Targeted Therapies Improve Outcomes in Renal Cancer and GIST, but Challenges Remain
Targeted therapies have significantly changed the treatment of cancer and are now considered to be a component of care for a number of common malignancies, including breast, colorectal, and lung cancers. In particular, they have significantly improved outcomes for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) and advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).
Byetta Linked to Acute Pancreatitis
Six new cases of hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis have been reported in patients using exenatide injection (Byetta, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised healthcare professionals today.
Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication May Prove Effective for GERD
Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) provides safe and durable antireflux therapy in a canine model, according to a report in the July Annals of Surgery.
Disease-Free Period Predicts Response to Salvage Therapy for Oral Cancer
In patients with locally recurrent carcinomas of the oral cavity and oropharynx, a disease-free interval of more than 1 year and tumor tissue negative for EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) expression predict a good response to salvage surgery.
Effective Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer Remains Elusive
Although therapeutic strategies have advanced for many common gastrointestinal cancers, significant progress in the treatment of pancreatic cancer remains elusive. The eagerly anticipated results of randomized trials that evaluated gemcitabine-based combination regimens have proven to be disappointing, researchers report in a review paper that discusses the use of systemic therapy in advanced pancreatic cancer. Whereas […]
Post-Myocardial Infarction Cardiogenic Shock: What’s New?
Cardiogenic Shock: Current Concepts and Improving OutcomesReynolds HR, Hochman JSCirculation. 2008;117:686-697 Cardiogenic Shock: Basics and Clinical ConsiderationsGowda RM, Fox JT, Khan IA Int J Cardiol. 2008;123:221-228 Historically, cardiogenic shock (CS) was nearly always fatal after myocardial infarction (MI). Mortality rates were consistently reported at approximately 80% until the 1990s, when the mortality improved but only […]
AHA Statement Takes Aim at Hypertension Resistant to Triple-Drug Therapy
News Author: Steve StilesCME Author: Charles Vega, MD A new statement from the American Heart Association zeroes in on a group it says may make up 20% to 30% of patients with hypertension but has received only limited attention in formal guidelines, probably because they have been targeted in few clinical trials [1]. The document […]
Bone Biopsy Improves Medical Therapy of Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis
In diabetic patients undergoing medical management of foot osteomyelitis, bone culture-based antibiotic therapy improves the chances of successful treatment, according to findings published in the April issue of Diabetes Care. "The question of surgical versus nonsurgical treatment for diabetic patients with osteomyelitis of the foot remains subject to debate," Dr. Eric Senneville, of Dron Hospital, […]
Efficacy of Lasers and PDT for the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris
Abstract Acne vulgaris can represent a therapeutic challenge in terms of managing ongoing symptoms and preventing scar formation. While the copious variations of available treatments address milder forms of the disease, until recently, therapies for resistant or moderate-to-severe forms were limited to systemic agents that were accompanied by potentially severe side-effects. With the addition of […]
FDA Goes After ‘Natural’ HRT Claims
Todd ZwillichFederal regulators warned several pharmacy companies Wednesday to stop marketing so-called "natural" hormone replacement therapy, calling their sales to women "false and misleading." The FDA took aim at seven compounding pharmacy companies that it says use a product called estriol in reformulated hormone replacement therapy for women.
