Chen and colleagues developed a 5-gene signature that they found to be closely associated with relapse-free and overall survival among patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

In a phase 2 study, the new echinocandin anidulafungin was demon-strated to be effective in the treatment of invasive candidiasis. Additional encouraging findings have recently been reported by Reboli and coworkers, who compared anidulafungin with fluconazole in a randomized, double-blind, noninferiority trial. The study included patients 16 years or older who had invasive candidiasis; 89% had candidemia only. They were randomly assigned to receive either intravenous anidulafungin or intravenous fluconazole. After 10 days of intravenous therapy, the patients could receive oral fluconazole.

Common eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataract, and age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) (Figure) can have significant systemic ramifications. Recent studies have found that these eye diseases may herald the onset of various types of physical and mental impairment, especially in elderly persons.

A number of factors heighten the risk of parasitic infections in elderly persons, who often live in communal settings (eg, nursing homes), where they are more likely to encounter parasites, such as the scabies mite.

I enjoyed the case involving an 8-year-old boy whose hand was bitten by a copperhead snake but would point out the following inaccuracies.

I work with frail, elderly patients who generally have few--if any-- living relatives. During their initial physical evaluation, I always ask them if they have any pets.

We advise our patients with constipation to drink 500 to 750 mL of water with freshly squeezed lemon juice on arising in the morning.

Patients often fail to reap the full benefit of corticosteroid nasal sprays because they do not use these devices correctly.

An 83-year-old man with a history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diverticulosis was hospitalized because of painless hematochezia of 1 day's duration. Two years earlier, he had undergone surgical excision of a superficial spreading melanoma on his right thigh.

Several hours after striking his closed fist against the side pillar of a passenger car, a 28-year-old man presented with acute pain and swelling of the left hand. The dorsum of the left hand appeared deformed and edematous; there were scattered abrasions but no lacerations, exposed bony fragments, ecchymosis, or active bleeding.

For several months, a 55-year-old white construction worker experienced intense burning of the skin when exposed to direct sunlight. In addition, multiple fragile blisters appeared on the dorsa of his hands and arms; these rapidly developed into crusted, superficial erosions.

abstract: Common causes of poorly controlled asthma include nonadherence to long-term inhaler therapy; environmental exposures; and uncontrolled comorbidities, such as allergic rhinitis. Adherence can be limited by many factors, including inadequate patient education, medication cost, prior failed treatment, poor physician-patient relationship, unrealistic expectations for therapy, and depression. For patients who have a poor perception of their symptoms, emphasizing the "disconnect" between symptoms and pulmonary function can help motivate them to monitor themselves with a peak flow meter and to adjust their medication accordingly. For patients with allergic triggers, instituting allergen-specific environmental controls can decrease symptoms and urgent care visits for asthma. Chronic rhinosinusitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease can also contribute to difficult-to-control asthma, and treatment of these comorbidities can help reduce asthma symptoms. (J Respir Dis. 2007;28(9):365-369)

A 47-year-old woman who recently completed adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer has painless cervical lymphadenopathy of 1 to 2 cm. She has no fever, sore throat, cough, or unexplained weight loss, and she denies exposure to ill persons or animals.

AURORA, Colo. -- High-risk smokers have "tremendous" genetic damage in their bronchial endothelium even before lung cancer develops, which may provide clues in the search for a genetic screening test.

PITTSBURGH -- Underage drinking in elementary schools -- whether more than a sip or regular use -- is on the decline but still not uncommon.

Take this MedPage Today survey on the practice of naming diseases after the doctors who discovered them.

CHICAGO -- A star chef with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue is undergoing aggressive chemoradiation hoping to avoid a resection that would cripple his sense of taste.

Respondents to a MedPage Today poll were almost equally split over whether bariatric surgery should be first-line therapy in the treatment of obesity, but most of those who said Yes did so with reservations.

PRESTON, England -- From Addision's disease to Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, medical eponyms remain ubiquitous in the literature in favor of more scientific descriptions of disease. Now comes a proposal to do away with Down's and its ilk.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Only six of the 17 declared candidates for President showed up at a two-day forum designed to bring cancer care to the forefront of campaign issues, but the discussion broadened into questions of overall health care.