Impact of Insurance Type on Access to Pediatric Surgical Care.

Background: This study aimed to measure the impact of insurance type on access to pediatric surgical care, clinical and surgical scheduling decisions, provider-driven cancelations, and missed care opportunities (MCOs). We hypothesize that patients with public health insurance experience longer scheduling delays and more frequently canceled surgical appointments compared with patients with private health insurance.

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the demographics and clinical characteristics of patients who underwent a surgical procedure within the plastic and oral surgery department at our institution in 2019.

The Impact of Tuberous Breast on Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Tuberous breast deformity is a nondiagnostic, descriptive term for a congenital breast difference that becomes apparent at puberty. Although the negative physical and psychosocial effects of macromastia and breast asymmetry are established, no studies to date have explored the impact of tuberous breasts on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes using a robust sample size.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, HRQoL surveys were administered to adolescent women with tuberous breasts and healthy female controls, aged 12-21 years.

Reduction Mammaplasty in Younger Patients: An Evidence-Based Approach to Treatment.

Macromastia is a common condition that can lead to physical pain, emotional burden, and behavioral impairment, with significant decrements in quality of life. Reduction mammaplasty offers the only effective treatment of symptomatic macromastia, and patients experience significant improvements in their physical and psychosocial health through surgical correction. Although symptoms typically arise during adolescence, most women seeking surgical intervention do not undergo reduction mammaplasty until their fifth decade of life.

The Utility of the Schnur Sliding Scale in Adolescent Patients.

Background: Although the Schnur Sliding Scale (SSS) was not intended to be used by third-party payors, it has become the national standard for coverage decisions regarding macromastia treatment in patients of all ages. Adolescents were neither included in the cohort that created the SSS nor represented in subsequent validation studies.

Methods: In this prospective study, health-related quality of life surveys were administered to girls and young women 12 to 21 years of age before and after reduction mammaplasty to treat macromastia.

Validation of the Short-Form 36 for Adolescents Undergoing Reduction Mammaplasty.

Unlabelled: Health-related quality of life improvements after reduction mammaplasty have been reported by patients. Although instruments exist for adults, a validated outcomes survey is not available for adolescents. This study aims to validate the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) for adolescents undergoing reduction mammaplasty.

Mental Health Conditions and Health-related Quality of Life Changes after Reduction Mammaplasty in Younger Patients.

Unlabelled: Reduction mammaplasty is increasingly common in younger patients with macromastia. Unfortunately, a recent surge in mental health disorders has been documented in this population. It is unknown how mental health disorders affect patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty.

Body Mass Index (BMI) Impact on Anesthetic Safety among Adolescents Undergoing Bilateral Reduction Mammaplasty.

Unlabelled: Obesity is common in adolescents with macromastia seeking surgery, prompting concerns over anesthesia-related complications due to obesity. This may lead to weight-based surgical policies, despite limited research. This study's purpose is to examine the impact of obesity status on perioperative anesthetic-related adverse events/surgical complications in adolescents/young adults undergoing bilateral reduction mammaplasty.

The Impact of Combined Oral Contraceptives on Adolescents with Macromastia.

Background: The combined oral contraceptive pill, containing both estrogen and progestin, is commonly prescribed to adolescents for numerous health benefits. However, there is concern among patients and providers that its use may exacerbate breast growth. This retrospective, case-control study examined the association between combined oral contraceptive pill use and macromastia-related breast hypertrophy and symptoms in adolescents.

Effectiveness of Preoperative Symptom Screening in Identifying Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Infections: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

Unlabelled: Evidence-based protocols identifying COVID-19 cases in pediatric preoperative settings are lacking. With COVID-19 positioned to remain a threat to children, this study examines effectiveness of preoperative COVID-19 symptom screening in pediatric patients.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included hospital billing/medical record queries of (1) procedures performed under conscious sedation/general anesthesia and (2) laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 (+) cases from April 6, 2020, to June 15, 2020.

Normative Values for Adolescent Quality of Life in Plastic Surgery: A Longitudinal, Cohort Study.

Background: Adolescence is a challenging time, and an increasing number of young people are seeking plastic surgery. With the rise of health-related quality of life studies in plastic surgery, it is critical to understand the natural variation and changes in health-related quality of life for this population.

Methods: In this longitudinal, cohort study validated surveys were administered to cisgender participants aged 12-21 years: Short-Form 36v2, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Breast-Related Symptoms Questionnaire, and Eating-Attitudes Test-26.

Complications and Quality of Life following Gynecomastia Correction in Adolescents and Young Men.

Background: Persistent adolescent gynecomastia negatively affects health-related quality of life. Surgery results in psychosocial improvements, but the effects of postoperative complications on health-related quality of life are unknown. The authors examined whether complications following adolescent gynecomastia surgery impact postoperative health-related quality of life.

Distraction Lengthening of the Apert Thumb.

Background: The thumbs of patients with Apert syndrome are characteristically short and radially deviated, contributing to functional hand impairment. The authors report a two-staged technique for distraction lengthening of the Apert thumb using a robust cohort of pediatric patients.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed medical records of pediatric patients with Apert syndrome who underwent thumb distraction lengthening between 1999 and 2019.

The Impact of Progestin-only Contraception on Adolescents with Macromastia.

Unlabelled: Progestin-only contraception has become increasingly popular among adolescents. However, patients, parents, and providers share concerns regarding the potential impact that progestin-only contraception may have on breast growth. We sought to explore the impact of progestin-only contraception on breast hypertrophy and symptomatology in adolescents with macromastia.

Differing protocols of managing adult diabetic ketoacidosis outside of the intensive care unit make no difference to the rate of resolution of hyperglycaemia and acidosis.

Aims: To compare the outcome of people with type 1 diabetes admitted to the general ward with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) to two hospitals in Auckland, using different protocols of care.

Methods: North Shore Hospital uses a UK weight-based, ketone centric protocol while Auckland Hospital uses a protocol based on glucose measurements only. All notes of people over 16 years of age admitted to the general wards with DKA to these hospitals in one year were reviewed and their outcome compared.

Effectiveness of text message based, diabetes self management support programme (SMS4BG): two arm, parallel randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of a theoretically based and individually tailored, text message based, diabetes self management support intervention (SMS4BG) in adults with poorly controlled diabetes.

Design: Nine month, two arm, parallel randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Primary and secondary healthcare services in New Zealand.

Calcifying Acne: An Unusual Extraoral Radiographic Finding.

Calcinosis cutis is a condition of accumulation of calcium salts within the dermis leading to the formation of a calcified mass. This complication has been reported in acne vulgaris and other systemic metabolic disorders. This paper presents a rare case of calcinosis cutis in a 14-year-old male which was found at a routine orthodontic assessment.

Bilateral Transverse Mandibular Second Molars: A Case Report.

Impaction of mandibular second permanent molars is a rare occurrence, with prevalence rates reported to be between 0.65% and 2.0%.

An Ingested Orthodontic Wire Fragment: A Case Report.

Accidental ingestion or inhalation of foreign bodies has been widely documented, including incidents which occur whilst undertaking dental treatment. Most ingested objects pass through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) spontaneously, but approximately 10%-20% need to be removed endoscopically and 1% require surgery. This case reports a complication arising from the accidental loss of an archwire fragment during maxillary archwire placement.

Text message-based diabetes self-management support (SMS4BG): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Addressing the increasing prevalence, and associated disease burden, of diabetes is a priority of health services internationally. Interventions to support patients to effectively self-manage their condition have the potential to reduce the risk of costly and debilitating complications. The utilisation of mobile phones to deliver self-management support allows for patient-centred care at the frequency and intensity that patients desire from outside the clinic environment.

Diabetes Text-Message Self-Management Support Program (SMS4BG): A Pilot Study.

Background: The increasing prevalence of diabetes and costly long-term complications associated with poor glycemic control are issues facing health services worldwide. Diabetes self-management, with the support of health care providers, is critical for successful outcomes, however, frequent clinical contact is costly. Text messages via short message service (SMS) have the advantage of instant transmission at low cost and, given the ubiquity of mobile phones, may be the ideal platform for the delivery of diabetes self-management support.

Multidisplinary management of hypodontia in adolescents: case report.

The purpose of this article is to describe a team approach to treatment of hypodontia in adolescent dentition. A case report of hypodontia with a microdontic lateral incisor in a Class I malocclusion illustrates the principles of case management. Multidisciplinary consultation during treatment planning and coordination and appropriate timing of subsequent interdisciplinary dental care enables the clinician to provide the optimum care.

Anti-inflammatory sesquiterpene-quinones from the New Zealand sponge Dysidea cf. cristagalli.

The inhibition of superoxide production by human neutrophils has been used to screen New Zealand's unique biota for anti-inflammatory natural products. Bioactivity-directed isolation on an extract of the sponge Dysidea cf. cristagalli led to a new sesquiterpene-quinone (4) with anti-inflammatory activity, plus acetylated hydroquinone (3).

Islet amyloid polypeptide gene promoter polymorphisms are not associated with Type 2 diabetes or with the severity of islet amyloidosis.

The over-expression of the islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) gene could be a causal factor for islet amyloidosis and beta-cell destruction in Type 2 diabetes (T2DM). An IAPP gene promoter polymorphism, IAPP-132G to A, has been associated with T2DM in Spain. To investigate this polymorphism in other cohorts and in relation to therapy, DNA from 425 T2DM and 279 unrelated, non-diabetic UK subjects (ND) and 102 T2DM and 80 ND Finnish subjects was examined.

A new glucosyl feruloyl quinic acid as a potential marker for roots and rhizomes of goldenseal, Hydrastis canadensis.

A new compound, 5-O-(4'-[beta-d-glucopyranosyl]-trans-feruloyl)quinic acid (GPFQ, 10), is reported from the medicinal plant goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis). A new HPLC method is described and used to show that GPFQ is a potential marker for goldenseal roots (1.0% w/w) and rhizomes (2.