Prevalence of Barrett's esophagus in obese patients undergoing pre-bariatric surgery evaluation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a known risk factor for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Barrett's esophagus (BE), and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Obese patients routinely undergo preoperative esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) before bariatric procedures. We aimed to assess the prevalence of BE in this patient population. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive literature search ending in March 2019. Search results were imported into covidence.org and screened by two independent reviewers. Heterogeneity was assessed using I 2 and Q statistics and publication bias using funnel plots and the Orwin fail-safe test. Random-effects modeling was used in all analyses. RESULTS : Of 4087 citations, 77 were reviewed in full text and 29 were included in the final analysis based on our predetermined inclusion/exclusion criteria. A total of 13 434 patients underwent pre-bariatric surgery EGD. The pooled prevalence of BE using random-effects modeling was 0.9 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.7 % - 1.3 %); P < 0.001; I 2 = 58 %, Q = 67). In meta-regression analyses, controlling for sex and GERD, we found a positive association between mean body mass index (BMI) and the prevalence of BE (ß = 0.15 [95 %CI 0.02 - 0.28]; P = 0.03). A linear relationship between the prevalence of BE and the prevalence of GERD was also noted (ß = 3.9 [95 %CI 0.4 - 7.5]; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS : Obesity has been postulated as a major risk factor for BE, yet we found that the prevalence of BE in morbidly obese patients undergoing preoperative EGD was very low. Therefore, obesity alone may not be a major risk factor for BE.

Longitudinal Impact of Childhood Adversity on Early Adolescent Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the ABCD Study Cohort: Does Race or Ethnicity Moderate Findings?

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, mental health among youth has been negatively affected. Youth with a history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), as well as youth from minoritized racial-ethnic backgrounds, may be especially vulnerable to experiencing COVID-19-related distress. The aims of this study are to examine whether exposure to pre-pandemic ACEs predicts mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in youth and whether racial-ethnic background moderates these effects. METHODS: From May to August 2020, 7983 youths (mean age, 12.5 years; range, 10.6-14.6 years) in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study completed at least one of three online surveys measuring the impact of the pandemic on their mental health. Data were evaluated in relation to youths' pre-pandemic mental health and ACEs. RESULTS: Pre-pandemic ACE history significantly predicted poorer mental health across all outcomes and greater COVID-19-related stress and impact of fears on well-being. Youths reported improved mental health during the pandemic (from May to August 2020). While reporting similar levels of mental health, youths from minoritized racial-ethnic backgrounds had elevated COVID-19-related worry, stress, and impact on well-being. Race and ethnicity generally did not moderate ACE effects. Older youths, girls, and those with greater pre-pandemic internalizing symptoms also reported greater mental health symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Youths who experienced greater childhood adversity reported greater negative affect and COVID-19-related distress during the pandemic. Although they reported generally better mood, Asian American, Black, and multiracial youths reported greater COVID-19-related distress and experienced COVID-19-related discrimination compared with non-Hispanic White youths, highlighting potential health disparities.

COVID-19 preparedness and response at a large UK major trauma operating theatres department.

This article aims to describe the early experience of a large major trauma operating theatres department in the East of England during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. To date and to our knowledge, a small amount of reports describing a surgical department's response to this unprecedented pandemic have been published, but a well-documented account from within the United Kingdom (UK) has not yet been reported in the literature. We describe our preparation and response, including: operating theatres management during the COVID-19 pandemic, operational aspects and communication, leadership and support. The process review of measures presented covers approximately the two-month period between March and May 2020 and emphasises the fluidity of procedures needed. We discuss how significant challenges were overcome to secure implementation and reliable oversight. The visible presence of clinical leads well sighted on every aspect of the response guaranteed standardisation of procedures, while sustaining a vital feedback loop. Finally, we conclude that an effective response requires rapid analysis of the complex problem that is of providing care for patients intraoperatively during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that retrospective sense-making is essential to maintain adaptability.