GERD-screening before bariatric surgery: the predictive value of the GERD-HRQL questionnaire score compared with preoperative EGD findings.

Background: There is an ongoing debate on how to best identify patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) before bariatric surgery. The value of routine preoperative esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is questioned, and patient reported symptoms are commonly used for screening. The goal of this study is to determine if patient reported symptoms using a validated questionnaire correlate with preoperative EGD findings.

Feasibility and Outcomes of Simultaneous Gastric Bypass with Paraesophageal Hernia Repair in Elderly Patients.

Background: Paraesophageal hernias (PEH) have a higher incidence in patients with obesity. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) with concomitant PEH repair is established as a valid surgical option for PEH management in patients with obesity. The safety and feasibility of this approach in the elderly population are not well elucidated.

A 5-year propensity-matched analysis of perioperative outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing bariatric surgery.

Background: Bariatric surgery can improve renal function in patients with comorbid chronic kidney disease (CKD) and obesity. Additionally, bariatric surgery can enhance outcomes following renal transplantation. The safety of bariatric surgery in patients with CKD has been debated in the literature.

Battle of the buttress: 5-year propensity-matched analysis of staple-line reinforcement techniques from the MBSAQIP database.

Background: Vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) has demonstrated to be safe; however, controversy remains on how to decrease major complications, particularly bleeding and leaks. There are variations in staple-line reinforcement techniques, including no reinforcement, oversewing, and buttressing. We sought to evaluate the effect of those methods on post-operative complications using the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation Quality Initiative Program (MBSAQIP) database.

Systematic review of hemostatic agents used in vascular surgery.

Background: Hemostatic agents are routinely used in vascular surgery to complement proper suture techniques and decrease the risk of perioperative bleeding. A relative lack of comparative research studies have left surgeons with the option of choosing hemostatic agents based on their personal experience. The present review has highlighted the efficacy and safety of hemostatic agents and categorized them according to their primary mechanism of action and cost.

Trapping redox partnerships in oxidant-sensitive proteins with a small, thiol-reactive cross-linker.

A broad range of redox-regulated proteins undergo reversible disulfide bond formation on oxidation-prone cysteine residues. Heightened reactivity of the thiol groups in these cysteines also increases susceptibility to modification by organic electrophiles, a property that can be exploited in the study of redox networks. Here, we explored whether divinyl sulfone (DVSF), a thiol-reactive bifunctional electrophile, cross-links oxidant-sensitive proteins to their putative redox partners in cells.