Comparative efficacy of early TIPS, Non-early TIPS, and Standard treatment in patients with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding: a network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Cirrhosis is a chronic disease characterized by chronic liver inflammation and diffuse fibrosis. A combination of vasoactive drugs, preventive antibiotics, and endoscopy is the recommended standard treatment for patients with acute variceal bleeding; however, this has been challenged. We compared the effects of early transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), non-early TIPS, and standard treatment in patients with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present network meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the criteria outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and Assessing the methodological quality of systematic reviews guidelines. The review has been registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews. The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, and World Health Organization-approved trial registry databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating early TIPS, non-early TIPS, and standard treatment in patients with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding.

RESULTS

Twenty-four RCTs (1894 patients) were included in the review. Compared with standard treatment, early TIPS [odds ratio (OR), 0.53; 95% credible interval (Cr), 0.30-0.94; surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA), 98.3] had a lower risk of all-cause mortality (moderate-to-high-quality evidence), and early TIPS (OR, 0.19; 95% CrI, 0.11-0.28; SUCRA, 98.2) and non-early TIPS (OR, 0.30; 95% CrI, 0.23-0.42; SUCRA, 1.8) were associated with a lower risk of rebleeding (moderate-to-high-quality evidence). Early TIPS was not associated with a reduced risk of hepatic encephalopathy, and non-early TIPS (OR, 2.78; 95% CrI, 1.89-4.23, SUCRA, 0) was associated with an increased incidence of hepatic encephalopathy (moderate-to-high-quality evidence). There was no difference in the incidence of new or worsening ascites (moderate-to-high-quality evidence) among the three interventions.

CONCLUSION

Based on the moderate-to-high quality evidence presented in this study, early TIPS placement was associated with reduced all-cause mortality [with a median follow-up of 1.9 years (25th-75th percentile range 1.9-2.3 years)] and rebleeding compared to standard treatment and non-early TIPS. Although early TIPS and standard treatment had a comparable incidence of hepatic encephalopathy, early TIPS showed superiority over non-early TIPS in this aspect. Recent studies have also shown promising results in controlling TIPS-related hepatic encephalopathy. However, it is important to consider individual patient characteristics and weigh the potential benefits against the risks associated with early TIPS. Therefore, we recommend that clinicians carefully evaluate the patient's condition, considering factors such as severity of variceal bleeding, underlying liver disease, and overall clinical status, before making a treatment decision. Further well-designed RCTs comparing early TIPS with non-early TIPS are needed to validate these findings and provide more definitive guidance.

Plain language summary of RACE study results: addition of eltrombopag to standard treatment of severe aplastic anemia

WHAT IS THIS SUMMARY ABOUT?

Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) and very severe aplastic anemia (vSAA) are blood diseases of the bone marrow. If a suitable donor for bone marrow transplant as initial treatment is unavailable, standard immunosuppression is used. Standard immunosuppression treatment includes horse antithymocyte globulin (hATG) and cyclosporin A (CsA). This summary investigated the results of standard immunosuppression treatment (Group A) versus standard immunosuppression treatment with a medication called eltrombopag (Group B) in participants with SAA and vSAA. Eltrombopag is a medicine that improves the blood platelet level and is taken by mouth (orally).

WHAT WERE THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY?

Compared to Group A, more participants in Group B showed increased blood cell level to a normal range without SAA or vSAA and faster treatment response. Side effects were similar in both groups even with the addition of eltrombopag for Group B. Participants in both groups reported feeling well after 6, 12 and 24 months. Differences in the participant-reported scores (overall health, physical, emotional, and social) between Group A and Group B were minimal.

WHAT DO THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY MEAN?

Immunosuppression treatment (hATG plus CsA) with eltrombopag benefited participants with SAA and vSAA and could be the new standard for SAA in persons who cannot undergo bone marrow transplant. At this time, eltrombopag is only approved in specific countries to treat the condition under study that is discussed in this summary. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT02099747 (RACE study).

Adverse pregnancy outcomes and associated risk factors among pregnant women with syphilis during 2013-2018 in Hunan, China

Objective

To investigate the adverse pregnancy outcomes and associated risk factors among pregnant women with syphilis.

Design

Pregnant women with syphilis in the registry for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of AIDS, syphilis and hepatitis B in Hunan Province, China, from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2018 were included in the study.

Results

Among the 14,219 pregnant women with syphilis, 11,346 had definite pregnancy outcomes and were in singleton pregnancy. The risk factors related to adverse pregnancy outcomes include the age of pregnant women with syphilis <20 years old (aOR = 1.274, 95% CI: 1.088-1.493) or ≥ 35 years old (aOR = 1.402, 95% CI: 1.167-1.686), not married (aOR = 1.855, 95% CI: 1.453-2.367), initial syphilis detection in the late pregnancy (aOR = 1.266, 95% CI: 1.032-1.555), diagnosis of syphilis in the late pregnancy (aOR = 5.806, 95% CI: 1.796-18.770), diagnosis of syphilis during labor (aOR = 4.102, 95% CI: 1.263-13.330), husband/sexual partner infected with syphilis (aOR = 1.222, 95% CI: 1.068-1.398), untreated (aOR = 6.756, 95% CI: 5.586-8.197), and nonstandard medication (aOR = 3.300, 95% CI: 2.841-3.846).

Conclusion

The prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women with syphilis in Hunan Province, China from 2013 to 2018 was relatively high. The adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with syphilis could be reduced by early detection and standard treatment of syphilis for pregnant women and their husbands/sexual partners.

Efficacy of ozone adjuvant therapy in COVID-19 patients: A meta-analysis study

Introduction

Using ozone therapy to manage COVID-19 patients has been accompanied by conflicting results in prior studies. Therefore, we aimed to widely assess the effects of ozone as adjuvant therapy in COVID-19 patients.

Methods

PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, ProQuest, Springer, and Sage journals were searched systematically until April 2022. Mortality rate, ICU admission, hospital-length stay, negative PCR, pulmonary, renal, and hepatic functions, as well as inflammatory and blood systems were pooled to compare the efficacy of ozone as adjacent therapy (OZ) and standard treatment (ST). Analyses were run with the random/fixed models, sub-group analysis, funnel plot, and sensitivity analysis using comprehensive meta-analysis (CMA) software version 2.0.

Results

The results of four randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and four case-control studies with a total of 371 COVID-19 positive patients were analyzed. The OZ group patients had a shorter length of hospital stay (P > 0.05), lower ICU admissions (P > 0.05), and lower mortality rates (P < 0.05) than the ST group cases. After treatment, 41% more COVID-19 patients had negative PCR tests than the ST group (P < 0.05). Serum creatinine and urea levels were not modified in either group (P > 0.05). Moreover, except for albumin serum levels, which decreased significantly in the OZ group, serum bilirubin, ALT, and AST were not modified in either group (P > 0.05). Both arms did not show a decrease in C-reactive protein blood levels (P > 0.05), but the OZ group showed a significant modification in LDH serum levels (P < 0.05). Unlike the d-dimer and WBC serum levels (P > 0.05), platelet levels were increased in the OZ group (P < 0.05). No negative side effects were demonstrated in either group.

Conclusion

Ozone therapy was effective significantly on PCR test and LDH serum levels, as well as mortality based on overall estimation. Concerning the length of hospital stay and ICU admissions, although the results were insignificant, their effect sizes were notable clinically. More RCT studies are needed to show the efficacy of ozone therapy on other studied variables.

Adherence to Guidelines for Assessment and Empiric Antibiotics Recommendations for Community-Acquired Pneumonia at Ambo University Referral Hospital: Prospective Observational Study

OBJECTIVE

The high incidence and substantial morbidity and mortality associated with community-acquired pneumonia necessitate an accurate assessment and appropriate management of patients. This observational prospective study aimed to evaluate the physicians' adherence to the Ethiopian Standard Treatment Guideline for assessment and an empiric antibiotic selection for Community-acquired pneumonia.

RESULTS

The study indicated that the pneumonia severity assessment tool, CURB-65 score, was never used. Of 141 patients referred to an admitting diagnosis of severe community-acquired pneumonia, only 50 were subsequently found to satisfy the guideline criteria, over-diagnosis of 41.9%. Large proportions of the participants (130, 60%) were prescribed antibiotics in the last three months. The most commonly prescribed single antibiotic was Ceftriaxone (47, 21.7%), while ceftriaxone plus azithromycin was the most common combination, 110 (50.7%). In general, the extent of non-adherence to the national guideline for the use of antibiotics was 36.4%. In conclusion, the use of CRB65 scores was uncommon in the study setting. Poor adherence to Ethiopian Standard Treatment Guideline regarding the decision of hospital admission (41.9%) and the antimicrobial selection (36.4%) was determined.

Longitudinal Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Biomarkers Correlate With Treatment Outcome in Drug-Sensitive Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Population Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Analysis

Background

This study aims to explore relationships between baseline demographic covariates, plasma antibiotic exposure, sputum bacillary load, and clinical outcome data to help improve future tuberculosis (TB) treatment response predictions.

Methods

Data were available from a longitudinal cohort study in Malawian drug-sensitive TB patients on standard therapy, including steady-state plasma antibiotic exposure (154 patients), sputum bacillary load (102 patients), final outcome (95 patients), and clinical details. Population pharmacokinetic and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic models were developed in the software package NONMEM. Outcome data were analyzed using univariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models in R, a free software for statistical computing.

Results

Higher isoniazid exposure correlated with increased bacillary killing in sputum (P < .01). Bacillary killing in sputum remained fast, with later progression to biphasic decline, in patients with higher rifampicin area under the curve (AUC)_0-24 (P < .01). Serial sputum colony counting negativity at month 2 (P < .05), isoniazid C_MAX (P < .05), isoniazid C_MAX/minimum inhibitory concentration ([MIC] P < .01), and isoniazid AUC_0-24/MIC (P < .01) correlated with treatment success but not with remaining free of TB. Slower bacillary killing (P < .05) and earlier progression to biphasic bacillary decline (P < .01) both correlate with treatment failure. Posttreatment recurrence only correlated with slower bacillary killing (P < .05).

Conclusions

Patterns of early bacillary clearance matter. Static measurements such as month 2 sputum conversion and pharmacokinetic parameters such as C_MAX/MIC and AUC_0-24/MIC were predictive of treatment failure, but modeling of quantitative longitudinal data was required to assess the risk of recurrence. Pooled individual patient data analyses from larger datasets are needed to confirm these findings.

Questionnaire survey comparing surgery and stereotactic body radiotherapy for lung cancer: lessons from patients with experience of both modalities

Background

Currently, there is some controversy regarding indications for stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for lung cancer patients. We investigated the treatment preferences of patients with experience of both surgery and SBRT using a questionnaire survey.

Methods

Of lung cancer patients treated with SBRT between 2005 and 2017, we identified those who also previously underwent surgery for lung cancer. These patients were asked about their experiences of surgery and SBRT including perceived condition, distress, stress, convenience, adverse effects, and satisfaction during and after treatment. Participants were also asked about treatment decision-making for hypothetical scenarios.

Results

Of 653 lung cancer patients treated with SBRT, 149 also underwent surgery for lung cancer, 52 of whom participated in this questionnaire. The median age at the time of this survey was 76 years (range, 59-91 years). Significantly more participants had a favorable impression of SBRT during and after treatment (all question items; P<0.01). In terms of overall satisfaction, 27 patients preferred SBRT and three patients preferred surgery. In a hypothetical scenario (equivalent treatment outcomes) aged 70 years and faced with decision-making for first-time lung cancer treatment, significantly more patients selected SBRT (P<0.01): 38 patients selected SBRT. In a scenario with 20% better survivals for surgical resection, 14 patients selected SBRT, 12 selected surgery, and 26 were indecisive (P=0.47). In a scenario at age 80 years, significantly more patients selected SBRT (P<0.01).

Conclusions

Most patients with experience of both surgery and SBRT for lung cancer prefer SBRT. This information would be helpful at treatment decision-making.

Standard treatment and emerging drugs for managing synovial sarcoma: adult's and pediatric oncologist perspective

INTRODUCTION

in this review we discuss the standard of care for both pediatric and adult synovial sarcoma (SS), the prognostic differences between them, and the treatments available for localized and advanced diseases. We also overview the biology and the recent drugs under consideration in clinical trials on SS. Areas covered: we focus on new targeted therapies being investigated for advanced SS, especially anti-angiogenic drugs, and immunotherapy. We review all the published data and ongoing trials dedicated to SS or to soft tissue sarcoma in general, paying particular attention to the results obtained in SS patients. Expert opinion: we expect new treatment strategies to become available for SS in the near future. The ongoing and published trials on targeted therapies and immunotherapy mainly concern adult patients, but the somatic biology of pediatric SS has some similarities as in adult disease. A stronger cooperation between adult and pediatric oncologists in recent years has led to a more shared effort to find new treatment strategies for advanced SS patients, regardless of their age.

Overall survival of elderly patients with breast cancer is not related to breast-cancer specific survival: A single institution experience in Japan

BACKGROUND

As the aging population grows, the number of elderly breast cancer patients has rapidly increased especially in Japan; a suitable treatment for elderly patients, considering chronic comorbidities and treatment tolerance, is urgently needed.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, 286 elderly breast cancer patients were investigated. Tumor characteristics and survival outcome were compared between 70-79-year-old and ≥ 80-year-old groups. Disease-free survival, overall survival, and breast cancer-specific survival were compared, and the effect of variables was analyzed statistically. For resectable cases, prognoses were compared based on treatment (standard therapy or undertreated).

RESULTS

Tumor characteristics were similar between groups, but the Ki-67 labeling index tended to be higher in older patients. Elderly patients with resectable cancer tended to be undertreated. During the median 59-month follow-up period, overall survival was significantly worse in the ≥80-year-old than in the 70-79-year-old group (p < 0.001), but disease-free and breast cancer-specific survivals were equivalent. Recurrence or death event hazard rates tended to be lower in patients receiving standard treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Standard multidisciplinary treatment for breast cancer prevents recurrence and metastasis and tends to extend breast cancer-specific survival even in elderly patients.

Comorbidities, age and period of diagnosis influence treatment and outcomes in early breast cancer

Survival for breast cancer (BC) is lower in eastern than northern/central Europe, and in older than younger women. We analysed how comorbidities at diagnosis affected whether selected standard treatments (STs) were given, across Europe and over time, also assessing consequences for survival/relapse. We analysed 7581 stage I/IIA cases diagnosed in 9 European countries in 2009-2013, and 4 STs: surgery; breast-conserving surgery plus radiotherapy (BCS + RT); reconstruction after mastectomy; and prompt treatment (≤6 weeks after diagnosis). Covariate-adjusted models estimated odds of receiving STs and risks of death/relapse, according to comorbidities. Pearson's R assessed correlations between odds and risks. The z-test assessed the significance of time-trends. Most women received surgery: 72% BCS; 24% mastectomy. Mastectomied patients were older with more comorbidities than BCS patients (p < 0.001). Women given breast reconstruction (25% of mastectomies) were younger with fewer comorbidities than those without reconstruction (p < 0.001). Women treated promptly (45%) were younger than those treated later (p = 0.001), and more often without comorbidities (p < 0.001). Receiving surgery/BCS + RT correlated strongly (R = -0.9), but prompt treatment weakly (R = -0.01/-0.02), with reduced death/relapse risks. The proportion receiving BCS + RT increased significantly (p < 0.001) with time in most countries. This appears to be the first analysis of the influence of comorbidities on receiving STs, and of consequences for outcomes. Increase in BCS + RT with time is encouraging. Although women without comorbidities usually received STs, elderly patients often received non-standard less prompt treatments, irrespective of comorbidities, with increased risk of mortality/relapse. All women, particularly the elderly, should receive ST wherever possible to maximise the benefits of modern evidence-based treatments.

Optimal and/or Efficient Two treatment Crossover Designs for Five Carryover Models

Crossover designs robust to changes in carryover models are useful in clinical trials where the nature of carryover effects is not known in advance. The designs have been characterized for being optimal and efficient under no carryover-, traditional-, and, self and mixed carryover- models, however, ignoring the number of subjects, which has significant impact on both optimality and administrative convenience. In this article, adding two more practical models, the traditional, and, self and mixed carryover models having carryover effect only for the new or test treatment, a 5M algorithm is presented. The 5M algorithm based computer code searches all possible two treatment crossover designs under the five carryover models and list those which are optimal and /or efficient to all the five carryover models. The resultant exhaustive list consists of optimal and/or efficient crossover designs in two, three, and four periods, having 4 to 20 subjects of which 24 designs are new optimal for one of the established carryover models, and 34 designs are optimal for newly added models.

HER2-positive breast cancer, how far away from the cure?-on the current situation of anti-HER2 therapy in breast cancer treatment and survival of patients

With the diagnosis and treatment of tumor enter into the area of precision medical, based on selected targeted molecular typing of patients with individualized diagnosis and treatment play an important role. HER gene encoded epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) leading to increased early distant metastasis of breast cancer in patients and poor prognosis. However, a number of clinical studies provided evidence-based anti-HER2 targeted therapy and confirmed the benefit of anti-HER2 targeted therapy in patient survival. In recent years, through the tireless efforts of scholars in the field of breast cancer in our country, the whole diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer has accomplished an international standard. But based on a variety of factors, the anti-HER2 targeted therapy between China and the developed countries, and between different areas in China still exists certain gaps, is now a problem need to be solved. This article will analyzing the diagnostic and treatment on HER2-positive breast cancer in the United States and China, exploring reasons and looking for answers to narrow down the gap in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer between China and the United States. Improve the anti-HER2 targeted therapy in our country, let the patients get maximum benefit from anti-HER2 targeted therapy.

[Difficulty influence factors of dental caries clinical treatment]

Dental caries is a major disease that threaten human's oral healthy severely with the characteristics of high incidence, low rate of treatment and high rate of retreatment. At present, restorative treatment remains the main method for caries treatment. With the development of the Minimally Invasive Cosmetic Dentistry (MICD), reasonable application of various treatment technologies, maximum preservation of tooth tissues and realizing the maximization of treatment effects become problems that call for immediate solution in dental clinics. In addition, there still exist a large number of old restorations that need standard retreatments. Here, some difficulty influence factors of dental caries clinical treatment such as systemic and oral factors, individual caries susceptibility, treatment technologies and materials, retreatment methods of old restorations and technique sensitivity are analyzed, and corresponding processing strategies are also put forward.

Maternal morbidity in patients with morbidly adherent placenta treated with and without a standardized multidisciplinary approach

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a standardized multidisciplinary treatment approach in patients with morbidly adherent placenta, which includes accreta, increta, and percreta, is associated with less maternal morbidity than when such an approach is not used (nonmultidisciplinary approach).

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study was conducted with patients from 3 tertiary care hospitals from July 2000 to September 2013. Patients with histologically confirmed placenta accreta, increta, and percreta were included in this study. A formal program that used a standardized multidisciplinary management approach was introduced in 2011. Before 2011, patients were treated on a case-by-case basis by individual physicians without a specific protocol (nonmultidisciplinary group). Estimated blood loss, transfusion of packed red blood cells, intraoperative complications (eg, vascular, bladder, ureteral, and bowel injury), neonatal outcome, and maternal postoperative length of hospital stay were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

Of 90 patients with placenta accreta, 57 women (63%) were in the multidisciplinary group, and 33 women (37%) were in the nonmultidisciplinary group. The multidisciplinary group had more cases with percreta (P = .008) but experienced less estimated blood loss (P = .025), with a trend to fewer blood transfusions (P = .06), and were less likely to be delivered emergently (P = .001) compared with the nonmultidisciplinary group. Despite an approach of indicated preterm delivery at 34-35 weeks of gestation, neonatal outcomes were similar between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSION

The institution of a standardized approach for patients with morbidly adherent placentation by a specific multidisciplinary team was associated with improved maternal outcomes, particularly in cases with more aggressive placental invasion (increta or percreta), compared with a historic nonmultidisciplinary approach. Our standardized approach was associated with fewer emergency deliveries.

Standardization meets stories: contrasting perspectives on the needs of frail individuals at a rehabilitation unit

BACKGROUND

Repeated encounters over time enable general practitioners (GPs) to accumulate biomedical and biographical knowledge about their patients. A growing body of evidence documenting the medical relevance of lifetime experiences indicates that health personnel ought to appraise this type of knowledge and consider how to incorporate it into their treatment of patients. In order to explore the interdisciplinary communication of such knowledge within Norwegian health care, we conducted a research project at the interface between general practice and a nursing home.

METHODS

In the present study, nine Norwegian GPs were each interviewed about one of their patients who had recently been admitted to a nursing home for short-term rehabilitation. A successive interview conducted with each of these patients aimed at both validating the GP's information and exploring the patient's life story. The GP's treatment opinions and the patient's biographical information and treatment preferences were condensed into a biographical record presented to the nursing home staff. The transcripts of the interviews and the institutional treatment measures were compared and analysed, applying a phenomenological-hermeneutical framework. In the present article, we compare and discuss: (1) the GPs' specific recommendations for their patients; (2) the patients' own wishes and perceived needs; and (3) if and how this information was integrated into the institution's interventions and priorities.

RESULTS

Each GP made rehabilitation recommendations, which included statements regarding both the patient's personality and life circumstances. The nursing home staff individualized their selection of therapeutic interventions based on defined standardized treatment approaches, without personalizing them.

CONCLUSION

We found that the institutional voice of medicine consistently tends to override the voice of the patient's lifeworld. Thus, despite the institution's best intentions, their efforts to provide appropriate rehabilitation seem to have been jeopardized to some extent.