[Pmb (OP)]

Sometimes when I attempt to print a PDF file using Adobe Reader it will print the first couple of pages okay then the rest will be messed up. What can be causing this to happen? I've attahed a portion of an example so you can see what I'm talking about. Thank you!

[RD]

If not deliberate PDF obfuscation to prevent plagiarism, then maybe try another PDF-reader other than Adobe reader ... http://lifehacker.com/5328211/five-best-pdf-readers [ I've used the free version of Foxit ].

Recent versions of FireFox browser can display PDFs, but I've never tried printing a PDF via FireFox ...
http://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2013/02/19/firefox-introduces-pdf-viewer-to-browse-the-web-without-interruption/

[SeanB]

Probably a printer driver issue, or you have a printer connected via a USB hub and it is losing data during the transfer. Try updating the printer driver to the latest version from the manufacturers website ( sorry about the 100M download if it is a HP printer......) and check the cable to the printer is connected properly and is direct to the printer.

Then reinstall the latest version of Acrobat ( you have to download it, install it then check for updates, thanks to Adobe being so weird in not giving the latest patches for download) and ty again with a doc that does this.

[RD]

Sometimes when I attempt to print a PDF file using Adobe Reader it will print the first couple of pages okay then the rest will be messed up...

If the fault is is just with one particular PDF document, then that PDF file could be corrupted. Try downloading another copy of the document.

[ An MD5sum can tell you if two copies of a file you have are identical : they will have the same MD5 sum ]

[CliffordK]

I assume you can view the page just fine. 
Can you print the individual pages one at a time?

I think it may be a font problem.  I presume the font in the article is not a system font, and Adobe is doing a font substitution. 

Do you have Acrobat Writer?  Can you figure out what font is actually being used in the article, and perhaps find a copy of that font to install?

Or, perhaps there is an error in your printer driver, and something on that page is sending your printer into a tizzy.  A new printer driver or a different printer may help.

I tried to download a copy of the Lancet article,, and the downloadable version of the individual article looks very different to what you have.

[syhprum]

I downloaded the Lancet article and it produced a 353kb PDF file that was readable with Foxit reader, Adobe acrobat, Photoshop and a fancy new "App" that comes with windows 8 I printed out one page out of the seven OK with Acrobat.

[henry07]

Probably a printer driver issue, or you have a printer connected via a USB hub and it is losing data during the transfer. Try updating the printer driver to the latest version from the manufacturer's website.
newbielink:http://pdf.filerepairtool.net/blog/how-to-restore-critical-data-from-corrupt-pdf-file/ [nonactive]

[aliaster022]

You can try the adobe recovery tool . If that does not work out  then you can assume that the problem is severe and you have to look out for third party software's .
A list of popular software's is as follows

1) SysInfoTools Software
2) Aryson Technologies
3) Stellar Software