April 2nd 2025
A mail campaign targeting adults with chronic conditions as well as their GPs increased the number receiving at least 1 shot by 9.5 percentage points.
Cachexia Secondary to Pancreatic Cancer?
May 1st 2007Frightened but lucid man who appears stated age. Vital signs are normal. No mass palpable in abdomen, though there is a faint suggestion of upper-abdominal distension. No supraclavicular lymphadenopathy, umbilical nodules, or upper-abdominal vascular bruit.
AACR: No Benefit for Darbepoetin Alfa (Aranesp) in Cancer-Caused Anemia
April 17th 2007LOS ANGELES -- Darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp) should not be used for treatment of anemia caused by cancer, researchers here reported. Compared with placebo, darbepoetin hastened death despite significantly reducing the need for transfusion.
Psoriasis: Therapeutic Options
April 15th 2007Topical corticosteroids remain the mainstay of treatment, especially in patients with erythematous, acutely inflamed psoriatic plaques. The topical immunomodulators tacrolimus and pimecrolimus are used to treat psoriasis, although neither has FDA approval for this indication. Unlike corticosteroids, immunomodulators do not cause skin atrophy, irreversible striae, acne, or tachyphylaxis. Newer topical vehicles of delivery (eg, foam clobetasol propionate) and newer drug combinations (eg, once-daily calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate ointment) may improve efficacy and reduce side effects. Reserve systemic therapy for patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. Until more long-term safety data become available, be cautious about prescribing biologic agents for patients at risk for infection (particularly tuberculosis) and malignancy.
Elephantiasis Nostras Verrucosa
April 15th 2007A 60-year-old man was hospitalized with fever and hypotension secondary to recurrent cellulitis of the left leg. He had a history of polysubstance abuse and hepatitis C. Elephantiasis nostras verrucosa was diagnosed based on bilateral nonpitting edema and hyperkeratotic verrucous lesions in the pretibial area. The patient's erythrocyte sedimentation rate and white blood cell count showed evidence of infection; osteomyelitis of the left fifth metatarsal head was suspected.