Pub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.2174/0115748871258981231024103349
Mara Mirandola, Federica Andreis, Chiara Deori, Sonia Abdel Kader, Anna Chiara Wedenissow, Clelia Malighetti, Fausto Meriggi, Alberto Zaniboni
Aim: The purpose of the present study was to determine cancer patients' attitudes toward the anti-COVID-19 vaccine.
Background: Historically, the scientific community's responsibility was to investigate attitudes about vaccination. The course of COVID-19 in cancer patients makes them a high priority for vaccination. Cancer patients are at greater risk of serious complications and death because of COVID-19 infection.
Objective: The purpose of the present study was to determine cancer patients' attitudes toward the anti-COVID-19 vaccine. We examined several constructs that potentially influenced cancer patients' perceptions of the vaccine: health status, knowledge of COVID-19 and vaccination, cancer patients' perceptions of vulnerability, and attitudes toward general vaccines.
Methods: We conducted a collective case study with 200 cancer patients undergoing treatment, and divided the sample into two groups: patients who "expected to heal" (Group A) and patients who "expected to chronicize" (Group B). Data were collected through a purpose-built questionnaire consisting of 22 questions and a study of medical records.
Results: Data analysis showed that both groups, Group A (M= 3.89 SD= 0.64) and Group B (M= 3.98 SD= 0.64), had a favorable attitude toward the anti-COVID-19 vaccine. This favorable attitude toward the anti-COVID-19 vaccine depended on several factors: perception of vulnerability to COVID-19, perception of the severity of their oncological situation, and communication with oncologists.
Conclusion: Our study highlighted the plurality of factors that influence attitudes toward the anti-COVID-19 vaccine. It is therefore of fundamental importance to increase the use of the shared decision-making approach (SDM) to guide the patient to an informed choice.
{"title":"Cancer Patients' Attitudes Towards the Anti-Covid-19 Vaccine: A Collective Case Study.","authors":"Mara Mirandola, Federica Andreis, Chiara Deori, Sonia Abdel Kader, Anna Chiara Wedenissow, Clelia Malighetti, Fausto Meriggi, Alberto Zaniboni","doi":"10.2174/0115748871258981231024103349","DOIUrl":"10.2174/0115748871258981231024103349","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>The purpose of the present study was to determine cancer patients' attitudes toward the anti-COVID-19 vaccine.</p><p><strong>Background: </strong>Historically, the scientific community's responsibility was to investigate attitudes about vaccination. The course of COVID-19 in cancer patients makes them a high priority for vaccination. Cancer patients are at greater risk of serious complications and death because of COVID-19 infection.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The purpose of the present study was to determine cancer patients' attitudes toward the anti-COVID-19 vaccine. We examined several constructs that potentially influenced cancer patients' perceptions of the vaccine: health status, knowledge of COVID-19 and vaccination, cancer patients' perceptions of vulnerability, and attitudes toward general vaccines.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a collective case study with 200 cancer patients undergoing treatment, and divided the sample into two groups: patients who \"expected to heal\" (Group A) and patients who \"expected to chronicize\" (Group B). Data were collected through a purpose-built questionnaire consisting of 22 questions and a study of medical records.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Data analysis showed that both groups, Group A (M= 3.89 SD= 0.64) and Group B (M= 3.98 SD= 0.64), had a favorable attitude toward the anti-COVID-19 vaccine. This favorable attitude toward the anti-COVID-19 vaccine depended on several factors: perception of vulnerability to COVID-19, perception of the severity of their oncological situation, and communication with oncologists.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study highlighted the plurality of factors that influence attitudes toward the anti-COVID-19 vaccine. It is therefore of fundamental importance to increase the use of the shared decision-making approach (SDM) to guide the patient to an informed choice.</p>","PeriodicalId":21174,"journal":{"name":"Reviews on recent clinical trials","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71485531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.2174/0115748871276544240212105612
Mohamad Hesam Shahrajabian, Wenli Sun
The Middle east and North Africa harbour many native species with pharmaceutical and nutraceutical potential. Since the beginning of history, food and herbal medicinal plants have been an essential part of human lives and the traditional Middle Eastern healthcare system. The notable medicinal plants that have been mentioned in the Bible, which are common in West Asia and some regions of North Africa, are Aloe vera, anise, balm, cassia, cinnamon, cumin, flax, and fig. Chemical components of Aloe vera are aloin, sinapinic acid, catechin, chromone, myricetin, quercitrin and syringic acid. Anethole, safrole, and estragole are the main chemical components of anise. The chemical components of cassia are coumarin, emodin, cinnamyl alcohol, and cinnamaldehyde. The major chemical ingredients of cumin are terpinene, cuminaldehyde, sabinene, thujene, and thymoquinone. The goal of this article is to review the considerable health benefits and pharmaceutical benefits of medicinal herbs and plants that have been neglected and underutilized in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as to promote their utilization. On the basis of the results, the experimented neglected medicinal plant can offer various advantages when used together with conventional medicinal treatments for various health conditions, such as palliative care in managing the side effects of conventional treatments, access to a wider range of treatments, increased patient satisfaction, and improved emotional and mental well-being. Moreover, consuming medicinal plants may help to manage and prevent diabetes, cancer, and heart disease with notable anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory properties.
{"title":"The Power of the Underutilized and Neglected Medicinal Plants and Herbs of the Middle East.","authors":"Mohamad Hesam Shahrajabian, Wenli Sun","doi":"10.2174/0115748871276544240212105612","DOIUrl":"10.2174/0115748871276544240212105612","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Middle east and North Africa harbour many native species with pharmaceutical and nutraceutical potential. Since the beginning of history, food and herbal medicinal plants have been an essential part of human lives and the traditional Middle Eastern healthcare system. The notable medicinal plants that have been mentioned in the Bible, which are common in West Asia and some regions of North Africa, are <i>Aloe vera</i>, anise, balm, cassia, cinnamon, cumin, flax, and fig. Chemical components of <i>Aloe vera</i> are aloin, sinapinic acid, catechin, chromone, myricetin, quercitrin and syringic acid. Anethole, safrole, and estragole are the main chemical components of anise. The chemical components of cassia are coumarin, emodin, cinnamyl alcohol, and cinnamaldehyde. The major chemical ingredients of cumin are terpinene, cuminaldehyde, sabinene, thujene, and thymoquinone. The goal of this article is to review the considerable health benefits and pharmaceutical benefits of medicinal herbs and plants that have been neglected and underutilized in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as to promote their utilization. On the basis of the results, the experimented neglected medicinal plant can offer various advantages when used together with conventional medicinal treatments for various health conditions, such as palliative care in managing the side effects of conventional treatments, access to a wider range of treatments, increased patient satisfaction, and improved emotional and mental well-being. Moreover, consuming medicinal plants may help to manage and prevent diabetes, cancer, and heart disease with notable anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory properties.</p>","PeriodicalId":21174,"journal":{"name":"Reviews on recent clinical trials","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139973272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Introduction: Prolactinomas are the most common type of pituitary gland tumors that secrete overly prolactin. They account for approximately 60% of all hormone-secreting hypophysis tumors.
Aim: This study aims to analyze gender differences in patients with prolactinomas who were operated on transsphenoidal surgery and conduct a single-center retrospective analysis of patient data.
Material and methods: This study evaluated the medical records of 109 patients (61 females and 48 males) from 2009 to 2019 at Feofaniya Clinical Hospital of the State Administration of Affairs in Kyiv, Ukraine. The primary criterion for including patients was a Serum Prolactin (PRL) level of over 100 ng/ml and the presence of a pituitary adenoma (PA) as observed on MRI. Additionally, the histological examination needed to confirm the presence of Prolactin-Secreting Pituitary Adenomas (PSPAs) without plurihormonal activity through both microscopy and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining.
Results: Significant differences in preoperative PRL levels were not observed. However, males had significantly larger tumor sizes and prevalence of macroadenomas. In male patients, the preoperative PLR levels showed a weak negative correlation with age (r=-0.304, p < 0.036) and a positive correlation with tumor size (r=0.555, p < 0.001) and cavernous sinus invasion (r=0.339, p < 0.018). In females, preoperative PRL was significantly associated only with tumor size and Knosp grade.
Conclusion: Prolactin-Secreting Pituitary Adenomas (PSPAs) are more common in women than men and are characterized by larger and more invasive tumors with high PRL levels at diagnosis. The PRL level and tumor size before surgery can predict early biochemical remission in both males and females with an accuracy of 58.3% and 68.8%, respectively.
简介泌乳素瘤是垂体肿瘤中最常见的一种,会过度分泌泌乳素。目的:本研究旨在分析经蝶窦手术的泌乳素瘤患者的性别差异,并对患者数据进行单中心回顾性分析:本研究评估了乌克兰基辅国家事务管理局费奥法尼亚临床医院2009年至2019年109名患者(61名女性和48名男性)的病历。纳入患者的主要标准是血清泌乳素(PRL)水平超过 100 ng/ml,以及核磁共振成像观察到存在垂体腺瘤(PA)。此外,组织学检查需要通过显微镜和免疫组化(IHC)染色确认存在无多激素活性的泌乳素分泌型垂体腺瘤(PSPA):术前PRL水平无明显差异。然而,男性患者的肿瘤体积明显更大,大腺瘤的发病率也更高。在男性患者中,术前PLR水平与年龄呈弱负相关(r=-0.304,p<0.036),与肿瘤大小(r=0.555,p<0.001)和海绵窦侵犯(r=0.339,p<0.018)呈正相关。在女性患者中,术前PRL仅与肿瘤大小和Knosp分级显著相关:结论:泌乳素分泌型垂体腺瘤(PSPA)在女性中的发病率高于男性,其特点是肿瘤更大、侵袭性更强、诊断时PRL水平较高。手术前的 PRL 水平和肿瘤大小可预测男性和女性的早期生化缓解,准确率分别为 58.3% 和 68.8%。
{"title":"Gender Differences in Patients with Prolactinoma: Single-center Ukrainian Experience.","authors":"Oleksandr Voznyak, Iaroslav Zinkevych, Andrii Lytvynenko, Nazarii Hryniv, Roman Ilyuk, Nazarii Kobyliak","doi":"10.2174/0115748871288948240325080936","DOIUrl":"10.2174/0115748871288948240325080936","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Prolactinomas are the most common type of pituitary gland tumors that secrete overly prolactin. They account for approximately 60% of all hormone-secreting hypophysis tumors.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aims to analyze gender differences in patients with prolactinomas who were operated on transsphenoidal surgery and conduct a single-center retrospective analysis of patient data.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>This study evaluated the medical records of 109 patients (61 females and 48 males) from 2009 to 2019 at Feofaniya Clinical Hospital of the State Administration of Affairs in Kyiv, Ukraine. The primary criterion for including patients was a Serum Prolactin (PRL) level of over 100 ng/ml and the presence of a pituitary adenoma (PA) as observed on MRI. Additionally, the histological examination needed to confirm the presence of Prolactin-Secreting Pituitary Adenomas (PSPAs) without plurihormonal activity through both microscopy and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant differences in preoperative PRL levels were not observed. However, males had significantly larger tumor sizes and prevalence of macroadenomas. In male patients, the preoperative PLR levels showed a weak negative correlation with age (r=-0.304, p < 0.036) and a positive correlation with tumor size (r=0.555, p < 0.001) and cavernous sinus invasion (r=0.339, p < 0.018). In females, preoperative PRL was significantly associated only with tumor size and Knosp grade.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Prolactin-Secreting Pituitary Adenomas (PSPAs) are more common in women than men and are characterized by larger and more invasive tumors with high PRL levels at diagnosis. The PRL level and tumor size before surgery can predict early biochemical remission in both males and females with an accuracy of 58.3% and 68.8%, respectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":21174,"journal":{"name":"Reviews on recent clinical trials","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140336685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Most of the mortality after Heart Transplantation (HT) is attributed to severe cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) and rejection.
Objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of postoperative statin therapy on outcomes (mortality, rejection, and CAV in HT patients).
Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed on publications between 1980 and October 2023 in Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Embase databases. Heterogeneity was assessed using Chi-square, I2, and forest plots. Publication bias was evaluated using Begg's and Egger's tests. Analyses were performed in Stata 15 with significance at p < 0.05.
Results: This meta-analysis included 17 studies comprising 4,627 participants and conducted between 1995 to 2021. Compared to non-users, the odds of mortality were lower among statin users (OR= 0.49, 95% CI: 0.32-0.75, p < 0.001). The odds of CAV were also reduced with statin use (OR= 0.71, 95% CI: 0.53-0.96, p = 0.027). The odds of rejection were not significantly different (OR= 0.69, 95% CI: 0.41-1.15, p = 0.152). However, rejection odds were lower with statins in RCTs (OR= 0.42, 95% CI: 0.21-0.82, p = 0.012) but not in case-control studies (OR= 0.87, 95% CI: 0.49-1.52, p = 0.615). No publication bias was observed with Begg's test, but Egger's test showed possible bias.
Conclusion: This meta-analysis found postoperative statin use associated with lower mortality and CAV, but not overall rejection, though RCT subgroup analysis showed decreased rejection with statins. Statin therapy may improve prognosis in HT patients.
{"title":"A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Statin Therapy on Heart Transplantation.","authors":"Hossein Mardani-Nafchi, Seyed Mahmoud Reza Hashemi Rafsanjani, Saeid Heidari-Soureshjani, Saber Abbaszadeh, Babak Gholamine, Nasrollah Naghdi","doi":"10.2174/0115748871301446240513093612","DOIUrl":"10.2174/0115748871301446240513093612","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Most of the mortality after Heart Transplantation (HT) is attributed to severe cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) and rejection.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of postoperative statin therapy on outcomes (mortality, rejection, and CAV in HT patients).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed on publications between 1980 and October 2023 in Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Embase databases. Heterogeneity was assessed using Chi-square, I2, and forest plots. Publication bias was evaluated using Begg's and Egger's tests. Analyses were performed in Stata 15 with significance at p < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This meta-analysis included 17 studies comprising 4,627 participants and conducted between 1995 to 2021. Compared to non-users, the odds of mortality were lower among statin users (OR= 0.49, 95% CI: 0.32-0.75, p < 0.001). The odds of CAV were also reduced with statin use (OR= 0.71, 95% CI: 0.53-0.96, p = 0.027). The odds of rejection were not significantly different (OR= 0.69, 95% CI: 0.41-1.15, p = 0.152). However, rejection odds were lower with statins in RCTs (OR= 0.42, 95% CI: 0.21-0.82, p = 0.012) but not in case-control studies (OR= 0.87, 95% CI: 0.49-1.52, p = 0.615). No publication bias was observed with Begg's test, but Egger's test showed possible bias.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This meta-analysis found postoperative statin use associated with lower mortality and CAV, but not overall rejection, though RCT subgroup analysis showed decreased rejection with statins. Statin therapy may improve prognosis in HT patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":21174,"journal":{"name":"Reviews on recent clinical trials","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141262650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.2174/0115748871276666240123043710
Samayita Das
The recently approved immunotherapeutic drugs are Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Imfinzi (durvalumab) for advanced biliary tract cancers that inhibit PD-1 receptor and PD-L1 ligand, respectively. In this perspective, the results of the two clinical trials, i.e., TOPAZ-1 (NCT03875235) and KEYNOTE-966 (NCT04003636), are critically appraised, compared, and discussed to assess the benefits of these two drugs in the context of the treatment of advanced biliary tract cancers with a focus on PD-L1 status and MIS (microsatellite instability) status and therapy responsiveness in the subgroups. Analyzing the PD-L2 status in biliary tract cancer patients can aid in assessing the prognostic value of PD-L2 expression in determining the clinical response and this may aid in appropriate patient stratification.
{"title":"Comparison of Clinical Trial Results of the Recently Approved Immunotherapeutic Drugs for Advanced Biliary Tract Cancers.","authors":"Samayita Das","doi":"10.2174/0115748871276666240123043710","DOIUrl":"10.2174/0115748871276666240123043710","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The recently approved immunotherapeutic drugs are Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Imfinzi (durvalumab) for advanced biliary tract cancers that inhibit PD-1 receptor and PD-L1 ligand, respectively. In this perspective, the results of the two clinical trials, i.e., TOPAZ-1 (NCT03875235) and KEYNOTE-966 (NCT04003636), are critically appraised, compared, and discussed to assess the benefits of these two drugs in the context of the treatment of advanced biliary tract cancers with a focus on PD-L1 status and MIS (microsatellite instability) status and therapy responsiveness in the subgroups. Analyzing the PD-L2 status in biliary tract cancer patients can aid in assessing the prognostic value of PD-L2 expression in determining the clinical response and this may aid in appropriate patient stratification.</p>","PeriodicalId":21174,"journal":{"name":"Reviews on recent clinical trials","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139576646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}