Clinical and demographic predictors of buccal fat pad volume in thyroid eye disease.

PURPOSE: To understand how thyroid eye disease (TED) impacts buccal fat pad (BFP) volume. METHODS: In this cohort study, computed tomography (CT) scans and charts of adult patients with and without TED were obtained from an institutional database. The primary outcome was BFP volume in cubic centimeters. Three independent, blinded observers analyzed scans using Horos, a free, open-source medical image viewing software. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were performed. We determined sample size using an effect size based on published reports of the minimum amount of fat excision needed to notice a clinical difference. Equivalence testing against upper and lower bounds set by the same effect size was conducted to assess practical significance of the results. RESULTS: Our sample was sufficient to detect a difference as large as 1.5cc with 95% power. 72 scans were included in our study, 24 TED patients and 48 controls. Mean BFP volume was not statistically different between TED patients and controls (3.96 cc vs 4.06 cc, p = .778). Analysis of covariance adjusting for relevant patient factors (age, sex, and BMI) also failed to find a significant difference between groups. Equivalence testing was significant (p < .001) and revealed the observed difference between groups was less than any clinically meaningful difference. For an effect size of 1.5cc, the data suggests there is a 5% risk of a false negative. CONCLUSIONS: TED was not associated with a significant difference in BFP volume, suggesting that the BFP is spared from TED-related soft-tissue expansion.

Transorbital Endoscopic Approach to the Pterygopalatine Fossa: A Less Invasive Alternative to Traditional Access.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article and accompanying video is to demonstrate a transorbital endoscopic approach for accessing the pterygopalatine fossa (PPF). This technique does not require a skin incision, avoids dissection of critical neurovascular structures, and utilizes a comparatively small osteotomy. The 2 cases presented in this article highlight the utility of a transorbital endoscopic approach for accessing an anatomic region that has traditionally required more invasive techniques to reach. METHODS: Description of surgical technique with 2 illustrative clinical cases and accompanying surgical video. RESULTS: Surgical technique: A trans-conjunctival approach is taken to the inferior orbital rim, and a subperiosteal dissection is propagated posteriorly. The bone of the posterior orbital floor is then deroofed, and the superior portion of the posterior wall of the maxillary sinus is removed, allowing access to the PPF for an incisional biopsy. CASE: A 76-year-old male with a history of left cheek squamous cell carcinoma presented with progressive V2 paresthesia and an abnormally enhancing lesion in the left PPF on MRI. CASE: A 58-year-old male with no significant medical history presented with left facial numbness (V1-V3), ptosis, an abduction deficit, and decreased hearing. Contrast-enhanced MRI demonstrated an abnormally enhanced lesion in the left PPF extending to Meckel's cave.The transorbital approach described was used to successfully obtain a diagnostic biopsy in both cases. CONCLUSIONS: These cases highlight the utility of a transorbital endoscopic approach to the PPF as a less morbid alternative to traditional access. Patient selection is key to identifying appropriate cases.

Retrospective evaluation of cervical fusion with DTRAX (R) cervical cage.

Background: Cervical radiculopathy is a relatively common problem that often affects individuals in their 5th decade. Most cases resolve with conservative treatment, but when unsuccessful, many opt for surgical intervention. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is currently considered the gold standard for the surgical management of cervical radiculopathy. One promising alternative, the DTRAX facet system is minimally invasive and may significantly reduce or eliminate cervical radicular symptoms. This case series and literature review looks to investigate the safety and efficacy of the DTRAX facet system in treating cervical radiculopathy. Methods: This retrospective analysis was performed by chart review of patients who underwent posterior cervical fusion and received the DTRAX spinal implant at University of California, Los Angeles within the last 8 years. Patient charts were located using the surgical cases report function of Epic electronic medical record, and patients were included in the study if they received a DTRAX implant during the stated time period. Data were compiled and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Results: A total of 14 patient charts were reviewed. Of the 14, there were no immediate postoperative complications. One international patient was subsequently lost to follow-up, and of the remaining 13, mean follow-up duration was 273 days, with a range of 15-660 days. All but one reported improvement of symptoms postoperatively, there were no device failures, and no reoperations were required. There were similar outcomes in patients who received single versus multilevel operations. Conclusion: The findings of this retrospective study of 14 patients who received the DTRAX facet system over the last 8 years support the conclusions of previous studies that DTRAX is safe and effective. In addition, this is the first study to look for differences in outcomes between single and multi-level DTRAX operations, of which there were none. Further investigation with larger cohorts should be conducted as DTRAX becomes more widely adopted in order to verify its safety and efficacy in various clinical scenarios.

Investigation of syphilis immunology and Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum biology to improve clinical management and design a broadly protective vaccine: study protocol.

BACKGROUND: The syphilis epidemic continues to cause substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, despite several recent disease control initiatives. Though our understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease and the biology of the syphilis agent, Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum has improved over the last two decades, further research is necessary to improve clinical diagnosis and disease management protocols. Additionally, such research efforts could contribute to the identification of possible targets for the development of an effective vaccine to stem syphilis spread. METHODS: This study will recruit two cohorts of participants with active syphilis infection, one with de novo infection, one with repeat infection. Whole blood specimens will be collected from each study participant at baseline, 4, 12, 24, 36, and 48 weeks, to track specific markers of their immunological response, as well as to compare humoral reactivity to Treponema pallidum antigens between the two groups. Additionally, we will use serum specimens to look for unique cytokine patterns in participants with early syphilis. Oral and blood samples, as well as samples from any syphilitic lesions present, will also be collected to sequence any Treponema pallidum DNA found. DISCUSSION: By furthering our understanding of syphilis pathogenesis and human host immune response to Treponema pallidum, we will provide important data that will help in development of new point-of-care tests that could better identify active infection, leading to improved syphilis diagnosis and management. Findings could also contribute to vaccine development efforts.

High Lifetime Prevalence of Syphilis in Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Women Versus Low Lifetime Prevalence in Female Sex Workers in Lima, Peru.

BACKGROUND: The syphilis epidemic continues to cause substantial morbidity worldwide and is worsening despite ongoing control efforts. Syphilis remains an important public health problem among 3 key populations: men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender women, and female sex workers. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients that received rapid point-of-care treponemal antibody tests from January 2019 to July 2019 in 4 sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics in Lima, Peru. We assessed patient medical records for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, history of STIs, as well as sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics. Cross-sectional descriptive analyses were used to determine factors associated with treponemal positivity. RESULTS: We included 401 patient records in our analyses: 252 MSM, 31 transgender women, and 118 female sex workers. The overall median age of patients was 29.0 years (interquartile range, 24.0-36.0 years). Positivity on the treponemal test was 28.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 24.3%-33.3%) overall, 37.7% (95% CI, 31.7%-44.0%) for MSM, 54.8% (95% CI, 36.0%-72.7%) for transgender women, and 3.4% (95% CI, 0.9%-8.5%) for female sex workers. In the bivariate analysis, treponemal positivity was also associated with receptive anal sex in the last 6 months in MSM (P < 0.01). Additionally, treponemal positivity increased with age (P = 0.0212) and varied by socioeconomic status (P < 0.01). Multivariate Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator logistic regression showed that treponemal positivity was highly associated with HIV coinfection (adjusted odds ratio, 5.42) and previous STI other than HIV or syphilis (adjusted odds ratio, 1.54). CONCLUSIONS: A review of the medical records of members of 3 key populations who had recently received a rapid point-of-care treponemal test in Lima, Peru, revealed that lifetime prevalence of syphilis was high among MSM and transgender women, but low among female sex workers. Those results may indicate a need for more frequent, regular testing among MSM and transgender women-possibly in conjunction with HIV testing, and appropriate treatment of those shown to be positive.