Orbital apex syndrome affecting head and neck cancer patients : a case series

Orbital apex syndrome (OAS) is a complex and uncommon disorder that typically damages multiple cranial nerves in association with optic nerve dysfunction. OAS is associated with several different pathologies, however; only a few cases have been reported in association with head and neck cancer (HNC) so far. A case series of HNC patients diagnosed with OAS is described including clinicopathological data, image findings, and disease outcome. Ptosis and diplopia were diagnosed in four male patients with mean age of 61.2 years who were undergoing treatment for late-stage carcinomas of the tongue, larynx, and nasopharynx, eventually leading to the diagnosis of OAS. The mean overall survival rate after the diagnosis of OAS was 9.5 months. The current study reinforces evidence that OAS indicates poor prognosis and highlights the importance of early diagnosis

Assessment of symptoms of urinary incontinence in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVES: The pelvic floor muscles are sensitive to androgens, and due to hyperandrogenism, women with polycystic ovary syndrome can have increased mass in these muscles compared to controls. The aim of this study is to compare reports of urine leakage and quality of life between women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome. METHODS: One hundred thirteen 18-to 40-year-old nulliparous women with polycystic ovary syndrome or without the disease (controls) were recruited at the University Hospital of School Medicine of São Paulo University at Ribeirão Preto City, Brazil. The subjects were not taking any hormonal medication, had not undergone previous pelvic surgery and did not exercise their pelvic floor muscles. The women were divided into the following four groups: I-polycystic ovary syndrome with normal body mass index (n = 18), II-polycystic ovary syndrome with body mass index >25 (n = 32), III-controls with normal body mass index (n = 29), and IV-controls with Body Mass Index >25 (n = 34). Quality of life was evaluated using the SF-36 questionnaire, and the subjects with urinary complaints also completed the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form to evaluate the severity of their urinary incontinence. RESULTS: The replies to the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form revealed a significant difference in urinary function between groups, with 24% of the subjects in group IV reporting urinary incontinence. The mean scores for the SF-36 questionnaire revealed that group II had the lowest quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The control obese group (IV) reported a higher prevalence of urinary incontinence. There was no difference in the reported frequency of urine loss between the polycystic ovary syndrome and control groups with normal body mass index or between the polycystic ovary syndrome and control groups with body mass index >25

Eficácia e segurança de romosozumabe para o tratamento de osteoporose grave em mulheres na pós-menopausa: revisão sistemática e meta-análise em rede

Background: Osteoporosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in the elderly and postmenopausal women, due to increased bone fragility and greater susceptibility to fractures. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of romosozumab, compared to pharmacological treatments currently available in the Unified Health System of Brazil for the management of postmenopausal women with severe osteoporosis and high risk of fractures. Methods: A systematic review was carried out followed by indirect meta-analyses, searching for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library, and by manual search. Risk of bias (RoB 2.0) and quality of evidence (GRADE) were assessed. Indirect frequentist meta-analyses were carried out for outcomes related to fractures, bone mineral density, and safety. Results: Seven RCTs (n= 19,951 woman) were included in this review. Romosozumab (RR: 0,52, IC 95%: 0,43-0,64) (high certainty of evidence) and romosozumab followed by alendronate (RR: 0,64, IC 95%: 0,49-0,84) (high certainty of evidence) reduced non-vertebral fractures compared with alendronate. Conclusion: This review identified that romosozumab or romosozumab followed by alendronate are effective and safe compared to alendronate.Introdução: A osteoporose é uma das principais causas de morbimortalidade, principalmente em idosos e mulheres na pós-menopausa, devido ao aumento da fragilidade óssea e maior suscetibilidade a fraturas. Objetivo: Avaliar a eficácia e segurança do romosozumabe, comparado aos tratamentos farmacológicos atualmente disponíveis no Sistema Único de Saúde para o manejo de mulheres na pós-menopausa com osteoporose grave e alto risco de fraturas. Métodos: Foi realizada uma busca seguida por meta-análises indiretas, por ensaios clínicos randomizados (ECR) nas bases PubMed Central e Medline, Embase e Cochrane Library e por busca manual. O risco de viés (RoB 2.0) e a qualidade da evidência (GRADE) foram analisados. Meta-análises indiretas foram realizadas para desfechos de fraturas, densidade mineral óssea e eventos adversos. Resultados: Sete ECR (n= 19.951 mulheres) foram incluídos nesta revisão. Romosozumabe seguido de alendronato reduziu risco de fraturas não vertebrais em 12 meses (RR: 0,64, IC 95%: 0,49-0,84; alta certeza de evidência) e em 24 meses (RR: 0,52, IC 95%: 0,43-0,64; (alta certeza de evidência) na comparação ao alendronato. Achados semelhantes foram identificados para outros desfechos. Ácido zoledrônico foi associada a maior risco de descontinuação por evento adverso que placebo (RR: 1,02, IC 95%: 1,01-1,03). Conclusão: Foi identificado que romosozumabe ou romosozumabe seguido por alendronato são eficazes e seguros na comparação com alendronato

Effectiveness and safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioid treatment for knee and hip osteoarthritis: network meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness and safety of different preparations and doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, and paracetamol for knee and hip osteoarthritis pain and physical function to enable effective and safe use of these drugs at their lowest possible dose. DESIGN Systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised trials. DATA SOURCES Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Medline, Embase, regulatory agency websites, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to 28 June 2021. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES Randomised trials published in English with ≥100 patients per group that evaluated NSAIDs, opioids, or paracetamol (acetaminophen) to treat osteoarthritis. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The prespecified primary outcome was pain. Physical function and safety outcomes were also assessed. REVIEW METHODS Two reviewers independently extracted outcomes data and evaluated the risk of bias of included trials. Bayesian random effects models were used for network meta-analysis of all analyses. Effect estimates are comparisons between active treatments and oral placebo. RESULTS 192 trials comprising 102 829 participants examined 90 different active preparations or doses (68 for NSAIDs, 19 for opioids, and three for paracetamol). Five oral preparations (diclofenac 150 mg/day, etoricoxib 60 and 90 mg/day, and rofecoxib 25 and 50 mg/day) had ≥99% probability of more pronounced treatment effects than the minimal clinically relevant reduction in pain. Topical diclofenac (70-81 and 140-160 mg/day) had ≥92.3% probability, and all opioids had ≤53% probability of more pronounced treatment effects than the minimal clinically relevant reduction in pain. 18.5%, 0%, and 83.3% of the oral NSAIDs, topical NSAIDs, and opioids, respectively, had an increased risk of dropouts due to adverse events. 29.8%, 0%, and 89.5% of oral NSAIDs, topical NSAIDs, and opioids, respectively, had an increased risk of any adverse event. Oxymorphone 80 mg/day had the highest risk of dropouts due to adverse events (51%) and any adverse event (88%). CONCLUSIONS Etoricoxib 60 mg/day and diclofenac 150 mg/day seem to be the most effective oral NSAIDs for pain and function in patients with osteoarthritis. However, these treatments are probably not appropriate for patients with comorbidities or for long term use because of the slight increase in the risk of adverse events. Additionally, an increased risk of dropping out due to adverse events was found for diclofenac 150 mg/day. Topical diclofenac 70-81 mg/day seems to be effective and generally safer because of reduced systemic exposure and lower dose, and should be considered as first line pharmacological treatment for knee osteoarthritis. The clinical benefit of opioid treatment, regardless of preparation or dose, does not outweigh the harm it might cause in patients with osteoarthritis. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO number CRD42020213656

Effectiveness and safety of multidrug therapy containing clofazimine for paucibacillary leprosy and clarithromycin for rifampicin-resistant leprosy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: The present study aimed to evaluate leprosy cure and relapse rates as primary outcomes related to two additional strategies for leprosy treatment: clofazimine for paucibacillary (PB) leprosy patients and clarithromycin for patients with rifampicin-resistant leprosy. Methods: We conducted two systematic reviews (protocols CRD42022308272 and CRD42022308260). We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, LILACS, Virtual Health Library and Cochrane Library databases, registers of clinical trial databases and gray literature. We included clinical trials evaluating the addition of clofazimine to PB leprosy treatment and the use of clarithromycin for treating patients with rifampicin-resistant leprosy. Risk of bias (RoB) in randomized clinical trials was assessed by the RoB 2 tool and that in non-randomized clinical trials was assessed by the ROBINS-I tool; and the certainty of the evidence was assessed by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. A meta-analysis of dichotomous outcomes was performed. Results: For clofazimine, four studies were included. Cure and relapse rates were not dierent with the addition of clofazimine to PB leprosy treatment and demonstrated very low certainty of evidence. For clarithromycin, six studies were included. Considerable heterogeneity resulted from the dierence between comparators, and studies showed no dierence in the assessed outcomes with the addition of clarithromycin to rifampicin-resistant leprosy treatment. Mild adverse events were reported for both drugs but did not significantly impact treatment. Discussion: The eectiveness of both drugs still needs to be determined. Adding clofazimine to PB leprosy treatment may reduce the repercussions of an incorrect operational classification with no apparent relevant side.Faculdade de Medicina (FM