Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures

Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures

 

Product Details
»Book Publisher: Saunders (14 June, 2007)
»ISBN: 1416037047
»Book author: Cynthia C. Chernecky, Barbara J. Berger
» Amazon Rating: 4.5

Book Description:
Look no further for quick, complete answers to questions such as which laboratory tests to order or what the results might mean. Laboratory Tests And Diagnostic Procedures, 5th Edition covers more tests than any other reference of its kind, with over 900 lab tests and diagnostic procedures in all. In Part I, you’ll find a unique, alphabetical list of hundreds of diseases, conditions, and symptoms, including the tests and procedures most commonly used to confirm or rule out a suspected diagnosis. Part II presents key information on virtually every laboratory and diagnostic test available. All test entries are up-to-date, concise, complete, and consistently presented, making this resource the perfect choice for students or practitioners who need fast, accurate information on diagnostic tests.

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Mind-Body Therapies for Headache

Mind-Body Therapies for Headache

Headache is one of the most common and enigmatic problems encountered by family physicians. Headache is not a singular entity, and different pathologic mechanisms are involved in distinct types of headache. Most types of headache involve dysfunction of peripheral or central nociceptive mechanisms. Mind-body therapies such as biofeedback, cognitive behavior therapy, hypnosis, meditation, and relaxation training can affect neural substrates and have been shown to be effective treatments for various types of headache. Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials show that the use of mind-body therapies, alone or in combination, significantly reduces symptoms of migraine, tension, and mixed-type headaches. Side effects generally are minimal and transient. (Am Fam Physician 2007;76:1518-22, 1523-4. Copyright © 2007 American Academy of Family Physicians.)

Cetuximab en el tratamiento de cancer colo-rectal

Background Cetuximab, an IgG1 chimeric monoclonal antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), has activity against colorectal cancers that express EGFR.

Methods From December 2003 to August 2005, 572 patients who had colorectal cancer expressing immunohistochemically detectable EGFR and who had been previously treated with a fluoropyrimidine, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin or had contraindications to treatment with these drugs underwent randomization to an initial dose of 400 mg of cetuximab per square meter of body-surface area followed by a weekly infusion of 250 mg per square meter plus best supportive care (287 patients) or best supportive care alone (285 patients). The primary end point was overall survival.

Results In comparison with best supportive care alone, cetuximab treatment was associated with a significant improvement in overall survival (hazard ratio for death, 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64 to 0.92; P=0.005) and in progression-free survival (hazard ratio for disease progression or death, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.80; P<0.001). These benefits were robust after adjustment in a multivariable Cox proportional-hazards model. The median overall survival was 6.1 months in the cetuximab group and 4.6 months in the group assigned to supportive care alone. Partial responses occurred in 23 patients (8.0%) in the cetuximab group but in none in the group assigned to supportive care alone (P<0.001); the disease was stable in an additional 31.4% of patients assigned to cetuximab and in 10.9% of patients assigned to supportive care alone (P<0.001). Quality of life was better preserved in the cetuximab group, with less deterioration in physical function and global health status scores (both P<0.05). Cetuximab treatment was associated with a characteristic rash; a rash of grade 2 or higher was strongly associated with improved survival (hazard ratio for death, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.22 to 0.50; P<0.001). The incidence of any adverse event of grade 3 or higher was 78.5% in the cetuximab group and 59.1% in the group assigned to supportive care alone (P<0.001).

Conclusions Cetuximab improves overall survival and progression-free survival and preserves quality-of-life measures in patients with colorectal cancer in whom other treatments have failed. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00079066 [ClinicalTrials.gov] .)

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Teriparatide y alendronato en osteoporosis por corticoides

Background Bisphosphonate therapy is the current standard of care for the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Studies of anabolic therapy in patients who are receiving long-term glucocorticoids and are at high risk for fracture are lacking.

Methods In an 18-month randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, we compared teriparatide with alendronate in 428 women and men with osteoporosis (ages, 22 to 89 years) who had received glucocorticoids for at least 3 months (prednisone equivalent, 5 mg daily or more). A total of 214 patients received 20 µg of teriparatide once daily, and 214 received 10 mg of alendronate once daily. The primary outcome was the change in bone mineral density at the lumbar spine. Secondary outcomes included changes in bone mineral density at the total hip and in markers of bone turnover, the time to changes in bone mineral density, the incidence of fractures, and safety.

Results At the last measurement, the mean (±SE) bone mineral density at the lumbar spine had increased more in the teriparatide group than in the alendronate group (7.2±0.7% vs. 3.4±0.7%, P<0.001). A significant difference between the groups was reached by 6 months (P<0.001). At 12 months, bone mineral density at the total hip had increased more in the teriparatide group. Fewer new vertebral fractures occurred in the teriparatide group than in the alendronate group (0.6% vs. 6.1%, P=0.004); the incidence of nonvertebral fractures was similar in the two groups (5.6% vs. 3.7%, P=0.36). Significantly more patients in the teriparatide group had at least one elevated measure of serum calcium.

Conclusions Among patients with osteoporosis who were at high risk for fracture, bone mineral density increased more in patients receiving teriparatide than in those receiving alendronate. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00051558 [ClinicalTrials.gov] .)

Source Information

From the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (K.G.S.); College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York (E.S.); Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium (S.B.); and Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly, Indianapolis (F.M., D.W.D., K.A.T., G.P.D., R.M.).

Address reprint requests to Dr. Saag at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, FOT 820, 1530 Third Ave. S., Birmingham, AL 35294-3408, or at ksaag@uab.edu<!– var u = “ksaag”, d = “uab.edu”; document.getElementById(“em0″).innerHTML = ‘‘ + u + ‘@’ + d + ”//–>.

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