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Saturday, April 11, 2009
Gastroenterology Clinics of North America Volume 38, Issue 1, Pages 1-198 (March 2009) Esophageal Cancer
Gastroenterology Clinics of North America
Volume 38, Issue 1, Pages 1-198 (March 2009)
Esophageal Cancer
Edited by G.D. Eslick
It is with tremendous optimism that I welcome you to this issue of Gastroenterology Clinics of North America, which is devoted to esophageal cancer. Esophageal cancer is on the rise in terms of incidence in the Western world, and survival rates have not improved much in the last 30 years. This lack of progress in survival rates is mainly because, unfortunately, most individuals only develop symptoms after the cancer has already metastasized to other organs, by which time a cure is usually out of the question. Esophageal cancer is a devastating disease. As Lyman A. Brewer IIII said, “No patients with malignancy are more miserable than those suffering unrelieved malignant obstruction of the esophagus, because they ultimately die of slow starvation” (Am J Surg 1980:139:730–43). Esophageal cancer is a major public health problem, and the time has come for funding bodies (in particular, cancer organizations) to take greater notice and dedicate increased funding to all aspects of esophageal cancer research.
The topics selected for this issue of Gastroenterology Clinics of North America have been chosen for two reasons. The first is to fill gaps in knowledge. Thus, new information is presented on cutting-edge topics, such as genetic polymorphisms, and on topics unfamiliar to many in the field, such as the use of Chinese herbal medicines. The second reason is to provide the latest information on advances in such areas as clinical pathology, epidemiology, positron emission tomography, ultrasonography, and environmental causes of esophageal cancer. It has been a true pleasure reading and editing this outstanding collection of articles written by leading authorities in the field.
As I was preparing for this issue, I found some interesting trivia about people who had developed esophageal cancer. Two actors had made comments about what they “jokingly” thought might have been the cause of their esophageal cancer. The first was Humphrey Bogart (1899–1957), who was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 1956. He was a heavy drinker and cigarette smoker. He had surgery that involved an esophagectomy, removal of two lymph nodes, and a rib, and he also had a course of postsurgical chemotherapy. He had radiation therapy due to recurrence of the cancer 6 months after surgery. He died at home after falling into a coma. His last words were: “I never should have switched from scotch to martinis.” The second was Jack Soo (1917–1979), a Japanese-American actor who was cast in the 1970s television comedy Barney Miller as the laid-back, but very wry, Detective Nick Yemana, who was also responsible for making the awful coffee that everyone in the office had the misfortune to drink every day. Just before he was taken into the operating room before his death, his last words to his Barney Miller co-star Hal Linden were: “It must have been the coffee.” Some other well-known people who had esophageal cancer include Japanese children's author Kenjiro Haitani (1934–2006); University of Miami basketball legend Dick Hickox (1938–2006); actor Makoto “Mako” Iwamatsu (1933–2006); Jaap Penraat (1918–2006), who helped 406 Jews escape the Holocaust; Texas Governor Ann Richards (1933–2006); and Larry Stewart (1948–2007), who anonymously gave away $100 bills to the needy each December as “Secret Santa.”
I would like to thank the senior editor of Gastroenterology Clinics of North America, Kerry Holland, for her valuable advice, patience, and assistance in putting this issue into publication. I would also like to give special thanks to my wife, Enid, and our daughter, Marielle, for their love and support.
One of the main reasons for developing this issue on esophageal cancer was not only to update and educate, but more so to invigorate, not just those clinicians and researchers currently treating esophageal cancer patients or conducting medical research on esophageal cancer, but also those young investigators who want to make a difference in the lives of those with cancer. I strongly encourage you to come forward and join the battle against this devastating yet interesting disease.
http://rapidshare.com/files/220150503/38_1.rar
Surgical Clinics of North America Volume 89, Issue 2, Pages 295-562 (April 2009) Surgical Infections Edited by J.E. Mazuski
Surgical Clinics of North America
Volume 89, Issue 2, Pages 295-562 (April 2009)
Surgical Infections
Edited by J.E. Mazuski
The individual articles of this issue are grouped into three general areas. The first four articles concern complex interactions of pathogens, host, and therapeutic modalities relevant to surgical infections. Motaz and Cheadle provide an overview of the microorganisms responsible for most surgical infections, Lowry describes the host response to infection, Patel and Malangoni summarize antimicrobial chemotherapy, and Byrnes and Beilman discuss other therapeutic modalities for the treatment of patients who have surgical infections.
The next series of articles focuses on specific infections of interest to surgical practitioners. Kirby and Mazuski outline measures to prevent surgical site infections, and Herscu and Wilson specifically discuss infections occurring after implantation of prosthetic materials. May elaborates on the diagnosis and management of skin and soft tissue infections. Mazuski and Solomkin describe both community-acquired and nosocomial intra-abdominal infections. There follows a series of articles focusing on other infectious complications of surgical therapy: Kieninger and Lipsett, Goede and Coopersmith, and Ksycki and Namias provide detailed information regarding postoperative pneumonia, catheter-related bloodstream infections, and urinary tract infections, respectively. The final article in this section, by Efron and Mazuski, describes Clostridium difficile colitis, a modern pestilence directly related to use and misuse of antibiotics.
Numerous interventions can be used to prevent and treat infections associated with surgical therapy. The ultimate section of this issue attempts to bring together some of those themes. Evans and Sawyer summarize measures to avoid development of resistant bacteria and Fry delineates systems approaches for prevention of surgical infections. Finally, Haas and Nathens describe potential future approaches for the management of surgical infections.
In the end, we, as surgeons, share responsibility for creating many of the modern-day plagues of nosocomial infections. Nevertheless, we also possess tools that can help thwart or ameliorate these infections. What is required is effective use of existing evidence-based practices for the prevention and management of surgical infections. Future investigations will lead to new approaches to control these infections, but these scientific advances will only be of value if they can be integrated into surgical practice. Ultimately, we are indeed our own worst enemies if we choose to ignore the importance of appropriately preventing and treating these infections, which can counteract even our best surgical skills. By conscientiously applying the principles outlined in this issue for managing surgical infections, we can protect our patients from the adverse consequences of these infections, and thereby improve the overall quality of surgical care
http://rapidshare.com/files/220147717/89_2.rar
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