HIV positive and treated for cancer: The convergence of pressures "invisible" in HIV and "visible" in cancer.

Objective: An increasing number of people living with HIV are living longer and experiencing a dual diagnosis of HIV and cancer. Little is known of their experience and quality of care. This paper presents the findings of a study exploring experiences of cancer care, from the perspectives of both patients and healthcare professionals.

Insights into the social context of living with a dual diagnosis of HIV and cancer: a qualitative, thematic analysis of popular discourse in London newspapers.

As growing numbers of people living with HIV also develop cancer, a holistic understanding of their experiences is essential to the provision of patient centred care. Both conditions are linked to powerful beliefs in our society that may affect experiences. This study explored how HIV and cancer were represented in UK newspapers to gain insight into the social context of living with a dual diagnosis.

Standardization of the modified Rodnan skin score for use in clinical trials of systemic sclerosis.

The modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) is a measure of skin thickness and is used as a primary or secondary outcome measure in clinical trials of systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). This state-of-art review provides a historical perspective of the development of the mRSS, summarizes the performance of mRSS as an outcome measure, provides guidance on assessing mRSS, and makes recommendations for incorporation of the mRSS into clinical trials.

Aberrant regulation of RANKL/OPG in women at high risk of developing breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most common female cancer, affecting approximately one in eight women during their lifetime in North America and Europe. Receptor Activator of NF-kB Ligand (RANKL), its receptor RANK and the natural antagonist osteoprotegerin (OPG) are essential regulators of bone resorption. We have initially shown that RANKL/RANK are essential for hormone-driven mammary epithelial proliferation in pregnancy and RANKL/RANK have been implicated in mammary stem cell biology.

Benefits of robotic cystectomy with intracorporeal diversion for patients with low cardiorespiratory fitness: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Patients undergoing radical cystectomy have associated comorbidities resulting in reduced cardiorespiratory fitness. Preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) measures including anaerobic threshold (AT) can predict major adverse events (MAE) and hospital length of stay (LOS) for patients undergoing open and robotic cystectomy with extracorporeal diversion. Our objective was to determine the relationship between CPET measures and outcome in patients undergoing robotic radical cystectomy and intracorporeal diversion (intracorporeal robotic assisted radical cystectomy [iRARC]).

The American College of Rheumatology Provisional Composite Response Index for Clinical Trials in Early Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis.

Objective: Early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) is characterized by rapid changes in the skin and internal organs. The objective of this study was to develop a composite response index in dcSSc (CRISS) for use in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: We developed 150 paper patient profiles with standardized clinical outcome elements (core set items) using patients with dcSSc.

The American College of Rheumatology Provisional Composite Response Index for Clinical Trials in Early Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis.

Objective: Early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) is characterized by rapid changes in the skin and internal organs. The objective of this study was to develop a composite response index in dcSSc (CRISS) for use in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: We developed 150 paper patient profiles with standardized clinical outcome elements (core set items) using patients with dcSSc.

Joint and tendon involvement predict disease progression in systemic sclerosis: a EUSTAR prospective study.

Objective: To determine whether joint synovitis and tendon friction rubs (TFRs) can predict the progression of systemic sclerosis (SSc) over time.

Patients And Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study that included 1301 patients with SSc from the EUSTAR database with disease duration ≤3 years at inclusion and with a follow-up of at least 2 years. Presence or absence at clinical examination of synovitis and TFRs was extracted at baseline.

Prediction of worsening of skin fibrosis in patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis using the EUSTAR database.

Objectives: To identify predictive parameters for the progression of skin fibrosis within 1 year in patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc).

Methods: An observational study using the EUSTAR database was performed. Inclusion criteria were dcSSc, American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria fulfilled, modified Rodnan skin score (MRSS) ≥7 at baseline visit, valid data for MRSS at 2nd visit, and available follow-up of 12±2 months.

IGH@ translocations are prevalent in teenagers and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and are associated with a poor outcome.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence and prognostic association of immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH@) translocations in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Patients And Methods: The cohort comprised 3,269 patients treated on either the UKALL2003 trial for children and adolescents (1 to 24 years old) or the UKALLXII trial for adolescents and adults (15 to 59 years old). High-throughput fluorescent in situ hybridization was used to detect IGH@ translocations.

Do assisted-reproduction twin pregnancies require additional antenatal care?

Iatrogenic twinning has become the main side-effect assisted reproduction treatment. We have evaluated the evidence for additional care that assisted-reproduction twins may require compared with spontaneous twins. Misacarriages are increased in women with tubal problems and after specific treatments.

Stone formation in the Middle Eastern Gulf States: A review.

Objectives: To review the possible causes of the high incidence of urolithiasis in the oil-rich Gulf States.

Methods: Data were extracted from published reports on the incidence of urolithiasis, affluence and diet in the Gulf States, various Western countries and China.

Results: There are strong relationships: (a) between the life-expectancy of stones in men and the Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of these countries; and (b) between the daily consumption of animal protein and GNI per capita.

Methods for diagnosing the risk factors of stone formation.

Objective: To compare various systems for assessing the risk of recurrent stones, based on the composition of urine.

Methods: The relative supersaturation (RSS) of urine, the Tiselius Indices, the Robertson Risk Factor Algorithms (RRFA) and the BONN-Risk Index were compared in terms of the numbers of variables required to be measured, the ease of use of the system and the value of the information obtained.

Results: The RSS methods require up to 14 analyses in every urine sample but measure the RSS of all the main constituents of kidney stones.

Patterns of HIV testing at a London teaching hospital between 2004 and 2007.

The aims of this study were to observe trends in testing for HIV between 2004 and 2007 in one London, UK, hospital and to observe the seroprevalence of HIV within subgroups. Tests were grouped according to source and reason for testing. A total of 58,720 tests were considered (HIV-1 seroprevalence 0.

The effects of a single nucleotide polymorphism in SLCO1B1 on the pharmacodynamics of pravastatin.

Aim: To determine whether the SNP rs4149056 in SLCO1B1 alters the pharmacodynamics of pravastatin.

Methods: rs4149056 was genotyped in 626 pravastatin-treated participants in the WOSCOPS trial and the response after 1 year of treatment was compared between the different genotypes.

Results: Pravastatin reduced serum LDL cholesterol by 22.

Work stress, obesity and the risk of type 2 diabetes: gender-specific bidirectional effect in the Whitehall II study.

Psychosocial work stress has been linked to higher risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), with the effect being consistently higher among women than men. Also, work stress has been linked to prospective weight gain among obese men but weight loss among lean men. Here, we aimed to examine the interaction between work stress and obesity in relation to T2DM risk in a gender-specific manner.

Patterns of HIV testing at a London teaching hospital between 2004 and 2007.

To observe trends in testing for HIV between 2004 and 2007 in a London hospital and to observe the seroprevalence of HIV within subgroups. Tests were grouped according to source and reason for testing; 58,720 tests were considered (HIV-1 seroprevalence = 0.9%).

Impact of the N348I mutation in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase on nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor resistance in non-subtype B HIV-1.

We investigated the effect of N348I alone and with M184V on nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) drug susceptibility and replicative capacity in B and non-B HIV-1 isolates. N348I reduced the susceptibility to all NNRTI drugs across subtypes. The replication capacity of all viruses in a variety of cell lines was impaired by N348I.

Implementing sentinel lymph node biopsy programs in developing countries: challenges and opportunities.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is the accepted standard of care in early-stage breast cancer and cutaneous melanoma. This technology is accurate for nodal staging and determining the prognosis of these patients. There are several randomized controlled trials confirming the accuracy of this technique and confirming its role in reducing morbidity and improving quality of life.

Changes over time in socioeconomic inequalities in breast and rectal cancer survival in England and Wales during a 32-year period (1973-2004): the potential role of health care.

Background: Socioeconomic inequalities in cancer survival are well documented but they vary for different cancers and over time. Reasons for these differences are poorly understood.

Patients And Methods: For England and Wales, we examined trends in socioeconomic survival inequalities for breast cancer in women and rectal cancer in men during the 32-year period 1973-2004.