Publications by authors named "Emily Ai"
Article Synopsis
- The study evaluated the outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation (RALUR) for treating primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in pre-toilet trained children, comparing results to a group of toilet trained children.
- Researchers analyzed data from 158 patients, noting similar demographics and surgical outcomes between the two groups despite the pre-toilet trained group having more severe VUR grades.
- The findings indicate that RALUR is a safe and successful treatment option for both groups, making it a valid alternative to traditional open surgery.
Introduction: Robot-assisted Laparoscopic Appendicovesicostomy (RALAPV) is increasingly performed as a minimally invasive alternative to the open appendicovesicostomy (OPAV), but questions remain regarding the efficacy of the RALAPV compared to OPAV.
Objective: To assess and compare outcomes for non-augmented RALAPV to the open surgical approach.
Materials And Methods: An IRB approved prospective registry was retrospectively examined to abstract all patients who underwent APV without augment between 2012 and 2023.
Article Synopsis
- Hypospadias repair often leads to complications, and while factors like anatomy and surgeon experience are known contributors, the influence of social determinants of health on outcomes is less understood.
- The study aimed to explore how resources and community conditions, assessed through the Childhood Opportunity Index (COI), impact post-operative complications in children who underwent distal hypospadias repair.
- An analysis of 938 patients showed a 14.1% complication rate, but no significant correlations were found between COI, insurance type, race, and complications; however, anatomical factors like glans width and chordee degree were linked to complications.
Introduction: Ureteroscopy (URS) for urolithiasis in pediatric patients may be particularly challenging for patients with co-morbidities that increase the risk for stone formation and recurrence. Patients with neurogenic bladders (NGB) and/or patients that are non-ambulatory are reported to have higher rates of additional comorbidities and a particularly increased risk of developing urolithiasis, and higher rates of infections and post-operative complications.
Objective: To report outcomes of URS for stone disease in pediatric patients with NGB and/or non-ambulatory status and compare these outcomes to patients without these co-morbidities.
Article Synopsis
- Robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RALP) is an effective treatment for pediatric ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO), with success rates over 95%, but can be challenging in cases with complex renal anatomy.
- This study evaluated the outcomes of RALP in children with complex renal anatomy (e.g., horseshoe kidney, ectopic kidney) compared to those with simple anatomy by analyzing data from 2012 to 2022.
- The results showed no significant differences in age, procedure time, length of hospital stay, or overall success rates between the two groups, though the causes of obstruction varied significantly between patients with complex vs. simple anatomy.
Skeletal muscle has remarkable regenerative ability after injury. Mesenchymal fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) are necessary, active participants during this repair process, but the molecular signatures of these cells and their functional relevance remain largely unexplored. Here, using a lineage tracing mouse model (Gli1-CreER Tomato), we demonstrate that Gli1 marks a small subset of muscle-resident FAPs with elevated Hedgehog (Hh) signaling.
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