Influencing factors of the 6-min walk distance in adult Arab populations: a literature review.

Background: Walk tests, especially the 6-min walk-test [6MWT], are commonly used in order to evaluate submaximal exercise capacity. The primary outcome of the 6MWT is the 6-min walk-distance [6MWD]. Numerous demographic, physiological and anthropometric factors can influence the 6MWD in healthy adults

Objective: The purpose of the present review is to highlight and discuss the 6MWD influencing factors in healthy of the healthy adult Arab populations

Methods: It is a review including a literature search, from 1970 to September 31th 2015 using the PubMed, the Science Direct databases and the World Wide Web on Google search engine. Reference lists of retrieved English/French articles were searched for any additional references

Results: Six studies, conducted in Tunisia [n=2], Saudi Arabia [n=3] and Algeria [n=1] were included. All studies were conducted according to the 2002-American-thoracic-society guidelines for the 6MWT. In addition to anthropometric data [sex, age, height, weight, body mass index, lean mass], the following data were recognized as 6MWD influencing factors: schooling and socioeconomic levels, urban origin, parity, physical activity score or status, metabolic equivalent task for moderate activity, spirometric data, end-walk heart-rate, resting diastolic blood pressure, dyspnoea Borg value and niqab-wearing

Conclusion: The 6MWD influencing factors in adult Arab populations are numerous and include some specific predictors such as parity, physical activity level and niqab-wearing

[Predictive factors of recurrence in spontaneous pneumothorax]

Background: Spontaneous pneumothorax is usually a benign condition that most often affects young patients. Its most common complication is recurrence. This complication appears to be increased by some factors

Aim: To identify predictors of recurrence in spontaneous pneumothorax through a series of 204 cases. Methods: A retrospective study of 204 cases of patients hospitalized for spontaneous pneumothorax. 50 patients experienced at least one recurrence. The study of predictors of recurrence is based on the X2 test for the univariate analysis and logistic regression for the multivariate analysis

Results: The average age of our patients was 37 +/- 7.6 years. A male predominance was noted [97.6%]. 80.4% of patients were smokers. Pneumothorax is considered primary in 65.2% of cases. Fifty patients had at least one recurrence of their pneumothorax. Smoking and the pursuit of tobacco intoxication were the two risk factors for recurrence in our patients. Gender, age, side, importance of pneumothorax and therapeutic means of the first episode as well as the primary or secondary pneumothorax did not influence recurrence. In the multivariate analysis the pursuit of tobacco intoxication was the only predictor factor of recurrence

Conclusion: The recurrence is the most common complication of spontaneous pneumothorax. This risk appears to be increased by smoking and the pursuit of tobacco intoxication. Thus smoking cessation could be a simple and effective means to prevent recurrence

[Chemotherapy in advanced non small cell lung cancer]

Lung cancer is the worlds first cause of death by cancer. Locally advanced and metastatic non small cell cancers represent 2/3rd of cases at diagnosis and are of worst prognosis. We conducted a retrospective study of 202 patients to investigate the effect of chemotherapy on survival and quality of life. 95 patients received chemotherapy with VP16- CDDP [88%] or Gemcitabin-CDDP Improvement survival was observed in the chemotherapy group: 8 month IC 95% [6.6-9.3]4 month IC 95% [3.1-4.9] in the control group. Chemotherapy also had a good perfect on the quality of life with improvement of performance status symptoms and need of analgesic. However, although significant the role of chemotherapy in NSCLC remains modest and new therapeutic approaches are needed including prevention and early detection which are probably more effective and cheaper

Survie et facteurs pronostiques du carcinome bronchique non. a petites cellules: Revue analytique de 211 cas

Prognostic factors have a pivotal role in clinical oncology. They are helpful in the selection of treatment, provide insights into the disease process and the therapeutic response. The number of possibly useful prognostic factors in the lung cancer is large. This study attempts to observe the survival of non small cell lung cancer [NSCLC] and to find prognostic factors and other variables potentially associated with outcome of lung cancer. It's a retrospective study based on 211 patients with NSCLC. Median survival was 6 months with 95% confidence interval [4,2 - 7,8]. Overall 3 and 5 year survival were respectively 8,3% and 5,2%. Various Prognostic factors have been identified through univariate [Koplan-Meier] then multivariate [Cox] analyses. In addition to the clinical factors such as age, disease extent and performance status, other variables were found of significant prognostic value, like pre-therapeutic leukocyte level. Survival was significantly improved with surgery, radiation and also with chemotherapy, mainly in advanced. stage [IIIB and IV]