COPD Assessment Test: A Simple Tool to Evaluate Disease Severity and Response to Treatment

The COPD assessment test (CAT) is a short questionnaire designed to assess the impairment in health status of COPD patients. We aimed to determine the change of the CAT in COPD patients after 1 year of treatment and test the association between the score and clinical and lung function variables. Methods A cohort of 111 newly diagnosed COPD patients in primary care was evaluated at baseline and one year after the implementation of the recommended treatment according to the Global Initiative for the management of COPD (GOLD). Results Most of the patients (82%) were diagnosed with mild to moderate airflow limitation (mean FEV₁ 72 ± 21.5% predicted) and the CAT score increased in proportion with the GOLD stage of severity. The CAT significantly correlated with the number of exacerbations, visits to general practitioners and days of hospitalization both at the beginning and at 1 year follow-up. A strong negative correlation between the CAT score and FEV₁ predicted was also observed. The CAT was responsive to the application of treatment with a significant improvement in the mean score (95% confidence interval) following 12 months of treatment by –2.4 (–2.9, –1.9) despite the small decline in lung function indices. The number of exacerbations in the preceding year and FEV₁ were independent predictors of the CAT score in the general linear model. Conclusion The CAT questionnaire may serve as a simple, measurable tool complementary to spirometry in the assessment of severity and of response to treatment in unselected COPD patients in primary care.     

Mycobacterium abscessus Complex – a Particular Challenge in the Setting of Lung Transplantation

Mycobacterium abscessus complex is an emerging pathogen in lung transplant candidates and recipients. M. abscessus complex is widespread in the environment and can cause pulmonary, skin and soft tissue, and disseminated infection, particularly in lung transplant recipients. It is innately resistant to many antibiotics making it difficult to treat. Herein we describe the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of M. abscessus with an emphasis on lung transplant candidates and recipients. We also outline the areas where data are lacking and the areas where further research is urgently needed.     

Elimination of socioeconomic and racial disparities related to lung cancer: Closing the gap at a high volume community cancer center

BackgroundHealthcare disparities have afflicted the healthcare industry for decades and there have been many campaigns in recent years to identify and eliminate disparities. The purpose of this study was to identify disparities in the lung cancer population of a single community cancer center and to report the results in accordance with industry goals.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of data on non-small cell lung cancer patients recorded in the Christiana Care Tumor Registry (CCTR) in Delaware. Gender, age, race, socioeconomic status and insurance status were used as potential variables in identifying disparities.ResultsWe found no significant disparities between sexes, race or patients who were classified as having socioeconomic status 1–3. There was a lower survival rate associated with having the poorest socioeconomic status and in patients who used Medicare. Uninsured patients had the best survival outcomes and patients with Medicare had the poorest survival outcomes.ConclusionAlthough we have closed the gap on sex and racial disparities, there remains a difference in survival outcomes across socioeconomic classes and insurance types.     

新辅助化疗对局部晚期非小细胞肺癌患者临床疗效和手术切除率的影响

目的 探讨局部晚期非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)患者手术前进行新辅助化疗的临床效果以及对患者的手术和生存情况的影响.方法 66例Ⅲ期NSCLC患者,其中36例患者在手术前进行2个周期全身化疗,为观察组;其余30例患者确诊后直接进行手术,为对照组.对2组患者的手术切除情况、手术相关指标、生存率以及T淋巴细胞亚群等指标进行收集整理.结果 新辅助化疗的有效率为58.3％,其中有13例患者病情下调,病情下调率为36.1％.观察组患者的手术切除率显著高于对照组(P＜0.05);在手术时,2组患者的术中出血量和手术时间均存在统计学差异,其中观察组均显著低于对照组(P＜0.05).术后随访3年,观察组和对照组患者的1年生存率、2年生存率和3年生存率分别是83.3％和60.0％、75.0％和50.0％、63.9％和40.0％,2组患者差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05).手术前观察组患者的CD4+和CD4 +/CD8+显著高于对照组(P＜0.05).结论 在手术前进行新辅助化疗对NSCLC患者手术切除率以及生存率等情况都有提高的效果,可能与提高患者免疫水平和降低术中出血量有关.     

Surgery for oligometastatic disease in non-small-cell lung cancer

In general, patients with additional metastatic nodules or distant metastases of a non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have a poor prognosis. However, published results suggest that in carefully selected patients with synchronous or metachronous metastatic lesions, long-term survival can be obtained when a complete resection of the primary site and metastasis – mostly single brain or adrenal – is achieved. Different subgroups of patients with metastatic NSCLC exist and a distinction should be made between additional malignant nodules in the ipsilateral and contralateral lung, malignant pleural effusion and extrathoracic, single or multiple metastases. Patients with additional malignant nodules in the same lobe or ipsilateral nonprimary lobe have a better prognosis than suggested by the current tumor–node–metastasis (TNM) classification. The other subgroups have a poor prognosis. In view of recent data from a large, international database, proposals have been made for the new TNM classification that will be introduced in 2009.