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 · Mar 2013
Review Meta AnalysisIntravenous and nebulized magnesium sulfate for treating acute asthma in adults and children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the effects of intravenous and nebulized magnesium sulfate on treating adults and children with acute asthma. ⋯ The use of intravenous magnesium sulfate, in addition to β2-agonists and systemic steroids, in the treatment of acute asthma appears to produce benefits with respect to improve pulmonary function and reduce the number of hospital admissions for children, and only improve pulmonary function for adults. However, the use of nebulized magnesium sulfate just appears to produce benefits for adults.
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Respiratory medicine · Feb 2013
Meta AnalysisEffects of long-acting bronchodilators in COPD patients according to COPD severity and ICS use.
Indacaterol is a once-daily, long-acting β(2)-agonist bronchodilator that improves dyspnoea and health status in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD. While its bronchodilator effects have been shown to be maintained in different patient subgroups, effects on clinical outcomes in certain subgroups are not yet defined. ⋯ Indacaterol maintained its efficacy regardless of disease severity or use of concurrent ICS. Indacaterol 150 μg had the best overall efficacy profile in the GOLD stage II patients while, in patients with more severe disease, indacaterol 300 μg provided useful improvements in dyspnoea.
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Respiratory medicine · Dec 2012
Review Meta AnalysisIndacaterol therapy in patients with COPD not receiving other maintenance treatment.
Recent findings of rapid lung function decline in younger patients with moderate COPD severity suggest the need for effective early treatment. ⋯ Indacaterol, given to patients with moderate-to-severe COPD not receiving other maintenance treatments, provided effective bronchodilation with significant, clinically relevant improvements in dyspnoea and health status compared with placebo.
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Respiratory medicine · Jun 2012
Meta AnalysisEfficacy and safety of convex probe EBUS-TBNA in sarcoidosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Real-time endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a minimally invasive technique for diagnosis of mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Although most studies have reported the utility of EBUS-TBNA in malignancy, its use has been extended to benign conditions including sarcoidosis. Herein, we perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting the diagnostic yield and safety of EBUS-TBNA in sarcoidosis. ⋯ EBUS-TBNA is a safe and efficacious procedure in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, and should be routinely employed wherever available.