Gender Affirming Surgery in Nonbinary Patients: A Single Institutional Experience.

Background An increasing number of nonbinary patients are receiving gender-affirming procedures due to improved access to care. However, the preferred treatments for nonbinary patients are underdescribed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the goals and treatments of nonbinary patients. Methods A retrospective study of patients who self-identified as nonbinary from our institutional Gender Health Program was conducted. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, surgical goals, and operative variables were analyzed. Results Of the 375 patients with gender dysphoria, 67 (18%) were nonbinary. Over half of the nonbinary patients were assigned male at birth ( n = 57, 85%) and nearly half preferred the gender pronoun they/them/theirs ( n = 33, 49%). A total of 44 patients (66%) received hormone therapy for an average of 2.5 ± 3.6 years, primarily estrogen ( n = 39). Most patients ( n = 46, 69%) received or are interested in gender-affirming surgery, of which, almost half were previously on hormone therapy ( n = 32, 48%). The most common surgeries completed or desired were facial feminization surgery ( n = 15, 22%), vaginoplasty ( n = 15, 22%), mastectomy ( n = 11, 16%), and orchiectomy ( n = 9, 13%). Nonbinary patients who were assigned male at birth (NB-AMAB) were more often treated with hormones compared to nonbinary patients assigned female at birth (NB-AFAB) (72% vs. 30%, p = 0.010). Conversely, patients who were AFAB were more likely to complete or desire surgical intervention than those who were AMAB (100% vs. 63.0%, p < 0.021). Conclusion Majority of nonbinary patients were assigned male at birth. NB-AFAB patients all underwent surgical treatment, whereas NB-AMAB patients were predominantly treated with hormone therapy.

Evaluation and treatment of facial feminization surgery: part II. lips, midface, mandible, chin, and laryngeal prominence.

Facial feminization surgery (FFS) refers to a set of procedures aimed at altering the features of a masculine face to achieve a more feminine appearance. In the second part of this twopart series, assessment and operations involving the midface, mandible, and chin, as well as soft tissue modification of the nasolabial complex and chondrolaryngoplasty, are discussed. Finally, we provide a review of the literature on patient-reported outcomes in this population following FFS and suggest a path forward to optimize care for FFS patients.

Early Alveolar Bone Grafting Is Associated with Lower Regraft Rates and Improvements in Long-Term Psychosocial Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Late childhood (8 to 10 years of age) has emerged as a vulnerable period in children with cleft and craniofacial anomalies such that increased interventions during this period are associated with worse long-term patient-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that one possible practice change may be to consider changes in timing for surgical treatment algorithms. In this work, the authors investigated outcomes in altering the timing of the most common operation in late childhood for cleft lip and palate patients, alveolar bone grafting. METHODS: A two-part, multi-institutional cohort study was conducted. To understand the feasibility of changing alveolar bone graft timing with respect to surgical success, reoperation rates were retrospectively compared among patients grafted at different ages (4 to 7, 8 to 10, and 11 to 13 years of age). To understand the long-term effect of changing alveolar bone graft timing on psychosocial outcomes, the psychosocial suite of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System was prospectively administered to teenagers and adults with cleft lip and palate. RESULTS: Among the three age groups, early grafting (4 to 7 years of age) demonstrated the lowest regraft rates compared with the other groups. As these results suggested that early grafting is a viable alternative to standard timing, we next compared the differences in long-term psychosocial outcomes. Patients who were grafted early reported lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms as teenagers and adults. CONCLUSION: Altering timing of one stage in cleft lip and palate reconstruction to an earlier age decreases regraft rates and improves long-term patient-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Facial Feminization Surgery under Insurance: The University of California Los Angeles Experience.

Despite improved insurance coverage for gender confirmation surgeries in the United States, coverage for facial feminization surgery (FFS) continues to be difficult. Here, we describe our institutional experience on navigation, time, and costs of the FFS insurance authorization process. METHODS: FFS consults (n = 40) at the University of California, Los Angeles (2018-2020) were reviewed for time and cost to definitive insurance authorization decision. Patients were stratified into 3 groups based on authorization process: Group A (standard approval, n = 26, 65.0%) including public and private insurances; Group B (extended approval, n = 10, 25.0%) consisting of private insurance plans that initially denied and required multi-level appeals for denial overturn; and Group C (denial, n = 4, 10.0%), including private insurance plans that denied even after multi-level appeals. RESULTS: An estimated 90% of all patient consults were approved for FFS under insurance. Group A averaged 1.1 months for approval, requiring 1.4 hours of administrative time translating to $38.18 per patient. The addition of multi-level appeals in Groups B and C increased the total time for a definitive decision (7.0 and 5.1 months, respectively) and required both surgeon and administrative time to navigate the process (10.8 and 12.0 hours, respectively). The time spent on the presurgical authorization process for Groups B and C translated to an over 20-fold increase in cost ($855.00 and $988.38, respectively) compared with Group A. CONCLUSION: Navigation of the insurance process for FFS is challenging and time-consuming; however, coverage is a reality in California provided that multi-level appeals are exhausted.

Velopharyngeal Insufficiency in Craniofacial Microsomia: Prevalence, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence, diagnosis, and management of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) in patients with craniofacial microsomia (CFM).Craniofacial microsomia patients 13 years of age and above treated at 2 centers from 1997 to 2019 were reviewed retrospectively for demographics, prevalence of VPI, and management of VPI. Patients with isolated microtia were excluded. Comparisons were made between patients with and without VPI using chi-square and independent samples t tests.Among 68 patients with CFM (63.2% male, mean 20.7 years of age), VPI was diagnosed in 19 patients (27.9%) at an average age of 7.2 years old. Among the total cohort, 61 patients had isolated CFM, of which 12 (19.6%) were diagnosed with VPI. Of the patients with isolated CFM and VPI, 8 patients (66.7%) were recommended for nasoendoscopy, of which only 2 patients completed. Seven isolated CFM patients (58.3%) underwent speech therapy, whereas none received VPI surgery. In contrast, 7 patients were diagnosed with both CFM and cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P), all of whom had VPI and were recommended for nasoendoscopy, with 5 (71.4%) completing nasoendoscopy, 6 (85.7%) undergoing speech therapy, and 6 (85.7%) undergoing corrective VPI surgery. Overall, we demonstrated that VPI was present in 27.9% of all CFM patients. On subset analysis, VPI was diagnosed in 20% of patients with isolated CFM and 100% of patients with CFM and CL/P. In addition, despite clinical diagnosis of VPI, a sizeable proportion of isolated CFM patients did not undergo therapy or surgical interventions.

Evaluation and treatment of facial feminization surgery: part I. forehead, orbits, eyebrows, eyes, and nose.

Facial feminization surgery (FFS) incorporates aesthetic and craniofacial surgical principles and techniques to feminize masculine facial features and facilitate gender transitioning. A detailed understanding of the defining male and female facial characteristics is essential for success. In this first part of a two-part series, we discuss key aspects of the general preoperative consultation that should be considered when evaluating the prospective facial feminization patient. Assessment of the forehead, orbits, hairline, eyebrows, eyes, and nose and the associated procedures, including scalp advancement, supraorbital rim reduction, setback of the anterior table of the frontal sinus, rhinoplasty, and soft tissue modifications of the upper and midface are discussed. In the second part of this series, bony manipulation of the midface, mandible, and chin, as well as soft tissue modification of the nasolabial complex and chondrolaryngoplasty are discussed. Finally, a review of the literature on patient-reported outcomes in this population following FFS is provided.

Component Restoration in the Bilateral Intermediate Cleft Tip Rhinoplasty.

SUMMARY: The intermediate cleft tip rhinoplasty is frequently performed during childhood to address nasal tip anomalies in cleft patients before the most critical period of psychosocial development. The authors previously described the component restoration intermediate cleft tip rhinoplasty technique for the unilateral cleft nose, which was developed to systematically address the lining deficiency, cleft lower lateral cartilage malpositioning, and cleft lateral cartilage weakness using a combination of lower lateral cartilage release, lateral cartilage repositioning, and placement of an auricular composite chondrocutaneous graft. In this work, the authors evaluate the utility of this technique to the bilateral cleft nose. Preoperative and postoperative (mean ± SD, 18.6 ± 10.8 months) photographs of bilateral cleft patients treated with the component restoration intermediate cleft tip rhinoplasty (n = 7) were evaluated using photogrammetric measurements and aesthetic assessments. From preoperatively to postoperatively, the columella length-to-alar width ratio on basal photographs increased (0.19 ± 0.05 versus 0.28 ± 0.05; p = 0.001). On lateral view, the columella-labial angle decreased from preoperatively to postoperatively [138 degrees (interquartile range, 132 to 144 degrees) versus 123 degrees (interquartile range, 122 to 139 degrees); p = 0.04]. Aesthetic ratings performed by four blinded observers also improved from preoperatively to postoperatively (1.6 ± 0.8 versus 2.4 ± 0.7; p = 0.004). As a comparison, bilateral cleft nose patients who did not undergo intermediate cleft tip rhinoplasty (n = 3) of similar ages were subjected to the same photogrammetric and aesthetic analyses, which showed no differences from preoperatively to postoperatively. In combination, the current work suggests that the component restoration technique in the bilateral intermediate cleft tip rhinoplasty improves nasal tip support and aesthetic outcomes.

Treatment of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) in a heart transplant recipient with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy.

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are a group of lesions that can complicate solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and are often associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The treatment of PTLD is dependent on the type of lesion and includes a wide range of therapies, but chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has not previously been reported as a treatment option for PTLD. We present a patient who developed refractory PTLD in her right retroperitoneum, right inguinal and iliac chains, and right axillary region shortly after heart transplantation and was treated with CAR T-cell therapy. She could not tolerate complete discontinuation of immunosuppression due to the risk of rejection of a life-supporting graft. The patient's PTLD responded to CAR T-cell therapy, and her heart was monitored throughout the treatment course without any signs of rejection or ventricular dysfunction. CAR T-cell therapy may be a viable treatment option in patients who develop PTLD after a solid organ transplant.

A review of nutrition and dietary interventions in oncology.

The complex cellular mechanisms and inter-related pathways of cancer proliferation, evasion, and metastasis remain an emerging field of research. Over the last several decades, nutritional research has prominent role in identifying emerging adjuvant therapies in our fight against cancer. Nutritional and dietary interventions are being explored to improve the morbidity and mortality for cancer patients worldwide. In this review, we examine several dietary interventions and their proposed mechanisms against cancer as well as identifying limitations in the currently available literature. This review provides a comprehensive review of the cancer metabolism, dietary interventions used during cancer treatment, anti metabolic drugs, and their impact on nutritional deficiencies along with a critical review of the following diets: caloric restriction, intermittent fasting, ketogenic diet, Mediterranean diet, Japanese diet, and vegan diet.

The Effect of Multiple Surgeries on Psychosocial Outcomes in Pediatric Patients: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Birth defects affect 3% of all babies born in the United States each year. Unlike reconstruction for many acquired deformities, one hallmark of reconstruction for complex congenital conditions is the requirement of multiple surgeries, procedures, and therapies from birth to maturity. These interventions often result in significant medical burden on children during development with potential long-term psychosocial consequences. The aim of this study was therefore to better define the psychosocial impact of repetitive operations on the pediatric patient. METHODS: A scoping review was performed under the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Review guidelines. We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases using key words "number of surgeries," "psychosocial," "pediatric," and related terms. Primary articles published in English describing psychosocial outcomes in pediatric patients who underwent more than one procedure or surgery were included (n = 25). The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of each study. RESULTS: We included 25 articles published between 1995 and 2019, which included 6520 patients. The most common diagnosis across all studies was congenital heart disease (CHD) (n = 4169, 63.9%), followed by cleft lip and palate (n = 1196, 18.3%). The average number of operations and procedures was 3.4 (range = 1-18) and 32.1 (range = 6-89), respectively. The association between repetitive surgeries and poorer psychosocial outcomes was demonstrated in children with early-onset scoliosis, CHD, hydrocephalus, bladder exstrophy, posterior urethral rupture, anorectal anomalies, and conditions requiring numerous nonsurgical procedures. There were also a few CHD, cleft lip and/or palate, and hydrocephalus studies that did not find a significant correlation. CONCLUSIONS: The studies here suggest that certain pediatric patient populations are at risk for impaired psychosocial functioning as a result of repetitive procedures. However, it is important to differentiate whether the association with poorer psychosocial outcomes is from the number of surgical procedures or whether the number if just a surrogate for increased disease complexity. Standardized psychosocial outcomes measures and future prospective, long-term, randomized clinical trials are also warranted.

Isolated Testicular Recurrence of AML in Patients With Chronic GVHD >1 Year Following Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) following allogeneic transplant for myeloid leukemias seem to experience a reduced risk of relapse than comparable patients without cGVHD. It is unclear to what extent extramedullary sites are impacted by a graft-versus-leukemia effect. DESIGN/METHOD: Case Series and review of the literature. RESULTS: We present 2 cases of pediatric patients with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia who developed isolated testicular relapse more than a year following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation despite having had extensive cGVHD. Both patients were off immunosuppression and cGVHD medications when testicular relapse occurred. At time of relapse, these patients were negative for minimal residual disease in the marrow and the marrow contained all donor cells by engraftment studies. No evidence was found for lymphocyte infiltration into the affected testicle in either patient. CONCLUSIONS: Although a reduction of marrow relapse can be appreciated in patients with myeloid leukemias and chronic GVHD, this graft-versus-leukemia process may be less robust in extramedullary sites and careful surveillance should be maintained to allow early intervention before overt marrow involvement.

The effect of maternal glucocorticoid levels on juvenile docility in yellow-bellied marmots.

Maternal effects can have significant and long-term consequences on offspring behavior and survival, while consistent individual differences (i.e., personality) can have profound impacts on individual fitness. Thus, both can influence population dynamics. However, the underlying mechanisms that determine variation in personality traits are poorly understood. Maternal effects are one potential mechanism that may explain personality variation. We capitalized on a long-term study of yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris) to identify maternal effects on juvenile docility. To do so, we partitioned the variance in juvenile docility using a quantitative genetic modeling approach to isolate potential maternal effects. We also directly tested whether maternal stress, measured through fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels during lactation of 82 mothers, was associated with offspring docility. Docility scores were estimated for 645 juveniles trapped between 2002 and 2012. We found an interaction between maternal glucocorticoid levels and dam age on juvenile docility. We also found significant maternal, litter, permanent environment, and year effects. These results suggest that a mother's life history stage interacts with stress to influence offspring personality. This early life influence can have long lasting effects on an individual's docility throughout life.