Archive for May, 2007
Pneumonia in Children Under One Year: Current Guidelines Not Sufficient
LISA McNALLY, Institute of Child Health, London, and University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban
REFERENCE: The Lancet 2007; 369:1440-1451
A new study suggests that current guidelines for the treatment of severe pneumonia in children under one year should change. The investigation, which took place in South Africa, found that HIV status and polymicrobial disease were among the predictors for treatment failure, and these findings have implications for the guidelines drawn up by the WHO. Derek Thorne heard more from Lisa McNally, who worked with the Institute of Child Health in London, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban.
A new study suggests that current guidelines for the treatment of severe pneumonia in children under one year should change. The investigation, which took place in South Africa, found that HIV status and polymicrobial disease were among the predictors for treatment failure, and these findings have implications for the guidelines drawn up by the WHO. Derek Thorne heard more from Lisa McNally, who worked with the Institute of Child Health in London, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban.
Type 1 Polio Vaccine Could Help Finally Eradicate Polio
NICHOLAS GRASSLY, Imperial College London
REFERENCE: Lancet 2007; 369:1356-62
A case-control study performed in India has provided hope that polio could finally be eradicated. India is one of six countries in which polio transmission has not yet been interrupted and, specifically, it is the type 1 poliovirus that persists there. Nicholas Grassly of Imperial College London told Derek Thorne about his team’s study, published in the Lancet.
A case-control study performed in India has provided hope that polio could finally be eradicated. India is one of six countries in which polio transmission has not yet been interrupted and, specifically, it is the type 1 poliovirus that persists there. Nicholas Grassly of Imperial College London told Derek Thorne about his team’s study, published in the Lancet.
Non-Perfect HIV Vaccine Could Still Have Major Benefits
ANTHONY FAUCI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda
REFERENCE: N Engl J Med 2007;356:2073-81
Is there any hope for an HIV vaccine? According to Anthony Fauci, of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, there is – but it might not be a perfect vaccine. He believes that even a vaccine that does not confer total immunity could still be of use, because it may slow disease progression and also reduce the spread of the disease. He talked with Derek Thorne about his co-authored paper in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Is there any hope for an HIV vaccine? According to Anthony Fauci, of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, there is – but it might not be a perfect vaccine. He believes that even a vaccine that does not confer total immunity could still be of use, because it may slow disease progression and also reduce the spread of the disease. He talked with Derek Thorne about his co-authored paper in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Audio Journal of Oncology in Advance - May 15th, 2007 - reporting from: American Association for Cancer Research, April 14-18, 2007, Los Angeles, CA
Alberto Sobrero
Cetuximab With Irinotecan: Phase III Study Shows Benefit in Patients with Oxaliplatin-Refractory Colorectal Cancer
REFERENCE: ABSTRACT LB-2; AACR 2007, Los Angeles, Plenary Session
ALBERTO SOBRERO, Ospedale San Martino, Genoa
Cetuximab could become a mainstay of treatment for colorectal cancer along with fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and bevacizumab, according to findings from the EPIC study presented at the AACR meeting in Los Angeles. 1,300 patients who had failed previous therapy with oxaliplatin were randomly assigned to receive irinotecan with or without cetuximab. The results point to a benefit of adding the molecular therapy, even though the effect was diluted because the protocol permitted crossover. Alberto Sobrero presented the data in Los Angeles, where he talked about it with Peter Goodwin.
ALBERTO SOBRERO, Ospedale San Martino, Genoa
Cetuximab could become a mainstay of treatment for colorectal cancer along with fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and bevacizumab, according to findings from the EPIC study presented at the AACR meeting in Los Angeles. 1,300 patients who had failed previous therapy with oxaliplatin were randomly assigned to receive irinotecan with or without cetuximab. The results point to a benefit of adding the molecular therapy, even though the effect was diluted because the protocol permitted crossover. Alberto Sobrero presented the data in Los Angeles, where he talked about it with Peter Goodwin.
Derek Jonker
Cetuximab Monotherapy Benefits Patients With Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
REFERENCE: ABSTRACT LB-1, AACR 2007, Los Angeles: Plenary Session
DEREK JONKER, University of Ottawa
The molecularly targeted drug cetuximab has now proved capable of extending life when used as monotherapy among patients with refractory colorectal cancer. The CO17 phase III randomized trial of cetuximab versus best supportive care shows improvements in overall survival, progression-free survival, response rate, safety, and quality of life in a study with almost 600 patients who had metastatic colorectal cancer that had progressed despite all previous therapies. Derek Jonker told Karen Regester about their results with cetuximab monotherapy, which followed earlier promising work using the agent in combination with cytotoxic therapy.
DEREK JONKER, University of Ottawa
The molecularly targeted drug cetuximab has now proved capable of extending life when used as monotherapy among patients with refractory colorectal cancer. The CO17 phase III randomized trial of cetuximab versus best supportive care shows improvements in overall survival, progression-free survival, response rate, safety, and quality of life in a study with almost 600 patients who had metastatic colorectal cancer that had progressed despite all previous therapies. Derek Jonker told Karen Regester about their results with cetuximab monotherapy, which followed earlier promising work using the agent in combination with cytotoxic therapy.
Richard Goldberg
Cetuximab’s Role in Colorectal Cancer
REFERENCE: ABSTRACT LB-1 and LB-2; AACR 2007, Los Angeles Plenary Session, Monday 16th April, 2006
RICHARD GOLDBERG, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Following the presentations from David Jonker and Alberto Sobrero at the AACR conference in Los Angeles, Richard Goldberg assessed the role of cetuximab in the treatment of metastatic, refractory colorectal cancer. He discussed the latest findings and his conclusions about their clinical implications with Peter Goodwin.
RICHARD GOLDBERG, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Following the presentations from David Jonker and Alberto Sobrero at the AACR conference in Los Angeles, Richard Goldberg assessed the role of cetuximab in the treatment of metastatic, refractory colorectal cancer. He discussed the latest findings and his conclusions about their clinical implications with Peter Goodwin.
To listen this episode please go to ASCO Audio Journal of Oncology in Advance Presentations.
Audio Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine: Reduced Mortality and Repeat MI with Enoxaparin for Patients with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction">Audio Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine: Reduced Mortality and Repeat MI with Enoxaparin for Patients with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction
HARVEY WHITE, Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand
REFERENCE: European Heart Journal Advanced On-Line Publication April 24th, 2007
Enoxaparin could be the new standard anti-thrombotic therapy for patients receiving fibrinolysis for ST elevation myocardial infarction. This finding is from the double-blind EXTRACT-TIMI 25 Trial which compared the low molecular weight heparin with unfractionated heparin and saw a consistent treatment superiority from enoxaparin with a reduction in repeat myocardial infarction and mortality. Sarah Maxwell spoke with the principal investigator Harvey White at the Auckland City Hospital in New Zealand.
Enoxaparin could be the new standard anti-thrombotic therapy for patients receiving fibrinolysis for ST elevation myocardial infarction. This finding is from the double-blind EXTRACT-TIMI 25 Trial which compared the low molecular weight heparin with unfractionated heparin and saw a consistent treatment superiority from enoxaparin with a reduction in repeat myocardial infarction and mortality. Sarah Maxwell spoke with the principal investigator Harvey White at the Auckland City Hospital in New Zealand.
Can Road-Side Tranexamic Acid Therapy Reduce Mortality and Blood Transfusions after Trauma? The CRASH Trial.
JAIME MIRANDA, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Peru
An antifibrinolytic agent, tranexamic acid (commonly used to reduce bleeding during surgery) is being investigated as first-aid to cut mortality and the need for blood transfusion immediately after trauma or injury. The CRASH trial, still in its early phases in a worldwide adult population, aims to bring particular benefit to developing countries, many of which are blighted by trauma with few measures, if any, having been available up to now to reduce the death toll. In Lima, Peru, Jaime Miranda discussed his group’s ongoing investigation with Peter Goodwin.
Fewer Major Bleeding Events with Bivalirudin For Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes: The ACUITY study
HARVEY WHITE, Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand
REFERENCE: ACUITY Trial, ACC.07 Scientific Session and i2 Innovations Summit. Presentation Number: 2414-5
Patients with acute coronary syndromes who take bivalirudin have fewer major bleeding events and a lower incidence of late stent thrombosis compared with those who receive standard heparin therapy. This is the finding of one year results from the ACUITY study announced by Gregg Stone of Columbia University, New York during the American College of Cardiology annual meeting that took place in New Orleans. Sarah Maxwell asked Harvey White at the Auckland City Hospital in New Zealand to comment about the ACUITY investigation.
Patients with acute coronary syndromes who take bivalirudin have fewer major bleeding events and a lower incidence of late stent thrombosis compared with those who receive standard heparin therapy. This is the finding of one year results from the ACUITY study announced by Gregg Stone of Columbia University, New York during the American College of Cardiology annual meeting that took place in New Orleans. Sarah Maxwell asked Harvey White at the Auckland City Hospital in New Zealand to comment about the ACUITY investigation.
Audio Journal of Oncology in Advance - May 1st, 2007 - reporting from: American Association for Cancer Research 14-18 April, 2007 Los Angeles
Fritz Schröder
Opportunistic Prostate Screening May Not Save Lives!
REFERENCE: AACR 2007, Los Angeles
FRITZ SCHRÖDER, Erasmus University, Rotterdam
Though elective screening appears to have reduced the number of patients who die from prostate cancer in the United States, this has yet to be proven. A large European study is currently seeking to settle the matter, and one of the investigators, Fritz Schröder took part in a debate at the AACR entitled: Opportunistic Screening for Prostate Cancer: The Up and Down Sides of PSA Testing. Peter Goodwin talked with him about the dilemmas involved with prostate screening.
FRITZ SCHRÖDER, Erasmus University, Rotterdam
Though elective screening appears to have reduced the number of patients who die from prostate cancer in the United States, this has yet to be proven. A large European study is currently seeking to settle the matter, and one of the investigators, Fritz Schröder took part in a debate at the AACR entitled: Opportunistic Screening for Prostate Cancer: The Up and Down Sides of PSA Testing. Peter Goodwin talked with him about the dilemmas involved with prostate screening.
Peter Scardino
Debate on PSA Screening
REFERENCE: AACR 2007, Los Angeles
PETER SCARDINO, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York
The benefits of prostate cancer screening programs were questioned in a debate at the AACR conference in Los Angeles. Because the link between early detection and mortality is not simple, treatment risks could mean there is still an argument for watchful waiting in many patients. Peter Goodwin talked with Peter Scardino about the problems clinicians are facing in the age of the PSA test.
PETER SCARDINO, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York
The benefits of prostate cancer screening programs were questioned in a debate at the AACR conference in Los Angeles. Because the link between early detection and mortality is not simple, treatment risks could mean there is still an argument for watchful waiting in many patients. Peter Goodwin talked with Peter Scardino about the problems clinicians are facing in the age of the PSA test.
To listen this episode please go to ASCO Audio Journal of Oncology in Advance Presentations.
LSHTM Audio News»
Bayard Roberts, Siân Clarke, Sandy Cairncross, Claire Bertschinger and Virginia Berridge
Derek Thorne and Peter Goodwin talk with Bayard Roberts, Siân Clarke, Sandy Cairncross, Claire Bertschinger and Virginia Berridge of The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine about:Bayard Roberts, Siân Clarke, Sandy Cairncross, Claire Bertschinger and Virginia Berridge
- depression and post traumatic stress disorder in war-torn northern Uganda and the lessons to be drawn from a research project there; - the unexpected additional value of using malaria drugs at regular intervals among school children in Kenya; - the key role of sanitation in preventing infant deaths all over the world and what is being done to improve it; - the life and work of the nurse who inspired Band Aid and Live Aid, as she receives an honorary doctorate; - the \"marketing\" of health to the British public, as illustrated by the way attitudes to smoking have changed over the years.
© 2008 Audio Medica - Medical Audio News Interviews & Podcasts. 
