Pronounced clinical response following the oncolytic vaccinia virus GL-ONC1 and chemotherapy in a heavily pretreated ovarian cancer patient.

Heavily pretreated ovarian cancer patients become progressively chemoresistant, and thereafter, only scant treatments potentially accord reasonable, albeit limited clinical efficacy. We describe a case involving a 67-year-old ovarian cancer patient who underwent multiple lines of chemotherapy and presented with recurrent disease and a CA-125 of 4112 U/mL. Thenceforth, she was treated with GL-ONC1 oncolytic viral therapy that was administered laparoscopically in accordance with a clinical trial.

ADRF Network Hosts Research Conference to Advance Uses of Administrative Data in the United States.

The Administrative Data Research Facilities (ADRF) Network is a new U.S.-based effort aimed at advancing the uses of administrative data in social science research.

Ovarian cyst fluids are a cache of tumor biomarkers that include calgranulin A and calgranulin B isoforms.

SELDI-TOF MS analysis of cyst fluids identified 95 peaks that discriminate malignant, borderline, and benign ovarian tumors. Three prominent peaks, which correspond to calgranulin A (m/z 10847) and two isoforms of calgranulin B (m/z 12717 and 13294), have higher concentrations in borderline and malignant cyst fluids. Together, calgranulin A and B distinguish borderline and malignant tumors from benign tumors with 28.

Prevalence and burden of illness of migraine in managed care patients.

Objective: To determine the 3-month prevalence rate of migraine in a health maintenance organization (HMO) population, using a 2-stage screening process and neurologist exam, and to examine the burden of illness associated with both previously diagnosed and previously undiagnosed migraine in this population

Methods: A migraine assessment was sent to a random sample of 1,000 HMO patients between April 1999 and January 2000. Those screening positive and a random sample of those screening negative for migraine were evaluated by neurologists using a structured diagnostic assessment. Then, those diagnosed to have migraines by the study's neurologists completed a battery of 3 questionnaires, evaluating severity, distress, and impairment

Results: Of 1,000 questionnaires sent, 753 (75.

Paroxetine in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Pilot Open-Label Study.

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder and is the largest diagnostic cohort seen by gastroenterologists. There is a bidirectional comorbidity of IBS and psychiatric illness. Ours is the first study to examine the effect of any selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor in subjects with IBS.

The chemopreventive agent phenethyl isothiocyanate sensitizes cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis.

The chemopreventive properties of the isothiocyanates have been attributed to their ability to inhibit phase I enzymes that activate procarcinogens, induce phase II protective enzymes and trigger apoptosis in transformed cells. In this study we provide evidence for a new mechanism of chemoprevention, wherein sublethal doses of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) sensitize cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis. The phenomenon was observed in the Fas-resistant T24 bladder carcinoma cell line and in Jurkat T cells overexpressing the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2.

Automating standard alcohol use assessment instruments via interactive voice response technology.

Background: Interactive voice response (IVR) technology integrates touch-tone telephones with computer-automated data processing. IVR offers a convenient, efficient method for remote collection of self-report data.

Methods: Twenty-six subjects recruited from an outpatient alcohol treatment center completed IVR and paper/pencil versions of a demographic and drinking history questionnaire, Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale, Drinker Inventory of Consequences, Obsessive-Compulsive Drinking Scale, Alcohol Dependence Scale, and two numerical rating scales of craving and desire to drink during the prior week.