Motivation Until recently it was considered that 65 years is cutoff for defining patients as elderly, but newer reports indicate that this age limit shift to 70 years of age. Elderly patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer, associated comorbidities and poor performance status represent a specific population and a challenge for use of chemotherapy. Primary aim was to evaluate the impact of mono therapy with oral etoposide on overall survival in elderly patients (≥ 70 years of age) with advanced non small cell lung cancer and poor performance status (PS) ≥ 2 (clinical stage IIIb and IV ), and as well to evaluate tolerability of this therapy. Secondary aim was to evaluate response rate. Methods Retrospectively, medical records of 79 female and male patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer and poor performance status treated with oral etoposide (2x25 mg 20 days/10 days pause) in period from 2007 till 2010 were checked for relevant data. Data regarding demographics, performance status, overall survival, response rates and drug toxicity were collected. For statistical analysis we used Pearson chi-square test, T-test, Kaplan-Meier product limited method and Cox regression. Results Median overall survival (OS) was 31 weeks, in patients with PS 2 overall survival was 34 weeks, and in group with PS 3 was only 24 weeks. Partial response was registered in 20.2% of patients, stable disease in 41.85 % and disease progression in 38% of patients. Treatment was well tolerated, febrile neutropenia and toxic deaths were not registered. Toxic effects didn't have statistically significant influence on OS. Conclusion Oral etoposide used as mono therapy has been shown as moderate effective and very safe in treating elderly patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer and poor performance status so it represents a good therapy option for treating this specific population., Zoran Andrić, Vladimir Kovčin, Slobodanka Crevar, Zafir Murtezani, Sanja Kostić, and Literatura
Background Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is common in very premature infants. Pharmacological closure of PDA with indomethacin, a prostaglandin inhibitor, has remained the mainstay of treatment in premature infants over the last three decades. Intravenous ibuprofen was recently shown to be as effective and to have fewer adverse reaction in preterm infants. If equally effective, then oral ibuprofen for PDA closure would have several important advantages over the intravenous route. This study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of oral ibuprofen and intravenous ibuprofen for the early pharmacological treatment of PDA in LBW preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome. Methods A randomized, single-blinded, controlled study was performed on premature neonates at the neonatal care unit of the University Hospital for Obstetrics and Gynecology”Koco Gliozheni”, Tirana, Albania, from January 2010 to December 2012. The study enrolled 68 preterm infants with gestational age between 28-32 weeks, birth weight ≤ 2000 g, postnatal age 48-96 h, and had echocardiographically confirmed significant PDA. The preterm infants received either intravenous or oral ibuprofen randomly as an initial dose of 10 mg/kg, followed by 5 mg/kg at 24 and 48 h. After the first dose of treatment in both groups, echocardiographic evaluation was performed, to determine the need for a second or third dose. The rate of ductal closure, adverse effects, complications, and the patient’s clinical course were recorded. Results All patients were born after 28 until 32 weeks’ gestation. 36 patients were treated with oral ibuprofen and 32 with intravenous ibuprofen in this period. After the first course of the treatment, the PDA closed in 30 (83.3%) of the patients assigned to the oral ibuprofen group versus 23 (71.8%) of those enrolled in the intravenous ibuprofen group (p = 0.355). There was no difference between treatment groups in demographics or baseline renal function. In the evaluation of renal tolerance, none of the patients had oliguria. There were no significant differences with respect to complications during the stay. Conclusions In low birth weight infants, the rate of early ductal closure with oral ibuprofen is at least as good as with the intravenous route. Oral ibuprofen is associated with fewer adverse effects, Alketa Hoxha, Ermira Kola, Numila Kuneshka, Eduard Tushe, and Literatura
Přehled problematiky: Magnézium je čtvrtým nejčastějším kationtem v lidském organizmu a po draslíku druhým kationtem v intracelulárním prostoru. Účastní se jako kofaktor enzymů metabolických reakcí, tvorby a utilizace energie a je nezbytný k udržení elektrolytové rovnováhy. Tělo dospělého člověka obsahuje asi 0,043 % (535-730 mmol) magnézia, což je v přepočtu asi 22-30 g (60 % v kostěném skeletu, 40 % intracelulárně ve svalovině a měkkých tkáních, 1 % (7,5-10 mmol) je obsaženo v extracelulární tekutině). Denní potřeba magnézia se odhaduje na 10-20 mmol, tj. 200-400 mg. Ve vztahu k podané dávce pak platí, že čím vyšší podaná dávka, tím nižší procento rezorbce ze střeva. Z doporučené denní dávky 15 mmol (365 mg) se rezorbuje pouze okolo 1/3. Význam magnézia v těhotenství: Důsledkem manifestního nedostatku magnézia může být: 1. zvýšené riziko potratu - předčasný porod (inkompetence hrdla děložního, předčasný odtok vody plodové), 2. placentární insuficience a hypotrofizace plodu, 3. rozvoj gestózy u matky, 4. zvýšené riziko astmatu a ekzému u dětí. Magnézium sulfát, podávaný těhotným ohroženým předčasným porodem (23+0 -30+0), snižuje riziko dětské mozkové obrny u přežívajících novorozenců. Souhrn: Nedoporučuje se používat intravenózní magnézium sulfát v indikaci léčby hrozícího předčasného porodu déle jak 5-7 dní. Tato omezení se nijak nevztahují na perorální užívání magnézia., Objectives: Magnesium is the fourth most common cation in the human body, and the second cation to potassium in the intracellular space. It participates as a cofactor of enzymes in the metabolic reactions, creation and utilization of energy and is necessary for the maintenance of electrolyte balance. The body of an adult contains about 0.043% (535-730 mmol) of magnesium, which is the equivalent of about 22-30 g (60% in the bony skeleton, 40% intracellular in muscles and soft tissue, 1% (7.5-10 mmol) in extracellular fluid). The daily requirement of magnesium is estimated at 10 to 20 mmol, i.e. 200-400 mg. As for dosage, the higher the dose, the lower the percentage of absorption from the intestine. Of the recommended daily dose of 15 mmol (365 mg), only about a third is absorbed. The importance of magnesium in pregnancy: implications of a manifest lack of magnesium may include: 1. increased risk of miscarriage – preterm labor (cervical incompetence, premature rupture of membranes); 2. placental insufficiency and fetal hypotrophy; 3. development of maternal gestosis; 4. increased risk of asthma and eczema in neonates. Magnesium sulfate given to pregnant women with threatened preterm labor (23+0 – 30+0) reduces the risk of cerebral palsy in surviving infants. Summary: In cases of threatened preterm labor it is not recommended to administer magnesium sulfate intravenously for more than 5-7 days. This restriction does not apply to the oral application of magnesium., and Pavel Calda