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The tyrosine kinase inhibitor dasatinib was added to docetaxel in the treatment of advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer in a Phase 1-2 trial. The combination was shown to be generally well-tolerated and to result in markers of reduced bone turnover in the great majority of patients and in durable PSA responses in approximately 50%. The findings justify proceeding to Phase 3 clinical trial.
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For patients who have synchronous bilateral breast cancer, overall survival has been shown to be less favorable than for patients presenting with unilateral disease. In the current matched case-control series, overall survival was comparable. Clinicians are advised to prescribe systemic therapy based upon the more aggressive of the two lesions.
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A full panel of prognostic indicators was examined in 449 treatment-naïve CLL patients and it was found that serum light chain ratio was useful in confirming clonality. However, the sum of both k and l serum light chains proved of greater prognositc value in determining an early need to offer CLL treatment. A total (k + l) level of > 60.6 mg/mL was an independent predictor of limited treatment-free survival.
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A 57-year-old postmenopausal librarian, who is 1-year post diagnosis of a stage II invasive cancer of the right breast, is found to be estrogen- and progesterone-receptor positive, and Her2neu negative with one positive axillary node.
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New treatment for TB; safety of dabigatran; quality of antidepressants; systolic hypertension treatment; and FDA actions.
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Lyon and colleagues performed a retrospective cohort study of the relationship between insurance status and 30-day mortality, as well as the use of five common ICU procedures, among 138,720 adult patients admitted to ICUs in Pennsylvania in fiscal years 2005 and 2006.
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Prasad and associates conducted a retrospective cohort study of associations between internal medicine trainee exposure to mechanical ventilation protocols and their performance on questions related to this topic on the critical care board-certifying examination.
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In this issue: New indication for rivaroxaban; new study on warfarin testing; medications causing adverse drug events; niacin as an add-on therapy; and FDA actions.
