Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Trends in the epidemiology of asthma in England: a national study of 333,294 patients.
Observations in the UK at the end of the last century found increasing trends of asthma prevalence over time. However, it has been reported that the number of new cases of asthma presenting to general practice has declined, especially among younger children. Aim To study national trends in the epidemiology of asthma. ⋯ This large national study reveals that the rate of new diagnoses of asthma appears to have passed its peak; however, the number of adults with a lifetime asthma diagnosis continues to rise. Whether these trends are genuine or are a result of the introduction of incentives and guidelines to improve identification and recording of asthma or changing diagnostic trends is a question with important public health implications and one, therefore, that warrants detailed further enquiry.
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Review
Pulmonary metastasectomy in colorectal cancer: a systematic review and quantitative synthesis.
Surgical removal of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer is undertaken increasingly but the practice is variable. There have been no randomized trials of effectiveness. We needed evidence from a systematic review to plan a randomized controlled trial. ⋯ The quality of evidence available concerning pulmonary metastasectomy in colorectal cancer is not sufficient to draw inferences concerning the effectiveness of this surgery. There is great variety in what was reported and its utility. Given the burdensome nature of the surgery involved, better evidence, ideally in the form of a randomized trial, is required for the continuance of this practice.