Publications by authors named "F J Foo"

Background: Multimodal prehabilitation programs, which may incorporate nutritional supplementation and exercise, have been developed to combat sarcopenia in surgical patients to enhance post-operative outcomes. However, the optimal regime remains unknown. The use of beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) has beneficial effects on muscle mass and strength.

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Purpose: Total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) is becoming the standard of care for locally advanced rectal cancer. However, surgery is deferred for months after completion, which may lead to fibrosis and increased surgical difficulty. The aim of this study was to assess whether TNT (TNT-RAPIDO) is associated with increased difficulty of total mesorectal excision (TME) compared with long-course chemoradiotherapy (LCRT) and upfront surgery.

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Article Synopsis
  • Climate change poses a serious risk to global health, with 62% of climate-related deaths linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD), mainly due to global warming and pollution.
  • A systematic review analyzed various climate mitigation strategies from 2012 to 2022, linking them to the reduction of CVD morbidity and mortality.
  • The findings suggest that strategies like renewable energy, active transport, green spaces, and plant-based diets not only address climate change but also significantly benefit cardiovascular health.
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Sarcopenia has been recognized as a determining factor in surgical outcomes and is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications and readmission. Diagnosis is currently based on clinical guidelines, which includes assessment of skeletal muscle mass but not quality. Ultrasound has been proposed as a useful point-of-care diagnostic tool to assess muscle quality, but no validated cut-offs for sarcopenia have been reported.

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