CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne
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The XI International Conference on AIDS brought hope to people infected with HIV and to their physicians. The amount of HIV RNA in an infected person's plasma--the viral load--can be quantified to predict the course of the disease and provide a basis for therapeutic decisions. ⋯ Speakers at the conference explained the dynamics of viral replication and the immune response to HIV infection, and provided preliminary results of studies designed to test the feasibility of eradicating HIV from the body. New guidelines for antiretroviral therapy were presented at a satellite symposium, but the prospects for the long-term success of antiretroviral therapy are unknown.
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Biography Historical Article
Canadian neurosurgeon helps prove that robots, surgery "are made to be partners".
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In the context of patient consent, "capacity" refers to the patient's ability to understand information relevant to a treatment decision and to appreciate the reasonably foreseeable consequences of a decision or lack of decision. A person may be "capable" with respect to one decision but not with respect to another. Clinicians can usually identify patients who are clearly capable or incapable, but in some cases a clinical capacity assessment is required. ⋯ Specific capacity assessment, in which the clinician evaluates the patient's ability to understand pertinent information and appreciate its implications, is probably the optimal method. When conducting a specific capacity assessment, the clinician must ensure that the disclosure of information is effective and must evaluate the patient's reason for his or her decision. If the assessment suggests that the patient is incapable, further assessment is generally recommended.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Appropriateness of primary total hip and knee replacements in regions of Ontario with high and low utilization rates.
To compare the appropriateness of case selection for primary hip and knee replacements between two regions in Ontario: one with a high population-based utilization rate and one with a low rate. ⋯ Patients selected for primary hip or knee replacement are similar in the high- and low-rate regions of Ontario. Inappropriate use of this procedure does not account for the high rate of surgery in some areas. Further studies will be required to determine which other factors account for the regional variations in the utilization rates and whether there is underservicing in low-rate areas.
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Biography Historical Article
Dr. Tom Chalmers, 1917-1995: the trials of a randomizer. Interview by Malcolm Maclure.