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In an epidemiologic analysis of SEER data, middle-aged patients with early-stage disease who opted for active surveillance rather than retroperitoneal lymph node dissection experienced a greater rate of second malignancy. The investigators speculate that this may relate to increased radiation exposure (multiple CT scans) and a greater likelihood of subsequent chemotherapy use.
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In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, clonidine and venlafaxine both proved superior to placebo in reducing hot flashes in breast cancer patients. The study was insufficiently powered to prove superiority of one drug over the other. However, venlafaxine produced earlier reductions and it appeared clonidine had more sustained effect (i.e., at 12 weeks of treatment).
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The prognostic relevance of fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) internal tandem duplications and point mutations at D835 in acute promeylocytic leukemia (APL) is controversial.
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A 70-year-old man undergoing preoperative evaluation for abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery was noted to have a 3 cm mass in the right adrenal gland with heterogeneous texture but clear margins.
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For patients in the midst of chemotherapy, there are little data on the most efficacious time to administer influenza vaccine. In a randomized study of 38 patients receiving FEC chemotherapy for adjuvant treatment of breast cancer, it is apparent that vaccination early (on day 4 of a 21-day cycle) provided better antibody response than when administered late in the cycle (day 16).
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Apixaban could soon join the anticoagulation market; Chinese herbs for flu; chronic medication and discontinuation after hospitalization; and FDA actions.
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Fourteen elderly patients (median age 85 years) who were considered non-candidates for R-CHOP were treated first-line with a combination of bendamustine and rituximab. Of these, 7 achieved a complete response and 2 achieved a partial response. Toxicity was minimal. Although promising, these results need to be confirmed in larger studies.
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In a large multi-institutional prospective trial conducted from 1994-2001, 1979 eligible patients (median age 70 years) with PSA < 20 were randomized to radiation therapy alone or radiotherapy plus 4 months of total androgen suppression starting 2 months before radiotherapy.
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The use of sunlamps or sunbeds for tanning purposes has grown in popularity, such that their use is very common among teenagers and young adults. In a well-conducted Australian multicenter, case-controlled study, it is clear that such use among teenagers is associated with a significantly higher risk of cutaneous melanoma. In fact, the risk is higher than it is for middle-aged sunbed users.
