Shifting Paradigms: A Deep Dive Into Public Perceptions of Gender-affirming Surgery.

Background: Given the growing demand for gender-affirming surgery (GAS) in recent years, it is essential to explore the public perceptions of GAS. Understanding the public's opinions and attitudes toward GAS will provide valuable insights for shaping educational initiatives to enhance public knowledge and awareness.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used the Prolific Academic platform to distribute an online survey among adult participants residing in the United States in August 2023.

Insights Into Facial Surgery Trends in the United States in the Setting of Gender Dysphoria: A National Analysis From 2012 to 2019.

Introduction: Over the past decade, there has been an improvement in access to gender-affirming surgical care for the transgender population. Even with improvements, this population continues with a high level of inequity among access to specialized surgical care. While multiple studies have previously focused on trends among top and bottom surgery, this study provides trends specifically among facial gender affirmation surgery (FGAS) within the United States.

Exploring the 6-year Trend in Dedicated Research Years among Integrated Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Residents.

Background: The plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) match has become more competitive with an emphasis on research productivity. With the transition of the US Medical Licensing Examination step 1 examination to pass-fail grading, alternative evaluation metrics for residency applications are needed. Our study provides a landscape of the incidence of research years amongst integrated PRS residents and the potential impacts of gender and race.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Synthetic Mesh Outcomes in Alloplastic Breast Reconstruction.

Background: Mesh implants are frequently employed in alloplastic breast reconstruction. Notably, no mesh to date has FDA approval for this indication. Several synthetic meshes have been introduced with heterogeneous properties and outcomes.

Class in Session: Analysis of GPT-4-created Plastic Surgery In-service Examination Questions.

Background: The Plastic Surgery In-Service Training Examination (PSITE) remains a critical milestone in residency training. Successful preparation requires extensive studying during an individual's residency. This study focuses on the capacity of Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4 (GPT-4) to generate PSITE practice questions.

The law code of ChatGPT and artificial intelligence-how to shield plastic surgeons and reconstructive surgeons against Justitia's sword.

Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT 4 (OpenAI), Claude 2 (Anthropic), and Llama 2 (Meta AI) have emerged as novel technologies to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into everyday work. LLMs in particular, and AI in general, carry infinite potential to streamline clinical workflows, outsource resource-intensive tasks, and disburden the healthcare system. While a plethora of trials is elucidating the untapped capabilities of this technology, the sheer pace of scientific progress also takes its toll.

Unveiling the Hidden Discrepancies Between Medicare Physician Reimbursement Rates and Inflation Across Different Surgical Specialties.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the trends of Medicare physician reimbursement from 2011 to 2021 and compare the rates across different surgical specialties.

Background: Knowledge of Medicare is essential because of its significant contribution in physician reimbursements. Previous studies across surgical specialties have demonstrated that Medicare, despite keeping up with inflation in some areas, has remained flat when accounting for physician reimbursement.

Bard Versus the 2022 American Society of Plastic Surgeons In-Service Examination: Performance on the Examination in Its Intern Year.

Background: Bard is a conversational generative artificial intelligence (AI) platform released by Google (Mountain View, CA) to the public in May 2023.

Objectives: This study investigates the performance of Bard on the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) In-Service Examination to compare it to residents' performance nationally. We hypothesized that Bard would perform best on the comprehensive and core surgical principles portions of the examination.

A SWOT Analysis of Hot Topics in Plastic Surgery Resident Education: Consensus From the ACAPS 10th Annual Winter Meeting.

Background: With the aim of facilitating a critical self-reflection on how to align plastic surgery education with making excellent plastic surgeons, a rotating small-group session followed by live interactive audience polling was used to perform a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis at the 10th Annual American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons Winter Meeting.

Methods: The final day of the conference included a 3-hour session of rotating small groups followed by live interactive audience polls discussing the following six relevant educational topics: the Plastic Surgery Common Application and resident selection, aesthetic surgery education, leadership development and business education, embedded fellowships and focused training, mentorship, and faculty retention.

Results: A total of 60 individuals participated in the activity.

Strength in Numbers: A SWOT Analysis of Plastic Surgery.

Background: Plastic surgeons comprise the minority of practicing surgeons, with an even smaller minority practicing in an academic setting. As the practice of medicine and the systems in which we operate continue to evolve, it is essential that plastic surgeons have a say in the changing landscape. This study conducted a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of plastic surgery to identify unifying strengths and common threats.

Surgical management of breast fat necrosis: Multi-institutional data analysis of early outcomes and risk factors for complications.

Background: Breast fat necrosis (BFN) is a non-cancerous condition affecting the adipose tissue. Despite incidence rates of up to 25% after breast surgery, little is known about risk factors and postoperative outcomes following the surgical treatment of BFN.

Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program of the American College of Surgeons (2008-2021) was queried to identify female patients diagnosed with and surgically treated for BFN.

Analyzing the Visibility of Gender-Affirming Surgery Education on US Plastic Surgery Residency Program Web Sites.

Background: As the demand for gender affirmation grows, teaching gender-affirming surgery (GAS) in plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) programs has become increasingly important. Residency applicants interested in GAS often use program web sites to explore potential training opportunities. Our study aimed to quantify the GAS training opportunities promoted on residency program web sites and determine the characteristics of programs likely to promote GAS training.

A feedback loop between heterochromatin and the nucleopore complex controls germ-cell-to-oocyte transition during Drosophila oogenesis.

Germ cells differentiate into oocytes that launch the next generation upon fertilization. How the highly specialized oocyte acquires this distinct cell fate is poorly understood. During Drosophila oogenesis, H3K9me3 histone methyltransferase SETDB1 translocates from the cytoplasm to the nucleus of germ cells concurrently with oocyte specification.

From Risk Assessment to Intervention: A Systematic Review of Thrombosis in Plastic Surgery.

Thromboembolism is a feared complication in plastic surgery and is linked to higher rates of morbidity and mortality. Despite extensive research, there is a lack of consistency between recommendations and clinical protocols to be implemented pre and post-surgery to reduce the incidence of thromboembolism. A systematic literature review was conducted using Pubmed and Scopus databases to determine the risk factors, screening methods, and existing treatment models for thromboembolism prevention.

Tweeting for Success: The Role of Twitter in Enhancing SCImago Journal Rank for Specialty Surgical Journals.

Background The cornerstone of surgical education and practice is the surgical journal, but the ability to disperse the vital information within their pages had previously been limited. The use of Twitter by surgical journals has increased in recent years and has allowed these journals to reach a wider audience than they previously could. In this article, we discuss the role Twitter engagement has on a journal's impact factor, visibility, and prestige.

Racial Disparities in Postoperative Breast Reconstruction Outcomes: A National Analysis.

Background: Studies have shown that Black patients are more likely to experience complications following breast reconstruction compared to other racial groups. Most of these studies have been conducted on patient populations focusing on either autologous or implant-based reconstruction without possible predictive indicators for complication disparities for all types of reconstruction procedures. The aim of this study is to elucidate disparities among patient demographics by identifying predictors of complications and postoperative outcomes among different racial/ethnic patients undergoing breast reconstruction utilizing multi-state, multi-institution, and national level data.

RNA degradation is required for the germ-cell to maternal transition in Drosophila.

In sexually reproducing animals, the oocyte contributes a large supply of RNAs that are essential to launch development upon fertilization. The mechanisms that regulate the composition of the maternal RNA contribution during oogenesis are unclear. Here, we show that a subset of RNAs expressed during the early stages of oogenesis is subjected to regulated degradation during oocyte specification.