Disparities in Outcomes following Resection of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer.

Surgical margins following rectal cancer resection impact oncologic outcomes. We examined the relationship between margin status and race, ethnicity, region of care, and facility type. Patients undergoing resection of a stage II-III locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) between 2004 and 2018 were identified through the National Cancer Database.

Case Bias Case Basis: Expanding Morbidity and Mortality Conference to Examine the Impact of Disparities in Surgical Care.

Introduction: Originally designed as a forum to discuss adverse patient events, Surgery Morbidity & Mortality Conference (M&M) has evolved into an integral tool within surgical education where trainees at all levels are taught to critically examine decision-making. Others have expanded the scope of subsets of M&M conferences to include additional factors that influence patient outcomes, such as social determinants of health, implicit bias and structural policies that contribute to health disparities. In this study, we implemented a disparities-based discussion into our surgical department's weekly M&M conference and examined the effect(s) on participants' understanding and perceptions of key disparities in access to surgical care.

"Free-Floating Anus": A Flap-Free Approach for Definitive Excision of Circumferential Giant Condyloma Acuminata.

Giant condyloma acuminata (GCA), or Buschke-Löwenstein tumor, is a rare exophytic cauliflower-like growth in the anogenital region. The spectrum of treatment options is wide, ranging from the application of topical ointments to the performance of an abdominoperineal resection. Currently, wide local excision is the most common approach and may entail the creation of a protective loop ileostomy or implementation of flaps or grafts that facilitate closure.

Conventional Frailty Index Does Not Predict Risk of Postoperative Complications in Patients With IBD: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: Frailty has been associated with adverse outcomes in patients with IBD.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between health deficit-defined frailty (using the 5-factor modified frailty index) and postoperative outcomes in patients with IBD.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Cost Effectiveness of Watch and Wait Versus Resection in Rectal Cancer Patients with Complete Clinical Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation.

Background: Watch and wait (WW) protocols have gained increasing popularity for patients diagnosed with locally advanced rectal cancer and presumed complete clinical response after neoadjuvant chemoradiation. While studies have demonstrated comparable survival and recurrence rates between WW and radical surgery, the decision to undergo surgery has significant effects on patient quality of life. We sought to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing WW with abdominoperineal resection (APR) and low anterior resection (LAR) among patients with stage II/III rectal cancer.

Better characterization of operation for ulcerative colitis through the National surgical quality improvement program: A 2-year audit of NSQIP-IBD.

Introduction: There is little consensus of quality measurements for restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis(RPC-IPAA) performed for ulcerative colitis(UC). The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program(NSQIP) cannot accurately classify RPC-IPAA staged approaches. We formed an IBD-surgery registry that added IBD-specific variables to NSQIP to study these staged approaches in greater detail.

Modified two-stage restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational research.

Purpose: Restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) is performed for patients with refractory ulcerative colitis (UC). This operation is performed in 2 or 3 stages and involves forming a diverting loop ileostomy thought to protect patients from complications related to anastomotic leak. However, some advocate for a modified 2-stage approach, consisting of subtotal colectomy followed by completion proctectomy and ileal pouch anal anastomosis without diverting ileostomy.

Vertebral Augmentation is Superior to Nonoperative Care at Reducing Lower Back Pain for Symptomatic Osteoporotic Compression Fractures: A Meta-Analysis.

Study Design: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This study's goal was to (i) assess the clinical outcomes with and without vertebral augmentation (VA) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) with versus without correlating signs and symptoms; and (ii) acute (symptoms <3 mo duration) and subacute VCFs (3-6 mo duration) versus chronic VCFs (>6 mo).

Summary Of Background Data: Previously, a randomized controlled trial in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that vertebroplasty for osteoporotic VCFs provided no clinical benefit over sham surgery.

Efficacy of Vertebral Augmentation for Vertebral Compression Fractures: A Review of Meta-Analyses.

Introduction: Vertebral compression fracture incidence is rising with the growth of the geriatric population and is one of the leading disabilities in healthcare. However, the literature is conflicted on the benefits of vertebral augmentation versus nonoperative care for these fractures. The purpose of the current study was to perform a review of all meta-analyses in the literature comparing vertebral augmentation to nonoperative care and descriptively report the results.

CD24 Expression and differential resistance to chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death in women. Adjuvant systemic chemotherapies are effective in reducing risks of recurrence and have contributed to reduced BC mortality. Although targeted adjuvant treatments determined by biomarkers for endocrine and HER2-directed therapies are largely successful, predicting clinical benefit from chemotherapy is more challenging.

An eight-legged tactile sensor to estimate coefficient of static friction.

It is well known that a tangential force larger than the maximum static friction force is required to initiate the sliding motion between two objects, which is governed by a material constant called the coefficient of static friction. Therefore, knowing the coefficient of static friction is of great importance for robot grippers which wish to maintain a stable and precise grip on an object during various manipulation tasks. Importantly, it is most useful if grippers can estimate the coefficient of static friction without having to explicitly explore the object first, such as lifting the object and reducing the grip force until it slips.