Endoscopic treatment of subglottic stenosis with flexible bronchoscopy via laryngeal mask airway.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic treatment of subglottic stenosis with flexible bronchoscopy via laryngeal mask airway (LMA) approach.

Methods: The records of all patients who underwent endoscopic surgery for subglottic stenosis (SGS) from November 2019 to January 2023 at an academic medical center were reviewed with attention to demographics, patient comorbidities, airway stenosis characteristics, operative time details, surgical complications, and post-operative course. All patients, >18 years old, with one or more surgeries for SGS using (LMA) for intraoperative airway management were included.

Perioperative complications and outcomes in patients with paraplegia undergoing rotator cuff repair.

Background: Patients with paraplegia often experience chronic shoulder pain due to overuse. We sought to determine if these patients have an increased prevalence of perioperative complications and higher rates of re-admissions and rotator cuff re-tears relative to able-bodied controls following rotator cuff repair (RCR).

Methods: We queried the NRD (2011-2018) to identify all patients undergoing primary RCR (n = 34,451) and identified cohorts of matched paraplegic and non-paraplegic patients (n = 194 each).

Outcome and complication comparison for intramedullary nail versus open reduction internal fixation in humeral diaphyseal fractures for 2800 matched patient pairs utilizing the Nationwide Readmissions Database.

Introduction: Open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) and intramedullary nail fixation (IMN) are the predominant repair methods for operative treatment of humeral diaphyseal fractures; however, the optimal method is not fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to analyze whether IMN or ORIF humeral diaphyseal surgeries result in a significantly higher prevalence of adverse outcomes and whether these outcomes were age dependent. We hypothesize there is no difference in reoperation rates and complications between IMN and ORIF for humeral diaphyseal fractures.

Three-dimensional femtosecond snapshots of isolated faceted nanostructures.

The structure and dynamics of isolated nanosamples in free flight can be directly visualized via single-shot coherent diffractive imaging using the intense and short pulses of x-ray free-electron lasers. Wide-angle scattering images encode three-dimensional (3D) morphological information of the samples, but its retrieval remains a challenge. Up to now, effective 3D morphology reconstructions from single shots were only achieved via fitting with highly constrained models, requiring a priori knowledge about possible geometries.

Comparing Dermabond PRINEO versus Dermabond or staples for wound closure: a randomized control trial following total shoulder arthroplasty.

Background: The method of surgical incision closure after total shoulder arthroplasty is an important factor to consider, as it affects operating room time, procedure cost, cosmetic outcomes, and patient satisfaction. The optimal method of wound management is unknown, but should be cost-effective, reproducible, and provide a reliable clinical result. This study aimed to compare the following wound closure methods after total shoulder arthroplasty: staples, Dermabond, and Dermabond PRINEO.

Role of Magnetic Coupling in Photoluminescence Kinetics of Mn-Doped ZnS Nanoplatelets.

Mn-doped semiconductor nanocrystals with tuned location and concentration of Mn ions can yield diverse coupling regimes, which can highly influence their optical properties such as emission wavelength and photoluminescence (PL) lifetime. However, investigation on the relationship between the Mn concentration and the optical properties is still challenging because of the complex interactions of Mn ions and the host and between the Mn ions. Here, atomically flat ZnS nanoplatelets (NPLs) with uniform thickness were chosen as matrixes for Mn doping.

Comparison of press-fit versus peripherally cemented hybrid glenoid components in anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty: minimum 5-year follow-up.

Background: A common complication of anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) is aseptic glenoid loosening. Monoblock polyethylene glenoid components with backside ingrowth or on-growth utilize hybrid fixation, with cementation of the peripheral pegs and central ingrowth or on-growth of bone have been designed to decrease glenoid loosening. However, there is a paucity of midterm data comparing cementation of the peripheral peg holes versus all press-fit implantation for hybrid glenoid constructs.

Increased Risk of Perioperative Complications in Dialysis Patients Following Rotator Cuff Repairs and Knee Arthroscopy.

Purpose: To determine the effects of dialysis on postoperative and perioperative complications following rotator cuff repair (RCR) and knee arthroscopy (KA).

Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) was queried from 2006 to 2018. Groups were matched for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, preoperative functional status, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status.

Development of the genomic inflammatory index (GII) to assess key maternal antecedents associated with placental inflammation.

Introduction: Placental inflammation is associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes, including poor pregnancy outcomes as well as later in life health. The current clinical methodologies for evaluating placental histology for inflammation are limited in their sensitivity. The objective of this study was to develop a genomic inflammatory index (GII) that can be utilized as a biomarker to effectively quantify and evaluate placental inflammation.

Single incision latissimus dorsi surgical technique: a three button repair.

Due to the infrequent occurrence of latissimus dorsi insertional avulsions or tendon ruptures, there is no clear evidence on the optimal surgical fixation strategy. A three suture unicortical button repair technique through a single incision offers an anatomic reconstruction of the broad insertional footprint with adequate exposure. This fixation strategy is the preferred technique by the senior author.

Microfiber abundance associated with coral tissue varies geographically on the Belize Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System.

Ocean plastic pollution is a global problem that causes ecosystem degradation. Crucial knowledge gaps exist concerning patterns in microfiber abundance across regions and ecosystems, as well as the role of these pollutants within the environment. Here, we quantified the abundance of microfibers in coral samples collected from the Belize Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS) using a polarized light microscope and identified a subsample of these to the polymer level using an Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy microscope.

Identifying Risk Factors for Levels of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Placenta in a High-Risk Pregnancy Cohort in North Carolina.

Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a ubiquitous class of chemicals, is associated with adverse outcomes such as pre-eclampsia, low infant birth weight, and later-life adiposity. The objectives of this study were to examine PFAS levels in the placenta and identify sociodemographic risk factors in a high-risk pregnancy cohort ( = 122) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Of concern, PFOS, PFHxS, PFHpS, and PFUnA were detected above the reporting limit in 99, 75, 55, and 49% of placentas, respectively.

Genetic and epigenetic factors and early life inflammation as predictors of neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Among individuals born very preterm, perinatal inflammation, particularly if sustained or recurring, is highly likely to contribute to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, including cerebral white matter damage, cerebral palsy, cognitive impairment, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. Antecedents and correlates of perinatal inflammation include socioeconomic disadvantage, maternal obesity, maternal infections, fetal growth restriction, neonatal sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and prolonged mechanical ventilation. Genetic factors can modify susceptibility to perinatal inflammation and to neurodevelopmental disorders.

Pronounced Size Dependence in Structure and Morphology of Gas-Phase Produced, Partially Oxidized Cobalt Nanoparticles under Catalytic Reaction Conditions.

It is generally accepted that optimal particle sizes are key for efficient nanocatalysis. Much less attention is paid to the role of morphology and atomic arrangement during catalytic reactions. Here, we unravel the structural, stoichiometric, and morphological evolution of gas-phase produced and partially oxidized cobalt nanoparticles in a broad size range.

Characterizing acoustic attenuation of homogeneous media using focused impulsive acoustic radiation force.

A new method to characterize a material's attenuation using acoustic radiation force is proposed. Comparison of displacement magnitudes generated in a homogeneous material by acoustic radiation force excitations can be used to estimate the material's attenuation when the excitations are applied over a range of focal depths while maintaining a constant lateral focal configuration. Acoustic attenuations are related to the inverse of the excitation focal depth that yields the greatest focal zone displacement for this protocol.

High throughput sonication: evaluation for compound solubilization.

Dissolution of organic compounds in DMSO in HTS plate or tube format is a difficult problem as users move to higher compression plate formats. Precipitation of compounds from DMSO screening stocks is a recognized problem in the HTS materials management process. The adverse effect of freeze thaw cycles on DMSO stock solutions stored in plate format as a result of cherry picking operations has led to the gradual replacement of plate-based storage with tube-based storage so as to minimize the number of freeze thaw cycles.

A high-throughput fluorescent polarization assay for nuclear receptor binding utilizing crude receptor extract.

A homogenous high-throughput assay has been developed to measure the binding between nuclear receptors and test compounds. This assay applies a fluorescence polarization (FP) detection method using human glucocorticoid receptor (GR) as a model system. Crude receptor extract, which requires no additional purification, is used in the assay.

Identification of inhibitors of bacterial transcription/translation machinery utilizing a miniaturized 1536-well format screen.

This report presents the miniaturization of a HTS screen to identify inhibitors of prokaryotic transcription-translation in a 1536-well format. The in vitro assay design utilized the bacterial expression machinery to drive expression of a firefly luciferase reporter gene, which was read as an endpoint luminesence measurement. This multicomponent system permits identification of inhibitors at different steps in this pathway.

Development of a miniaturized 384-well high throughput screen for the detection of substrates of cytochrome P450 2D6 and 3A4 metabolism.

The identification of a large number of biologically active chemical entities during high throughput screening (HTS) necessitates the incorporation of new strategies to identify compounds with druglike properties early during the lead prioritization and development process. One of the major steps in lead prioritization is the assessment of drug metabolism mediated by the cytochrome P(450) (CYP) enzymes to evaluate the potential drug-drug interactions. CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 comprise the main human CYP enzymes involved in drug metabolism.

Development of a high throughput equilibrium dialysis method.

The identification of large numbers of biologically active chemical entities during high throughput screening (HTS) necessitates the incorporation of new strategies to identify compounds with drug-like properties early during the lead prioritization and development processes. One of the major steps in lead prioritization is an assessment of compound binding to plasma proteins, because it affects both the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the compound in vivo. Equilibrium dialysis is the preferred method to determine the free drug fraction, because it is less susceptible to experimental artifacts.

A high-throughput homogeneous assay for reverse transcriptase using generic reagents and time-resolved fluorescence detection.

A homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) assay has been developed for determining the activity of HIV reverse transcriptase (HIV-RT). By using a sequential capping strategy, the assay has been configured to utilize only generic reagents such as biotinylated dUTP, streptavidin-allophycocyanin, and streptavidin-europium. The assay was optimized for a HIV-RT high-throughput screen.

Miniaturization of a Mammalian Cell-Based Assay: Luciferase Reporter Gene Readout in a 3 Microliter 1536-Well Plate.

The combined efforts of the fields of combinatorial chemistry and genomics have significantly increased the number of compounds and therapeutic targets available for screening. The number of compounds will reach into the million range in the near future and provide vast chemical diversity for drug discovery. However, this reservoir of chemical diversity creates downstream hurdles for any screening effort.

A Simple Statistical Parameter for Use in Evaluation and Validation of High Throughput Screening Assays.

The ability to identify active compounds (³hits²) from large chemical libraries accurately and rapidly has been the ultimate goal in developing high-throughput screening (HTS) assays. The ability to identify hits from a particular HTS assay depends largely on the suitability or quality of the assay used in the screening. The criteria or parameters for evaluating the ³suitability² of an HTS assay for hit identification are not well defined and hence it still remains difficult to compare the quality of assays directly.

High Throughput Quantitation of cAMP Production Mediated by Activation of Seven Transmembrane Domain Receptors.

Impairment of G protein­coupled seven-transmembrane (7 TM) receptor function has been implicated in a variety of different pathologic conditions, suggesting that the discovery of specific antagonists may lead to the development of successful therapeutic agents. The effect of different agents on receptor-ligand interaction is often measured directly in a receptor binding assay; however, this assay format can be time consuming and does not detect agents that interact at sites distal to the native ligand binding site. Cyclic adenosine monophospate (cAMP) represents a ubiquitous second messenger generated in response to ligand binding to many 7 TM receptors.

Confirmation of primary active substances from high throughput screening of chemical and biological populations: a statistical approach and practical considerations.

Many biologically important substances are discovered through screening of relevant chemical or biological libraries. The ability to find the active substances ("hits") from any random collection is largely determined by the quality of the assay and screening conditions. When a large population is screened for a specific characteristic, each member of that population is usually tested only once.