Behavior of intracellular lipid droplets during cell division in HuH7 hepatoma cells.

Intracellular lipid droplets (LDs) are ubiquitous organelles found in many cell types. During mitosis, membranous organelles, including mitochondria, are divided into small pieces and transferred to daughter cells; however, the process of LD transfer to daughter cells is not fully elucidated. Herein, we investigated the behavior of LDs during mitosis in HuH7 human hepatoma cells. While fragments of the Golgi apparatus were scattered in the cytosol during mitosis, intracellular LDs retained their size and spherical morphology as they translocated to the two daughter cells. LDs were initially distributed throughout the cell during prophase but positioned outside the spindle in metaphase, aligning at the far sides of the centrioles. A similar distribution of LDs during mitosis was observed in another hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells. When the spindle was disrupted by nocodazole treatment or never in mitosis gene A-related kinase 2A knockdown, LDs were localized in the area outside the chromosomes, suggesting that spindle formation is not necessary for LD localization at metaphase. The amount of major LD protein perilipin 2 reduced while LDs were enriched in perilipin 3 during mitosis, indicating the potential alteration of LD protein composition. Conclusively, the behavior of LDs during mitosis is distinct from that of other organelles in hepatocytes.

Fact-finding survey on the competencies and literacy of radiological technologists regarding radiation disasters.

BACKGROUND: Radiological technologists serve as risk communicators who aim to lessen patients' anxiety about radiation exposure, in addition to performing radiological examinations. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a fact-finding survey on knowledge and awareness of radiation disasters among the radiological technologists to reveal their literacy and competencies regarding radiation disasters. METHODS: A paper questionnaire was distributed to 1,835 radiological technologists at 166 National Hospital Organization facilities in Japan. The 28-item questionnaire covered knowledge and awareness of radiation protection and radiation disasters. Radiological technologists were divided into 2 groups by regionality: areas where a nuclear power station was present/nearby (NPS areas) and non-NPS areas. RESULTS: Completed questionnaires were returned from 148 facilities with a facility response rate of 89.2% and from 1,391 radiological technologists with a response rate of 75.8%. There were 1,290 valid responses with a valid response rate of 70.3%. The correct answer rate for knowledge of radiation protection and radiation disasters was high in the 24 NPS areas. There were no differences in awareness of radiation disasters between NPS and non-NPS areas. CONCLUSIONS: Establishing a nationwide, region-independent training system can be expected to improve literacy regarding radiation disasters among radiological technologists. Willingness to assist during disasters was high among radiological technologists irrespective of area, indicating that the competencies of radiological technologists represent a competency model for radiation disaster assistance.

Insulin-induced genes INSIG1 and INSIG2 mediate oxysterol-dependent activation of the PERK-eIF2α-ATF4 axis.

Insulin-induced genes (INSIGs) encode endoplasmic reticulum-resident proteins that regulate intracellular cholesterol metabolism. Oxysterols are oxygenated derivatives of cholesterol, some of which orchestrate lipid metabolism via interaction with INSIGs. Recently, it was reported that expression of activating transcription factor-4 (ATF4) was induced by certain oxysterols; the precise of mechanism is unclear. Herein, we show that INSIGs mediate ATF4 upregulation upon interaction with oxysterol. Oxysterols that possess a high affinity for INSIG, such as 27- and 25-hydroxycholesterol (25HC), markedly induced the increase of ATF4 protein when compared with other oxysterols. In addition, ATF4 upregulation by these oxysterols was attenuated in INSIG1/2-deficient Chinese hamster ovary cells and recovered by either INSIG1 or INSIG2 rescue. Mechanistic studies revealed that the binding of 25HC to INSIG is critical for increased ATF4 protein via activation of protein kinase RNA-activated-like ER kinase and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α. Knockout of INSIG1 or INSIG2 in human hepatoma Huh7 cells attenuated ATF4 protein upregulation, indicating that only one of the endogenous INSIGs, unlike overexpression of intrinsic INSIG1 or INSIG2, was insufficient for ATF4 induction. Furthermore, ATF4 proactively upregulated the cell death-inducible gene expression, such as Chop, Chac1, and Trb3, thereby markedly reducing cell viability with 25HC. These findings support a model whereby that INSIGs sense an increase in oxysterol in the endoplasmic reticulum and induce an increase of ATF4 protein via the protein kinase RNA-activated-like ER kinase-eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α pathway, thereby promoting cell death.

Muscle-specific TGR5 overexpression improves glucose clearance in glucose-intolerant mice.

TGR5, a G protein-coupled bile acid receptor, is expressed in various tissues and regulates several physiological processes. In the skeletal muscle, TGR5 activation is known to induce muscle hypertrophy; however, the effects on glucose and lipid metabolism are not well understood, despite the fact that the skeletal muscle plays a major role in energy metabolism. Here, we demonstrate that skeletal muscle-specific TGR5 transgenic (Tg) mice exhibit increased glucose utilization, without altering the expression of major genes related to glucose and lipid metabolism. Metabolite profiling analysis by capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry showed that glycolytic flux was activated in the skeletal muscle of Tg mice, leading to an increase in glucose utilization. Upon long-term, high-fat diet challenge, blood glucose clearance was improved in Tg mice without an accompanying increase in insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle and a reduction of body weight. Moreover, Tg mice showed improved age-associated glucose intolerance. These results strongly suggest that TGR5 ameliorated glucose metabolism disorder that is caused by diet-induced obesity and aging by enhancing the glucose metabolic capacity of the skeletal muscle. Our study demonstrates that TGR5 activation in the skeletal muscle is effective in improving glucose metabolism and may be beneficial in developing a novel strategy for the prevention or treatment of hyperglycemia.

Surgical productivity did not suffer despite the states of emergency against the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to compute surgical total factor productivity with Malmquist index, and to evaluate the effects of states of emergency against the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on its productivity change. We hypothesized that the states of emergency significantly reduced surgical total factor productivity in Japan. METHODS: The authors collected data from all the surgical procedures performed in Teikyo University Hospital from April 1 through September 30 in 2019-21. Non-radial and non-oriented Malmquist model under the variable returns-to-scale assumptions was employed. The decision making unit (DMU) was defined as a surgical specialty department. Inputs were defined as (1) the number of medical doctors who assisted surgery, and (2) the duration of surgical operation from skin incision to closure. The output was defined as the surgical fee for each surgery. The study period was divided into fifty-one ten- (or eleven-) day periods. We added all the inputs and outputs of the surgical procedures for each DMU during these study periods, and computed its Malmquist index, efficiency change and technical change. RESULTS: Seven thousand nine hundred and thirty-one surgical procedures were analyzed. The overall productivity and efficiency progressed significantly both during states of emergency and during no states of emergency. Our subgroup analysis demonstrated that there were no surgical specialties that had significantly different productivity, efficiency or technical changes between states of emergency and no states of emergency. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that the surgical productivity did not suffer despite the states of emergency against the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

Sar1 Affects the Localization of Perilipin 2 to Lipid Droplets.

Lipid droplets (LDs) are intracellular organelles that are ubiquitous in many types of cells. The LD core consists of triacylglycerols (TGs) surrounded by a phospholipid monolayer and surface proteins such as perilipin 2 (PLIN2). Although TGs accumulate in the phospholipid bilayer of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and subsequently nascent LDs buds from ER, the mechanism by which LD proteins are transported to LD particles is not fully understood. Sar1 is a GTPase known as a regulator of coat protein complex Ⅱ (COPⅡ) vesicle budding, and its role in LD formation was investigated in this study. HuH7 human hepatoma cells were infected with adenoviral particles containing genes coding GFP fused with wild-type Sar1 (Sar1 WT) or a GTPase mutant form (Sar1 H79G). When HuH7 cells were treated with oleic acid, Sar1 WT formed a ring-like structure around the LDs. The transient expression of Sar1 did not significantly alter the levels of TG and PLIN2 in the cells. However, the localization of PLIN2 to the LDs decreased in the cells expressing Sar1 H79G. Furthermore, the effects of Sar1 on PLIN2 localization to the LDs were verified by the suppression of endogenous Sar1 using the short hairpin RNA technique. In conclusion, it was found that Sar1 has some roles in the intracellular distribution of PLIN2 to LDs in liver cells.

High-Density Lipoprotein Suppresses Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Enhanced by Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein or Oxidized Phospholipids.

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are found in patients with various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. We previously reported that copper-oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) promotes NET formation of neutrophils, and that the resulting NETs increase the inflammatory responses of endothelial cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) on NET formation. HL-60-derived neutrophils were treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and further incubated with oxLDL and various concentrations of HDL for 2 h. NET formation was evaluated by quantifying extracellular DNA and myeloperoxidase. We found that the addition of native HDL partially decreased NET formation of neutrophils induced by oxLDL. This effect of HDL was lost when HDL was oxidized. We showed that oxidized phosphatidylcholines and lysophosphatidylcholine, which are generated in oxLDL, promoted NET formation of PMA-primed neutrophils, and NET formation by these products was completely blocked by native HDL. Furthermore, we found that an electronegative subfraction of LDL, LDL(-), which is separated from human plasma and is thought to be an in vivo oxLDL, was capable of promoting NET formation. These results suggest that plasma lipoproteins and their oxidative modifications play multiple roles in promoting NET formation, and that HDL acts as a suppressor of this response.

How efficient are surgical treatments in Japan? The case of a high-volume Japanese hospital.

Japan's healthcare expenditures, which are largely publicly funded, have been growing dramatically due to the rapid aging of the population as well as the innovation and diffusion of new medical technologies. Annual costs for surgical treatments are estimated to be approximately USD 20 billion. Using unique longitudinal clinical data at the individual surgeon level, this study aims to estimate the technical efficiency of surgical treatments across surgical specialties in a high-volume Japanese teaching hospital by employing stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) with production frontier models. We simultaneously examine the impacts of potential determinants that are likely to affect inefficiency in operating rooms. Our empirical results show a relatively high average technical efficiency of surgical production, with modest disparity across surgical specialties. We also demonstrate that an increase in the number of operations performed by a surgeon significantly reduces operating room inefficiency, whereas the revision of the fee-for-service schedule for surgical treatments does not have a significant impact on inefficiency. In addition, we find higher technical efficiency among surgeons who perform multiple daily surgeries than those who perform a single operation in a day. We suggest that it is important for hospital management to retain efficient surgeons and physicians and provide efficient healthcare services given the competitive Japanese healthcare market.

Surface and build-up dose comparison between Elekta 6 MV flattening filter and flattening-filter-free beams using an advanced Markus ionization chamber and a solid water-equivalent phantom.

Using a plane-parallel advanced Markus ionization chamber and a stack of water-equivalent solid phantom blocks, percentage surface and build-up doses of Elekta 6 MV flattening filter (FF) and flattening-filter-free (FFF) beams were measured as a function of the phantom depth for field sizes ranging from 2 × 2 to 10 × 10 cm2 . It was found that the dose difference between the FF and the FFF beams was relatively small. The maximum dose difference between the FF and the FFF beams was 4.4% at a depth of 1 mm for a field size of 2 × 2 cm2 . The dose difference was gradually decreased while the field size was increased up to 10 × 10 cm2 . The measured data were also compared to published Varian FF and FFF data, suggesting that the percentage surface and build-up doses as well as the percentage dose difference between FF and FFF beams by our Elekta linac were smaller than those by the Varian linac.

[Multicenter Survey on Radiation Dose of Cardiac Intervention].

We conducted a nationwide survey of multiple institutions and collected data of various interventional procedures in the field of cardiology. Included in the analysis were 126 institutions, 381 X-ray systems, and 805 protocols. The dose values were compared with the Japanese diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) 2015. Fluoroscopy time, air kerma at the patient entrance reference point (Ka, r), and air kerma-area product (PKA ) were analyzed for various interventional procedures in 5,734 cardiology patients. The fluoroscopic dose rate (FDR) for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) was less than half that of the 75th percentile of the Japanese DRLs 2015. The 75th percentiles of fluoroscopy time, Ka, r, and PKA for the respective interventional procedures were as follows: 11.0 min, 735 mGy, and 64 Gyï½¥cm2 for diagnostic coronary angiography (CA); 13.2 min, 839 mGy, and 75 Gyï½¥cm2 for CA + left ventriculography; 34.4 min, 1,810 mGy, and 148 Gyï½¥cm2 for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) excluding chronic total occlusion; 80.1 min, 4,338 mGy, and 312 Gyï½¥cm2 for PCI for chronic total occlusion; 74.4 min, 833 mGy, and 90 Gyï½¥cm2 for PVI; and 34.0 min, 795 mGy, and 94 Gyï½¥cm2 for transcatheter aortic valve implantation, respectively. In assessing dose values in interventional radiology, the difficulty of the technique needs to be considered, and the DRL values for FDR, fluoroscopic time, Ka, r, and PKA for each interventional procedure are considered necessary when reassessing or updating DRLs.

Japanese surgical resource utilization in 2016.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to examine from the viewpoint of resource utilization the Japanese surgical payment system which was revised in April 2016. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The authors collected data from surgical records in the Teikyo University electronic medical record system from April 1 till September 30, 2016. The authors defined the decision-making unit as a surgeon with the highest academic rank in the surgery. Inputs were defined as the number of medical doctors who assisted surgery, and the time of operation from skin incision to closure. An output was defined as the surgical fee. The authors calculated each surgeon's efficiency score using output-oriented Charnes-Cooper-Rhodes model of data envelopment analysis. The authors compared the efficiency scores of each surgical specialty using the Kruskal-Wallis and the Steel method. FINDINGS: The authors analyzed 2,558 surgical procedures performed by 109 surgeons. The difference in efficiency scores was significant (p = 0.000). The efficiency score of neurosurgery was significantly greater than obstetrics and gynecology, general surgery, orthopedics, emergency surgery, urology, otolaryngology and plastic surgery (p<0.05). ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The authors demonstrated that the surgeons' efficiency was significantly different among their specialties. This suggests that the Japanese surgical reimbursement scales fail to reflect resource utilization despite the revision in 2016.

Association between outpatient orthopedic surgery costs and healthcare facility characteristics.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between outpatient orthopedic surgery costs and Japan's healthcare facilities using a large-scale Japanese medical claims database. Design/methodology/approach The authors obtained reimbursement claims data for 8,588 patients who underwent orthopedic surgery between April 1 and September 30, 2014 at 3,347 Japanese healthcare facilities. Regression analysis, using ordinary least squares, examined the association between outpatient orthopedic surgery costs and healthcare facility characteristics. By using surgical fees as proxy for the surgical costs, the authors defined three dependent variables: surgical cost for each outpatient orthopedic surgery; pre- and post-operative cost one month before and after a surgical operation; and total cost for each patient. The authors also defined five independent variables, which capture healthcare facility characteristics and patient-specific factors: bed count; whether healthcare facilities are reimbursed in a diagnosis procedure combination system; patient's age; sex; and anatomical surgical sites. Findings The authors analyzed 6,456 outpatient orthopedic surgical cases performed at 3,085 healthcare facilities. There were significant differences in the surgical costs for outpatient orthopedic surgery among different healthcare facilities by total beds ( p=0.000). Multivariate regression analysis shows that surgical costs for outpatient orthopedic surgery are positively and significantly associated with healthcare facilities classified by total beds after adjusting for patient-specific characteristics ( p<0.05). Originality/value This is the first research to examine the association between costs for outpatient orthopedic surgery and healthcare facility characteristics in Japan. This study via the multivariate regression method showed that outpatient orthopedic surgery is likely to cost higher as healthcare facility size increased. The average incremental costs for each outpatient orthopedic surgery per 100 beds were calculated at $48.5 for surgery, $40.7 for pre- and post-operative care, and $89.2 total cost.

[Establishment of Test Methods for Overall Migration Test into Vegetable Oil Applied to Food Contact Materials Intended for Contact with Oils and Fatty Foods].

The evaporation residue test designated in the Japanese Food Sanitation Act is used to determine the total migration amount of substances that food contact materials release into foods. Vegetable oil would be the most suitable food simulant for oils and fatty foods, but it is difficult to remove by heating due to its high boiling point, so heptane and 20％ ethanol are used as substitute food simulants in the test for plastics and rubbers. The EU has introduced an overall migration test into olive oil for plastics intended to come into contact with oils and fatty foods. This test method is described in European Standard EN1186-2. However, this method has several problems. Therefore, we improved the procedures for weighing samples in a desiccator containing 43％ sulfuric acid, extraction of the absorbed vegetable oil using the soaking method with an internal standard, methyl esterification of vegetable oil using sodium methoxide, and the GC conditions for the determination of vegetable oil. The improved method is simpler and much quicker than the original method, and the harmfulness of the reagents is reduced. It can be applied to both plastics and rubbers. Comparative trials showed that the results obtained with this method and EN1186-2 method are equivalent.

[Renal Cancer after Spontaneous Rupture Successfully Treated with Low-Dose Oral UFT - A Case Report].

A 94-year-old man, who had been diagnosed with a 5.7 cm renal carcinoma 4 months before and followed up with no therapy, presented with a 3-day history of macrohematuria. Abdominal CT revealed an enlarged right renal tumor, tumoral hemorrhage, and a right retroperitoneal hematoma. Therefore, spontaneous rupture of the renal carcinoma was diagnosed. As his general condition was not serious, he rejected aggressive treatments such as nephrectomy. Instead, he chose treatment with an antineoplastic drug, UFT, which was started orally at a dose of 200mg/day. Under hospitalization, his clinical course was uneventful, and he was discharged 14 days later. Follow-up CT films showed that the size of the tumor gradually decreased. Sixteen months after UFT administration, a CT displayed a right renal tumor with an 86% decrease in size compared with the tumor size when first diagnosed.

Efficiency of inpatient orthopedic surgery in Japan: a medical claims database analysis.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine the characteristics of healthcare facilities that produce the most efficient inpatient orthopedic surgery using a large-scale medical claims database in Japan. Design/methodology/approach Reimbursement claims data were obtained from April 1 through September 30, 2014. Input-oriented Banker-Charnes-Cooper model of data envelopment analysis (DEA) was employed. The decision-making unit was defined as a healthcare facility where orthopedic surgery was performed. Inputs were defined as the length of stay, the number of beds, and the total costs of expensive surgical devices. Output was defined as total surgical fees for each surgery. Efficiency scores of healthcare facilities were compared among different categories of healthcare facilities. Findings The efficiency scores of healthcare facilities with a diagnosis-procedure combination (DPC) reimbursement were significantly lower than those without DPC ( p=0.0000). All the efficiency scores of clinics with beds were 1. Their efficiency scores were significantly higher than those of university hospitals, public hospitals, and other hospitals ( p=0.0000). Originality/value This is the first research that applied DEA for orthopedic surgery in Japan. The healthcare facilities with DPC reimbursement were less efficient than those without DPC. The clinics with beds were the most efficient among all types of management bodies of healthcare facilities.

Surgeons' efficiency change is a major determinant of their productivity change.

Purpose - The sustainability of the Japanese healthcare system is in question because the government has had a huge fiscal debt. Despite an enormous effort to cut the deficit, our healthcare expenditure is increasing every year because of the rapidly aging population. One of the solutions for this problem is to improve the productivity of healthcare. The purpose of this paper is to determine the factors that change surgeons' productivity in one year. Design/methodology/approach - The authors collected data of all surgical procedures performed at Teikyo University Hospital from April 1 through September 30 in 2014 and 2015, and computed the surgeons' Malmquist index (MI), efficiency change (EC) and technical change (TC) using non-radial and non-oriented Malmquist model under the constant returns-to-scale assumptions. The authors then divided the surgeons into two groups; one whose productivity progressed and the other whose productivity regressed. These two groups were compared to identify factors that may influence their MI. Findings - The only significant difference between the two groups was ECs (p < 0.0001). The other factors, such as TC, experience, surgical volume, emergency cases, surgical specialty, academic ranks, medical schools and gender, were not significantly different between the two groups. Originality/value - EC is a major determinant of surgeons' productivity change. The best way to improve surgeons' productivity may be to enhance their efficiency regardless of their surgical volume and personal backgrounds.

[Remarkable Local Bleomycin Ointment Therapy for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Renal Pelvis in a Hemodialysis Patient with a Long-Term Nephrostomy Catheter--A Case Report].

The patient was a 92-year-old woman. Pelvic exenteration and bilateral ureterocutaneostomy had been performed for rectal carcinoma 29 years earlier. Right nephrostomy had been performed for right ureteral stenosis 20 years earlier. Left nephrectomy had been performed for the left atrophic kidney 12 years earlier. She began receiving hemodialysis for renal failure 10 years earlier. In September 2014, macrohematuria and an abnormal mass at the right nephrostomy were observed. Pathological examination revealed a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the tumor of the right renal pelvis extended to the abdominal wall along the nephrostomy. At first, owing to her extremely old age and disdialysis syndrome, conservative treatment was selected. However, because of tumor enlargement and bleeding from the tumor, anticancer therapy was required. In spite of oral doxifluridine administration for 1 month, the tumor increased in size. For the second-line therapy, bleomycin ointment was selected. Computed tomography performed after 2 months revealed 81% tumor reduction.

The Japanese Surgical Reimbursement System Fails to Reflect Resource Utilization.

The goal of this study was to examine the current Japanese surgical payment system from the viewpoint of resource utilization. We collected data from surgical records in Teikyo University's electronic medical record system from April 1 through September 30, 2013. We defined the decision-making unit as a surgeon with the highest academic rank in the surgery. Inputs were defined as: 1) the number of medical doctors who assisted surgery and 2) the time of operation from skin incision to closure. An output was defined as the surgical fee. We calculated each surgeon's efficiency score using the output-oriented Banker-Charnes-Cooper model of data envelopment analysis. We compared the efficiency scores of each surgical specialty using the Kruskal-Wallis and Steel methods. We analyzed 2,825 surgical procedures performed by 103 surgeons. The difference in efficiency scores was significant (P = 0.0001). The thoracic surgeons were the most efficient and were more efficient than plastic, obstetric and gynecologic, urologic, otorhinolaryngologic, orthopedic, general, and emergency surgeons (P < 0.05). We demonstrated that surgeons' efficiency in operating rooms was significantly different among surgical specialties. This suggests that the Japanese surgical reimbursement scales fails to reflect resource utilization.

Resource utilization in surgery after the revision of surgical fee schedule in Japan.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the current surgical reimbursement system in Japan reflects resource utilization after the revision of fee schedule in 2014. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The authors collected data from all the surgical procedures performed at Teikyo University Hospital from April 1 through September 30, 2014. The authors defined the decision-making unit as a surgeon with the highest academic rank in the surgery. Inputs were defined as the number of medical doctors who assisted surgery, and the time of operation from skin incision to closure. An output was defined as the surgical fee. The authors calculated surgeons' efficiency scores using data envelopment analysis. FINDINGS: The efficiency scores of each surgical specialty were significantly different (p=0.000). ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This result demonstrates that the Japanese surgical reimbursement scales still fail to reflect resource utilization despite the revision of surgical fee schedule.

Surgical productivity recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

Introduction: Previous studies demonstrated that the surgical productivity regressed in 2020. This study therefore explored whether the COVID-19 pandemic had any significant lasting effect of reducing the surgical productivity in Japan. This is a retrospective observational study which is an extension of the previous ones. Methods: The authors analyzed 18,805 surgical procedures performed during the study period from April 1 through September 30 in 2016-22. A non-radial and non-oriented Malmquist model under the variable returns-to-scale assumptions was employed. The decision-making unit (DMU) was defined as a surgical specialty department. Inputs were defined as (1) the number of assistants, and (2) the surgical duration. The output was defined as the surgical fee. The study period was divided into 42 one-month periods. The authors added all the inputs and outputs for each DMU during these study periods, and computed its Malmquist index, efficiency change and technical change. The outcome measures were its annual productivity, efficiency, and technical changes between the same months in each year. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in annual productivity, efficiency, and technical changes between pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods. Discussion: No evidence was found to suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has any significant lasting effect of reducing the surgical productivity.