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Interpret the lead MCL-1 rhythm strip shown in the figure. Does this rhythm represent Mobitz I (Wenckebach) or Mobitz II AV block? Is a pacemaker likely to be needed?
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There is a known association of obesity and glucose intolerance with pancreatic cancer but whether this is due to the effect of high glucose itself, insulin resistance, or pancreatic ß-cell dysfunction is unknown. In an epidemiological, nested, case-control analysis drawn from five large prospective cohorts, measures of insulin resistance were independently associated with pancreatic cancer risk, but this was not true for measures of hyperglycemia or ß-cell dysfunction alone.
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High-risk, early breast cancer patients treated on a dose-intense chemotherapy protocol were randomized to receive thrice weekly epoetin alfa or not. As compared with controls, hemoglobin levels were maintained and fewer red cell transfusions were required. Furthermore, there did not appear to be any detriment in progression-free or overall survival. However, venous thrombotic events occurred more frequently. The use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in the adjuvant setting remains unsettled.
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A new technique of evaluating liquid-based Pap smears has been developed to identify confirmed disease-specific mutations in patients with uterine and ovarian cancers. The new technique identified most uterine and some ovarian cancers and importantly, produced no false positive screens among normal, noncancer controls.
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n a small, multicenter, randomized Phase 2 trial, the all-oral combination of cyclophosphamide and capecitabine demonstrated a trend toward an increasing response rate when compared to capecitabine alone in the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. The combination was well tolerated.
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In this issue: Aspirin use and AMD risk; using NSAIDs and antihypertensive agents; and FDA actions.
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Weaver and colleagues at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah, conducted a prospective study to determine the false-positive rate of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) measurements by pulse oximetry (SpCO) in patients presenting to the emergency department at this level one trauma center.
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Lu et al prospectively studied 165 patients with culture-confirmed (bronchoalveolar lavage samples), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by either Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Acinetobacter baumannii.
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Hampson and colleagues present a review of the literature and pathophysiology of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and provide treatment and prevention recommendations.
