Stage-matched survival differences by ethnicity among gastric cancer patients of Asian ancestry treated in the United States.

Background: Differences have been noted in overall survival (OS) in gastric cancer (GC) between trials conducted in Western vs Asian countries. The National Cancer Database (NCDB) reports outcomes and patient/disease variables relevant to OS.

Methods: Using NCDB, we identified 89 558 adult patients with GC diagnosed (2004-2012), where self-reported race/ethnicity was available.

Predictors of Positive Margins After Definitive Resection for Gastric Adenocarcinoma and Impact of Adjuvant Therapies.

Purpose: Positive margins after definitive resection in gastric adenocarcinoma are associated with inferior outcomes. There are few randomized data to guide optimal adjuvant therapy after positive margins.

Methods: Using the National Cancer Database, we identified 24,619 nonmetastatic gastric adenocarcinoma patients who received diagnoses from 2004 to 2013 and underwent definitive resection to analyze for predictors of positive surgical margins.

Tolerability, toxicity, and temporal implications of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) on adjuvant radiation therapy in carcinoma of the head and neck.

Objectives: Overall treatment package time (from surgery to radiotherapy [RT] completion) > 100 days can portend poor outcomes in head and neck cancer. Faster postoperative recovery seen with transoral robotic surgery may decrease treatment duration and toxicity for adjuvant RT and chemoradiation.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients treated with transoral robotic surgery (n = 124) and adjuvant RT and chemoradiation (n = 33) at our institution for head and neck cancer from April 2007 to December 2011 to determine treatment duration, acute toxicity, and long-term percutaneous gastric tube rates.

Characterization of nucleotide pools as a function of physiological state in Escherichia coli.

Using a modified method that involves minimal manipulation of cells, we report new information about nucleotide pool sizes and changes throughout the Escherichia coli growth curve. Nucleotide pool sizes are critically dependent on sample manipulation and extraction methods. Centrifugation and even short (2 min) lapses in sample preparation can dramatically affect results.