Exploring melanoma shifts: a two-decade analysis in New Zealand.

AIMS: New Zealand melanoma incidence rates are amongst the highest in the world. The study aims to provide information on the incidence of cutaneous melanoma in New Zealand from 2000 to 2022. METHODS: De-identified data were extracted from the New Zealand Cancer Registry using the ICD-10 code for malignant melanoma (C34) and melanoma in situ (MIS) (D03) from 2000 to 2022. Statistical analysis was performed to calculate melanoma incidence rates. RESULTS: Invasive melanoma (IM) incidence rates demonstrated an increasing trend from 2000 to 2008 (+1.10 per 100,000 person-years per year), followed by an inflection point at 2008 and then a decreasing trend from 2008 to 2022 (-0.28 per 100,000 person-years per year), which was not statistically different from zero/no change. MIS incidence increased from 30.3 to 72.1 per 100,000 person-years between 2000 and 2022. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of IM in New Zealand has plateaued in the last decade and was associated with an increase in MIS incidence over the same period. While this trend is encouraging, further research is required to investigate whether there is an actual decline in IM incidence.

Seven-Year Results of a Randomized Trial Comparing Banded Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass to Sleeve Gastrectomy for Type 2 Diabetes and Weight Loss.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) are common bariatric procedures that are effective in treating type 2 diabetes (T2D) in patients with obesity. Limited data from randomized trials are available comparing longevity of diabetes remission directly between the two procedures beyond 5 years. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, parallel, two-arm, clinical trial comparing the outcomes of silastic ring (SR)-LRYGB versus LSG was conducted at a single (Auckland, New Zealand) center. Patients and researchers were blinded until the 5-year mark and follow-up after this was unblinded. Eligible patients had T2D of > 6 months duration with a BMI 35--65 kg/m2 and were aged 20-55 years. Randomization was 1:1 to SR-LRYGB and LSG following induction of anesthesia and was stratified by age group, BMI group, ethnicity, diabetes duration, and insulin therapy. The primary outcome was T2D remission, defined as HbA1c < 6% (42 mmol/mol), without the use of glucose-lowering medications. RESULTS: A total of 114 patients were randomized of whom 6 died before the 7-year follow-up (2 SR-LRYGB, 4 LSG). Diabetes remission, assessed in 89 (82.4%) of the remaining patients, was seen in 23/50 (46.0%) after SR-LRYGB and 12/39 (30.8%) after LSG (adjusted OR 4.64, 95% CI 1.39, 15.52, p = 0.013). Percentage total body weight loss was greater after SR-LRYGB than LSG (26.2% vs 13.4%; absolute difference 12.8%; 95% CI 7.2%, 18.2%; p < 0.001). Complication rates were similar between groups. CONCLUSION: SR-LRYGB was superior to LSG for diabetes remission and weight loss at 7 years following surgery, with acceptable complication rates.