Effect of Duration of Feminizing Hormone Therapy on Facial Fat Volumes.

Background: Gender-affirming feminizing hormone therapy induces body fat redistribution. However, the amount and timing of facial fat changes in response to feminizing hormone therapy are unknown, despite being relevant to counseling and surgical planning for facial gender-affirming surgery. The authors assessed the influence of feminizing hormone therapy duration on malar and temporal fat volume.

Socioeconomic disparities in risk of financial toxicity following elective cardiac operations in the United States.

Background: While insurance reimbursements allay a portion of costs associated with cardiac operations, uncovered and additional fees are absorbed by patients. An examination of financial toxicity (FT), defined as the burden of patient medical expenses on quality of life, is warranted. Therefore, the present study used a nationally representative database to demonstrate the association between insurance status and risk of financial toxicity (FT) among patients undergoing major cardiac operations.

Long-term outcomes of sphincter pharyngoplasty in patients with cleft palate.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term outcomes of sphincter pharyngoplasties, including speech outcomes, revision surgeries, and postoperative incidence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Design: Retrospective matched-cohort study SETTING: Two craniofacial centers in Los Angeles, CA PATIENTS: Patients (n = 166) with cleft lip and palate (CLP) or isolated cleft palate (iCP) who underwent sphincter pharyngoplasty from 1992 to 2022 were identified. An age- and diagnosis-matched control group of 67 patients with CLP/iCP without velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) was also identified.

A scoping review of graphene-based biomaterials for in vivo bone tissue engineering.

The growing demand for more efficient materials for medical applications brought together two previously distinct fields: medicine and engineering. Regenerative medicine has evolved with the engineering contributions to improve materials and devices for medical use. In this regard, graphene is one of the most promising materials for bone tissue engineering and its potential for bone repair has been studied by several research groups.

assessment of Neuronal PAS domain 2 mitigating compounds for scarless wound healing.

Background: The core circadian gene Neuronal PAS domain 2 () is expressed in dermal fibroblasts and has been shown to play a critical role in regulating collagen synthesis during wound healing. We have performed high throughput drug screening to identify genes responsible for downregulation of while maintaining cell viability. From this, five FDA-approved hit compounds were shown to suppress expression in fibroblasts.