Objectives To describe the CD4 cell count at the start of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in low-income (LIC), lower middle-income (LMIC), upper middle-income (UMIC) and high-income (HIC) countries. Methods Patients aged ≥16 years starting cART in a clinic participating in a multi-cohort collaboration spanning six continents (International epidemiological Databases to Evaluate AIDS and ART Cohort Collaboration) were eligible. Multi-level linear regression models were adjusted for age, gender and calendar year; missing CD4 counts were imputed. Findings 379,865 patients from nine LIC, four LMIC, four UMIC and six HIC were included. In LIC the median CD4 cell count at cART initiation increased by 83% from 80 to 145 cells/μl between 2002 and 2009. Corresponding increases in LMIC, UMIC and HIC were from 87 to 155 cells/μl (76% increase), 88 to 135 cells/μl (53%) and 209 to 274 cells/μl (31%). In 2009, compared to LIC, median counts were 13 cells/μl (95% CI -56 to +30) lower in LMIC, 22 cells/μl (-62 to +18) lower in UMIC and 112 /μl (+75 to +149) higher in HIC. They were 23 cells/μl (95% CI +18 to +28) higher in women than men. Median counts were 88 cells/μl (95% CI +35 to +141) higher in countries with an estimated national cART coverage >80%, compared to countries with <40% coverage. Conclusions Median CD4 cell counts at start of cART increased 2000-2009 but remained below 200 cells/μl in LIC and MIC and below 300 cells/μl in HIC. Earlier start of cART will require substantial efforts and resources globally.

IntroductionAdolescence and pregnancy are potential risk factors for loss to follow‐up (LTFU) while on antiretroviral therapy (ART). We compared adolescent and adult LTFU after ART initiation to quantify the impact of age, pregnancy, and site‐level factors on LTFU.MethodsWe used routine clinical data for patients initiating ART as young adolescents (YA; 10 to 14 years), older adolescents (OA; 15 to 19 years) and adults (≥20 years) from 2000 to 2014 at 52 health facilities affiliated with the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) East Africa collaboration. We estimated cumulative incidence (95% confidence interval, CI) of LTFU (no clinic visit for ≥6 months after ART initiation) and identified patient and site‐level correlates of LTFU, using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models for all patients as well as individual age groups.ResultsA total of 138,387 patients initiated ART, including 2496 YA, 2955 OA and 132,936 adults. Of these, 55%, 78% and 66%, respectively, were female and 0.7% of YA, 22.3% of OA and 8.3% of adults were pregnant at ART initiation. Cumulative incidence of LTFU at five years was 26.6% (24.6 to 28.6) among YA, 44.1% (41.8 to 46.3) among OA and 29.3% (29.1 to 29.6) among adults. Overall, compared to adults, the adjusted hazard ratio, aHR, (95% CI) of LTFU for OA was 1.54 (1.41 to 1.68) and 0.77 (0.69 to 0.86) for YA. Compared to males, pregnant females had higher hazard of LTFU, aHR 1.20 (1.14 to 1.27), and nonpregnant women had lower hazard aHR 0.90 (0.88 to 0.93). LTFU hazard among the OA was primarily driven by both pregnant and nonpregnant females, aHR 2.42 (1.98 to 2.95) and 1.51 (1.27 to 1.80), respectively, compared to men. The LTFU hazard ratio varied by IeDEA program. Site‐level factors associated with overall lower LTFU hazard included receiving care in tertiary versus primary‐care clinics aHR 0.61 (0.56 to 0.67), integrated adult and adolescent services and food ration provision aHR 0.93 (0.89 to 0.97) versus nonintegrated clinics with food ration provision, having patient support groups aHR 0.77 (0.66 to 0.90) and group adherence counselling aHR 0.61 (0.57 to 0.67).ConclusionsOlder adolescents experienced higher risk of LTFU compared to YA and adults. Interventions to prevent LTFU among older adolescents are critically needed, particularly for female and/or pregnant adolescents.

PURPOSE In Tanzania, cancer of cervix is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. There are very little data about survival of patients with cervical cancer after treatment in Tanzania. The aims of this study were to determine 5-year overall survival (OS) rate and its predictors among patients with cervical cancer treated at Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) from January to December 2012. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was retrospective study done at ORCI by reviewing medical charts of 202 patients with cervical cancer treated at ORCI from January to December 2012. A structured questionnaire was used to extract information about characteristics of the respondents. Survival curves were estimated by using Kaplan-Meir analysis and were compared by using log-rank test. RESULTS The 5-year OS rate was 26%. The mean and median survival times were 33.9 and 19 months, respectively. Factors that were positively associated with 5-year OS rate include the hemoglobin level more than 9 g/dL at presentation, early International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage at presentation, high dose of radiotherapy, and use of concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Histology type and HIV status were not associated with survival. CONCLUSION The 5-year overall survival rate was 26%. Predictors of OS were hemoglobin level, stage at presentation, radiotherapy dose, and the use of concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Background Medulloblastoma is a malignant brain tumor that is common in children but very uncommon in adults, especially those older than 40 years, accounting for less than 1% of all primary brain tumors in adults. Although surgery and radiotherapy play an important role treatment of adult medulloblastoma, the use of chemotherapy is controversial. This is the first instance of adult medulloblastoma at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute in Tanzania. Case description We report the case of a 51-year-old female of African ethnicity who was diagnosed with high-risk hemispheric posterior cranial fossa medulloblastoma of classic type with World Health Organization central nervous system grade 4 and Chang stage M0. Immunohistochemistry, reticulin stain, and molecular subtyping could not be done because they were not available. She was treated by subtotal posterior cranial fossa tumor resection followed by adjuvant concurrent chemo-craniospinal radiation and adjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusion Even in adults over 50 years old, medulloblastoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of posterior fossa tumor. Adult medulloblastoma is a very rare and very heterogeneous tumor, but it has a good prognosis. Immunohistochemistry and molecular subclustering are difficult to implement in low-income countries such as Tanzania owing to cost. Treatment of adult medulloblastoma is highly heterogeneous among (and even within) facilities. There is no evidence that the extent of resection enhances survival. While craniospinal radiation therapy improves survival, there is controversy about the role of chemotherapy in managing adult MB.