Reliance on Self-Medication Increase Delays in Diagnosis and Management of GI Cancers: Results From Nepal.

Purpose: Patients with GI cancers in Nepal often present with advanced disease and poor outcomes. The purpose of the study was to determine the time to presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of GI cancer and the baseline factors that may be associated with delays.

Patients And Methods: An institutional review board-approved study was performed in Kathmandu, Nepal, from July 2018 to June 2019.

What Do International Guidelines Say About First-line Therapy for Clear-cell Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma?

Treatment options for clear-cell metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) have increased significantly. Clinical practice guidelines aim to aid with decision-making about treatment selection through evidence-based recommendations. In this article, recommendations on first-line treatment for clear-cell mRCC in guidelines from three international organizations are reviewed and summarized.

Procalcitonin and C-Reactive Protein As Markers of Bacteremia in Patients With Febrile Neutropenia Who Receive Chemotherapy for Acute Leukemia: A Prospective Study From Nepal.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of the biomarkers procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with febrile neutropenia (FN) undergoing chemotherapy for acute leukemia.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational study in patients who developed FN while undergoing chemotherapy for acute leukemia. PCT and CRP were obtained in patients who presented with FN.

Randomized Phase II Trial to Compare the Efficacy of Haloperidol and Olanzapine in the Control of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Nepal.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare efficacy and toxicity of olanzapine (OLN; a higher-cost drug) and haloperidol (HAL; a lower-cost drug) in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients who receive highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC).

Patients And Methods: In a randomized, phase II trial, patients were randomly assigned to receive either OLN 10 mg orally on days 1 to 4 or HAL 1 mg orally on day 1 and 0.5 mg twice daily on days 2 to 4.