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The majority of patients with gastrointestinal cancers are over the age of 65. This age group comprises the minority of the patients enrolled in clinical trials, and it is unknown whether older patients achieve similar results as younger patients in terms of survival benefit and tolerability. In addition, there are few studies specifically designed for patients over 65 years. Subset analyses of individual trials and studies using pooled patient data from multiple trials provide some understanding on outcomes in older patients with gastrointestinal cancers. This article reviews the evidence on chemotherapeutic regimens in the elderly with colorectal, pancreatic, and gastroesophageal cancers, and discusses a practical approach to provide the best outcomes for older patients.

Stroke continues to be one of the leading causes of death and adult disability. Increasing public awareness of stroke has led to a rise in the number of patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs) who qualify for emergent and time-sensitive treatments such as t-PA, clot extraction, and surgery. Timely treatment and supportive care of the stroke patient in the ED is crucial for patient outcomes. Emergency medicine (EM) pharmacists are the medication experts and can have a significant impact on the care of a stroke patient. Thus, it is essential for EM pharmacists to have a solid knowledge of the current guidelines and evidence-based literature or lack there of. In this article, we describe the epidemiology of stroke, review the classifications of stroke, and discuss the present treatment strategies for emergent and supportive care.

Emergency medicine (EM) pharmacy practice has existed for over 30 years. In recent years, however, the specialty has grown significantly. A large number of health care systems have either a dedicated EM pharmacist or other clinical pharmacist presence in the Emergency department (ED). Over the past decade, the role of the EM pharmacist as a critical member of the health care team has expanded significantly and many innovative practices have evolved throughout the country. There is also some heterogeneity between different EM pharmacy practice sites. This article reviews the history and general concepts of EM pharmacy practice as well as illustrate some of the established benefits of an EM pharmacist.

AbstractOBJECTIVEOur aim was to evaluate the efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for the treatment of patients with brain metastases that have been determined to be “radioresistant” on the basis of histological examination.METHODSWe reviewed the medical records of 41 consecutive patients who presented with 83 brain metastases from radioresistant primaries and subsequently underwent SRS. All patients were followed until death or for a median of 31 months after SRS. Tumor histologies included renal cell carcinoma (16 patients), melanoma (23 patients), and sarcoma (2 patients). Eighteen patients (44%) had a solitary metastasis, and 23 patients (56%) had multiple metastases.RESULTSThe median overall survival time was 14.2 months after SRS. On the basis of univariate analysis, systemic disease status (P = 0.006) and Radiation Therapy Oncology Group recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) class (P = 0.005) were associated with survival. The median survival time was 23.5 months for patients in RPA Class I status and 10.5 months for patients in RPA Class II or III status. There was a trend (P = 0.12) toward improved median survival for patients with renal cell carcinoma (17.8 mo) as compared with patients with melanoma (9.7 mo). Multivariate analysis showed RPA class (P = 0.038) and histological diagnosis of primary tumor (P < 0.001) to be independent predictors for overall survival. In the 35 patients who underwent follow-up imaging, 9 (12%) of 73 tumors recurred locally. In 54% of the patients, distant brain failure (DBF) developed. Whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) improved local control and decreased DBF, according to the univariate and multivariate analyses. Patients who received adjuvant WBRT in addition to SRS had 6-month actuarial local control of 100% as compared with 85% among those who did not receive WBRT (P = 0.018). Patients who received adjuvant WBRT with SRS had a 6-month actuarial DBF rate of 17%, as compared with a rate of 64% among patients who had SRS alone (P = 0.0027).CONCLUSIONWell-selected patients with brain metastases from radioresistant primary tumors who undergo SRS survive longer than historical controls. RPA Class I status and primary renal cell carcinoma predict longer survival. Adjuvant WBRT improves local control and decreases DBF but does not affect overall survival. Further studies are needed to determine which patients should receive WBRT.

Abstract Perturbations in cerebral hemodynamics at the time of ablation of an arteriovenous shunt have been regarded as important in the pathogenesis of swelling and hemorrhage complicating resection of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). A carotid-jugular fistula model in the rat had previously been investigated and found to simulate in part the nonhemorrhagic pathophysiology of a large cerebral arteriovenous fistula. Utilizing this model and measuring cerebral blood flow in 14 regions with a [14C]iodoantipyrine autoradiographic technique, the effects of hypocapnea on the cerebral circulation in opened and closed fistulas were investigated. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in control animals ranged from a median of 53 to 64 ml/100 g/min at a partial arterial carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2) of 28 ± 2 mm Hg and 85 to 112 ml/100 g/min at a PaCO2 of 40 ± 5 mm Hg. In animals with an open carotid-jugular fistula created 12 weeks before the study, these median rCBF values at comparable PaCO2 levels ranged, respectively, from 15 to 39 ml/100 g/min and 50 to 68 ml/100 g/min (the 25th percentile for the open fistula in the hypocapneic group was 15 ml/100 g/min in 5 of the 14 regions studied). In contrast, median rCBF in the closed fistula group ranged from 73 to 100 ml/100 g/min in hypocapneic animals and from 118 to 187 ml/100 g/min in normocapneic animals. These results demonstrate the preservation of CO2 reactivity; hypoperfusion in the presence of a carotid-jugular fistula, hyperemia on fistula occlusion, and the potential to induce cerebral ischemia with hyperventilation in this model of a cerebral arteriovenous fistula. These data caution against the use of hyperventilation during surgery in patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations.

Abstract We studied the status of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors in meningiomas removed from 52 patients, comparing dextran-coated charcoal (DCC), nuclear binding (NB), and immunoperoxidase (IP) assays. Each of the assays was performed independently by investigators well-experienced with these assays. The NB assay is a new assay that measures functional steroid receptors—that is, the activation of the receptor and its binding to the nucleus. The assay is very sensitive and requires a relatively small amount of tissue as compared with the DCC assay. In agreement with data from other studies, PR were detected in most meningiomas by all 3 methods: in 69% of the cases by NB, in 76% by DCC, and in 89% by IP. ER were detected in only a few cases: in 33% by NB, in 2% by DCC, and in none by the IP assay. The agreement for PR sites was 62% for all 3 assays, it was 66% between the NB and DCC assays, 67% between the NB and IP assays, and 86% between the DCC and IP assays. Of 26 cases that were positive by the DCC assay, 6 (23%) were negative by NB. The overall agreement for all three ER assays was 65%. The data suggest that the majority of meningiomas contain high-affinity receptors for progesterone, that estrogen receptors are present in only a few meningiomas, and that some of these estrogen and progesterone receptors appear to be functional.

Abstract Modern aneurysm clips with newer metallurgic properties and state-of-the-art designs have evolved through the years. Regretfully, manufacturers are still not required to provide product information regarding clip strength, and when such information is supplied, there is no interbrand consistency to how it is obtained. This experiment compares the closing pressures of 5 commonly used brands of aneurysm clips: Yasargil, Sugita, Sundt-Kees, Vari-Angle McFadden, and Heifetz. Interclip comparison is also made of opening pressures, that is, the arterial pressure required to open an aneurysm clip. Findings show a distinct difference in closing forces among these brands of aneurysm clips. The study of opening forces indicates that the important factors determining clip release or displacement were the failure of the clip to cross the vessel completely and intrinsic characteristics of the vascular wall. (Neurosurgery 26:80-85, 1990)