Lymphadenectomy for Gastric Cancer.

Current treatment for gastric cancer includes a multidisciplinary approach of systemic therapy and surgery. While retrospective, prospective, and randomized trials have demonstrated conflicting results on the need for extended lymphadenectomy, current guidelines dictate a recommendation for the retrieval of at least 16 lymph nodes to accurately stage patients. The "D1" lymph nodes along the major gastric and epiploic vessels may provide adequate lymph node harvest, though "D2" lymphadenectomy along the celiac axis and its branches may be necessary.

Preoperative Frailty and Malnutrition in Surgical Oncology Patients Predicts Higher Postoperative Adverse Events and Worse Survival: Results of a Blinded, Prospective Trial.

Background: Frailty, a multidimensional state leading to reduced physiologic reserve, is associated with worse postoperative outcomes. Despite the availability of various frailty tools, surgeons often make subjective assessments of patients' ability to tolerate surgery. The Risk Analysis Index (RAI) is a validated preoperative frailty assessment tool that has not been studied in cancer patients with plans for curative-intent surgery.

African Immigrants in New York City with Hepatitis B-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Demonstrate High Morbidity and Mortality.

Guidelines recommend hepatitis B (HBV) testing in individuals from endemic areas, and if positive, screening for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While screening programs are well established in the Asian immigrant population in New York City (NYC), less is known about the characteristics of HBV/HCC among the African immigrant community. A retrospective review was performed of HCC cases from 2005 to 2018 at our institution.

Hepatitis C-positive Black patients develop hepatocellular carcinoma at earlier stages of liver disease and present with a more aggressive phenotype.

Background: In the United States, mortality after a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is higher in patients who are Black than in patients of other racial groups. The objective of this study was to clarify factors contributing to this disparity by analyzing liver and tumor characteristics in patients with HCC who have a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: Records of patients with HCV and HCC at the authors' institution from 2003 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed.

Updated staging and patient outcomes in low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms.

Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (LAMNs) exhibit drastically different clinical course and prognosis depending on tumor stage, particularly as it relates to the extent and cellularity of peritoneal involvement. In this context, recent changes in staging guidelines have sought to clarify criteria for pT and pM categories. This study's aim was to identify clinicopathological features associated with patient outcomes, especially as they pertain to updated stage groups.

The Safety of Iterative Cytoreductive Surgery and HIPEC for Peritoneal Carcinomatosis: A High Volume Center Prospectively Maintained Database Analysis.

Introduction: Offering iterative cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) for recurrence of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) poses a surgical dilemma. Safety of this repeated operation in the short and long term has not been largely investigated.

Methods: Patients with PC who underwent 377 CRS/HIPEC procedures between 2007 and 2018 at our institution were included from a prospectively maintained database.

Correction to: Surveillance of Low-Grade Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasms With Peritoneal Metastases After Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy: Are 5 Years Enough? A Multisite Experience.

In the original version of the article, Margaret Hofstedt's last name was misspelled.

Surveillance of Low-Grade Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasms With Peritoneal Metastases After Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy: Are 5 Years Enough? A Multisite Experience.

Background: Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (LAMNs) are tumors that often present with widespread mucin in the peritoneal cavity (pseudomyxoma peritonei [PMP]). Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) are effective treatment, but no published recommendations exist regarding surveillance.

Methods: Data from prospective databases of patients who underwent CRS-HIPEC from 2001 to 2017 at two high-volume institutions were retrospectively analyzed.

Financial burden amongst cancer patients treated with curative intent surgery alone.

Background: The costs of cancer care in the US continue to increase and may have serious consequences for patients. We hypothesize that even cancer patients treated with curative-intent surgery alone experience substantial financial burden.

Methods: A questionnaire was administered to adult cancer patients who were treated with curative-intent surgery.

The Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Approach to Resection of Pancreatic Mucinous Cystic Neoplasms: An Underused Technique?

Pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) are rare tumors typically of the distal pancreas that harbor malignant potential. Although resection is recommended, data are limited on optimal operative approaches to distal pancreatectomy for MCN. MCN resections (2000-2014; eight institutions) were included.

Reassessing the cardiac box: A comprehensive evaluation of the relationship between thoracic gunshot wounds and cardiac injury.

Background: High-energy missiles can cause cardiac injury regardless of entrance site. This study assesses the adequacy of the anatomic borders of the current "cardiac box" to predict cardiac injury.

Methods: Retrospective autopsy review was performed to identify patients with penetrating torso gunshot wounds (GSWs) 2011 to 2013.

Depletion of enteric bacteria diminishes leukocyte infiltration following doxorubicin-induced small intestinal damage in mice.

Background & Aims: While enteric bacteria have been shown to play a critical role in other forms of intestinal damage, their role in mediating the response to the chemotherapeutic drug Doxorubicin (Doxo) is unclear. In this study, we used a mouse model of intestinal bacterial depletion to evaluate the role enteric bacteria play in mediating Doxo-induced small intestinal damage and, more specifically, in mediating chemokine expression and leukocyte infiltration following Doxo treatment. An understanding of this pathway may allow for development of intervention strategies to reduce chemotherapy-induced small intestinal damage.

The diagnosis of pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasm and associated adenocarcinoma in males: An eight-institution study of 349 patients over 15 years.

Background: Per WHO, 2000 classification, pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN) are defined by presence of ovarian stroma, and are primarily located in the pancreatic body/tail of females. The incidence of MCN and associated malignancy in males, since, standardization of MCN diagnostic-criteria is unknown.

Methods: MCN resections from 2000 to 2014 at eight institutions of the Central-Pancreas-Consortium were included, and divided into early (2000-2007) and late (2008-2014) time-periods.

Factors affecting mortality after penetrating cardiac injuries: 10-year experience at urban level I trauma center.

Background: Despite the lethality of injuries to the heart, optimizing factors that impact mortality for victims that do survive to reach the hospital is critical.

Methods: From 2003 to 2012, prehospital data, injury characteristics, and clinical patient factors were analyzed for victims with penetrating cardiac injuries (PCIs) at an urban, level I trauma center.

Results: Over the 10-year study, 80 PCI patients survived to reach the hospital.

Association of Preoperative Risk Factors With Malignancy in Pancreatic Mucinous Cystic Neoplasms: A Multicenter Study.

Importance: Pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) harbor malignant potential, and current guidelines recommend resection. However, data are limited on preoperative risk factors for malignancy (adenocarcinoma or high-grade dysplasia) occurring in the setting of an MCN.

Objectives: To examine the preoperative risk factors for malignancy in resected MCNs and to assess outcomes of MCN-associated adenocarcinoma.

Intestinal bacteria are necessary for doxorubicin-induced intestinal damage but not for doxorubicin-induced apoptosis.

Doxorubicin (DOXO) induces significant, but transient, increases in apoptosis in the stem cell zone of the jejunum, followed by mucosal damage involving a decrease in crypt proliferation, crypt number, and villus height. The gastrointestinal tract is home to a vast population of commensal bacteria and numerous studies have demonstrated a symbiotic relationship between intestinal bacteria and intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) in maintaining homeostatic functions of the intestine. However, whether enteric bacteria play a role in DOXO-induced damage is not well understood.

Penetrating cardiac injuries: A 36-year perspective at an urban, Level I trauma center.

Background: This study evaluates patterns of injuries and outcomes from penetrating cardiac injuries (PCIs) at Grady Memorial Hospital, an urban, Level I trauma center in Atlanta, Georgia, over 36 years.

Methods: Patients sustaining PCIs were identified from the Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons and the Emory Department of Surgery database; data of patients who died prior to any therapy were excluded. Demographics and outcomes were compared over three time intervals: Period 1 (1975-1985; n = 113), Period 2 (1986-1996; n = 79), and Period 3 (2000-2010; n = 79).

Can attention to the intestinal microbiota improve understanding and treatment of anorexia nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterized by severe dietary restriction or other weight loss behaviors and exhibits the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. Therapeutic renourishment in AN is founded primarily on clinical opinion and guidelines, with a weak evidence base. Genetic factors do not fully account for the etiology of AN, and non-genetic factors that contribute to the onset and persistence of this disease warrant investigation.

Adjuvant Therapy in Pancreas Cancer: Does It Influence Patterns of Recurrence?

Background: Level 1 data demonstrate that adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) improves survival after surgical resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), (adjuvant gemcitabine, CONKO-001 study; adjuvant 5-FU, ESPAC3 study). The role of adjuvant chemoradiation therapy (ACRT) remains controversial. What is less clear is whether adjuvant therapy influences patterns of recurrence.

Risk factors for rising incidence of esophageal and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: In the last 30 years, the incidence of esophageal and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma has steadily increased. The increase in incidence is approximately seven-fold, which is a more substantial increase than that of several malignancies, including melanoma, breast cancer, and prostate cancer.

Discussion: The rising incidence has led to a steady increase in mortality from 2 to 15 deaths per 100,000 in the last three decades.

Who teaches basic procedural skills: student experience versus faculty opinion.

Introduction: Learning procedural skills as a medical student has evolved, as task trainers and simulators are now ubiquitous. It is yet unclear whether they have supplanted bedside teaching or are adjuncts to it, and whether faculty or residents are responsible for student skills education in this era. In this study we sought to characterize the experience and opinions of both medical students and faculty on procedural skills training.

Decreased circulating progenitor cell number and failed mechanisms of stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha mediated bone marrow mobilization impair diabetic tissue repair.

Objective: Progenitor cells (PCs) contribute to postnatal neovascularization and tissue repair. Here, we explore the mechanism contributing to decreased diabetic circulating PC number and propose a novel treatment to restore circulating PC number, peripheral neovascularization, and tissue healing.

Research Design And Methods: Cutaneous wounds were created on wild-type (C57BL/J6) and diabetic (Lepr(db/db)) mice.

The effects of flap ischemia on normal and diabetic progenitor cell function.

Background: Endothelial progenitor cells play an important role in neovascularization of ischemic flaps, a process that is significantly impaired in diabetes. This is the first investigation into the effects of flap ischemia on circulating and bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells. Potential mechanisms for impaired vasculogenesis in diabetes are also investigated.