Functional Near-Infrared Spectrometry as a Useful Diagnostic Tool for Understanding the Visual System: A Review.

This comprehensive review explores the role of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) in advancing our understanding of the visual system. Beginning with an introduction to fNIRS, we delve into its historical development, highlighting how this technology has evolved over time. The core of the review critically examines the advantages and disadvantages of fNIRS, offering a balanced view of its capabilities and limitations in research and clinical settings. We extend our discussion to the diverse applications of fNIRS beyond its traditional use, emphasizing its versatility across various fields. In the context of the visual system, this review provides an in-depth analysis of how fNIRS contributes to our understanding of eye function, including eye diseases. We discuss the intricacies of the visual cortex, how it responds to visual stimuli and the implications of these findings in both health and disease. A unique aspect of this review is the exploration of the intersection between fNIRS, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI). We discuss how these cutting-edge technologies are synergizing with fNIRS to open new frontiers in visual system research. The review concludes with a forward-looking perspective, envisioning the future of fNIRS in a rapidly evolving technological landscape and its potential to revolutionize our approach to studying and understanding the visual system.

Analyses and Localization of Phosphatidylcholine and Phosphatidylserine in Murine Ocular Tissue Using Imaging Mass Spectrometry.

Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) allows for spatial visualization of proteins, lipids, and metabolite distributions in a tissue. Identifying these compounds through mass spectrometry, combined with mapping the compound distribution in the sample in a targeted or untargeted approach, renders IMS a powerful tool for lipidomics. IMS analysis for lipid species such as phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine allows researchers to pinpoint areas of lipid deficiencies or accumulations associated with ocular disorders such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Here, we describe an end-to-end IMS approach from sample preparation to data analysis for phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine analysis.

Analyses and Localization of Serotonin and L-DOPA in Ocular Tissues by Imaging Mass Spectrometry.

Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) allows for visualization of the spatial distribution of proteins, lipids, and other metabolites in a targeted or untargeted approach. The identification of compounds through mass spectrometry combined with the mapping of compound distribution in the sample establishes IMS as a powerful tool for metabolomics. IMS analysis for serotonin will allow researchers to pinpoint areas of deficiencies or accumulations associated with ocular disorders such as serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor optic neuropathy. Furthermore, L-DOPA has shown great promise as a therapeutic approach for disorders such as age-related macular degeneration, and IMS allows for localization, and relative magnitudes, of L-DOPA in the eye. We describe here an end-to-end approach of IMS from sample preparation to data analysis for serotonin and L-DOPA analysis.

Minimally Invasive Surgery is Associated with Improved Outcomes Following Urgent Inpatient Colectomy.

Objectives: The use of minimally invasive techniques for urgent colectomies remains understudied. This study compares short-term outcomes following urgent minimally invasive colectomies to those following open colectomies. Methods & Procedures: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) colectomy database was queried between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2018. Patients who underwent elective and emergency colectomies, based on the respective NSQIP variables, were excluded. The remaining patients were divided into two groups, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and open. MIS colectomies with unplanned conversion to open were included in the MIS group. Baseline characteristics and 30-day outcomes were compared using univariable and multivariable regression analyses. Results: A total of 29,345 patients were included in the study; 12,721 (43.3%) underwent MIS colectomy, while 16,624 (56.7%) underwent open colectomy. Patients undergoing MIS colectomy were younger (60.6 vs 63.8 years) and had a lower prevalence of either American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) IV (9.9 vs 15.5%) or ASA V (0.08% vs 2%). After multivariable analysis, MIS colectomy was associated with lower odds of mortality (odds ratio = 0.75, 95% confidence interval: 0.61, 0.91 95% confidence interval), and most short-term complications recorded in the ACS NSQIP. While MIS colectomies took longer to perform (161 vs 140 min), the length of stay was shorter (12.2 vs 14.1 days). Conclusions: MIS colectomy affords better short-term complication rates and a reduced length of stay compared to open colectomy for patients requiring urgent surgery. If feasible, minimally invasive colectomy should be offered to patients necessitating urgent colon resection.

Long-term outcomes following endoscopic stenting in the management of leaks after foregut and bariatric surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic stenting has been shown to be effective in treating leaks after bariatric surgery. However, concerns remain regarding its long-term efficacy. The purpose of this study was to assess the evolution of endoscopic stenting and its efficacy over time, as well as the impact of stent fixation on migration rates and long-term outcomes. In addition, the effect of stenting on long-term weight loss and chronic reflux was also evaluated. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted including 37 patients from 2005 to 2017 who had undergone placement of stents after various bariatric procedures. Stents were placed endoscopically and, after 2012, secured with a figure-of-eight overstitch. Demographics, weight loss data, stent migration rates, incidence of revision surgery, chronic PPI use, and chronic symptoms of reflux data were obtained and analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients from 2005 to 2017 required endoscopic stenting for leaks. 43.24% patients underwent sleeve gastrectomy, 40.54% gastric bypass, 5.40% patients underwent duodenal switch, and 10.81% underwent miscellaneous foregut procedures. The overall success rate was 94.59% (35 of 37 patients). The incidence of stent migration before 2012 was 41.18% versus 15% after 2012 (p = 0.136271). There were 2 treatment failures, one treated successfully with re-stenting and another other requiring revision surgery. Overall, the percent of excess body weight lost was 57.21% over an average of 21 months. 58.82% of patients used PPI chronically; however 41.17% noted actual symptoms of reflux. 16.22% (6 of 37) patients ultimately underwent revision surgery. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic stenting is a safe and effective treatment for leaks after bariatric surgery. While complications can include stent migration, newer stent technology and endoscopic overstitching techniques show promise in reducing the incidence of stent migration. Despite undergoing treatment with stenting, these patients had successful weight loss with relatively low rates of chronic PPI use and reflux symptoms.

Time-to-Surgery for Definitive Fixation of Hip Fractures: A Look at Outcomes Based Upon Delay.

The morbidity and mortality after hip fracture in the elderly are influenced by non-modifiable comorbidities. Time-to-surgery is a modifiable factor that may play a role in postoperative morbidity. This study investigates the outcomes and complications in the elderly hip fracture surgery as a function of time-to-surgery. Using the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data from 2011 to 2012, a study population was generated using the Current Procedural Terminology codes for percutaneous or open treatment of femoral neck fractures (27235, 27236) and fixation with a screw and side plate or intramedullary fixation (27244, 27245) for peritrochanteric fractures. Three time-to-surgery groups (<24 hours to surgical intervention, 24-48 hours, and >48 hours) were created and matched for surgery type, sex, age, and American Society of Anesthesiologists class. Time-to-surgery was then studied for its effect on the post-surgical outcomes using the adjusted regression modeling. A study population of 6036 hip fractures was created, and 2012 patients were assigned to each matched time-to-surgery group. The unadjusted models showed that the earlier surgical intervention groups (<24 hours and 24-48 hours) exhibited a lower overall complication rate (P = .034) compared with the group waiting for surgery >48 hours. The unadjusted mortality rates increased with delay to surgical intervention (P = .039). Time-to-surgery caused no effect on the return to the operating room rate (P = .554) nor readmission rate (P = .285). Compared with other time-to-surgeries, the time-to-surgery of >48 hours was associated with prolonged total hospital length of stay (10.9 days) (P < .001) and a longer surgery-to-discharge time (hazard ratio, 95% confidence interval: 0.74, 0.69-0.79) (P < .001). Adjusted analyses showed no time-to-surgery related difference in complications (P = .143) but presented an increase in the total length of stay (P < .001) and surgery-to-discharge time (P < .001). Timeliness of surgical intervention in a comorbidity-adjusted population of elderly hip fracture patients causes no effect on the overall complications, readmissions, nor 30-day mortality. However, time-to-surgery of >48 hours is associated with costly increase in the total length of stay, including an increased post-surgery-to-discharge time.

The Effect of BMI on 30 Day Outcomes Following Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Hip and knee arthroplasty (THA, TKA) are safe, effective procedures with reliable, reproducible outcomes. We aim to investigate obesity's effect on complications following arthroplasty surgery. Using the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, 13,250 subjects were stratified into 5 groups based on BMI and matched for gender, age, surgery type and ASA class. Matched, multivariable generalized linear models adjusting for demographics and comorbidities demonstrated an association between elevated BMI and overall (P<0.001), medical (P=0.005), surgical complications (P<0.001), including superficial (P=0.019) and deep wound infection (P=0.040), return to OR (P=0.016) and time from OR to discharge (P=0.003). Elevated BMI increases risk for post-operative complications following total joint arthroplasty.

Factors Affecting Readmission Rates Following Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Readmissions following total hip arthroplasty are a focus given the forthcoming financial penalties that hospitals in the United States may incur starting in 2015. The purpose of this study was to identify both preoperative comorbidities and postoperative conditions that increase the risk of readmission following total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: Using the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data for 2011, a study population was identified using the Current Procedural Terminology code for primary total hip arthroplasty (27130). The sample was stratified into readmitted and non-readmitted cohorts. Demographic variables, preoperative comorbidities, laboratory values, operative characteristics, and surgical outcomes were compared between the groups using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: Of the 9441 patients, there were 345 readmissions (3.65%) within the first thirty days following surgery. Comorbidities that increased the risk for readmission were diabetes (p < 0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p < 0.001), bleeding disorders (p < 0.001), preoperative blood transfusion (p = 0.035), corticosteroid use (p < 0.001), dyspnea (p = 0.001), previous cardiac surgery (p = 0.002), and hypertension (p < 0.001). A multivariate regression model was used to control for potential confounders. Having a body mass index of ≥40 kg/m2 (odds ratio, 1.941 [95% confidence interval, 1.019 to 3.696]; p = 0.044) and using corticosteroids preoperatively (odds ratio, 2.928 [95% confidence interval, 1.731 to 4.953]; p < 0.001) were independently associated with a higher likelihood of readmission, and a high preoperative serum albumin (odds ratio, 0.688 [95% confidence interval, 0.477 to 0.992]; p = 0.045) was independently associated with a lower risk for readmission. Postoperative surgical site infection, pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis, and sepsis (p < 0.001) were also independent risk factors for readmission. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of readmission following total hip arthroplasty increases with growing preoperative comorbidity burden, and is specifically increased in patients with a body mass index of ≥40 kg/m2, a history of corticosteroid use, and low preoperative serum albumin and in patients with postoperative surgical site infection, a thromboembolic event, and sepsis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.