Publications by authors named "Pournaras D"

Specialist weight management services including bariatric surgery are commissioned within regions of England called Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) with eligibility and treatment guidelines determined as part of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance. Reported variation in commissioning and bariatric surgery eligibility criteria has not been previously mapped. Freedom of Information (FOI) requests provide a tool, supported by legislation, to ask questions of public authorities including ICSs such that they must respond accurately.

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Introduction: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors are used increasingly in patients receiving peri-operative care. These drugs may be associated with risks of peri-operative pulmonary aspiration or euglycaemic ketoacidosis. We produced a consensus statement for the peri-operative management of adults taking these drugs.

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Background/objectives: Metabolic adaptation is the lowering of basal metabolic rate (BMR) beyond what is predicted from changes in fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) and may hamper weight-loss progression. It is unclear whether metabolic adaptation occurs following gastric bypass surgery (GBP) and if it persists. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reduction in BMR that is not explained by changes in body composition in patients following GBP compared to a weight-stable comparator group.

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Objectives: To quantify the economic investment required to increase bariatric surgery (BaS) capacity in National Health Service (NHS) England considering the growing obesity prevalence and low provision of BaS in England despite its high clinical effectiveness.

Design: Data were included for the patients with obesity who were eligible for BaS. We used a decision-tree approach including four distinct steps of the patient pathway to capture all associated resource use.

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Medications for obesity have been studied in various populations over the past three decades. We aimed to quantify the baseline demographic characteristics of BMI, sex, age, and race in randomised clinical trials (RCTs) across three decades to establish whether the population studied is representative of the global population affected by the disease. Clinical trials of 12 medications for obesity (ie, orlistat, naltrexone-bupropion, topiramate-phentermine, liraglutide, semaglutide, lorcaserin, sibutramine, rimonabant, taranabant, tirzepatide, retatrutide, and orforglipron) published from Jan 20, 1999, to Nov 12, 2023, were assessed through a systematic review for methodological quality and baseline demographic characteristics.

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Introduction: The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize various approaches in performing minimally invasive posterior component separation (MIS PCS) and ascertain their safety and short-term outcomes.

Methods: A systematic literature searches of major databases were conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines to identify studies that provided perioperative characteristics and postoperative outcomes of MIS PCS. Primary outcomes for this study were: surgical site events (SSE), surgical site occurrence requiring procedural intervention (SSOPI), and overall complication rates.

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Background: There is increasing evidence to suggest vitamin D plays a role in immune and vascular function; hence, it may be of biological and clinical relevance for patients undergoing major surgery. With a greater number of randomised studies being conducted evaluating the impact of vitamin D supplementation on surgical patients, it is an opportune time to conduct further analysis of the impact of vitamin D on surgical outcomes.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Trials Register were interrogated up to December 2023 to identify randomised controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation in surgery.

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Background: Obesity is a chronic and complex disease characterized by the excessive accumulation of adipose tissue, which has detrimental effects on health. Evaluating the changes in quality of life (QoL) after bariatric surgery complements the medical benefits which are documented by healthcare professionals.

Purpose: To study the perceived health benefits 1 year after substantial weight loss induced by bariatric surgery.

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Minimally invasive surgery for ventral hernia repair (MIS-VHR) with mesh in retromuscular plane can be performed by either transabdominally (TA-RM) or via enhanced view totally extraperitoneal approach (eTEP). Although both techniques offer the mesh extension in the best anatomical space, closure of hernia defect, avoidance of traumatic fixation, the superiority of one approach over another is not established. This systematic review and meta-analysis were set up to analyze safety and efficacy of eTEP in comparison with TA-RM.

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Background And Objectives: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is associated with obesity; however, there is a lack of clinical consensus on how to manage weight in IIH. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate weight loss interventions in people with IIH to determine which intervention is superior in terms of weight loss, reduction in intracranial pressure (ICP), benefit to visual and headache outcomes, quality of life, and mental health.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023339569).

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Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) represent ~ 20% of all hospital-acquired infections in surgical patients and are associated with prolonged hospital stay, admission to intensive care, and mortality. We conducted a systematic review with economic and environmental models to assess whether triclosan-coated sutures (Plus Sutures) provide benefits over non-coated sutures in the reduction of SSI risk.

Methods: Searches were conducted in fifteen databases.

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Introduction: Obesity drives type 2 diabetes (T2DM) development. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) has lower weight reduction than other bariatric procedures. Liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, improves weight and glycaemic control in patients with T2DM.

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Purpose: Bariatric and metabolic surgery is an effective treatment for severe and complex obesity; however, robust long-term data comparing operations is lacking. Clinical registries complement clinical trials in contributing to this evidence base. Agreement on standard data for bariatric registries is needed to facilitate comparisons.

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Background: Lack of robust research methodology for assessing ingestive behavior has impeded clarification of the mediators of food intake following gastric bypass (GBP) surgery.

Objectives: To evaluate changes in directly measured 24-h energy intake (EI), energy density (ED) (primary outcomes), eating patterns, and food preferences (secondary outcomes) in patients and time-matched weight-stable comparator participants.

Methods: Patients [n = 31, 77% female, BMI (in kg/m) 45.

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Background: Liver-reducing diets (LRDs) are mandated prior to bariatric surgery, but there are no guidelines on their implementation.

Objective: To establish the variation and effectiveness of LRDs utilized in clinical practice.

Setting: A nationwide, multicenter, retrospective cohort study.

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Introduction: Bariatric surgery is an effective method of controlling glycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. Long-term studies suggest that although glycaemic control remains good, only 20%-40% of patients will maintain remission according to the American Diabetes Association criteria.

Purpose: This trial aims to examine the safety and efficacy of combining Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy with goal-directed medical therapy to improve long-term glycaemic control of T2DM.

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Objective: Obesity is a highly stigmatized disease, and despite the understanding of the processes involved, negative language reinforcing outdated views of obesity persists within the scientific literature. This is the first study, to the authors' knowledge, to determine how widespread stigmatizing language is within publications on obesity and examine its impact on patients.

Methods: Two standard terms within obesity publications were identified, and a literature search was carried out to determine their prevalence.

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Article Synopsis
  • Endometrial cancer is the most prevalent gynecological cancer in high-income nations and has a significant connection to elevated body mass index (BMI), which is a modifiable risk factor that may influence this cancer more than others.
  • Using Mendelian randomization, researchers examined the causal impact of 14 genetic and molecular risk factors, along with BMI, on the risk of developing endometrial cancer.
  • The analyses revealed a strong link between higher BMI and increased endometrial cancer risk, with additional contributions from hormonal factors like total testosterone, indicating that these molecular traits may mediate the relationship between BMI and the disease.
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Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) is common after an Ivor Lewis gastro-esophagectomy (ILGO). The risk of a dilated conduit is the much-feared anastomotic leak. Therefore, prompt management of DGE is required.

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Higher body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for thrombosis. Platelets are essential for hemostasis but contribute to thrombosis when activated pathologically. We hypothesized that higher BMI leads to changes in platelet characteristics, thereby increasing thrombotic risk.

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