Chronic Use of Theophylline and Mortality in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Meta-analysis.

Background: Theophylline has been shown to improve respiratory function and oxygenation in patients with chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the impact of theophylline on mortality in COPD patients has not been not sufficiently evaluated.

Method: Two investigators independently searched for eligible articles in 4 databases.

Topotecan for Relapsed Small-cell Lung Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 1347 Patients.

Topotecan is the most reliable chemotherapy regimen for relapsed small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). The efficacy and adverse effects of topotecan as reported by previous studies varied greatly. The inclusion criterion was a prospective study that was able to provide data for 6-month over-all survival (OS) rate, 1-year OS rate, objective responses, and/or adverse effects of single agent topotecan as a second line chemotherapy for SCLC, written in English language as a full article.

Impact of Corticosteroids on Mortality in Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: The impact of corticosteroids on acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) mortality remains controversial following the publication of numerous trials, observational studies and meta-analyses. An updated meta-analysis is warranted, as a few original studies on this topic have been published since the last meta-analysis.

Methods: We searched for eligible articles using four databases.

Long-acting muscarinic antagonist + long-acting beta agonist versus long-acting beta agonist + inhaled corticosteroid for COPD: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Some trials have been conducted to compare long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) + long-acting beta agonist (LABA) versus LABA + inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but no meta-analysis were reported. Two investigators independently searched for eligible articles using the PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane databases. Articles in authors' reference files were also regarded as candidates.

Vitamin D binding protein genotype variants and risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a meta-analysis.

Background And Objective: Genetic susceptibility for development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is under intensive investigation. Among the three alleles of vitamin D binding protein, or group-specific (GC) components, some have suggested that having GC-1F and GC-2 alleles was associated with a risk of COPD. Although previous studies have shown considerable variance, no meta-analysis has been conducted.

Statins reduce all-cause mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Background: Recent observational studies have suggested that use of statins reduces mortality in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, no meta-analysis has reported the pooled hazard ratio of statins to all-cause mortality.

Methods: We searched for eligible articles using five databases.

Minimum clinically important difference in diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide among patients with severe and very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: The minimum clinically important difference (MCID) for diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) has not yet been solidly established.

Methods: We used the dataset of surgical cohort of National Emphysema Treatment Trial. Briefly, severe and very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients who were candidate for volume reduction surgery and who could provide sufficient data at 12-month follow-up were included.

Three cases of mesalazine-induced pneumonitis with eosinophilia.

Oral mesalazine, or 5-aminosalicylate, is one of the first-choice medications for the treatment of ulcerative colitis and is commonly used for both induction and maintenance therapy. In a 6-month period, we treated three cases of mesalazine-induced pneumonitis. In all three cases, computed tomography images revealed upper lobe dominant bilateral peripherally localized consolidations.

Evidence suggesting that oral corticosteroids increase mortality in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Oral corticosteroids were used to control stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) decades ago. However, recent guidelines do not recommend long-term oral corticosteroids (LTOC) use for stable COPD patients, partly because it causes side-effects such as respiratory muscle deterioration and immunosuppression. Nonetheless, the impact of LTOC on life prognosis for stable COPD patients has not been clarified.

Sensitivity and specificity of the Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen test for unconcentrated urine from adult patients with pneumonia: a meta-analysis.

Studies on the sensitivity and specificity of the Binax Now Streptococcus pneumonia urinary antigen test (index test) show considerable variance of results. Those written in English provided sufficient original data to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the index test using unconcentrated urine to identify S. pneumoniae infection in adults with pneumonia.

The presence of pretreatment cavitations and the bacterial load on smears predict tuberculosis infectivity negative conversion judged on sputum smear or culture.

Objective: There are no rules to predict the time to infectivity negative conversion based on sputum smear conversion or culture conversion during chemotherapy in smear-positive tuberculosis patients. We aimed to develop and validate rules of sputum smear grades and cavitations in the lungs due to tuberculosis.

Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort study that consisted of development (n=158, 64 ± 19 years of age) and validation (n=214, 63 ± 20 years of age) steps in different cohorts.