The hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, ovarian disorders and brain aging: a review.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis is a complex endocrine feedback mechanism controlling ovulation in female vertebrates. Balance of the HPO axis requires correct secretion of sex steroids from the ovarian follicle to inhibit release of gonadotropins from the pituitary. Several conditions of ovarian dysfunction such as menopause, Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) involve imbalances in the HPO axis, contributing to infertility.

Information and Counseling Gaps on Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorders Among Older Adults.

Background: Perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PNDs) are among the most common complications in older adults after surgery. Awareness of PNDs is important as they often can be prevented, and early recognition can improve recovery. We sought to understand what older adults know about PNDs, the information provided, and the counseling provided to guide recovery when PND symptoms occur.

Accommodative responses in children with high and low levels of astigmatism.

Significance: Children with uncorrected astigmatism are often assumed to accommodate to the circle of least confusion. However, empirical evidence in children without a history of refractive correction is lacking. This study found that most children accommodate toward the anterior focal plane, with both focal planes exhibiting a lag of accommodation.

Correlates of HPV vaccination intention and uptake among Asian American and Pacific Islander populations in the USA: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a major global health concern linked to cancers. Although a safe and effective vaccine exists, HPV vaccination rates are still low among Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) populations. Barriers such as limited awareness, cultural stigma and systemic inequities contribute to this gap.

Delayed Onset Infectious Crystalline Keratopathy After Corneal Cross-linking.

Purpose: To report a case of delayed onset infectious crystalline keratopathy after corneal cross-linking (CXL).

Methods: Slit-lamp examination, confocal microscopy, anterior segment optical coherence tomography imaging, and corneal culture were performed to characterize the corneal opacification.

Results: A 49-year-old man presented with progressively worsening vision in the left eye 8 months after uncomplicated epithelium-off CXL for keratoconus.

Delayed diagnosis of glaucoma in Coffin-Siris syndrome.

Purpose: To report a case of delayed diagnosis of glaucoma in a patient with Coffin-Siris Syndrome (CSS) who did not have any other predisposing risk factors or typical anterior segment signs of congenital glaucoma.

Observations: A 27-year-old male with CSS was referred to the ophthalmology department for evaluation of strabismus. Past ocular history included a diagnosis of right morning glory anomaly and bilateral hyperopic astigmatism.

Biomedical engineering and interdisciplinary research in shaping tomorrow's medicine.

Dr. Wilbur Lam merges pediatrics, biomedical engineering (BME), and innovation to advance patient care through interdisciplinary research. From developing a non-invasive smartphone app for anemia patients to leading national COVID-19 diagnostic efforts, Dr.

Major anatomic variations of the lateral upper arm lymphatic pathway in a healthy female population.

Background: The lateral upper arm (LUA) pathway is a route of superficial lymphatic drainage that bypasses the axilla by draining to the deltopectoral, clavicular, and cervical lymph nodes. Despite the fact that anatomic variations of the LUA pathway have been implicated in breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) risk after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), the incidence of the LUA pathway variations in the healthy population has never been reported.

Methods: Healthy female volunteers underwent bilateral lymphatic mapping of the upper extremities with indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography.

Anatomic Support for Hand and Wrist Dye Injections in Axillary Reverse Mapping.

Background: Axillary reverse mapping (ARM) identifies lymph vessels and nodes draining the arm to preserve them during axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and thus reduce the risk of breast-cancer related lymphedema (BCRL). The ideal location for dye injections has not been previously studied. This study compared transected lymphatic vessels visualized for immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR) after ALND between patients who received fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) injections in the hand/wrist and those who received traditional medial upper-arm location.

Promoting HPV Vaccination in College Students Through Educational Video: Results from a Randomized Trial.

Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading cause of several cancers, yet HPV vaccination rates among U.S. young adults remain low.

Effects of Medicaid Expansion on HPV Vaccination Uptake Among Adolescents in the United States: Difference-in-Differences Analyses From 2011 to 2022.

To determine if Medicaid expansion was associated with increased human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among adolescents in the United States. We conducted a quasi-experimental study using generalized difference-in-differences on National Immunization Survey‒Teen data from 2011 to 2022 among adolescents aged 13 to 17 years, comparing HPV vaccination in Medicaid expansion states to nonexpansion states by sex and race/ethnicity subgroups. There was a significant 10.

The deltopectoral lymph node: a potential protective biomarker for breast cancer-related lymphedema.

Background: The lateral upper arm lymphatic pathway is theorized as a route of superficial lymphatic drainage protective against breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). This study describes lymph nodes draining the lateral upper arm pathway.

Methods: Healthy female volunteers underwent bilateral ICG lymphography and nuclear lymphoscintigraphy.

Epitrochlear and Humeral Lymph Nodes: A Biomarker for Deep Lymphatic Function and Implications for Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Risk.

Background: Superficial to deep system rerouting of lymph protects against breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). Humeral lymph nodes are a marker for deep lymphatic drainage. Epitrochlear lymph nodes are a site of superficial to deep collateralization based on cadaveric dissections.

Interventions and Strategies for Reducing Episiotomy Rates Globally: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Episiotomy is still commonly practiced during childbirth worldwide, despite decades of scientific evidence that indicates no justification for its routine use. Routine episiotomy is associated with increased risk of serious maternal morbidity and no improvements in neonatal outcomes. We sought to analyze this gap between evidence-based knowledge and implementation surrounding reducing episiotomy practice.

The repeatability of accommodative accuracy in childhood unilateral amblyopia.

Purpose: Unilateral amblyopia is associated with inaccurate accommodation when viewing monocularly with the amblyopic eye, such as when performing traditional amblyopia therapies. This study investigated the repeatability of the accommodative responses over time to understand the likely pattern of defocus during these therapies.

Methods: Children with (n = 17) and without (n = 18) unilateral amblyopia between 4 and 15 years of age completed two study visits within 1 week.

Access to Surgical Care After Newly Acquired Insurance Enrollment.

Objective: To evaluate the association between insurance acquisition through a hospital-based linkage program and the utilization of elective and emergency surgical procedures within one year of hospitalization.

Summary Background Data: Lack of insurance creates substantial barriers to elective surgical procedures, potentially leading to preventable complications and worsened outcomes. Hospital-based insurance linkage programs may help address these challenges by providing retroactive coverage, but their impact on surgical care utilization remains understudied.

Amyloid in the orbital apex and cavernous sinus.

A rare case of a 78-year-old male with posterior orbital amyloidosis and cavernous sinus involvement is reported. He presented with 1 year of worsening binocular diplopia with left eye motility restriction in all directions except abduction. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated a well-defined mass in the posterior medial orbit extending into the left optic canal and cavernous sinus, with low T1 and high T2 signaling and minimal contrast enhancement.

Understanding the relationship among discrimination, resource availability, health and workplace outcomes in ethnic minority nursing staff in Canada.

Purpose: Discrimination against ethnic minority nursing staff is a serious concern in healthcare and the COVID-19 pandemic has brought it to the forefront. The purpose of this survey study was to investigate the predictive relationship among discrimination experiences, resource availability, health and work outcomes among ethnic minority nursing staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach: A survey was conducted among ethnic minority nursing staff in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Functional Salvage of Ischemic Myopathy at the Neuromuscular Junction Level: A Mouse Model Study on Prolonged Muscle Ischemia in the Upper Limb.

Ischemic myopathy in the upper limb may develop progressively in cases of peripheral arterial disease or acutely following traumatic vascular injuries. Prolonged ischemia can lead to catastrophic damage to distal muscles, with a significant risk of irreversible motor function loss. It is hypothesized that the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) sustains substantial damage beyond a critical threshold of arterial ischemia.

Barriers to and Facilitators of a Novel Preprofessional Patient Navigation Program in Surgery.

Introduction: Patients without adequate insurance often face barriers to surgical care, resulting in disparities in health outcomes. Patient navigation programs, often reliant on trained health professionals, have been successful in addressing these barriers in oncology, but few exist for patients with benign surgical disease. This study aims to identify the barriers to and facilitators of a novel surgical preprofessional patient navigation program for underinsured patients.

Discrimination and Quality of Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences of Racial/Ethnic Minority Nursing Staff in the United States.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate U.S. minority nursing staff's discrimination experiences and the association of such experiences and other critical factors with their quality of life (QoL) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Center for Surgical Health (CSH): A Surgical Equity Intervention in Plastic Surgery.

Background: The Center for Surgical Health (CSH) works to improve surgical access for under-resourced communities in Philadelphia via patient navigation services. This study defined the social profiles, clinical needs, and satisfaction of patients engaging with the Plastic and Hand Surgery (PHS) division of CSH.

Methods: Patients referred from June 2019 to October 2024 were included.

Molecular Engineering of Emissive Molecular Qubits Based on Spin-Correlated Radical Pairs.

Spin chemistry of photogenerated spin-correlated radical pairs (SCRPs) offers a practical approach to control chemical reactions and molecular emissions by using weak magnetic fields. This capability to harness magnetic field effects (MFEs) paves the way for developing SCRPs-based molecular qubits. Here, we introduce a new series of donor-chiral bridge-acceptor (D-χ-A) molecules that demonstrate significant MFEs on fluorescence intensity and lifetime in solution at room temperature─critical for quantum sensing.

Risk of Plate Exposure in Vascularized Fibula Flap for Mandibular Reconstruction in Primary Oral Cancers.

To investigate the risk factors for plate exposure in primary oral cancer patients with mandibular defects undergoing tumor ablation followed by vascularized free fibular flap (FFF) transfer, we conducted a retrospective observational STUDY IN A SINGLE INSTITUTION IN TAIWAN: .The study was performed on a total of 292 primary oral cancer patients who underwent FFF reconstruction between 2015 and 2019. A variety of clinicopathological, surgical, and postoperative parameters were identified and assessed.