Myasthenia Gravis Is Not an Independent Prognostic Factor of Thymoma: Results of a Propensity Score Matching Trial of 470 Patients

ObjectiveThe association between the prognosis of thymoma and MG remains controversial. Differences in clinical characteristics and treatments between patients with and without MG may affect the findings of those studies. We designed this propensity score matching trial to investigate whether MG is an independent prognostic predictor in thymoma.MethodsPatients with pathologically diagnosed thymoma and MG were enrolled in the MG group. Moreover, the propensity score matching method was used to select patients who were diagnosed with thymoma without MG from the database of two participating centers. Matched factors included sex, age, Masaoka stage, pathological subtypes, and treatments. Matched patients were enrolled in the non-MG group. Chi-squared test was used to compare the characteristics of the two groups. Overall survival, local-regional relapse-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, progression-free survival, and cancer-specific survival were calculated from the diagnosis of thymoma using the Kaplan–Meier method.ResultsBetween April 1992 and October 2018, 235 patients each were enrolled in the MG and non-MG groups (1:1 ratio). The median ages of patients in the MG and non-MG groups were 46 years old. The World Health Organization pathological subtypes were well balanced between the two groups (B2 + B3: MG vs. non-MG group, 63.0 vs. 63.4%, p = 0.924). Most patients in both groups had Masaoka stages I–III (MG vs. non-MG group, 90.2 vs. 91.5%, p = 0.631). R0 resections were performed in 86.8 and 90.2% of the MG and non-MG groups, respectively (p = 0.247). The median follow-up time of the two groups was 70.00 months (MG vs. non-MG group, 73.63 months vs. 68.00 months). Five-year overall survivals were 92.5 and 90.3%, 8-year overall survivals were 84.2 and 84.2%, and 10-year overall survivals were 80.2 and 81.4% (p = 0.632) in the MG and non-MG groups, respectively. No differences were found in the progression-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, and local-regional relapse-free survival between the two groups.ConclusionMG is not an independent or direct prognostic factor of thymoma, although it might be helpful in diagnosis thymoma at an early stage, leading indirectly to better prognosis.

Programmed Labor—Indegenous Protocol to Optimize Labor Outcome

ABSTRACT Objective To Asses and develop an indigenous protocol to optimize labour outcome, as Programmed Labor. Design Open, prospective (Between January 2000 to December 2007), randomized, parallel group, monocentric, comparative matching trial. Settings Labor rooms at Nowrosjee Wadia Maternity, Mumbai. Selection criteria 200 patients in each group, aged between 21-30, as low-risk parturient. Intervention Partography, Oxytocin, Primiprost, Pentazocin, Dizepam, Tramadol, Drotin, Ketamine. Outcome parameters Satisfactory obstetric outcome, progressive labor of shorter duration, less blood loss and pain relief. Results Study group had mean shorter duration of active labor as 3.5 hrs compared to controls of 5.2 hrs. Excellant pain relief was of 24 and 62% of substantial relief in comparison to 32% only in other group with no patient falling in excellent group. Second stage of labor was reduced by half (26 to 48 meters) and lesser third stage blood loss. Conclusions Programmed labor with indigenous protocol developed and practiced, results in progressive, shorter, and comfortable labors with lesser blood loss.