Two-Year Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Study of Integrated Smoking Cessation in a Lung Cancer Screening Program.

Introduction: Smoking cessation activities incorporated into lung cancer screening programs have been broadly recommended, but studies to date have not exhibited increased quit rates associated with cessation programs in this setting. We aimed to determine the long-term effectiveness of smoking cessation counseling in smokers presenting for lung cancer screening.

Methods: This was a randomized control trial of an intensive, telephone-based smoking cessation counseling intervention incorporating lung cancer screening results versus usual care (information pamphlet).

A Randomized Controlled Study of Integrated Smoking Cessation in a Lung Cancer Screening Program.

Introduction: Smoking cessation activities incorporated into lung cancer screening programs have been broadly recommended, but studies to date have not shown increased quit rates associated with cessation programs in this setting. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of smoking cessation counseling in smokers presenting for lung cancer screening.

Methods: This study is a randomized control trial of an intensive telephone-based smoking cessation counseling intervention incorporating lung cancer screening results versus usual care (information pamphlet).

Evaluation of an electronic health record structured discharge summary to provide real time adverse event reporting in thoracic surgery.

Background: The reporting of adverse events (AE) remains an important part of quality improvement in thoracic surgery. The best methodology for AE reporting in surgery is unclear. An AE reporting system using an electronic discharge summary with embedded data collection fields, specifying surgical procedure and complications, was developed.

Meta-analytic comparison of randomized and nonrandomized studies of breast cancer surgery.

Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are thought to provide the most accurate estimation of "true" treatment effect. The relative quality of effect estimates derived from nonrandomized studies (nRCTs) remains unclear, particularly in surgery, where the obstacles to performing high-quality RCTs are compounded. We performed a meta-analysis of effect estimates of RCTs comparing surgical procedures for breast cancer relative to those of corresponding nRCTs.

Resolution of chronic diarrhea after resection of a localized pulmonary carcinoid tumor.

Pulmonary carcinoid tumors are rarely associated with symptoms of the carcinoid syndrome, such as flushing and diarrhea. When present, these symptoms virtually always represent extensive hepatic metastases. In this article we describe the presentation, perioperative management, and presumed mechanisms of a patient with a localized pulmonary carcinoid with associated chronic diarrhea that resolved after operation.

REM sleep behaviour disorder treated with melatonin in a patient with Alzheimer's disease.

We report a case of a 68-year-old man with probable Alzheimer's disease who developed rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder. This was confirmed with polysomnography but the patient also had some sleep apnea, which prevented the use of clonazepam for treatment. Melatonin was successfully used as an alternative treatment.

Defining the optimal treatment of locally advanced esophageal cancer: a systematic review and decision analysis.

Background: The objective of this study was to combine systematic review and decision analytic techniques to determine the optimal treatment strategy for patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer.

Methods: We performed a systematic review of all randomized trials of patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer that included one of the following strategies compared with surgery alone: chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery, chemotherapy followed by surgery, or surgery with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Using the estimates of relative risk for mortality and overall quality of life we constructed a decision model.

Retrospective analysis of the clinical performance of anterior mediastinotomy.

Background: Accurate staging of patients with lung cancer is imperative in generating an appropriate treatment strategy. This study examined the clinical performance of anterior mediastinotomy in staging patients with suspected left upper lobe non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods: This study was designed as a retrospective cohort.

Levels of evidence and grades of recommendations in general thoracic surgery.

Objectives: To determine the grades of recommendations and levels of evidence available if the formal practice of evidence-based medicine is applied to general thoracic surgery.

Methods: Three general thoracic surgeons, by consensus, developed a sample of 10 clinically important questions. The first 3 steps of evidence-based medicine (creation of answerable clinical questions, search for best external evidence, and critical appraisal of literature) were performed.