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The Cancer Genome Atlas research network (TCGA) is an open-sourced multi-institutional collaborative charged by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Human Genome Research Institute effort to explore the molecular aberrations of cancer to better understand the disease and identify new treatment approaches.
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In a retrospective chart review at a single university urogynecology practice between 2000 and 2009, the authors identified 197 patients who underwent posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) after failing medical therapy for overactive bladder (OAB) with anticholinergic medication.
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In an analysis of a subset of breast cancer patients enrolled in the ATAC trial, it was apparent that age influences the risk of recurrence, and age and comorbidities significantly influence the risk of death without recurrence. The authors suggest assessment of comorbidities should be incorporated into decisions regarding adjuvant therapies.
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An 88-year-old woman with history of hypertension, chronic kidney disease with baseline creatinine of 1.8 meq/dL, and osteoarthritis was seen in the emergency room for worsening pain in the right shoulder and fatigue over 2 weeks. Her son denied any recent illnesses, falls, changes in appetite, or change in urinary or bowel habits.
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This prospective multicenter study presents an 11-item model for predicting chemotherapy toxicity in older adults with cancer. Its stratification schema identified older adults at low (30%), intermediate (52%), or high (83%) risk for chemotherapy toxicity.
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New indication for rivaroxaban; new study on warfarin testing; medications causing adverse drug events; niacin as an add-on therapy; and FDA actions.
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In a muti-institutional prospective trial conducted from 2003-2005, 74 patients with unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma were randomly assigned to receive GEM alone (at 1,000 mg/m /wk for weeks 1-6, followed by 1 week rest, then for 3 of 4 weeks) or GEM (600 mg/m /wk for weeks 1-5, then 4 weeks later 1,000 mg/m /wk for 3 of 4 weeks) plus radiotherapy for a total of 50.4 Gy. Measurement of quality of life also was performed. Patients enrolled in Arm B (GEM plus radiation) had a higher incidence of grades 4 and 5 toxicities (41% vs 9%), but grades 3 and 4 toxicities combined were similar in both arms. No statistical difference was noted in quality of life. The primary endpoint of survival was improved with the addition of radiotherapy with 11.1 months for Arm B and 9.2 months for Arm A.
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Heffron et al conducted a secondary analysis of two longitudinal studies (2004-2010) performed in Africa.