Prospective Randomized Trial of Docetaxel Versus Best Supportive Care in Patients With Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Previously Treated With Platinum-Based Chemotherapy.

Purpose: To evaluate whether treatment with single-agent docetaxel would result in longer survival than would best supportive care in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer who had previously been treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. Secondary end points included assessment of response (docetaxel arm only), toxicity, and quality of life.

Unlabelled: PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with performance statuses of 0 to 2 and stage IIIB/IV non-small-cell lung cancer with either measurable or evaluable lesions were eligible for entry onto the study if they had undergone one or more platinum-based chemotherapy regimens and if they had adequate hematology and biochemistry parameters.

Postoperative factors contributing to prolonged length of stay in cardiac surgery patients.

In order to provide high quality, cost effective care, nurses need to identify and address factors that prolong the length of stay in various patient populations. The authors identify the postoperative factors contributing to prolonged length of stay in a cardiac surgery patient population and recommend collaborative management strategies to address these factors.

Thyroid and parathyroid cancer.

The epidemiology, etiology, pathology, and management of thyroid and parathyroid carcinoma are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the clinical differences in the management and treatment of the various histologic subtypes of thyroid cancer. The biologic and prognostic differences among the various histologic types of thyroid cancer and their relationship to age are stressed.

Bacillus species pseudomeningitis.

A cluster of cerebrospinal fluid Gram's stains showing gram-positive bacilli and of cerebrospinal fluid cultures growing Bacillus species in a large community teaching hospital prompted an epidemiologic and microbiologic investigation. Pseudomeningitis was suspected and confirmed when cultures of uninoculated commercial trypticase soy broth with 5% Fildes enrichment grew Bacillus species. Secondary contamination of the pipettes used for inoculation accounted for the positive cerebrospinal fluid Gram's stains.

Thyroid and parathyroid cancer.

The epidemiology, etiology, pathology, and management of thyroid and parathyroid carcinoma are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the clinical differences in the management and treatment of the various histologic subtypes of thyroid cancer. The biologic and prognostic differences among the various histologic types of thyroid cancer and their relationship to age are stressed.