Feasibility of ctDNA in detecting minimal residual disease and predicting recurrence for colorectal cancer liver metastases.

Introduction: Approximately 50% of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer develop colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM). Although curative intent liver resection provides 5-year survival of 40-50%, up to 70% of patients develop recurrence of CRLM. Detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) is essential for timely, optimized treatment.

Debulking Hepatectomy for Colorectal Liver Metastasis Conveys Survival Benefit.

(1) Background: Despite advances in surgical technique and systemic chemotherapy, some patients with multifocal, bilobar colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) remain unresectable. These patients may benefit from surgical debulking of liver tumors in combination with chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy alone. (2) Methods: A retrospective study including patients evaluated for curative intent resection of CRLM was performed.

A pharmacoepidemiology study of the interaction between atorvastatin and clopidogrel after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: After percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the antiplatelet drug clopidogrel is frequently used to prevent stent thrombosis. A concern has been raised that atorvastatin may competitively inhibit the metabolism of the prodrug clopidogrel to its active metabolites by the cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzyme, thereby potentially negating its antiplatelet effect. The 30-day rates of adverse cardiovascular events (composite of death, myocardial infarction, 11 unstable angina, stroke or transient ischemic attack, and repeat revascularization procedures) in unselected 12 patients prescribed clopidogrel after PCI as a function of their exposure to CYP3A4 inhibitors has not been fully resolved.

Statin wars following coronary revascularization--evidence-based clinical practice?

Background: Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have shown that statins provide substantial heath benefits. Pharmaceutical companies spend enormous amounts of money on both clinical trials and marketing. The relative influence of information from clinical trials on physician prescription patterns for statins is unknown.

[Combi-molecules: a global approach towards better chemoselectivity and chemosensitivity].

It is now known that tumour cells possess many signaling pathways to repair damage inflicted by alkylating agents. However, most of these cytotoxic agents only target DNA and this does not suffice to induce sustained antiproliferative activity. Furthermore, the efficacy of antitumour alkylating agents is hampered by a lack of selectivity for tumour tissues.

A hierarchical Bayesian meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials of drug-eluting stents.

Background: Drug-eluting stents (DES) are associated with lower restenosis rates than bare-metal stents (BMS), but the benefits and safety of the new devices have not been systematically quantified across different trials. We undertook a meta-analysis of randomised trials comparing BMS and stents eluting sirolimus or paclitaxel.

Methods: A systematic literature search aimed to identify all randomised clinical trials with 6-12 months of clinical follow-up.

Working together toward the issue of conjugal violence: the work of an interdisciplinary task force.

In 1995 each of the Professional Councils at the Royal Victoria Hospital endorsed the creation of an Interdisciplinary Task Force on Conjugal Violence. Task force members were drawn from Medicine, Nursing and Social Work. The overall goal was to increase the quality of care that the interdisciplinary team could provide to their patients.