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ATLANTA ? Switching to Aromasin (exemestane), an aromatase inhibitor, as adjuvant therapy for breast cancer after two to three years of tamoxifen may increase disease-free survival, according to mature results of a trial of postmenopausal women.

ATLANTA ? Sutent (sunitinib), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma and refractory gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), has also hinted at efficacy for recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

ATLANTA ? With a new class of drugs, researchers are on the trail of killer receptors on the surface of cancer cells.

ATLANTA ? Five years of breast cancer adjuvant therapy with an aromatase inhibitor, can lead to a 6% to 7% loss of bone mineral density, a trigger for osteoporosis for women who are borderline osteopenic when they begin treatment, investigators reported here.

ATLANTA ? Many patients with early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) never see a medical oncologist because their primary care physicians don't think chemotherapy can help them, according to survey results reported here.

ATLANTA ? The FDA's Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) unanimously recommended approval of Sprycel (dasatinib) for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients who are refractory or intolerant to Gleevec (imatinib mesylate).

ATLANTA ? Older age is no barrier to platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), researchers reported here.

ATLANTA ? For women with HER2-positive breast cancer who develop Herceptin (trastuzumab) resistance, the investigational drug Tykerb (lapatinib) in combination with Xeloda (capecitabine) essentially doubles time to progression compared with Xeloda monotherapy, investigators reported here.

LOS ANGELES ? Although there is little argument about the sun's powerful role in basal-cell and squamous-cell carcinoma, the influence of solar radiation in malignant melanoma etiology is less clear cut.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Despite a widely believed old wives' tale, having sex near the end of pregnancy won't speed up the start of labor. In fact, a new study shows, it might even delay the birth by a few days.

Plumbing analogies can help asymptomaticpatients comprehend the seriousnessof elevated lipid and bloodpressure levels.

I have read that the concurrent use of an NSAID and an angiotensin-convertingenzyme (ACE) inhibitor may impair the antihypertensive effect of the ACEinhibitor. What is the mechanism of this interaction?

In his Photo Essay, “Hazards of Immobilizing Musculoskeletal Injuries” (CONSULTANT,January 2002, page 72), Dr John Connolly points out problems causedwhen ankle injuries are splinted incorrectly in equinus, resulting in excessiveswelling.

PONTIAC, Mich. ? CT scans are good at detecting pulmonary emboli, yet adding clinical assessment or venography may sharpen a diagnosis, researchers here reported.

OULU, Finland - Single-embryo transfer during in-vitro fertilization is just as likely to result in pregnancy and a live birth among women ages 36 to 39 as it is for younger women, researchers reported.

A 22-year-old woman presents with fever and malaise of1 month’s duration. About 3 weeks earlier she went to theemergency department. Erythromycin was prescribed,and the patient was told to seek medical attention if hercondition did not improve. Since that time, her healthhas worsened, the fever has continued, and she has lostweight. She says she has had painful areas on her handsand feet but no rash.

A 43-year-old woman presents to the emergency departmentwith fatigue, dyspnea, and intermittent chest painof 3 days’ duration. Her symptoms have worsened sinceshe arose, and 2 hours ago palpitations developed. She describesthe chest pain as a heavy pressure under her sternumthat does not radiate; she denies fever, nausea, vomiting,and diaphoresis.

A 25-year-old man reports that he has had a swollen eye for thepast several days. He noticed a small amount of yellow discharge the previousevening. He denies systemic complaints, including fever, chills, nausea, vomiting,and recent trauma. He also tells you that he has a drip in my private area.