Lytic Therapy Does Not Facilitate PCI

Frans Van de Werf, University of Leuven
Abstract Lancet 367:569-578
Results from a new study just published in the Lancet look into the role of facilitated PCI in patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction. The ASSENT-4PCI study suggests that lytics should not be used before primary angioplasty. Audio Medica spoke to lead investigator Frans Van de Werf.

Tumour Necrosis Factor Up-regulation: Key to Severe Asthma?

Ian D Pavord, Glenfield Hospital, University of Leicester
Abstract N Engl J Med 2006 ; 354:697
A key underlying factor in severe asthma may have been uncovered according to findings now published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Mike Berry, Ian Pavord and their group at Leicester University’s Glenfield Hospital in the United Kingdom have found that TNF up-regulation seems to be an important, and perhaps crucial, factor underlying severe cases of the disease. The study provides hope that treatments modulating tumour necrosis factor alpha could help combat refractory asthma in the future.

Early Signs of Meningitis Could Prevent Child Deaths

Matthew J Thompson, University of Oxford
Abstract Lancet 2006; 367:397-403
More lives of children with meningococcal disease could be saved if previously overlooked early signs could be recognised by doctors and parents. That’s the finding of a study from London and Oxford published in the Lancet. Sarah Maxwell visited lead investigator Matthew Thompson to ask about the promise these new findings hold out.

Angioplasty: Best for Rescue After Failed Thrombolysis

Anthony H. Gershlick, Leicester University
Abstract: N Engl J Med 2005; 353:2758
If your patient with myocardial infarction has been treated with thrombolysis as primary therapy, and if reperfusion is not successful, it is more effective to use percutaneous coronary intervention to rescue the patient rather than repeat throbolysis or conservative management. That’s according to the REACT trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Peter Goodwin visited the Glenfield Hospital in Leicester to ask REACT trial principal investigator, Tony Gershlick, about the clinical implications of this analysis of results from this multicentre trial in the UK with 427 patients.

Statins Protect Heart Patients from Sepsis

Donald Redelmeier, University of Toronto
Abstract: Lancet 2006; 367:413
Treatment with the lipid lowering agents statins reduced the incidence of sepsis among a large group of patients with cardiovascular disease studied in Canada. Donald Redelmeier and co-workers report their findings in the Lancet.

Audio Journal of Oncology 14.1, February 2006

Reporting from:
- San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2005

In this edition:
The targeted drug trastuzumab may be used in place of anthracyclines for breast adjuvant chemotherapy regimens, according to the findings of Dennis Slamon, who announced the BCIRG 006 study findings to the San Antonio conference. Norman Wolmark commented.

Kathy Miller gave the Breast Cancer conference early data showing that the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agent, bevacizumab, has improved survival among patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Dose-dense chemotherapy should be considered mainly in hormone receptor negative breast cancer patients, so said Clifford Hudis, while Martine Piccart warned against over-enthusiasm for cytotoxic chemotherapy among patients who could benefit more from endocrine treatment.

Switching from tamoxifen to anastrozole brought clear benefits according to a meta-analysis presented in San Antonio by Walter Jonat. And ductal carcinoma in situ should be treated with radiation according to Nina Bijker’s report to the conference.
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