Lifestyle and cancer risk: Nothing really surprising here, if one thinks about it

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21139406

"The main behavioural and environmental risk factors for cancer mortality in the world are related to diet and physical inactivity, use of addictive substances, sexual and reproductive health, exposure to air pollution and use of contaminated needles."

J Prev Med Public Health. 2010 Nov;43(6):459-71.
Lifestyle and cancer risk.
Weiderpass E.

Erlotinib safety in lung cancer patients

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21138395

Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2010 Dec 8. [Epub ahead of print]
Reviewing the safety of erlotinib in non-small cell lung cancer.
Reck M, Mok T, Wolf J, Heigener D, Wu YL.

COPD and Lung Cancer

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21138878

Chest. 2010 Dec;138(6):1289-90.
COPD and Lung Cancer: Are They Both Airways Diseases?
Strange C.

Pulmonary and Critical Care, Allergy and Sleep Medicine, 96 Jonathan Lucas St, 812 CSB Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425-6300. strangec@musc.edu.

Get moving!

"A protective effect of high lifetime occupational physical activity levels was observed for colon and prostate cancers. A tendency for inverse associations was also noted for several other cancer types. Recreational physical activity was inversely related with smoking-related cancers including lung, esophageal and bladder cancers."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21030330

Cancer Epidemiol. 2010 Oct 26. [Epub ahead of print]
Occupational and recreational physical activity during adult life and the risk of cancer among men.
Parent ME, Rousseau MC, El-Zein M, Latreille B, Désy M, Siemiatycki J.

From UNC Chapel Hill: Maintenance therapy for lung cancer

"Phase III trials have not revealed an improvement in quality of life with maintenance therapy."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21127437

J Thorac Oncol. 2010 Dec 1. [Epub ahead of print]
Maintenance Therapy in Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Current Status and Future Implications.
Stinchcombe TE, Socinski MA.
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.

Pediatric lung transplantation

"...the results with pediatric lung transplantation are the worst of all solid organ transplants."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21128125

Curr Treat Options Cardiovasc Med. 2010 Dec 3. [Epub ahead of print]
Pediatric Lung Transplantation.
Huddleston CB.

Localized malignant mesothelioma

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20371957

Intern Med. 2010;49(7):671-5. Epub 2010 Apr 1.
Localized malignant pleural mesothelioma showing a thoracic mass and metastasizing to the stomach.
Hayashi H, Notohara K, Yoshioka H, Matsuoka T, Ikeda H, Kagawa K, Fukuoka T, Ishida T.

Pathology: Medicolegal issues

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18251573

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2008 Feb;132(2):186-91.
Medicolegal issues in pathology.
Allen TC.

Radiation dose: the issue is here to stay

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21040864

J Am Coll Radiol. 2010 Nov;7(11):837-44.
2010 ACR Presidential Address: Patient-focused radiology: taking charge of radiation dose.
Rumack CM.

"Clinical partners"? "patient/client"?

How about "physician" and "doctor"?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21105948

J Law Med Ethics. 2010 Dec;38(4):847-862. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-720X.2010.00538.x.
How Bioethics Can Enrich Medical-Legal Collaborations.
Campbell AT, Sicklick J, Galowitz P, Retkin R, Fleishman SB.

Assistant Professor in the Center of Bioethics and Humanities at Upstate Medical University and at the Syracuse University College of Law (courtesy), and Associate Faculty in the Bioethics Program of Union Graduate College - Mount Sinai School of Medicine Deputy Director of the Center for Children's Advocacy in Hartford, Connecticut, and is an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Connecticut School of Law, and an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine Clinical Professor of Law at New York University School of Law.) Director of Legal Health, a division of the New York Legal Assistance Group. Legal Health partners with medical professionals to address the non-medical needs of low-income people with serious health problems Founding Director of Cancer Supportive Services at Continuum Cancer Centers of New York: Beth Israel Medical Center and St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center.

Abstract
Medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) - collaborative endeavors between health care clinicians and lawyers to more effectively address issues impacting health care - have proliferated over the past decade. The goal of this interdisciplinary approach is to improve the health outcomes and quality of life of patients and families, recognizing the many non-medical influences on health care and thus the value of an interdisciplinary team to enhance health. This article examines the unique, interrelated ethical issues that confront the clinical and legal partners involved in MLPs. We contend that the ethical precepts of the clinical and legal professions should be seen as opportunities, not barriers, to further the interdisciplinary nature of MLPs. The commonalities in ethical approaches represent a potential bridge between legal and health care advocacy for patient/client well-being. Bioethics has a role to play in building and analyzing this bridge: bioethics may serve as a discourse and method to enhance collaboration by highlighting common ethical foundations and refocusing legal and clinical partners on their similar goals of service for patients/clients. This article explores this bridging role of bioethics, through a series of case studies. It concludes with recommendations to strengthen the collaborations.

Medical malpractice: is mediation the answer?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21123671

J Health Polit Policy Law. 2010 Oct;35(5):797-828.
Interest-based mediation of medical malpractice lawsuits: a route to improved patient safety?
Hyman CS, Liebman CB, Schechter CB, Sage WM.

Medical Mediation Group.

Cancer and haplo-insufficient genes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21125671

J Pathol. 2011 Jan;223(2):138-47. doi: 10.1002/path.2800. Epub 2010 Oct 29.
Haplo-insufficiency: a driving force in cancer.
Berger AH, Pandolfi PP.

Cancer Genetics Program, Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Center, Departments of Medicine and Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, USA.

Medical, legal, and ethical aspects of telemedicine

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21119593

Med Sci Monit. 2010 Nov 30;16(12):RA261-272.
Telemedicine: Medical, legal and ethical perspectives.
Clark PA, Capuzzi K, Harrison J.

Institute of Catholic Bioethics, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.

Lung disease and salmon

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21124247

J Occup Environ Med. 2010 Nov 30. [Epub ahead of print]
Respiratory Impairment in Norwegian Salmon Industry Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Shiryaeva O, Aasmoe L, Straume B, Bang BE.

From the Department of Community Medicine (Drs Shiryaeva and Straume), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromso, Norway; Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (Drs Shiryaeva, Aasmoe, and Bang), University Hospital North Norway, Tromso, Norway; Medical Pharmacology and Toxicology (Drs Aasmoe and Bang), Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromso, Norway.

Lung cancer: It's all about molecular

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21125677

J Pathol. 2011 Jan;223(2):231-241. doi: 10.1002/path.2788. Epub 2010 Oct 25.
Genetically informed lung cancer medicine.
Pao W, Iafrate AJ, Su Z.

Pulmonary imaging in pregnancy

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20436309

Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Jun;53(2):337-44.
Pulmonary imaging during pregnancy.
Disher AC, Geary FH Jr.

Department of Radiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. adisher@mmc.edu

Status of neurosurgeon residency education

"there is a significant need for improvement of resident training in the areas of socioeconomic and medicolegal education."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20539248

Neurosurgery. 2010 Aug;67(2):225-32; discussion 232-3.
Efficacy of neurosurgery resident education in the new millennium: the 2008 Council of State Neurosurgical Societies post-residency survey results.
Mazzola CA, Lobel DA, Krishnamurthy S, Bloomgarden GM, Benzil DL.

Department of Neurosciences and Pediatrics, Atlantic Health System-Goryeb Children's Hospital, Morristown, New Jersey 07960, USA. catherine.mazzola@atlantichealth.org

Toward standardizing medicolegal protocols/guidelines in Europe

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20544214

Int J Legal Med. 2010 Jul;124(4):345-50. Epub 2010 Jun 12.
Bio-medicolegal guidelines and protocols: survey and future perspectives in Europe.
Ferrara SD, Bajanowski T, Cecchi R, Snenghi R, Case C, Viel G.

Peritoneal swabs with appendicitis

"Until controlled trial data becomes available, it may be wise to continue peritoneal swabs at least in high-risk patients to decrease clinical and medicolegal risk."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20621208

Int J Surg. 2010;8(6):426-9. Epub 2010 Jul 15.
Peritoneal fluid culture in appendicitis: review in changing times.
Davies HO, Alkhamesi NA, Dawson PM.

Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, UK.

Radiology medical expert witness: endangered species?

"Our findings suggest that use of radiologists blinded to clinical outcome may be a more objective method of evaluating legal cases."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20651200

AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2010 Aug;195(2):429-31.
Objective determination of standard of care: use of blind readings by external radiologists.
Semelka RC, Ryan AF, Yonkers S, Braga L.

Documentation/billing education and EM residents

Probably not just EM residents...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20823956

West J Emerg Med. 2010 May;11(2):116-9.
Chart smart: a need for documentation and billing education among emergency medicine residents?
Dawson B, Carter K, Brewer K, Lawson L.

Radiologists and off label use of contrast media

"we propose that the radiology report includes not only the type but also the dose of contrast medium used."

Probably not a bad idea.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20981503

Radiol Med. 2010 Oct 27. [Epub ahead of print]
Off-label use of intravascular iodinated organic and MR contrast media.
Tamburrini O, Aprile I, Falcone C, Console D, Rotundo A.

Australian physicians changing their manner of practice due to fear of medical malpractice lawsuits

"Respondents reported changes in practice behaviour due to medicolegal concerns, with 43% of doctors stating that they referred patients more than usual, 55% stating that they ordered tests more than usual, and 11% stating that they prescribed medications more than usual."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21077813

Med J Aust. 2010 Nov 15;193(10):579-83.
Perceived practice change in Australian doctors as a result of medicolegal concerns.
Nash LM, Walton MM, Daly MG, Kelly PJ, Walter G, van Ekert EH, Willcock SM, Tennant CC.

Harvey Pass on mesothelioma surgery

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

Lung Cancer. 2010 Nov 9. [Epub ahead of print]
Surgery and mesothelioma: If not randomization, at least standardization and registration!
Pass H.

NYU Langone Medical Center, Cardiothoracic Surgery, 530 First Avenue, 9V, New York, NY 10016, United States.

Nimotuzumab treatment for lung cancer

"The most successful strategies to date are those aimed at the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is found to be upregulated in 40%-80% of NSCLC."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21116327

Biologics. 2010 Nov 9;4:289-98.
The emerging role of nimotuzumab in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.
Boland W, Bebb G.

Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Obesity and lung disease

"...the effects of obesity on the respiratory system are often underappreciated."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21116339

Int J Gen Med. 2010 Oct 20;3:335-43.
Obesity and respiratory diseases.
Zammit C, Liddicoat H, Moonsie I, Makker H.

Sleep and Ventilation Unit, Department of Respiratory Medicine, North Middlesex University Hospital, London, UK.

From Fox Chase-molecular therapy for lung cancer

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21102235

J Thorac Oncol. 2010 Dec;5(12 Suppl 6):S434-54.
Molecular targeted agents and biologic therapies for non-small cell lung cancer.
Somaiah N, Simon GR.

Department of Medical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia.

Lung cancer and cell cycle-associated kinases

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21102239

J Thorac Oncol. 2010 Dec;5(12 Suppl 6):S461-2.
Cell cycle-associated kinases as targets for therapy in lung cancer.
Camidge DR.

Developmental Therapeutics and Thoracic Oncology Programs, University of Colorado.

LOX and lung cancer: from Alain Borczuk and colleagues at Columbia

"Higher expression of LOX is associated with invasion and is an independent predictor of poor prognosis in patients with early stage lung adenocarcinoma"

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21117164

Cancer. 2010 Nov 29. [Epub ahead of print]
Lysyl oxidase: A lung adenocarcinoma biomarker of invasion and survival.
Wilgus ML, Borczuk AC, Stoopler M, Ginsburg M, Gorenstein L, Sonett JR, Powell CA.

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.

It's hard to smoke while you're jogging...

"Several plausible biological factors and mechanisms have been hypothesized linking physical activity to reduced lung cancer risk including: improved pulmonary function, reduced concentrations of carcinogenic agents in the lungs, enhanced immune function, reduced inflammation, enhanced DNA repair capacity, changes in growth factor levels and possible gene-physical activity interactions."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21113762

Recent Results Cancer Res. 2011;186:101-33.
Physical activity and lung cancer prevention.
Emaus A, Thune I.

Division of Cancer Etiology, Department of Population Science, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA, aina.emaus@medisin.uio.no.

Pump iron!

"Preliminary evidence in this area supports that exercise therapy may be an important consideration in multidisciplinary management of patients diagnosed with lung cancer."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21113768

Recent Results Cancer Res. 2011;186:255-74.
Physical activity and lung cancer survivorship.
Jones LW.

Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, 3085, Durham, NC, 27710, USA, lee.w.jones@duke.edu.

Handling academic conflict of interest-from Bryan Liang and colleague

"...a deep-seated culture of institutional indifference and complicity in unmanaged conflicts."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20481404

Am J Law Med. 2010;36(1):136-87.
Confronting conflict: addressing institutional conflicts of interest in academic medical centers.
Liang BA, Mackey T.

5-year study shows no hospital quality improvement

From Futurepundit:

http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/007698.html

"Despite concerted efforts, no decreases in patient harm were detected at 10 randomly selected North Carolina hospitals between 2002 and 2007, according to a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement."

Cystic fibrosis: emerging pathogens

A key point: "It is not always clear whether or how these pathogens influence the progression of CF lung disease and how they should be treated."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21109184

Paediatr Respir Rev. 2010 Dec;11(4):246-54. Epub 2010 Aug 7.
Challenging and emerging pathogens in cystic fibrosis.
de Vrankrijker AM, Wolfs TF, van der Ent CK.

Department of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Spontaneous regression of lung cancer?

An interesting concept...


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21110160

Surg Today. 2010 Dec;40(12):1155-8. Epub 2010 Nov 26.
Spontaneous regression of lung adenocarcinoma: Report of a case.
Haruki T, Nakamura H, Taniguchi Y, Miwa K, Adachi Y, Fujioka S, Shomori K, Ito H.

Mesothelioma with adenomatoid features: from Saul Suster and colleagues

Only 10 cases, though. And no benefit in survival; mean survival was 10 months from diagnosis.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21106421

Malignant mesothelioma with prominent adenomatoid features: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 10 cases.
Weissferdt A, Kalhor N, Suster S.
Ann Diagn Pathol. 2010 Nov 23. [Epub ahead of print]

From Great Britain: radon, smoking, and lung cancer

One wonders, though, if this is cost-effective.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21109305

Lung-cancer reduction from smoking cessation and radon remediation: A preliminary cost-analysis in Northamptonshire, UK.
Groves-Kirkby CJ, Timson K, Shield G, Denman AR, Rogers S, Phillips PS.
Environ Int. 2010 Nov 23. [Epub ahead of print]

Andy Renshaw on THE hot topic in cytopathology

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21104837

Renshaw AA.
Histologic follow-up of nondiagnostic thyroid fine needle aspirations: Implications for adequacy criteria.
Diagn Cytopathol. 2010 Nov 22. [Epub ahead of print]

Very important: Syed Mohsin on testing breast cancer patients for HER2 status

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20441496

Mohsin SK.
HER2 testing: state of the laboratories.
Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2010 May;134(5):660-2.

Tarek Elghetany and colleagues: PT POC and meter acceptability

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19913526

Petersen JR, Vonmarensdorf HM, Weiss HL, Elghetany MT.
Use of error grid analysis to evaluate acceptability of a point of care prothrombin time meter.
Clin Chim Acta. 2010 Feb;411(3-4):131-4. Epub 2009 Nov 12.

From J Thorac Oncol: Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts and lung cancer

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21107292

J Thorac Oncol. 2010 Nov 23. [Epub ahead of print]
The Role of Tumor Stroma in Cancer Progression and Prognosis: Emphasis on Carcinoma-Associated Fibroblasts and Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.
Bremnes RM, Dønnem T, Al-Saad S, et al.

Ras signal intensity and p53 in lung cancer

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21107427

Selective activation of p53-mediated tumour suppression in high-grade tumours.
Junttila MR, Karnezis AN, Garcia D, et al.
Nature. 2010 Nov 25;468(7323):567-71.

Health care quality: necessary reading by Bryan Liang

12 Widener L. Rev. 83; 2005
REGULATING FOR PATIENT SAFETY: THE LAW'S RESPONSE TO MEDICAL ERRORS: COLLABORATING ON PATIENT SAFETY: LEGAL CONCERNS AND POLICY REQUIREMENTS

Urban health-clinicians overestimate patients' use of technology

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21086028

J Community Health. 2010 Nov 11. [Epub ahead of print]
The Digital Divide at an Urban Community Health Center: Implications for Quality Improvement and Health Care Access.
Denizard-Thompson NM, Feiereisel KB, Stevens SF, Miller DP, Wofford JL.
Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC

Young children and influenza

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21106444

Lancet Infect Dis. 2010 Nov 22. [Epub ahead of print]
Influenza in young children: burden, immunisation, and policy.
Steinhoff MC.
Global Health Center, Cincinatti Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinatti, OH

Tara Henderson and colleagues: racial/ethnic disparities in risk/survival with neuroblastoma

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21098321

Henderson TO, Bhatia S, Pinto N, London WB, McGrady P, Crotty C, Sun CL, Cohn SL.
J Clin Oncol. 2010 Nov 22. [Epub ahead of print]
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Risk and Survival in Children With Neuroblastoma: A Children's Oncology Group Study.
Comer Children's Hospital and University of Chicago, Chicago, IL; City of Hope, Duarte, CA; Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; and the Children's Oncology Group Statistics and Data Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Pathologists take note!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20737003

Rep Carcinog Backgr Doc. 2010 Jan;(10-5981):i-512.
Final Report on Carcinogens Background Document for Formaldehyde.
National Toxicology Program.

NY Times article on America's youth--wired and distracted

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/technology/21brain.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

HIV and Lung Cancer: from Virginia Mason Medical Center

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21062730

Clin Lung Cancer. 2010 Nov 1;11(6):396-404.
Human immunodeficiency virus-associated primary lung cancer in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy: a multi-institutional collaboration.
D'Jaen GA, Pantanowitz L, Bower M, et al.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA

Gig'em!

Aggies vs tu!
7PM tonight!