Respiratory medicine
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Respiratory medicine · Aug 2013
Review Meta AnalysisIncidence and risk of treatment-related mortality in cancer patients treated with EGFR-TKIs: a meta-analysis of 22 phase III randomized controlled trials.
Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) have become the cornerstone in the treatment of lung cancers that harbor EGFR mutations, but also play an important role in the treatment of other lung cancers and have been investigated among various types of solid tumors. However, these drugs have been associated with an increase in the risk of potentially life-threatening adverse event, such as arterial and venous thrombotic events. We performed a meta-analysis to determine the incidence and risk of fatal adverse events (FAEs) in cancer patients treated with EGFR-TKIs. ⋯ No increase in FAEs was detected in any prespecified subgroup. Additionally, using EGFR-TKIs as salvage treatment significantly reduced the risk of FAEs when compared to the controls (RR 0.51, 95%CI: 0.29-0.87, p = 0.013). In conclusion, this analysis suggests that the use of EGFR-TKIs does not increase the risk of FAEs in patients with advanced solid tumors, and EGFR-TKIs are safety and tolerable for cancer patients, especially for those previously treated patients.
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Respiratory medicine · Aug 2013
Impact of emphysema and airway wall thickness on quality of life in smoking-related COPD.
Limited data are available as to the relationship between computed tomography (CT) derived data on emphysema and airway wall thickness, and quality of life in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Such data may work to clarify the clinical correlate of the CT findings. ⋯ In subjects with COPD, increasing levels of emphysema and airway wall thickness are independently related to impaired quality of life.
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Respiratory medicine · Aug 2013
A novel approach to long-term respiratory care: results of a community-based post-rehabilitation maintenance program in COPD.
Although the short-term benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) are well established, improvements in exercise tolerance and health status diminish over time. The objectives of this study were to determine the feasibility and within-subject effects of a 1-year community-based maintenance exercise program for patients with COPD following completion of hospital-based PR. ⋯ A community-based maintenance exercise program is feasible and can successfully preserve exercise capacity and health-related quality of life following institutionally-based PR in patients with moderate to severe COPD. A more formal evaluation of this approach is warranted.
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Respiratory medicine · Aug 2013
Review Meta Analysis Comparative StudyDaily vs. intermittent inhaled corticosteroids for recurrent wheezing and mild persistent asthma: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Intermittent ICS treatment with SABA in response to symptoms, is an emerging strategy for control of mild-to-moderate asthma, and recurrent wheezing. This systematic revue compares the efficacy of daily vs. intermittent ICS among preschoolers, children and adults with persistent wheezing and mild to moderate stable persistent asthma. ⋯ No significant differences between daily and intermittent ICS in reducing the incidence of asthma exacerbations was found. However, the daily ICS strategy was superior in many secondary outcomes. Therefore, this study suggests to not change daily for intermittent ICS use among preschoolers, children with persistent wheezing and adults with mild-to-moderate stable persistent asthma. International prospective register of systematic reviews http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/ (CRD42012003228).
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Respiratory medicine · Aug 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of ambulatory oxygen on exertional dyspnea in IPF patients without resting hypoxemia.
The effects of ambulatory oxygen for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients without resting hypoxemia have not been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of ambulatory oxygen on dyspnea in IPF patients without resting hypoxemia but with desaturation on exertion. ⋯ Since oxygen provides no additional benefit over air in terms of exertional dyspnea for IPF patients without resting hypoxemia, routine prescription of ambulatory oxygen is not recommended. However, assessment on an individual basis is necessary. Trial registration. UMIN Clinical Trial Registry; No.:UMIN000005098; URL:http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/.