Plasmapheresis for recurrent acute pancreatitis from hypertriglyceridemia.

Acute pancreatitis is a known complication of severe hypertriglyceridemia. Therapeutic experience with plasmapheresis is less well reported but has been highly successful in life-threatening presentations. We describe a 38-year-old obese Hispanic woman with a previous history of acute pancreatitis from diabetic hypertriglyceridemia who presented to the emergency department with a 2-day history of worsening abdominal pain.

Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis as the initial presentation of renal cell carcinoma.

We describe a 68-year-old man who presented with headaches, nausea, and dizziness and was found to have a superior sagittal sinus venous thrombosis on magnetic resonance imaging. His initial hypercoagulable workup was negative. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a large mass originating from the kidney.

Metformin-induced lactic acidosis with emphasis on the anion gap.

The presence of an anion gap in a diabetic patient, especially if associated with evidence of compromised renal function, should prompt clinicians to consider metformin as a contributing factor. This consideration is especially important in patients with severe anion gaps associated with lactic acidosis out of proportion to the patient's clinical presentation.

Technical factors involved in the measurement of circulating microRNA biomarkers for the detection of colorectal neoplasia.

Background: Circulating miRNAs are emerging as promising blood-based biomarkers for colorectal and other human cancers; however, technical factors that confound the development of these assays remain poorly understood and present a clinical challenge. The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the effects of factors that may interfere with the accurate measurement of circulating miRNAs for clinical purposes.

Methods: Blood samples from 53 subjects, including routinely drawn serum samples, matched plasma from 30 subjects, and matched serum samples drawn before and after bowel preparation for colonoscopy from 29 subjects were collected.

Private insurance is the strongest predictor of women receiving breast conservation surgery for breast cancer.

Background: It is widely accepted that mastectomy and breast-conserving surgery (BCS) with irradiation yield similar results, yet many women continue to receive mastectomy. This study evaluates factors contributing to surgical decision-making in breast cancer. Registry data were obtained on all patients treated at the Southwest Cancer Treatment and Research Center (SWCTRC) between 2002 and 2006.