Postgraduate medicine
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Postgraduate medicine · Mar 2001
ReviewSERMs and cardiovascular disease in women. How do these agents affect risk?
The beneficial effects of SERMs, specifically tamoxifen in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer and raloxifene in the prevention of osteoporosis, are well established. In addition, numerous groups of investigators have reported that these agents have a positive impact on cardiovascular health, possibly as a result of their cholesterol-lowering and anticoagulation actions. ⋯ Similarly, raloxifene treatment had modest positive effects on cardiovascular risk factors but was associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism. When viewed as a whole, study results dictate that the benefits of SERM use for the prevention of cardiovascular disease be carefully weighed against the potential risks.
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Postgraduate medicine · Mar 2001
ReviewHematologic and oncologic emergencies. Doing the most good in the least time.
Broad categories of emergency hematologic and oncologic situations are metabolic crises, compressions and obstructions, and symptomatic cytopenias. In each instance, a decision to intervene should be made on the basis of findings on diagnostic assessment in combination with prognostic information. ⋯ Numerous diseases, including potentially curable cancer, can be modified and patients' quality of life substantially improved with appropriate emergency intervention. Fortunately, the modern therapeutic arsenal provides many specific measures to manage these challenging clinical situations.