Neuromuscular junction visualization in paraffin-embedded thyroarytenoid muscle sections: Expanding options beyond frozen section analysis.

Objectives: The current gold standard for immunofluorescent (IF) visualization of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) in muscle utilizes frozen tissue sections with fluorescent conjugated antibodies to demarcate neurons and IF alpha-bungarotoxin (α-BTX) to demarcate motor endplates. Frozen tissue sectioning comes with inherent inescapable limitations, including cryosectioning artifact and limited sample shelf-life. However, a parallel approach to identify NMJs in paraffin-embedded tissue sections has not been previously described.

PET/CT for perforator identification in deep inferior epigastric perforator flap harvest.

Background: CT angiography (CTA) is used for preoperative localization in deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps, but is an additional costly study that involves contrast and radiation exposure. Many patients with head and neck cancer already undergo PET/CT. We investigated if PET/CT could be used to preoperatively localize perforators and if this corresponded with the intraoperative location.

Airway management in pediatric patients undergoing microvascular free tissue transfer reconstruction after mandibulectomy.

Objectives: Microvascular free tissue transfer (MVFTT) for head and neck reconstruction is infrequently performed in pediatric patients. There is a paucity of data on perioperative airway management in pediatric MVFTT, such as the need for tracheostomy, which can pose higher morbidity to young patients due to potential long-term effects on the softer, more pliable laryngotracheal cartilage. Our objective was to report airway outcomes on pediatric patients undergoing MVFTT after segmental mandibulectomy with or without tracheostomy.

Scaffold-Forming Collagen and Motor-Endplate Expressing Muscle Cells for Porcine Laryngoplasty.

Objective: Vocal fold paralysis impairs quality of life, and no curative injectable therapy exists. We evaluated injection of a novel in situ polymerizing (scaffold-forming) collagen in the presence and absence of muscle-derived motor-endplate expressing cells (MEEs) to promote medialization and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) regeneration in a porcine model of unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

Methods: Twelve Yucatan minipigs underwent right RLN transection.

Treatment of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage with nebulized tranexamic acid: A retrospective study.

Objective: To evaluate the association of treatment with nebulized tranexamic acid (TXA) with rates of operative intervention in post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH).

Methods: Single tertiary-referral center and satellite hospitals, retrospective cohort of adult and pediatric patients who were diagnosed with PTH in 2015-2022 and treated with nebulized TXA and standard care, compared with an age- and gender-matched control cohort treated with standard care. Patients were typically treated in the emergency department with a single dose of 500mg/5 mL TXA delivered via nebulizer.

Inequalities in Life Expectancy Across North Carolina: A Spatial Analysis of the Social Determinants of Health and the Index of Concentration at Extremes.

Health inequalities are characterized by spatial patterns of social, economic, and political factors. Life expectancy (LE) is a commonly used indicator of overall population health and health inequalities that allows for comparison across different spatial and temporal regions. The objective of this study was to examine geographic inequalities in LE across North Carolina census tracts by comparing the performance of 2 popular geospatial health indices: Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) and the Index of Concentration at Extremes (ICE).

Systematic Observation of Physical Distancing Behaviors of Trail Users During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities for indoor and sometimes outdoor recreation were restricted across the world. Despite restrictions, many greenways and rail-trails saw increased use. Messaging from the federal and state public health authorities stressed the importance of social distancing and other preventive measures in reducing spread of the coronavirus.

Pedicled Cervical Lymphoadipose Tissue for Volume Reconstruction after Superficial Parotidectomy.

Volume restoration is often required after parotidectomy due to the resultant facial contour deformity. Common procedures include local pedicled flaps, such as the sternocleidomastoid muscle flap, fat grafting, and even autologous free flaps, for more extensive defects. Local pedicled flaps have the advantage of a single surgical site, which spares the patient the added morbidity of a separate fat graft donor site, while simultaneously reducing the operative time.

Bacteriome and mycobiome and bacteriome-mycobiome interactions in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

The etiology of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is not fully understood. While risk factors such as positive human papilloma virus (HPV) status, smoking and tobacco use have been identified, they do not account for all cases of the disease. We aimed to characterize the bacteriome, mycobiome and mycobiome-bacteriome interactions of oral wash in HNSCC patients and to determine if they are distinct from those of the oral wash of matched non-HNSCC patients.

Impact of perforation size and predictive factors for successful pediatric gelfoam myringoplasty.

Objectives: Rates of success with pediatric myringoplasty range from 35 to 95%. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of perforation size on successful closure of the tympanic membrane (TM) after gelfoam myringoplasty. We also aim to identify variables that affect perforation closure rates and define predictive factors for successful TM closure.

Exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) in children and young adults: From referral to diagnosis.

Objective: To identify different presentations, referral patterns, comorbidities, and laryngoscopy findings in children and young adults with exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO).

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 112 patients, age <26 years, with EILO between 2013 and 2016.

Results: Of the 112 patients who met criteria, 91 were female and 21 were male.

Distinct neural mechanisms underlying conceptual knowledge of manner and instrument verbs.

Studies on the organization of conceptual knowledge have examined categories of concrete nouns extensively. Less is known about the neural basis of verb categories suggested by linguistic theories. We used functional MRI to examine the differences between manner verbs, which encode information about the manner of an action, versus instrument verbs, which encode information about an object as part of their meaning.

Natural history of silent aspiration on modified barium swallow studies in the pediatric population.

Objectives: To investigate the natural history of silent aspiration in the pediatric population.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients (age < 3 years) who underwent modified barium swallow studies (MBSS), between January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2017, were studied to compare comorbidities and determine course of resolution in those with silent aspiration.

Results: A total of 148 charts were reviewed.

Decoding intransitive actions in primary motor cortex using fMRI: toward a componential theory of 'action primitives' in motor cortex.

Multivoxel pattern analysis (MVPA) over functional MRI data can distinguish neural representational states that do not differ in their overall amplitude of BOLD contrast. Here we used MVPA to test whether simple intransitive actions can be distinguished in primary motor cortex. Participants rotated and flexed each of their extremities (hands and feet) during fMRI scanning.

Trends in Breast Reconstruction by Ethnicity: An Institutional Review Centered on the Treatment of an Urban Population.

Previous studies have investigated reconstructive decisions after mastectomy and such studies document a preference among African American women for autologous tissue-based procedures and among Latin American women for implant-based reconstructions, however, there is a paucity of studies evaluating the current relationship between ethnicity and reconstructive preferences. This institutional review provides a unique, up-to-date evaluation of an understudied urban population composed of majority ethnic minority patients and explores reconstructive trends. Consecutive breast reconstruction patients were entered into a prospectively maintained database at the University of Illinois at Chicago and affiliate hospitals between July 2010 and October 2013.

Recalcitrant Hidradenitis Suppurativa: An Investigation of Demographics, Surgical Management, Bacterial Isolates, Pharmacologic Intervention, and Patient-reported Health Outcomes.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is characterized by chronic inflammation, recurrent abscesses, and scarring. Surgery is performed when medical management and antibiotic therapy fails. This study sought to evaluate the demographics, surgical procedures, bacteriology, pharmacologic intervention, and quality of life of patients with recalcitrant HS requiring surgical intervention.

Use of Dog Parks and the Contribution to Physical Activity for Their Owners.

Purpose: This study described the use of dog parks in several diverse locations and explored the contribution dog parks made to physical activity of the dog owners.

Method: The Systematic Observation of Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) tool was used to count the number and characteristics of people using parks. Observations were conducted 4 times per day, 4 days per week during for 1 week in 6 urban/suburban parks during different seasons.

Hemangiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in corneal pathology.

Purpose: We characterized the presence of hemangiogenesis (HA) and lymphangiogenesis (LA) in human corneal specimens exhibiting 13 underlying pathologies.

Methods: Human corneal specimens were obtained from consenting subjects (n = 2 or n = 3 for each pathology; total sample size, n = 35). The pathological specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) to determine the presence or absence of corneal neovascularization (NV) and superficial or deep stromal distribution of NV.

Identifying walking trips from GPS and accelerometer data in adolescent females.

Background: Studies that have combined accelerometers and global positioning systems (GPS) to identify walking have done so in carefully controlled conditions. This study tested algorithms for identifying walking trips from accelerometer and GPS data in free-living conditions. The study also assessed the accuracy of the locations where walking occurred compared with what participants reported in a diary.

Inhibition of angiogenesis by HC·HA, a complex of hyaluronan and the heavy chain of inter-α-inhibitor, purified from human amniotic membrane.

Purpose: To determine whether antiangiogenic action of the amniotic membrane (AM) can be mediated by HC·HA, a covalent complex of hyaluronan (HA) and the heavy chain (HC) of inter-α-inhibitor, purified from AM soluble extract.

Methods: HC·HA action on viability, proliferation, attachment, death, migration, and differentiation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and neovascularization in chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) was examined by MTT assay, BrdU labeling, cell proliferation assay, cell death detection ELISA, transwell assay, tube formation assay, and CAM assay.

Results: HC·HA suppressed HUVEC viability more significantly than HA and AM stromal extract, and such suppression was not mediated by CD44.

Efficacy and limitation of sutureless amniotic membrane transplantation for acute toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Purpose: The purpose of this case report is to describe the efficacy and limitation of ProKera, a sutureless medical device containing amniotic membrane, for treating acute ocular manifestations of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).

Methods: ProKera was inserted in both eyes at day 10 after onset of ocular symptoms in a 5-year-old boy suffering from acute TEN, manifesting conjunctival inflammation, large conjunctival defects, pseudomembrane formation, and total corneal epithelial defects.

Results: At 9-month follow-up, insertion of ProKera resulted in complete reepithelialization, clear corneas, and vision of 20/20 in both eyes.

Comparing objective measures of environmental supports for pedestrian travel in adults.

Background: Evidence is growing that the built environment has the potential to influence walking--both positively and negatively. However, uncertainty remains on the best approaches to representing the pedestrian environment in order to discern associations between walking and the environment. Research into the relationship between environment and walking is complex; challenges include choice of measures (objective and subjective), quality and availability of data, and methods for managing quantitative data through aggregation and weighting.

Amniotic membrane transplantation as a new therapy for the acute ocular manifestations of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and its more severe variant, toxic epidermal necrolysis, have relatively low overall incidence; however, this disease presents with high morbidity and mortality. The majority of patients develop ocular inflammation and ulceration at the acute stage. Due to the hidden nature of these ocular lesions and the concentration of effort toward life-threatening issues, current acute management has not devised a strategy to preclude blinding cicatricial complications.