A cost comparison of liver acquisition fees for donation after circulatory death versus donation after brain death donors.

Donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors now represent over 30% of the deceased donor pool in the United States. Compared to donation after brain death, DCD is less likely to result in transplantation. For each potential donor whose organs cannot be utilized for transplantation (ie, dry run), fees are associated with the attempted donation, which add to the overall costs of organ acquisition. To better characterize the true costs of DCD liver acquisition, we performed a cost comparison of the fees associated with organ acquisition for DCD versus donation after brain death at a single transplant institute that comprises 2 liver transplant centers. Cost, recipient, and transportation data for all cases, including fees associated with liver acquisition from July 1, 2019, to October 31, 2021, were collected. We found that the total cost of DCD liver acquisition per liver transplant was $15,029 more than that for donation after brain death donation, with 18% of the costs of the DCD transplant attributed to dry runs. Overall, the costs associated with DCD transplantation accounted for 34.5% of the total organ acquisition costs; however, DCD transplantation accounted for 30.3% of the transplantation volume. Because the expansion of DCD is essential to increasing the availability of liver grafts for transplantation, strategies need to be implemented to decrease the costs associated with dry runs, including using local recovery, transferring donors to hospitals close to transplant centers, and performing more prerecovery organ analysis. Moreover, these strategies are needed to ensure that financial disincentives to DCD procurement and utilization do not reverse the gains made by expanding the organ donor pool using machine perfusion technologies.

Impedance Spectroscopy Unveiled the Surfactant-Induced Unfolding and Subsequent Refolding of Human Serum Albumin.

Protein-surfactant interaction is a dynamic interplay of electrostatic and hydrophobic forces that ensues from the folding of a protein. We employ impedance spectroscopy (IS), a label-free method, to investigate the unfolding and refolding of human serum albumin (HSA), a globular plasma protein, in the presence of two surfactants: polysorbate-20 (Tween-20), a nonionic surfactant, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), an anionic surfactant. The equivalent electrical analog circuit was predicted from impedance spectra of HSA in an aqueous solution at physiological pH and room temperature, focusing on varying the concentration of codissolved surfactants. A change in the dielectric constant (ε') and ionic conductivity (κ) is observed by comparing the surfactant-treated protein samples to the bare surfactant solutions to assess the conformational changes induced by surfactants in HSA. Far-UV circular dichroism analysis revealed a decrease in α-helices and an increase in ß-sheets and random coils upon SDS addition, which were reversed by Tween-20. Dynamic light scattering supported the findings by measuring changes in the hydrodynamic diameter (dh) of HSA. Unfolding and refolding of HSA with surfactants were also observed through photoluminescence spectroscopy by examining the microenvironment surrounding the single tryptophan (W) within the protein, and the thermodynamic parameters were obtained using the modified Stern-Volmer equation. Our research explores the intriguing domain of protein-surfactant interactions, offering insights with promising applications across diverse biological processes and IS as a suitable alternative technique for investigating protein conformational changes by studying the electrical response of the samples.

Stepwise development and expansion of an abdominal normothermic regional perfusion program for donation after circulatory determination of death organ procurement.

INTRODUCTION: Normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) represents an innovative technology that improves the outcomes for liver and kidney recipients of donation after circulatory determination of death (DCD) organs but protocols for abdominal-only NRP (A-NRP) DCD are lacking in the US. METHODS: We describe the implementation and expansion strategies of a transplant-center-based A-NRP DCD program that has grown in volume, geographical reach, and donor acceptance parameters, presented as four eras. RESULTS: In the implementation era, two donors were attempted, and one liver graft was transplanted. In the local expansion era, 33% of attempted donors resulted in transplantation and 42% of liver grafts from donors who died within the functional warm ischemic time (fWIT) limit were transplanted. In the Regional Expansion era, 25% of attempted donors resulted in transplantation and 50% of liver grafts from donors who died within the fWIT limit were transplanted. In the Donor Acceptance Expansion era, 46% of attempted donors resulted in transplantation and 72% of liver grafts from donors who died within the fWIT limit were transplanted. Eight discarded grafts demonstrated a potential opportunity for utilization. CONCLUSION: The stepwise approach to building an A-NRP program described here can serve as a model for other transplant centers.

Oxidative stress induced conformational changes of human serum albumin.

Oxidative stress, generated by reactive oxygen species (ROS), is responsible for the loss of structure and functionality of proteins and is associated with several aging-related diseases. Here, we report an in vitro study to gauge the effect of ROS on the structural rearrangement of human serum albumin (HSA), a plasma protein, through metal-catalyzed oxidation (MCO) at physiological temperature through various biophysical techniques like UV-vis absorption, circular dichroism (CD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), MALDI-TOF, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy. The UV-vis spectra of oxidized HSA show an early blueshift, signifying the unfolding of the protein because of ROS followed by the broadening of the absorption peak at a longer time. The DSC data corroborate the observation, revealing an exothermic transition for the oxidized sample at a longer time, suggesting in situ aggregation. The CD and FTIR spectra indicate the associated secondary structural changes occurring with time, depicting the variation of the helical content of HSA. The amide-III analysis of Raman data also complements the structural changes, and MALDI-TOF data show the mass distribution with time. Overall, this work might help determine the effect of oxidation on the biological activity of serum albumin as it can impact the physiological properties of HSA.

Uterus Transplant in Women With Absolute Uterine-Factor Infertility.

Importance: Uterus transplant in women with absolute uterine-factor infertility offers the possibility of carrying their own pregnancy. Objective: To determine whether uterus transplant is feasible and safe and results in births of healthy infants. Design, Setting, and Participants: A case series including 20 participants with uterine-factor infertility and at least 1 functioning ovary who underwent uterus transplant in a large US tertiary care center between September 14, 2016, and August 23, 2019. Intervention: The uterus transplant (from 18 living donors and 2 deceased donors) was surgically placed in an orthotopic position with vascular anastomoses to the external iliac vessels. Participants received immunosuppression until the transplanted uterus was removed following 1 or 2 live births or after graft failure. Main Outcomes and Measures: Uterus graft survival and subsequent live births. Results: Of 20 participants (median age, 30 years [range, 20-36]; 2 Asian, 1 Black, and 16 White), 14 (70%) had a successful uterus allograft; all 14 recipients gave birth to at least 1 live-born infant. Eleven of 20 recipients had at least 1 complication. Maternal and/or obstetrical complications occurred in 50% of the successful pregnancies, with the most common being gestational hypertension (2 [14%]), cervical insufficiency (2 [14%]), and preterm labor (2 [14%]). Among the 16 live-born infants, there were no congenital malformations. Four of 18 living donors had grade 3 complications. Conclusions and Relevance: Uterus transplant was technically feasible and was associated with a high live birth rate following successful graft survival. Adverse events were common, with medical and surgical risks affecting recipients as well as donors. Congenital abnormalities and developmental delays have not occurred to date in the live-born children. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02656550.

Abdominal normothermic regional perfusion in the United States: current state and future directions.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) is a novel procurement technique for donation after circulatory death (DCD) in the United States. It was pioneered by cardiothoracic surgery programs and is now being applied to abdominal-only organ donors by abdominal transplant programs. RECENT FINDINGS: Liver and kidney transplantation from thoracoabdominal NRP (TA-NRP) donors in the United States was found to have lower rates of delayed kidney graft function and similar graft and patient survival versus recipients of cardiac super rapid recovery (SRR) DCD donors. The excellent outcomes with NRP have prompted the expansion of NRP technology to abdominal transplant programs. SUMMARY: Excellent early outcomes with liver and kidney transplantation have prompted the growth of NC-NRP procurement for abdominal-only DCD donors across the US, and now requires standardization of technical and nontechnical aspects of this procedure.

Diffuse calcification of pancreas impairs endocrine function and predicts poor outcome in total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation.

In patients with chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic calcification is a risk factor for diabetes development, poor islet yield, and metabolic outcomes after total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT). We investigated whether calcification pattern based on computed tomography is associated with outcomes using our database of 200 consecutive TPIAT procedures. Three groups were compared: noncalcification (NC); focal calcification, limited to the pancreas head, body, or tail; and diffuse calcification (DC), with calcification in >2 sections. Maximum changes in outcomes were seen in the DC vs focal calcification group. In the DC group, preoperative hemoglobin A1c levels were higher (P < .01), and stimulated C-peptide levels were lower (P < .01) than in the NC group. Islet isolation from the DC pancreas resulted in the lowest islet equivalent (IEQ) yield and IEQ/kg among the 3 groups (P < .0001), with no insulin independence 12 months posttransplant (P < .05 vs NC group). Notably, at 12 months, the DC group was 91.7% narcotic-free, significantly higher than the NC group (P < .05). Although DC is a sign of diabetes risk after TPIAT, the DC group showed exceptional pain relief. These findings suggest that TPIAT can be beneficial for patients with chronic pancreatitis with severe calcification.

Early outcomes of kidney transplant recipients from donors with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia: A report of 5 cases.

BACKGROUND: Transplanting kidneys from donors with a recent history of severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia is uncommon due to concerns about the risk of viral transmission and the quality of kidneys from these donors. To date, there are no conclusive data on viral transmission from extrapulmonary solid organ transplants. Given the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in potential donors, shortage of kidneys available for transplantation, and low risk of viral transmission, we developed a clinical protocol for accepting kidneys from donors with recent severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia who demonstrate preserved kidney function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected data on early outcomes of 5 kidney transplant recipients from 4 deceased donors hospitalized for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. RESULTS: Donor creatinine ranged from 0.51 to 0.60 mg/dL and kidney donor profile index (KDPI) from 14 to 52%. Three of the five kidneys were from donation after circulatory death. All recipients were fully vaccinated, and 4/5 received post-exposure prophylactic monoclonal antibody treatment. While 3 recipients had delayed graft function, all had excellent graft function at 3 or 4 weeks post-operatively. None of the recipients displayed signs or symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection post-transplant. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that kidney grafts from donors with a recent history of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection but with preserved kidney function can be safely used and have good early outcomes.

Addressing the Upper Third of the Nose in Endonasal Rhinoplasty.

Effective management of the upper nasal vault is based on a thorough preoperative analysis and detailed understanding of the requisite principles and techniques utilized to modify the anatomic structures in this region. The surgeon must equally consider form and function when performing manipulation of the upper nasal vault. Special considerations apply when managing this anatomic region via an endonasal or closed approach. A review of this topic is presented with a focus on techniques as they apply to the endonasal rhinoplasty patient.

Dermal Fillers for Tear Trough Rejuvenation: A Systematic Review.

There is significant variation in treatment parameters when treating the infraorbital region. Thorough knowledge of these pertinent factors, choice of the optimal filling material, and proper understanding of the anatomy of this unforgiving region will contribute to a safe, effective, and natural result. We aim to conduct a systematic review of published literature related to soft tissue fillers of the tear trough and infraorbital region. A search of published literature was conducted in accordance with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and included PubMed, Embase, and Science Direct databases. The Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms used were "tear trough" OR "infraorbital" AND "dermal filler" OR "hyaluronic acid" OR "poly-L-lactic acid" OR "calcium hydroxyapatite" OR "Restylane" OR "Radiesse" OR "Perlane" OR "Juvéderm" OR "Belotero." Different combinations of these key terms were used. The initial search identified 526 articles. Six additional articles were identified through references. Two-hundred twenty-five duplicates were removed. A total of 307 studies were screened by title and abstract and 258 studies were eliminated based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Forty-nine articles underwent full-text review. The final analysis included 23 articles. Patient satisfaction was high, and duration of effect ranged from 8 to 12 months. Restylane was most commonly used. Injection technique varied, but generally involved placing filler pre-periosteally, deep to orbicularis oculi muscle, anterior to the inferior orbital rim via serial puncture or retrograde linear threading with a 30-gauge needle. Topical anesthetic was most commonly used. Side effects were generally mild and included bruising, edema, blue-gray dyschromia, and contour irregularities. Nonsurgical correction of the tear trough deformity with soft tissue filler is a minimally invasive procedure with excellent patient satisfaction with long-lasting effects. It is essential to have a fundamental understanding of the relevant anatomy and ideal injection technique to provide excellent patient outcomes and prevent serious complications.

Delayed Complications following Dermal Filler for Tear Trough Augmentation: A Systematic Review.

Tear trough deformity is a popular target for the treatment with filler injections. The side effects are generally mild and transient. However, delayed complications may occur. We aim to perform a thorough systematic review of the published literature related to delayed complications after tear trough filler injections. A search of published literature was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines in June 2021 and included PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Embase databases. The Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms used included the following terms: delayed complications, nodules, granulomas, swelling, discoloration, dermal filler, hyaluronic acid (HA), polyacrylamide, calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA), poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), eyelid, periorbital, periocular, and tear trough. Twenty-eight articles consisting of 52 individual cases were included in the final analysis. 98% (51/52) of patients were female and had an average age of 48.3 years. HA was the most reported product (71.2%, 37/52), followed by PLLA (4/52, 7.7%), and CaHA (4/52, 7.7%). The most common delayed complication with any dermal filler was swelling (42.3%, 22/52) followed by lumps or nodules (25.0%, 13/52). Xanthelasma-like reaction (17.3%, 9/52), migration (7.7%, 4/52), discoloration (3%, 3/52) also occurred. The average time of onset of any complication was 16.8 months with xanthelasma-like reaction appearing soonest (mean: 10 months) and discoloration appearing latest (mean: 52 months). Most swelling cases were caused by HA. Semi-permanent fillers such as PMMA and synthetic fillers such as PLLA were more likely to be associated with lumps and nodules than other complications. It is important that clinicians who perform tear trough augmentation with dermal fillers have a thorough understanding of the risks of the procedure to diagnose and manage them promptly as well as provide patients with accurate information regarding the potential adverse effects.

Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted Interest in Cosmetic Facial Plastic Surgery? A Google Trends Analysis.

Facial cosmetic surgery trends are evolving in the current climate of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate public interest in elective facial plastic surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic including the period of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution using Google Trends. A Google Trends analysis was completed using popular terms related to facial cosmetic surgery and procedures from March 2017 to August 2021. Three stages were identified (baseline, pre-COVID-19 vaccine distribution, and post-COVID-19 vaccine distribution). Descriptive statistics were calculated and two-tailed t-tests were performed between the pre-vaccine and the post-vaccine phases. Linear regression analysis was also performed to determine percent deflection of search terms. There was significantly greater interest in facial aesthetic procedure search terms, except for tear trough filler, during the post-COVID-19 vaccine phase compared with the pre-COVID-19 vaccine phase. There was greater interest in lower facial procedure interest during this phase compared with upper facial procedures (p-value = 0.0011). The search terms with the greatest deflection percentage during the post-vaccine phase were lip filler, brow lift, and lip flip. There continues to be high demands of facial plastic surgery and procedures despite COVID-19 pandemic.

Selective screening imaging of the aortoiliac arterial system in kidney transplant candidates with non-contrast pelvic computed tomography.

Non-contrast pelvic computed tomography (CT) can detect severe iliac artery calcifications that present technical contraindications to kidney transplantation (TCT). We screened 454 asymptomatic patients with a history of any of the following: hemodialysis >10 years, diabetes mellitus >20 years, coronary artery disease (CAD) with percutaneous or surgical interventions, carotid disease, diabetes with below-/above-knee amputations, and heart-kidney transplantation candidacy. Patients with normal dorsalis pedis and/or tibialis posterior pulses were not screened. A total of 8.4% had severe calcifications with TCT; CT determined laterality for implantation in 13.9%. No patients with the following characteristics were classified as TCT: age <40 years, hemodialysis >10 years, carotid arterial disease, prior lower extremity amputation, or heart-kidney transplantation candidacy. CAD was associated with TCT in univariate though not multivariate analysis. Limiting screening to patients >40 years, with DM >20 years, or with CAD, 9.8% had a TCT and CT determined transplant laterality in 14.2%. Screening for severe iliac artery calcifications is useful for selected kidney transplantation candidates over age 40. It can assist with laterality choice or surgeon determination of TCT. Cost and radiation exposure risks should be weighed against the morbidity risks from unnecessary surgery.

Hierarchical cage-frame type nanostructure of CeO2 for bio sensing applications: from glucose to protein detection.

Self-assembled hierarchical nanostructures are slowly superseding their conventional counterparts for use in biosensors. These morphologies show high surface area with tunable porosity and packing density. Modulating the interfacial interactions and subsequent particle assembly occurring at the water-and-oil interface in inverse miniemulsions, are amongst the best strategies to stabilize various type of hollow nanostructures. The paper presents a successful protocol to obtain CeO2 hollow structures based biosensors that are useful for glucose to protein sensing. The fabricated glucose sensor is able to deliver high sensitivity (0.495 µA cm-2 nM-1), low detection limit (6.46 nM) and wide linear range (0 nM to 600 nM). CeO2 based bioelectrode can also be considered as a suitable candidate for protein sensors. It can detect protein concentrations varying from 0 to 30 µM, which is similar or higher than most reports in the literature. The limit of detection (LOD) for protein was ∼0.04 µM. Therefore, the hollow CeO2 electrodes, with excellent reproducibility, stability and repeatability, open a new area of application for cage-frame type particles.

Electric field-driven conformational changes in the elastin protein.

The formation of aggregates and amyloids, a hallmark of many protein misfolding diseases, depends on many intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Many approaches (in vitro, in vivo, and in silico) have been attempted to inhibit the aggregation process so that the progression of these diseases can be controlled. We investigate the effect of a static electric field (EF; 120 V cm-1 and 200 V cm-1) on the conformational change of elastin protein using light scattering, spectroscopy, and microscopy techniques. Laser light scattering and photoluminescence spectroscopy show the formation of fibrils of unexposed elastin with aging, whereas disruption of fibril formation with EF exposed elastin. The size of EF exposed elastin first increases and exhibits an apex, and subsequently decreases with an increasing time of exposure. We observed that a decrease in the size of EF exposed elastin depends on the strength of the EF, faster decrement at higher EF. FTIR data show that EF modifies elastin protein's secondary structures; it facilitates the interconversion of ß-sheets and turns into α-helix structures. The SEM images of unexposed and EF exposed elastin confirms the observation through light scattering and PL techniques. The effect of an EF on protein conformation and amyloids is promising to treat Parkinson's disease, a protein misfolding disease.

Hyaluronic Acid Fillers for Midface Augmentation: A Systematic Review.

Injectable fillers represent one of the most requested minimally invasive treatments to rejuvenate the aging face, and its popularity is steadily rising. A vast majority of filler treatments are with hyaluronic acid (HA). The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate patient outcomes, safety profile, and administration techniques of various HA fillers for malar augmentation. A systematic review of the published literature was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and included PubMed, Embase, and Science Direct databases. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms used were "cheek" OR "midface" OR "malar" and "filler" OR "hyaluronic acid" OR "Juvederm" OR "Restylane" OR "Perlane" OR "Belotero." The initial search identified 699 articles; 256 duplicates were removed. Additional 12 studies were identified from reference lists. A total of 455 were screened by title and abstract and 387 studies were eliminated based on criteria. Also, 68 articles underwent full-text review, and 18 articles were included in the final review and involved seven different HA formulations. Men and women from many age groups were highly satisfied with their results following HA treatment for midface augmentation up to 24 months. The most common adverse events included bruising, swelling, and tenderness, and typically lasted no more than 2 weeks. Upper cheek filler injections near the zygoma should be placed in the submuscular plane while lower cheek injections should be placed in the subcutaneous tissue. HA is an attractive choice for midface augmentation due to its high patient satisfaction, long-lasting effects, and low side-effect profile. Due to the variability in technique, level of expertise, and subjective measurements across studies, one optimal regimen could not be concluded. However, midface augmentation treatment should be personalized to each patient. Additional clinical trials are required to more conclusively determine the most appropriate approach for this procedure.

Non-Hyaluronic Acid Fillers for Midface Augmentation: A Systematic Review.

There has been an increasing role in the use of injectable fillers for rejuvenation of the aging face. In this systematic review, we aim to evaluate the existing literature related to soft tissue fillers of the midface. Specifically, we focus on the non-hyaluronic acid fillers including polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA), and autologous fat. A systematic review was conducted in November 2020 in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines with PubMed and Embase databases. Medical Subject Headings terms used were "cheek" OR "midface" OR "malar" and "filler" OR "poly-L-lactic acid" OR "calcium hydroxyapatite," "autologous fat" OR "polymethylmethacrylate" OR "Artefill" OR "Bellafill" OR "Radiesse" OR "Sculptra." The initial search identified 271 articles. After 145 duplicates were removed, 126 studies were screened for relevance by title and abstract. A total of 114 studies were eliminated based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Twelve articles underwent full-text review. Seven articles were included in the final analysis consisting of four non-hyaluronic filler products: PMMA, PLLA, CaHA, autologous fat. Most patients were highly satisfied with their results. Due to the gradual volumizing effects of PMMA, PLLA, and CaHA, patient satisfaction generally improved over time. Minor adverse reactions related to treatment included bruising, swelling, and pain. Nodule formation was reported in PLLA and CaHA studies. For autologous fat, 32% of the original injection volume remained at 16 months post-treatment, which still provided clinically improved malar enhancement. Dermal fillers are an attractive treatment option for the aging face due to their high patient satisfaction, long-lasting effects, and low side-effect profile. Patients should be appropriately counseled on the delayed effects of non-HA fillers. Autologous fat is a good option in many patients with the major drawback of unpredictable longevity, which may require a secondary procedure. Future studies should examine the longevity and long-term side effects of these fillers.

The Evolution of Transplantation From Saving Lives to Fertility Treatment: DUETS (Dallas UtErus Transplant Study).

OBJECTIVE: We report the results of the first 20 uterus transplants performed in our institution. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Uterus transplantation (UTx) aims at giving women affected by absolute uterine-factor infertility the possibility of carrying their own pregnancy. UTx has evolved from experimental to an established surgical procedure. METHODS: The Dallas Uterus Transplant Study (DUETS) program started in 2016. The uterus was transplanted in orthotopic position with vascular anastomoses to the external iliac vessels and removed when 1 or 2 live births were achieved. Immunosuppression lasted only for the duration of the uterus graft. RESULTS: Twenty women, median age 29.7 years, enrolled in the study, with 10 in phase 1 and 10 in phase 2. All but 2 recipients had a congenital absence of the uterus. Eighteen recipients received uteri from living donors and 2 from deceased donors. In phase 1, 50% of recipients had a technically successful uterus transplant, compared to 90% in phase 2. Four recipients with a technical success in phase 1 have delivered 1 or 2 babies, and the fifth recipient with a technical success is >30 weeks pregnant. In phase 2, 2 recipients have delivered healthy babies and 5 are pregnant. CONCLUSIONS: UTx is a unique type of transplant; whose only true success is a healthy child birth. Based on results presented here, involving refinement of the surgical technique and donor selection process, UTx is now an established solution for absolute uterine-factor infertility.

Telemedicine for Pediatric Urological Postoperative Care is Safe, Convenient and Economical.

PURPOSE: We compared virtual visits, ie remote patient encounters, via a live video system, with conventional in-person visits with respect to clinical outcomes, family experience and costs in a pediatric urology surgical population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were enrolled in a prospective cohort study comparing postoperative virtual and in-person visits during a 4-month period in 2018. Appointment status and time metrics were tracked. The primary outcome was the safety of virtual visits, assessed by comparing the number of additional in-person visits, emergency department encounters and hospital readmissions. Secondary outcomes included the family assessment of the encounter and associated costs. After each visit families were prompted to complete a survey that assessed missed work/school and direct costs. Opportunity cost was estimated using reported missed work time, average national hourly wage and visit duration. RESULTS: Overall 107 virtual and 100 in-person postoperative visits were completed. There was no difference in patient characteristics, appointment compliance or clinical outcomes between the cohorts. Travel and waiting for care accounted for 98.4% of the total time spent for an in-person visit. With the virtual visit significantly less work and school were missed by parents and children, respectively. The opportunity costs associated with an in-person visit were computed at $23.75 per minute of face time with a physician, compared to $1.14 for a virtual visit. CONCLUSIONS: For pediatric postoperative care virtual visits are associated with shorter wait times, decreased missed work and school, and clinical outcomes similar to those of in-person visits. Telemedicine appears to reduce the costs associated with these brief but important encounters.

Simultaneous Detection of Tyrosine and Structure-Specific Intrinsic Fluorescence in the Fibrillation of Alzheimer's Associated Peptides.

Understanding of the structural changes during their aggregation and interaction is a prerequisite for establishing the precise clinical relevance of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) (involved in Type-II Diabetes Mellitus) in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease stemmed from beta-amyloid (Aß). Herein, we show that the steady-state emission spectra obtained from photoluminescence (PL) simultaneously capture both the tyrosine derivative (tyrosinate) and the structure-specific intrinsic fluorescence during the aggregation of Aß and hIAPP. We observe multiple peaks in the emission spectra which exist for structure-specific intrinsic fluorescence, and use the second derivative UV-Vis spectra and the shift in the tyrosine peak as a quantitative measure of the dissimilitude in the electronic states and the fibril growth. We further applied these techniques to detect the static electric field (0, 40, 120, 200 V/cm) induced promotion and inhibition of fibrillation in Aß, hIAPP and their electric field dependent role in the fibrillation of Aß : hIAPP(1 : 1). The results were corroborated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and the determinations of secondary structures by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results indicate that the emission spectrum can be used as a sensor to detect the presence of fibrils; hence for screening potential inhibitors of amyloid fibrillation.