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Asian Representation in Surgical Training and Leadership

An analysis of publicly available data from 2018 to 2023 reveals that while the representation of Asians in medical school and surgical training has increased, there remains a disparity at leadership levels. The proportion of Asian medical students rose from 21.6% to 24.8%, but Asian surgical residency applicants stayed constant at 20%. Asian certifications by the American Board of Surgery (ABS) increased from 13.7% to 18.5%, while Asian ABS examiners grew from 15.7% to 17.1%. These results suggest that although progress is being made, representation among board examiners lags behind. Further efforts are needed to ensure fair representation and diversity at all levels of surgical training and leadership.

Journal Article by Sawhney VS, Chugh PV (…) Tseng JF et 7 al. in J Surg Res

Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Machine Learning Prediction of Liver and Lung Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer

Using a machine learning model, researchers accurately predicted liver and/or lung metastasis in colorectal cancer patients, assisting clinical decision-making. A total of 51,265 patients were analyzed, with 15.3% having distant metastasis. The random forest algorithm showed the best predictive ability with high accuracy, AUC, and AUPR values, validated in an external set, providing a valuable tool for assessing metastasis risk.

Journal Article by Guo Z, Zhang Z (…) Inchingolo R et 9 al. in Eur J Surg Oncol

© 2024 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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Identification of Potential Diagnostic Markers for Pancreatic Cancer

Plasma levels of specific miRNAs and proteins show promise as biomarkers for distinguishing between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic adenocarcinoma, with high diagnostic performance values. The combination of miRNAs hsa-mir-150-3p, hsa-mir-150-5p, and hsa-mir-214-3p, along with proteins PCDH1 and AMN, could aid in predicting pancreatic adenocarcinoma in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Journal Article by Gong J, Zhang Q, Peng Q and Shi D in Am Surg

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Effect of Age on Survival Prognosis in Patients Undergoing Local vs Radical Excision for Rectal Cancer

Age significantly impacts the survival prognosis of rectal cancer patients after local excision (LE) or radical excision (RE). Younger patients (<50 and 50-66 years) showed significantly better 5-year overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) after LE compared to older patients (>66 years). However, there was no significant difference in survival outcomes between LE and RE across all age groups.

Journal Article by Li J, Wen L (…) Yao X et 4 al. in Updates Surg

© 2024. Italian Society of Surgery (SIC).

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Effectiveness of Minimum Energy Laser Pilonidotomy in Pilonidal Disease

A new pilonidotomy method using minimal laser energy, known as Minimum Energy Laser Pilonidotomy (MELPi), demonstrated promising initial results for treating pilonidal disease. A retrospective multicenter study of 50 MELPi procedures showed low postoperative pain (median of 2 on a pain scale), low complication rates (4%), and quick return to normal activities (median of 7 days). The median healing time was 15 days, with recurrence rates at 10% and most patients undergoing the procedure successfully treated.

Journal Article by Paz Oliveira FD, Time SCC (…) Mont’Alverne RED et 3 al. in Updates Surg

© 2024. Italian Society of Surgery (SIC).

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Guidelines for Laparoscopy in Pregnancy

SAGES guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for managing common surgical pathologies in pregnant patients, including appendicitis, biliary disease, and inflammatory bowel disease. Recommendations favor laparoscopic procedures for appendicitis and biliary disease, with expert opinion guiding treatment for different trimesters and disease severity. Multidisciplinary management is advised for pregnant patients with active inflammatory bowel disease flares.

Journal Article by Kumar SS, Collings AT (…) Palazzo F et 13 al. in Surg Endosc

© 2024. The Author(s).

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Improved Operative Outcomes in Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma Resected Cases Over Time

A single-center study on resected gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma showed improved operative outcomes over time, with type I tumors linked to poorer survival. Most patients received neoadjuvant therapy and underwent minimally invasive surgery, resulting in low mortality rates and decreased morbidity. Signet ring tumors were more common in type III cases, influencing overall survival. Pathologic features did not significantly differ among Siewert subtypes.

Journal Article by Stiles ZE, Hagerty BL (…) Kukar M et 3 al. in J Gastrointest Surg

Copyright © 2024 Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Enhancing Pancreatic Cancer Patient Survival Prediction

Survival stratification among pancreatic cancer patients after surgery improved by combining skeletal muscle mass, immune markers, and traditional clinical factors. Nomogram based on muscle mass to BMI ratio and inflammatory markers showed superior predictive accuracy for long-term survival, suggesting potential integration into existing risk assessment tools.

Journal Article by Jin J, Xiong G (…) Qin R et 3 al. in Eur J Surg Oncol

© 2024 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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Improved Management of Suspected Gallbladder Cancer Through Intraoperative Frozen Section Analysis

Using intraoperative frozen section analysis during cholecystectomy, surgeons can decide on a single-stage management approach for suspected gallbladder cancer (GBC). A retrospective cohort study of 37 consecutive cholecystectomies found that frozen section analysis had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 100% for detecting GBC. This one-stage approach reduced the need for a second surgery, resulting in lower costs (£3894 savings) and a better patient experience due to a single hospital admission and general anesthesia.

Journal Article by Banh S, Fehervari M (…) Spalding DRC et 5 al. in Int J Surg

Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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Perioperative Management Recommendations for Sarcopenia in Surgical Patients

Consensus recommendations were developed in Singapore for recognizing and managing sarcopenia in surgical patients, crucial for optimizing postoperative outcomes. A multidisciplinary expert panel formulated eight evidence-based statements to guide the identification and perioperative management of sarcopenia, emphasizing the importance of awareness and consensus in addressing this common condition among older surgical patients.

Journal Article by Koh FH, Chew LM (…) Ng DH et 16 al. in Int J Surg

Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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