Mind Over Scalpel: Effectiveness of Preoperative Surgical Education.

Multimodal preoperative educational interventions, delivered in various formats including written materials, videos, websites, and more, have shown potential in improving postoperative outcomes. Given the evolving landscape of surgical education, the effectiveness of these diverse strategies requires further assessment. This systematic review, meta-analysis and network meta-analysis evaluated multimodal preoperative educational interventions and their impact on surgical outcomes.

Biomimetic, Suturable, and Extensible Electrospun Scaffolds for Lower Urinary Tract Surgical Reconstruction.

Common autologous tissue sources used for the repair or replacement of lower urinary tract (LUT) organs include the inner cheek (buccal), small and large bowels, and foreskin. These sources have limited availability, introduce the risk of donor site complications, and differ mechanically and biologically from LUT tissue. To address this, fibrous composite scaffolds with varying ratios of two naturally derived polymers-gelatin methacryloyl and an elastin-like peptide-are fabricated via electrospinning and photo-crosslinking.

Orai1 is Required for Osteogenic Differentiation on Nanoparticulate Mineralized Collagen Glycosaminoglycan Materials.

The role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in guiding cell fate has spurred the development of synthetic, ECM-inspired regenerative biomaterials. We previously described a porous, open-cell foam composed of nanoparticulate mineralized collagen glycosaminoglycan (MC-GAG), capable of inducing in vitro osteogenesis of primary human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and in vivo skull regeneration without adding growth factors or expanded progenitor cells. This study investigated the role of store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) in MC-GAG activity by evaluating the impact of Orai1, the pore-forming subunit of the calcium release-activated channel.

The Sunshine Act Open Payment Database: A 7-Year Analysis of Trends Within Plastic Surgery and Its Subspecialties.

Industry financial relationships for physicians in the United States are reported publicly in the Sunshine Act Open Payments Database. This study aims to highlight trends and compare plastic surgery with subspecialty data, such as hand and craniofacial surgery. The Open Payments Database was utilized to retrieve all industry relationship payments made to plastic surgeons in the United States from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2023.

The Impact of Psychological Prehabilitation on Surgical Outcomes: A Meta-analysis and Meta-regression.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of psychological prehabilitation in improving surgical outcomes.

Background: Prehabilitation aims to improve surgical outcomes through prevention. While most prehabilitation protocols have focused on improving patient knowledge and physical function, mental health has started to receive greater attention due to its effects on postoperative recovery, including persistent opioid use.

Association of Sphincter Pharyngoplasty and Long-term Maxillary Hypoplasia in Patients with Cleft Palate.

Background: The current literature on orthognathic growth outcomes after velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) surgery is limited by cohort size or short follow-up duration after surgery. This study evaluates the relationship between sphincter pharyngoplasty and long-term maxillomandibular growth.

Methods: All patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP) or isolated cleft palate (iCP) ≥15 years of age who underwent sphincter pharyngoplasty from 1992 to 2023 were retrospectively reviewed.

Biomaterial Cues for Regulation of Osteoclast Differentiation and Function in Bone Regeneration.

Tissue regeneration involves dynamic dialogue between and among different cells and their surrounding matrices. Bone regeneration is specifically governed by reciprocity between osteoblasts and osteoclasts within the bone microenvironment. Osteoclast-directed resorption and osteoblast-directed formation of bone are essential to bone remodeling, and the crosstalk between these cells is vital to curating a sequence of events that culminate in the creation of bone tissue.

The Type I+ Forehead in Facial Feminization Surgery.

Background: Feminizing fronto-orbital reconstruction involves one of four possibilities with the Ousterhout Type III anterior table frontal sinus osteotomy and setback performed in most patients while the Type I reduction recontouring is reserved for patients without frontal sinuses or thick anterior tables. However, patients with frontal sinuses and either a moderately thick anterior table or a shallow frontal sinus in the sagittal plane represent an intermediate morphology. For such morphologies, we introduce the novel Type I+ fronto-orbital reconstruction technique, consisting of frontal bone recontouring supplemented with anterior table reconstruction and split cranial bone graft.

An shRNA screen in primary human beta cells identifies the serotonin 1F receptor as a negative regulator of survival during transplant.

Unlabelled: Islet transplantation can cure type 1 diabetes, but peri-transplant beta cell death limits this procedure to those with low insulin requirements. Improving human beta cell survival or proliferation may make islet transplantation a possibility for more type 1 patients. To identify novel regulators of beta cell survival and proliferation, we conducted a pooled small hairpin RNA (shRNA) screen in primary human beta cells transplanted into immunocompromised mice.

Ethnic variation in lower face anthropometry on facial computed tomography scans for patients seeking facial feminization surgery.

Background: Facial feminization surgery (FFS) is the most common form of facial gender-affirming surgery. One of the current knowledge gaps is the understanding of differences among racial groups in baseline craniofacial norms for transgender and nonbinary patients.

Methods: All patients who sought consultation for FFS and underwent craniofacial computed tomography (CT) scans at a single institution between 2018 and 2023 were included.

A Glucose-Responsive Cannula for Automated and Electronics-Free Insulin Delivery.

Automated delivery of insulin based on continuous glucose monitoring is revolutionizing the way insulin-dependent diabetes is treated. However, challenges remain for the widespread adoption of these systems, including the requirement of a separate glucose sensor, sophisticated electronics and algorithms, and the need for significant user input to operate these costly therapies. Herein, a user-centric glucose-responsive cannula is reported for electronics-free insulin delivery.

Advances in 3D bioprinting for urethral tissue reconstruction.

Urethral conditions affect children and adults, increasing the risk of urinary tract infections, voiding and sexual dysfunction, and renal failure. Current tissue replacements differ from healthy urethral tissues in structural and mechanical characteristics, causing high risk of postoperative complications. 3D bioprinting can overcome these limitations through the creation of complex, layered architectures using materials with location-specific biomechanical properties.

Hemostatic patch with ultra-strengthened mechanical properties for efficient adhesion to wet surfaces.

Controlling traumatic bleeding from damaged internal organs while effectively sealing the wound is critical for saving the lives of patients. Existing bioadhesives suffer from blood incompatibility, insufficient adhesion to wet surfaces, weak mechanical properties, and complex application procedures. Here, we engineered a ready-to-use hemostatic bioadhesive with ultra-strengthened mechanical properties and fatigue resistance, robust adhesion to wet tissues within a few seconds of gentle pressing, deformability to accommodate physiological function and action, and the ability to stop bleeding efficiently.

Convergence of Calcium Channel Regulation and Mechanotransduction in Skeletal Regenerative Biomaterial Design.

Cells are known to perceive their microenvironment through extracellular and intracellular mechanical signals. Upon sensing mechanical stimuli, cells can initiate various downstream signaling pathways that are vital to regulating proliferation, growth, and homeostasis. One such physiologic activity modulated by mechanical stimuli is osteogenic differentiation.

SARS-CoV-2 interacts with the Clic-like chloride channel-1 () and triggers an unfolded protein response.

Understanding the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and host cell machinery may reveal new targets to treat COVID-19. We focused on an interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 ORF3A accessory protein and the CLIC-like chloride channel-1 (CLCC1). We found that ORF3A partially co-localized with CLCC1 and that ORF3A and CLCC1 could be co-immunoprecipitated.

Genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of ALDH1A3 as a treatment of β-cell failure.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with β-cell dedifferentiation. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 isoform A3 (ALHD1A3) is a marker of β-cell dedifferentiation and correlates with T2D progression. However, it is unknown whether ALDH1A3 activity contributes to β-cell failure, and whether the decrease of ALDH1A3-positive β-cells (A+) following pair-feeding of diabetic animals is due to β-cell restoration.

A Superfolder Green Fluorescent Protein-Based Biosensor Allows Monitoring of Chloride in the Endoplasmic Reticulum.

Though the concentration of chloride has been measured in the cytoplasm and in secretory granules of live cells, it cannot be measured within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) due to poor fluorescence of existing biosensors. We developed a fluorescent biosensor composed of a chloride-sensitive superfolder GFP and long Stokes-shifted mKate2 for simultaneous chloride and pH measurements that retained fluorescence in the ER lumen. Using this sensor, we showed that the chloride concentration in the ER is significantly lower than that in the cytosol.

A Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial and Antiviral Membrane Inactivates SARS-CoV-2 in Minutes.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic, can remain viable and infectious on surfaces for days, posing a potential risk for fomite transmission. Liquid-based disinfectants, such as chlorine-based ones, have played an indispensable role in decontaminating surfaces but they do not provide prolonged protection from recontamination. Here a safe, inexpensive, and scalable membrane with covalently immobilized chlorine, large surface area, and fast wetting that exhibits long-lasting, exceptional killing efficacy against a broad spectrum of bacteria and viruses is reported.

Local Immunomodulatory Strategies to Prevent Allo-Rejection in Transplantation of Insulin-Producing Cells.

Islet transplantation has shown promise as a curative therapy for type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, the side effects of systemic immunosuppression and limited long-term viability of engrafted islets, together with the scarcity of donor organs, highlight an urgent need for the development of new, improved, and safer cell-replacement strategies. Induction of local immunotolerance to prevent allo-rejection against islets and stem cell derived β cells has the potential to improve graft function and broaden the applicability of cellular therapy while minimizing adverse effects of systemic immunosuppression.

Pollen-inspired enzymatic microparticles to reduce organophosphate toxicity in managed pollinators.

Pollinators support the production of the leading food crops worldwide. Organophosphates are a heavily used group of insecticides that pollinators can be exposed to, especially during crop pollination. Exposure to lethal or sublethal doses can impair fitness of wild and managed bees, risking pollination quality and food security.

Hydrogels in Emerging Technologies for Type 1 Diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes therapies that afford tighter glycemic control in a more manageable and painless manner for patients has remained a central focus of next-generation diabetes therapies. In many of these emerging technologies, namely, self-regulated insulin delivery and cell replacement therapies, hydrogels are employed to mitigate some of the most long-standing challenges. In this Review, we summarize recent developments in the use of hydrogels for both insulin delivery and insulin-producing cell therapies for type 1 diabetes management.

Biomaterial Applications in Islet Encapsulation and Transplantation.

The worldwide prevalence of type 1 diabetes motivates the development of different treatment options for the disease. Current clinical treatments typically require patient involvement, often resulting in stress or inconvenience to the patient due to frequent blood glucose measurements and insulin injections or infusions. Islet transplantation, a potentially curative treatment, is limited by donor availability and the need for long-term administration of immunosuppressants.