Adjuvant anti-PD1 immunotherapy of resected skin melanoma: an example of non-personalized medicine with no overall survival benefit.

Randomized clinical trials demonstrated a recurrence-free survival benefit with adjuvant anti-programmed death-1 (anti-PD1) inhibitors of resected stage IIB-IV melanoma. However, no improvement in overall survival has been observed thus far. Furthermore, there are no predictive markers for immunotherapy response in melanoma, therefore adjuvant treatment is offered to all comers based exclusively on the pathological and clinical stages.

Impact of intermediate to high doses of methylprednisolone on mortality rate in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia-induced severe systemic inflammation.

Introduction: In addition to respiratory support needs, patients' characteristics to guide indication or timing of corticosteroid treatment in COVID-19 patients are not completely established. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of methylprednisolone on mortality rate in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia-induced severe systemic inflammation (PI-SSI).

Methods: Between 9 March and 5 May 2020 (final follow-up on 2 July 2020), a retrospective cohort study was conducted in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 PI-SSI (≥2 inflammatory biomarkers [IBs]: temperature ≥38℃, lymphocyte ≤800 cell/µL, C-reactive protein ≥100 mg/L, lactate dehydrogenase ≥300 units/L, ferritin ≥1000 mcg/L, D-dimer ≥500 ng/mL).

Improvement on prescribing appropriateness after implementing an interdisciplinary pharmacotherapy quality programme in a long-term care hospital.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of inappropriate prescribing in elderly patients with polypharmacy admitted to a long-term care hospital (LTCH) and to evaluate the impact of an interdisciplinary pharmacotherapy quality programme on improvement of prescribing appropriateness.

Methods: An interventional, longitudinal, prospective study was conducted in a Spanish LTCH (October 2013 to July 2014) including 162 elderly (≥70 years) patients with polypharmacy (≥5 medications). Pharmacists conducted the pharmacotherapy follow-up of patients with medication reconciliation, pharmacotherapeutic optimisation and educational interviews from admission to discharge.

Patient and health professional satisfaction with an interdisciplinary patient safety program.

Background Measuring humanistic outcomes is an important component of valuating healthcare services. There is a paucity of data on satisfaction with pharmacist implemented clinical services in long-term care settings. Objective To evaluate patient and health professional (HP) satisfaction with an interdisciplinary patient safety program performed in elderly patients with polypharmacy admitted to a long-term care hospital (LTCH).

Clinical impact of an interdisciplinary patient safety program for managing drug-related problems in a long-term care hospital.

Background Medication reviews intended to identify drug-related problems (DRPs) have been researched in primary care, acute care and nursing homes rather than in long-term care hospitals (LTCHs). Objectives To assess the clinical impact of an interdisciplinary pharmacotherapy quality improvement and patient safety program in elderly patients with polypharmacy admitted to an LTCH. Setting An interventional, longitudinal, prospective study was conducted in a Spanish LTCH Method A total of 162 elderly (≥ 70 years) patients with polypharmacy (≥ 5 medications) were included.

Comparative cost-effectiveness of bevacizumab-irinotecan-fluorouracil versus irinotecan-fluorouracil in first-line metastatic colorectal cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the addition of bevacizumab to the irinotecan-fluorouracil (Douillard regimen-CPT-FUFA-) in first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer in a single-institution population.

Methods: Controlled, nonrandomized retrospective observational study. Treatment-naïve metastatic colorectal cancer patients received CPT-FUFA (January 2000-December 2003; control group) and bevacizumab_CPT-FUFA (January 2007-December 2010; study group).