Medicine
-
The impact of bevacizumab (an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy) remains uncertain, which has been the focus of studies on the management of ovarian cancer (OC). We performed a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy in OC. ⋯ Bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy may improve progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with OC.
-
Meta Analysis
Reliability of BRAF mutation detection using plasma sample: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.
Testing of B-Raf proto-oncogene (BRAF) mutation in tumor is necessary before targeted therapies are given. When tumor samples are not available, plasma samples are commonly used for the testing of BRAF mutation. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of BRAF mutation testing using plasma sample of cancer patients. ⋯ BRAF testing using plasma sample showed an overall high accuracy compared to paired tumor tissue sample, which could be used for cancer genotyping when tissue sample is not available. Large prospective studies are needed to further investigate the accuracy of BRAF mutation testing in plasma sample.
-
Patients diagnosed with localized rectal cancer should undergo Neoadjuvant Radio-Chemotherapy (NACRT) followed, a few weeks later, by surgical resection. NACRT is known to cause significant decline in the physical and psychological health of patients. This literature review aims to summarize the effects of a prehabilitation programme during and/or after NACRT but before surgery. ⋯ Prehabilitation programmes during NACRT for localized rectal cancer patients are safe and feasible; however, due to considerable variation in the prehabilitation programmes and their small size, impact on fitness, quality of life, and surgical outcome are unknown. Larger randomized studies are needed.
-
Observational Study
Prediction of renal function improvement in azotemic patients using glomerular filtration rate from 99mTc-DTPA renal scan: An observational study.
This study aimed to evaluate the ratio of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) from 99mTc-diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid dynamic renal scan (GFRSCAN) to estimated GFR (eGFR) as a predictor of renal function improvement in patients with azotemia. A retrospective review of medical records was conducted to identify consecutive patients with newly discovered or aggravated azotemia who underwent 99mTc-diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid renal scan. Significant renal function improvement was defined as ≥100% and ≥10 mL/min improvement of eGFR at 12 weeks compared to eGFR on the day of renal scan (eGFR0). ⋯ The addition of the GFRSCAN/eGFR0 ratio to the best clinical prediction model raised the area under the ROC curve from 0.726 to 0.794, and this increment was statistically significant (P = .02). The GFRSCAN/eGFR ratio can predict renal function improvement in patients with azotemia. Future prospective studies are necessary to validate its potential clinical utilities.
-
Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a common neurological disease under the effect of multiple factors. Although some literature analyzes and summarizes the risk factors of CSVD, the conclusions are controversial. To determine the risk factors of CSVD, we conducted this meta-analysis. ⋯ This study suggested that hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and smoking are risk factors of CSVD, and we should take measures to control these risk factors for the purpose of preventing CSVD.