Randomized phase III trial of docetaxel plus carboplatin with or without levofloxacin prophylaxis in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: the APRONTA trial.

Purpose: To examine the effect of levofloxacin prophylaxis on infection rates during chemotherapy with docetaxel plus carboplatin in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, phase III study, patients (≥65 years) with untreated, histologically/cytologically proven stage IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer received docetaxel (75 mg/m) plus carboplatin (area under the curve 6) on day 1 every 3 weeks, plus once-daily levofloxacin (500 mg orally) or placebo on days 5 to 11. The primary end point was the rate of grade 3/4 infections or grade 1/2 infections treated with additional antibiotics.

Docetaxel-carboplatin chemotherapy combined with cetuximab in patients with locally advanced or metastatic non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC)--results of the nonrandomised phase II study TaxErb.

This open label, single arm phase II study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the addition of cetuximab to first line chemotherapy with carboplatin and weekly docetaxel in patients with advanced non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). From February 2007 to December 2008 74 patients with NSCLC (stage IIIB and IV), ECOG PS ≤2 and no prior systemic chemotherapy were enrolled and treated with carboplatin (area under the curve=5 on day 1) and docetaxel (35 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15). Cycles were repeated every 4 weeks for a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 cycles.

Interprofessional education internships in schools: jump starting change.

Placing our practicum students into an interprofessional education (IPE) practicum without prior course work is an unorthodox idea, however, it was discovered that the road to IPE success is not along a single pathway. This multi-case study explores the experience of seven cohorts of pre-service professionals from the faculties of Education, Nursing, Justice Studies, Kinesiology and Health Studies and Social Work who engaged in a 14-week, full-time interprofessional internship in inner-city schools. Findings suggest that this IPE practicum provided a forum for students to develop sophisticated communication skills and more fully respect the scope and breadth of each other's practice while working towards improving the quality of care for children through interprofessional collaboration.

Single venous return for mitral valve operations.

Objective: : Most cardiac surgeons routinely perform bicaval venous cannulation for mitral valve operations. We describe the technique and advantage of a single-venous cannulation strategy.

Methods/results: : Single venous cannulation with a 29-French small-bore cannula (facilitated by vacuum-assisted venous drainage) yields reliable decompression of the right heart and affords outstanding exposure of the mitral valve.