ABSTRACT
Objective: To describe the treatment patterns and time to next treatment (TTNT) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients (MM) using a large-scale claims database in Japan.Design: Cohort studyMethods: The patients with newly diagnosed MM from 2008 to 2015 were classified into two groups: age <65 years, and age ≥65 years. Specific regimens and general regimens were identified with a complex algorithm considering interval of no therapy, additional and discontinued agents. Correspondingly, TTNT between the first- and second-line were measured among non-transplant patients with Kaplan-Meier method.Results: A total of 425 patients were eligible to participate in the analysis. The most common regimen for the treatment of MM was bortezomib-based regimens (52.9％ in the first-line, 28.2％ in later lines), followed by melphalan-prednisolone (27.1％ in the first-line, 12.9％ in later lines) and lenalidomide-based regimens (4.7％ in the first-line, 26.1％ in later lines). TTNT between the first- and second-line was 11.4 months and was seen to vary greatly with each regimen. A statistically longer TTNT was observed in subgroups of patients aged 65 years or over compared with patients aged younger than 65 years, but no statistical difference was found between conventional therapy and novel therapy.Conclusion: Based on the data from the study, patients with MM were commonly treated with novel agent-based regimens, especially bortezomib-based regimens. Between the first- and second-line therapies a relatively short TTNT was observed, indicating that therapies in clinical practice poorly complied with treatment guidelines.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To describe the treatment patterns and time to next treatment (TTNT) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients (MM) using a large-scale claims database in Japan.Design: Cohort studyMethods: The patients with newly diagnosed MM from 2008 to 2015 were classified into two groups: age <65 years, and age ≥65 years. Specific regimens and general regimens were identified with a complex algorithm considering interval of no therapy, additional and discontinued agents. Correspondingly, TTNT between the first- and second-line were measured among non-transplant patients with Kaplan-Meier method.Results: A total of 425 patients were eligible to participate in the analysis. The most common regimen for the treatment of MM was bortezomib-based regimens (52.9％ in the first-line, 28.2％ in later lines), followed by melphalan-prednisolone (27.1％ in the first-line, 12.9％ in later lines) and lenalidomide-based regimens (4.7％ in the first-line, 26.1％ in later lines). TTNT between the first- and second-line was 11.4 months and was seen to vary greatly with each regimen. A statistically longer TTNT was observed in subgroups of patients aged 65 years or over compared with patients aged younger than 65 years, but no statistical difference was found between conventional therapy and novel therapy.Conclusion: Based on the data from the study, patients with MM were commonly treated with novel agent-based regimens, especially bortezomib-based regimens. Between the first- and second-line therapies a relatively short TTNT was observed, indicating that therapies in clinical practice poorly complied with treatment guidelines.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>Objective</b>: Monitoring the incidence of atypical femoral fractures (AFFs) using medical claim databases is useful to assess the safety of long-term bisphosphonate exposure. Therefore, we aimed to validate the relationship between clinically-defined suspected AFFs and the candidate patients obtained from claims data at three hospitals in Japan.</p><p><b>Design</b>: A cross-sectional study involving three hospitals that perform bone fracture surgery and from which electronic medical record databases of diagnoses and procedures are available.</p><p><b>Methods</b>: Candidate patients were at the medical databases using two International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition (ICD-10) codes (subtrochanteric fracture and fracture of shaft of femur) in the claims databases. These potential cases by claim-based definition were validated using clinically-confirmed information such as, the patient operation records, the discharge records, or radiographic imaging findings as suspected AFFs.</p><p><b>Results</b>: Among fracture cases in the hospitals, and 9 cases with subtrochanteric fracture and 23 cases with femoral shaft fracture were identified based on the ICD-10 codes in the claims databases. Clinically confirmed subtrochanteric fracture had a sensitivity of 81.8% (95% CI: 48.2-97.7%), and a specificity of 100.0% (95% CI: 99.9-100.0%). For femoral shaft fracture, the sensitivity was 82.1% (95% CI: 63.1-93.9%), and the specificity was 100.0% (95% CI: 99.9-100.0%). In subgroup analyses, the sensitivities in patients over the age of 50 years with a single fracture site and with osteoporosis were relatively higher than in other subgroups.</p><p><b>Conclusion</b>: The claims-based definitions of suspected AFFs are accurate, indicating the value of pharmacoepidemiological studies using the National Receipt Database.</p>
ABSTRACT
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnostic evaluation of the breast was performed in 61 patients who visted the Breast Clinic of our hospital and were suspected to have malignant tumors by physical examination and mammography between January and December 1999. In 58 patients undergoing histological diagnostic tests (8 with benignancy and 50 with breast cancer), we compared the imaging characteristics and the time-signal intensity curves acquired by dynamic imaging between benign and malignant lesions, and evaluated the usefulness of analyzing enhancement patterns on contrast MRI. Contrast MRI revealed strong tumor enhancement in all patients; the mean time required for the signal intensity to reach a peak was about 7 min in patients with benign tumors and about 2 min in those with breast cancer. Peripheral ring enhancement was observed in 40 of the 50 patients with breast cancer (80.0%), while such enhancement was not noted in any of the patients with benign tumors.<BR>Although diagnosis of breast disease by imaging has primarily relied on mammography and ultrasonography, the pattern of contrast enhancement on dynamic MRI also appears to be useful for determining the treatment method of breast tumors.
ABSTRACT
Exercise therapy as well as diet therapy, is fundamental in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, however, its methods and effects of long term physical exercise therapy has not yet been clarified.<BR>The present study has been designed to evaluate the effects of physical exercise therapy in diabetic patients with fasting hyperglycemia. Ten non-insulin dependent diabetic patients participated in a 6-month physical exercise program consisting of 30 min, of jogging performed 3 times per week (Exercise group) . The exercise intensity represented 40% of estimated Vo<SUB>2</SUB>max.<BR>The following results were obtained:<BR>1. More significant improvement of glucose tolerance and plasma insulin response to glucose load was observed in exercise group as compared with the patients treated with mild caloric restriction alone (Diet group, N=15) .<BR>2. The significant increase in plasma HDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio was observed only in exercise group.<BR>3. The reduction of body weight in exercise group was significantly greater than that in diet group.<BR>4. The physical exercise also resulted in an improvement of cardiovascular adaptaion to exercise.<BR>5. Improvement of symptoms in daily life activity was also found after physical exercise therapy. However, some medical troubles such as hypoglycemia, muscle pain and arthralgia were found during observation period.<BR>In conclusion, physical exercise therapy is useful as an adjunct to diet to improve metabolic control in patients with diabetes mellitus. And for effective exercise therapy, exercise program must be individualized, and motivation is stimulated by team including physician, trainer, nurse and dietitian.
ABSTRACT
Exercise has been well known to a fundamental treatment of diabetes mellitus, as well as diet therapy. Nevertheless, its therapeutic use and clinical effects are still unknown in details. The aim of this study is the establishment of practical exercise therapy for the patients with diabetes mellitus. The present study shows the acute exercise effects on blood metabolites and the effects of long term physical training in diabetics.<BR>The following results were obtained.<BR>1) Although no significant change of blood glucose level was observed in normals, the decrease of blood glucose and triglyceride levels were observed in diabetics in acute exercise. Moreover marked elevation of FFA level was also observed after acute exercise in diabetics.<BR>2) Significant decrease of blood glucose and increase of HDL-cholesterol levels were found in diabetics by long term regular physical training.<BR>3) Body weight reduction without loss of lean body mass and the improvement of physiological response to exercise test were achieved after long term physical training.<BR>These results suggest that the regular physical training leads to the better control of diabetes mellitus and keeps good condition in patients with diabetes mellitus, and that it may have a important role of the prevention for the diabetic vascular complication.