Publications by authors named "Andrea S Bauer"
Article Synopsis
- Early and aggressive metastasis is a defining characteristic of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, making it important to understand the genes involved in this process to improve disease outcomes.
- Researchers performed a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screen on pancreatic cancer cell lines with different metastatic capacities to identify metastasis-specific genes and analyzed their functions through in vitro experiments and in vivo mouse models.
- The study found that knocking out 590 genes significantly impacted the viability of metastatic cells, revealing new insights into the molecular processes involved in metastasis and highlighting the need for further investigation into these critical genes and their interactions.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess if radiographs can help classify thumbs as Blauth IIIA or IIIB based on their morphological features.
- Six pediatric hand surgeons evaluated 77 thumb radiographs, achieving an 82% consensus in classification and a 77% agreement with the original enrolling surgeon's classification.
- Key findings indicate that IIIA thumbs are characterized by near-normal dimensions, while IIIB thumbs display abnormally short and tapered shapes; specific length and width ratios further distinguish the two classifications.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the impact of wrist guards/supports (WG/S) on the wrist joint mechanics of gymnasts, specifically analyzing joint moments, angles, range of motion, and ground-reaction forces during back handsprings.
- A controlled laboratory study was conducted with 23 female gymnasts, comparing their performance with no WG/S, Skids/Ultimate Wrist Supports (S/UWS), and Tiger Paws (TP).
- Results indicated that using S/UWS and TP increased wrist flexion moments compared to no WG/S during the landing phase, while no WG/S exhibited greater wrist extension angles and range of motion than S/UWS.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate whether children with elbow flexion contractures (EFC) due to brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI) are at higher risk for developing shoulder contractures needing surgery.
- Researchers analyzed data from clinical evaluations of children under 2 years old with BPBI, comparing 72 cases of EFC to 230 controls, finding significant differences in shoulder range of motion and the likelihood of developing shoulder contracture.
- The findings suggest that EFC can help identify children at risk for shoulder contractures, highlighting the importance of early referral to specialized clinics to prevent complications.
Objective: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal malignancy. Differentiation from chronic pancreatitis (CP) is currently inaccurate in about one-third of cases. Misdiagnoses in both directions, however, have severe consequences for patients.
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- The study assesses the functional outcomes and range of motion after surgical treatment of T-condylar fractures in children and adolescents, finding that optimal treatment strategies are still unclear.
- In a cohort of 52 patients, the average age was about 13 years, with a notable complication rate of 54% and varying outcomes; 46% showed good results based on one evaluation method, while 42% did so per another.
- Operative techniques using adult-type fixation plates led to better range of motion in the early postoperative phase compared to pediatric-style fixation, but the overall high complication rates raised concerns about the effectiveness of current surgical approaches.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to identify and analyze perinatal factors linked to brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI) in infants and how these factors relate to the severity of the injury.
- Conducted retrospectively, the research involved 796 infants with BPBI enrolled in a multicenter registry, revealing that almost all had at least one perinatal factor, with shoulder dystocia being the most common.
- The findings suggested that NICU admissions and birth asphyxia correlated strongly with the severity of BPBI, emphasizing the need for better understanding to enhance prevention and referral practices.
Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on identifying blood biomarkers to distinguish between different grades of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), which can lead to pancreatic cancer.
- Researchers analyzed blood samples from 302 IPMN patients and 88 healthy donors using advanced techniques, including SVM classifiers, to find protein and microRNA biomarkers.
- The findings revealed that specific panels of proteins and microRNAs could accurately differentiate between high- and low-risk IPMN with high accuracy, potentially enhancing patient management and outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on finding a reliable non-invasive method to differentiate between low- and high-risk pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) to improve patient care and minimize over-treatment.
- Researchers analyzed serum samples from 378 patients with various grades of IPMN and related cancers, using a detailed protein microarray to identify relevant biomarkers.
- From their findings, 14 specific proteins showed potential as biomarkers for determining the malignancy risk in IPMN patients, though their sensitivity was not as strong as the specificity.
Article Synopsis
- * Of the analyzed 560 abstracts from 2010-2017, only 14.5% had female senior authors, with females more likely to focus on pediatrics and collaborate with female first authors while having lower publication rates than their male counterparts.
- * Despite the similar proportion of female authors to ASSH membership, this study indicates ongoing disparities in publication rates that highlight the need for initiatives to support women in surgical fields.
Article Synopsis
- Increased telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic showed lower missed-care opportunities (MCOs) for pediatric orthopaedic patients compared to in-person visits in a prepandemic period.
- Social determinants such as race, ethnicity, and insurance status influenced MCO rates, with Black and Hispanic/Latinx patients and those on public insurance experiencing higher rates of missed care.
- Despite the shift to telemedicine, existing health disparities were not mitigated, highlighting the need for pediatric orthopaedic specialists to recognize that telehealth alone may not enhance access to care for underserved populations.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to measure anxiety levels in pediatric patients (ages 3-8) during pin removal after treatment for supracondylar humerus fractures, finding that all patients experienced significant anxiety before the procedure.
- - Results showed a median anxiety score of 7 on the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability scale and a 73% reduction in anxiety after pin removal, with 98% of patients exhibiting elevated heart rates before the procedure.
- - The research highlights the need for interventions to reduce anxiety in pediatric patients undergoing pin removal, as high anxiety levels were observed consistently in this clinical setting.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to investigate prenatal risk factors for congenital upper limb differences (CoULDs) using a large data set from the CoULD registry, focusing on factors like maternal drug and alcohol use, and gestational diabetes.
- Out of 2,410 patients analyzed, 72% reported no risk factors, while the most common reported risk factor was maternal prescription drug use, which was linked to higher odds of medical comorbidities.
- The findings suggest that even though most caregivers didn't report risk factors, those who did had a higher prevalence of medical and orthopedic issues associated with their children.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the complication rates of iliac crest bone grafting (ICBG) in pediatric patients undergoing surgery for scaphoid nonunions, hypothesizing that these rates would be lower than those found in adult populations.
- Records from 119 surgeries performed between 1995 and 2016 were analyzed, revealing that only 10 wrists (8.4%) had donor site complications, mainly including pain beyond 30 days and numbness, but no infections or reoperations occurred.
- The findings suggest that donor site morbidity in pediatric patients is lower than reported in older populations, with female patients showing a higher tendency for complications compared to males.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the treatment options for pediatric ganglion cysts, comparing surgical and nonsurgical methods, including observation, aspiration, and orthosis, in terms of cyst resolution rates.
- Results showed that surgical excision was the most effective treatment, achieving a cyst resolution rate of 73%, while observation alone had a 44% resolution rate, significantly higher than aspiration at 18%.
- The findings indicate that nonsurgical interventions, such as aspiration and orthosis, do not significantly improve cyst resolution rates compared to observation alone, and highlight that older patients (over 10 years) tend to have lower resolution rates with observation.
Selecting the Next Class: The "Virtual Orthopaedic Rotation".
J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev
January 2022
Article Synopsis
- The COVID-19 pandemic led to the creation of a virtual orthopaedic rotation (VOR) to replace traditional visiting subinternships for medical students interested in orthopaedic surgery.
- Three 3-week VOR sessions were conducted, featuring educational conferences, mentorship, and assessments of students' orthopaedic knowledge.
- Results showed significant improvements in test scores, high satisfaction from participants, and a higher rate of interview invitations for VOR students compared to the overall applicant pool.
Article Synopsis
- - Studies show that in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), certain genes can be highly methylated in their promoter regions yet are still actively transcribed, indicating a complex relationship between methylation and gene expression.
- - Researchers identified that around 2% of regulated genes in PDAC displayed higher transcription levels when coupled with promoter hypermethylation and discovered several transcription factors that selectively bind to these methylated promoters, notably members of the NFAT family.
- - NFATc1, a specific transcription factor, was found to be significantly more active in PDAC compared to normal tissues and was linked to the activation of genes responsible for metastasis and poor patient outcomes, highlighting the crucial role of DNA methylation in
Article Synopsis
- A study analyzed blood samples from healthy individuals and colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, focusing on microRNAs (miRNAs) linked to CRC.
- They identified 179 miRNAs that were significantly different in CRC patients compared to healthy controls, with three specific miRNAs consistently elevated across all stages of CRC.
- The findings suggest that miRNAs in blood change during CRC progression and could play a role in cancer pathways, indicating their potential as biomarkers or therapeutic targets, needing further research for clinical application.
The medical application of 3-dimensional printing technology has evolved in the last decade, with an increasing variety of uses in hand surgery. The ability for patient-specific design, rapid prototyping, and low cost of production of 3-dimensional printed materials has led to this rise in clinical applications, both for common procedures and complex reconstructions. Within hand surgery, 3-dimensional printing can be applied in several broad categories: to construct patient-specific models for preoperative planning, to design orthotics and prosthetics to meet specific patient demands, to create patient-specific aids for intraoperative use, to generate patient-specific hardware and prostheses for implantation, and for applications for trainee education.
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- Oncolytic parvovirus H-1PV is being tested in clinical trials, but predicting its success in treating tumors is difficult.
- The study examined how the antiviral state in pancreatic cancer cells affects the efficacy of H-1PV, finding that the virus causes a late shutdown of immune responses by inhibiting certain antiviral genes and elements.
- The findings suggest that the suppression of antiviral activity may influence how other treatments work and could affect the immune system's ability to respond, although immune cells can still release interferons in response to H-1PV.
Article Synopsis
- Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, with increasing incidence and a median survival rate of only five months post-diagnosis.
- Blood-based diagnostics show potential for improving early detection and patient outcomes, and the current state of this area is being reviewed for its challenges and opportunities.
- The paper suggests that enhancing biomarker quality and clarifying clinical goals are crucial for advancing blood-based diagnostic approaches, which may also be applicable to other types of solid tumors.
Article Synopsis
- A multicenter registry for Congenital Upper Limb Differences (CoULD) was created to better understand the epidemiology and treatment outcomes over a 4-year recruitment period.
- An analysis compared the CoULD patient data with previous studies, revealing that the frequency of different congenital conditions varied significantly, particularly in cases that typically don’t require surgery.
- Findings suggest that the CoULD registry may provide a more accurate reflection of conditions treated in specialized medical centers than prior research.
Article Synopsis
- * The research involved 22 pediatric patients averaging 16.2 years, with a majority experiencing pain and previous injuries, primarily distal radius fractures, before surgery.
- * Post-surgery, 21 out of 22 subjects maintained DRUJ stability, and the median functional outcome score indicated significant improvement, suggesting the Herbert sling technique is effective for this condition in young patients.
Article Synopsis
- The study examined radial longitudinal deficiency (RLD) in the forearm and hand, which is a common congenital condition, and its relationship with thumb hypoplasia across different syndromes.
- Data was gathered from the CoULD registry, using established classification systems to analyze the severity of deficiency in affected individuals, revealing a notable correlation between the severity of radial and thumb deficiencies.
- Findings indicated that patients with syndromes were more likely to experience severe and bilateral deficiencies, with varying patterns of deficiency observed across specific syndromes like VACTERL, Holt-Oram, TAR, and Fanconi anemia.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate whether closed reduction treatment for pediatric fifth metacarpal neck fractures leads to a significant improvement in the angle of the fracture as seen in radiographs.
- Researchers examined data from 54 pediatric patients, finding an average initial fracture angulation of 42.7°, with varying degrees of improvement depending on the initial fracture angle (greater vs. less than 50°).
- The results indicated that for fractures with initial angulation of 50° or more, closed reduction yielded significant and lasting improvements in angulation, while those with less than 50° showed minimal improvement.