Challenges and Strategies in Colorectal Surgery among Patients with Morbid Obesity.

This chapter explores the interplay between morbid obesity and the challenges encountered in colorectal surgery. Understanding the unique considerations in preoperative and intraoperative management along with weight optimization tools such as bariatric surgery emerges as potential mitigators, demonstrating benefits in reducing colorectal cancer risk and improving perioperative outcomes. Furthermore, the pervasive stigma associated with morbid obesity further complicates patient care, emphasizing the need for empathetic and nuanced approaches.

Frailty Status, Not Just Age, is Associated With Postoperative Opioid Consumption: A Retrospective, Population-based Analysis.

Objective: To assess the relationship between postoperative opioid consumption and frailty status.

Background: Physiologic reserve can be assessed through both chronologic age as well as measures of frailty. Although prior studies suggest that older individuals may require less opioid following surgery, chronologic age, and frailty do not always align, and little is known regarding postoperative opioid consumption patterns by frailty.

The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on Work Absence: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Workers.

Objectives: Compare SARS-CoV-2 infection and work absence rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated employees during a two-year pandemic period.

Methods: Cross-sectional study with 2,107 participants. Primary outcome: total days missed; main exposure: vaccination status.

How well do plasma Alzheimer's disease biomarkers reflect the CSF amyloid status?

Background: Can plasma biomarkers as well as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) perform in the separation of amyloid-beta-positive (Aβ+) vs amyloid-beta-negative (Aβ-) groups across an age range seen in an NHS cognitive disorder clinic?

Methods: As part of the routine diagnostic investigation of 111 clinic patients who had contemporaneous blood and CSF samples taken, patients were categorised into Aβ+ and Aβ- groups based on their CSF in an Aβ42/40 ratio. We then evaluated four single molecule array (Simoa) Quanterix assays, quantifying single plasma analytes and ratios (p-tau217, p-tau217/Aβ42 ratio, p-tau181, p-tau181/Aβ42 ratio and Aβ42/40 ratio) in their ability to distinguish between these groups and the effect of age.

Results: The median (range) age of participants was 66 (55-79) years with 48 females (43.

Use of Biologic and Biosynthetic Mesh for Ventral Hernia Repair in Current Practice.

Importance: Originally developed for use in contaminated fields, there is growing evidence against the use of biologic and biosynthetic mesh in ventral hernia repair. However, its prevalence and patterns of use in current practice are largely unknown.

Objectives: To describe the prevalence of biologic and biosynthetic mesh use in ventral hernia repair and to identify factors associated with its use.