Neutropenic acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) in a 12-year-old boy with T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia successfully managed with conservative treatment.

Unlabelled: Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) is an inflammation of the gallbladder without the presence of gallstones. In children with malignancies or chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, AAC is very rare. Clinical diagnosis of AAC remains difficult in this patient population but an early recognition followed by an appropriate intervention may confer a benefit.

Obstructive uropathy and vesicovaginal fistula secondary to a retained sex toy in the vagina.

Introduction: Vaginal foreign bodies (FBs) are a rare cause of vesicovaginal, rectovaginal, or urethrovaginal fistulae.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe a rare case of vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) and obstructive uropathy and to review the literature.

Methods: A case is presented.

Synthesis, processing and solid state excipient interactions of cucurbit[6]uril and its formulation into tablets for oral drug delivery.

The synthesis, processing, and solid state excipient interactions of cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) and its formulation into oral tablets has been examined using a range of physical chemistry techniques. Rapid precipitation from HCl by the addition of water yields microcrystalline CB[6] with smaller and more consistent particle size (30-165 μm) compared with the sieved CB[6] (50-540 μm) produced from large crystals grown by slow evaporation from HCl. The microcrystalline particles also contain fewer water molecules in the crystal compared with the sieved particles: 10 and 16% respectively.

The status of platinum anticancer drugs in the clinic and in clinical trials.

Since its approval in 1979 cisplatin has become an important component in chemotherapy regimes for the treatment of ovarian, testicular, lung and bladder cancers, as well as lymphomas, myelomas and melanoma. Unfortunately its continued use is greatly limited by severe dose limiting side effects and intrinsic or acquired drug resistance. Over the last 30 years, 23 other platinum-based drugs have entered clinical trials with only two (carboplatin and oxaliplatin) of these gaining international marketing approval, and another three (nedaplatin, lobaplatin and heptaplatin) gaining approval in individual nations.

Population screening for lung cancer using computed tomography, is there evidence of clinical effectiveness? A systematic review of the literature.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death among all cancer types in the UK, killing approximately 34 000 people per year. By the time symptoms develop, the tumour is often at an advanced stage and the prognosis is bleak. Treatment at a less advanced stage of disease by surgical resection has been shown to substantially reduce mortality.