Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde
-
Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · Aug 1998
Multicenter Study[The importance of steroid receptors for the prognosis and hormone treatment of breast cancer patients: a retrospective study in Southeastern Netherlands].
To assess the effect of oestrogen (ER) and progesterone (PgR) receptors on the prognosis of patients with operable breast cancer and the decision to treat these patients with adjuvant tamoxifen. ⋯ This study shows that ER and PgR receptors are significant prognostic factors for survival in breast cancer patients with involved axillary lymph nodes. The prognostic effect appeared to be restricted to the first four years after primary treatment. Selection of patients for endocrine treatment should be based on the steroid receptor status, considering the importance of the steroid receptors for predicting the response to endocrine treatment.
-
South Sudan has five million inhabitants and has been fighting a war of independence with North Sudan since 1959. The hostilities have totally disrupted society and the country is the most inaccessible of Africa. ⋯ Semi-nomadic pastoral tribes populate South Sudan. Doctors Without Borders assisted in fighting a major epidemic of kala azar in the late eighties which cost some 200,000 lives; the organization still provides medical aid in the country.
-
Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · Jul 1998
[Psychiatric symptoms in refugees reported to the Psychiatric Center De Vonk].
To determine traumatic experiences and psychological symptoms in refugees reported to the psychiatric centre De Vonk, and the relationship between biographical data, experiences of violence and post-traumatic stress symptoms on the one hand and the referral or admission policy on the other. ⋯ In spite of the diversity of language, culture and education among the refugees/asylum seekers referred to De Vonk, it proved adequately possible in practice to use standardized psychological and psychiatric instruments in this group of patients. The symptom level of the patients referred was particularly high.
-
Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · Jul 1998
Historical Article[Fifty years of the column 'Question and Answer'].
The section 'Question and answer' in the Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde (Dutch Journal of Medicine) has existed for over 50 years. Medical questions of readers are published anonymously and answered by an anonymous expert consulted by the editorial staff. At first the column grew rather large but in the last few decades it shrank to only few publications a year. Due to improvements in communication (Internet) and provision of information (electronic databases) it appears that the column, as a medium for questions of readers, is becoming obsolete.
-
Laryngeal tuberculosis was diagnosed in two men, a 73-year-old man Dutch by birth and a 40-year-old one Turkish by birth. In the former patient it was probably primary tuberculosis, in the latter secondary (he had lung tuberculosis as well). The clinical picture was highly suggestive of laryngeal carcinoma in both patients. ⋯ The diagnosis is based on Ziehl-Neelsen staining, culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Because laryngeal tuberculosis is highly infectious, the patient has to be nursed in isolation and people in his or her environment have to be screened. The response of laryngeal tuberculosis to chemotherapy is good.