Prevalence, patterns, and determinants of multimorbidity among childhood and adult cancer survivors: A systematic review.

Development of multimorbidity is common among cancer survivors due to their previous cancer, treatments, or changes in lifestyle. We summarized evidence on the prevalence, patterns, and determinants of multimorbidity among childhood and adult cancer survivors. We searched PubMed and EMBASE databases for articles reporting prevalence, patterns, and determinants of multimorbidity in cancer survivors.

Patients with Slowly Proliferative Early Breast Cancer Have Low Five-Year Recurrence Rates in a Phase III Adjuvant Trial of Capecitabine.

Purpose: We conducted a randomized phase III study to determine whether patients with early breast cancer would benefit from the addition of capecitabine (X) to a standard regimen of doxorubicin (A) plus cyclophosphamide (C) followed by docetaxel (T).

Experimental Design: Treatment comprised eight cycles of AC→T (T dose: 100 mg/m(2) on day 1) or AC→XT (X dose: 825 mg/m(2) twice daily, days 1-14; T dose: 75 mg/m(2) on day 1). The primary endpoint was 5-year disease-free survival (DFS).

Use of liposomal amphotericin B in the treatment of disseminated coccidioidomycosis.

Disseminated fungal infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised hosts. Amphotericin B is an important part of the therapy and treatment of invasive and life-threatening mycoses. We present a case of disseminated coccidioidomycosis in a patient who was successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) on steroid therapy.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium osteomyelitis: successful treatment with quinupristin-dalfopristin.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have recently emerged as an increasing concern in the management of severe infections. Treatment of these life-threatening infections has been limited to quinupristin-dalfopristin and, more recently, linezolid therapy. We report the first case, to our knowledge, of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium vertebral osteomyelitis treated successfully with quinupristin-dalfopristin.

Employing new grads: a plan for success.

The authors describe an elegant goal-driven program designed to prepare new nursing graduates to function optimally on a hospital unit by focusing first on their security and affiliative needs [belonging], and subsequently on their professional skill and knowledge acquisition. This developmental program has both a clear timeline and structure as well as well defined role expectations for the experienced RN guide/mentor, the orientee, and the unit's nurse manager and staff. The guide/mentors are carefully selected and prepared for their new roles as well.

Multidrug-resistant Pneumococcus causing vertebral osteomyelitis.

Primary vertebral osteomyelitis in a rare presentation of pneumococcal infection especially in an asymptomatic patient with no primary focus of infection. This report describes a patient who presented with lower back pain in which the magnetic resonance imaging showed little evidence of L1 and L2 vertebral body destruction. Cultures from these vertebral bodies grew penicillin and third-generation resistant pneumococcus.