Trending Articles
-
The principal motive for organ donation in the United States remains altruism. Surveys suggest that if the life-threatening and critical shortage of cadaveric donor organs were appropriately understood by the public, an altruistic response would lead to increased donation. However, despite intense educational efforts appealing to altruism, cadaveric organ donation has not increased substantially while the number of patients in need of a life-saving organ has grown markedly. ⋯ The donors in the focus groups, on the other hand, believed that the system worked equitably, although their knowledge about organ donation and transplantation was equivalent to that of nondonors. For organ donation to increase, efforts must be directed toward those who are not convinced that donation is for the common welfare. One way to increase organ donation is for physicians to educate their patients better regarding the equity and success of transplantation.
-
Current oncology reports · Aug 2016
ReviewEchocardiography and Alternative Cardiac Imaging Strategies for Long-Term Cardiotoxicity Surveillance of Cancer Survivors Treated with Chemotherapy and/or Radiation Exposure.
Cardiotoxicity from chemotherapy is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer survivors. Cardiotoxic effects include left ventricular systolic dysfunction, coronary artery disease, hypertension, bradycardia, arrhythmias, pericardial disease, valvular disease, and radiation-induced restrictive cardiomyopathy. ⋯ Regimens for cardiotoxicity surveillance prior to and during chemotherapy administration have been proposed; however, optimal screening for and treatment of long-term cancer survivors have yet to be clarified. This review focuses on the most common imaging modalities for assessing cardiac dysfunction along with newer imaging technologies, and reviews suggested long-term surveillance strategies in cancer survivors following chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
-
Clinics in chest medicine · Mar 2007
ReviewCombination therapy and new types of agents for pulmonary arterial hypertension.
This review assesses the available evidence supporting the use of drug combinations for the management of the various forms of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Ongoing and forthcoming randomized trials evaluating this strategy are also highlighted. Furthermore, new types of agents to treat PAH in the future are explored.
-
Head & face medicine · Jul 2010
ReviewHuman papillomavirus-mediated carcinogenesis and HPV-associated oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Part 2: Human papillomavirus associated oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the mouth and oropharynx can be acquired by a variety of sexual and social forms of transmission. HPV-16 genotype is present in many oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomata. It has an essential aetiologic role in the development of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in a subset of subjects who are typically younger, are more engaged with high-risk sexual behaviour, have higher HPV-16 serum antibody titer, use less tobacco and have better survival rates than in subjects with HPV-cytonegative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. ⋯ In contrast to HPV-cytopositive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, the causal association between HPV-16 and other high-risk HPV genotypes and squamous cell carcinoma of the oral mucosa is weak, and the nature of the association is unclear. It is likely that routine administration of HPV vaccination against high-risk HPV genotypes before the start of sexual activity will bring about a reduction in the incidence of HPV-mediated oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. This article focuses on aspects of HPV infection of the mouth and the oropharynx with emphasis on the link between HPV and squamous cell carcinoma, and on the limitations of the available diagnostic tests in identifying a cause-and-effect relationship of HPV with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and oropharynx.
-
Complement Ther Med · Dec 2013
ReviewProbiotic bacteria in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Probiotics are live microorganisms, which as drugs or food supplements help to maintain health beneficial microbial balance in the digestive tract of a human or other host. Probiotics by their properties may help strengthen homeostasis and thus reduce side effects associated with cancer treatment. Experimental evidence suggests that probiotics might have beneficial effect on the toxicity of anticancer therapy. ⋯ Current evidence supporting probiotic use as adjunctive therapy to anticancer treatment is limited, especially in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. Well designed clinical trials are needed to find true role of probiotics in oncology.