Association of Perioperative Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Use and Postoperative Outcomes.

Objective: To assess rates of surgical complications and postoperative readmission in diabetic patients with and without active perioperative prescriptions for GLP-1 RA medications.

Background: With the rapid growth of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) use in the United States, it is important to understand the potential effect of these drugs on surgical outcomes broadly.

Methods: In this retrospective, observational cohort analysis, patients with a diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes undergoing a surgical procedure at a multicenter quaternary-care healthcare system between February 2020 to July 2023 were included.

Customizable, biocompatible implants for dorsal nasal augmentation: An in vivo pilot study of eight polylactic acid scaffold designs.

Augmentation of the nasal dorsum often requires implantation of structural material. Existing methods include autologous, cadaveric or alloplastic materials and injectable hydrogels. Each of these options is associated with considerable limitations.

The financial toxicity of postbariatric body contouring surgery: a survey study of an urban tertiary care center's patients.

Background: Patients with obesity who undergo bariatric surgery achieve sustained weight loss but are often left with excess skin folds that cause functional and psychological deficits. To remove excess skin, patients can undergo postbariatric BCS; however, cost and lack of insurance coverage present a significant barrier for many patients.

Objectives: This study aimed to characterize the financial impact of treatment on all patients who received bariatric surgery and to compare between those receiving only bariatric surgery and those with postbariatric BCS.

Online capacity building for the health workforce: the case of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response for the African region.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) has developed a comprehensive capacity devel-opment programme to support the successful implementation of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response 3rd edition Technical Guidelines (IDSR). As part of the learning program, a series of asyn-chronous online courses are offered on OpenWHO in English, French and Portuguese. This paper describes the use of five IDSR online courses and reports on feedback received from learners on Course 1 in the English series.

Financial (dis)incentives to surgical management of head and neck cancer care.

Background: Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) often require complex surgical reconstruction. This retrospective, cross-sectional study compares financial factors influencing HNC and breast cancer (BC) care to examine care disparities.

Methods: Pricing data from 2012 to 2021 was abstracted from the CMS Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool.

Augmenting Breast Implant Research: Accessible Methods for Fabricating Miniature Smooth and Textured Breast Implants in a Laboratory Setting.

Background: Because of the association of textured breast implants with breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma, anatomically shaped breast implants, which rely on a textured surface to maintain rotational stability, have been recalled from the market. The dearth of anatomically shaped implants on the market reflects a need for novel breast implant technology, which has been traditionally developed by commercial breast implant manufacturers due to the complexities of implant manufacturing. To increase the accessibility of preclinical breast implant research, miniature breast implants made from polydimethylsiloxane were designed and fabricated for high throughput and low-cost prototyping and in vivo testing of both smooth and textured implants in a laboratory setting.

Impact of UNOS allocation policy changes on utilization and outcomes of patients bridged to heart transplant with intra-aortic balloon pump.

Objective: Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) support may improve the hemodynamic profiles of patients in cardiogenic shock and bridge patients to heart transplant. In 2018, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) introduced new heart allocation criteria that increased the waitlist status of patients with IABPs to Status 2. This study assesses the impact of this change on IABP use and outcomes of patients with IABPs.

Role of left atrial appendage occlusion in patients with HeartMate 3.

Objectives: Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) at the time of implantation may reduce thromboembolic events (TEs) during continuous-flow left ventricular assist device support. The HeartMate 3 (HM3) reduces TEs overall, but the efficacy of LAAO in HM3 is unknown.

Methods: Adults receiving first HM3 implantation from November 2014 through December 2019 at a single, large medical centre were retrospectively reviewed.

One Year of Pandemic Learning Response: Benefits of Massive Online Delivery of the World Health Organization's Technical Guidance.

The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the first web-based learning course on COVID-19 on January 26, 2020, four days before the director general of the WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern. The WHO is expanding access to web-based learning for COVID-19 through its open-learning platform for health emergencies, OpenWHO. Throughout the pandemic, OpenWHO has continued to publish learning offerings based on the WHO's emerging evidence-based knowledge for managing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Evaluating the Impact of Oncology Care Model Reporting Requirements on Biomarker Testing and Treatment.

Purpose: The Oncology Care Model (OCM) is Medicare's first alternative payment model program for patients with cancer. As of October 2017, participating practices were required to report biomarker testing of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (aNSCLC). Our objective was to evaluate the effect of this OCM reporting requirement on quality of care.