Genetic confirmation of Octopus insularis (Leite and Haimovici, 2008) in South Florida, United States using physical features and de novo genome assembly.

The distribution of octopuses within the Octopus vulgaris species complex remains inadequately understood. Species determination can be complex and involves characterizing a specimen's physical features and comparing its genetic makeup to other populations. In this study, we present the first genetic confirmation of Octopus insularis (Leite and Haimovici, 2008) inhabiting the coastal waters of the Florida Keys, United States. We employed visual observations to identify species-specific body patterns of three wild-caught octopuses and used de novo genome assembly to confirm their species. All three specimens exhibited a red/white reticulated pattern on their ventral arm surface. Two specimens displayed body pattern components of deimatic display (white eye encircled by a light ring, with darkening around the eye). All visual observations were consistent with distinguishing features of O. insularis. We then compared mitochondrial subunits COI, COIII, and 16S in these specimens across all available annotated octopod sequences, including Sepia apama (Hotaling et al., 2021) as a control outgroup taxon. For species exhibiting intraspecific genomic variation, we included multiple sequences from geographically distinct populations. Laboratory specimens consistently clustered into a single taxonomic node with O. insularis. These findings confirm O. insularis presence in South Florida and suggest a more extensive northern distribution than previously assumed. Whole genome Illumina sequencing of multiple specimens enabled taxonomic identification with well-established DNA barcodes while also generating the first de novo full assembly of O. insularis. Furthermore, constructing and comparing phylogenetic trees for multiple conserved genes is essential for confirming the presence and delineation of cryptic species in the Caribbean.

Weak population differentiation and high diversity in Salsola tragus in the inland Pacific Northwest, USA.

BACKGROUND: Salsola tragus is a widespread and problematic weed of semi-arid wheat production globally, and in the inland Pacific Northwest region of the USA. The species exhibits high levels of phenotypic diversity across its range and, at least in California USA, previous work has described cryptic diversity comprising a multi-species complex. Such cryptic diversity could suggest the potential for a differential response to management inputs between groups, and have important implications for the spread of herbicide resistance or other adaptive traits within populations. We used a genotyping-by-sequencing approach to characterize the population structure of S. tragus in the inland Pacific Northwest. RESULTS: Our results indicated that the population in this region is comprised of a single, tetraploid species (S. tragus sensu latu) with weak population structure on a regional scale. Isolation-by-distance appears to be the primary pattern of structure, but an independent set of weakly differentiated clusters of unknown origin were also apparent, along with a mixed mating system and high levels of largely unstructured genetic diversity. CONCLUSIONS: Despite considerable phenotypic variability within S. tragus in the region, agronomic weed managers can likely consider it as a single entity across the region, rather than a collection of cryptic subgroups with possible differential responses to management inputs or agroecosystem conditions. A lack of strong barriers to migration and gene flow mean that adaptive traits, such as herbicide resistance, can be expected to spread rapidly through populations across the region. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Telemedicine and the current opportunities for the management of oncological patients in Peru in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 pandemic is the more challenging public health emergency of the century, producing the collapse of health systems and unprecedented levels of morbidity and mortality around the world, especially in low resource settings. Patients with chronic diseases are the most affected, not only due to the high susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection but also due to the decrease in opportunities for timely care. In this dark landscape, telemedicine, before limited to very specific scenarios, has become one of our main tools to manage cancer patients, particularly in Latin America where COVID-19 has had a strong impact on the public health. Telemedicine can provide rapid access to specialized cancer care in a scenario complicated, reducing the exposure of patients and healthcare personnel to the SARS-CoV-2. In this review, we would like to share our experience and our workflow using telemedicine at Oncosalud-AUNA, a private clinic in Peru.

Seven Former FDA Commissioners: The FDA Should Be An Independent Federal Agency.

Seven former commissioners of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from both sides of the political aisle recommend that the FDA be moved out of the Department of Health and Human Services and reconfigured as an independent federal agency. We believe that such a reengineering would promote reliance on consistent science-based regulation and ensure that the American public has access to the best that science and industry can offer.

[Impact of splenectomy and/or distal pancreatectomy in the prognosis of the proximal gastric cancer]. / Impacto de la esplenectomia y/o pancreatectomia distal en el pronostico del cancer gastrico proximal.

OBJECTIVES: Identify prognostic factors associated to total or proximal gastrectomy with or without splenectomy and / or distal pancreatectomy in patient with proximal gastric cancer. Evaluate the frequency of lymph node metastasis to the hilum and splenic artery, postoperative morbidity and mortality and the impact of lymphadenectomy of group 10 and 11 on long term survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed an observational, descriptive, longitudinal and retrospective study analyzing patients with diagnostic of proximal third gastric adenocarcinoma subjected to total or proximal gastrectomy with or without splenectomy or distal pancreatectomy in the service of Abdomen of the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas between 1990 and 2005. Overall survival for each of the groups was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, prognostic factors were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: We studied 219 patients with proximal third gastric adenocarcinoma (cardias and bottom), of wich, according to inclusion criteria, only qualify 129 (N=129): 22 (17.1%) were treated by gastrectomy alone, 79 (61.2%) gastrectomy associated witch splenectomy and 28 (21.7%) gastrectomy with distal pancreatosplenectomy, constituting three treatment groups. We compared the survival of each group and each factor analyzed, determining the following prognostic factors: lymph node metastasis (N2-N3), degree of differentiation, undifferentiated tumors and Borrmann III and IV tumors. Neither splenectomy or distal pancreatectosplenectomy improved survival compared to the gastrectomy alone. The morbidity and mortality was higher in patients with more aggressive but more aggressive surgery without significant value. CONCLUSIONS: The number of nodes removed in patients who had pancreatosplenectomy and /or splenectomy was higher, however, had no impact on survival at 5 years.

Impacto de la esplenectomia y/o pancreatectomia distal en el pronóstico del cáncer gástrico proximal / Impact of splenectomy and / or distal pancreatectomy in the proximal gastric cancer prognosis

OBJETIVOS: Identificar factores pronósticos asociados a gastrectomías totales o proximales con o sin esplenectomía y/o pancreatectomía distal en pacientes con cáncer gástrico proximal. Evaluar la frecuencia de metástasis ganglionar en el hilio y arteria esplénica, la morbimortalidad postoperatoria y el impacto de la linfadenectomía del grupo 10 y 11 en la sobrevida del paciente. MATERIALES Y METODOS: Es un estudio observacional, descriptivo, longitudinal y retrospectivo que analiza pacientes con diagnóstico de adenocarcinoma gástrico del tercio proximal sometidos a gastrectomía total y/o proximal asociada o no a esplenectomía y/o pancreatectomía distal, en el Departamento de Abdomen del Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas entre 1990 y 2005. La sobrevida global para cada uno de los grupos fue calculada utilizando, el método de Kaplan-Meier, los factores pronósticos fueron evaluados utilizando el análisis univariado y multivariado de Cox. RESULTADOS: Fueron estudiados 219 pacientes con adenocarcinoma gástrico del tercio proximal (cardias y fondo), de los cuales, según los criterios de inclusión, califican solo 129 (N= 129): 22 (17.1%) se trataron mediante gastrectomía sola, 79 (61.2%) gastrectomía asociada a esplenectomía y 28 (21.7%) gastrectomía con pancreatoesplenectomía distal, constituyendo tres grupos de tratamiento. Se comparó la supervivencia de cada grupo y en cada factor analizado, determinando los siguientes factores pronósticos: compromiso ganglionar (N2 ûN3), grado histológico indiferenciado y tumores Borrmann III y IV. Ni la esplenectomía ni la pancreatoesplenectomía distal mejoró la supervivencia con respecto a la gastrectomía sola. La morbimortalidad fue mayor en los pacientes con cirugía más agresiva pero sin valor significativo. CONCLUSIONES: El número de ganglios extirpados en pacientes que tuvieron pancreatoesplenectomía y/o esplenectomía fue mayor, sin embargo, no tuvo impacto en la sobrevida a 5 años.

OBJECTIVES: Identify prognostic factors associated to total or proximal gastrectomy with or without splenectomy and / or distal pancreatectomy in patient with proximal gastric cancer. Evaluate the frequency of lymph node metastasis to the hilum and splenic artery, postoperative morbidity and mortality and the impact of lymphadenectomy of group 10 and 11 on long term survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed an observational, descriptive, longitudinal and retrospective study analyzing patients with diagnostic of proximal third gastric adenocarcinoma subjected to total or proximal gastrectomy with or without splenectomy or distal pancreatectomy in the service of Abdomen of the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas between 1990 and 2005. Overall survival for each of the groups was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, prognostic factors were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: We studied 219 patients with proximal third gastric adenocarcinoma (cardias and bottom), of wich, according to inclusion criteria, only qualify 129 (N=129): 22 (17.1%) were treated by gastrectomy alone, 79 (61.2%) gastrectomy associated witch splenectomy and 28 (21.7%) gastrectomy with distal pancreatosplenectomy, constituting three treatment groups. We compared the survival of each group and each factor analyzed, determining the following prognostic factors: lymph node metastasis (N2-N3), degree of differentiation, undifferentiated tumors and Borrmann III and IV tumors. Neither splenectomy or distal pancreatectosplenectomy improved survival compared to the gastrectomy alone. The morbidity and mortality was higher in patients with more aggressive but more aggressive surgery without significant value. CONCLUSIONS: The number of nodes removed in patients who had pancreatosplenectomy and /or splenectomy was higher, however, had no impact on survival at 5 years.

[Surgical outcome of 801 patients with localized gastric cancer treated with d2 lymphadenectomy]. / Cancer gastrico localizado :resultados quirurgicos de 801 pacientes tratados con linfadenectomia d2.

BACKGROUND: D2 gastrectomy has been regarded as an inconvenient procedure with high morbidity and no survival benefit in the West. Recent studies, however, have shown low mortality and a survival benefit of D2 gastrectomy. In the Instituto de Enfermedades Neoplasicas (INEN) of Lima Peru D2 gastrectomy is performed since 1990 after training of some of the authors in the NCC of Tokyo Japan. Distal Pancreatectomy was performed only if the pancreas was involved.The aim of this study was to evaluate the peri operative mortality and survival in a group of patients who had a standard D2 lymphadenectomy according to the rules of the Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer. Data were collected prospectively, and patients were followed for more than 7 years. METHODS: Between 1990 and 1999, 938 patients with localized gastric cancer were registered at INEN. Of these, 801 patients underwent curative resection with extended lymphadenectomy (D2). Postoperative morbidity/mortality, type of gastrectomy, mean of lymph nodes removed, pTNM stages and Survival Time and were analyzed. RESULTS: Sub total distal gastrectomy was performed in 511 patients and total gastrectomy in 290 patients. The mean number of lymph nodes removed was 46.48 per patient (54.91 nodes for total and 41.69 for sub total distal gastrectomy). Hospital mortality was 2.9%. 11% were Stage (TNM) IA, 9.4% stage IB, 19% stage II, 24.6% stage IIIA, 13.1% stage IIIB and 23% stage IV. Five-year actuarial survival was 47.5%. Five-year survival of patients with TNM stages IA, IB, II, IIIA, IIIB and IV were 85.8%, 79.4%, 60%, 46.7% 33% and 14.3% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy may be performed with low morbidity and mortality if the operation is performed in specialized centers with a strict quality control system, and without removing the pancreas during total gastrectomy unless it is suspected to be involved. This procedure could provide a good probability of long-term survival, even for patients with invaded regional lymph nodes.

Cáncer gástrico localizado: resultados quirúrgicos de 801 pacientes tratados con linfadenectomia D2 / Surgical outcome of 801 patients with localized gastric cancer treated with D2 lymphadenectomy

ANTECEDENTES: La gastrectomía D2 es un procedimiento considerado inconveniente por la alta mortalidad y la falta de beneficio en la sobrevida. Sin embargo estudios recientes demuestran que también en occidente la D2 tiene baja mortalidad e impacto en la sobrevida. En el instituto de enfermedades neoplasicas la gastrectomía D2 se realiza desde 1990 después del entrenamiento de algunos de los autores en el NCC de Tokio Japón. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar la mortalidad peri operatoria y sobrevida en un grupo de pacientes quienes tuvieron una gastrectomía D2 (con preservación de páncreas) de acuerdo a las reglas de la Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer.. Los datos fueron recolectados prospectivamente y los pacientes fueron seguidos por un mínimo de 7 años. METODOS: Una serie de 938 pacientes con cáncer gástrico localizado fueron admitidos al INEN entre 1990 y 1999, de estos 801 pacientes tuvieron una reseccion curativa D2. Se analizo la mortalidad post operatoria, tipo de gastrectomía, promedio de ganglios linfáticos resecados, estadios TNM y tiempo de sobrevida. RESULTADOS: Se realizo 511 gastrectomias sub total distal y 290 gastrectomias totales, el promedio de ganglios resecados fue de 46.8 por ciento (54.9 ganglios para total y 41.69 para sub total). La mortalidad hospitalaria fue de 2.9 por ciento. 11 por ciento fueron estadio TNM IA, 9.4 por ciento estadio IB, 24.6 por ciento estadio IIIA, 13.1 por ciento estadio IIIB y 23 por ciento estadio IV.La sobrevida a5 años fue de 47.5 por ciento , la sobrevida a 5 años para los estadios IA, IB, II, IIIA, IIIB y IV fue de 85.8 por ciento , 79.4 por ciento , 60 por ciento , 46.7 por ciento 33 por ciento and 14.3 por ciento respectivamente...

BACKGROUND: D2 gastrectomy has been regarded as an inconvenient procedure with high morbidity and no survival benefit in the West. Recent studies, however, have shown low mortality and a survival benefit of D2 gastrectomy. In the Instituto de Enfermedades Neoplasicas (INEN) of Lima Peru D2 gastrectomy is performed since 1990 after training of some of the authors in the NCC of Tokio Japan. Distal Pancreatectomy was performed only if the pancreas was involved. The aim of this study was to evaluate the peri operative mortality and survival in a group of patients who had a standard D2 lymphadenectomy according to the rules of the Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer. Data were collected prospectively, and patients were followed for more than 7 years.METHODS: Between 1990 and 1999, 938 patients with localized gastric cancer were registered at INEN. Of these, 801 patients underwent curative resection with extended lymphadenectomy (D2). Post operative morbidity/mortality, type of gastrectomy, mean of lymph nodes removed, pTNM stages and Survival Time and were analyzed. RESULTS: Sub total distal gastrectomy was performed in 511 patients and total gastrectomy in 290 patients. The mean number of lymph nodes removed was 46.48 per patient (54.91 nodes for total and 41.69 for sub total distal gastrectomy). Hospital mortality was 2.9 percent. 11 percent were Stage (TNM) IA, 9.4 percent stage IB, 19 percent stage II, 24.6 percent stage IIIA, 13.1 percent stage IIIB and 23 percent stage IV. Five-year actuarial survival was 47.5 percent. Five-year survival of patients with TNM stages IA, IB, II, IIIA, IIIB and IV were 85.8 percent, 79.4 percent, 60 percent, 46.7 percent 33 percent and 14.3 percent respectively...

[Laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer: initial experience]. / Gastrectomía distal laparoscópica por cáncer gástrico. Experiencia inicial.

OBJECTIVE: To report the initial experience with the laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) with D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between May 2006 and May 2007, 29 consecutive GC patients with gastric cancer underwent LADG with D2 lymphadenectomy. The operation consisted in a laparoscopic time to perform lymphadenectomy and mobilization of the distal stomach, followed by a minilaparotomy for exteriorization of the specimen and construction of a hand sewn anastomosis. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients underwent LADG with D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer. Mean age was 58.2 years. Mean operative time was 287.4 min. Mean number of lymph nodes resected was 42.6. Twelve patients were early gastric cancer, and seventeen were advanced gastric cancer. Mean proximal and distal resection margin were 5.8 cm and 3.5 cm, respectively. Resection margins were negative in all cases. Mean number of lymph nodes resected was 42.6. Thirty-day morbidity rate was 10.3 %. There were no postoperative deaths.CONCLUSION. The short-term results of our LADG with D2 lymphadenectomy for the treatment of gastric cancer shows that a radical surgery, in terms of resection margins and lymphadenectomy, can be done with low morbidity.

Gastrectomía distal laparoscópica por cáncer gástrico. Experiencia inicial / Laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Initial experience

OBJETIVO. Presentar la experiencia inicial con la gastrectomía distal asistida por laparoscopía (GDAL) analizando la morbilidad y mortalidad peri operatoria y la radicalidad del rocedimiento. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS. La serie comprende 29 pacientes con cáncer gástrico candidatos a gastrectomía radical operados entre mayo 2006 y marzo 2008. La operación consistió la movilización del estómago distal y la linfadenectomía D2 por vía laparoscópica y una mini laparotomía para la extirpación de la pieza operatoria y la confección de lasanastomosis respectivas. RESULTADOS. 29 pacientes tuvieron GDAL con linfadenectomía D2. Doce pacientes tuvieron cáncer gástrico precoz y 19 tuvieron cáncer gástrico avanzado. El tiempo operatorio promedio fue 287.4 min. El promedio de ganglios resecados fue 42.6. Los márgenes quirúrgicos proximal y distal fueron de 5.8 cm. y 3.5 cm., respectivamente. Histológicamente, todos los márgenes fueron negativos. La morbilidad post operatoria fue 10.3%. Ningún paciente falleció en el post operatorio. CONCLUSION. Los resultados a corto plazo de nuestra serie inicial demuestran que la GDAL para el tratamiento del cáncer gástrico es un procedimiento que puede realizarse con criterio oncológico y con baja morbilidad.

OBJECTIVE. To report the initial experience with the laparoscopy-assisted distalgastrectomy (LADG) with D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS. Between May 2006 and May 2007, 29 consecutive GC patientswith gastric cancer underwent LADG with D2 lymphadenectomy.The operation consisted in a laparoscopic time to perform lymphadenectomy and mobilization of the distal stomach, followed by a minilaparotomy for exteriorization of the specimen and construction of a hand sewn anastomosis.RESULTS. Twenty-nine patients underwent LADG with D2 lymphadenectomy for gastriccancer. Mean age was 58.2 years. Mean operative time was 287.4 min. Mean number oflymph nodes resected was 42.6. Twelve patients were early gastric cancer, and seventeen were advanced gastric cancer. Mean proximal and distal resection margin were 5.8 cm and 3.5 cm, respectively. Resection margins were negative in all cases. Mean number of lymph nodes resected was 42.6. Thirty-day morbidity rate was 10.3%. There were no postoperative deaths. CONCLUSION. The short-term results of our LADG with D2 lymphadenectomy for the treatment of gastric cancer shows that a radical surgery, in terms of resection margins and lymphadenectomy, can be done with low morbidity.

[Short and long-term results of liver resection for hepatocarcinoma in Peru: a Peruvian single center experience on 232 cases]. / Resultados a corto y largo plazo de la resección hepática por hepatocarcinoma. análisis de 232 resecciones consecutivas.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the short and long term outcome of liver resections for hepatocellular carcinoma a retrospective analysis was performed on 232 consecutive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma resected between January 1990 and December 2006 at the Department of Abdomen of the Instituto de Enfermedades Neoplasicas of Lima Peru. METHODS: Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were determined by Kaplan-Meier method, Prognostic factors were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analysis RESULTS: The median age was 36 years. 44.2% were associated with hepatitis B, only 16.3% had cirrhosis. The median size of the tumors was 15 cm. The median value of AFP was 5,467 ng/ml. The majority of patients underwent a major hepatectomy (74.2 % had four or more segments resected)Overall morbidity and mortality were 13.7% and 5.3% respectively. After a median follow-up of 40 months, tumour recurrence appeared in 53.3% of the patients. The 1, 3, and 5 year overall survival rates were 66.5%, 38.7% and 26.7%respectively. The 1, 3, and 5 year disease-free survival rates were 53.7%, 27.6%, and 19.9%. On multivariate analysis, presence of multiple nodules (p<0.000), cirrhosis (p=0.001), and macroscopic vascular invasion (p=0.001) were found to be independent prognostic factors related to a worse long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical resection is the optimal therapy for large HCC and can be safely performed with a reasonable long-term survival.

Community decline and mortality.

UNLABELLED: This study of the relation of social problems to mortality in the context of growth and decline in 50 New York counties is guided by an ecological framework that sees communities depending on their many agencies and services for maintaining and improving the well-being of residents despite external problems/threats. Two all-purpose measures of threats are community growth and decline, especially the latter. If the specialized agencies typical of more urbanized places are weak, threats generate internal social problems like crime and unemployment and these lower population health. FINDINGS: when urbanization is held constant, growth is negatively associated with poverty-related problems while decline predicts deviance. Both poverty and deviance problems, in turn, predict mortality. The applied implications of this model are discussed.

[Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: retrospective analysis of 6 cases]. / Colecistitis xantogranulomatosa: análisis retrospectivo de 6 casos.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (CX) is a rare kind of chronic cholecystitis, not yet reported in our media, characterized by the presence of chronic, inflammatory infiltration, formation of granulomas, with fibrosis and severe histiocytic reaction with macrophages rich in foam cells. The object of this study is to establish the clinical, radiological and histopathological pattern of CX, by means of the analysis of 6 cases identified in a retrospective check of 191 medical histories of cholecystectomized patients suffering from anatomopathological diagnosis of chronic cholecystitis, in the Department of Abdomen of the Institute of Neoplastic Diseases, from 1939 to 2004. The clinical presentation was characterized by the presence of a palpable mass on physical examination and weight loss. There were complications in two patients. The ultrasonigraph, tomograph and/or laparotomy scans of the vesicle were similar in appearance to a locally advanced vesicular cancer. In none of the specimens was the coexistence of a vesicular carcinoma identified. The vesicle was dried out in block with adjacent hepatic parenchyma in all cases. The CX can simulate a hepatobiliary malignant neoplasia and require suitable oncological surgical treatment. In cases of vesicular tumors, which can be considered inoperable there is the possibility of being faced with a xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (CX), a benign condition treatable with surgery.

Types of provincial structure and population health.

This paper explores the potential of using large administrative units for studies of population health within a country. The objective is to illustrate a new way of defining structural dimensions and to use them in examining variation in life expectancy rates. We use data from the 50 provinces of Spain as a case study. A factor analysis of organizational items such as schools, hotels and medical personnel is employed to define and generate "collective" measures for well-known provincial types, in this case: urban, commercial, industrial and tourist provinces. The scores derived from the factor analysis are then used in a regression model to predict life expectancy. The City-centered and Commercial provinces showed positive correlations with life expectancy while those for the Tourist provinces were negative. The industrial type was nonsignificant. Explanations of these correlations are proposed and the advantages and disadvantages of this exploratory technique are reviewed. The use of this technique for generating an overview of social organization and population health is discussed.

[Postoperative morbidity and in-hospital mortality of gastrectomy due to gastric adenocarcinoma: a report of 50 years]. / Morbilidad post operatoria y mortalidad intrahospitalaria de la gastrectomia por adenocarcinoma gastrico: analisis de 50 años.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the postoperative morbidity and in-hospital mortality of gastrectomy due to gastric cancer. METHOD: The study involved the review of the clinical records of all patients with histologically confirmed diagnostic of gastric adenocarcinoma, which underwent a gastrectomy at the Peruvian Institute of Neoplastic Diseases between January 1950 and December 1999. During that period, 2,033 gastrectomies were performed, 503 of which were total gastrectomies and 1,447 were distal subtotal gastrectomies. Postoperative morbidity of total and distal subtotal gastrectomy dropped from 23.7% and 14.3% during the 1950 decade, to 19.8% and 7.4% during the 1990 decade, respectively, while the in-hospital mortality of total and subtotal gastrectomy dropped from 28.9% and 19.4% during the 50s to 4.4% and 2.2% during the 90's. The most common complications were the esophagojejunal, gastrojejunal and duodenal fistulas, respiratory infections, intra-abdominal abscesses, pancreatic fistula, early intestinal obstruction, hemorrhage from the anastomosis site and surgical site infection. RESULTS: Multivariate logistics regression analysis showed that the risk factors for in-hospital mortality of total gastrectomy were hypoalbuminemia, intraoperative blood transfusion and re-resection (OR: 2.4, 5.9 and 1.7, respectively). For distal subtotal gastrectomy, the risk factors for in-hospital mortality were hypoalbuminemia, intraoperative blood transfusion, splenectomy and re-resection (OR: 2.6, 2.46, 2.42 and 6.3, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, the in-hospital mortality risk depends on the postoperative variables (hypoalbuminemia, intraoperative blood transfusion, splenectomy and re-resection) more than on the pre-operative variables, beyond the surgeon's control (age, sex, clinical stage, etc.).

The need for a global health disaster network

A major difficulty in a disaster is knowing where to find accurate information to help coordinate efforts in a quick and organized way. The establishment of a global information network, in place before a disaster occurs, could link all the efforts towards relief. We propose that a Global Health Unit for Disaster and Relief Coordination be set up as part of the Global Health Network, having the Internet as its backbone. This Unit would establish the links for the disaster information mosaic (AU)