A new pharyngeal pH probe which detects aerosolized and liquid acid overcomes the artifacts that occur in measuring pharyngeal pH with existing catheters. Discriminating pH thresholds were selected and normal values defined to identify patients with an abnormal pharyngeal pH environment.

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Use of biologic mesh for ventral hernia repair results in less infectious wound complications but similar recurrence rates compared to nonbiologic mesh. This supports the application of biologic mesh for ventral hernia repair in high-risk patients or patients with a previous history of wound infection only when the significant additional cost of these materials can be justified and synthetic mesh is considered inappropriate.

Early-onset gastric cancer demonstrates advanced stage of disease, and a high incidence of poorly-differentiated and signet-cell type carcinoma. Overall survival is poor with no added benefit to surgical intervention in advanced disease.