Antimicrobials: a global alliance for optimizing their rational use in intra-abdominal infections (AGORA).

Intra-abdominal infections (IAI) are an important cause of morbidity and are frequently associated with poor prognosis, particularly in high-risk patients. The cornerstones in the management of complicated IAIs are timely effective source control with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Empiric antimicrobial therapy is important in the management of intra-abdominal infections and must be broad enough to cover all likely organisms because inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy is associated with poor patient outcomes and the development of bacterial resistance.

Implication of the BRCA2 and putative "BRCA3" genes in Dukes' stage C, replication error-negative colon cancer.

Background: Although BRCA genes have been implicated in certain tumors, particularly breast tumors, their role in colon tumorigenesis has not been fully explored. We aimed to investigate the association of the BRCA2 and putative "BRCA3" genes in a homogeneous series of right-sided colon cancer specimens.

Methods: Twenty-three Dukes' stage C, replication error-negative carcinomas were selected from patients with right-sided colon cancer.

Identifying a region of interest in site- and stage-specific colon cancer on chromosome 13.

Background: The role of genes on chromosome 13q has not been confirmed in colorectal tumors, in part because most series that have been studied are heterogeneous in terms of tumor site, stage, and replication error (RER) status. Using a highly homogenous series of colon tumors, our aim was to identify areas of interest on 13q that are important in carcinogenesis.

Methods: Twenty-three RER-negative tumor specimens from patients with right-sided Dukes' stage C colon tumors were selected for analysis with 10 microsatellite markers spanning 13q.