Linezolid is a member of a new, unique class of synthetic antibacterial agents called oxazolidinones that are effective against gram-positive bacteria, including vancomycin-resistant organisms. We tested the hypothesis that the linezolid clearance would not be altered in subjects with renal dysfunction. Twenty-four subjects with renal function that ranged from normal to severe chronic impairment were enrolled, including patients with end-stage renal disease who were maintained on hemodialysis. Hemodialysis subjects were studied while they were both on and off dialysis. Linezolid was administered as a single oral 600-mg dose, and plasma and urine samples were assayed for linezolid and metabolites for 48 h for all subjects and for up to 96 h for those subjects with impaired renal function not on dialysis. The total apparent oral clearance of linezolid did not change with renal function and ranged from 92.5 to 109.6 ml/min for subjects not requiring dialysis. For subjects on dialysis, the total apparent oral clearance increased from 76.6 ml/min on their off-dialysis day to 130.0 ml/min on their on-dialysis day. Approximately one-third of the dose was removed by dialysis. However, those subjects with severe renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance, <40 ml/min) and those with end-stage renal disease maintained on hemodialysis had higher concentrations of both metabolites. We conclude that no adjustment of the linezolid dosage is needed in subjects with renal dysfunction or subjects on hemodialysis.

The sub-gene level map of the sheep genome

Using BAC-end sequences, a sparse marker map and the sequences of the human, dog and cow genomes, an accurate and detailed subgene level map of the sheep genome has been constructed.

Fox Chase Cancer Center Partners (FCCCP) is a community hospital/academic partnership consisting of 25 hospitals in the Delaware Valley. Originally created in 1986, FCCCP promotes quality community cancer care through education, quality assurance, and access to clinical trial research. An important aspect of quality assurance is a yearly medical oncology audit that benchmarks quality indicators and guidelines and provides a roadmap for quality improvement initiatives in the community oncology clinical office setting. Each year, the FCCCP team and the Partner Medical Oncologists build disease site- and stage-specific indicators based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. Concordance with multiple indicators is assessed on 20 charts from each community practice. A report for each FCCCP medical oncology practice summarizes documentation, screening recommendations, new drug use, and research trends in a particular disease site. Descriptive statistics reflect indicators met, number of new cases seen per year, number of disease site cases from tumor registry information, and clinical trial accrual total. Education and documentation tools are provided to physicians and oncology office nursing staff. The FCCCP Clinical Operations Team, consisting of medical oncologists and oncology-certified nurses, has conducted quality audits in medical oncology offices for 7 years using NCCN-derived indicators. Successful audits comprising gastric, colorectal, and breast cancer have been the focus of recent evaluations. For the 2005 stage II/III breast cancer evaluation, mean compliance per parameter was 88%, with 15 of 16 practices achieving mean compliance greater than 80%. A large-scale quality assurance audit in a community cancer partner network is feasible. Recent evaluation of localized breast cancer shows high compliance with guidelines and identifies areas for focused education. Partnership between academic and community oncologists produces a quality review process that is broadly applicable and adaptable to changing medical knowledge.

Background Fox Chase Cancer Center Partners (FCCCP) performs an annual quality review of affiliate practices based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. Given recent treatment advances, we initiated this medical record review in elderly patients with stage III colon cancer to measure compliance with these guidelines. Methods Medical records of 124 patients age ≥ 65 diagnosed with stage III colon cancer between 2003 and 2006 were reviewed. Metrics were developed and based on NCCN guidelines for workup and staging, treatment, and gerontology. Documentation was reviewed via paper (13 sites) and electronic record (2 sites). Results High compliance with staging and workup guidelines was noted with chest imaging (100%), stage (98%), computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen/pelvis (93%), pathology (91%), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA; 91%). Activities of daily living were documented commonly (83%) but colonoscopy less (75%). Age and life expectancy were discussed with the patient in only 49%. Nearly all patients (123 of 124 patients) received adjuvant chemotherapy, with 76 patients (61%) receiving oxaliplatin. Common regimens were FOLFOX (oxaliplatin plus infusional/bolus 5-fluorou-racil and folinic acid) 54%, 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV; 19%), and capecitabine (12%). Reasons for excluding oxaliplatin were comorbidity (68%), age (19%), and not specified (13%). Three-quarters of the patients had ≥ 12 lymph nodes sampled and 56% identified the radial margin. Nearly all patients (115 = 93%) received surveillance with history and physical and CEA. Surveillance CT was performed in 78% of the patients. Conclusions A quality review of community oncology practices can assess implementation of treatment advances. Guideline compliance for elderly patients with stage III colon cancer is generally high. Forty percent did not receive oxaliplatin and documentation of life expectancy was infrequent. Further study of oncologist decision making for elderly colon cancer patients is warranted.

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