The organisation, operational dynamics and structure of female sex work in Pakistan.

Background: Pakistan is known to have large populations of female sex workers (FSWs) with considerable geographic heterogeneity in their characteristics. In this paper, we describe the social organisation and structural patterns of female sex work in different geographic regions of Pakistan.

Methods: We report geographic and network mapping data collected among FSWs in 15 cities across Pakistan in 2011 as part of the Canada-Pakistan HIV/AIDS Surveillance Project.

Keratinocyte growth factor.

Mucositis occurs in over 90% of patients undergoing stem cell transplantation for hematological malignancies. It is associated with significant morbidity in the form of pain, dysphagia and decreased oral intake, as well as mortality. Palifermin is a recombinant keratinocyte growth factor that has been shown to be effective in decreasing the incidence, severity and duration of mucositis in Phase III trials.

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy masquerading as lower extremity cellulitis and response to bisphosphonates.

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) is characterized by clubbing of digits and, in more advanced stages, by periosteal new bone formation and synovial effusions. Secondary HOA typically occurs in the setting of intrathoracic malignancy, infections or lung metastases. We report a case with an atypical presentation of HOA.

Treatment options for metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a review.

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has a poor overall survival. Localized RCC remains a surgical disease. About 20%-30% patients who present with limited disease at the time of nephrectomy develop metastasis.

Prolonged half-life of argatroban in patients with renal dysfunction and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome being treated for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Argatroban is a direct thrombin inhibitor approved for the treatment of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) type II. Argatroban is predominantly metabolized in the liver. It is widely believed that no dosage adjustment is required in patients with renal insufficiency, making it a preferred agent in patients on renal replacement therapy (Reddy and Grossman, Ann Pharm 2005;39:1601-1605).