Reduced number of admissions with acute appendicitis but not severe acute appendicitis at two Sydney hospitals during the first COVID-19 lockdown period.

Background: This study investigated whether there was a change in acute appendicitis, appendicectomy admissions or disease severity during the 2020 lockdown period in NSW.

Methods: A retrospective before-and-after study was undertaken of patients admitted to two Sydney hospitals (St. Vincent's and Liverpool Hospitals) who had appendicectomy for presumed acute appendicitis and patients who had confirmed appendicitis but did not undergo surgery.

Effect of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy on Fasting Gastrointestinal, Pancreatic, and Adipose-Derived Hormones and on Non-Esterified Fatty Acids.

Background: Alterations in gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and adipose hormone levels may have a greater role in weight loss than initially appreciated. The laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) operation is now the most frequently performed bariatric operation in many countries, but there are relatively few data regarding its molecular effects. We sought to characterize the effect of LSG on fasting plasma levels of selected hormones and on non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and to compare these to levels in non-obese control individuals.

Double helix flap to close a massive circular soft-tissue defect.

The closure of a circular defect resulting from excision of large soft-tissue tumours may pose a considerable surgical challenge. We have described a successful result from the use of modified double helix rotation flaps following resection of a fungating 15-cm interscapular basal cell carcinoma. Our technique necessitated a single operation only.