Current medical research and opinion
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To obtain a nationally representative annualized estimate of the prevalence of pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium) in the United States (US) in order to better understand the potential burden on the health care system. ⋯ Despite certain methodologic limitations, our analysis of data from nationally representative sources support that pericarditis is a rare disease affecting substantially fewer than 200,000 persons in the US.
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To assess the correlation between PFS2 and OS among patients with advanced prostate cancer (PC) in a real-world setting for Japan. ⋯ The results of this study indicate a significant correlation between PFS2 and OS, which adds additional evidence to the existing literature of using PFS2 as a surrogate endpoint for OS in patients with PC.
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Molecular targeted therapy significantly improved the therapeutic efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with driver gene mutations but also with new toxicity profiles. Although most patients treated with these drugs developed relatively controllable toxicity, significant pulmonary toxicity events, including interstitial lung disease, occurred in a small proportion of patients and can lead to discontinuation or even be life-threatening. Pulmonary toxicity associated with these anti-tumor drugs is a problem that cannot be ignored in clinical practice. ⋯ Current knowledge of the pathophysiology and management of pulmonary toxicity associated with these targeted drugs is limited, and participants should be able to identify and respond to the development of drug-induced pulmonary toxicity. This review offers information about the potential pathogenesis, risk factors and management for the development of these events based on the available literature. This review focused on pulmonary toxicities in driver gene-positive NSCLC therapy by describing the related adverse events to promote the awareness and management of this important toxicity related to antitumor-targeted therapy.
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EGFR exon 20 insertion mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is rare, has a poor prognosis, and outcomes are not fully established. We describe and evaluate outcomes from real-world and clinical evidence in these patients. ⋯ Conventional treatments used in patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutation-positive NSCLC have limited efficacy, though chemotherapy appeared to be associated with better response and survival outcomes than non-exon 20 targeting EGFR-TKIs and IO agents. This supports the need to identify EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations as the availability of new targeted treatments may offer additional therapeutic options to these patients.
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To clarify the status of insomnia and depression and the prescription of sleeping pills in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients before and after HCC diagnosis and treatment. ⋯ HCC patients had increased risks of insomnia and depression after diagnosis. The high risk of fracture in HCC patients with insomnia and depression and treated with sleeping pills suggests that it is difficult to optimize the management of HCC patients, especially those with concomitant liver diseases.