Gastrointestinal toxicity of high-dose melphalan in autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: identification of risk factors and a benchmark for experimental therapies.

Gastrointestinal side effects are the dose-limiting toxicity of high-dose melphalan (HDM) in autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation, but there are limited contemporary data on the incidence and severity of gastrointestinal toxicity associated with this regimen. We retrospectively studied 100 consecutive patients who received HDM alone or in combination with other conditioning agents. Patients had a median age of 56 (range 20-73); underlying diseases were myeloma (42%), lymphoma (42%), or amyloidosis (16%) and melphalan dosages were 200 (40%), 140 (59%), or 100 mg/m (1%).

Cost of care for the initial management of cervical cancer in women with commercial insurance.

Background: Women with newly diagnosed cervical cancer are often treated with extensive, multimodal therapies that may include a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Little is known about the cost of treatment or how these costs are passed on to the patients.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to examine the cost of care during the first year after a diagnosis of cervical cancer, to estimate the sources of the costs, and to explore the out-of-pocket costs.

[Megacalyces or Puigvert's disease. Apropos of 2 cases].

Megacalyces is an uncommon congenital urinary anomaly consisting of oversized calyces and a renal pelvis of normal caliber. The under development of the pyramids with lack of projection of the papillae into the calyces probably produces the dilatation of the calyces. The diagnostic criteria are the characteristic appearance of the calyces, the normal caliber of the pelvis and ureter, and the absence of vesico-ureteral reflux.