Surgery

Eli Lilly’s Alimta approvad for lung cancer

First-line chemotherapy regimen showed clinically relevant survival differences in specific histology types of advanced non-small cell lung cancer. – Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced that it received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the use of ALIMTA(R) (pemetrexed for injection), in combination with cisplatin, in the first-line treatment of locally-advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), for patients with nonsquamous histology.

1 week radiation effective breast cancer treatment

A newer type of radiation treatment offers more convenience to early-stage breast cancer patients by shortening radiation therapy from the standard six to seven weeks of treatment to only one week. – Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) using a type of radiation seed implants called balloon brachytherapy is as effective in keeping breast cancer from coming back as the standard external beam radiation treatment.

Lumpectomy, radiation improve life in breast cancer patients

Breast cancer survivors have high quality of life up to 15 years after lumpectomy/radiation. – Women with breast cancer who are treated with lumpectomy and radiation report a high level of overall quality of life several years after treatment that is comparable to a general sampling of the adult women U.S. population according to a survey conducted by physicians at Fox Chase Cancer Center.

Suppressing hunger hormone ghrelin as good as bariatric surgery

Chemical suppressing hunger hormone yields result as good as bariatric surgery to reduce obesity. – Johns Hopkins scientists report success in significantly suppressing levels of the “hunger hormone” ghrelin in pigs using a minimally invasive means of chemically vaporizing the main vessel carrying blood to the top section, or fundus, of the stomach.

Poor weight loss in some after gastric bypass surgery

Gastric bypass results in substantial weight loss in most patients. Diabetes and larger pouch size are independently associated with poor weight loss after GBP. – Individuals with diabetes and those whose stomach pouches are larger appear less likely to successfully lose weight after gastric bypass surgery, according to a report in the September issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Arthroscopy may not help osteoarthritis patients

A landmark study conducted in London, Canada at The University of Western Ontario and Lawson Health Research Institute shows that a routinely practiced knee surgery is ineffective at reducing joint pain or improving joint function for sufferers of osteoarthritis. – Arthroscopic surgery for osteoarthritis of the knee provides no additional benefit to optimized physical and medical therapy, revealed by researchers in a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) issue of Sept. 11, 2008.

Nplate bone marrow stimulator approved to treat low platelet counts

FDA approved Amgen’s Nplate (romiplostim), the first product that directly stimulates the bone marrow to produce needed platelets in patients with a rare blood disorder ITP that can lead to serious bleeding. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Nplate (romiplostim), the first product that directly stimulates the bone marrow to produce needed platelets in patients with a rare blood disorder that can lead to serious bleeding.

Need to govern organ donation and transplantation

A new declaration opposes transplant commercialism, transplant tourism and organ trafficking; Governments and international organizations urged to safeguard against these unethical practices. – All countries should take steps to govern organ donation and transplantation, thereby ensuring patient safety and prohibiting unethical practices, according to an article appearing in the September 2008 issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN).

Breast cancer relapse risk low after 5 years

Women who survive five years after being diagnosed with breast cancer and after adjuvant systemic therapy have a good chance of remaining cancer free. – Breast cancer survivors continue to have a substantial risk of disease recurrence after five years of systemic therapy, according to a study published in the August 12 online issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Joint replacement improves osteoarthritis in older adults

Elderly patients who had hip or knee replacements for severe OA took several weeks to recover but experienced excellent long-term outcomes. – Older adults who have hip or knee replacement surgery for severe osteoarthritis may take several weeks to recover but appear to have excellent long-term outcomes, according to a report in the July 14 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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