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- Karltun, Linley Chiwona, et al.
(author)
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COVID-19: From health crises to food security anxiety and policy implications
- 2021
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In: Ambio. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 50, s. 794-811
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Like the rest of the world, African countries are reeling from the health, economic and social effects of COVID-19. The continent's governments have responded by imposing rigorous lockdowns to limit the spread of the virus. The various lockdown measures are undermining food security, because stay at home orders have among others, threatened food production for a continent that relies heavily on agriculture as the bedrock of the economy. This article draws on quantitative data collected by the GeoPoll, and, from these data, assesses the effect of concern about the local spread and economic impact of COVID-19 on food worries. Qualitative data comprising 12 countries south of the Sahara reveal that lockdowns have created anxiety over food security as a health, economic and human rights/well-being issue. By applying a probit model, we find that concern about the local spread of COVID-19 and economic impact of the virus increases the probability of food worries. Governments have responded with various efforts to support the neediest. By evaluating the various policies rolled out we advocate for a feminist economics approach that necessitates greater use of data analytics to predict the likely impacts of intended regulatory relief responses during the recovery process and post-COVID-19.
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| 3. |
- Mezheyeuski, Artur, et al.
(author)
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An immune score reflecting pro- and anti-tumoural balance of tumour microenvironment has major prognostic impact and predicts immunotherapy response in solid cancers
- 2023
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In: EBioMedicine. - : Elsevier. - 2352-3964. ; 88
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Cancer immunity is based on the interaction of a multitude of cells in the spatial context of the tumour tissue. Clinically relevant immune signatures are therefore anticipated to fundamentally improve the accuracy in predicting disease progression.Methods: Through a multiplex in situ analysis we evaluated 15 immune cell classes in 1481 tumour samples. Single-cell and bulk RNAseq data sets were used for functional analysis and validation of prognostic and predictive associations.Findings: By combining the prognostic information of anti-tumoural CD8+ lymphocytes and tumour supportive CD68+CD163+ macrophages in colorectal cancer we generated a signature of immune activation (SIA). The prognostic impact of SIA was independent of conventional parameters and comparable with the state-of-art immune score. The SIA was also associated with patient survival in oesophageal adenocarcinoma, bladder cancer, lung adenocarcinoma and melanoma, but not in endometrial, ovarian and squamous cell lung carcinoma. We identified CD68+CD163+ macrophages as the major producers of complement C1q, which could serve as a surrogate marker of this macrophage subset. Consequently, the RNA-based version of SIA (ratio of CD8A to C1QA) was predictive for survival in independent RNAseq data sets from these six cancer types. Finally, the CD8A/C1QA mRNA ratio was also predictive for the response to checkpoint inhibitor therapy.Interpretation: Our findings extend current concepts to procure prognostic information from the tumour immune microenvironment and provide an immune activation signature with high clinical potential in common human cancer types.
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| 4. |
- Mezheyeuski, Artur, et al.
(author)
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The ratio of CD8+ lymphocytes to CD68+CD163+ macrophages is prognostic in immunogenic tumors and predicts immunotherapy response
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Immune cells in the microenvironment shape tumor development and progression. Through in situ analyses we assessed 15 immune cell classes in 352 colorectal cancers and identified a simpleprognostic signature based on the ratio of anti-tumoral CD8+ lymphocytes to tumor-supportiveCD68+CD163+ macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. The prognostic ability of this signature was superior to the state-of-art immune score and was also demonstrated in four other tumor types. Single-cell analyses identified these CD68+CD163+ macrophages as the source of complement C1q, and the ratio of CD8A to C1QA gene expression levels in bulk RNA predicted survival in five tumor types. In single cell analyses, RNA-based versions of the signature also predicted response to checkpoint inhibitor therapy. This supports broad clinical applicability of immune scores considering CD68+CD163+ macrophages as prognostic and predictive biomarkers in common cancers.
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