Comparative efficacy of chemoimmunotherapy versus immunotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer: A network meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Background: To the authors' knowledge, in the absence of head-to-head trials, it is unclear whether chemoimmunotherapy provides an additional overall survival (OS) benefit compared with immunotherapy alone in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The authors conducted a systematic literature review and network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare the efficacy of chemoimmunotherapy versus ICI.

Methods: MEDLINE, Excerpta Medica dataBASE (EMBASE), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.

Venous Thromboembolism in COVID-19: Towards an Ideal Approach to Thromboprophylaxis, Screening, and Treatment.

Purpose Of Review: Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with an increased risk of arterial and venous thromboembolic (VTE) diseases. However, there is a limited amount of data regarding the prevention and management of VTE in severe hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Recent Findings: In this article, we review currently available clinical data, and mechanisms for COVID-associated coagulopathy, and propose algorithms for screening, prevention (including extended-duration prophylaxis), and treatment of these patients.

Efficacy and safety of frontline regimens for older transplant-ineligible patients with multiple myeloma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Several treatment options are available for the management of older adults with newly diagnosed patients with Multiple Myeloma (MM) who are ineligible for hematopoietic cell transplantation (tiMM). We aimed to identify treatment options that provide the best balance in terms of efficacy and safety.

Methods: We searched bibliographic databases and meeting libraries for search terms reflecting newly diagnosed and older and/or transplant-ineligible patients from inception to October 21, 2018.

Effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin use in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) syndrome is an immune-mediated disorder producing thrombocytopenia and thrombosis, with or without prior exposure to heparin. Although avoidance of heparin products and nonheparin anticoagulants are used, immune-based therapies including intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) have been tried when the thrombocytopenia persists or there is breakthrough thrombosis. We sought to systematically review and analyze the published literature on use of IVIg in the treatment of HIT.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of apixaban compared to rivaroxaban in acute VTE in the real world.

Both apixaban and rivaroxaban have been approved for use in acute venous thromboembolism (VTE). Although indirect comparison through network meta-analyses of randomized trials have been performed to compare the efficacy and safety of these agents, further comparison between these agents was lacking until recently. We sought to systematically review and carry out a meta-analysis of studies to further compare apixaban with rivaroxaban from multiple studies done in the real-world settings.

Medical and Economic Burden of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia: A Retrospective Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Study.

In recent years, US hospitals have switched from use of unfractionated heparin to use of low-molecular-weight heparin, which is associated with lower risk of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). In the study reported here, we retrospectively searched the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) for patients who were at least 18 years old and received a diagnosis of HIT between 2009 and 2011. Our goal was to get an updated perspective on the incidence and economic impact of HIT.

Effect of Statins on the Mortality of Bacteremic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Clinical Trials.

Background: Statins modify inflammatory cell signaling during the immune response to infection. This has been considered as a pleotropic effect. Effects of statins in inflammatory conditions such as bacteremia have been found to be controversial.

Hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis associated with confounding laboratory abnormalities.

We present the case of a 36-year-old woman who presented to our hospital with epigastric abdominal pain and tenderness. Laboratory evaluation identified high lipase, normal amylase, pseudohyponatremia, and relatively falsely low triglyceride levels (initial value of 2,329 mg/dl which on repeat was found to have corrected value of >10,000 mg/dl). The overall clinical picture was consistent with acute pancreatitis due to hypertriglyceridemia.

RS3PE revisited: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 331 cases.

Objectives: Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting oedema (RS(3)PE) syndrome is a rare inflammatory arthritis, characterised by symmetrical distal synovitis, pitting oedema of the hands and feet, absence of rheumatoid factor, and favourable response to glucocorticoids. The aim of our study is to further delineate the clinical and laboratory features, and response to treatment.

Methods: We performed a systematic electronic search of Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, ACR and EULAR databases for case reports, case series, and related articles of RS(3)PE.

Upper Airway Hematoma Secondary to Warfarin Therapy: A Systematic Review of Reported Cases.

Upper airway hematoma (UAH) is a rare but life-threatening complication of oral anticoagulants requiring early recognition. However, no consensus exists regarding the best approach to treatment. We therefore, sought to systematically review the published literature on UAH to elaborate its demographic and clinical characteristics, treatment, complications, and outcomes.

Sarcoidosis and Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Cases.

Association between sarcoidosis and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is rare with few reported cases. We sought to systematically review the published cases of APS with sarcoidosis to better characterize the demographics, clinical characteristics, treatment, and the outcome of this association. Systematic electronic search for case report, case series, and related articles published until May 2014 was carried out and relevant data were extracted and analyzed.

Thromboprophylaxis with apixaban and the risk of pulmonary embolism in patients undergoing knee replacement surgery.

Background: Apixaban, a novel oral anticoagulant, is also used for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis. In this study, we sought to critically evaluate the differences in the rates of symptomatic DVT and bleeding, and analyze the rates of pulmonary embolism (PE) in subgroups of patients from ADVANCE I and II trials given their similar indication and design.

Methods: Studies were identified through electronic literature searches of MEDLINE, clinicaltrial.

Meta-analysis on efficacy and safety of new oral anticoagulants for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in elderly elective postarthroplasty patients.

The risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) increases with age. New oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have been increasingly studied for VTE prophylaxis in patients with elective postarthroplasty. Although the elderly population accounts for a significant proportion of patients requiring VTE prophylaxis, safety and efficacy of NOACs in this subgroup for VTE prophylaxis has not been well studied.

YouTube as a Source of Information on Ebola Virus Disease.

Background: The current West Africa epidemic of Ebola virus disease (EVD), which began from Guinea in December 2013, has been the longest and deadliest Ebola outbreak to date. With the propagation of the internet, public health officials must now compete with other official and unofficial sources of information to get their message out.

Aims: This study aimed at critically appraising videos available on one popular internet video site (YouTube) as a source of information for Ebola virus disease (EVD).

Seasonal variation in acute gouty arthritis: data from Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

Introduction: Studies describing seasonal variations in acute gouty arthritis note seasonal variation, but disagree on timing, with most showing a peak in spring months while others show peaks later in the year. Various theories on the effect of weather and immune system changes on the chronobiology of monosodium urate crystals' equilibrium and precipitation have been proposed. We aimed to shed light on this question by examining the seasonal variation in the incidence of acute gouty arthritis in the USA using a large inpatient database.

Meta-analysis on efficacy and safety of new oral anticoagulants for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in overweight and obese postarthroplasty patients.

Obesity is an independent risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE), and the risk rises further in the postarthroplasty period. Although medication doses often require adjustment for the altered pharmacokinetic profile in obese patients, the efficacy and safety of a fixed-dose regimen of new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in overweight and obese patients remain unclear. Relevant studies were identified through searches of major databases.

Rituximab-induced serum sickness: A systematic review.

Objectives: To report a case of rituximab-induced serum sickness (RISS) and perform a systematic review and characterize RISS in autoimmune diseases and hematological malignancies.

Methods: A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, ACR, and EULAR databases was performed for relevant articles of patients with RISS from inception to September 2014. Statistical analysis of demographic and clinical features was performed using Microsoft EXCEL 2007 and SPSS version 20.

Meta-analysis of 21- versus 22-G aspiration needle during endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration.

Background: Two different needle gauges (21 and 22 G) are currently used for endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). Few studies have compared the diagnostic utility of EBUS-TB107NA using 21 versus 22 G needles. We aimed to systematically analyze all existing literature comparing the diagnostic benefit of these 2 needles.

Fibroid degeneration in a postmenopausal woman presenting as an acute abdomen.

Uterine fibroid, one of the most common tumors in women, is estrogen dependent, which commonly regresses after menopause. Fibroid degeneration after menopause, therefore, is rare. Here the authors report a case of 56-year-old postmenopausal woman who presented with acute abdominal pain, low grade fever, and leukocytosis as a result of fibroid degeneration.

Use of Varenicline in Smokeless Tobacco Cessation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness and safety of varenicline in smokeless tobacco (SLT) cessation.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, clinicaltrials.gov, and the Cochrane Registry were searched up to February 1, 2014, for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing varenicline to placebo.

Mortality, length of stay, and health care costs of febrile neutropenia-related hospitalizations among patients with breast cancer in the United States.

Purpose: Febrile neutropenia is a potentially life threatening complication of breast cancer chemotherapy associated with a significant amount of morbidity, mortality, and health care resource utilization. Recent data on the national estimates of mortality rate, length of stay, and health care costs among the subpopulation of febrile neutropenia admissions with breast cancer are lacking.

Methods: We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database to identify patients with breast cancer hospitalized for febrile neutropenia from 2009 to 2011.