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A 4-5 month-old dog was presented with a one week history of inappetence, lethargy and pain, mostly evident when walking. The dog had been found infested with ticks in a field three weeks prior to presentation. Physical examination findings included poor body condition score, tachycardia, pale mucous membranes, weakness and unwillingness to stand, extreme pain on palpation of all limbs, mild lymphadenomegaly and multiple swollen joints. The dog suffered from moderate anemia and mild thrombocytopenia. Blood smear evaluation revealed that 12% of the neutrophils and monocytes were parasitized by Hepatozoon gamonts confirmed as Hepatozoon canis by PCR and sequencing. Serum biochemistry abnormalities included hypoalbuminemia, hyperglobulinemia, elevated alkaline phosphatase activity and mild hyponatremia. PCR for Ehrlichia canis was negative. Survey radiographs showed evidence of polyostotic involvement of bone cortices with thickening and marked diffuse continuous periosteal proliferation of the humerus, ulna, radius, femur and tibia. Joint fluid from the tarsal joints showed marked increase in WBC, predominantly of neutrophils, some of which parasitized by H. canis. Bacterial cultures, including specific culture for Mycoplasma spp. were negative. The pup was treated with doxycycline, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and multiple doses of imidocarb dipropionate. During a period of four months the pup's clinical signs were resolved and its hematological and radiographic parameters improved substantially. Despite that, the H.canis parasite load increased. This is an unusual case of canine hepatozoonosis with concurrent periosteal reaction and polyarthiritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competing Interests: The authors have declared they have no conflicts of interest.

Importance: Currently, there are no validated training models for cystoscopy with ureteral stent placement., Objectives: The objectives of this study were to develop and validate a novel endoscopic simulation model for training in ureteral stent placement., Study Design: A low-cost, low-fidelity training model was developed to simulate ureteral stent placement. Recruited participants were divided into 3 groups: novices (postgraduate year 3/4 gynecology residents), advanced learners (urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery fellows), and experts (urology residents, urogynecology faculty, and urology faculty). Construct validity was measured using de-identified video-recorded performances on the model, which were evaluated by 2 expert reviewers using validated scales (Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills [GOALS], Global Rating Scale [GRS]) and procedure-specific metrics., Results: The model was created using a hollow Styrofoam sphere, plastic tubing from a retropubic sling, and a silicone pacifier. Thirty-six surgeons were assessed performing the procedure using the model with cystoscopic equipment. The experts (n = 12) performed significantly better than the advanced learners (n = 17) and novices (n = 7) in total scores (max 75, median [IQR]: 75 [75-75], 61 [56.5-68.5], 45 [43-46], respectively; P < 0.001) and within each individual scale domain. Increasing experience with ureteral stent placement had a significant correlation (P < 0.001) with better performance on the model. A minimum total passing score of 63 was established. On post simulation assessment, most participants "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that the model closely approximates the feel of ureteral stent placement., Conclusion: This ureteral stenting simulation model is easy to construct, affordable, and reproducible. The model is valid and reliable for practicing the procedure in preparation for live surgery., Competing Interests: The authors have declared they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 American Urogynecologic Society. All rights reserved.)

Importance: Limited data exist on postoperative recovery among patients with chronic pain undergoing pelvic reconstructive surgical procedures., Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate if patients with versus without self-reported chronic pain experience different recovery after pelvic reconstructive surgery., Study Design: From September 2022 to May 2023, this prospective cohort study enrolled patients with and without chronic pain, who were undergoing vaginal or laparoscopic procedures for pelvic organ prolapse. Preoperative pain was assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and Pepper Assessment Tool for Disability (PAT-D). Postoperative recovery was evaluated at 2, 4, and 12 weeks using the Postdischarge Surgical Recovery (PSR) scale, Global Surgical Recovery (GSR) index, and PAT-D questionnaire. The primary outcome was PSR scores at 4 weeks postoperatively., Results: Ninety patients were recruited, with 43 reporting chronic pain and 47 without. Demographics were similar. Patients with chronic pain had higher preoperative BPI and PAT-D scores. Perioperative outcomes and hospital stay were similar. Patients with chronic pain used more postoperative opioids in the hospital (27.0 ± 27.8 vs 24.3 ± 60.3 morphine milligram equivalents [MME]; P = 0.03) and at home (40.1 ± 54.7 vs 19.9 ± 39.0 MME; P = 0.03). The PSR scores at 4 weeks were not significantly different. No differences were observed in PSR or GSR scores at all time points. Patients with chronic pain had a higher PAT-D score at 12 weeks. Fewer chronic pain patients returned to work by 12 weeks and desired more time off work., Conclusions: Patients with and without chronic pain had similar surgical outcomes and recovery. However, chronic pain patients required more postoperative opioid pain medication and preferred more time off work., Competing Interests: Disclosures: The authors have declared they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 American Urogynecologic Society. All rights reserved.)

Importance: Proper training is necessary to develop the highly specialized skills required to safely perform laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy. Currently, there is no validated training model for laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy that includes dissection of the presacral space, both vaginal and presacral mesh attachments, and peritoneal closure., Objectives: This study aimed to create a procedure specific hierarchical task analysis for laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy and then develop and validate a corresponding laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy pelvic training model for the simulation environment., Study Design: This was an observational simulation study that was divided into 5 phases: (1) development of hierarchical task analysis, (2) model construction, (3) participant recruitment and simulation testing, (4) reliability and validity testing, and (5) creation of a standard passing performance measure., Results: Construct, face, and content validity were established for this model. According to the participating experts, the model was able to replicate the steps of presacral dissection, anterior vaginal and sacral mesh attachment, and peritoneal closure. Thirteen trainees and 5 experts completed the simulation, and all "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that the model seemed useful for improving suturing technique and learning the procedure. Additionally, a passing performance measure was determined through contrasting groups methodology., Conclusions: We developed a novel, reusable, and validated training model that can be utilized as a training resource for the many critical skills necessary to safely and efficiently perform laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy., Competing Interests: The authors have declared they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 American Urogynecologic Society. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate whether trans-thyroid cartilage nerve monitoring for thyroid surgeries is as effective and safe as endotracheal tube monitoring., Methods: Fifty-one thyroidectomies (38 hemithyroidectomies and 13 total thyroidectomies, analyzed as two separate hemi-thyroidectomies) were included. Patients undergoing surgery from 6/2020 to 8/2021 were monitored simultaneously with the NIM® Nerve Monitoring System TriVantage™ Electromyography (EMG) endotracheal tube and EMG trans-thyroid cartilage. Electrophysiological responses of 64 vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves were obtained. Peri-operative evaluation and 12-month post-operative follow-up were conducted to examine nerve function. Wilcoxon signed-rank and Spearman coefficient tests were used to determine whether there were differences between the methods., Results: The average initial amplitude measured with the trans-thyroid cartilage method was higher in the recurrent laryngeal and vagus nerves (p = 0.002, p = 0.003, respectively). The mean difference in EMG amplitude from start to end of surgery for 10 damaged nerves (7 temporary and 3 permanent) differed from intact nerves in both methods and nerves (p < 0.05 for all). Among intact recurrent laryngeal nerves, 20.4% had 20-80% decrease in amplitude in endotracheal tube electrodes and 16.7% in trans-thyroid cartilage electrodes (p = 0.92). All cases with stable EMG signals or with increased EMG amplitude (with both types of electrodes and with both nerves) had normal post-operative vocal function. No significant difference was found between the two methods when measuring the vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves. No complications occurred when using trans-thyroid cartilage electrodes., Conclusions: Trans-thyroid cartilage nerve monitoring for thyroid surgeries is as effective and safe as the current standard monitoring using an endotracheal tube. During thyroid surgery, patients are monitored to avoid damaging nerves near the vocal cords. This study compared monitoring through a throat tube with the easier method of monitoring outside of the throat to see if it is as effective and safe. No major difference was found between the two methods and there were no problems., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: The central lower TMH is used as a clinical measure of tear volume in the assessment of contact lens candidates and patients with dry eyes. Ethnic differences in eyelid morphology may influence the measurement of the TMH. Furthermore, with the advent of larger contact lenses, such as scleral lenses, it would be of clinical value to assess the TMH centrally and peripherally. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the TMH at different positions along the palpebral margin between Caucasian and Asian eyes., Methods: This prospective study evaluated the lower TMH in five positions (central, temporal and nasal limbus and temporal and nasal periphery) of the right eye using the Keratograph 5M (Oculus) instrument in Caucasian and Asian participants between 10 am and 12 pm . The TMH at each position was taken three times and averaged and analyzed using a 5 × 2 repeated-measures analysis of variance., Results: Central TMH did not differ significantly ( F = 0.02, p=0.88) in Caucasians (n = 20, aged 24.45 [2.30] years, TMH 0.320 [0.052] mm) and Asians (n = 20, aged 22.25 [3.43] years, TMH 0.325 [0.048] mm). A difference was noted with respect to TMH positions along the lid margin ( F = 64.17, p<0.001), independent of ethnicity ( F = 2.15, p=0.15). A post hoc analysis revealed a significantly higher TMH temporally when compared with centrally or nasally (p<0.001)., Conclusions: This study demonstrated the similarity of the central TMH and the differences in the peripheral TMH within Caucasian and Asian eyes. This may be clinically relevant when using the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society Dry Eye Workshop II diagnostic algorithm for dry eyes and when fitting scleral contact lenses. Future studies need to consider that ethnic differences may exist for certain tests in order to personalize the care and management of each patient., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Disclosure: The authors report no direct conflict of interest with this manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 American Academy of Optometry.)

Objectives : To evaluate the effect of maternal parity on the association between mid-trimester cervical length and preterm birth to elucidate the potential intricacies of this relationship. Methods : A retrospective cohort study using Electronic Medical Records (EMR) data. The study population included pregnant women with a singleton fetus and a short mid-trimester cervical length, recorded in the EMR system at a large health maintenance organization. Women were categorized by parity in the current pregnancy, and a statistical analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between parity and premature delivery. Results : Data were collected from 1144 records of cervical length measurements of 738 pregnancies obtained from the HMO database. The study population consisted of 259 nulliparous women (35.1%), 451 multiparous women (61.1%), and 28 grand multiparous women (3.8%). The results from the multivariate analysis of the primary outcome showed that nulliparity was significantly associated with an increased risk of premature delivery, with a risk of 1.557 for nulliparous women compared to parous women. Conclusions : In this study, a statistically significant association was found between nulliparity and preterm birth among women with a short mid-trimester cervical length. Nulliparous women were found to have a higher risk of preterm birth in the current pregnancy compared to parous women. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and to develop targeted interventions to reduce the risk of premature birth in this population. These findings highlight the need to consider nulliparity as a potential risk factor in the management of pregnancies with a shortened cervix.

Objective: To evaluate what proportion of abstracts presented at the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons (SGS) Annual Scientific Meetings went on to be published in publicly available journals., Design: Retrospective observational study SETTING: Single organization PARTICIPANTS: Abstracts (oral presentations, oral posters, video presentations, non-oral posters) presented at the SGS Annual Scientific Meeting from 2013-2020 INTERVENTIONS: Variables were collected pertaining to abstract authors, study type, timing of the session presented, and journal factors. To identify possible publication, abstracts were cross-referenced in PubMed and Google Scholar., Measurements and Main Results: A total of 912 abstracts were reviewed: 155 oral presentations, 184 oral posters, 79 video presentations, and 490 non-oral posters. 45.8% of abstracts went on to publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Most abstracts (75.0%) were published from institutions with a fellowship presence and at a university-based program (71.5%). The five most represented institutions presented 27.5% of all abstracts during an SGS session. Oral presentations were more likely than oral posters to be structured as randomized controlled trials (20% vs 9%, p=.028), and to be published in a journal with a higher impact factor (6.36 ± 11.74 vs. 3.88 ± 2.72, p=.031). Type of presentation and fellowship presence significantly affected the likelihood of abstract publication (oral presentation OR 0.73, 95% CI [0.466, 1.141], p=0.167; video OR 0.14, 95% CI [0.075, 0.261; non-oral poster OR 0.30, 95% CI [0.204, 0.439]; p<.001; fellowship OR 1.62, 95% CI [1.167, 2.237], p=.004)., Conclusion: Over eight years of the SGS Annual Scientific Meeting, the rate of abstract publication was 45.8%. Abstract origination from an academic institution with a fellowship program significantly affected the likelihood of publication. Abstract presentation at a society meeting is a prestigious opportunity, and prioritization of resources and elimination of barriers should be encouraged to further promote progression of these projects to publication., Competing Interests: Declarations of competing interest None, (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Information is transmitted between brain regions through the release of neurotransmitters from long-range projecting axons. Understanding how the activity of such long-range connections contributes to behavior requires efficient methods for reversibly manipulating their function. Chemogenetic and optogenetic tools, acting through endogenous G-protein-coupled receptor pathways, can be used to modulate synaptic transmission, but existing tools are limited in sensitivity, spatiotemporal precision or spectral multiplexing capabilities. Here we systematically evaluated multiple bistable opsins for optogenetic applications and found that the Platynereis dumerilii ciliary opsin (PdCO) is an efficient, versatile, light-activated bistable G-protein-coupled receptor that can suppress synaptic transmission in mammalian neurons with high temporal precision in vivo. PdCO has useful biophysical properties that enable spectral multiplexing with other optogenetic actuators and reporters. We demonstrate that PdCO can be used to conduct reversible loss-of-function experiments in long-range projections of behaving animals, thereby enabling detailed synapse-specific functional circuit mapping., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Clinical Relevance: Ocular lubricants are the mainstay of dry eye management and are available in a variety of formulations and bottle designs. The squeezability of ocular lubricant bottles may influence administration and compliance., Background: A key component for managing dry eye disease is the use of ocular lubricants. The different bottle types, each with their unique material strength and dispensing mechanism, may be challenging for patients with limited hand and pinch strength. The aim of this study was to evaluate the force required to expulse a drop from different eye drop containers used in the management of dry eye disease., Methods: The force, in newtons (N), required to expulse a drop from different eye drops was evaluated five times using a force gauge, and divided by bottle type, i.e. tubes, unidose, multidose with preservatives, and multidose preservative free (MDPF) bottles., Results: Sixty ( n  = 60) bottles were examined with 57 eye lubricants and 3 dry eye medications (cyclosporine (0.5% and 0.9%), and lifitegrast). The average force varied depending on the bottle type (tubes 4.28 ± 1.29 N; unidose 14.24 ± 4.83 N; multidose 16.62 ± 5.21 N; MDPF 26.68 ± 8.32 N, p  < 0.001). Post-hoc test revealed that MDPF bottles required more force than all other bottle types ( p  < 0.001), and among those, the ophthalmic squeeze dispenser bottle required significantly more force ( p  < 0.001). Lifitegrast required more force (17.38 ± 2.13 N) than cyclosporine 0.5% (9.16 ± 0.80 N, p  < 0.024) and cyclosporine 0.9% (5.68 ± 0.40 N, p  < 0.001), but was not significantly different from unidose ocular lubricants ( p  > 0.05)., Conclusion: The squeezability of bottles used in dry eye disease management varies with bottle type. Hand and pinch strength should be considered when choosing products for dry eye disease management, as the squeezability of an ophthalmic drop can influence its administration and compliance.

Background: Preterm birth represents a significant clinical challenge, and the ability to predict it effectively is a priority in obstetrics. The cervix undergoes specific changes during pregnancy, and staging these changes may offer a valuable predictive model for preterm birth, particularly among women with a midtrimester short cervical length., Objective: The study aimed to validate a proposed staging model for asymptomatic women with midtrimester short cervical length and to evaluate its potential for predicting preterm birth. The integration of cervical examination and inspection with cervical length measurement was a novel approach to be assessed., Study Design: This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study that included 925 pregnant women with a singleton fetus and a midtrimester cervical length measurement of ≤25 mm. Cervical conditions were assessed using ultrasonography, a speculum, and a physical examination and were classified into 1 of 5 cervical stages to correlate with the likelihood of preterm birth. Statistical analyses included Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to illustrate the time-to-event characteristics across the 5 stages and density plot evaluation to visualize the distribution of the gestational ages within the stages., Results: The staging model included 5 stages based on cervical length, appearance, and dilatation. Among the 925 participants, 649 were classified as being stage 1, 245 as stage 2, 18 as stage 3, 10 as stage 4, and 3 as stage 5. The observed rates of preterm birth before 37 weeks for individuals classified in stages 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 were 22.3%, 26.5%, 44.4%, 60%, and 66.7%, respectively (P=.005). The overall observed rates of preterm birth before 28, 32, 34, and 37 weeks' gestation were 5.5%, 9.9%, 12.2%, and 24.1%, respectively (P=.005)., Conclusion: This study validated the proposed staging criteria as an effective predictor of preterm birth caused by cervical insufficiency. The results demonstrate a significant increase in the preterm birth rate with advancing stage classification, indicating that the staging effectively stratified women based on their risk for preterm birth and highlighting the potential use for targeted interventions. Implementing these staging criteria can potentially improve the counseling and management of pregnant women at risk for preterm birth., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Demodex folliculorum blepharitis is typically confirmed with lash epilation and microscopic identification of mites. However, mite counts may vary with the epilation technique. As there is no gold standard to epilating lashes for the purposes of mite counts, the aim of this study was to compare three epilation techniques., Method: A prospective randomized double-blind study compared three epilation techniques on lashes with cylindrical dandruff. Techniques included (A) direct pulling of the lash; (B) rotating the lash before epilation; and (C) sliding the cylindrical dandruff away, lash rotation, and epilation. Mean mite counts were analyzed using a repeated-measures analysis of variance., Results: Forty (n=40) participants (20 M: 20 F, mean age of 62.3±17.1 years) revealed similar mite counts between right (1.43±1.74) and left (1.35±1.59) eyes ( P =0.63). A significant difference ( P =0.03) in mite count was noted (technique A: 1.05 ± 1.60; technique B 1.76 ± 1.80; and technique C 1.36 ± 1.54) with technique B yielding the highest mite count ( P =0.04)., Conclusion: Demodex mite count is a key parameter in establishing infestation or to determine treatment efficacy. This study revealed that rotating the lash before epilation yielded the highest mite count. Future studies should report the epilation technique used to allow for study comparisons., Competing Interests: E. Bitton has received funding/honoraria in the past from Aequus Pharmaceuticals, Alcon, American Academy of Optometry, British Contact Lens Association, Canadian Dry Eye Summit, Canadian Optometric Education Trust Fund (COETF), Johnson & Johnson, Inc., Labtician, Labtician-Théa, Novartis, Santen, and Sun Pharma. The remaining author has no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists.)

Importance: Pessary-related adverse effects are common, and treatment options are limited. Probiotics may improve pessary-related adverse effects by altering the vaginal microenvironment., Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a vaginal probiotic suppository on the vaginal microenvironment among pessary users., Study Design: Women who used pessaries were randomized to vaginal probiotic suppository use versus without use. The intervention was a vaginal probiotic suppository and moisturizing vaginal gel. The vaginal microenvironment was assessed using Gram stain and Nugent's criteria at baseline and 3 months by a microbiologist blinded to group allocation. Symptoms and experience with use of the probiotic were assessed using questionnaires. The primary outcome was change in lactobacilli count on Nugent subscore at 3 months., Results: A total of 147 postmenopausal women were randomized (86 to the intervention arm and 61 to the control arm), and 124 (87.9%) presented for a 3-month follow-up. There was no difference between the arms in age, race, body mass index, and Charlson Comorbidity Index. A majority of participants had the pessary managed by the health care professional (intervention arm vs control arm, 46 [76.7%] vs 55 [68.8%]; P = 0.30). Composition of the vaginal microenvironment did not differ with or without probiotic treatment at 3 months. Bother from vaginal symptoms, including discharge, itching, and discomfort, did not differ between arms. Adverse effects from the intervention were minor, resolved with discontinuation, and occurred at 39.1%., Conclusion: Vaginal probiotic suppository use did not affect the composition of the vaginal microenvironment, patient satisfaction, or vaginal symptoms after 3 months of use in pessary users., Competing Interests: E.C.S., C.M., J.W., D.E.O., D.O., and E.T.-B. report no relevant conflict of interest. D.E.O. is employed by Thermo Fisher Scientific., (Copyright © 2023 American Urogynecologic Society. All rights reserved.)

Importance: Accurate diagnosis of urinary tract infection after pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery is essential to postoperative care., Objective: Our aim was to determine the agreement between the urinalysis of a clean-catch versus a straight catheter urine specimen in women who underwent vaginal surgery for POP., Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study evaluating patients after vaginal surgery for POP. A clean-catch and straight catheter urine specimen were collected at routine postoperative appointments. Routine urinalyses and urine cultures were performed for all patients. A urine culture yielding mixed urogenital flora (which includes Lactobacillus species), coagulase-negative staphylococci, and Streptococcus species was considered a contaminated result. The agreement between the characteristics of urinalysis obtained via the clean catch versus the straight catheter at 3 weeks postoperatively was evaluated using weighted κ statistic., Results: Fifty-nine participants enrolled. The agreement between the characteristics of urinalysis obtained via the clean catch versus the straight catheter was poor (κ = 0.018). The urine culture was more likely to be contaminated from the clean-catch urine specimen than from the straight catheter urine specimen (53.7% vs 23.1%).The positive and negative predictive values of leukocyte esterase on clean catch were 22.6% and 100%, respectively., Conclusions: Diagnosing urinary tract infection based on contaminated urinalyses may lead to antibiotic overuse and misdiagnosis of postoperative complications. Our results can help educate health care partners and discourage the use of clean-catch urine specimens when assessing women who have recently undergone vaginal surgery., Competing Interests: The authors have declared they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 American Urogynecologic Society. All rights reserved.)

Significance: The advancing age of the population will require increased access to eye care services to manage eye diseases and vision correction. Optometric education requires a sound financial plan to manage student debt. This study evaluates the financial inequalities of optometric programs in Canada and how this may impact the provision of eye care professionals., Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the financial inequities in optometric education in Canada from the 2020 graduating class., Methods: A cross-sectional study assessed monetary variables related to the study of optometry in Canada, including academic and personal expenses, and overall debt and expenses related to the COVID-19 lockdown for the 2020 graduating class., Results: A total of 108 optometry students from the 2020 graduating classes of the University of Montreal and the University of Waterloo responded, with 68 (female/male respondents, 53:15; mean [standard deviation] age, 25.66 [2.01] years) completing the study. Waterloo students spent more years in university ( P < .001), had higher academic fees ( P < .001), spent more on traveling to their family residence ( P = .007), and received more provincial ( P = .002) and federal ( P < .001) loans than Montreal students. Overall debt before optometry was similar among students but differed ( P < .001) at the end of their program, with Waterloo students having a higher debt burden., Conclusions: There is a financial inequity in optometric education in Canada depending on the chosen program. Cumulative optometry student debt for the 2020 graduating class in Canada ranges from Can $0 to $189,000 with an average of Can $65,800 and a median of Can $50,000. The results of this study can assist financial and government agencies, and future optometry students to better understand the financial burdens and establish a financial plan to study optometry in Canada, to respond to the growing eye care needs of the public., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None of the authors have any direct conflict related to this study. This study was presented as a poster at the 2021 American Academy of Optometry annual meeting in Boston., (Copyright © 2023 American Academy of Optometry.)

Information is transmitted between brain regions through the release of neurotransmitters from long-range projecting axons. Understanding how the activity of such long-range connections contributes to behavior requires efficient methods for reversibly manipulating their function. Chemogenetic and optogenetic tools, acting through endogenous G-protein coupled receptor (GPCRs) pathways, can be used to modulate synaptic transmission, but existing tools are limited in sensitivity, spatiotemporal precision, or spectral multiplexing capabilities. Here we systematically evaluated multiple bistable opsins for optogenetic applications and found that the Platynereis dumerilii ciliary opsin ( Pd CO) is an efficient, versatile, light-activated bistable GPCR that can suppress synaptic transmission in mammalian neurons with high temporal precision in-vivo . Pd CO has superior biophysical properties that enable spectral multiplexing with other optogenetic actuators and reporters. We demonstrate that Pd CO can be used to conduct reversible loss-of-function experiments in long-range projections of behaving animals, thereby enabling detailed synapse-specific functional circuit mapping.

The word "elective" refers to medications and procedures undertaken by choice or with a lower grade of prioritization. Patients usually use elective medications or undergo elective procedures to treat pathologic conditions or for cosmetic enhancement, impacting their lifestyle positively and, thus, improving their quality of life. However, those interventions can affect the homeostasis of the tear film and ocular surface. Consequently, they generate signs and symptoms that could impair the patient's quality of life. This report describes the impact of elective topical and systemic medications and procedures on the ocular surface and the underlying mechanisms. Moreover, elective procedures performed for ocular diseases, cosmetic enhancement, and non-ophthalmic interventions, such as radiotherapy and bariatric surgery, are discussed. The report also evaluates significant anatomical and biological consequences of non-urgent interventions to the ocular surface, such as neuropathic and neurotrophic keratopathies. Besides that, it provides an overview of the prophylaxis and management of pathological conditions resulting from the studied interventions and suggests areas for future research. The report also contains a systematic review investigating the quality of life among people who have undergone small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). Overall, SMILE refractive surgery seems to cause more vision disturbances than LASIK in the first month post-surgery, but less dry eye symptoms in long-term follow up., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest José Alvaro P. Gomes: Alcon (F,C), Allergan (F,C), Johnson & Johnson (F,C), Latinofarma/Cristália (F,C), Ofta Vision Health/EMS (F,C), Bausch-Lomb (F), Novartis (C), Ophthalmos (C). Dimitri T. Azar: Twenty/Twenty Therapeutics (F,I,P,E). Christophe Baudouin: Horus Pharma (F,C), Pharma (F), Santen (F,C), Théa (F,C), Opia (P), Alcon (C), Allergan (C), Oculis (C), Aerie Pharmaceuticals (C). Etty Bitton: Johnson & Johnson Vision (F), I-Med Pharma (F), Shire (F,C), Valeant (F), Alcon (C), Aequus Pharmaceuticals (C), Brio (C), Labtician-Théa (C), Novartis (C), Snell Communications (C). Wei Chen: Santen (C). Farhad Hafezi: Light for Sight Foundation (F), Schwind Eye Tech Solutions (F), VELUX Foundation (F), Gelbert Foundation (F), SOOFT Italia (F), EMAGine AG (I), ELZA Institute (E), GmbH-Switzerland (C). Pedram Hamrah: Novartis (F,C), CooperVision (F), Dompé (F), Oyster Point Pharma (F,C), OKYO (F,C), Noveome (I,F,C), Eyegate Pharma (I,C), Clementia (C), Novaliq (C), Santen (C) Sanofi (C), Astra Zeneca (C), Ocunova (C), Neuroptika (C). Ruth E. Hogg: Okko Healthcare (F), Roche (C). Jutta Horwath-Winter: Bausch + Lomb (C), Allergan (C), CromaPharma (C), MC2 Therapeutics (C), Omnivision (C) Santen (C), Théa (C), TRB Chemedica (C), Ursapharma (C), Shire (C). Georgios A. Kontadakis: None. Jodhbir S. Mehta: UK Network Medical (P,R), Cordlife (P,R), Asia Genomics (P,R), Carl Zeiss Meditec (C), Ziemer (C), Moria (C), Santen (C). Elisabeth M. Messmer: Alcon/Novartis (C), Chiesi (F,C), DMg (C), Dompé (C), Kala (C), Novartis (C), Allergan (C), Santen(C), Shire (C), Sun (C), Sifi (C), Théa (C), TRB Chemedica (C), Ursapharma (C), Visufarma (C). Victor L. Perez: Alcon (F), Heat Biologics (F), Alcon (C), Aldyra (C), Dompé (C), Kala (C), Mallinkrodt (C), Novartis (C), Oculis (C). David Zadok: DiagnosTear Ltd (C), Precise-Bio (C). Mark D.P. Willcox: Alcon (F), Allergan (F), CooperVision (F), Johnson and Johnson Vision (F), Ophtecs (C,F)., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Chronic sialadenitis is the most common complication of radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment. The aim of the study was to ascertain sonographic features of the major salivary glands in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) treated with RAI., Methods: The database of a tertiary medical center was retrospectively searched for consecutive patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for PTC in 2011-2020 with ultrasound follow-up after 1 year. Changes in ultrasound features of the major salivary glands were compared between patients treated or not treated with RAI postoperatively., Results: The cohort included 158 patients, of whom 109 (69%) were treated postoperatively with RAI (mean dose, 131 mCi) and 49 were not (control group). Sonographic changes were observed in the major salivary glands in 43% of the study group and 18% of the control group (p = 0.002), including coarse echotexture, decreased echogenicity, fibrosis, and atrophy. Higher RAI doses were significantly correlated with the prevalence and severity of glandular changes (p < 0.0001)., Conclusion: RAI treatment following thyroidectomy is associated with a dose-response effect and adverse changes in the major salivary glands and should be prescribed carefully., Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 133:1271-1275, 2023., (© 2022 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Abstract: This clinical consensus statement on the management of postoperative (<6 weeks) urinary retention (POUR) reflects statements drafted by content experts from the American Urogynecologic Society's POUR writing group. The writing group used a modified Delphi process to evaluate statements developed from a structured literature search and assessed for consensus. After the definition of POUR was established, a total of 37 statements were assessed in the following 6 categories: (1) incidence of POUR, (2) medications, (3) patient factors, (4) surgical factors, (5) urodynamic testing, and (6) voiding trials. Of the 37 original statements, 34 reached consensus and 3 were omitted., Competing Interests: C.D.M. is a medical advisor for Szio, Inc, and COSM, Inc, and a speaker for Pfizer. These companies were not involved in any facet of this study. O.F.D.-G. is a consultant of Applied Medical and received a research grant from Merck, a biopharmaceutical company. These companies and organizations were not involved in any facet of this study. K.M. received royalties for Elsevier Publishing for book editing and is a consultant for RBI Medical, an executive board member of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons (travel reimbursement), a nonpaid researcher for Cook MyoSure and Caldera Medical, and an editorial board member for the journals of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Urogynecology. These companies and organizations were not involved in any facet of this study. E.R.M. received an honorarium from UpToDate and research funding from the NIH, does legal consultation for Ethicon/Butler Snow, and is part of the research advisory board of Ferring. These companies were not involved in any facet of this study. The other authors have declared they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 American Urogynecologic Society. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To compare quality of life (QOL) among patients with endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia or early-stage endometrial cancer and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) who chose to have concomitant surgery with cancer surgery alone., Methods: A multicenter, prospective cohort study was conducted across eight U.S. sites. Potentially eligible patients were screened for SUI symptoms. Those who screened positive were offered referral to urogynecology and incontinence treatment, including concomitant surgery. Participants were categorized into two groups: 1) concomitant cancer and SUI surgery or 2) cancer surgery alone. The primary outcome was cancer-related QOL as measured by the FACT-En (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Endometrial) (range 0-100; higher score indicates better QOL). The FACT-En and questionnaires assessing urinary symptom-specific severity and effects were assessed before surgery and 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. Adjusted median regression accounting for clustering was used to examine the relationship between SUI treatment group and FACT-En scores., Results: Of 1,322 (53.1%) patients, 702 screened positive for SUI with 532 analyzed; 110 (21%) chose concomitant cancer and SUI surgery, and 422 (79%) chose cancer surgery alone. FACT-En scores increased for both the concomitant SUI surgery and cancer surgery-only groups from the preoperative to the postoperative period. After adjustment for timepoint and preoperative covariates, the median change in FACT-En score (postoperative-preoperative) was 1.2 points higher (95% CI -1.3 to 3.6) for the concomitant SUI surgery group compared with the cancer surgery-only group across the postoperative period. Median time until surgery (22 days vs 16 days; P <.001), estimated blood loss (150 mL vs 72.5 mL; P <.001), and operative time (185.5 minutes vs 152 minutes; P <.001) were all greater for the concomitant cancer and SUI surgery group compared with the cancer-only group, respectively., Conclusion: Concomitant surgery did not result in improved QOL compared with cancer surgery alone for endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia and patients with early-stage endometrial cancer with SUI. However, FACT-En scores were improved in both groups., Competing Interests: Financial Disclosure Kyle Wohlrab reports receiving payment from Boston Scientific. His spouse (Katina Robison, MD) is the lead author of this article and received a PCORI grant to fund the project. Holly E. Richter disclosed the following: ongoing research funding: NIH/NIA; NIH/University of Pennsylvania; NIH/University of Minnesota; NICHD/University of Texas at Austin, NIH/UT Southwestern; Renovia; EBT Medical; Reia. Past: NICHD; NIDDK/Univ North Carolina; Allergan; Renovia; Pelvalon. Other disclosures: DSMB member: BlueWind Medical; UpToDate: royalties, Board of Directors: AUGS and WorldWide Fistula Fund; editorial duties: IUJO and Obstetrics & Gynecology . Carolyn McCourt reports receiving a payment from UpToDate. Jerry Lowder’s institution received grant support from NIH-NIDDK. He received payment from Hanson Curran LLP for medicolegal review and expert testimony. Gena Dunivan's institution received payment from Renovia. David Rahn’s institution received payment from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), and Pfizer, Inc. The other authors did not report any potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We implemented and assessed a clinical practice quality improvement protocol aimed at decreasing postoperative urinary tract infections (UTIs) among patients with transurethral catheters., Methods: This was a quality improvement study with pre- and post-intervention comparisons. Patients requiring postoperative transurethral catheters underwent 3 interventions: (1) shortening the time from surgery to repeat voiding trials to 3-5 days for pelvic reconstructive surgeries and to 1-3 days for mid-urethral slings, (2) avoiding routine urine cultures at the time of voiding trials, and (3) recommending 2 L of water intake daily until 3 days after the voiding trial. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients receiving antibiotics for UTIs within 6 weeks. Secondary outcomes included rates of failing office voiding trials, UTI symptoms/cultures, adherence to hydration, and health care resource utilization., Results: We included 31 patients before and 40 patients after the intervention. The 2 cohorts had similar demographic and clinical characteristics. Among patients requiring catheterization, rates of antibiotic treatment for UTIs decreased from 65% to 40% after the intervention (P = 0.04). UTI symptoms and urine cultures sent for analysis decreased significantly (P = 0.04 and P = 0.005, respectively). There was high adherence (84%) to increased hydration. Rates of failing office voiding trials remained similar. The number of phone calls decreased by 43% (P = 0.003), and there was no increase in office or emergency department visits. Multivariate regression showed that UTIs were 2.04 times more likely before than after the intervention., Conclusion: Our quality improvement intervention was practical to implement and effective in reducing postoperative UTIs among patients with urinary catheters., (Copyright © 2022 The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada/La Société des obstétriciens et gynécologues du Canada. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction and Hypothesis: It is not known whether the measurements of pelvic organ assessment under anesthesia accurately estimate prolapse severity. We compared Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) measurements in the office to exams under anesthesia., Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients undergoing prolapse surgery between February 2020 and July 2020. POP-Qs at rest and with Valsalva were performed at pre- and postoperative visits. POP-Q under anesthesia was performed, without traction, at the start of case (pre-surgical), following apical suspension, and at the end of case (post-surgical). Primary outcome was change in POP-Q between the office and operating room. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, additional patients were recruited to maintain the follow-up time frame., Results: Out of 66 patients, 63 underwent surgery and 33 had postoperative exams within 6 weeks. Mean age was 61.3 ± 11.9 years, and mean BMI was 28.4 ± 6.5 kg/m 2 . Preoperative Aa, Ba, C, Ap, Bp, and D with Valsalva had greater descent than pre-surgical measurements. However, preoperative Gh with Valsalva (4.1 ± 1.3 cm) was not different from pre-surgical Gh (4.0 ± 1.0 cm) (P = 0.60). Postoperative Aa, Ba, Ap, Bp, and D were not different from post-surgical measurements. In contrast, postoperative Gh at rest (2.3 ± 0.7 cm) and with Valsalva (2.4 ± 0.8 cm) were both narrower than post-surgical Gh (2.8 ± 0.6 cm) (P < 0.05). Gh was also narrowed after apical suspension (3.6 ± 1.0 cm, P = 0.005) prior to posterior repair., Conclusions: Surgeons should rely on preoperative POP-Q for surgical decisions. Gh should be reassessed after apical suspension, and further correction should consider that Gh may be exaggerated compared to the measurement postoperatively when the patient is awake., (© 2022. The International Urogynecological Association.)

Importance: An evaluation of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) effect on perioperative patient phone calls., Objective: The aim of this study was to compare perioperative patient phone calls before and after implementation of ERAS., Study Design: This is a retrospective chart review of women who underwent surgery by urogynecologists where ERAS was implemented. Patients who underwent surgery were identified before the implementation and compared with the same time period after implementation. Perioperative phone calls were reviewed and categorized by reason for call. Differences between the 2 groups were compared with a Student t test if normally distributed or with a Mann-Whitney U test if not. Categorical outcomes were reported with a percentage and compared with a χ2 test with an α level of 0.05., Results: We reviewed 387 records. There was no difference in the percentage of patient calls before and after implementation of ERAS (preoperatively: 19.8% vs 25.1% [ P = 0.21], postoperatively: 64.1% vs 61.5% [ P = 0.61]). Questions about chronic home medications were the most common reasons for calling before surgery (pre-ERAS: 16 [42.1%]; post-ERAS: 12 [28.6%]). Questions related to medications, pain, and bowels were the top reasons people called postoperatively. These remained the top 3 in the post-ERAS time period; however, bowel-related questions switched with medications for the top reason., Conclusions: Despite patient education being an essential component of ERAS with written and verbal instructions provided, our study found no difference in preoperative or postoperative calls with the implementation. By focusing on common concerns, we may be able to improve the patients experience and reduce office phone calls., Competing Interests: The authors have declared they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 American Urogynecologic Society. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate the short-term tolerability of five commercially available anti-demodectic eyelid cleansers; OCuSOFT Oust Demodex (OD), I-MED I-Lid'n Lash Plus (ILL+), Labtician BlephaDex (BD), Chrissanthe Eye Cleanse (EC), and Théa Blephademodex (BDdx)., Methods: Thirty healthy non-contact lens wearers (18 female; mean ± SD age, 33 ± 12 years) were enrolled in a prospective randomised crossover study. On separate visits, spaced at least 48 h apart, participants were randomised to receive topical application of one of five eyelid cleansers or saline. Participants rated subjective ocular discomfort during the 10-minute post-application period. Visual acuity, non-invasive tear film stability, conjunctival hyperaemia, and ocular surface staining were assessed at baseline and 10 min., Results: No inter-group differences in ocular parameters were noted at baseline (all p > 0.05). Ocular discomfort scores significantly exceeded baseline scores for 60 s following BD application, 120 s with OD, 135 s with BDdx, 150 s with ILL+, and 195 s with EC (all p < 0.05). Deterioration in non-invasive tear film stability, limbal conjunctival hyperaemia, as well as corneal, conjunctival, and lid margin staining was detected following EC application (all p < 0.05), and increased bulbar conjunctival hyperaemia was observed following both EC and ILL+ treatment (both p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Study outcomes highlight varying tolerability profiles with different anti-demodectic lid cleanser preparations, and the potential to induce tear film instability, conjunctival hyperaemia and ocular surface staining on application. Awareness of possible adverse effects arising from topical application of commercial anti-demodectic lid cleanser formulations may help clinicians set realistic patient expectations and encourage better compliance in their use of lid hygiene therapies., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Lymphovascular malformations (LVMs) uncommonly present outside the head and neck region as slow-growing nontender masses. Given their rarity, LVMs are not regularly on the differential for genitopelvic masses. These anomalies are not usually dangerous due to their slow progression and distance from vital structures. Recognition of benign LVMs is important to appropriately counsel regarding treatment options and follow-up., Case: We describe an occurrence of an extensive pelvic LVM in an adolescent female presenting as a persistent, increasingly uncomfortable growing vulvar mass, highlighting the importance of keeping this diagnosis in mind when dealing with unusual genital masses., Summary and Conclusion: A multidisciplinary approach including consultation with an interventional radiologist and pediatric hematologist is paramount in providing timely care when dealing with a rare diagnosis., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Importance: This study was performed to understand opioid consumption after midurethral sling (MUS) procedures to provide surgeons with guidelines on appropriate prescription regimens., Objective: This study aimed to evaluate postdischarge narcotic use (PDNU) after MUS surgery using a restrictive postdischarge opioid regimen., Study Design: This prospective clinical practice study included women undergoing MUS surgery from December 2018 to October 2019. Patients were discharged with an electronic prescription for 5 tablets of an oral narcotic. Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) surveys were collected preoperatively. Patients answered questions regarding remaining number of opioid tablets, BPI scores, and patient satisfaction on day 1, week 1 (postoperative week [POW] 1), and 4-6 weeks (POW4-6) postoperatively. Electronic records were reviewed to determine narcotic refills. Primary outcome was PDNU measured in morphine milligram equivalents (MME). Secondary outcomes evaluated refill rate, BPI scores, and patient satisfaction. Standard statistical tests were applied., Results: Fifty-six patients were included in the analysis. Total median (interquartile range) PDNU was 12.5 (0-37.5) MME at POW1 and 15.0 (0-37.5) MME at POW4-6, which is approximately equivalent to 2 oxycodone (5 mg) tablets. Eighteen patients (32.1%) took 0 narcotics postdischarge. Brief Pain Inventory scores showed that "worst pain" was highest on postoperative day 1 with a median (interquartile range) score of 6 (4-8). At the POW1 and POW4-6 mark, 94.3% and 92% of patients, respectively, were satisfied or extremely satisfied with their pain control. Seven patients (11.8%) required a refill., Conclusions: Most patients undergoing MUS surgery used no more than 2 oxycodone (5 mg) tablets during their 6-week postoperative course, with almost a third not requiring any narcotics. Low pain scores and high patient satisfaction rates were noted., Competing Interests: The authors have declared they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 American Urogynecologic Society. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate national trends in apical prolapse surgery with and without uterine preservation using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database., Methods: Based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes, patients diagnosed with uterovaginal prolapse who underwent apical suspensions between 2013 and 2018 were identified, and procedures involving uterine preservation were differentiated from those with concomitant hysterectomy. Patient characteristics and postoperative complications were analyzed., Results: A total of 16 427 patients met inclusion criteria, with 2235 (13.6%) undergoing uterine-preservation procedures and 14 192 (86.4%) undergoing hysterectomy. Between 2013 and 2018, the rates of uterine preservation ranged from 12.8% to 15.3%, with the last 2 years having significantly lower rates. Patients in the uterine-preservation group were older (62.8 vs. 60.5 y; P < 0.001), had higher BMI (28.4 vs. 28.1 kg/m 2 ; P = 0.018), and were more likely to have diabetes (12.4% vs. 10.5%; P = 0.006) and hypertension (43.4% vs. 38.0%; P < 0.001). These patients also had higher frailty index than hysterectomy patients. Patients in the uterine-preservation group were more likely to have vaginal mesh. There were no differences between the 2 groups in length of stay or postoperative complications. On multivariate logistic regression, older age (adjusted odds ratio [aoR] 1.02; P < 0.001), higher BMI (aOR 1.01; P = 0.009), and use of vaginal mesh (aOR 2.75; P < 0.001) were associated with higher odds of uterine preservation. Uterine preservation decreased operative time by about 30 minutes after controlling for confounders., Conclusions: Patients with more comorbidities were more likely to undergo uterine-preserving surgeries, which offered reduced operative time and no differences in postoperative complications., (Copyright © 2021 The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada/La Société des obstétriciens et gynécologues du Canada. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Our survey aimed to evaluate adherence to Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) Guidelines 2016 among intensive care practitioners and to identify issues that remain controversial or lack clarity., Methods: Members of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) were surveyed using an anonymous web-based survey written by an international group of experts. The primary outcome measure was the rate of adherence to specific recommendations. Secondary outcomes were to describe areas of controversy and lack of data and to associate specific practices with clinician characteristics., Results: Overall 820 questionnaires were completed. The SCC recommendations 2016 most adhered to were the choice of norepinephrine as first-line vasoactive drug (96.5%), vasopressor prescription based on therapeutic goal rather than dose (83.4%), targeting a specific mean arterial blood pressure during vasopressor use (77.9%), monitoring of blood pressure invasively (62.8%) and adding vasopressin or epinephrine as a second vasoactive agent (83.4%). We identified an internal conflict with regards to parallel versus sequential administration of fluids and vasoactive drugs and regional differences in practice that may be related to drug availabilities., Conclusion: The use of vasopressors and fluid use in septic shock is largely compliant with current guidelines but several controversies should be addressed in future guideline iterations., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest EB. No relevant conflicts of interest. SZ. No relevant conflicts of interest. LCPA received research grants from Ache Laboratorios farmaceuticos, consulting fees from Halex-Istar and lecture fees from Pfizer and Baxter, all outside the present work. DB. No relevant conflicts of interest. MC. No relevant conflicts of interest. JDW received consulting fees from Pfizer and MSD (all outside the present work, and honoraria were paid to his institution). JL. No relevant conflicts of interest. IML received fees from MSD and Aspen for lectures and from Pfizer, Gilead and Ambu for consulting. RP. No relevant conflicts of interest. TWLS received research grants and honoraria from Edwards Lifesciences (Irvine, CA, USA) and Masimo Inc. (Irvine, CA, USA) for consulting and lecturing (all payments made to institution). ML. Received fees from MSD and Aspen for lectures and from Amomed, Gilead and Ambu for consulting. SE. No relevant conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Several studies have compared short-term catheterization approaches and have demonstrated no difference in patient satisfaction, but no study has evaluated their costs., Objective: To evaluate the costs of 3 pathways for short-term catheter management in patients diagnosed with urinary retention following pelvic surgery., Study Design: We utilized a Markov decision tree to model costs from the society's perspective. In pathway 1, patients have an indwelling catheter and return to the office for a voiding trial. In pathway 2, patients have an indwelling catheter and discontinue the catheters at home. In pathway 3, patients are taught clean intermittent catheterization postoperatively. We accounted for office visits, emergency department visits, urinary tract infection testing and treatment, transportation, caregiver time, teaching time, and supplies., Results: Clean intermittent catheterization is the least costly catheterization method at $79 per patient, followed by self-removal of the catheter ($128) and office voiding trial ($185). One-way sensitivity analyses showed that the distance between the patient and office and the rates of spontaneous voiding following catheterization had the greatest impact. When patients need to travel >5 miles to the office for catheter removal, self-removal of a catheter is less costly than an office voiding trial. Once it has been determined that patients have urinary retention and require catheterization, clean intermittent catheterization is the most cost-saving option only if the patients are taught clean intermittent catheterization postoperatively. If all patients were to be taught clean intermittent catheterization routinely before surgery, it becomes the most costly option. Based on annual surgical volume, if even $30 were saved per patient with postoperative urinary retention, the estimated total societal savings would be $420,000 to $7.2 million., Conclusion: Clean intermittent catheterization as initial management of urinary retention following pelvic surgery is the most cost-saving option when it is only taught postoperatively to patients after determining the need for catheterization. When this is not possible, self-removal of an indwelling catheter is the most cost-saving option, especially as the distance between the patient and provider increases. Choosing the optimal management guided by patient and provider factors can lead to substantial cost savings annually in the United States., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Patients with obesity were underrepresented in studies evaluating the safety and effectiveness of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This study compared clinical outcomes in patients with NVAF and weighing >120 kg and ≤120 kg who were receiving dabigatran., Materials and Methods: This retrospective, matched, longitudinal cohort study included patients from three integrated healthcare delivery systems. Patients ≥18 years of age with NVAF were included if between September 1, 2016 and June 30, 2019 they received dabigatran. Patients >120 kg and ≤120 kg were matched up to 1:6 on age, sex, and CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score. Data were extracted from administrative databases. The primary outcome was a composite of ischemic stroke, clinically-relevant bleeding, systemic embolism, and all-cause mortality. Multivariable regression analyses were performed., Results: 777 and 3522 patients >120 kg and ≤120 kg, respectively, were matched. The >120 kg group tended to be younger with a higher burden of chronic disease. There was no difference between groups in the composite outcome (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] 1.10, 95% confidence interval 0.89-1.37) or individual components of the composite. A subanalysis of clinically-relevant bleeding identified that patients >120 kg were at a greater risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (AHR 1.44, 95% CI 1.01-2.05)., Conclusions: In patients with NVAF and >120 kg, dabigatran use was associated with a small increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding but no differences in stroke, mortality or clinically-relevant bleeding. These findings suggest that dabigatran use is reasonable in patients with NVAF and weight >120 kg., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the interosseous ligament and selected antebrachiocarpal ligaments on the internal rotation of the radius relative to the ulna, during carpal extension., Study Design: Cadaveric study., Sample Population: Twenty-four cadaveric canine forelimbs., Methods: Twenty-four forelimbs were disarticulated at the elbow joint and the antebrachia were prepared for testing. The forelimbs were divided to 6 groups, defined by the order in which ligaments were transected. All specimens were tested intact and after transecting each of the ligaments with the order defined by the group. Rotation of the radius relative to the ulna, caused by extension of the carpus, was measured using a sensor connected to the radius., Results: The mean(±sd) maximum internal rotation of the radius (5.94° ± (1.23°)) with all the ligaments intact was significantly greater (p < 0.012) than the mean(±sd) maximum internal rotation of the radius (3.13° (± 1.13°)) after transecting the interosseus ligament. Transecting the interosseous ligament subsequent to one of the other ligaments caused a decrease in internal radial rotation (p = 0.629), while, transecting the short radial collateral ligament caused an increase in radial rotation (p = 0.629). Transecting the palmar radiocarpal and ulnocarpal ligaments had no effect on radial rotation., Conclusion: The interosseous ligament was stretched with internal rotation of the radius due to carpal extension. Carpal flexion resulted in external rotation of the radius. This effect was lost when the interosseus ligament was transected., Clinical Significance: Rotation of the radius is associated with carpal extension, and is likely an intrinsic part of forelimb biomechanics., (© 2021 The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.)