Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of varenicline for smoking cessation among Asian adult smokers in real-world clinical practice. Methods: A multicentre, prospective, non-comparative, observational study conducted in China, India, Philippines and Korea. Adult smokers, willing to make a quit attempt, who reached a joint decision with the investigators to take varenicline received 1 mg twice daily (after 1-week titration) for 12 weeks. No exclusion criteria were specified. Effectiveness evaluations included smoking abstinence status for the 7-day period before the Week 12 visit and the last observed study visit, determined by verbal reporting using a nicotine use inventory and carbon monoxide levels if part of usual practice (end of study only). The safety profile of varenicline was also assessed. Results: Of 1377 subjects enrolled in the study, 1373 (99.7%) received varenicline and were evaluated for safety and effectiveness. Overall, 46.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 43.73-49.07] of subjects successfully quit smoking by the end of the treatment phase at Week 12. When analysed by country, 57.1% (95% CI: 53.55-60.65) of subjects from China, 52.8% (95% CI: 45.21-60.25) of subjects from India, 51.0% (95% CI: 36.60-65.25) of subjects from Philippines and 20.3% (95% CI: 16.29-24.73) of subjects from Korea had quit smoking at Week 12. The most commonly reported treatment-related adverse event was nausea (11.5%). Conclusions: This study demonstrates the effectiveness and acceptable safety profile of varenicline for smoking cessation in a real-world setting among Asian populations, with results consistent with those of varenicline randomised controlled trials.

A statistical survey is presented of brain tumors diagnosed in the first year of life (from five Far-Eastern countries) in relation to the racial differences in tumor types, congenital factors, and general clinical features. Of the 307 cases collected, 262 were verified histologically, and astrocytomas comprised 23.3%, medulloblastomas 17.2%, ependymomas 11.1%, choroid plexus papillomas 10.7%, teratomas 8.4%, primitive neuroectodermal tumors 4.2%, meningiomas 2.3%, and others 22.9%. There were statistically significant racial differences in comparison with the worldwide survey done by the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery Education Committee (1987) on the same subject. In the Far-Eastern population, medulloblastoma and teratoma were more common (P less than 0.05), whereas astrocytoma was less frequent (P less than 0.01) than reported in the worldwide survey. The malformative factors were suggested in 18 cases in which various associated congenital anomalies were observed. Vascular anomalous lesions, mostly in the extracranial organs, were most common, comprising 61.1% of the associated malformations. Hereditary factors were less commonly demonstrated in these tumors than were anomalies in the major congenital central nervous system. Among the 307 cases, there was one instance (0.3%) of nearly identical tumors occurring in twin brothers. The specific clinical manifestations of brain tumors involving the immature brain were again apparent in this survey, as were the poor survival rates and poor functional prognosis.

From 1986 to the end of 1998, 482 cases of traumatic carotid-cavernous fistula (TCCF) were treated by means of intravascular embolisation technique. The experience is overviewed in this article. Many kinds of detachable balloon catheters (including Chinese made detachable balloon catheters), coils and cyanoacrylate were used as embolic materials. Transcervical, transfemoral, anterior communicating artery, posterior communicating artery approach, or transvenous approach were selected according to conditions. A combination of different approaches or materials was used for complex TCCF. We found that the special sign, named “bileakage sign”, indicated multileakage of TCCF and was not mentioned before. All 482 cases of TCCF were embolised successfully, of which 405 cases maintained the patency of internal carotid artery (ICA). No death related to the treatment occurred in our group and the symptoms or signs in 462 cases were relieved after embolisation. Emergency embolisation was needed in some conditions such as serious epistaxis, delayed or repeatedly subdural haematoma and rapid visual impairment. Endovascular treatment of TCCF is a safe and efficient method. The time of operation, approach, and materials for embolisation must be carefully selected in order to obtain the best result.