Project Synapse: Efficacy of a Youth Outreach Program to Increase Diversity in Neurosurgery.

Background: There is a lack of diversity within neurosurgery; in 2019, only 12%, 4%, and 5% of neurosurgeons identify as female, black, and Latinx respectively. Project Synapse, a youth outreach initiative, aims to diversify the neurosurgical workforce by exposing youth from underrepresented minority (URM) backgrounds to neurosurgery. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the outcomes of the first 2 years of Project Synapse.

Diabetic retinopathy is a ceramidopathy reversible by anti-ceramide immunotherapy.

Diabetic retinopathy is a microvascular disease that causes blindness. Using acid sphingomyelinase knockout mice, we reported that ceramide generation is critical for diabetic retinopathy development. Here, in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, we identify vitreous ceramide imbalance with pathologic long-chain C16-ceramides increasing and protective very long-chain C26-ceramides decreasing.

Synthesis and Antitumor Activity of Brominated-Ormeloxifene (Br-ORM) against Cervical Cancer.

Aberrant regulation of β-catenin signaling is strongly linked with cancer proliferation, invasion, migration, and metastasis, thus, small molecules that can inhibit this pathway might have great clinical significance. Our molecular modeling studies suggest that ormeloxifene (ORM), a triphenylethylene molecule that docks with β-catenin, and its brominated analogue (Br-ORM) bind more effectively with relatively less energy (-7.6 kcal/mol) to the active site of β-catenin as compared to parent ORM.

An omni-channel, outcomes-focused approach to scale digital health interventions in resource-limited populations: a case study.

Populations in resource-limited communities have low health awareness, low financial literacy levels, and inadequate access to primary healthcare, leading to low adoption of preventive health behaviours, low healthcare-seeking behaviours, and poor health outcomes. Healthcare providers have limited reach and insights, limiting their ability to design relevant products for resource limited settings. Our primary preventive health intervention, called the family health interventions, is a scaled digital offering that aims to improve knowledge levels on various health topics, nudge positive behaviour changes, and drive improved health outcomes.

Ceramide as an endothelial cell surface receptor and a lung-specific lipid vascular target for circulating ligands.

The vascular endothelium from individual organs is functionally specialized, and it displays a unique set of accessible molecular targets. These serve as endothelial cell receptors to affinity ligands. To date, all identified vascular receptors have been proteins.

Marked elevations in lung and plasma ceramide in COVID-19 linked to microvascular injury.

The pathogenesis of the marked pulmonary microvasculature injury, a distinguishing feature of COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (COVID-ARDS), remains unclear. Implicated in the pathophysiology of diverse diseases characterized by endothelial damage, including ARDS and ischemic cardiovascular disease, ceramide and in particular palmitoyl ceramide (C16:0-ceramide) may be involved in the microvascular injury in COVID-19. Using deidentified plasma and lung samples from COVID-19 patients, ceramide profiling by mass spectrometry was performed.

Outpatient telemedicine in neurosurgery: 15,677 consecutive encounters in a comparative analysis of its effectiveness and impact on the surgical conversion rate.

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has necessitated the use of telehealth visits (THVs). The effects on neurosurgical practice have not been well characterized, especially concerning new-patient THVs. Therefore, the authors of this study reviewed their institution's experience with outpatient clinic visits and THVs from before the COVID-19 pandemic to the present to focus on clinical metrics, rates of surgery, and the effects of implementing THVs in order to better understand their implications for clinical practice as more data emerge over time.

Digital Phenotyping in Health Using Machine Learning Approaches: Scoping Review.

Background: Digital phenotyping is the real-time collection of individual-level active and passive data from users in naturalistic and free-living settings via personal digital devices, such as mobile phones and wearable devices. Given the novelty of research in this field, there is heterogeneity in the clinical use cases, types of data collected, modes of data collection, data analysis methods, and outcomes measured.

Objective: The primary aim of this scoping review was to map the published research on digital phenotyping and to outline study characteristics, data collection and analysis methods, machine learning approaches, and future implications.

Applying to residency: survey of neurosurgical residency applicants on virtual recruitment during COVID-19.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant disruption to residency recruitment, including a sudden, comprehensive transition to virtual interviews. The authors sought to characterize applicant experiences and perceptions concerning the change in the application, interview, and match process for neurological surgery residency during the 2020-2021 recruitment cycle.

Methods: A national survey of neurosurgical residency applicants from the 2020-2021 application cycle was performed.

Assessment of Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis Diagnosis, Management and Outcomes in Patients with Solid Tumors Over a Decade of Experience.

Objective: Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC), a common complication of advanced malignancies, is associated with high morbidity and mortality, yet diagnosis and treatment decisions remain challenging. This study describes the diagnostic and treatment modalities for LMC and identifies factors associated with overall survival (OS).

Materials And Methods: We performed a single-institution retrospective study (registration #: OSU2016C0053) of 153 patients diagnosed with LMC treated at The Ohio State University, Comprehensive Cancer Center, (OSUCCC)-James between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2015.

Case Report: Delayed Alemtuzumab-Induced Concurrent Neutropenia and Thrombocytopenia in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.

Alemtuzumab is an anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody used to treat relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis following failure of second-line medications. It is administered intravenously in 2 treatment sequences 1 year apart. This drug is frequently associated with mild infusion reactions within days of administration, increased infection risk, and long term adverse events from secondary autoimmunity.

Slow progress in the visibility of women in neurosurgery in the United States: opportunity for improvement.

Objective: The goal of this study was to analyze the visibility of women within organized neurosurgery, including leadership positions, lectureships, and honored guest/award recipients at neurosurgical conferences.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was used to analyze the gender demographics within the five major national neurosurgical societies (Congress of Neurological Surgeons [CNS], American Association of Neurological Surgeons [AANS], Society of Neurological Surgeons [SNS], American Board of Neurological Surgery [ABNS], and Council of State Neurosurgical Societies [CSNS]) from 2000 to 2020. Data for top leadership positions, keynote speakers, honored guests, and invited lectureships at these neurosurgical societies were reviewed.

AI for Improving Children's Health: A Community Case Study.

The Indian health care system lacks the infrastructure to meet the health care demands of the country. Physician and nurse availability is 30 and 50% below WHO recommendations, respectively, and has led to a steep imbalance between the demand for health care and the infrastructure available to support it. Among other concerns, India still struggles with challenges like undernutrition, with 38% of children under the age of five being underweight.

Long-term outcomes of spinal ependymomas: an institutional experience of more than 60 cases.

Purpose: Spinal ependymomas represent the most common primary intramedullary tumors for which optimal management remains undefined. When possible, gross total resection (GTR) is often the mainstay of treatment, with consideration of radiotherapy (RT) in cases of residual or recurrent tumor. The impact of extent of resection and radiotherapy remain understudied.

Systemic Solutions for Addressing Non-Communicable Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have been on the rise in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) over the last few decades and represent a significant healthcare concern. Over 85% of "premature" deaths worldwide due to NCDs occur in the LMICs. NCDs are an economic burden on these countries, increasing their healthcare expenditure.

Features, Outcomes, and Management Strategies of Male Breast Cancer: A Single Institution Comparison to Well-Matched Female Controls.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to delineate differences in management, overall and distant disease-free survival in males diagnosed with breast cancer and treated at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center as compared to comprehensively matched female subjects. Secondary objectives included assessment of clinical and histopathologic features and recurrence score, as measured by Oncotype DX and the modified Magee equation #2.

Materials And Methods: This single institution retrospective study compared male and comprehensively matched female patients (1:2) with stage I-III breast cancer between 1994 and 2014.

Effects of an mHealth voice message service (mMitra) on maternal health knowledge and practices of low-income women in India: findings from a pseudo-randomized controlled trial.

Background: Mobile Health (mHealth) is becoming an important tool to improve health outcomes in maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH). Studies of mHealth interventions, have demonstrated their effectiveness in improving uptake of recommended maternal services such as antenatal visits. However, evidence of impact on maternal health outcomes is still limited.

Radiographic assessment of surgical treatment of post-traumatic syringomyelia.

Symptomatic post-traumatic syringomyelia can affect the quality of life in patients whose neurologic function has already been impacted by a spinal cord injury. To investigate the radiographic and clinical outcomes following surgery for syringomyelia, we present a literature review along with a case series from a single surgeon's experience. A retrospective review was conducted on patients with post-traumatic syringomyelia who were treated by a single surgeon.

Efficacy of different dosing schedules of capecitabine for metastatic breast cancer: a single-institution experience.

Purpose Capecitabine is widely used as a single agent on a 21-day cycle in the management of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Our primary objective was to compare the standard dosing of capecitabine (Arm A: days 1-14 on 21-day cycle) to biweekly dosing (Arm B: days 1-7 and 15-21 on 28-day cycle) using retrospective data analysis. Methods 166 patients with MBC treated with single agent capecitabine at The Ohio State University from 2002 to 2014 were considered eligible.

Assessment of outcomes and novel immune biomarkers in metaplastic breast cancer: a single institution retrospective study.

Background: Metaplastic breast cancer remains poorly characterized given its rarity and heterogeneity. The majority of metaplastic breast cancers demonstrate a phenotype of triple-negative breast cancer; however, differences in clinical outcomes between metaplastic breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer in the era of third-generation chemotherapy remain unclear.

Methods: We compared the clinical outcomes between women with metaplastic breast cancer and women with triple-negative breast cancer diagnosed between 1994 and 2014.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Atlas-Based Volumetric Mapping of the Cervical Cord Gray Matter in Cervical Canal Stenosis.

Background: White matter volume loss may be an anatomic driver in the development of clinical symptoms in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Considerably less attention has been devoted to gray matter (GM) injury. Newly developed atlas-based mapping techniques may allow evaluation of GM cord volume alterations in CSM.

The Impact of an mHealth Voice Message Service (mMitra) on Infant Care Knowledge, and Practices Among Low-Income Women in India: Findings from a Pseudo-Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives mHealth interventions for MNCH have been shown to improve uptake of antenatal and neonatal services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, little systematic analysis is available about their impact on infant health outcomes, such as reducing low birth weight or malnutrition among children under the age of five. The objective of this study is to determine if an age- and stage-based mobile phone voice messaging initiative for women, during pregnancy and up to 1 year after delivery, can reduce low birth weight and child malnutrition and improve women's infant care knowledge and practices.