p53 expression and disease outcome of breast cancer patients undergoing primary chemotherapy with anthracycline-containing regimens

Primary chemotherapy administered to breast cancer patientsis the best model to identify baseline features able to predictwhich patients may be most likely to benefit or not from a cytotoxicregimen. In the March issue of Annals of Oncology two papersevaluated the predictive role of immunohistochemical p53 expressionon     

Management of the side-effects of intravenous bisphosphonates: targeting the serum parathyroid hormone elevation.

In their recent review article, Tanvetyanon and Stiff [1] pointedout that hypocalcemia is a frequent side-effect of intravenousbisphosphonates. This adverse event is usually mild and exceptionallysymptomatic, with the principle risk factors being pre-existinghypovitaminosis D, previous parathyroid surgery and intestinalresections. A direct consequence of hypocalcemia     

The effect of naloxone on the preoperative gastric volume and pH

The effect of 4 mg oral naloxone on preoperative gastric volume and pH of gastric aspirate was studied in a double-blind, randomized study. Twenty patients received 10 ml of naloxone (4 mg) mixed with 10 ml of orange juice, and 20 patients received 10 ml of isotonic saline mixed with 10 ml of orange juice, 2 h before surgery. Gastric content was obtained immediately after intubation of the trachea. No significant difference in gastric volume and pH of gastric aspirate was found between the two groups. It is concluded that naloxone does not affect gastric emptying and gastric acid secretion to a degree great enough to protect against aspiration of gastric contents into the lungs.