Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate trends in Urogynecologic and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery (URPS) among early-career urologists, comparing URPS-trained and non-URPS urologists using American Board of Urology case logs from 2009-2020. MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:Six-month American Board of Urology case logs from 3113 early-career urologists were analyzed. Procedures included sling placement and urethral bulking for stress urinary incontinence (SUI), transvaginal prolapse repair and sacrocolpopexy for pelvic organ prolapse, and intravesical Botox injection and sacral neuromodulation for overactive bladder (OAB). RESULTS:URPS urologists performed higher mean case volumes for SUI (sling: 11 vs 5, P <.01; bulking: 8 vs 4, P <.01), prolapse (transvaginal: 8 vs 4, P <.001; sacrocolpopexy: 6 vs 3, P <.001), and OAB procedures (Botox: 10 vs 4.5, P <.001; sacral neuromodulation: 13.2 vs 7.9, P <.001) than non-URPS urologists. URPS training was associated with higher odds of performing these procedures (odds ratios (ORs) 8.3-25.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) [5.97-45.84] P <.01). The proportion of non-URPS urologists performing SUI and prolapse procedures declined over the years (Spearman's ρ = -0.79 to -0.94, P <.01), while the adoption of OAB procedures increased. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Our findings revealed a gradual shift in practice patterns toward increasing subspecialization, particularly for SUI and prolapse surgeries. Interestingly, minimally invasive OAB treatments are increasingly adopted by non-URPS urologists, likely due to improvements in surgical techniques and the development of new technology.

OBJECTIVE:To determine the test performance of cutaneous phosphorylated alpha-synuclein (P-SYN) in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), individuals with reduced Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and healthy controls. METHODS:This is the first subgroup analysis of the Synuclein-One study, a prospective, blinded study evaluating P-SYN detection from skin biopsies in 218 subjects with a referral diagnosis of control (N = 151) and DLB (N = 67). All subjects completed detailed examinations, questionnaires, and had skin biopsies for detection of P-SYN. DLB patients were included if meeting the 4th DLB consensus probable criteria. Control subjects, aged 40-99, had no history, examination findings, or symptoms suggestive of a synucleinopathy or neurodegenerative disease. An expert review panel, blinded to pathological data, determined the final diagnosis. Controls with reduced MoCA (MoCA < 26, N = 26) at screening were analyzed separately. RESULTS:After expert panel review, only 50/67 patients met consensus criteria for DLB, 26/151 controls had a reduced MoCA, and 120/151 controls had a normal MoCA. The proportions of subjects with cutaneous P-SYN detected by skin biopsy were 96.0% (48 of 50) of the DLB group, 31% (8 of 26) of the controls with reduced MoCA, and 3.3% (4 of 120) of the controls with normal MoCA. INTERPRETATION/CONCLUSIONS:In this prospective, blinded, cross-sectional study, a high proportion of subjects meeting clinical consensus criteria for DLB had P-SYN detected in skin biopsies. Almost 1/3 of subjects with reduced MoCA testing also had P-SYN detected. These results support a role for skin biopsy detection of P-SYN in patients with DLB. TRIAL REGISTRATION/BACKGROUND:NCT04700722.

Insurance type is a key indicator of structural vulnerability in pediatric mental health care and may be associated with differences in psychiatric presentation, treatment course, and diagnosis among hospitalized youth, particularly Black and Hispanic/Latino children insured by Medicaid. Despite these inequities, their impact remains understudied among psychiatrically hospitalized pediatric populations. This retrospective study analyzed 1,101 child and adolescent psychiatric patients admitted to an urban psychiatric hospital between June 2018 and November 2021. Clinical presentation, psychiatric history, treatment course, and discharge diagnoses were compared between patients' insurance by Medicaid (72%) and those with commercial insurance (28%). Compared with commercially insured patients, children and adolescents with Medicaid were more likely to be Black or Hispanic/Latino and had higher rates of trauma exposure, prior psychiatric emergency visits, and higher rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), impulsive/behavioral disorders, and developmental/intellectual disorders. They were more frequently admitted for aggression-related crises, more likely to receive emergency injectable medications for agitation, and had longer hospital stays. Commercially insured patients had higher rates of anxiety disorders and suicide attempt related admissions. These findings suggest children and adolescents with Medicaid who required psychiatric hospitalization had greater severity of psychosocial histories and higher-acuity inpatient courses, highlighting how structural inequities reflected by insurance type, may shape differing psychiatric treatment pathways, underscoring the need for equity-oriented interventions, particularly during periods of healthcare system strains.

BACKGROUND:Varicocele severity has traditionally been associated with larger testicular vein size, but the true relationship to decreased fertility remains debatable. In clinical practice, the largest testicular vein diameter is an often-used parameter to screen for potential surgical intervention, even though current research provides weak support for this. More recent studies have found venous reflux patterns and total testicular volume (TTV) to be significantly associated with total motile sperm count (TMSC). This study compares largest testicular vein size and arterial flow rates, assessing the predictive value of each for identifying patients at risk for reduced semen analysis (SA) parameters. METHODS:We conducted a retrospective, single-institution chart review over 14 years of 487 Tanner V adolescents. Patients were included if they had a palpable, primary left-sided varicocele and underwent at least one SA and scrotal Doppler ultrasound (SDUS) to assess vein diameter and arterial blood flow including peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities. Abnormal TMSC was defined by WHO 2010 criteria. Descriptive statistics, ROC analysis and univariate as well as multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed using SPSS. RESULTS:148 Tanner V adolescent males were included. Mean age ± SD was 18.24 ± 1.38 years. Median diameter of largest vein on US was 3.5 mm (IQR 3.1-4.6), median peak systolic velocity (PSV) of the left testicular artery was 10.4 cm/s (IQR 9.1-12.5), median end-diastolic velocity (EDV) of the left testicular artery was 5.1 cm/s (IQR 4.3-5.9), and median value of PSV/EDV was 2.1 (IQR 1.8-2.3), with a median TMSC of 37.4 million sperm (IQR 15.8-84.2). On ROC analysis regarding prediction of abnormal TMSC (<9 million sperm/ejaculate), left testicular PSV was found to have the greatest AUC at 0.73 (95 % CI 0.62-0.85) with Youden index analysis determining an ideal cutoff of 10.22 cm/s. Based on this cutoff, the positive predictive value for identifying a patient with abnormal TMSC was 23.6 %, corresponding to a number needed to screen of approximately 4 patients to identify one with abnormal sperm parameters. Left testicle largest vein diameter was found to have an AUC of 0.48. On univariate logistic regression, PSV <10.22 cm/s was predictive of abnormal TMSC (OR: 5.51 [1.84-16.46], p = 0.002, which persisted on multivariate logistic regression with adjustment for age (OR: 5.49 [1.83-16.43], p = 0.002). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Left testicular PSV was the parameter most significantly correlated with TMSC in this cohort. A PSV <10.22 cm/s was found to be predictive of an abnormally low TMSC. There was no significant predictive value of larger veins for abnormal TMSC. When assessing varicocele severity by US, left testicular artery PSV should be measured to help stratify future fertility risk and provide important context regarding shared decision making about potential surgical intervention.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:As total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty procedures are increasingly performed on younger patients with obesity, the optimal approach to preoperative weight management remains undefined. This study explores national trends among US arthroplasty surgeons regarding body mass index (BMI) cutoffs, weight optimization strategies, and weight loss medication usage. METHODS:A 28-question national survey was distributed through e-mail to members of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons and shared on professional social media platforms (Facebook, ResearchGate, and LinkedIn) between January 1 and August 5, 2024. RESULTS:Regarding arthroplasty reconstruction fellowship training, 82.58% (441/534) of respondents were fellowship trained, 11.42% (61/534) were not fellowship trained, and 5.99% (32/534) trained in other specialties. In terms of BMI optimization strategies, 82.84% (n = 444/536) recommended structured diet and exercise programs, 77.99% (n = 418/536) recommended dietitian or weight loss specialist programs, and 52.61% (n = 282/536) advocated for bariatric surgery. For total hip arthroplasty, 45.13% of surgeons used a BMI cutoff <40 kg/m2 (n = 241/534), followed by 23.97% advocating for no strict cutoff (n = 128/534). For total knee arthroplasty, 41.65% reported using a cutoff of <40 kg/m2 (n = 222/533), with 24.39% (n = 130/533) reporting no strict BMI cutoff. In addition, 27.62% (n = 58/210) reported that their patients used weight loss medications such as GLP-1 agonists. Notably, 68.0% (n = 356/526) of surgeons allowed up to 1 to 2 years for BMI optimization before surgery. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Although many arthroplasty surgeons use BMI cutoffs, many accommodate patients through nonsurgical interventions to facilitate weight loss. These findings indicate that many respondents report a multidisciplinary approach to preoperative BMI optimization.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, immune-mediated neurological disease, leading to significant morbidity. Over 25 disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are approved for MS; however, older patients may benefit less from high-efficacy DMTs. We compared the risk of severe infections (SIs) and annualized relapse rate (ARR) by age (< 45 and ≥ 45 years) between diroximel fumarate (DRF) and anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in patients with MS. METHODS:This retrospective study utilized the Komodo Health Claims database to identify patients treated with DRF or anti-CD20 agents. Patients were propensity score matched 1:1 on baseline characteristics and stratified by age (younger: < 45 years; older: ≥ 45 years). Infection-related encounters were identified by diagnosis codes; SIs required hospitalization or intravenous antibiotics. MS relapses were based on inpatient or outpatient claims and associated treatments. RESULTS:Between 2016 and 2025, 2894 propensity score-matched patients with MS who initiated DRF (n = 1447) or anti-CD20s (n = 1447) were included. DRF-treated patients had a lower proportion of SIs at 12 and 24 months compared with anti-CD20-treated patients (p ≤ 0.002 at 24 months). Younger DRF-treated patients had significantly fewer SIs (p = 0.005), while older DRF-treated patients had lower non-SI rates. COVID-19-related SIs were also significantly lower in DRF-treated patients (p < 0.001). ARRs were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:DRF-treated patients with MS had a significantly lower risk of SI compared with anti-CD20-treated patients, with no difference in ARR. More real-world studies are needed to understand the efficacy and safety of DMTs in the setting of de-escalation in aging patients with MS.

BACKGROUND/UNASSIGNED:Tapia's syndrome is a rare neurological condition defined by concurrent unilateral paralysis of the vagus (cranial nerve X) and hypoglossal (cranial nerve XII) nerves. It is most commonly reported as an iatrogenic complication of procedures involving airway manipulation, such as orotracheal intubation. This report describes a unique case of Tapia's syndrome with a temporal association to the initiation of noninvasive continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. CASE PRESENTATION/UNASSIGNED:A 66-year-old female presented with a four-day history of acute-onset dysphonia, dysphagia, and right-sided tongue deviation. Her symptoms began shortly after initiating CPAP therapy with a full-face mask for newly diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea. She had also recently received multiple vaccinations. Clinical examination revealed right-sided vagus and hypoglossal nerve palsies, and laryngoscopy confirmed right vocal cord paralysis. Extensive diagnostic evaluation, including magnetic resonance imaging and angiography of the brain and neck, effectively excluded central nervous system pathologies such as stroke, demyelinating disease, or mass lesions and diagnosis of Tapia's syndrome was made. The patient was managed by discontinuing CPAP and administering a course of oral corticosteroids, alongside speech and swallowing therapy. She experienced a near-complete resolution of her symptoms over 6 weeks. CONCLUSION/UNASSIGNED:This case suggests that Tapia's syndrome can be a rare complication of noninvasive airway support. A multifactorial etiology involving mechanical nerve compression from the CPAP apparatus, potentially compounded by an immune-mediated nerve sensitization from recent vaccinations, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of lower cranial neuropathies.

OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:Most pediatric residency programs introduce PICU rotations in postgraduate year (PGY) 2, although it is unclear whether this timing best supports trainees' skill development. Introduction during PGY1 may pose challenges due to clinical intensity, but could also have benefits in uniquely preparing residents for PGY2 responsibilities and autonomy. To address this question, this study explored the experiences and self-perceived impacts of a PGY1 PICU rotation among senior pediatric residents. DESIGN/METHODS:A multi-institutional qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews of senior (PGY2 and PGY3) residents who completed a PGY1 PICU rotation. Stratified purposive sampling was used at both institutional and resident levels. Data were coded using constant comparison and analyzed thematically. SETTING/METHODS:Seven institutions requiring a 4-week PGY1 PICU rotation. PARTICIPANTS/METHODS:Senior pediatric residents at participating institutions. INTERVENTIONS/METHODS:None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS/RESULTS:Twenty-one interviews across seven institutions identified three key themes: 1) PGY1s can succeed in the PICU setting when supervisors actively cultivate a learning environment of inclusion, support, and appropriate autonomy; 2) PGY1 PICU rotations can foster self-perceived competence in skills that translate to the PGY2 year; and 3) Participants generally believed the benefits of early PICU exposure outweighed the challenges. CONCLUSIONS:PGY1 PICU rotations can fall within the Zone of Proximal Development when the experience includes strong supervisory support. Findings highlighted the importance of psychologic safety for optimal learning, suggesting that strengthening psychologic safety may enhance the educational experience and outcomes. Further research exploring the impact of PGY1s on team dynamics and patient care, and comparing the effects of PGY1 vs. PGY2 introduction, could guide evidence-based recommendations on the optimal sequencing of PICU rotations for pediatric residents.

BACKGROUND:Cognitive impairment (CI) is prevalent in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and influences employment outcomes independent of physical disability. Although associations between multi-domain CI and employment have been established, less is known about the relative clinical utility of brief cognitive screening tools versus time-efficient multi-domain computerized assessments that can be implemented in routine care. OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:To compare the Symbol Digit Modality Test (SDMT) and NeuroTrax computerized cognitive battery (NT) as predictors of self-reported employment status in PwMS. METHOD/METHODS:109 PwMS (Mean age = 48 years, SD = 10.4; 74 % female) completed the oral SDMT and NT as part of routine clinical care. Employment status was self-reported as "employed" or "unemployed" (including early retirement if <55 years). RESULTS:(3) = 17.862, p < .001), with executive function and attention most frequently impaired. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:While the SDMT remains a useful screening tool, the NT appears clinically feasible for use in routine care and provides incremental and domain-specific information beyond processing speed alone. Extending assessment in routine care beyond a single screening measure may better characterize cognitive profiles associated with unemployment and inform individualized vocational interventions in PwMS.