Ventilation in the prone position significantly reduced overall mortality in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. Sufficient duration of prone positioning was significantly associated with a reduction in overall mortality. Prone ventilation was also significantly associated with pressure ulcers and major airway problems.

The meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials indicated that there is no clinical evidence to support an overall primary and secondary preventive effect of antioxidant supplements on cancer. The effects of antioxidant supplements on human health, particularly in relation to cancer, should not be overemphasized because the use of those might be harmful for some cancer.

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate whether the prevalence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is even higher in the early stages of COPD than in such patients with normal lung function and to verify the usefulness of symptom- or quality of life (QoL)-based scores in predicting risk for PPCs.Patients and methodsPatients undergoing pulmonary resection for NSCLC between July 2012 and October 2014 were prospectively enrolled. Preoperative measurements of lung function, dyspnea, and QoL, operative characteristics, PPCs, duration of postoperative hospitalization, and in-hospital mortality were assessed.ResultsAmong 351 consecutive patients with NSCLC, 343 patients with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) ≥70% of predicted value were enrolled. At least one PPC occurred in 57 (16.6%) patients. Prevalence of PPC was higher in patients with COPD (30.1%) than in those with normal spirometry (10.0%; P<0.001). However, in patients with COPD, the prevalence of PPC was not different in patients with FEV1 ≥70% compared to those with FEV1 <70% and between group A (low risk and less symptoms) and group B (low risk and more symptoms) patients with COPD, based on the new Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 2011 guidelines. In patients with COPD, body mass index (odds ratio [OR]: 0.80, P=0.007), carbon monoxide diffusing capacity of the lung (DLCO), % predicted value (OR: 0.97, P=0.024), and operation time (OR: 1.01, P=0.003), but not COPD assessment test or St George Respiratory Questionnaire scores, were significantly associated with PPCs.ConclusionEven in patients with early-stage COPD, the prevalence of PPCs is higher than in patients with NSCLC with normal spirometry. However, this rate is not different between group A and group B patients with COPD. In accordance with this, scores based on symptoms or QoL are not predictors of risk of PPCs in patients with early-stage COPD.

This meta-analysis investigated the quantitative association between the consumption of green tea and the risk of stomach cancer in epidemiologic studies using crude data and adjusted data. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Review in August 2007. All the articles searched were independently reviewed and selected by 3 evaluators according to predetermined criteria. A total of 13 epidemiologic studies were included. When all the case-control and cohort studies were pooled, the relative risks (RR) of stomach cancer for the highest level of green tea consumption when compared with the lowest level of consumption were shown to be 1.10 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.92-1.32) using the crude data and 0.82 (95% CI, 0.70-0.96) using the adjusted data. In the meta-analyses of case-control studies, no significant association was seen between green tea consumption and stomach cancer using the crude data (RR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.58-1.07), but green tea was shown to have a preventive effect on stomach cancer using the adjusted data (RR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.64-0.83). In the meta-analyses of the recent cohort studies, the highest green tea consumption was shown to significantly increase stomach cancer risk using the crude data (RR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.16-2.18), but no significant association between them was seen when using the adjusted data (RR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.93-1.17). Unlike the case-control studies, no preventive effect on stomach cancer was seen for the highest green tea consumption in the meta-analysis of the recent cohort studies. Further clinical trials are needed.

BackgroundWorksite nutrition and physical activity interventions are important to help overweight and obese employees lose weight, but costs and insufficient sustained motivation prevent the majority of these programs from succeeding. Tailored text messaging in aiding weight management has been effective in several studies, but no studies have evaluated the effect of a tailored text message service on weight loss in a worksite health promotion program.ObjectiveWe studied the efficacy of a tailored text-messaging intervention for obese male participants in a worksite weight loss program of 6 months duration.MethodsThe study was an unblinded, randomized controlled trial. Men with a body mass index greater than 25 kg/m2 were recruited from the Korea District Heating Corporation, the Korea Expressway Corporation, and the Korea Gas Corporation. The participants were identified by nurse managers. Participants were randomly allocated to 1 of the following 2 groups for 24 weeks: (1) intervention group, which received tailored text message reminders every other day plus 4 offline education sessions and brief counseling with monthly weight check by nurses for weight control over 6 months and (2) control group, which received the 4 offline education sessions and brief counseling with monthly weight check by nurses about weight control over 6 months. The primary outcome was the difference in weight loss at 6 months. A mixed-model repeated-measures analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of the intervention group’s weight loss compared with the control group.ResultsA total of 205 obese men were randomized into either the intervention (n=104) or the control group (n=101). At the end of 6 months, the intervention group (n=63) had lost 1.71 kg (95% CI –2.53 to –0.88) and the control group (n=59) had lost 1.56 kg (95% CI –2.45 to –0.66); the difference between the 2 groups was not significant (mean difference –0.15, 95% CI –1.36 to 1.07). At the end of the study, 60% (34/57) of the intervention group rated the message program as helpful for weight control and 46% (26/57) would recommend the text message service to their friends.ConclusionsTailored text message reminders did not have a significant effect on weight loss in obese men as part of a worksite weight loss program.Trial RegistrationInternational Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN): 39629189; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN39629189?q=39629189&filters=&sort=&offset=1&totalResults=1&page=1&pageSize=10&searchType=basic-search (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6VsFkwJH6).

Background/AimsDilutional hyponatremia associated with liver cirrhosis is caused by impaired free water clearance. Several studies have shown that serum sodium levels correlate with survival in cirrhotic patients. Little is known, however, regarding the relationship between the degree of dilutional hyponatremia and development of cirrhotic complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the serum sodium level and the severity of complications in liver cirrhosis.MethodsData of inpatients with cirrhotic complications were collected retrospectively. The serum sodium levels and severity of complications of 188 inpatients were analyzed.ResultsThe prevalence of dilutional hyponatremia, classified as serum sodium concentrations of ≤135 mmol/L, ≤130 mmol/L, and ≤125 mmol/L, were 20.8%, 14.9%, and 12.2%, respectively. The serum sodium level was strongly associated with the severity of liver function impairment as assessed by Child-Pugh and MELD scores (p<0.0001). Even a mild hyponatremia with a serum sodium concentration of 131-135 mmol/L was associated with severe complications. Sodium levels less than 130 mmol/L indicated the existence of massive ascites (OR, 2.685; CI, 1.316-5.477; p=0.007), grade III or higher hepatic encephalopathy (OR, 5.891; CI, 1.490-23.300; p=0.011), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (OR, 2.562; CI, 1.162-5.653; p=0.020), and hepatic hydrothorax (OR, 5.723; CI, 1.889-17.336; p=0.002).ConclusionsHyponatremia, especially serum levels ≤130 mmol/L, may indicate the existence of severe complications associated with liver cirrhosis.

The HP- and C-plans had a similar effect on weight and abdominal fat reduction, but the HP-plan was more effective in reducing body fat among compliant subjects.

BackgroundA high number of elderly people with multiple comorbidities are exposed to the risk of polypharmacy and prescription of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM). The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and patterns of PIM prescription in Korean older adults according to the 2012 Beers Criteria.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted using data from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment (KHIRA) database of outpatient prescription claims collected from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2011. A total of 523,811 elderly subjects aged 65 years and older were included in the study, and several covariates related to the prescription of PIMs were obtained from the KHIRA database. These covariates were analyzed using Student’s t test and the chi-square test; furthermore, multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk factors associated with the prescription of PIMs.ResultsA total of 80.96 % subjects were prescribed at least one PIM independent of their diagnosis or condition according to the 2012 Beers Criteria. The most commonly prescribed medication class was first-generation antihistamines with anticholinergic properties (52.33 %). Pain medications (43.04 %) and benzodiazepines (42.53 %) were next in line. When considering subjects’ diagnoses or conditions, subjects diagnosed with central nervous system conditions were most often prescribed PIMs. Female sex, severity of comorbidities, and polypharmacy were significant risk factors for PIM prescriptions.ConclusionsThis study confirmed that PIM prescription is common among elderly Koreans. A clinical decision support system should be developed to decrease the prevalence of PIM prescriptions.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12877-016-0285-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.