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International Journal of Environmental... Feb 2022Lung cancer (LC) represents the main cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, especially because the majority of patients present with an advanced stage of the disease... (Review)
Review
Lung cancer (LC) represents the main cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, especially because the majority of patients present with an advanced stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis. This systematic review describes the evidence behind screening results and the current guidelines available to manage lung nodules. This review was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The following electronic databases were searched: PubMed, EMBASE, and the Web of Science. Five studies were included in the systematic review. The study cohort included 46,364 patients, and, in this case series, LC was detected in 9028 patients. Among the patients with detected LC, 1261 died of lung cancer, 3153 died of other types of cancers and 4614 died of other causes. This systematic review validates the use of CT in LC screening follow-ups, and bids for future integration and implementation of nodule management protocols to improve LC screening, avoid missed cancers and to reduce the number of unnecessary investigations.
Topics: Early Detection of Cancer; Humans; Lung; Lung Neoplasms; Mass Screening; Research
PubMed: 35206646
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19042460 -
BMC Infectious Diseases 2014one of the World Health Organization Millennium Development Goal is to reduce tuberculosis incidence by 2015. However, more of 8.5 million tuberculosis cases have been... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
one of the World Health Organization Millennium Development Goal is to reduce tuberculosis incidence by 2015. However, more of 8.5 million tuberculosis cases have been reported in 2011, with an increase of multidrug-resistant strains. Therefore, the World Health Organization target cannot be reach without the help of a vaccine able to limit the spread of tuberculosis. Nowadays, bacille Calmette-Guérin is the only vaccine available against tuberculosis. It prevents against meningeal and disseminated tuberculosis in children, but its effectiveness against pulmonary form in adolescents and adults is argued.
METHOD
a systematic review was performed by searches of Pubmed, references of the relevant articles and Aeras and ClinicalTrial.gov websites.
RESULTS
100 articles were included in this review. Three viral vectored booster vaccines, five protein adjuvant booster vaccines, two priming vaccines and two therapeutic vaccines have been analyzed.
CONCLUSIONS
Several vaccines are in the pipeline, but further studies on basic research, clinical trial and mass vaccination campaigns are needed to achieve the TB eradication target by 2050.
Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; BCG Vaccine; Humans; Immunization, Secondary; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis Vaccines
PubMed: 24564340
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-14-S1-S2 -
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition Jan 2018Studies examining the relation of body mass index (BMI) and mortality in patients with lung cancer have shown diverse results. We conducted a meta-analysis to... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Meta-Analysis
Studies examining the relation of body mass index (BMI) and mortality in patients with lung cancer have shown diverse results. We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the association using all available studies from January 1982 to October 2016. PubMed and EMBASE were searched to identify relevant studies. We calculated the summary hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) using random effects model. The dose-response relationship was assessed by random effects meta-regression model. Fifty-five articles from 51 studies involving 3 152 552 subjects (males, 54.8%) were included. The pooled results suggested that on average a high BMI decreased risk of death from lung cancer or all-cause. Each 5 kg/m increase in BMI had a 12% lower risk of lung cancer-specific mortality (HR=0.88, 95% CI: 0.75-1.02, P=0.09) and a 14% lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR=0.86, 95% CI: 0.77-0.96, P<0.01). When stratifying by ethnicity, each 5 kg/m increase in BMI was associated with 22% and 28% reduction, respectively, in the risk of lung cancer-specific mortality (P<0.01) and all-cause mortality (P<0.01) in Asians, but no association was found in Westerners (P=0.51 and P=0.53, respectively). In conclusion, lung cancer patients with a higher BMI have a longer survival than those with a lower BMI. Considering the significant heterogeneity between included studies, future studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Topics: Asian People; Body Mass Index; Comorbidity; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Malnutrition; Morbidity; Obesity; Overweight; Proportional Hazards Models; Reproducibility of Results; Survival Analysis; Western World
PubMed: 28513621
DOI: 10.1038/ejcn.2017.70 -
Journal of Internal Medicine Mar 2017Obesity is a risk factor for a plethora of severe morbidities and premature death. Most supporting evidence comes from observational studies that are prone to chance,... (Review)
Review
Obesity is a risk factor for a plethora of severe morbidities and premature death. Most supporting evidence comes from observational studies that are prone to chance, bias and confounding. Even data on the protective effects of weight loss from randomized controlled trials will be susceptible to confounding and bias if treatment assignment cannot be masked, which is usually the case with lifestyle and surgical interventions. Thus, whilst obesity is widely considered the major modifiable risk factor for many chronic diseases, its causes and consequences are often difficult to determine. Addressing this is important, as the prevention and treatment of any disease requires that interventions focus on causal risk factors. Disease prediction, although not dependent on knowing the causes, is nevertheless enhanced by such knowledge. Here, we provide an overview of some of the barriers to causal inference in obesity research and discuss analytical approaches, such as Mendelian randomization, that can help to overcome these obstacles. In a systematic review of the literature in this field, we found: (i) probable causal relationships between adiposity and bone health/disease, cancers (colorectal, lung and kidney cancers), cardiometabolic traits (blood pressure, fasting insulin, inflammatory markers and lipids), uric acid concentrations, coronary heart disease and venous thrombosis (in the presence of pulmonary embolism), (ii) possible causal relationships between adiposity and gray matter volume, depression and common mental disorders, oesophageal cancer, macroalbuminuria, end-stage renal disease, diabetic kidney disease, nuclear cataract and gall stone disease, and (iii) no evidence for causal relationships between adiposity and Alzheimer's disease, pancreatic cancer, venous thrombosis (in the absence of pulmonary embolism), liver function and periodontitis.
Topics: Biomedical Research; Comorbidity; Humans; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Obesity; Risk Factors
PubMed: 27933671
DOI: 10.1111/joim.12577 -
Thrombosis Research Sep 2018Anticoagulation with unfractionated heparin (UFH) or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is the mainstay for the treatment of patients with acute cerebral vein... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Anticoagulation with unfractionated heparin (UFH) or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is the mainstay for the treatment of patients with acute cerebral vein thrombosis (CVT) with or without intracranial hemorrhage (ICH).
AIM
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the efficacy and safety of LMWH compared to UFH for the treatment of acute CVT.
METHODS
An electronic search of MEDLINE, Pubmed, CENTRAL and Google Scholar was performed. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) reporting on the efficacy and safety of anticoagulation for acute treatment of CVT were included. Outcomes of interest included mortality, disability, new ICH and pulmonary embolism (PE).
RESULTS
Overall, 4 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. Two trials compared anticoagulation (UFH (N = 1) and LMWH (N = 1)) to placebo. The use of anticoagulation therapy was associated with an odd ratio (OR) for mortality and disability of 0.31 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07 to 1.45; p = 0.14) and 0.3 (95% CI 0.09 to 1.01; p = 0.05), respectively. Three new ICHs were observed among patients receiving placebo and no patient had a PE complication. The other two trials compared LMWH to UFH. LMWH was associated with an OR for mortality and disability of 0.21 (95% CI 0.02 to 2.44, p = 0.21) and 0.5 (95% CI 0.11 to 2.23; p = 0.36), respectively. There were no new events of ICH or PE.
CONCLUSION
LMWH seems to be safe and effective for the management of acute CVT.
Topics: Acute Disease; Anticoagulants; Heparin; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; Humans; Intracranial Hemorrhages; Intracranial Thrombosis; Pulmonary Embolism; Treatment Outcome; Venous Thrombosis
PubMed: 30056293
DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2018.07.023 -
Chronic Respiratory Disease 2022Computed tomography (CT) is commonly utilized in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for lung cancer screening and emphysema characterization. Computed... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Computed tomography (CT) is commonly utilized in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for lung cancer screening and emphysema characterization. Computed tomography-morphometric analysis of body composition (muscle mass and adiposity) has gained increased recognition as a marker of disease severity and prognosis. This systematic review aimed to describe the CT-methodology used to assess body composition and identify the association of body composition measures and disease severity, health-related quality of life (HRQL), cardiometabolic risk factors, respiratory exacerbations, and survival in patients with COPD.
METHODS
Six databases were searched (inception-September 2021) for studies evaluating adult COPD patients using thoracic or abdominal CT-muscle or adiposity body composition measures. The systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines.
RESULTS
Twenty eight articles were included with 15,431 COPD patients, across all GOLD stages with 77% males, age range (mean/median 59-78 years), and BMI range 19.8-29.3 kg/m. There was heterogeneity in assessment of muscle mass and adiposity using thoracic ( = 22) and abdominal ( = 8) CT-scans, capturing different muscle groups, anatomic locations, and adiposity compartments (visceral, subcutaneous, and epicardial). Low muscle mass and increased adiposity were associated with increased COPD severity measures (lung function, exercise capacity, dyspnea) and lower HRQL, but were not consistent across studies. Increased visceral adiposity ( = 6) was associated with cardiovascular disease or risk factors (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes). Low muscle CSA was prognostic of respiratory exacerbations or mortality in three of six studies, whereas the relationship with increased intermuscular adiposity and greater mortality was only observed in one of three studies.
CONCLUSION
There was significant variability in CT-body composition measures. In several studies, low muscle mass was associated with increased disease severity and lower HRQL, whereas adiposity with cardiovascular disease/risk factors. Given the heterogeneity in body composition measures and clinical outcomes, the prognostic utility of CT-body composition in COPD requires further study.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Body Composition; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular Diseases; Early Detection of Cancer; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Quality of Life; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 36223552
DOI: 10.1177/14799731221133387 -
BMJ Open Mar 2021To systematically review and critically evaluate prediction models developed to predict tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes among adults with pulmonary TB. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To systematically review and critically evaluate prediction models developed to predict tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes among adults with pulmonary TB.
DESIGN
Systematic review.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched for studies published from 1 January 1995 to 9 January 2020.
STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION
Studies that developed a model to predict pulmonary TB treatment outcomes were included. Study screening, data extraction and quality assessment were conducted independently by two reviewers. Study quality was evaluated using the Prediction model Risk Of Bias Assessment Tool. Data were synthesised with narrative review and in tables and figures.
RESULTS
14 739 articles were identified, 536 underwent full-text review and 33 studies presenting 37 prediction models were included. Model outcomes included death (n=16, 43%), treatment failure (n=6, 16%), default (n=6, 16%) or a composite outcome (n=9, 25%). Most models (n=30, 81%) measured discrimination (median c-statistic=0.75; IQR: 0.68-0.84), and 17 (46%) reported calibration, often the Hosmer-Lemeshow test (n=13). Nineteen (51%) models were internally validated, and six (16%) were externally validated. Eighteen (54%) studies mentioned missing data, and of those, half (n=9) used complete case analysis. The most common predictors included age, sex, extrapulmonary TB, body mass index, chest X-ray results, previous TB and HIV. Risk of bias varied across studies, but all studies had high risk of bias in their analysis.
CONCLUSIONS
TB outcome prediction models are heterogeneous with disparate outcome definitions, predictors and methodology. We do not recommend applying any in clinical settings without external validation, and encourage future researchers adhere to guidelines for developing and reporting of prediction models.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
The study was registered on the international prospective register of systematic reviews PROSPERO (CRD42020155782).
Topics: Adult; Humans; Bias; Prognosis; Treatment Outcome; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
PubMed: 33653759
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044687 -
Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular... Oct 2013The current consensus is that anticoagulation therapy has no role acutely in the management of ischemic stroke, although there is still debate for specific conditions,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Balance of symptomatic pulmonary embolism and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage with low-dose anticoagulation in recent ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
BACKGROUND
The current consensus is that anticoagulation therapy has no role acutely in the management of ischemic stroke, although there is still debate for specific conditions, such as cerebral venous thrombosis and cervical dissection. In addition, anticoagulation is used in the prevention of venous thromboembolic events. We assess the balance between preventing symptomatic pulmonary embolism (sPE) and causing symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) in patients with recent stroke who were randomized to low-dose subcutaneous anticoagulation in trials.
METHODS
We systematically searched the Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase, and Science Citation Index for prospective randomized controlled trials assessing the effect of heparin and other antithrombotic therapies in patients with acute/early ischemic stroke. Included trials had to record information on pulmonary embolism and sICH. Risk ratios (RRs) were calculated for sICH per sPE for each trial using a random effects model.
RESULTS
We identified 15 trials of low-dose subcutaneous anticoagulation. The trials studied low molecular weight heparin, heparinoids, and unfractionated heparin. The ratio of sICH to sPE was increased with low molecular weight heparin (RR 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-4.28), but was in approximated unity with heparinoids (RR 1.27; 95% CI 0.31-5.17) and unfractionated heparin (RR 0.99; 95% CI 0.65-1.52).
CONCLUSIONS
Prophylactic/low-dose heparin increased sICH by more than they reduced sPE in patients with recent ischemic stroke. Therefore, their routine acute use cannot be recommended, but they may still be relevant in patients at very high risk of PE (eg, morbid obesity, previous venous thromboembolism, and inherited thrombophilia) or if started later, although trials have not assessed these issues.
Topics: Anticoagulants; Brain Ischemia; Cerebral Hemorrhage; Heparin; Humans; Pulmonary Embolism; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Stroke
PubMed: 22516428
DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2012.03.005 -
JAMA May 2022Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the US.
IMPORTANCE
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the US.
OBJECTIVE
To conduct a targeted systematic review to update the evidence on the effectiveness of screening for COPD and the treatment of COPD to inform the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) update of the 2016 recommendation statement on COPD screening.
DATA SOURCES
MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and CINAHL for relevant studies published between January 1, 2015, to January 22, 2021; surveillance through March 25, 2022.
STUDY SELECTION
English-language studies of screening in individuals who do not recognize or report respiratory symptoms; studies of treatment in persons with mild or moderate, or minimally symptomatic, COPD.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Two reviewers independently appraised the articles and extracted relevant data from fair- or good-quality studies; no quantitative synthesis was conducted.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
COPD-related morbidity or mortality, measures of health-related quality of life, and adverse events.
RESULTS
The review included no trials on the effectiveness of screening, 3 trials or analyses (n = 20 058) of pharmacologic treatment published since 2015, 13 trials (n = 3657) on nonpharmacologic interventions, and 2 large observational studies (n = 243 517) addressing the harms of pharmacologic treatment published since 2015. The results from the clinical trials of pharmacologic therapy are consistent with the previous review supporting the USPSTF that bronchodilators with or without inhaled corticosteroids can reduce COPD exacerbations and tiotropium can improve health-related quality of life in adults with moderate COPD. Overall, there was no consistent benefit observed for any type of nonpharmacologic intervention across a range of patient outcomes. None of the included treatment trials that reported adverse effects found significant harms. Two large observational studies in a screen-relevant population demonstrated an association of the initiation of a long-acting muscarinic antagonist or long-acting beta agonist with the risk of a serious cardiovascular event in treatment-naïve patients and an association of inhaled corticosteroids use with the risk of developing diabetes.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
The findings of this targeted evidence update are generally consistent with the findings of the previous systematic review supporting the 2016 USPSTF recommendation. Evidence of pharmacologic treatment was still largely limited to persons with moderate airflow obstruction, and there was no consistent benefit observed for a range of nonpharmacologic interventions in mild to moderate COPD or in minimally symptomatic persons with COPD.
Topics: Adrenergic beta-Agonists; Adult; Advisory Committees; Bronchodilator Agents; Glucocorticoids; Humans; Mass Screening; Muscarinic Antagonists; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Quality of Life; Tiotropium Bromide; United States
PubMed: 35536261
DOI: 10.1001/jama.2022.4708 -
JPEN. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral... Jul 2022Impaired nutrition status is recognized as a risk factor for worse clinical outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aims of this... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Undernutrition is associated with mortality, exacerbation, and poorer quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review with meta-analysis of observational studies.
Impaired nutrition status is recognized as a risk factor for worse clinical outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aims of this study were to investigate how undernutrition is diagnosed, its prevalence, and whether there is an association between this condition and clinical outcomes in patients with COPD. The search for this systematic review of observational studies (PROSPERO: CRD42020191888) was performed in the PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases, with no date or language restrictions. The studies had to report data on the diagnosis of undernutrition and its association with mortality, exacerbation, length of hospital stay, or quality of life in adult patients with COPD. A meta-analysis with a random-effects model was performed to combine data. Forty-nine studies were included (20 of them classified as having a low risk of bias), and the most common diagnostic method of undernutrition was body mass index (BMI) (n = 36). The pooled prevalence of undernutrition was equal to 20% (95% CI, 0.15-0.25; I² = 100%), and it was associated with mortality (risk ratio = 1.97; 95% CI, 1.55-2.50; I² = 98%), exacerbation (risk ratio = 1.73; 95% CI, 1.03-2.91; I² = 96%), and poorer quality of life (mean difference = 8.25; 95% CI, 5.40-11.10; I² = 79%). For all outcomes, the certainty of evidence was very low. In conclusion, undernutrition is prevalent and is associated with poorer outcomes in patients with COPD. However, undernutrition is mainly diagnosed by BMI, which underreports its prevalence, and the certainty of the evidence is very low.
Topics: Adult; Disease Progression; Humans; Length of Stay; Malnutrition; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Quality of Life
PubMed: 35184292
DOI: 10.1002/jpen.2350