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Efficacy and safety of levofloxacin in patients with bacterial pneumonia evaluated according to the new "Clinical Evaluation Methods for New Antimicrobial Agents to Treat Respiratory Infections (Second Version)"

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Antimicrobial_AgentsThe guideline for the "Clinical Evaluation Methods for New Antimicrobial Agents to Treat Respiratory Infections (Second Version)," published by the Japanese Society of Chemotherapy in January 2012, was proposed to achieve consistency with FDA guidelines based on the concept of clinical evaluation used in Japan.

We assessed the clinical efficacy of levofloxacin (LVFX) in patients with bacterial pneumonia according to this new set of guidelines for the first time.

The clinical efficacy of LVFX in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) at the test of cure (TOC) was 87.5% (56/64) and 85.7% (6/7), respectively, with an overall efficacy of 87.3% (62/71). The clinical efficacy of LVFX at TOC was as follows: intravenous 81.5% (22/27), oral 88.9% (24/27), switchover from intravenous to oral administration 100% (10/10), respectively. The bacterial eradication rate in the patients with CAP and HCAP and overall efficacy at the end of therapy (EOT) was 95.3% (41/43), 100.0% (4/4) and 95.7% (45/47), respectively. The frequent causative bacterial strains included Streptococcus pneumoniae (18), Haemophilus influenzae (14) and Moraxella catarrhalis (6). The incidence of adverse reactions in the patients whose safety was evaluated was 15.7% (14/89), similar to that previously reported. The clinical efficacy of LVFX at the early phase, EOT and TOC of CAP, as assessed according to the new and former guidelines, was 70.4% (38/54) and 27.8% (15/54), 87.0% (60/69) and 79.1% (53/67), 87.5% (56/64) and 88.1% (59/67), respectively, with no significant differences.

Therefore, the new efficacy evaluation method can be used in exchange for the former evaluation method.

Computer decision support systems for asthma: a systematic review.

Increasing use of electronic health records offers the potential to incorporate computer decision support systems (CDSSs) to prompt evidence-based actions within routine consultations.

Aim:To synthesise the evidence for the use of CDSSs by professionals managing people with asthma.

Materials and methods:We systematically searched Medline, Embase, Health Technology Assessment, Cochrane and Inspec databases (1990 to April 2012, no language restrictions) for trials, and four online repositories for unpublished studies. We also wrote to authors. Eligible studies were randomised controlled trials of CDSSs supporting professional management of asthma. Studies were appraised (Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool) and findings synthesised narratively.

Results:A total of 5787 articles were screened, and eight trials were found eligible, with six at high risk of bias. Overall, CDSSs for professionals were ineffective. Usage of the systems was generally low: in the only trial at low risk of bias the CDSS was not used at all. When a CDSS was used, compliance with the advice offered was also low. However, if actually used, CDSSs could result in closer guideline adherence (improve investigating, prescribing and issuing of action plans) and could improve some clinical outcomes. The study at moderate risk of bias showed increased prescribing of inhaled steroids.

Conclusions:The current generation of CDSSs is unlikely to result in improvements in outcomes for patients with asthma because they are rarely used and the advice is not followed. Future decision support systems need to align better with professional workflows so that pertinent and timely advice is easily accessible within the consultation.

Histological diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases by cryo-transbronchial biopsy.

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The gold standard for the histological diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases (ILD) is an open lung biopsy (OLB). Tissue samples obtained by forceps transbronchial lung biopsies (TBB) are usually too small. We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cryo-TBB for the diagnosis of ILD and to explore its role as substitute for OLB.

METHODS: Seventy-five patients (mean age 56.2 years) with clinical and radiological features suggestive of ILD underwent cryo-TBB under moderate sedation. The diagnostic contribution on the work-up of suspected ILD was assessed.

RESULTS: No major complications occurred during cryo-TBB procedures. The mean cross-sectional area of the biopsy specimen obtained was 9 mm(2) with an average of 70% alveolated tissue. The most common pathological diagnoses were idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis (n = 22), cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (n = 11) and usual interstitial pneumonitis (n = 7). There were three patients of pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis and one patient of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis. A definite and probable clinicopathological consensus diagnosis was possible in 70% and 28% of patients, respectively. In only 2% of patients' diagnosis could not be established.

CONCLUSIONS: Cryo-TBB is a safe and effective minimally invasive modality for the diagnosis of ILD. No OLB is needed in the majority of patients.

Multi-dimensional indices to stage idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a systematic review.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has the highest mortality rate among all interstitial lung diseases, with a mean survival time of 2 to 3 years from the time of diagnosis. Prognosis is difficult to determine, due to the recognized heterogeneous progression of the disease, as well as lack of a well recognized staging system. This in turn raises challenges when considering therapeutic options for IPF patients, such as lung transplantation, versus a more conservative approach.

Multiple independent factors have been identified as prognostic indicators in IPF, and a number of studies have proposed multi-dimensional indices that combine several parameters in order to achieve a more accurate delineation of disease progression. In this systematic review, the Pubmed database was used to identify studies in the area of multi-dimensional staging of IPF.

We analysed and critically appraised previously proposed prognostic scoring systems. Our aim is to encourage research developments in this area to help identify an optimal multi-dimensional staging system for IPF.

Nonspecific Interstitial pneumonia (NSIP)/ Overlap or Distinct Entity: A case report from the National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD).

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In many cases of ILD (interstitial lung disease), overlap diagnosis is considered. Here, a few cases with diagnosis of a variety of ILDs, where eventual open lung biopsy has been performed are selected. Reference will be made to reliable sources to show that NSIP can still be a variant of UIP (Usual interstitial pneumonia) with better treatment response and prognosis.

Case Presentation:

  1. In case 1, there is a difference between the HRCT(High Resolution Computed Tomography) result (NSIP pattern without fibrosis) and pathologic result (which includes fibrosing NSIP more closely related to UIP).
  2. Case 2 shows obvious discord between HRCT result (UIP pattern) and pathologic result (NSIP pattern).
  3. In case 3, there is again a discrepancy between HRCT report (very mild architectural distortion suggestive for ILD like NSIP) and pathology report (destructed lung tissue with interstitial fibrosis suggestive of HP (Hypersesitivity Pneumonitis) and not NSIP.

Conclusion: In this paper, we demonstrate that although NSIP can be a distinct diagnosis in most cases, but in rare cases the distinction between the other kinds of ILD especially UIP and NSIP in spite of full workup including tissue assessment can be very difficult.

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