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U.S. hospitalizations for pneumonia after a decade of pneumococcal vaccination.
The introduction of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) into the U.S. childhood immunization schedule in 2000 has substantially reduced the incidence of vaccine-serotype invasive pneumococcal disease in young children and in unvaccinated older children and adults. By 2004, hospitalizations associated with pneumonia from any cause had also declined markedly among young children. Because of concerns about increases in disease caused by nonvaccine serotypes, we wanted to determine whether the reduction in pneumonia-related hospitalizations among young children had been sustained through 2009 and whether such hospitalizations in older age groups had also declined.
METHODS: We estimated annual rates of hospitalization for pneumonia from any cause using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. The reason for hospitalization was classified as pneumonia if pneumonia was the first listed diagnosis or if it was listed after a first diagnosis of sepsis, meningitis, or empyema. Average annual rates of pneumonia-related hospitalizations from 1997 through 1999 (before the introduction of PCV7) and from 2007 through 2009 (well after its introduction) were used to estimate annual declines in hospitalizations due to pneumonia.
RESULTS: The annual rate of hospitalization for pneumonia among children younger than 2 years of age declined by 551.1 per 100,000 children (95% confidence interval [CI], 445.1 to 657.1), which translates to 47,000 fewer hospitalizations annually than expected on the basis of the rates before PCV7 was introduced. The rate for adults 85 years of age or older declined by 1300.8 per 100,000 (95% CI, 984.0 to 1617.6), which translates to 73,000 fewer hospitalizations annually. For the three age groups of 18 to 39 years, 65 to 74 years, and 75 to 84 years, the annual rate of hospitalization for pneumonia declined by 8.4 per 100,000 (95% CI, 0.6 to 16.2), 85.3 per 100,000 (95% CI, 7.0 to 163.6), and 359.8 per 100,000 (95% CI, 199.6 to 520.0), respectively. Overall, we estimated an age-adjusted annual reduction of 54.8 per 100,000 (95% CI, 41.0 to 68.5), or 168,000 fewer hospitalizations for pneumonia annually.
CONCLUSIONS: Declines in hospitalizations for childhood pneumonia were sustained during the decade after the introduction of PCV7. Substantial reductions in hospitalizations for pneumonia among adults were also observed. (Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.).
Biomarkers in pulmonary hypertension: what do we know?
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Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a hemodynamic condition that has a poor prognosis and can lead to right-sided heart failure. It may result from common diseases such as left-sided heart or lung disease or may present as the rare entity of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension. Biomarkers that specifically indicate the pathologic mechanism, the severity of the disease, and the treatment response would be ideal tools for the management of PH.
In this review, markers related to heart failure, inflammation, hemostasis, remodeling, and endothelial cell-smooth muscle cell interaction are discussed, and their limitations are emphasized. Anemia, hypocarbia, elevated uric acid, and C-reactive protein levels are unspecific markers of disease severity. Brain natriuretic peptide and N-terminal fragment of pro-brain natriuretic peptide have been recommended in current guidelines, whereas other prognostic markers, such as growth differentiation factor-15, osteopontin, and red cell distribution width, are emerging. Chemokines of the CC family and matrix metalloproteases have been linked to the vascular pathologic mechanisms, and new markers such as apelin have been described. Circulating endothelial and progenitor cells have received much attention as markers of disease activity, but with controversial findings. A lack of standards for cell isolation and characterization methods and differences in the pathologic mechanisms of the investigated patients may have contributed to the discrepancies.
In conclusion, although several promising markers have been identified over the past few years, the development of more specific markers, standardization, and prospective validation are warranted.
Is Consolidation Chemotherapy after Concurrent Chemo-Radiotherapy Beneficial for Patients with Locally Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer?: A Pooled Analysis of the Literature.
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The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether consolidation chemotherapy (CCT) after concurrent chemo-radiotherapy is beneficial for patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC).
METHODS : We systematically searched PubMed for phase II/III trials published before December 31, 2011, examining survival of LA-NSCLC treated with concurrent chemo-radiotherapy. Median overall survival and other study characteristics were collected from each study and pooled. We extracted log-transformed hazards and standard errors under the assumption that survival follows an exponential distribution, and computed a pooled median overall survival and a 95% confidence interval (CI) using random-effects model. Collected trial arms were categorized as having CCT or not having it, CCT+ and CCT-, respectively.
RESULTS : Forty-one studies were identified including seven phase III studies and 34 phase II studies with 45 arms (CCT+: 25; CCT-: 20). Clinical data were comparable for clinical stage, performance status, cancer histology, sex, and median age between the two groups. There was no statistical difference in pooled mOS between CCT+ (19.0 month; 95% CI, 17.3-21.0) and CCT- (17.9 month; 95% CI, 16.1-19.9). Predicted hazard ratio of CCT+ to CCT- was 0.94 (95% CI, 0.81-1.09; p = 0.40). There were no differences between the two groups with regard to grade 3-5 toxicities in pneumonitis, esophagitis, and neutropenia. These models estimated that addition of CCT could not lead to significant survival prolongation or risk reduction in death for LA-NSCLC patients.
CONCLUSION : The pooled analysis based on a publication basis failed to provide evidence that CCT yields significant survival benefit for LA-NSCLC.
Oxygen therapy for cystic fibrosis.
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The most serious complications of cystic fibrosis (CF) relate to respiratory insufficiency. Oxygen supplementation therapy has long been a standard of care for individuals with chronic lung diseases associated with hypoxemia. Physicians commonly prescribe oxygen therapy for people with CF when hypoxemia occurs. However, it is unclear if empiric evidence is available to provide indications for this therapy with its financial costs and often profound impact on lifestyle.
OBJECTIVES: To assess whether oxygen therapy improves the longevity or quality of life of individuals with CF.
SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group Trials Register, comprising references identified from comprehensive electronic database searches and handsearches of relevant journals and abstract books of conference proceedings.Latest search of Group's Trials Register: 15 May 2013.
SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials comparing oxygen, administered at any concentration, by any route, in people with documented CF for any time period.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Authors independently assessed the risk of bias for included studies and extracted data.
MAIN RESULTS: This review includes 11 published studies (172 participants); only one examined long-term oxygen therapy (28 participants). There was no statistically significant improvement in survival, lung, or cardiac health. There was an improvement in regular attendance at school or work in those receiving oxygen therapy at 6 and 12 months. Four studies examined the effect of oxygen supplementation during sleep by polysomnography. Although oxygenation improved, mild hypercapnia was noted. Participants fell asleep quicker and spent a reduced percentage of total sleep time in rapid eye movement sleep, but there were no demonstrable improvements in qualitative sleep parameters. Six studies evaluated oxygen supplementation during exercise. Again, oxygenation improved, but mild hypercapnia resulted. Participants receiving oxygen therapy were able to exercise for a significantly longer duration during exercise. Other exercise parameters were not altered by the use of oxygen.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There are no published data to guide the prescription of chronic oxygen supplementation to people with advanced lung disease due to CF. Short-term oxygen therapy during sleep and exercise improves oxygenation but is associated with modest and probably clinically inconsequential hypercapnia. There are improvements in exercise duration, time to fall asleep and regular attendance at school or work. There is a need for larger, well-designed clinical trials to assess the benefits of long-term oxygen therapy in people with CF administered continuously or during exercise or sleep or both.