The New England journal of medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Lapatinib plus capecitabine for HER2-positive advanced breast cancer.
Lapatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2, also referred to as HER2/neu) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), is active in combination with capecitabine in women with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer that has progressed after trastuzumab-based therapy. In this trial, we compared lapatinib plus capecitabine with capecitabine alone in such patients. ⋯ Lapatinib plus capecitabine is superior to capecitabine alone in women with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer that has progressed after treatment with regimens that included an anthracycline, a taxane, and trastuzumab. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00078572 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).
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Letter Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of dietary nitrate on blood pressure in healthy volunteers.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
A randomized trial of diagnostic techniques for ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Critically ill patients who require mechanical ventilation are at risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia. Current data are conflicting as to the optimal diagnostic approach in patients who have suspected ventilator-associated pneumonia. ⋯ Two diagnostic strategies for ventilator-associated pneumonia--bronchoalveolar lavage with quantitative culture of the bronchoalveolar-lavage fluid and endotracheal aspiration with nonquantitative culture of the aspirate--are associated with similar clinical outcomes and similar overall use of antibiotics. (Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN51767272 [controlled-trials.com].).
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Ertapenem versus cefotetan prophylaxis in elective colorectal surgery.
Ertapenem, a long-acting carbapenem, may be an alternative to the recommended prophylactic antibiotic cefotetan. ⋯ Ertapenem is more effective than cefotetan in the prevention of surgical-site infection in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery but may be associated with an increase in C. difficile infection. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00090272 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Paclitaxel-carboplatin alone or with bevacizumab for non-small-cell lung cancer.
Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor, has been shown to benefit patients with a variety of cancers. ⋯ The addition of bevacizumab to paclitaxel plus carboplatin in the treatment of selected patients with non-small-cell lung cancer has a significant survival benefit with the risk of increased treatment-related deaths. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00021060.)