Spin Reporting Is Common in Pilot Randomized Controlled Trials in Surgery: A Methodological Survey.

Introduction: Spin reporting has been studied across a variety of study types and domains; however, it has yet to be studied in the context of pilot and feasibility trials. We designed this methodological survey to evaluate spin reporting in surgical pilot and feasibility trials.

Methods: Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021.

Modified Frailty Index for Patients Undergoing Surgery for Colorectal Cancer: Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample From 2015 to 2019.

Background: Frailty is increasingly recognized as a perioperative risk for numerous surgical diseases. We applied the modified frailty index (mFI-11) to the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) for patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the NIS (2015-2019) including CRC patients undergoing surgery.

A comparison of radio frequency and microwave heating methods for enhancing the removal and biotransformation of endocrine-disrupting triclocarban during advanced anaerobic digestion.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) has very limited effectiveness against the removal of many emerging contaminants, including the pervasive antimicrobial triclocarban (TCC). This is the first study to compare two thermal pretreatment methods to evaluate the fate of persistent TCC and its transformation/degradation by-products during advanced AD. Two electromagnetic heating methods are employed: one uses an innovative radio frequency (RF) heating system at 13.

Fragility index for extended prophylaxis following abdominopelvic surgery: A methodological survey.

Background: Fragility Index (FI) is increasingly used to assess robustness of statistically significant p-values reported in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). FI represents the lowest number of non-events changed to events that would make study findings non-significant. This methodological survey was designed to assess the fragility of the evidence for extended VTEp following major abdominopelvic surgery.

Preoperative very low-energy diets for obese patients undergoing intra-abdominal colorectal surgery: a retrospective cohort study (RetroPREPARE).

Background: Very low-energy diets (VLEDs) prescribed prior to bariatric surgery have been associated with decreased operative time, technical difficulty, and postoperative morbidity. To date, limited data are available regarding the impact of VLEDs prior to colorectal surgery. We designed this study to determine whether preoperative VLEDs benefit patients with obesity undergoing colorectal surgery.

The impact of statins on melanoma survival: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Statin use may decrease recurrence and improve survival in patients with melanoma. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we examine the current body of literature concerning the use of statins as an adjunctive therapy in melanoma, Medline, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and PubMed were systematically searched from inception through to April 2023. Studies were included if they compared patients with melanoma receiving and not receiving statin therapy concurrently with their oncologic treatment in terms of long-term oncologic outcomes.

Characterizing graphene oxide waste stream and assessing its impact on anaerobic co-digestion with municipal sludge.

This study evaluated anaerobic co-digestion as a promising strategy for managing organic-contaminated waste streams generated from nanomaterial synthesis. The novel approach enabled precise quantification of organic content, efficient biomethane recovery, and a sustainable redirection of ethanol-contaminated graphene oxide (GO) dispersions. The proposed method achieved high accuracy (93-97%) in detecting organic content in ethanol-contaminated GO dispersions, significantly outperforming the conventional total chemical oxygen demand (tCOD) method, which only reached 75-77% accuracy.

Adsorption enhanced biological treatment of hydrothermal liquefaction aqueous phase derived from municipal sludge.

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is a promising method for municipal sludge valorization through waste minimization and biofuel production. The process wastewater, HTL aqueous, presents a significant challenge for scale-up due to recalcitrant compounds. In this study, granular activated carbon (GAC) was used to remove potential inhibitors from HTL aqueous through adsorption to enhance aerobic and anaerobic biological treatment.

The impact of obesity on postoperative outcomes following surgery for colorectal cancer: analysis of the National Inpatient Sample 2015-2019.

Background: The global burden of obesity has reached epidemic proportions, placing great strain on the North American healthcare system. We designed a retrospective cohort database study comparing postoperative morbidity and healthcare resource utilization between patients living with and without obesity undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer.

Methods: Adult patients undergoing resection for colorectal cancer were identified from the 2015 to 2019 National Inpatient Sample database.

Double-row staple technology versus triple-row staple technology for colorectal surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Some observational data have suggested that anastomotic leak may be reduced with triple-row staple technology compared to double-row staple technology. We aimed to investigate this further by performing a systematic review comparing double- and triple-row staple technology for colorectal anastomoses.

Methods: This systematic review was reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Evaluating frailty using the modified frailty index for colonic diverticular disease surgery: analysis of the national inpatient sample 2015-2019.

Background: Frailty has been associated with increased postoperative mortality and morbidity; however, the use of the modified frailty index (mFI-11) to assess patients undergoing surgery for diverticular disease has not been widely assessed. This paper aims to examine frailty, evaluated by mFI-11, to assess postoperative morbidity and mortality among patients undergoing operative intervention for colonic diverticular disease.

Methods: We used data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample (October 1, 2015-December 31, 2019).

PReoperative very low-Energy diets for obese PAtients undergoing non-bariatric surgery Randomized Evaluation (PREPARE): a protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Patients with obesity presenting in need of surgical intervention are at 2-to-sixfold higher risk of prolonged hospitalization, infectious morbidity, venous thromboembolism, and more. To mitigate some of these concerns, prescribed preoperative weight loss via very low-energy diets (VLEDs) has become a standard of care for patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery. While VLEDs have become standard prior to bariatric surgery, their application in other surgical settings remains limited.

Ultrafiltration fractionation of potentially inhibitory substances of hydrothermal liquefaction aqueous phase derived from municipal sludge.

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is a promising thermo-chemical technology for municipal sludge treatment due to its potential for biocrude oil recovery and minimizing biosolids management costs. However, the process generates a high volume of an aqueous byproduct that needs to be treated due to its high chemical oxygen demand (COD) and various organic and inorganic compounds. Although the aqueous phase is known to contain recalcitrant and potentially inhibitory substances that may affect its biological treatment, their molecular weight distribution (MwD) and its impact on anaerobic biodegradability are poorly understood.

PREscribing preoperative weight loss prior to major non-bariatric abdominal surgery for patients with Elevated weight: Patient and Provider Survey Protocols (PREPARE surveys).

Background: Preoperative very low energy diet (VLED) interventions are used routinely in patients undergoing bariatric surgery, a surgical subspecialty that deals almost exclusively with patients with obesity. Yet, their use and study has been limited in non-bariatric abdominal surgery. To investigate the use of VLEDs in non-bariatric surgery, we plan on conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Effects of municipal sludge composition on hydrothermal liquefaction products: Aqueous phase characterization and biodegradability assessment.

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) aqueous phases derived from mixed sludge and digested sludge of two wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) were characterized considering variations in primary-secondary sludge ratios, an aspect previously overlooked in the literature. Mixed sludge was obtained by mixing primary and secondary sludge to simulate high primary sludge, average, and high secondary sludge cases. Aerobic and mesophilic/thermophilic anaerobic biodegradability tests were conducted.

Frailty in inflammatory bowel disease: analysis of the National Inpatient Sample 2015-2019.

Aim: Preoperative frailty has been associated with adverse postoperative outcomes in various populations, but of its use in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains sparse. The present study aimed to characterize the impact of frailty, as measured by the modified frailty index (mFI), on postoperative clinical and resource utilization outcomes in patients with IBD.

Methods: This retrospective population-based cohort study assessed patients from the National Inpatient Sample database from 1 September 2015 to 31 December 2019.

Pilot and feasibility trials in surgery are incompletely reported according to the CONSORT checklist: a meta-research study.

Objectives: Given the key role that pilot and feasibility (PAF) trials play in addressing the challenges of surgical trials, adequate reporting completeness is essential. Our aim was to assess completeness of reporting and evaluate if the items of the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) extension for PAF trials have been reported in surgical PAF trials.

Study Design: This is a metaresearch study reported according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Prucalopride and Bowel Function Post Gastrointestinal Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Prolonged postoperative ileus (PPOI) contributes to morbidity and prolonged hospitalization. Prucalopride, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor agonist, may enhance bowel motility. This review assesses whether the perioperative use of prucalopride compared to placebo is associated with accelerated return of bowel function post gastrointestinal (GI) surgery.

Treatment of aqueous phase from hydrothermal liquefaction of municipal sludge by adsorption: Comparison of biochar, hydrochar, and granular activated carbon.

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is promising for treating waste with high moisture, such as municipal sludge, and producing biocrude (a petroleum-like biofuel). However, a large amount of wastewater byproduct, HTL aqueous, is generated. The presence of hazardous compounds (e.

Starting position during colonoscopy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Traditional teaching has been to place patients in the left lateral decubitus starting position for colonoscopies. Recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have compared left lateral decubitus starting position to other approaches. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare different starting positions for colonoscopies and their effect on cecal intubation.