Current medical research and opinion
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Lung cancer accounts for 28% of all cancer deaths, more deaths than any other cancer in the United States. The influence of body composition has been evaluated in several studies, specifically, the influence of obesity on lung cancer survival. Outcomes have been mixed, with some studies demonstrating a paradoxical beneficial effect in early lung cancer where survival is improved in obese patients. The study aim was to evaluate the impact of obesity on overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), and occurrence of serious adverse events (SAE) in clinical trials evaluating bevacizumab for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). ⋯ In this analysis of clinical trial data, obesity was not associated with worse survival versus non-obese individuals in advanced NSCLC. In addition, serious adverse events were similar between patients with and without obesity.
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Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication following surgery, and may be one of the most distressing parts of the surgical journey. With combination pharmacological therapy recommended for PONV prophylaxis, this systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates whether perioperative palonosetron and dexamethasone is more efficacious than palonosetron administered alone. ⋯ Combination prophylaxis with palonosetron and dexamethasone reduces post-operative anti-emetic requirement, although is not associated with a significant difference in PONV. There was considerable heterogeneity in the studies, and trial sequential analysis indicates that further studies are needed to strengthen the clinical evidence.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Incidence, mortality and medical costs of patients hospitalized with melanoma in Spain: a retrospective multicentre observational study.
This study aimed to update and analyze the in-hospital incidence and in-hospital mortality of melanoma in Spain, to evaluate any temporal trends in both measures and to quantify the direct medical costs of specialized care that are associated to this malignancy. ⋯ The increasing in-hospital incidence of melanoma appeared to reverse in 2014, as did the increasing mortality rate measured in older males. The shift in melanoma in-hospital incidence could respond to the increasing trend to treat patients in primary care settings. Further studies will be required to confirm these trends in order to adapt the healthcare system.
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To investigate gabapentinoid utilization and association with postoperative pulmonary complications after gynecologic surgery. ⋯ Gabapentinoid utilization in gynecologic surgery is increasing and is associated with postoperative pulmonary complications.
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Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is the most serious non-relapse complication affecting long-term allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) survivors. We describe healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs in patients with steroid-resistant (SR) cGVHD versus no GVHD up to 360 and 720 days post-HCT. ⋯ Patients with SR cGVHD required multiple lines of therapy and used significantly more outpatient and inpatient resources resulting in higher costs versus patients with no GVHD.