Vinorelbine/carboplatin vs gemcitabine/carboplatin in advanced NSCLC shows similar efficacy, but different impact of toxicity

This randomised phase III study in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients was conducted to compare vinorelbine/carboplatin (VC) and gemcitabine/carboplatin (GC) regarding efficacy, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and toxicity. Chemonaive patients with NSCLC stage IIIB/IV and WHO performance status 0–2 were eligible. No upper age limit was defined. Patients received vinorelbine 25 mg m−2 or gemcitabine 1000 mg m−2 on days 1 and 8 and carboplatin AUC4 on day 1 and three courses with 3-week cycles. HRQOL questionnaires were completed at baseline, before chemotherapy and every 8 weeks until 49 weeks. During 14 months, 432 patients were included (VC, n=218; GC, n=214). Median survival was 7.3 vs 6.4 months, 1-year survival 28 vs 30% and 2-year survival 7 vs 7% in the VC and GC arm, respectively (P=0.89). HRQOL, represented by global QOL, nausea/vomiting, dyspnoea and pain, showed no significant differences. More grade 3–4 anaemia (P<0.01), thrombocytopenia (P<0.01) and transfusions of blood (P<0.01) or platelets (P<0.01) were observed in the GC arm. There was more grade 3–4 leucopoenia (P<0.01) in the VC arm, but the rate of neutropenic infections was the same (P=0.87). In conclusion, overall survival and HRQOL are similar, while grade 3–4 toxicity requiring interventions are less frequent when VC is compared to GC in advanced NSCLC

Nocturnal enuresis is associated with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in children with snoring

BACKGROUND: Conflicting data suggest that prevalence of monosymptomatic primary nocturnal enuresis (NE) increases with increasing severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in childhood and especially in girls. We hypothesized that NE is associated with increased risk of moderate-to-severe GSA (obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) >5 episodes/hour) among children with snoring. METHODS: Data of children (>= 5 y old) with snoring who were referred for polysomnography over 12 y were reviewed. RESULTS: Data of 525 children with mean age (+/- SD) 7.5 (+/- 2.2) y and median obstructive AHI (10th-90th percentiles) 1.9 (0.4-7.3) episodes/hour were analyzed. Three hundred and fifty-five children (67.6%) had NE and 87 (16.6%) had moderate-to-severe GSA. There was no interaction between NE and gender regarding the association with moderate-to-severe GSA (P > 0.05). NE was associated significantly with presence of moderate-to-severe GSA after adjustment for tonsillar hypertrophy, obesity, gender, and age (adjusted odds ratio = 1.92 (1.08-3.43); P = 0.03). Presence of NE had high sensitivity (78.2%) and low positive predictive value (19.2%) for detecting moderate-to-severe GSA and low specificity (34.5%) and high negative predictive value (88.8%) for ruling it out. CONCLUSION: Children with snoring and without NE referred for polysomnography are less likely to have moderate-to-severe GSA compared to those with NE