Incidental Polyp on Colectomy Specimen is Linked with Higher Odds of Polyp on Interval Colonoscopy.

Background: Incidentally found polyps on surgical pathology after colectomy is an underreported phenomenon, and management guidelines are lacking. Elucidation of the significance of incidental polyps is needed to determine if post-operative endoscopic surveillance modification is warranted. We sought to determine the relationship between incidental polyp on colectomy specimen and findings on post-operative colonoscopy.

Biologic versus Synthetic Mesh Reinforcement: What are the Pros and Cons?

Preserving patients' native tissues has posed many challenges for surgeons. Increased life expectancy is leading to a proportionately older surgical population with weaker tissues. The growing population of morbidly obese patients in addition to those with multiple comorbidities which influence the native strength and perfusion of tissues compounds the surgeon's challenge.

Ischemic colitis.

Most clinicians associate ischemic colitis with elderly patients who have underlying cardiovascular comorbidities. While the majority of cases probably occur in this population, the disease can present in younger patients as a result of different risk factors, making the diagnosis challenging. While a majority of patients respond to medical management, surgery is required in approximately 20% of the cases and is associated with high morbidity and mortality.

A methodological approach for the evaluation of preparedness of pharmaceutical services.

Objective: The aim of this article is to provide an outcome evaluation model for preparedness of pharmaceutical services (PS) in disaster situations.

Methods: A five-step evaluation model development was conducted. The first step was a search of disaster preparedness and PS literature.

[Right-to-health litigation in three Latin American countries: a systematic literature review].

Objective: Identify and evaluate studies that analyzed characteristics of right-to-health litigation in Brazil, Colombia, and Costa Rica.

Methods: Studies were evaluated that analyzed characteristics of right-to-health litigation identified through a search of PubMed, LILACS, Cochrane Library, and Scirus (April 2012). Two reviewers evaluated the studies.

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery: safe for midrectal lesions in morbidly obese patients.

Background: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery is a safe option for proximal rectal tumors in morbidly obese patients for whom transabdominal pelvic dissection often is fraught with morbidity.

Methods: From a database of 318 patients who underwent transanal endoscopic microsurgery, we report a retrospective case-control study of 9 patients with a body mass index range of 35 to 66 with sessile rectal lesions 6 to 15 cm from the anal verge who underwent transanal endoscopic microsurgery. Case subjects were compared with 15 controls and matched for age, tumor type, and level of tumor.

[Defining generic drugs: an end or a means? Analysis of regulations in 14 countries in the Region of the Americas].

Objectives: To characterize current regulatory practices and trends relating to competing medications in 14 Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Methods: Between July 2004 and April 2005 we collected information on national regulations and policies that established or contained a definition of "generic drug" and related terms in 14 Latin American and Caribbean countries: Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. We also compiled information on the incentives to register and produce competing medications, promotion of the use of International Nonproprietary Names (INNs) for pharmaceutical substances, the regulation of bioequivalence studies, and the replacement of prescription medications with less expensive alternatives.