From the monthly archives:

February 2005

The problem of denial of a terminal illness

February 28, 2005

Dr. Paul Rousseau from Arizona State University has written an interesting summary of the problem of denial of terminal illness, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, May, 2003.
Below are selections from the article, which should pique one’s curiosity:
“Although denial may produce a focus of concern, it may also serve as a protective and adaptive [...]

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Using Rituximab, a highly specific monoclonal antibody, to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma

February 28, 2005

The role of targeted therapy in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is being explored, tested, reported and argued about almost continuously in the medical oncology literature. Rituximab, a highly specific monoclonal antibody that binds to an antigen called CD20 on B-lymphocytes, is commercially available and has been studied extensively. It is quite active against both indolent and [...]

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Blog Plugging

February 28, 2005

My alter-ego, The Cheerful Oncologist, has written a little post on the first and most important responsibility of the cancer specialist. To find out what this is, point your mouse here.
After you read it, feel free to commit floccinaucinihilipilification.

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65,000 Pounds Lost in Iowa!

February 28, 2005

Who says it is impossible to lose weight? By simply walking more (and eating a more healthy diet) 20,000 Iowans have lost over 65,000 pounds over the past three years.
The subjects are grouped in teams and record their steps by wearing a pedometer. The total distance walked by the group thus far: 4.8 million miles.
Many [...]

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February 28, 2005

Fatal crashes of medical helicopters
Accident rates are rising (NYT):
…the industry’s rapid, competitive growth may also be exacting a toll. Federal regulators and some doctors worry that the pool of skilled helicopter pilots has become drained and that some of those flying are making poor decisions. In addition, some companies are flying older helicopters that [...]

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Skipping breakfast can lead to higher sugar and cholesterol levels

February 27, 2005

Researchers at the University of Nottingham, U.K., have released a study showing that normal weight women who skip breakfast have higher fasting levels of total and LDL cholesterol, and have impaired insulin sensitivity to a test meal – which raises serum glucose levels. The implications of this study are that women may not only gain [...]

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February 27, 2005

Global Anti-Smoking Pact Goes Into Effect“A global treaty aimed at dissuading children from smoking and helping adults kick the habit came into force on Sunday with the United Nations saying it could save millions of lives.” (via Yahoo Newsbv) The US has not yet signed the treaty.
Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal include:
(1) dysphoric or depressed mood(2) [...]

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Treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after it becomes resistant to chemotherapy

February 27, 2005

Treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after it becomes resistant to chemotherapy has been the subject of intense scientific and clinical research. The study of targeted therapy, in which a drug or biological agent attaches only to a specific receptor on a malignant cell, led to the approval and release of the anilinoquinazolines gefitinib (Iressa) [...]

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Overmedicating the Elderly

February 27, 2005

A new study from the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society states that almost one in three seniors are receiving medications “deemed potentially inappropriate for older people”.
Medicines on the list included antispasmodic drugs and propoxyphene. Several solutions to the problem are mentioned, all centered around good communication between doctor and patient, and knowledge of drug [...]

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Can a Book Inspire One to Become a Doctor?

February 27, 2005

Greetings to all of Kevin’s readers (and I know you are many)!
Have you ever run into a high school or college student who is interested in becoming a doctor? It would seem that the opportunities for young people to “shadow” a practicing physician or scientist are readily available, and from my experience such exposure can [...]

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The ethics of "Million Dollar Baby"

February 27, 2005

…and the right to refuse medical treatment, at Bioethics Discussion Blog.
Where was the patients physician? Where was the ethics committee to help educate the patient and physician (and, by the way, the viewing public) on the well established ethics and law? Where was the advocate of the disabled, the rehabilitation therapist to provide the patient [...]

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