Prevalence of and Annual Conversion Rates to Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: Prospective, Longitudinal Study of an Essential Tremor Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Despite recent attention to cognitive impairment in essential tremor, few studies examine rates of conversion to diagnoses of mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Development of dementia in essential tremor is associated with loss of functional ability and a doubling of mortality rate. This prospective, longitudinal study comprehensively reports the prevalence and incidence of, and the annual rates of conversion to, mild cognitive impairment and dementia in an essential tremor cohort. METHODS: Patients underwent detailed cognitive assessments and were assigned diagnoses of normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, or dementia. There were 222 patients at baseline (mean age = 79.3 ± 9.7 years), and 177 patients participated in follow-up evaluations at 18, 36, 54, and 72 months (mean years of observation = 5.1 ± 1.7). Data were compared to those of historical controls and Parkinson disease patients. RESULTS: The cumulative prevalence of dementia and average annual conversion rate of mild cognitive impairment to dementia were 18.5% and 12.2%, nearly three times higher than rates in the general population, and approximately one half the magnitude of those reported for Parkinson disease patients. The cumulative prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (26.6%) was almost double that of the general population, but less than that in Parkinson disease populations. INTERPRETATION: We present the most complete exposition of the longitudinal trajectory of cognitive impairment in an essential tremor cohort yet presented. The prevalence of and conversion rates to dementia in essential tremor fall between those associated with the natural course of aging and the more pronounced rates observed in Parkinson disease. ANN NEUROL 2024;95:1193-1204.

Subjective Sleep Disturbance and Lewy Pathology: Data from a Cohort of Essential Tremor Brain Donors.

INTRODUCTION: Sleep disturbances have been associated with essential tremor (ET). However, their pathophysiological underpinnings remain unknown. In this exploratory study, we examined the association between subjective sleep disturbances and the presence of Lewy pathology (LP) on postmortem brain examination in ET cases. METHODS: Fifty-two ET cases enrolled in a prospective, longitudinal study were assessed over an average period of 42 months. Cases completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), which yields seven component scores (e.g., sleep quality, sleep latency). For each component score, we calculated the difference between the last score and the baseline score. Brains were harvested at death. Each had a complete neuropathological assessment, including extensive α-synuclein immunostaining. We examined the associations between baseline PSQI scores and the change in PSQI scores (last - first), and LP on postmortem brain examination. RESULTS: ET cases had a mean baseline age of 87.1 ± 4.8 years. LP was observed in 12 (23.1%) of 52 cases; in 7 of these 12, LP was observed in the locus coeruleus (LC). Change in time needed to fall asleep (last - first sleep latency component score) was associated with presence of LP on postmortem brain examination - greater increase in sleep latency was associated with higher odds of LP (odds ratio = 2.98, p = 0.02). The greatest increase in sleep latency was observed in cases with LP in the LC (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: In ET cases, increases in sleep latency over time could be a marker of underlying LP, especially in the LC.

Baseline Depressive Symptoms as a Predictor of Incident Dementia in a Prospectively Followed Cohort of Elders with Essential Tremor.

INTRODUCTION: Essential tremor (ET) patients may exhibit a variety of non-motor features, including cognitive decline and depressive symptoms. Studies of several neurodegenerative diseases link depression to cognitive decline, suggesting depression is an early marker of dementia. We examined whether baseline depressive symptoms predict incident dementia in elders with ET. METHODS: Hundred and forty-one ET cases aged 70 years or older at baseline, enrolled in a prospective study of cognitive performance, took part in evaluations at baseline and at 18, 36, 54, and 72 months. Participants completed the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), a 30-item self-report measure of depressive symptoms, and a battery of neuropsychological tests and functional assessments, from which we derived cognitive diagnoses at each evaluation. Cox proportional hazards regression equations determined incident dementia risk based on participants' baseline depression scores. RESULTS: Mean baseline age was 81.5 ± 6.7 years. Higher baseline GDS scores were associated with increased risk of dementia in an unadjusted model (hazards ratio [HR] = 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02-1.20, p = 0.01) and after controlling for baseline age, education, number of medications, and tremor onset age (HR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.02-1.25, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Baseline depression scores predicted incident dementia in elders with ET. With each one-point increase in baseline depression score, there was a 13% increase in incident dementia risk. Given the published data that reported depression may be twice as high in elders with ET compared to controls, this association is particularly worrisome in the ET population.

Surgical Management of Submucous Cleft Palate by Radical Muscle Dissection Veloplasty: Speech Outcomes in Patients with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefit of anatomical muscle dissection repair for velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) in patients with submucous cleft palate (SMCP) with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. DESIGN: Retrospective blinded randomised analysis of a surgeon's management over 10 years. SETTING: The study was performed at a specialised Paediatric hospital in the United Kingdom. PATIENTS: Children with SMCP and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. INTERVENTIONS: All participants underwent radical muscle dissection veloplasty. OUTCOMES MEASURED: Pre- and post- operative measurements included severity of anatomical defect, speech samples and lateral images which were digitised, randomised then externally and blindly analysed using validated techniques. Stata software was used to perform statistical analysis. RESULTS: 57 children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome were included in this analysis. Intra-operatively, the majority of cases were identified as SMCP Grade I anomalies. Post-operatively, a statistically significant improvement in hypernasality, resting palate length, palate length at maximum closure, palate excursion and gap size at maximum closure was observed. Secondary surgery was performed for 59% of patients by ten years. CONCLUSION: Muscle dissection repair improves hypernasality, palate closure function and the closure gap in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Although over 50% of patients may require further surgery, muscle dissection repair should be a first step due to its utility at a younger age, when invasive investigations are impossible, its lower morbidity, speech and language benefits or altering the plans for less obstructive secondary surgery when it lead to reduced velo-pharyngeal gap and improved palate mobility even when adequate velo-pharyngeal closure was not achieved.

Reliability of Self-Report Data on Age of Onset in Essential Tremor: Data from a Prospective, Longitudinal Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Essential tremor (ET) is a highly prevalent neurological disease. Age of onset can occur anytime between childhood and advanced age. Tremor generally starts insidiously. Age of onset is a particularly important data item in clinical and epidemiological research. In general, these data are self-reported by ET cases. A fundamental question is whether ET cases reliably report their age of onset. METHODS: In this prospective, epidemiological study of 125 ET cases, self-reported age of onset data were collected at regular 18 months intervals over four time points. RESULTS: The correlation between self-reported age of onset was high - intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.972 (95% confidence interval = 0.962-0.980, p < 0.001). However, agreement was not perfect. Approximately 20-25% of participant's reports at different time intervals differed by as much as 10 years, and approximately 10% of participant's reports differed by as much as 20 years. CONCLUSIONS: There was a robust correlation between self-reports of age of onset. Yet in a not-insignificant number of cases, there were considerable differences, some of which were substantial. These findings have broad implications for development of diagnostic algorithms, data stratification schemes, and analyses that assess correlations between biomarker data and clinical features (e.g., disease duration).

Ex vivo and in vivo suppression of SARS-CoV-2 with combinatorial AAV/RNAi expression vectors.

Despite rapid development and deployment of vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), clinically relevant modalities to curb the pandemic by directly attacking the virus on a genetic level remain highly desirable and are urgently needed. Here we comprehensively illustrate the capacity of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors co-expressing a cocktail of three short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs; RNAi triggers) directed against the SARS-CoV-2 RdRp and N genes as versatile and effective antiviral agents. In cultured monkey cells and human gut organoids, our most potent vector, SAVIOR (SARS virus repressor), suppressed SARS-CoV-2 infection to background levels. Strikingly, in control experiments using single shRNAs, multiple SARS-CoV-2 escape mutants quickly emerged from infected cells within 24-48 h. Importantly, such adverse viral adaptation was fully prevented with the triple-shRNA AAV vector even during long-term cultivation. In addition, AAV-SAVIOR efficiently purged SARS-CoV-2 in a new model of chronically infected human intestinal cells. Finally, intranasal AAV-SAVIOR delivery using an AAV9 capsid moderately diminished viral loads and/or alleviated disease symptoms in hACE2-transgenic or wild-type mice infected with human or mouse SARS-CoV-2 strains, respectively. Our combinatorial and customizable AAV/RNAi vector complements ongoing global efforts to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and holds great potential for clinical translation as an original and flexible preventive or therapeutic antiviral measure.

Developing and Validating a Tool to Assess Telemedicine Acceptance Among Physicians During Pandemic Using a Technology Acceptance Model.

Background: The World health organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. Telemedicine was one of the effective tools that were implemented during this pandemic. Most Lebanese physicians have been using telemedicine to perform virtual medical services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, it is important to assess the physicians' acceptability of telemedicine and willingness to use it in routine health care settings. Objective: We developed and validated a tool based on technology acceptance model (TAM) to explore the acceptance of telemedicine use during the pandemic among Lebanese physicians. Theoretical Background: Telemedicine Acceptance Model during Pandemic (TeAM) was developed based on TAM. The model was developed considering the associations between constructs affecting the physicians' attitudes about telemedicine use. TeAM is a tool assessing telemedicine acceptance based on the TAM. It has additional constructs tackling the perceived risks of telemedicine use, the perceived need for policies, the perceived need for training, and the perceived usefulness of telemedicine during a pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted online through an email-based questionnaire sent to physicians enrolled in the Lebanese Order of Physicians. Results: Three hundred ninety physicians (n = 390) completed the survey. The tool was structured to test 10 hypotheses, out of which 9 were supported. The Cronbach's alpha score of each construct ranged between 0.745 and 0.905, all greater than 0.7 indicating an acceptable to excellent internal consistency. Conclusion: This study was able to validate TeAM as a reliable tool that can assess the acceptance of telemedicine among physicians. Accordingly, several determinants influencing this acceptance were identified. Practice implications include hospitals, primary health care centers, and national health care systems willing to adopt telemedicine can use TeAM to assess the physicians' willingness to accept the implementation of telemedicine in their practice.

Submucous Cleft Palate (SMCP): Indications and Outcomes of Radical Muscle Dissection Palatoplasty in Children Under 4 Years of Age.

To delineate the indications, referral sources and outcomes of radical muscle dissection palate repair in the first 4 years of life for patients with submucous cleft palate (SMCP).This study presents a retrospective analysis of a single surgeon's management.All children were treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital, United Kingdom.Twenty-three children with nonsyndromic SMCP were included in this study.All participants underwent radical muscle dissection repair before their fourth birthday.Parameters analyzed included: referral sources, indications for referral, extent of anatomical abnormality, and postoperative outcomes.Paediatricians provided the largest proportion of referrals to the cleft lip and palate clinic (39%) due to the presence of cleft lip/palate on prenatal scans or during neonatal examination. Over half (n = 12, 52%) of patients had severe anatomical anomalies being in grade IV (score 8-9), with the classical triad present to some extent in all but 2 of the patients. The main indication for surgery was nasal regurgitation of food and liquid (n = 9, 35%) followed by hypernasality (n = 6, 21%), difficulty feeding (n = 3, 8%), and severe anatomical defect (n = 2; 4%). Postoperatively, the presenting complaint improved in the majority of cases.Nonsyndromic SMCP is often missed, though may present with nasal regurgitation, feeding problems, and/or hypernasality, though may be missed in nonsyndromic children. Early radical muscle dissection repair in the first 4 years of life is safe and effective, facilitating normal speech development.

Cleft Lip and Palate Repair Training to Bridge the Gap in Low-Income Countries.

INTRODUCTION: There is a significant unmet need for cleft repair in low-income countries. The procedure is challenging due to limited access, small fragile flaps, and the depth at which sutures need to be placed. The aim of this analysis is to review available literature pertaining to cleft lip and palate repair training, with a focus on those applicable to low-income countries. METHODOLOGY: Literature searches of Medline and EMBase were performed to identify studies of cleft lip and/or palate training. Terms including "cleft," "lip," "palate," and "training" were searched. Literature published in English from inception to May 2021 in which the full text was available was considered for inclusion. Studies were included on the basis that they included interventions such as virtual/online training, simulation training, courses, fellowships, and/or hospital-based training. Studies that met this criterion were further assessed using a validated scoring tool then the applicability of each training strategy for low-income countries reviewed. RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included in this analysis. Of these 4 studies pertained to online training, 11 studies illustrated cleft models and simulation training, while 4 studies highlighted the role of charity led training achieved through direct hospital teaching and fellowship programs. The training strategies described have been summarised and presented herein in a narrative format. The simplicity, fidelity, and training benefit of palatoplasty models has also been described. CONCLUSIONS: Cleft lip and palate repair training should be accessible to surgeons in low-income countries. Direct practical experience has an important role in training to perform cleft procedures. Affordable, simple simulation models that resemble human tissue are essential so that surgeons can safely practice skills between initial training and operating on a living child.

Utilization of Telemedicine by the Lebanese Physicians During Time of Pandemic.

Introduction: The use of technology in the medical field has been rising rapidly and offering, in many cases, an alternative to traditional ways of practicing medicine, especially when remote medical services are required. This background has laid the foundation for telemedicine to play a role in controlling the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Telemedicine has the potential to allow the facilitation of providing the necessary medical care to patients without exposing them to contact with other patients or the general population. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the utilization of telemedicine by the Lebanese physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional online study was conducted using LimeSurvey® through an e-mail-based questionnaire sent to physicians currently enrolled in both Beirut and Tripoli Lebanese Order of Physicians. Results: Four hundred one physicians completed the survey resulting in a response rate of 5.85%. Most of the respondents (N = 401, 75.8%) reported using telemedicine to provide health care services to patients without in-person visits during the pandemic. Among those using telemedicine (N = 304), around 40% reported that they started using it during COVID-19 pandemic. Discussion: Literature states that the average time of an in-person clinic consultation is more than 15 min. This implies that telemedicine can play a role in saving physicians' time; this conclusion is supported by other studies that consider telemedicine a time-saving method of providing health care services. Conclusions: Our study indicated that telemedicine is used by the majority of Lebanese physicians and that this use has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results showed that telemedicine does have a potential that can allow it to be integrated in the health care system and implemented on a national organized level.

Simulation Training Approach for Cleft Lip and Palate Repair in Low-Income Countries.

BACKGROUND: During periods of civil strife, the need for trauma care and lack of sufficient cleft surgeons causes an increase in children left untreated with cleft lip and palate deformities. During the Syrian war, some cleft care was provided through visiting charities, with surgeries performed both in Syria and neighboring countries. There is a need to increase the number of adequately trained cleft surgeons available in such regions so that care can be achieved beyond mission trips. METHODOLOGY: Cleft lip and palate repair workshops were delivered to 50 doctors in Syria. Pre-workshop, trainees received supplementary learning material. During the workshop, attendees received didactic teaching followed by 2 simulation sessions. Pre- and post-workshop, attendees completed questionnaires regarding their confidence and ability to perform cleft lip and palate repair. RESULTS: Pre-workshop, 96% of workshop attendees had never independently performed cleft lip repair while 100% of attendees had not previously performed cleft palate repair. The mean pre-workshop confidence score was 2.452. Post-workshop, the mean confidence score was 3.503. Confidence rating scores significantly improved (P < .001). CONCLUSION: The workshop delivered in Syria, together with this cleft lip and palate simulator provides an effective training tool that may support surgical training globally, particularly those in low-income countries. Further support is needed by charity organizations to ensure the continued delivery of such training.

Enhanced Recovery Pathways for Flap-Based Reconstruction: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways are known to improve patient outcomes after surgery. In recent years, there have been growing interest in ERAS for reconstructive surgery. OBJECTIVES: To systematically review and summarise literature on the key components and outcomes of ERAS pathways for autologous flap-based reconstruction. DATA SOURCES: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Current Controlled Trials, World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and reference lists of relevant studies. INCLUSION CRITERIA: All primary studies of ERAS pathways for free and pedicled flap-based reconstructions reported in the English language. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was length of stay. Secondary outcomes were complication rates including total flap loss, partial flap loss, unplanned reoperation within 30 days, readmission to hospital within 30 days, surgical site infections and medical complications. RESULTS: Sixteen studies were included. Eleven studies describe ERAS pathways for autologous breast reconstructions and five for autologous head and neck reconstructions. Length of stay was lower in ERAS groups compared to control groups (mean reduction, 1.57 days; 95% CI, - 2.15 to - 0.99). Total flap loss, partial flap loss, unplanned reoperations, readmissions, surgical site infections and medical complication rates were similar between both groups. Compliance rates were poorly reported. CONCLUSION: ERAS pathways for flap-based reconstruction reduce length of stay without increasing complication rates. ERAS pathways should be adapted to each institution according to their needs, resources and caseload. There is potential for the development of ERAS pathways for chest wall, perineum and lower limb reconstruction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Motorized botulinum toxin injection device: a pilot study on attitudes toward technology-assisted injection in novice and experienced cosmetic practitioners.

This study was performed to investigate the user perception of a cordless, motorized electronically controlled delivery system for botulinum toxin type A. Forty-six post-graduate students of varying experience levels of botulinum toxin injections and four members of the faculty from the MSc programme in Esthetic Medicine at Queen Mary University London participated in a demonstration of a motorized injection device. Thereafter, they performed a number of injections on a high fidelity silicone simulation model before completing a nine-item questionnaire. The more experienced injectors tended to appreciate the accuracy of the device more than the less experienced participants. Seventy-eight percent of participants said the device improved accuracy, particularly when administering small doses. Eighty-four percent leaned toward a favorable general view of the device. Forty-seven percent would possibly consider purchasing the device. Sixty-one percent would consider recommending the device to a colleague. The main advantage of the motorized injection device was the improved accuracy enabling delivery of small and precise doses. This may open up the possibility of new approaches to botulinum toxin treatments.

Periorbital Discolouration Diagnosis and Treatment: Evidence-Based Review.

Infraorbital dark circles are a significant esthetic concern with few publications however offering evidence-based recommendations for their classification and consequent management. A literature review has been undertaken to classify dark circles based on etiology: shadowing, vascular, idiopathic hyperpigmentation, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, constitutional and offer an analysis of current treatment modalities and their effectiveness in managing specific types of infraorbital circles. This review aims to provide a detailed account of dark circle etiology, assessment and management.

Thread Lifts: A Critical Analysis of Treatment Modalities.

Background: Thread lifting procedure was developed to reverse the aging process and restore youthful appearance by retightening and lifting the skin. Different models of absorbable and non-absorbable threads are universally available and promise quick results with minimum downtime. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and cost effectiveness of the commonly used threads for facial lifting and rejuvenation using an evidence-based review. Methods: A comprehensive search of the literature was done using numerous databases (including Cochrane Collaboration, PubMed, Ovid, and Google Scholar). Thread lift for non-aesthetic purpose, open surgical procedure, animals or cadaver studies were excluded. 16 relevant studies were included. The extracted data included significant details related to the review question. Results: Several types of threads with different designs and properties are available for facial rejuvenation, provided by many companies all over the world. Higher quality evidence was found for Contour thread (III). Available studies for the other various threads were level IV. Thread lifting procedure was found to be safe and effective, with minor and mostly self-limited complications. The longevity of results varied from months to years, with more focus related to the technique and patient selection rather than the type of thread. Conclusion: Comparatively high quality long-term multicentre standardized studies are required to help aesthetic doctors to choose the appropriate thread type based on optimum aesthetic outcomes. J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(4):413-417. doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.3646.

Volume restoration of hands with polycaprolactone by cannula delivery; a prospective single center consecutive case series evaluation.

Background: Dorsal hand volume loss results in the perception of aging appearance. Several volumizing fillers have been used for this correction.Objective: To report restoration of dorsal hand volume using cannula delivery of Polycaprolactone (PCL) microspheres and to assess efficacy, duration, and safety up to 3 years post treatment.Method: Fifteen patients with volume loss of their hands were evaluated by clinical examination, photography and a hand volume grading scale. PCL was injected by 25 G cannula after locating dorsal veins using a viewing laser to avoid intravascular injections. Patients' satisfaction and grade of severity were reevaluated at early (3-6 months) and late (12-18 months) timepoints following the procedure. A second treatment was offered if desired by the patient.Results: Eight participants required one treatment session to achieve satisfaction. Five had two treatments. Patients requiring a second treatment were reassessed after 12 months. All patients had improvements on the severity score by the end of the evaluation period. Side effects were minimal and transient. No patients developed bruising.Conclusion: PCL injections are reliable method for hand volumization. Results persisted for up to 3 years in some patients. Laser vein viewer and cannula delivery ensure uniform injections and avoid intravascular injuries.

Fractional radiofrequency in the treatment of skin aging: an evidence-based treatment protocol.

Fractional radiofrequency (FRF) has recently emerged for the treatment of scars, cellulite and skin rejuvenation. The aim of this paper was to investigate the evidence behind its use in skin aging and evaluate efficacy, safety, and standardization of protocols. The literature was systematically searched and finally 25 full-text articles were included. Two were randomized controlled trials, 3 were comparative studies, and 20 were case series. Most studies were underpowered with low methodological quality. The participants had skin phototype I-VI with variable baseline severity of signs. Fractional radiofrequency using microneedles or electrode pins was performed on the face, neck, and décolletage. There was heterogeneity in outcomes measurement, but the efficacy of FRF was confirmed in all relevant studies. Mainly, the improvement of rhytides and skin tightening were reported. Mild to moderate pain, transient erythema and edema were the commonest adverse events. Hyperpigmentation was also noted in some cases. There was no consistency in the protocols used and in the description of procedures. A clinical impact score was created to assess the studies and to aid the generation of an evidence-based protocol for minimally invasive radiofrequency procedures. However, there is a need for large scale, well-designed trials to better investigate the efficacy and safety of FRF and to produce clear guidelines.

The Use of the Bipedicled Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator Flap for Unilateral Breast Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The use of abdominal flaps is recognized as a very advantageous approach for breast reconstruction with gradual refinements leading from the pedicled transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap to the criterion standard deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap and its several variations. A systematic review with meta-analysis attempts to investigate the safety of the bipedicled DIEP flap for unilateral breast reconstruction. METHODS: The literature search used "PubMed" database, and a relevant study conducted at the Queen Victoria Hospital was also included. The extraction of data included study type, follow-up, patients' age, body mass index, preexisting abdominal scars, timing of reconstruction, operating time, flap inset, pedicles' configuration, flap failure, revision, and complication rates. Proportions were pooled with Freeman-Tukey arcsine transformation, and meta-regression was performed to evaluate whether complication rates were modified by different variables. RESULTS: Fourteen eligible articles provided an overall sample of 486 flaps, with a median follow-up of 18.5 months. In most cases, immediate reconstruction with undivided flap was performed, with equal use of extraflap and intraflap pedicles' configuration. Only 4 cases of flap failure (0.82%) were documented, with 18% overall complications and 3% fat necrosis rate. The forest plot showed significant between-study heterogeneity, and meta-regression revealed marginal positive association between older patient and complication rate. CONCLUSIONS: Bipedicled DIEP flap for unilateral breast reconstruction is a technique that maintains the complications rate relatively low in challenging postmastectomy cases. Further comparative studies are needed to substantiate the findings of this study.

Partial Removal of the Submaxillary Gland for Aesthetic Indications: A Systematic Review and Critical Analysis of the Evidence.

BACKGROUND: Neck aesthetics is an essential feature for a youthful attractive appearance. Deep neck surgery involving partial resection of the submandibular gland (SMG) has been a controversial issue in aesthetic surgery given its challenging technique and potential risks. The aim of this review is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of partial SMG resection in patients undergoing aesthetic neck surgery. METHODS: We undertook a systematic review of the literature and analysis of studies reporting surgical outcomes and complications of partial SMG resection from Medline, Cochrane and Google Scholar databases from 1950 to March 30, 2019. Two independent reviewers conducted titles and abstracts screening and data extraction. Data were analyzed using mixed methods appraisal tool and a clinical impact score. RESULTS: Six studies including 602 patients who underwent 1200 partial SMG resections were included. All studies reported aesthetic improvement according to Ellenbogen aesthetic neck ideals. Hematoma related to partial SMG resection was encountered in one case (0.08%), hematoma related to cervicofacial skin flap was encountered in 26 cases (1.4%), sialoceles happened in 16 cases (1.3%), transient marginal mandibular nerve weakness occurred in 86 cases (4.7%). No mortalities, permanent motor nerve damage or dry mouth were reported. The clinical impact score was positive for five out of the six reports. CONCLUSION: Partial SMG resection in patients undergoing aesthetic neck surgery may represent an effective procedure to enhance neck aesthetics and is associated with minor, self-limiting complications. Future controlled studies with prospective evaluation of aesthetic outcome and patient-reported outcome measures are needed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Use of Augmented Reality in Reconstructive Microsurgery: A Systematic Review and Development of the Augmented Reality Microsurgery Score.

BACKGROUND: Augmented reality (AR) uses a set of technologies that overlays digital information into the real world, giving the user access to both digital and real-world environments in congruity. AR may be specifically fruitful in reconstructive microsurgery due to the dynamic nature of surgeries performed and the small structures encountered in these operations. The aim of this study was to conduct a high-quality preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) and assessment of multiple systematic reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2) compliant systematic review evaluating the use of AR in reconstructive microsurgery. METHODS: A systematic literature search of Medline, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases was performed using appropriate search terms to identify all applications of AR in reconstructive microsurgery from inception to December 2018. Articles that did not meet the objectives of the study were excluded. A qualitative synthesis was performed of those articles that met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: A total of 686 articles were identified from title and abstract review. Five studies met the inclusion criteria. Three of the studies used head-mounted displays, one study used a display monitor, and one study demonstrated AR using spatial navigation technology. The augmented reality microsurgery score was developed and applied to each of the AR technologies and scores ranged from 8 to 12. CONCLUSION: Although higher quality studies reviewing the use of AR in reconstructive microsurgery is needed, the feasibility of AR in reconstructive microsurgery has been demonstrated across different subspecialties of plastic surgery. AR applications, that are reproducible, user-friendly, and have clear benefit to the surgeon and patient, have the greatest potential utility. Further research is required to validate its use and overcome the barriers to its implementation.