We carried out a prospective, randomized, controlled trial to investigate the effect of a 3-month period of supplementary oral nutrition in 14 poorly nourished outpatients with COPD. Seven patients were randomized into Group 1 who received their normal diet during Months 1 to 3, a supplemented diet during Months 4 to 6, and their original normal diet during Months 7 to 9. The other 7 patients received their normal diet for the entire 9-month study period (Group 2). Seven well-nourished patients (Group 3) matched for age and severity of air-flow obstruction served as control subjects; they received their normal diet for the 9-month study period. Measurements of nutritional status, respiratory muscle and handgrip strength, sternomastoid muscle function (including frequency/force curves, maximal relaxation rate, and a fatigability test), lung function, arterial blood gas tensions, general well-being and breathlessness scores, and 6-min walking distances were carried out monthly in all patients. At the start of the study, the poorly nourished patients had lower mean daily calorie and protein intakes than did the well-nourished patients. The poorly nourished patients had lower respiratory muscle and handgrip strength, and abnormal contractility and increased fatigability of the sternomastoid muscle compared with those in the well-nourished patients. After 3 months of supplementary oral nutrition, there was a significant improvement in the nutritional status of Group 1 patients, as evidenced by an increase in body weight, triceps skinfold thickness, and midarm muscle circumference. Respiratory muscle and handgrip strength increased in parallel with nutritional status, although there were no significant changes in lung function or arterial blood gas tensions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A B S T R A C T PurposeSince our individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis (MA) of supportive care and chemotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), published in 1995, many trials have been completed. An updated, IPD MA has been carried out to assess newer regimens and determine conclusively the effect of chemotherapy. MethodsSystematic searches for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were undertaken, followed by central collection, checking, and reanalysis of updated IPD. Results from RCTs were combined to calculate individual and pooled hazard ratios (HRs). ResultsData were obtained from 2,714 patients from 16 RCTs. There were 1,293 deaths among 1,399 patients assigned supportive care and chemotherapy and 1,240 among 1,315 assigned supportive care alone. Results showed a significant benefit of chemotherapy (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.71 to 0.83; P Յ .0001), equivalent to a relative increase in survival of 23% or an absolute improvement in survival of 9% at 12 months, increasing survival from 20% to 29%. There was no clear evidence that this effect was influenced by the drugs used (P ϭ .63) or whether they were used as single agents or in combination (P ϭ .40). Despite changes in patient demographics, the effect of chemotherapy in recent trials did not differ from those included previously (P ϭ .77). There was no clear evidence of a difference or trend in the relative effect of chemotherapy across patient subgroups. ConclusionThis MA of chemotherapy in the supportive care setting demonstrates conclusively that chemotherapy improves overall survival in all patients with advanced NSCLC. Therefore, all patients who are fit enough and wish to receive chemotherapy should do so.

This prospective, randomized, cross-over trial was designed to compare the efficacy of a mandibular advancement splint (MAS) with that of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Twenty-four patients (20 males and four females) with mild to moderate OSA (AHI between 10 and 49 events per hour) were enrolled in the study. Each patient used both MAS and nCPAP, with the initial therapy being allocated at random. Treatment periods lasted for two months with a two-week wash-out interval between. Polysomnography was performed prior to the study and after each clinical intervention. Patient and partner questionnaires were used to assess changes in general health and daytime somnolence. The AHI decreased from 22.2 to 3.1 using nCPAP, and to 8.0 using the MAS (P < 0.001 for both devices) and there was no statistically significant difference between the two treatments. The Epworth Sleepiness Score (ESS) fell from 13.4 to 8.1 with nCPAP, and to 9.2 with MAS (P < 0.001), again with no differences between the use of MAS or nCPAP. The questionnaire data showed an improvement in general health scores (P < 0.001) after both treatments, but daytime sleepiness only improved significantly using nCPAP (P < 0.001). Despite this, 17 out of the 21 subjects who completed both arms of the study preferred the MAS. The splints were well tolerated and their efficacy suggests that the MAS may be a suitable alternative to nCPAP in the management of patients with mild or moderate OSA.

A mandibular advancement splint (MAS) may be an alternative treatment for snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). However, there is little subjective or objective information concerning long-term effectiveness, compliance and side effects.A retrospective questionnaire was used to survey these issues plus patient satisfaction and maintenance requirements in 166 patients who could have worn a mandibular advancement splint for over a year.One-hundred and twenty-six (76%) subjects returned the questionnaire, (84 with OSA, 42 snorers), of whom 69 (55%) reported still using the splint regularly, 47 (37%) every night. The most common reported reasons for stopping use were discomfort (29/ 57; 52% of nonusers), and poor perceived efficacy (12 subjects). Users reported more daytime symptoms, and they and their partners were more likely to observe improvements with splint use. Side effects were reported by 49 subjects, more commonly in nonusers. Sixty-five of 67 current users and 23 of 41 nonusers reported less snoring with splint use (p~v0.001).Long-term mandibular advancement splint usage appeared less satisfactory than previously reported, however, splints were considered effective by 97% of current users and even by over half of those who had stopped use. Reasons for stopping use included side effects, social circumstances, dental treatment, as well as lack of perceived efficacy. Snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) may result from collapse of the upper airway during sleep because of loss of muscle tone and anatomical factors. Bringing the mandible forward advances the tongue and thus enlarges the retroglossal airway, reducing the tendency to collapse [1]. Mandibular advancement devices are therefore being increasingly used as a treatment for snoring and as a possible alternative to nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices in OSA. Several randomized controlled trials of mandibular advancement splints (MAS) or nasal CPAP have shown splints to be effective in some patients and although they do not always lower the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) as satisfactorily as CPAP, they are preferred by most patients in shortterm trials of 4 -12 weeks treatment [2 -4]. One study of long-term use of CPAP over a median follow up of 22 months, showed that 20% of 1,103 people stopped treatment after taking a machine home [5]. However, follow up with MAS has been limited to much smaller numbers and for a shorter time, with few data on longterm usage [6]. As splints are usually fitted because a patient is symptomatic or their partner complains about their snoring, continued use of the device will depend on the patient and their partner9s perceptions of symptomatic benefit and side effects. A retrospective questionnaire based study of factors affecting continued usage of mandibular advancement splints in 166 consecutive patients who had had a splint for at least one year was carried out. MethodsOne-hundred and sixty-six patients (140 males, 26 females) with sleep disordered breathing (111 OSA, 55 snorers)...