Cochrane Journal Club

Index of Cochrane Journal Club articles

Finally – no more searching for relevant and interesting papers to discuss at your next journal club meeting! We provide everything you need to present the paper at your Journal Club meeting over that much needed cup of coffee.
Cochrane Journal Club is a free, monthly publication that introduces a recent Cochrane review, together with relevant background information, a podcast explaining the key points of the review, discussion questions to help you to explore the review methods and findings in more detail, and downloadable PowerPoint slides containing key figures and tables. You can even contact the review authors with your questions. 

Aimed at trainees, researchers and clinicians alike, every Cochrane Journal Club article is specially selected from the hundreds of new and updated reviews published in each issue of The Cochrane Library representing diverse clinical topics, and each one focuses on a review of special interest, such as practice-changing reviews, new methodology and evidence-based practice.

Self-monitoring and self-management of oral anticoagulation (Clinical) - Cochrane Journal Club

P L A I N  L A N G U A G E  S U M M A R Y

In conclusion, self-monitoring or self-management can improve the quality of oral anticoagulant therapy, leading to fewer thromboembolic
events and lower mortality, without a reduction in the number of major bleeds. Self-monitoring and self-management are not
feasible for all patients, which requires the identification and education of suitable patients.

Slipstream - When Patients Meet Online, Are There Side Effects? - NYTimes.com

Prognostic Relevance of Uncommon Ovarian Histology (abstract) multinational study

 Note:   and stage 1/11??;  see abstract for authors

Prognostic Relevance of Uncommon Ovarian Histology in Women With Stage III/IV Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

BACKGROUND::
The prognostic relevance of uncommon epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) histological subtypes remains controversial. The Gynecologic Cancer InterGroup (GCIG) initiated this meta-analysis to assess the relative prognosis of women with a diagnosis of rare EOC histologies from completed, prospectively randomized studies performed by cooperative GCIG study groups.

METHODS::
Studies eligible for analysis included first-line treatment of at least 150 patients with stage III/IV EOC treated with a platinum/taxane-based regimen. Collaborating groups were to provide patient-level data. Serous acted as the reference histology, and a proportional hazards model was used to estimate the relative rate of progression or death.

RESULTS::
Data on 8704 women with stage III/IV EOC from 7 randomized trials were included in these analyses. Two hundred twenty-one patients (2.5%) had clear cell carcinoma; 264 (3.0%), mucinous; and 36 (0.4%), transitional cell. The mean age of patients with serous histology was greater than those with mucinous (4.1 years) and clear cell (2.6 years, P < 0.001). Mucinous, clear cell, and transitional cell tumors were more likely to be completely resected than serous (P < 0.05). When controlling for age and residual disease, mucinous and clear cell tumors had shorter times to progression (hazards ratio [HR], 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8-2.4 and HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.4-1.9, respectively) and death (HR, 2.7; 95% CI, 2.3-3.1 and HR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.8-2.6, respectively) compared with serous. The median overall survival for serous, clear cell, mucinous, and endometrioid histologies were 40.8, 21.3, 14.6, and 50.9 months.

CONCLUSIONS:: Mucinous and clear cell carcinomas are independent predictors of poor prognosis in stage III/IV EOC. Studies targeting these rare histological subtypes are warranted and will require significant intergroup collaboration.

abstract : Whole blood-derived miRNA profiles as potential new tools for ovarian cancer screening : British Journal of Cancer

Conclusion:

Our proof-of-principle study strengthens the hypothesis that neoplastic diseases generate characteristic miRNA fingerprints in blood cells. Still, the obtained OvCA-associated miRNA pattern is not yet sensitive and specific enough to permit the monitoring of disease progression or even preventive screening. Microarray-based miRNA profiling from peripheral blood could thus be combined with other markers to improve the notoriously difficult but important screening for OvCA.

abstract: EvidenceUpdates (Review) including professional commentaries: Drug and dietary interactions of the new and emerging oral anticoagulants