Difficult diagnosis of brainstem glioblastoma multiforme in a woman: a case report and review of the literature.

Introduction: Brainstem gliomas are rare in adults. They most commonly occur in the pons and are most likely to be high-grade lesions. The diagnosis of a high-grade brainstem glioma is usually reached due to the presentation of rapidly progressing brainstem, cranial nerve and cerebellar symptoms.

Fatal fulminant herpes simplex hepatitis secondary to tongue piercing in an immunocompetent adult: a case report.

Introduction: Herpes simplex infection is most commonly a benign, self-limiting disease with mucocutaneous lesions and mild viremia. Immunosuppressed patients are at a higher risk of disseminated infection, as are neonates and pregnant women. The incidence of fulminant herpes simplex virus hepatitis is extremely low, and the diagnosis is often missed due to the lack of specific signs or symptoms.

Ad-MDA-7; INGN 241: a review of preclinical and clinical experience.

The melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 (MDA-7) was isolated while screening for upregulated genes in terminally differentiated melanoma cell lines. Preclinical studies attempted to test the theory that oncogenesis arises from a cellular differentiation process culminating in dysregulation of the cell cycle and ultimately malignancy. The MDA-7 gene (gene symbol IL-24) has been classified as part of the IL-10 family of cytokines demonstrating significant anticancer potential.

Aggressive juvenile fibromatosis of the paranasal sinuses: case report and brief review.

Desmoid fibromatoses are benign, slow growing fibroblastic neoplasms, arising from musculoaponeurotic stromal elements. Desmoids are characterized by local invasion, with a high rate of local recurrence and a tendency to destroy adjacent structures and organs. Desmoid fibromatoses are rare in children, and though they may occur in the head and neck region, are extremely rare in the paranasal sinuses.

Cardiac fibrosis in the elderly, normotensive athlete: case report and review of the literature.

Background: Cardiac fibrosis occurs with normal aging, but the extent of this process and its effect on cardiac function is unknown. Fibrosis in the nonhypertensive elderly patient is thought to be due to decreased degradation, and not increased deposition, of collagen. The cause of this decreased degradation is unknown.

Lung cancer vaccines.

Cytotoxic chemotherapy is associated with modest survival advantage as initial treatment of advanced lung cancer. However, toxicity and minimal benefit to use second line treatment justifies exploration of alternative approaches. Recent understanding of mechanisms by which tumor antigen recognition can be enhanced has justified development of a recent flurry of vaccine trials in lung cancer.

Endocrine complications of androgen-deprivation therapy in men with prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is often employed in the treatment of recurrent and metastatic prostate cancer. Although its use as an adjuvant therapy has resulted in improved survival in a subset of patients, ADT also results in a multitude of endocrine complications.

Omega-3 fatty acids for the treatment of cancer cachexia: issues in designing clinical trials of dietary supplements.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasingly popular, despite the limited evidence of the efficacy and safety of some forms of CAM. Cancer patients often turn to CAM therapies for the relief of treatment- induced side-effects and comorbidities. Cancer-associated weight loss commonly results in decreased functional status, life expectancy, and quality of life.

Nebido: a long-acting injectable testosterone for the treatment of male hypogonadism.

Over the last six decades, tremendous strides have been made in the development of safe, efficacious and 'patient-friendly' modalities of testosterone replacement therapy in men. The most recent forms of androgen replacement that are in widespread use include testosterone patch and gel. These preparations are convenient in their use and deliver a physiological amount of testosterone.

Interactive effect of alcohol and nicotine on developing cerebellum: an investigation of the temporal pattern of alcohol and nicotine administration.

Background: Among individuals who use alcohol and tobacco products, pregnant women represent a unique subpopulation that generates a greater concern because of the toxic effects of alcohol and nicotine (from cigarettes and tobacco products) on the health of both the pregnant woman and her fetus. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the interactive effects of these two substances on the fetus. Previously, we found that concurrent exposure to alcohol and nicotine did not result in the loss of greater numbers of Purkinje cells compared with each drug treatment alone, possibly as a result of a nicotine-mediated decline in peak blood alcohol concentration (BAC).