Fluids and nutrition: perspectives from Jewish Law (Halachah).

Purpose: The use of nutrition and hydration in the terminally ill had been considered normal supportive measures until recently. Currently, many institutions, health care personnel and family members hold that nutrition and hydration are extraordinary measures that may be terminated.

Methods: A case is offered to discuss the ruling by traditional Jewish law (Halachah) on the issue of nutrition and hydration.

Phase II study of denileukin diftitox for previously treated indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma: final results of E1497.

Denileukin diftitox (DD) is approved for treatment of CD-25 expressing cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL). Initial studies of DD demonstrated responses in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). This phase II trial evaluated response rate (RR) and tolerability of DD in this population.

A pilot phase II trial of valspodar modulation of multidrug resistance to paclitaxel in the treatment of metastatic carcinoma of the breast (E1195): a trial of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group.

Background: To assess the activity and toxicity of valspodar (PSC-833) in combination with paclitaxel in women with anthracycline refractory, metastatic breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: Limited, multi-institutional, Phase II trial of valspodar at 5 mg/kg/dose orally every 6 hours for 12 doses in combination with paclitaxel 70 mg/m2 administered intravenously as a 3-hour infusion beginning 4 hours after the fifth dose of valspodar, every 3 weeks. Eligible patients had bi-dimensionally measurable metastatic carcinoma of the breast, prior anthracycline therapy or a medical contraindication to anthracycline therapy, no more than one prior chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic breast cancer, and adequate organ function.

Effect of Factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210-->A mutations on thromboembolic risk in the national surgical adjuvant breast and bowel project breast cancer prevention trial.

Background: In the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project's Breast Cancer Prevention Project (BCPT), tamoxifen use was associated with an increased relative risk for venous thromboembolic events, including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli, compared with placebo. However, the involvement of hypercoagulability factors in this association is unclear.

Methods: To examine possible associations among the risk of venous thromboembolic events, tamoxifen use, and Factor V Leiden (FVL) and prothrombin G20210-->A (PT20210) mutations, which are involved in promoting blood coagulation, we used a nested, matched, case-control (1 : 4) design and compared women in the BCPT who had experienced venous thromboembolic events (n = 76) with women who did not (n = 295).

Easy bruisability.

Physicians often see patients who complain of "easy bruising." The skill of the clinician is to identify those patients likely to have a potentially serious underlying disorder from those who do not. A detailed history often provides sufficient information.