British medical bulletin
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Colorectal cancer is a important public health problem: there are nearly one million new cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed world-wide each year and half a million deaths. Recent reports show that, in the US, it was the most frequent form of cancer among persons aged 75 years and older. ⋯ While there are many questions to be resolved, it is apparent that many facets of colorectal cancer are becoming increasingly understood and prospects for prevention are becoming apparent. Achieving colorectal cancer control is the immediate challenge.
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Pneumocystis carinii is an atypical fungus that causes pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals. P. carinii comprises a heterogeneous group of organisms that have been isolated from a wide range of mammalian host species. ⋯ It addresses the use of DNA amplification for the detection and diagnosis of P. carinii pneumonia. Studies investigating the reservoir of infectious P. carinii organisms, the routes of transmission of the infection, and the emergence of drug resistant strains of P. carinii are also discussed.
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British medical bulletin · Jan 2002
ReviewRecent advances in the rapid diagnosis of respiratory tract infection.
Molecular techniques have enabled major advances in the speed and sensitivity of the laboratory diagnosis of respiratory infections. Although the polymerase chain reaction is the most commonly used, there are several other methods available, which have applicability across the range of microbial pathogens.
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Upper respiratory tract infections are common and important. Although rarely fatal, they are a source of significant morbidity and carry a considerable economic burden. Numerous therapies for the common cold have no effect on symptoms or outcome. ⋯ Respiratory viruses play a major role in the aetiology of acute otitis media (AOM); prevention includes the use of influenza or RSV vaccination, in addition to reducing other risk factors such as early exposure to respiratory viruses in day-care settings and to environmental tobacco smoke. The use of ventilation tubes (grommets) in secretory otitis media (SOM) remains controversial with conflicting data on developmental outcome and quality of life in young children. New conjugate pneumococcal vaccines appear safe in young children and prevent 6-7% of clinically diagnosed AOM.
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British medical bulletin · Jan 2002
ReviewRespiratory infections following haemopoietic stem cell transplantation in children.
Disorders of the respiratory system are well recognised following the administration of chemotherapy schedules; although respiratory complications may occur following less intensive regimens, they are most frequently seen following the administration of high dose chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy which is used in preparation for haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT). In this setting, respiratory complications may occur in up to 50% of patients and account for over 40% of all deaths; those patients who require admission to intensive care (ICU) requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation have a particularly poor prognosis, with less than 10% becoming long-term survivors.