Tumour markers Tumour markers may be divided into: monoclonal antibodies against carbohydrate or glycoprotein tumour antigens tumour antigens enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, neurone specific enolase) hormones (e.g. calcitonin, ADH) It should be noted that tumour markers usually have a low specificity …
This patient has Meig’s syndrome – an ovarian fibroma associated with a pleural effusion and ascites Tumour markers Tumour markers may be divided into: monoclonal antibodies against carbohydrate or glycoprotein tumour antigens tumour antigens enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, neurone specific enolase) …
Heparin There are two main types of heparin – unfractionated, ‘standard’ heparin or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). Heparins generally act by activating antithrombin III. Unfractionated heparin forms a complex which inhibits thrombin, factors Xa, IXa, XIa and XIIa. LMWH …
Metastatic bone pain may respond to NSAIDs, bisphosphonates or radiotherapy Bone pain often responds well to NSAIDs. Both radiotherapy and bisphosphonates have a role in managing bony pain but these are not first-line treatments Palliative care prescribing: pain NICE guidelines …
Vincristine – peripheral neuropathy Cytotoxic agents The table below summarises the mechanism of action and major adverse effects of commonly used cytotoxic agents Cytotoxic Mechanism of action Adverse effects Vincristine Inhibits formation of microtubules Peripheral neuropathy (reversible) Cisplatin Causes cross-linking …
Power = 1 – the probability of a type II error Significance tests A null hypothesis (H0) states that two treatments are equally effective (and is hence negatively phrased). A significance test uses the sample data to assess how likely …
Odds – remember a ratio of the number of people who incur a particular outcome to the number of people who do not incur the outcome NOT a ratio of the number of people who incur a particular outcome to …
Gastrointestinal hormones Below is a brief summary of the major hormones involved in food digestion: Source Stimulus Actions Gastrin G cells in antrum of the stomach Distension of stomach, vagus nerves (mediated by gastrin-releasing peptide), luminal peptides/amino acids Inhibited by: …
As sudden infant death syndrome is relatively rare a case-control design is more appropriate than a cohort study. Study design The following table highlights the main features of the main types of study: Randomised controlled trial Participants randomly allocated to …
The question is limited to the 80 patients who’ve been given bisphosphonates. Odds are a ratio of the number of people who incur a particular outcome to the number of people who do not incur the outcome. 40 of the …