Annals of surgery
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To determine the academic contribution as measured by number of publications, citations, and National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding from PhD scientists in US departments of surgery. ⋯ The presence of dedicated research faculty with PhDs supports the academic mission of surgery departments by increasing both NIH funding and scholarly productivity. In contrast to MDs and MD/PhDs, PhDs seem to have similar levels of academic output and funding independent of the overall NIH funding environment of their department. This suggests that research programs in departments with limited resources may be enhanced by the recruitment of PhD faculty.
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We aimed to identify the role of the enzyme acid sphingomyelinase in the aging of stored units of packed red blood cells (pRBCs) and subsequent lung inflammation after transfusion. ⋯ Acid sphingomyelinase inhibition in stored pRBCs offers a novel mechanism for improving the quality of stored blood.
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To determine the cost-effectiveness of perioperative administration of pasireotide for reduction of pancreatic fistula (PF). ⋯ Pasireotide appears to be a cost-saving treatment following PD across a wide variation of clinical and cost scenarios.
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Demonstrate intratumoral genetic heterogeneity in rectal cancer. ⋯ Considerable intratumoral heterogeneity is present among naive rectal cancers. The majority of point mutations detected in different fragments from rectal cancers are frequently unique to a single fragment. These findings support that gene mutations found on single pretreatment biopsies will not necessarily be representative of mutations present in the entirety of the tumor and therefore may limit the utility of the biological information provided by single biopsy fragments for clinical management decisions.
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To identify the associations of lymph node metastases (pN+), number of positive nodes, and pN subclassification with cancer, treatment, patient, geographic, and institutional variables, and to recommend extent of lymphadenectomy needed to accurately detect pN+ for esophageal cancer. ⋯ In esophageal cancer, pN+, increasing number of positive nodes, and increasing pN classification are associated with deeper invading, longer, and poorly differentiated cancers. Consequently, if the goal of lymphadenectomy is to accurately define pN+ status of such cancers, few nodes need to be removed. Conversely, superficial, shorter, and well-differentiated cancers require a more extensive lymphadenectomy to accurately define pN+ status.