54 research outputs found
Visual field loss and vision-related quality of life in the Italian Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Study
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between visual field (VF) loss, vision-related quality of life (QoL) and glaucoma-related symptoms in a large cohort of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. POAG patients with or without VF defects or "glaucoma suspect" patients were considered eligible. QoL was assessed using the validated versions of the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) and glaucoma-related symptoms were assessed using the Glaucoma Symptom Scale (GSS). Patients were classified as having VF damage in one eye (VFD-1), both eyes (VFD-2), or neither eye (VFD-0). 3227 patients were enrolled and 2940 were eligible for the analysis. 13.4% of patients were classified in the VFD-0, 23.7% in the VFD-1, and 62.9% in the VFD-2 group. GSS visual symptoms domain (Func-4) and GSS non-visual symptoms domain (Symp-6) scores were similar for the VFD-0 and VFD-1 groups (p = 0.133 and p = 0.834 for Func-4 and Symp-6, respectively). VFD-0 group had higher scores than VFD-2 both in Func-4 (p < 0.001) and Symp-6 domains (p = 0.035). Regarding the NEI-VFQ-25, our data demonstrated that bilateral VF defects are associated with vision-related QoL deterioration, irrespective of visual acuity
Vision-related quality of life and symptom perception change over time in newly-diagnosed primary open angle glaucoma patients.
To evaluate the change over time of vision-related quality of life (QoL) and glaucoma symptoms in a population of newly-diagnosed primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. Multicenter, prospective study. Consecutive newly-diagnosed POAG patients were enrolled and followed-up for one year. Follow-up visits were scheduled at 6 and 12 months from baseline. At each visit, vision-related QoL and glaucoma-related symptoms were assessed by the means of the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) and the Glaucoma Symptom Scale (GSS), respectively. Trends over time for NEI-VFQ-25 and GSS scores were evaluated with longitudinal linear mixed models. One-hundred seventy-eight patients were included in the analysis. At baseline, early to moderate glaucoma stages were associated with higher scores for most GSS and NEI-VFQ-25 items, while lower best-corrected visual acuity was associated with lower scores for 4 of the 12 NEI-VFQ-25 items. During the follow-up, all the GSS scores, the NEI-VFQ-25 total score, and 7 of the 12 NEI-VFQ-25 scores significantly improved (p < 0.05). In multivariate model, higher increases of most GSS and NEI-VFQ-25 scores were modeled in patients with low scores at baseline. Vision-related QoL and glaucoma-related symptom perception significantly improved during the one-year follow-up in this population of newly diagnosed POAG patients
Health-related quality of life in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. An italian multicentre observational study
PurposeAs a progressive condition, glaucoma may impair health-related quality of life (HRQoL), due to vision loss and other factors. This study evaluated HRQoL in a cohort of patients treated for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and assessed its association with clinical features.
MethodsThis was an Italian, multicentre, cross-sectional, observational study with the subgroup of newly diagnosed patients with POAG prospectively followed up for one year. Patients with previous or new diagnosis (or strong clinical suspicion) of POAG aged >18years were considered eligible. Information was collected on demographic characteristics, medical history, clinical presentation and POAG treatments. HRQoL was measured using the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) and Glaucoma Symptom Scale (GSS). Subscale and total scores were obtained and a Pearson correlation coefficient between instruments' scores calculated.
ResultsA total of 3227 patients were enrolled from 2012 to 2013 and 3169 were analysed. Mean age was 66.9years. A total of 93.8% had a previous diagnosis (median duration: 8.0years). Median values for mean deviation and pattern standard deviation were 3.9 and 3.6 dB, respectively. Mean scores on most subscales of the NEI-VFQ-25 exceeded 75.0 and mean GSS subscale scores ranged between 70.8 and 79.7 (with a total mean score of 74.8). HRQoL scores on both scales were significantly inversely associated with POAG severity.
ConclusionIn this large sample of Italians treated for POAG, disease severity was limited and HRQoL scores were high. QoL decreased with advancing disease severity. These findings confirm the role of vision loss in impairing QoL in POAG, underlying the importance of timely detection and appropriate treatment
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Clinical, Pathologic, and Biologic Features Associated with BRAF Mutations in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Purpose
BRAF mutations are found in a subset of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). We examined the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with NSCLC harboring BRAF mutations.
Experimental Design
Using DNA sequencing, we successfully screened 883 NSCLC patients for BRAF mutations between 7/1/09 and 7/16/12. Baseline characteristics and treatment outcomes were compared between patients with and without BRAF mutations. Wild type controls consisted of NSCLC patients without a somatic alteration in BRAF, KRAS, EGFR, and ALK. In vitro studies assessed the biological properties of selected non-V600E BRAF mutations identified from NSCLC patients.
Results
Of 883 tumors screened, 36 (4%) harbored BRAF mutations (V600E: 18; non-V600E: 18) and 257 were wild type for BRAF, EGFR, KRAS, and ALK negative. Twenty-nine of the 36 BRAF mutant patients were smokers. There were no distinguishing clinical features between BRAF mutant and wild type patients. Advanced NSCLC patients with BRAF mutations and wild type tumors showed similar response rates and progression-free survival (PFS) to platinum-based combination chemotherapy and no difference in overall survival. Within the BRAF cohort, patients with V600E mutated tumors had a shorter PFS to platinum-based chemotherapy compared to those with non-V600E mutations, although this did not reach statistical significance (4.1 versus 8.9 months; P=0.297). We identified five BRAF mutations not previously reported in NSCLC; two of the five were associated with increased BRAF kinase activity.
Conclusions
BRAF mutations occur in 4% of NSCLCs and half are non-V600E. Prospective trials are ongoing to validate BRAF as a therapeutic target in NSCLC
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