Increasing Omission of Race and Ethnicity in a National Surgical Database.

Background: Accurate data collection on race and ethnicity is critical to detecting and characterizing disparities in surgical care. This study explores the prevalence and impact of missing race and ethnicity data in the NSQIP-Pediatric (NSQIP-P) database.

Study Design: NSQIP-P from 2016-2020 was assessed for patients who were missing data for race (RM), ethnicity (EM), or both (BM).

The Epidemiology and Mechanisms of Pediatric Facial Fractures.

Pediatric facial fractures, while less common due to the unique skeletal characteristics of children, represent a significant source of morbidity with potential long-term developmental consequences. This comprehensive national study utilizes data from the Trauma Quality Improvement Project (TQIP) to analyze trends in pediatric facial fractures across the United States between 2017 and 2022, noting trends observed before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors examined a robust cohort of 121,407 pediatric patients aged 0 to 18 who sustained facial fractures.

4D marmoset brain map reveals MRI and molecular signatures for onset of multiple sclerosis-like lesions.

Inferring cellular and molecular dynamics of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions from postmortem tissue collected decades after onset is challenging. Using magnetic resonance image (MRI)-guided spatiotemporal RNA profiling in marmoset experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE), we mapped lesion dynamics and modeled molecular perturbations relevant to MS. Five distinct lesion microenvironments emerged, involving neuroglial responses, tissue destruction and repair, and brain border regulation.

Finesse in Gender Affirming Frontal Contouring With Corrugator Resection.

Given the significance of forehead aesthetics to facial gender identification, frontal sinus setback and brow contouring are frequent components of facial feminization surgery (FFS) in transgender female patients. This study presents a safe and reliable technique for corrugator muscle resection during FFS to provide enhanced feminization of the forehead. This technique was performed in 12 patients between 27 and 58 years of age.

The spatial biology of HIV infection.

HIV infection implicates a spectrum of tissues in the human body starting with viral transmission in the anogenital tract and subsequently persisting in lymphoid tissues and brain. Though studies using isolated cells have contributed significantly towards our understanding of HIV infection, the tissue microenvironment is characterised by a complex interplay of a range of factors, all of which can influence the course of infection but are otherwise missed in ex vivo studies. To address this knowledge gap, it is necessary to investigate the dynamics of infection and the host immune response in situ using imaging-based approaches.

Hand therapy utilization following digital flexor tendon repair: Trends, timing, predictive factors, and association with reoperation.

Background: Physical rehabilitation is considered an important component of recovery following digital flexor tendon repair (FTR), but no studies have thoroughly characterized nationwide therapy utilization in the United States.

Purpose: The current study characterized national trends in the timing and amount of hand therapy utilization following FTR and assessed factors associated with the lack of postoperative hand therapy.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

The Most Socially Vulnerable Patients Benefit the Most Following Gender Affirming Facial Surgery.

Objective: While studies have shown that access to facial feminization surgery can be restricted by financial and geographic limitations, there is a lack of information on the impact of surgery on the most vulnerable patients. Therefore, this study assessed the impact of social vulnerability and neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage on patient-reported outcomes after facial feminization surgery.

Methods: Patients were surveyed pre and postoperatively using the FACE-Q Aesthetics Questionnaire and geo-coded using home addresses to obtain social vulnerability index (SVI) and Area Deprivation Index scores.

Trends in Revision Facial Feminization Surgery.

Facial feminization surgery (FFS) can be an important part of an individual's transition; however, outcomes have not been well explored in the literature. This study aims to elucidate trends in FFS with a focus on drivers of secondary FFS to further improve care for TGNB patients. A manual chart review was conducted on patients from a single institution from 2012 to 2023 with a diagnosis of transsexualism (F64) who had undergone one or more surgeries associated with any 1 or more of 95 CPT codes related to gender-affirming surgery.

Hospital Transfers for Digit Replants as Cost Saving and Safe While Access to Replantation Procedures Remains Limited.

Background: Finger replantation outcomes are influenced both by injury characteristics and by hospital and patient factors, such as hospital type/location and patient gender or insurance. Finger replantation success rates have been shown to be higher at hospitals with higher volumes of finger replants. This study examines the hospital and patient factors that influence hospital transfer and successful replantation in patients experiencing traumatic finger amputation.

RPL22 is a tumor suppressor in MSI-high cancers and a splicing regulator of MDM4.

Microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) tumors are malignant tumors that, despite harboring a high mutational burden, often have intact TP53. One of the most frequent mutations in MSI-H tumors is a frameshift mutation in RPL22, a ribosomal protein. Here, we identified RPL22 as a modulator of MDM4 splicing through an alternative splicing switch in exon 6.

Using the SCAR-Q to Evaluate Morbidity of Scars in Craniosynostosis Repair.

Objective: While previous literature has investigated the psychosocial impact and aesthetic satisfaction associated with post-operative scarring for certain pediatric craniofacial conditions, the impact of the scar burden resulting from craniosynostosis surgery has not been adequately studied.

Participants: SCAR-Q was shared with patients ages 8 and older. Thirty-two complete patient responses were recorded.

Computerized Surgical Planning for Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis.

Mandibular distraction osteogenesis is a technically challenging procedure due to complex mandibular anatomy, especially in the treatment of Pierre-Robin Sequence due to variable bone thickness in the infant mandible and the presence of tooth buds. Computerized surgical planning (CSP) simplifies the procedure by preoperatively visualizing critical structures, producing cutting guides, and planning distractor placement. This paper describes the process of using CSP to plan mandibular distraction osteogenesis, including discussion of recent advances in the use of custom distractors.

Cost Comparison of Digital Nerve Repair Techniques.

Background: Direct cost comparisons of nerve allograft with other techniques for repairing short digital nerve gaps are lacking. This study compares the costs of various techniques for digital nerve repair, anticipating significant cost increases for allograft implants.

Methods: The State Ambulatory Surgery and Services Databases for Florida, New York, and Wisconsin from 2015 through 2020 were used.

Safety Profile Comparison of 2 Smooth Tissue Expander Types: Artoura and CPX4.

Introduction: With the recent transition to smooth tissue expanders (TEs), functional differences between TE subtypes have not been fully elucidated. This study evaluated the differences in TE characteristics and complications between 2 commonly used Mentor smooth TE models, Artoura and CPX4.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients who received either smooth Mentor Artoura or CPX4 TE from 2012 to 2022 was conducted.

Quantification of Cephalometric Changes in Gonial Angle Morphology Following Facial Feminization Surgery.

Facial feminization surgery (FFS) is a type of gender-affirming surgery aimed at bringing masculine facial features more in line with typically feminine characteristics. Specifically, mandibular contouring can create a softer jawline and help create a more round, feminine face. As the popularity of FFS continues to increase, improving surgical techniques and patient satisfaction is imperative.

Evolution of Virtual Surgical Planning Use Among Craniofacial Surgeons.

Virtual surgical planning (VSP) has benefits in craniofacial surgery with growing popularity. However, while specific use cases are highlighted in the literature, no studies exist providing an overview of VSP use among craniofacial surgeons, and little is known about the extent of exposure to VSP during plastic surgery training. This study surveyed members of The American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons (ASMS) to better characterize both the landscape of VSP use among practicing craniofacial surgeons and the extent of exposure to VSP throughout surgical training.

Characterising plasmacytoid and myeloid AXL+ SIGLEC-6+ dendritic cell functions and their interactions with HIV.

AXL+ Siglec-6+ dendritic cells (ASDC) are novel myeloid DCs which can be subdivided into CD11c+ and CD123+ expressing subsets. We showed for the first time that these two ASDC subsets are present in inflamed human anogenital tissues where HIV transmission occurs. Their presence in inflamed tissues was supported by single cell RNA analysis of public databases of such tissues including psoriasis diseased skin and colorectal cancer.

The role of genetics on behavioral outcomes in nonsyndromic sagittal synostosis.

Objective: Previous work identified an association between genetics and neurodevelopmental delays in patients with nonsyndromic craniosynostosis. The authors investigated the role of genetic mutations on behavioral outcomes of patients with treated sagittal synostosis.

Methods: Parents of children aged 6-18 years with surgically corrected sagittal synostosis were recruited to complete the Child Behavioral Checklist (overall behavioral problems), Conners 3rd Edition-Parent (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), Social Responsiveness Scale 2nd Edition (autism spectrum disorder [ASD]), and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function 2nd Edition (executive function).

Integrative multi-region molecular profiling of primary prostate cancer in men with synchronous lymph node metastasis.

Localized prostate cancer is frequently composed of multiple spatially distinct tumors with significant inter- and intra-tumoral molecular heterogeneity. This genomic diversity gives rise to many competing clones that may drive the biological trajectory of the disease. Previous large-scale sequencing efforts have focused on the evolutionary process in metastatic prostate cancer, revealing a potential clonal progression to castration resistance.

OMIP-103: A 35-marker imaging mass cytometry panel for the co-detection of HIV and immune cell populations in human formalin fixed paraffin embedded intestinal tissue.

We introduce a 35-marker imaging mass cytometry (IMC) panel for a detailed examination of immune cell populations and HIV RNA in formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) human intestinal tissue. The panel has broad cell type coverage and particularly excels in delineating subsets of mononuclear phagocytes and T cells. Markers for key tissue structures are included, enabling identification of epithelium, blood vessels, lymphatics, and musculature.

The Correlation of Surgical Setting With Perioperative Opioid Prescriptions for Wide-Awake Carpal Tunnel Release.

Background: Prior studies have compared perioperative opioid prescriptions between carpal tunnel release (CTR) performed wide-awake and with traditional anesthetic techniques, but the association of opioid prescriptions with surgical setting has not been fully explored. The current study assessed the association of opioid prescriptions with surgical setting (office or operating room) for wide-awake CTR.

Methods: Patients with open CTR were identified in an administrative claims database (PearlDiver).

Sports participation after craniosynostosis repair: the critical role of post-operative guidance in parental decision-making.

Purpose: Despite previous research supporting patient safety in sports after craniosynostosis surgery, parental anxiety remains high. This study sought to evaluate the role of healthcare providers in guiding patients and families through the decision-making process.

Methods: Parents of children with repaired craniosynostosis were asked to assess sports involvement and parental decision-making in children ages 6 and older.