Worldwide Search Research Articles

Anomalous asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Google Trends patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundAn increase in online searches on health topics may either mirror epidemiological changes or reflect media coverage. In the context of COVID-19, this is particularly relevant, as COVID-19 symptoms may be mistaken for those of respiratory disease exacerbations. Therefore, we aimed to assess Internet search patterns on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the context of COVID-19, as compared to searches on other chronic diseases.MethodsWe retrieved Google Trends (GTs) data on two respiratory (asthma and COPD) and three non-respiratory (diabetes, hypertension, and Crohn’s disease) chronic diseases over the past 5 years (up to May 31, 2020). For 54 countries, and for each disease, we built autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models to predict GTs for 2020 based on 2015–2019 search patterns. In addition, we estimated the proportion of searches in which COVID-19-related terms were used. To assess the potential impact of media coverage on online searches, we assessed whether weekly “asthma” GTs correlated with the number of Google News items on asthma.ResultsOver the past 5 years, worldwide search volumes for asthma and COPD reached their maximum values in March 2020. Such was not observed for diabetes, hypertension and Crohn’s disease. In 38 (70%) countries, GTs on asthma were higher in March 2020 than the respective maximum predicted values. This compares to 19 countries for COPD, 23 for hypertension, 11 for Crohn’s disease, and 9 for diabetes. Queries with COVID-19-related terms represented up to 47.8% of the monthly searches on asthma, and up to 21.3% of COPD searches. In most of the assessed countries, moderate-strong correlations were observed between “asthma” GTs and the number of news items on asthma.ConclusionsDuring March 2020, there was a peak in searches on asthma and COPD, which was probably mostly driven by media coverage, as suggested by their simultaneity in several countries with different epidemiological situations.

Pharmacological treatment of COVID-19: an update

Background The ongoing coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has triggered a worldwide search for medications addressing the morbidity and mortality associated with it. Various medications have been proposed and applied to control COVID-19 based on previous experiences with other viral infections. Some of these have been shown to be harmful or lack efficacy. This review discusses the medications that have been repurposed for SARS-CoV-2, experimental medications undergoing clinical trials, as well as the regional variations in COVID-19 treatments. Methods A literature search was conducted to cover the period of January 2020 to September 2020 using the keywords “medications, treatment, therapeutics, pharmacological management for COVID-19” in various combinations as search strings. PubMed, LitCOVID, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and clinicaltrials.gov were the databases utilized. Results Evidence from ongoing clinical trials has shown promise with antiviral medications such as remdesivir, as well as corticosteroids, and convalescent plasma for severe cases of COVID-19. There is still, however, some conflicting evidence on the true benefits of these treatments. Other medications such as interferons, monoclonal antibodies, immune modulators, do not have enough clinical evidence of their safety and efficacy in COVID-19 patients for their recommended use. The role of anticoagulants and pulmonary vasodilators is still being explored. The efficacy of hydroxychloroquine is yet to be demonstrated in COVID-19 patients and is currently no longer recommended. Experimental medications targeting specific viral proteases are future promising therapies. Conclusions The retinue of medications being used to treat COVID-19 is evolving and expanding as more clinical trials provide results. Several potential medication therapies are currently being investigated. While awaiting an approved safe and efficacious medication to treat this virus, a periodic review of on-going research is highly encouraged.

Internet since decades - but no globally searchable data

The usability of digital information on the internet strongly depends on its searchability. There are search engines for global language based text search, but language based information representation has only limited value, e.g. concerning reproducibility, comparability, precision. Searchable digital information can be much more. Any piece of digital information is a number sequence. We can define the binary format and value set resp. domain of every number online. Then universal information transport is possible by the online defined "Domain Vector" (DV) data structure: "UL plus number sequence". At this "UL" is an efficient link to the machine readable online definition of the number sequence. The UL also is global identifier of a certain kind of data. The online definition includes additional information, e.g. for similarity comparison of the number sequence. With this a universal numeric search engine can provide precise user defined worldwide search of DVs like in a globalized database. All users can participate. Together we can optimize online definitions and provide defined data as DVs. Initially it is necessary to build a first attractive online presence where users can provide online definitions. We should stay in contact to optimize together the common standard for machine readable online definitions and DVs.

Erick Carreira named editor in chief of JACS

After a worldwide search, the American Chemical Society has named , a professor of organic chemistry at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, the new editor in chief of the ( ). ...

Mobile Health (mHealth) and Advances in Noninvasive Diagnosis of Anemia: An Overview

AbstractAnemia is a public health problem that can have different causes, such as iron deficiency, vitamin deficiency, inflammation, hemolytic anemias, and anemias associated with bone marrow disease. Anemia shows a decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin, a pigmented molecule in the erythrocytes. The objectives of this review were to highlight the impact of nutritional factors on morbidity and mortality caused by anemia and to present different non-invasive approaches that use a smartphone to analyze hemoglobin levels to detect anemia. According to the records of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS, in the Portuguese acronym), ∼ 440,000 people checked in hospitals due to anemia between January 2015 and April 2020, with 215,000 deaths. The government spent ∼ 294 million Brazilian Reais (more than 50 million US dollars) on anemia hospitalization cases during this period. There is a worldwide search to provide noninvasive diagnostics and mobile health (mHealth) tools to help diagnosing anemia. The smartphone appears to be a viable device to detect anemia by a camera with colorimetric analysis of images providing a quantitative, instantaneous, and noninvasive result. These images can be obtained as a photograph or extracted from video frames. The review presents three different methods of detecting anemia using a smartphone: i) photoplethysmograph from video obtained from the tip of the index finger, ii) photo of the palpebral conjunctiva, and iii) fingernail photo app. Therefore, it seems urgent that these approaches may be applied in routine clinical diagnosis to allow remote, needy, low-tech locations to have access to anemia screening.

A broad-spectrum antibiotic adjuvant SLAP-S25: one stone many birds.

The rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance has caused serious threat to global health. The worldwide search for novel classes of antibiotics to combat multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria is barren since about half a century ago. One of the promising strategies to combat the MDR pathogens is the combinational therapy. For instance, trimethoprim and clavulanic acid are routinely used to enhance the efficacies of sulfonamides and β-lactam antibiotics in clinic, respectively. Nevertheless, such adjuvants are specific for certain classes of antibiotics. We hypothesized that the combinational treatments with antibiotic adjuvants targeting the bacterial membrane may potentiate other antibiotics against MDR Gram-negative pathogens. In our recent publication (Song et al., doi: 10.1038/s41564-020-0723-z), we demonstrate a short linear antibacterial peptide SLAP-S25, which potentiates multiple antibiotics with different modes of action against Gram-negative bacteria. The mechanism studies show that SLAP-S25 targets both lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the outer membrane and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) in the inner membrane of Escherichia coli. The impaired bacterial membrane caused by SLAP-S25 promotes the intracellular accumulation of antibiotics in bacteria. Our results indicate that the bacterial membranes are promising targets for the discovery of new antibiotics or antibiotic adjuvants to combat MDR bacteria associated infections.

Seasonal variability in public searches of keratosis pilaris: How the internet can illuminate a pattern in public interest.

In this study, we examine keratosis pilaris search patterns using Google Trends to determine any seasonality. Monthly searches were collected from January 2004 to January 2020 using "keratosis pilaris" as the search term in the Google Trends database. The US search data were compared to monthly temperatures and tested for correlation. Worldwide search interest was also acquired and, along with the US data, a two-model analysis was performed to determine any seasonal patterns. Peaks in search interest closely overlapped with higher temperatures in the United States and showed correlation (.44; P < .0001). The US and worldwide search interest also exhibited seasonality, which was confirmed with a sinusoidal regression being the best-fit model (R2 = .867 and .895). These results show higher search volume during warmer months in the United States and a clear cyclical pattern in searches worldwide and in the United States. Examination of these trends could elucidate peaks that health care providers may not have been aware of yielding improved resource allocation and preparedness for larger volume periods. This information in conjunction with clinical data could also shed more light in the future on potential peak seasons of incidence and prevalence.

Repurposing Therapeutics for Potential Treatment of SARS-CoV-2: A Review.

The need for proven disease-specific treatments for the novel pandemic coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 necessitates a worldwide search for therapeutic options. Since the SARS-CoV-2 virus shares extensive homology with SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, effective therapies for SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV may also have therapeutic potential for the current COVID-19 outbreak. To identify therapeutics that might be repositioned for treatment of the SARS-CoV-2 disease COVID-19, we strategically reviewed the literature to identify existing therapeutics with evidence of efficacy for the treatment of the three coronaviruses that cause severe respiratory illness (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2). Mechanistic and in vitro analyses suggest multiple promising therapeutic options with potential for repurposing to treat patients with COVID-19. Therapeutics with particularly high potential efficacy for repurposing include camostat mesylate, remdesivir, favipiravir, tocilizumab, baricitinib, convalescent plasma, and humanized monoclonal antibodies. Camostat mesylate has shown therapeutic potential, likely by preventing viral entry into epithelial cells. In early research, the targeted antivirals remdesivir and favipiravir appear to benefit patients by decreasing viral replication; clinical trials suggest that remdesivir speeds recovery from COVID-19. Tocilizumab and baricitinib appear to improve mortality by preventing a severe cytokine storm. Convalescent plasma and humanized monoclonal antibodies offer passive immunity and decreased recovery time. This review highlights potential therapeutic options that may be repurposed to treat COVID-19 and suggests opportunities for further research.

A decade of Google Trends-based Conservation culturomics research: A critical evaluation of an evolving epistemology

During the last decade, Conservation culturomics as a new epistemology and source of information on the relationship between conservation science, public interest and social relevance of conservation policies, is steadily emerging. Google Trends culturomics meta-information framework spreads actually in literature. There is however a series of doubts and questions on the validity of such an epistemology. In this short communication, a critical evaluation of the ongoing Conservation culturomics debate is presented. Five major issues are detected and discussed: (1) the problem of absolute vs. relative frequencies of crowdsearches in the Internet regarding emblematic terms associated with biodiversity; (2) the process of construction of the searched lexicon by the general public; (3) the issue of replicability of Google Trends-based research inferences; (4) the unknown yet importance of the 1% Internet rule as to the activity of massive and anonymous Google worldwide search engine users; and, (5) the existence of a real upper limit of linguistic diversity that actually constraints any explanatory multi-variate Google Trends statistical model. This contribution aims at suggesting that potential advantages of digital big-data information in environmental science and conservation practice could gain currency from big-data Internet sources in several key-topics if procedures and conclusions might be inscribed within a different but solid epistemic Method.

Evidence-based analysis of online consumer information about prostate artery embolization for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Clinical guidelines have conflicting recommendations on the role of prostate artery embolization (PAE), a novel interventional radiology technique used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In the absence of consensus among clinicians, patients may seek information online, where consumer-targeted content has proliferated in recent years. Our objective was to assess the content and quality of online information about prostate artery embolization (PAE). We evaluated patient interest and exposure to PAE by searching Google Trends for PAE and searching Google for BPH and treatment-related terms. To assess online content about PAE safety and efficacy, we queried Google for patient-oriented websites and YouTube for consumer videos, assessing quality using the validated DISCERN instrument and performing an evidence-based content analysis of how indications, risks, and benefits of PAE were presented. Worldwide searches for PAE peaked in 2019; PAE was mentioned in 15 (26%) of the 57 general BPH-related websites. From our PAE-specific searches, we identified 50 websites and 31 videos. Academic hospitals were the most common sponsor of both PAE-related websites (16, 32%) and videos (15, 48%). Among sources offering PAE to patients, only 15% of websites and 11% of videos explicitly did so as part of a clinical trial. The average DISCERN rating of quality of content was 3.0 out of 5 for websites and 2.0 out of 5 for videos (p < 0.001). Over a quarter of websites and more than half of videos contained potential misinformation, inaccuracies, or non-evidence-based claims about PAE (p = 0.02). Online consumer information about PAE is of low to moderate quality, with a high frequency of non-evidence-based claims. In the absence of guideline consensus about the role of PAE, clinicians should offer shared decision making and evidence-based counseling about the risks and benefits of PAE.

Methanol and petrol blended alternate fuel for future sustainable engine: A performance and emission analysis

There is worldwide search for suitable alternate fuels that can replace currently adopted fossil-based resource. Such replacement should conform to existing automobiles without altering its emission and performance characteristics. As a result of continuous research, the alcohol blends are found to be as good as petrol/diesel as fuel to use in automotive engines. Still there is lack of detailed investigations on methanol and petrol blend as alternate fuel and its effect on exhaust emission and noise pollution. The main objective of this study is to fully evaluate the effects of petrol methanol blend on the emission and performance of engine and its noise level. Petrol blended with 5%, 10% and 15% of methanol was used in three separate tests, which are conducted at constant torque and variable speed conditions. The exhaust emission analysis was done using a six gases emission analyzer. The emission level was measured, while the engine was mounted in a special purpose engine test bed fitted with an eddy current dynamometer capable of controlling the speed and torque of the engine. The noise level of the silencer was also measured to understand the effects of methanol percentage on knocking of the engine. The analysis predicts the blend of 5%, 10% and 15% methanol with petrol exhibited less emission and knocking behavior compared to pure petrol. In some cases the NOx emission of richer blend was higher than that of leaner ones. But other emission constituents were significantly reduced due to use methanol blend in place of petrol.

Convalescent Plasma and Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy

Since there are no currently accepted therapies for corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-2019), worldwide search for treatment options are ongoing. Convalescent plasma therapy and mesenchymal stem cell therapy are considered as two of potential options. Convalescent plasma therapy may be recommended early during the course of severe or rapidly progressive illness, despite paucity of evidence. However, mesenchymal stem cell therapy for COVID-19 should only be considered in the context of a trial.

The Making of a Timber Colony: British North America, the Navy Board, and Global Resource Extraction in the Age of Napoleon

AbstractThis article recounts the worldwide search for timber undertaken by the Navy Board, the administrative body under the authority of the Admiralty responsible for the supply of naval stores and the construction and repair of ships during the Napoleonic Wars. The closure of the Baltic by France and its European allies is considered the main factor in making British North America a timber colony. Yet the process through which the forests of the Laurentian Plateau and the North Appalachians came to fuel the dockyards of England and Scotland is taken for granted. To acquire this commodity, through merchants, diplomats, and commissioned agents, the power of the British state reached globally, reshaped ecological relationships, and integrated new landscapes to the Imperial economy. Many alternatives to the Baltic were indeed considered and tentatively exploited. Only a mixture of contingency, political factors, and environmental constraints forced the Board to contract in Lower Canada and New Brunswick rather than in areas such as the Western Cape, the Brazilian coast, or Bombay's hinterland.

Popularity of sleep disordered breathing in childhood: an analysis of worldwide search using Google Trends.

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a general term encompassing a variety of breathing problems occurring during the sleep and characterized by frequently reported signs such as sleep apneas and snoring. Published studies on this topic are increasing over time, as demonstrated by the number of papers available on on-line databases. Google Trends is a freely accessible and reliable online portal, which allows to explore internet search data. Due to the focus on of childhood SDB in published research, and because of its impact on health and wellbeing, this original study aims at investigating the worldwide popularity of most common sleep signs (apnea and snoring) from January 1st, 2004 to present time. The trend of interest for 'sleep', 'sleep apneas' and 'snoring' limited to pediatric age was lower than its overall popularity in the general population, thus reflecting a lower interest of these symptoms in children than in adults. Unlike an increasing trend of ongoing research, the popularity of pediatric sleep apnea and snoring was found to be relatively low around the world, and remained fairly stable over time. This is a matter for concern, since the low popularity of SDB in children is counterbalanced by a need for reinforcing educational programs aimed at increasing widespread awareness, diagnosis and management of this condition.

PBI71 EXPLORING UNCERTAINTIES AND SOLUTIONS ALLOWING PATIENT ACCESS TO CAR T-CELL THERAPIES: LEARNING TODAY HOW TO IMPROVE TOMORROW

To understand how payers around the world have been appraising CAR T-cell therapies, identify evidence gaps in the assessments and how these were overcome in order to allow patient access, with the aim of informing future development of CAR T-cell therapies. We conducted an online, worldwide search for evidence of HTA appraisals of tisagenlecleucel and axicabtagene ciloleucel. We then reviewed the evidence, consisting mostly of HTA appraisals and press releases, looking for the outcome of each appraisal, the rationale behind the decision and whether any solutions were implemented to ensure patient access. To date, we identified 24 HTA sources detailing individual appraisal outcomes of these drugs in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) or diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), mostly from European countries. The most frequently mentioned evidence gaps were a comparator arm in the trials (14 sources), followed by longer-term data (11 sources), larger sample sizes and intention-to-treat reporting (5 sources each). Despite low level of evidence, the high unmet need in ALL led to perceived clinical benefit that was high (e.g. Denmark), moderate (e.g. France) or even unquantifiable (e.g. Germany), with reimbursement generally approved due to low budget impact. The cost-effectiveness of CAR T-cell therapy in DLBCL appears to be lower and the budget impact higher than in ALL, which has led to reimbursement denials (e.g. Netherlands, Scotland). Proposed solutions to allow sustainable patient access range from patient access schemes in the form of rebates (e.g. England, Scotland), coverage with evidence development (e.g. France, Germany, US) or performance-based arrangements (e.g. Spain, Israel, Japan, Australia). Manufacturers could invest in longer, more robust trials with a comparator arm and RWE capture, engaging early-on with payers in order to discuss funding agreements and where data and financial trade-offs can be agreed, with the goal of enabling sustainable patient access.

Moderate sensorineural hearing loss is typical for DFNB16 caused by various types of mutations affecting the STRC gene.

Hearing loss is the most frequent sensory disorder and is genetically extremely heterogeneous. By far the most frequent cause of nonsyndromic autosomal recessive hearing loss (AR-NSHL) are biallelic pathogenic mutations in the GJB2 gene causing DFNB1. The worldwide search for the second most common type of AR-NSHL took almost two decades. Recently reported alterations (mostly deletions) of the STRC gene, also named DFNB16, seem to be the second most frequent cause of AR-NSHL. Genetic testing of STRC is very challenging due to the highly homologous pseudogene. Anecdotal evidence from single patients shows that STRC mutations have their typical audiological findings and patients usually have moderate hearing loss. The aim of this study is to discover if audiological findings in patients with biallelic pathogenic mutations affecting STRC have the characteristic features and shape of audiological curves and if there are genotype/phenotype correlations in relation to various types of STRC mutations. Eleven hearing loss patients with pathogenic mutations on both alleles of the STRC gene were detected during routine genetic examination of AR-NSHL patients. Audiological examination consisted of pure tone audiometry, stapedial reflexes, tympanometry and otoacoustic emission tests. The threshold of pure tone average (PTA) was 46dB and otoacoustic emissions were not detectable in these DFNB16 patients. All patients were without vestibular irritation or asymmetry. Moderate sensorineural hearing loss is typical for DFNB16-associated hearing loss and there are no significant differences in audiological phenotypes among different types of mutations affecting STRC.

Impact of World Tuberculosis Day on digital awareness of tuberculosis: analyses using Google Trends™.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is the ninth leading cause of death worldwide. World Tuberculosis Day is held every year to increase global awareness of TB.OBJECTIVE: To quantify the impact of World Tuberculosis Day using Internet-based data.METHODS: Google Trends™ data were used to quantify digital searches for the term 'tuberculosis' worldwide and in the seven countries with the highest TB incidence. We estimated the mean difference in relative search volume (RSV) between World Tuberculosis Day and control periods. This was done separately for each year (2004-2017) and for the period from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2017. The mean differences in RSVs with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. P values were calculated using the Mann-Whitney U-test. P < 0.05 was considered significant.RESULTS: Analyses of single years revealed the mean difference in RSV for worldwide searches on average was 12.5 (95%CI 4.6-20.2). Between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2017, it was 10.4 (95%CI 6.0-15.0). In high-incidence countries, results ranged from -0.9 (95%CI -5.0 to 6.0) for Nigeria to 13.3 (95%CI 5.0-25.0) for South Africa.CONCLUSION: International campaigns such as the World Tuberculosis Day raise global awareness of TB. More actions are needed to increase TB awareness in high-incidence countries.

Antimicrobial and Structural Properties of Metal Ions Complexes with Thiosemicarbazide Motif and Related Heterocyclic Compounds.

Antibiotic resistance acquired by various bacterial fungal and viral pathogens poses therapeutic problems of increasing severity. Among the infections that are very difficult to treat, biofilm-associated cases are one of the most hazardous. Complex structure of a biofilm and unique physiology of the biofilm cells contribute to their extremely high resistance to environmental conditions, antimicrobial agents and the mechanisms of host immune response. Therefore, the biofilm formation, especially by multidrugresistant pathogens, is a serious medical problem, playing a pivotal role in the development of chronic and recurrent infections. These factors create a limitation for using traditional chemiotherapeutics and contribute to a request for development of new approaches for treatment of infectious diseases. Therefore, early reports on antimicrobial activity of several complexes of metal ions, bearing thiosemicarbazide or thiosemicarbazones as the ligands, gave a boost to worldwide search for new, more efficient compounds of this class, to be used as alternatives to commonly known drugs. In general, depending on the presence of other heteroatoms, these ligands may function in a di-, tri- or tetradentate forms (e.g., of N,S,-, N,N,S-, N,N,N,S-, N,N,S,S-, or N,S,O-type), which impose different coordination geometries to the resultant complexes. In the first part of this review, we describe the ways of synthesis and the structures of the ligands based on the thiosemicarbazone motif, while the second part deals with the antimicrobial activity of their complexes with selected metal ions.

Human leukocyte antigen-matched unrelated donor search experience for hematological disorder patients requiring transplant: scenario for Indian patients

Abstract Introduction: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched unrelated donor (MUD) is the source of MUD transplantation (MUDT) for about 70% of patients who do not have matched related donor. To facilitate MUD search globally, there are 75 stem cell registries with more than 28 million donors registered (as of January 2017). Out of these donors, India has an insignificant representation of approximately 0.23 million. Further, Indians express high genetic variations, making it difficult to find MUD for an Indian patient. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze the MUD search for hematological disorder patients requiring transplant. An attempt was made to observe the MUD scenario for Indian patients requiring MUDT from accessible stem cell registries. Methods: A total of 558 patients approached Genebandhu registry and Chimera Transplant Research Foundation for MUD search over a period of 4 years requiring MUDT were included in this study. High resolution of HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, and -DQB1 was used to perform MUD search through proprietary software called Prometheus and Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide (BMDW) search tool. Results: Out of 558 patients, MUD was located only for 135 (24.19%) patients. Out of these 135 patients, 91 (16.30%) patients found an MUD in global database and only 44 (7.88%) patients within India. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that building a large Indian database will not only help in increasing the chances of finding an MUD for maximum number of patients within India but also provide cost-effective treatment, in a society where cost is a vital factor.

Using Google Trends to explore the New Zealand public's interest in bariatric surgery.

Bariatric surgery, in recent times, has gained media attention that has influenced individual, healthcare provider and wider societal attitudes towards bariatric surgery. Studies exploring public and media levels of interest in bariatric surgery have been performed overseas but studies within New Zealand (NZ) are scarce. Analysis of Google Trends data may be a useful source of information in investigating public interest levels in bariatric surgery. We aimed to analyse Google Trends information on Internet searches in NZ and to explore sequential relationships with relevant changes in policy. Key search terms for our Google Trends query were retrieved by independently reviewing news articles relating to bariatric surgery in NZ published between January 2007 and December 2017 and following a brainstorming session. Trend analyses were performed using Microsoft Excel 14.7.2. Data were captured for both NZ and worldwide search interests in Google Trends. Trend analyses showed that total search volumes for 'lap band' and 'lap band surgery' declined while 'gastric sleeve' and 'gastric sleeve surgery' increased exponentially over the 10-year period. Furthermore, search interests for key terms in NZ were comparable with those worldwide. Our findings reveal that search interests related to bariatric surgery in NZ mirror those worldwide. This includes the popularity of some bariatric procedures over others. The use of Google Trends may provide us with an additional tool to evaluate public interest levels related to bariatric surgery in NZ and could add value in examining the socio-cultural and political contexts of obesity and bariatric surgery.