Radiotherapy-related insufficiency fractures and bone mineral density: what is the connection?

Background: Radiotherapy-related insufficiency fractures (RRIFs) represent a common, burdensome consequence of pelvic radiotherapy. Their underlying mechanisms remain unclear, and data on the effect of osteoporosis are contradictory, with limited studies assessing bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

Methods: BMD by DXA (Hologic) scan and fracture risk following pelvic RRIF were retrospectively assessed in 39 patients (median age 68 years) at a tertiary cancer centre.

Functional exercise capacity, strength, balance and motion reaction time in Barth syndrome.

Background: Barth syndrome (BTHS) is an X-linked disorder caused by defects in TAZ with key clinical features including cardiomyopathy, neutropenia and skeletal myopathy. In order to gain a better understanding of the range of clinical features, identify targets for monitoring, and increase knowledge of natural history of the disease, we conducted muscle strength testing, functional exercise capacity testing, physical activity assessment, balance assessment and motion reaction time testing in 33 affected individuals and 14 controls. We analyzed data points to provide a cross-sectional quantitative spectrum of disease characteristics.

Hepatotoxicity of Statins as Determined by Serum Alanine Aminotransferase in a Pediatric Cohort With Dyslipidemia.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the hepatotoxicity of statins, as determined by serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), in children and adolescents with dyslipidemia in real-world clinical practice.

Study Design: Clinical and laboratory data were prospectively collected between September 2010 and March 2014. We compared ALT levels between patients prescribed versus not prescribed 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins), and then compared ALT before and after initiation of statins.

Statin-Associated Myopathy in a Pediatric Preventive Cardiology Practice.

Objectives: To describe muscle-related statin adverse effects in real-world pediatric practice.

Study Design: Using prospectively collected quality improvement data from a pediatric preventive cardiology practice, we compared serum creatine kinase (CK) levels among patients prescribed and not prescribed statins, and pre-/poststatin initiation. Multivariable mixed-effect models were constructed accounting for repeated measures, examining the effect of statins on log-transformed CK (lnCK) levels adjusted for age, sex, weight, season, insurance type, and race/ethnicity.

Correlates of Achieving Statin Therapy Goals in Children and Adolescents with Dyslipidemia.

Objective: To determine the real-world effectiveness of statins and impact of baseline factors on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction among children and adolescents.

Study Design: We analyzed data prospectively collected from a quality improvement initiative in the Boston Children's Hospital Preventive Cardiology Program. We included patients ≤21 years of age initiated on statins between September 2010 and March 2014.

Supportive therapy for schizophrenia.

Background: Supportive therapy is often used in everyday clinical care and in evaluative studies of other treatments.

Objectives: To review the effects of supportive therapy compared with standard care, or other treatments in addition to standard care for people with schizophrenia.

Search Methods: For this update, we searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's register of trials (November 2012).