A comparison of a behavioral weight loss program to a stress management program: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study compared a behavioral weight loss program (BWL) with a stress management-based program, Emotional Brain Training (EBT), on weight loss, blood pressure, depression, perceived stress, diet, and physical activity. METHODS: Subjects with a body mass index (BMI) of >28 and <45 kg/m(2) were recruited in Lexington, Kentucky in January 2014 and randomized to BWL or EBT for a 20-week intervention. Of those recruited, 49 participants were randomized to EBT or BWL. Randomization and allocation to group were performed using SPSS software. Weight, blood pressure, depression, perceived stress, dietary intake, and physical activity were measured at baseline, 10 week, and 20 week. Linear models for change over time were fit to calculate 95% confidence intervals of intervention effects. RESULTS: BWL produced greater changes in BMI than EBT at both 10 (P = 0.02) and 20 wk (P = 0.03). At 10 wk, both EBT and BWL improved BMI, systolic blood pressure, depression and perceived stress (P < 0.05). BWL also improved diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.005). At 20 wk, EBT maintained improvements in BMI, systolic blood pressure, depression, and perceived stress while BWL maintained improvements only in BMI and depression (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BWL produced greater weight loss than EBT; however, EBT produced sustained improvements in stress, depression, and systolic blood pressure. A combination of the two approaches should be explored.

Emergency department patient knowledge, opinions, and risk tolerance regarding computed tomography scan radiation.

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) scanning use for emergency department (ED) patients has increased exponentially since its inception. STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine what patients view as the risk of radiation from CT scans, their risk tolerance and preference for alternative testing, and their opinions about informed consent and malpractice regarding CT scans. METHODS: A 25-question survey was administered to a random convenience sample of ED patients aged ≥ 18 years by trained research associates. RESULTS: There were 487 patients approached to be surveyed; 78 patients were excluded, leaving 409 patients (84.0%) responding. Mean patient age was 40.5 (standard deviation [SD] 16.8) years, and 51.5% were female. Three hundred ninety of 409 (95.4%) believed doctors should explain the risks and benefits of CT, and 316/409 (77.3%) thought an informed consent form should be signed. One hundred seventy-nine of 409 (43.8%) patients recognized that there was more radiation from a CT scan than a single chest x-ray study. Three hundred twenty-four of 409 (79.2%) preferred CT angiography over lumbar puncture to exclude subarachnoid hemorrhage. To diagnose appendicitis, 199/409 (48.7%) preferred an ultrasound first even if it meant needing a subsequent confirmatory CT, and 193/409 (47.2%) preferred a CT right away. One hundred sixty-nine of 409 (41.3%) patients would still like to have a CT scan of the head after head trauma even if their physician did not believe the test was indicated. CONCLUSION: This study elucidates patient preference and knowledge regarding CT scans. Overall, patients have a poor understanding of CT scan radiation, and desire to have risks explained to them as informed consent prior to the scan.

Randomized, double-blinded, multicenter, phase II study of pemetrexed, carboplatin, and bevacizumab with enzastaurin or placebo in chemonaïve patients with stage IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer: Hoosier Oncology Group LUN06-116.

INTRODUCTION: : Bevacizumab is approved in combination with chemotherapy as first-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Preclinical data suggest that enzastaurin and bevacizumab may have complementary effects in inhibiting angiogenesis. METHODS: : ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: ≥18 years of age, chemonaïve, stage IIIB/IV nonsquamous NSCLC, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 to 1. Patients were randomized to placebo or enzastaurin 500 mg orally daily (after a loading dose), plus pemetrexed 500 mg/m, carboplatin area under the curve 6, and bevacizumab 15 mg/kg, intravenously, every 21 days for four cycles. Patients without progression received maintenance therapy with bevacizumab and placebo or enzastaurin. The primary objective was progression-free survival (PFS). Planned sample size was 90 patients, one-sided alpha of 0.20, with two interim analyses: one for safety and the second for futility, with a PFS hazard ratio of 0.8857. RESULTS: : Forty patients were randomized. No unique safety concerns were noted at the first interim analysis. The early stopping rule for futility was met at the second interim analysis. Median PFS was 3.5 months and 4.3 months (hazard ratio: 1.04, 95% confidence interval: 0.49-2.21), and response rates were 20% and 30% (p = 0.462) for enzastaurin and placebo, respectively. Grade 3 or 4 toxicity was similar between the two arms. Two patients died on study because of respiratory arrest and pulmonary embolism. An additional patient died of sepsis secondary to a gastrointestinal perforation >30 days after study treatment discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS: : Enzastaurin does not improve efficacy when combined with pemetrexed, carboplatin, and bevacizumab. This combination does not warrant further study in NSCLC.

Clinical management of thymoma patients.

Thymoma and thymic carcinomas are rare epithelial tumors that arise from the thymus gland. Current management depends on staging, with surgery being the mainstay of therapy for stages I and II disease. Combined modality therapy, including radiation and chemotherapy, is recommended for patients who have invasive and metastatic disease. Relapse has been documented decades after initial therapy with options for treating recurrent advanced stage disease. Prospective studies have been limited, and current studies aim to evaluate novel treatment options.