceptable, with 13% grade 3 haematological toxicities (anaemia and neutropenia), without any grade 3-4 non-haematological toxicity. In our experience, oral metronomic etoposide demonstrated effective palliation along with acceptable toxicity in patients with progressive metastatic osteosarcoma.

Long-term Outcomes of Oral Vinorelbine in Advanced, Progressive Desmoid Fibromatosis and Influence of CTNNB1 Mutational Status

PURPOSE

Desmoid-type fibromatosis (DF) are locally aggressive neoplasms, with a need for effective systemic treatment in case of progression to avoid the short- and long-term complications of local treatments.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of adult patients with DF treated with oral vinorelbine (90 mg once weekly) at Gustave Roussy Cancer Institute (Villejuif, Paris, France). Only patients with documented progressive disease according to RECIST v1.1 for more than 3 months (±2 weeks) before treatment initiation were included.

RESULTS

From 2009 to 2019, 90 out of 438 patients with DF were eligible for this analysis. Vinorelbine was given alone in 56 patients (62%), or concomitantly with endocrine therapy in 34 patients, for a median duration of 6.7 months. A partial response was observed in 29% and stable disease in another 57%. With a median follow-up of 52.4 months, the median time to treatment failure (TTF) was not reached. Progression-free rates at 6 and 12 months were 88.7% and 77.5%, respectively. Concomitant endocrine therapy was associated with longer TTF in women [HR, 2.16; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06-4.37; P = 0.03). Among 64 patients with documented CTNNB1 mutational status, p.S45F or p.S45P mutations were associated with longer TTF compared with p.T41A or wild-type tumors (HR, 2.78; 95% CI, 1.23-6.27; P = 0.04). Toxicity profile was favorable, without grade 3-4 toxicity, except for one grade 3 neutropenia.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral vinorelbine is an effective, affordable, and well-tolerated regimen in patients with advanced, progressive DF. Prolonged activity was observed in patients with tumors harboring CTNNB1 p.S45F or p.S45P mutations.

Clinical and dynamometric results of hip abductor system repair by trochanteric hydroxyapatite plate with modular implant after resection of proximal femoral tumors

INTRODUCTION

The capacity of the hydroxyapatite-coated trochanteric screwed plates used with modular hip implants to restore abductor system efficacy after proximal femoral tumor resection has never been assessed. We therefore conducted a retrospective study aiming to: (1) quantitatively evaluate abduction conservation on dynamometry according to use of digastric reinsertion, conserving continuity between the gluteus medius and vastus lateralis muscles, or not, and of standard versus small-offset; (2) assess radiographic trochanteric plate fixation; (3) assess functional scores; and (4) assess complications.

HYPOTHESIS

Trochanteric reinsertion better conserves abduction strength when reinsertion is digastric.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-one patients undergoing proximal femoral tumor resection between 2006 and 2016 with reconstruction by Stanmore METS™ modular implant with trochanteric plate were included. Twenty-one had digastric fixation between the gluteus medius and vastus lateralis and 10 had simple trochanteric fixation without digastric continuity. Abduction strength was compared between sides on dynamometer. Sixteen patients had full assessment of muscle strength, by a single observer; there were 8 deaths, 5 patients lost to follow-up, and 2 cases of material removal.

RESULTS

Abduction strength conservation versus the contralateral side was 55.2±23.3% (range, 5.8-86.1%): 66.6±13.0% (46.4-86.1) with versus 36.0±24.7% (5.8-63.2%) without digastric continuity (p=0.01); severe limp rate was 4/21 when digastric continuity was preserved (19%) versus 6/10 (60%) (p=0.04), and radiologic trochanteric reinsertion stability rate was 19/21 (90%) versus 4/10 (40%) (p=0.005). Standard femoral offset conserved greater abduction strength: 64.9±20.0% versus small-offset 45.4±23.2% (p=0.05). Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS) was 89±9.4%, and Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score 75.4±5.4%. There were 6 complications (19%): 4 infections, 1 dislocation, and 1 plate removal; the single dislocation (3%) was in the digastric conservation group. TESS (90.7±7.8% vs 88.3±4) and MSTS score (75.6±4.0% vs 75.1±3.7) and complications [4/21 (19%) vs 2/10 (20%)] did not differ according to digastric or non-digastric reinsertion (p=1).

CONCLUSIONS

Abduction strength with a modular implant using a hydroxyapatite-coated trochanteric plate was better conserved by digastric trochanteric reinsertion, resulting in less limping, although the complications rate and functional scores were unaffected. Longer term assessment is needed to confirm this conservation of abduction strength.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV, retrospective study without control group.

Postoperative infections after limb-sparing surgery for primary bone tumors of the pelvis: Incidence, characterization and functional impact

INTRODUCTION

Surgical site infections (SSI) represent the most common postoperative complication after limb sparing surgery for primary malignant bone tumors, with incidence ranging from 10 to 47%. There is no consensus concerning about the optimal surgical strategy, or the adequate antibiotic prophylaxis in pelvic resections. A greater knowledge of these infections and their surgical trajectories seem essential to obtain.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively studied 45 cases of pelvic resection, including at least the periacetabular zone 2 of Enneking, performed between 1989 and 2013 in the same center. Infection rate, risk factors and surgical trajectories were analyzed. The impact of a postoperative infection on the quality of life and functional recovery was evaluated by the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society scoring system (MSTS).

RESULTS

Sixteen patients presented a SSI in the first post-operative year (35.6%). We found as risk factors the pre-operative ASA score, the age at surgery and the number of packed red cells transfused during surgery. In case of failure of an initial washout, an iterative procedure is responsible for a high failure rate of 88.9%. Irrespective of the type of reconstruction, our functional results show that this surgery is often a source of handicap with a MSTS score of 13.77 in infected patients versus 17.70 in non-infected patients, at two-year follow-up.

DISCUSSION

In case of failure of an initial wash, prosthetic material must be removed and a hip transposition procedure should be preferred to a second-look surgery. Concerning prophylactic antibiotherapy, a dual therapy for at least 48 h after surgery should probably be preferred.

ACL reconstruction in 11 children using the Clocheville surgical technique: Objective and subjective evaluation

INTRODUCTION

The over-the-top position of the femoral metaphyseal tunnel during extraphyseal ligament reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) according to Clocheville may be responsible for negative anisometry. Until now, the follow-up of children operated using this pediatric technique was limited to screening for iatrogenic epiphysiodesis and the search for postoperative clinical instability. The objective of this study was to measure residual laxity using objective tests, to quantify muscle recovery, and to evaluate the quality of life of these patients in terms of the sports activities.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Eleven patients with a mean age of 13.5years were seen at a mean 2.1years of follow-up. They underwent objective clinical tests (GNRB(®) arthrometer and CON-TREX(®) dynamometer) as well as subjective questionnaires (IKDC and KOOS).

RESULTS

No significant difference was found between the healthy knee and the operated knee for either the GNRB(®) at 134N (P=0.79) or at 200N (P=0.98). The CON-TREX(®) system allowed us to measure a median percentage of quadriceps recovery of 80.7% (range, 52.2-114.5) in terms of muscle power (60°/s) and 81.2% (range, 51.6-109.6) for muscle response (180°/s). The median subjective IKDC score was 94.73/100 (range, 73.68-98.93); 72.7% of the patients resumed competitive sports.

DISCUSSION

This study's lack of statistical power did not show a significant difference in terms of residual laxity at rest of GNRB(®) transplants, while a mean differential of +0.4mm was observed. Although pediatric transphyseal ligament reconstruction techniques are increasingly used, the Clocheville technique remains, in our opinion, an attractive surgical alternative in the youngest subjects, with no major risk of iatrogenic epiphysiodesis even though it is theoretically anisometric.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Comparative bone tissue integration of nanostructured and microroughened dental implants

AIM

The aim was to compare osteointegration of nanostructured implants to a microsurface widely used for titanium dental implants.

MATERIALS & METHODS

Commercial titanium dental implants with smooth or microroughened surfaces were nanostructured. Implants were inserted into the femoral condyles of rabbits. After 2 and 4 weeks, histomorphometry calculation was performed.

RESULTS

Nanotubes measuring 60 nm in diameter were observed on both S-NANO (roughness: 0.05 μm) and R-NANO (roughness: 0.40 μm) surfaces. The MICRO surface exhibited typical random cavities (roughness: 2.09 μm). At 4 weeks, bone-to-implant contact values were significantly higher for the R-NANO than for the MICRO surface while no differences were observed at 2 weeks.

CONCLUSION

Overall, this study shows that the nanostructured surfaces improved osteointegration similar or higher than the MICRO.

Wait-and-see policy as a first-line management for extra-abdominal desmoid tumors

BACKGROUND

Extra-abdominal desmoid tumors are rare, locally aggressive neoplasms without metastatic potential. There is no clear consensus regarding their optimal management. The disappointing results of current treatments and the ability of extra-abdominal desmoid tumors to spontaneously stabilize have increasingly drawn interest toward conservative management. The objective of this study was to evaluate a wait-and-see policy as a first-line management for extra-abdominal desmoid tumors.

METHODS

This two-center retrospective study involved fifty-five patients with a histologically proven extra-abdominal desmoid tumor. The primary outcome was the cumulative probability of dropping out from the wait-and-see policy. The wait-and-see policy included aggressive management of symptoms. We conducted a review of the relevant published series in which a watchful-waiting strategy was used.

RESULTS

The cumulative probability of dropping out from the wait-and-see policy was 9.6% at the time of the last follow-up. Spontaneous arrest of tumor growth was noted for forty-seven patients (85%) over the course of the study. Half of the tumors were stabilized at one year, and a potential to increase beyond three years was a sporadic event (one case). Regrowth was found in two patients (4%).

CONCLUSIONS

A wait-and-see policy is an effective front-line management for patients with primary or recurrent extra-abdominal desmoid tumor. These tumors tend to stabilize spontaneously, on average after one year of evolution, and the cumulative probability of the failure of a wait-and-see policy is approximately 10%.

Highlights and conclusions from the technical consultative meeting on novel coronavirus infection, Cairo, Egypt, 14-16 January 2013

The emergence of a novel strain of coronavirus in the Arabian Peninsula raised a global health concern in 2012, partly because the majority of human infections were fatal and partly due to its presumed animal origin. An urgent meeting of scientific and public health experts was convened by WHO in January 2013 in view of the limited knowledge available on the epidemiological and natural history of infection with this novel virus. The meeting reviewed current evidence and identified critical knowledge gaps to improve better understanding of the public health risk associated with the virus so as to improve preparedness and to safeguard and protect global health.

Challenges of global surveillance during an influenza pandemic

Surveillance is an essential foundation for monitoring and evaluating any disease process, and is especially critical when new disease agents appear. The H1N1 influenza pandemic of 2009 tested the capacities of countries to detect, assess, notify and report events as required by the 2005 International Health Regulations (IHR). As detailed in the IHR, the World Health Organization drew on official reports from Member States as well as unofficial sources (e.g. media alerts) to quickly report and disseminate information about the appearance of the novel influenza virus. The pre-existing Global Influenza Surveillance Network for virological surveillance also provided crucial information for rapid development of a vaccine and for detection of changes in the virus. However, the pandemic also highlighted a number of shortcomings in global epidemiological surveillance for respiratory disease. These included the lack of standards for reporting illness, risk factor and mortality data, and a mechanism for systematic reporting of epidemiological data. Such measures would have facilitated direct comparison of data between countries and improved timely understanding of the characteristics and impact of the pandemic. This paper describes the surveillance strategies in place before the pandemic and the methods that were used at global level to monitor the pandemic. Enhancements of global surveillance are proposed to improve preparedness and response for similar events in the future.

[Influenza vaccine: globalization of public health stakes]

On June 11, 2009, Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), declared the first influenza pandemic of the 21st century. It was the first time in history that an influenza outbreak had been tracked in real-time from the emergence of a new strain of influenza A (H1N1) up to its spread to all continents over a period of 9 weeks. In recent years the international community has been working closely to prepare for such situations. A notable example of this cooperation occurred in response to the threat posed by the highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus (H5N1). Vaccine availability is a major challenge that will require increasing worldwide production and ensuring a widespread access. In this regard it is important to underline the fact that 70% of influenza vaccine is produced in Europe and the United States. In 2006 WHO implemented a global pandemic influenza action plan (GAP) aiming at increasing the world's production capacity for pandemic vaccine. The GAP contains three elements: (1) increased use of seasonal influenza vaccination in industrialized and developing countries (resolution WHA 56.19). (2) technology transfer. (3) development of new production technologies. Nevertheless numerous barriers still prevent people living in developing countries from rapid and fair access to pandemic influenza vaccine. Capacity for production of pandemic vaccine is limited and advanced purchase agreements between industrialized countries and vaccine manufacturers reduce potential access of developing countries to pandemic vaccine. Economic and logistic factors also limit global access to pandemic vaccine. Therefore, WHO is working with industrialized countries, pharmaceutical companies and the international community as a whole to promote global solidarity and cooperation and thus ensure distribution of pandemic vaccine in poor countries with no local production. The current pandemic situation highlights the increasing globalization of public health stakes with regard to influenza vaccination. The purpose of this presentation is to review the various challenges for production and distribution of vaccines and underline the progress that has been accomplished since 2005.

[Perceptions of quality in health sectors and impact on quality assurance]

According to the ordinances dated April, 24.1996, clinics and hospitals should launch an internal accreditation process. There are many organizations which are about to develop a quality improvement process in order to be prepared to such an evaluation. The success of such approach lies on the involvement of the members of the organization concerned. This survey intends to sort out the actors' perceptions of quality, in order to adapt the process development to the internal cultural context. The data collection was realized through thirty pre-oriented interviews with physicians, nurses, administrative managers and private consultants in charge of implementing the quality process in health structures. The recorded interviews were later on analyzed in order to determine meaningful categories of perceptions of quality. The analysis reveals that quality is perceived in different ways. Three categories of perception can be found: Quality related to "a mean to change the organization" Quality as a "tool to control and limit the expenses" Quality as a way "to improve the relationship with the patients". Administrative managers rather consider the quality process as an expense control tool, whereas physicians and consultants perceive it as a mean to change the organization. Nurses rather adopt the quality process as a way to improve the relationship with the patient. The understanding of how the quality concept is perceived by the different personnel categories helps to initiate appropriately the improvement quality process in services.

[Evaluation of epidemiologic surveillance systems: analysis of different approaches in a study in Ecuador]

Based on the experience of the assessment of public health surveillance systems, this paper explores the relationship between knowledge and action. Like research, evaluation is a cognitive process however oriented to a specific aim. Thus it is possible to compare the various approaches of evaluating these systems using the frame of paradigms in sciences (positivism, post positivism, critical theory and constructivism). In addition, evaluation aims to improve the functioning of the system, to introduce changes in it. The fourth generation evaluation, as it has been done in Ecuador, is an interesting way of acquiring understanding of the system while solving its malfunctionings. In this experience, the evaluator seeks the participation of the actors of the system at each steps of the evaluation process. He searches to involved them through three levels: intellectual, affective and ontological.

[Mothers' perceptions about their children's acute diarrhea in the Quito suburbs]

This study was performed in an urban marginal neighborhood of Quito (Ecuador). It aims to understand how the mothers with children (less than five years old) suffering from diarrhea are using the health center. We did 48 semi-directed interviews with mothers coming to the health center. The results show the various representations of diarrhea (symptomatic patterns and explanatory models: e.g. diarrhea due to supernatural cause, diarrhea related to heat and cold balance...) and the related processes of therapeutic search; For example, when the mother thinks that the diarrhea is due to a supernatural cause, she immediately goes to the traditional practitioner. The existing cultural gap between health practitioners of the center and the population of this neighborhood incite to consider differently the content of health education messages.

The Suppressor of fused gene, involved in Hedgehog signal transduction in Drosophila, is conserved in mammals

The Suppressor of fused [Su(fu)] gene of Drosophila melanogaster encodes a protein containing a PEST sequence [sequence enriched in proline (P), glutamic acid (E), serine (S) and threonine (T)] which acts as an antagonist to the serine-threonine kinase Fused in Hedgehog (Hh) signal transduction during embryogenesis. The Su(fu) gene isolated from a distantly related Drosophila species, D. virilis, shows significantly high homology throughout its protein sequence with its D. melanogaster counterpart. We show that these two Drosophila homologs of Su(fu) are functionally interchangeable in enhancing the fused phenotype. We have also isolated mammalian homologs of Su(fu). The absence of the PEST sequence in the mammalian Su(fu) protein suggests a different regulation for this product between fly and vertebrates. Using the yeast two-hybrid method, we show that the murine Su(fu) protein can interact directly with the Fused and Cubitus interruptus proteins, known partners of Su(fu) in Drosophila. These data are discussed in the light of their evolutionary relationships.