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Background: To our knowledge, there are no studies assessing associations between patients on preoperative estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) undergoing distal radius open reduction and internal fixation (DRORIF) and postoperative outcomes. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare surgical and medical complications in patients on ERT undergoing DR-ORIF with a matched control cohort. Materials and Methods: The PearlDiver Mariner database was searched for female patients who took ERT within 3 months of the index procedure. Patients were matched 1:4 with non-ERT controls using propensity score matching. Complications were assessed at 90 days, 2 years, and 5 years. Statistical analyses were conducted using odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Statistical significance was determined at a P value of <.05. Results: The ERT cohort consisted of 1,815 ERT users, and the control cohort consisted of 7,247 patients. At 2 years, the ERT cohort was associated with a slightly greater incidence of malunion/nonunion (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.13–2.18) but with no increased risk of revision surgery (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.50–2.10). Similarly, at 5 years, the ERT cohort was associated with a slightly higher likelihood of a malunion/nonunion diagnosis (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.24–2.30). Conclusion: The current study suggests that patients on preoperative ERT had a slightly increased risk of malunion/nonunion at 2 years and 5 years after DR-ORIF. We did not find associations between increases in the risk of any other major or minor complications and the cohort of patients on preoperative ERT within 5 years postoperatively.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Leadership Institute developed the first structured leadership program designed specifically for neurosurgeons. Led by the experts in neurosurgery, health care administration, and business, the program provides formal leadership training and mentorship aimed at advancing neurosurgeons' professional development at local, regional, national, and international levels. METHODS: The CNS Leadership Institute offers 2 curricula tailored for junior and senior faculty. Training begins with assigned readings, webinars, and online lectures that establish essential leadership principles. Core learning occurs during 2 in-person courses featuring interactive lectures, feedback sessions, and a longitudinal leadership project guided by national mentors. Program outcomes were assessed through a 40-question survey of alumni evaluating training effectiveness, skill application, and career advancement. RESULTS: Since 2016, 195 neurosurgeons have completed the CNS Leadership Institute. Among the 77 survey respondents, 70.1% reported significant professional advancement (new leadership role or job transition), and 64.8% directly attributed their advancement in skills and insights acquired through the program. Overall program effectiveness was rated 4.4 of 5, and the mean likelihood-to-recommend was 8.95 (95% CI: 8.70-9.20), yielding a Net Promoter Score of +63 (95% CI: +49 to +77). Alumni have assumed prominent roles including 16 Residency Program Directors, 3 Department Chairs, 1 Vice Dean, 4 Service Line Leaders, 13 CNS Executive Committee members, and over 100 committee or editorial board appointments critical to the specialty. CONCLUSION: The CNS Leadership Institute equips neurosurgeons with structured leadership training, mentorship, and practical tools to enhance their effectiveness as leaders. Survey results confirm that the program has a measurable impact on participants' career trajectories and professional growth. This initiative provides a reproducible model for cultivating the next generation of neurosurgical leaders and advancing the specialty's capacity for strategic, transformational leadership.

Abstract Context Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are widely prescribed for type 2 diabetes and obesity and can lead to substantial weight loss. In patients taking levothyroxine, weight loss can reduce thyroid hormone requirements and potentially associated adverse effects. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) monitoring is essential but unclear whether thyroid function is routinely reassessed after GLP-1 RAs initiation. Objective Examine the changes in the timing of TSH testing after GLP-1 RAs. Design Retrospective cohort study emulating a target trial using Medicare from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2020. The primary analysis followed an intention-to-treat approach. Patients were matched 1:1 using propensity scores. Logistic regression models and informed by least absolute shrinkage operator variable selection were used. Setting The 15% sample of U.S. Medicare fee-for-service claims data. Patients or Other Participants Adults aged ≥65 years with type 2 diabetes on a stable levothyroxine dose at baseline. Intervention(s) Initiation of GLP-1 RAs vs initiation/ongoing use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is). Main Outcome Measure(s) TSH testing during follow-up. Results Among 5370 matched patients, the mean age was 73.2 years. 71.6% were women, and 87.1% were White. Approximately 83.0% of patients in both treatment groups receive a TSH testing within a 1-year follow-up. The mean time to TSH testing was approximately 130.5 days for both groups. Conclusion TSH testing patterns did not differ between GLP-1 RAs and SGLT-2is, despite the greater likelihood of requiring levothyroxine dose adjustment associated with weight loss seen with GLP-1 RA therapy. Given levothyroxine's widespread use, this gap suggests missed opportunities for timely and weight-responsive thyroid monitoring.

Abstract Aims Obesity is linked with worse outcomes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). While both bariatric surgery (BS) and GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) promote weight loss and may improve cardiometabolic risk, their comparative outcomes in HCM remain unclear. Methods and results Adults with HCM and body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m were divided into two cohorts: (i) GLP-1 RA users who never had BS, and (ii) BS patients who never received GLP-1 RA. Propensity score matching (1:1) was performed to balance demographics, comorbidities, and medications. Outcomes over 24 months include all-cause mortality, acute heart failure (HF) hospitalization, arrhythmias, change in BMI, and cardiovascular symptoms. Hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals were estimated using Cox models. Of 5002 patients, 955 were included in each matched cohort after matching (mean age 54 ± 13 years, 70% female, BMI 40.0 kg/m). GLP-1 RA was associated with a significantly lower observed rate of all-cause mortality compared with BS (2.0% vs. 4.4%; HR 0.46; 95% CI 0.27–0.80; P = 0.004) and HF hospitalization (8.7% vs. 14.0%; HR 0.60; 95% CI 0.46–0.79; P &lt; 0.001). Similarly, GLP-1 RA use was associated with a lower incidence of composite cardiovascular outcomes (10.7% vs. 17.2%; HR 0.60; 95% CI 0.47–0.77; P &lt; 0.001). Rates of arrhythmia and cardiovascular symptoms were comparable between the two groups. BMI reduction was greater after bariatric surgery (−4.0 vs. −2.6 kg/m; P &lt; 0.001). Conclusion In obese patients with HCM, GLP-1 RA therapy was associated with lower all-cause mortality and fewer HF events compared with BS. Future studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

Abstract Aims Left bundle branch block (LBBB) is associated with mechanical dyssynchrony, heterogeneous perfusion, and adverse left ventricular (LV) remodelling. However, not all patients with LBBB develop cardiomyopathy, and dyssynchrony can occur without conduction defects. The role of microvascular dysfunction remains uncertain. We aimed to assess how mechanical dyssynchrony and perfusion heterogeneity relate to LV remodelling and function in patients with and without LBBB. Methods and results We analysed 233 patients with LBBB and 932 matched controls who underwent PET myocardial perfusion imaging, assessing mechanical dyssynchrony (phase entropy), LV volumes, and ejection fraction (EF); coronary vascular resistance (CVR), myocardial blood flow (MBF), myocardial flow reserve (MFR) as markers of microvascular function; and septal-to-lateral MBF ratio (SLR) as a measure of regional perfusion heterogeneity. Compared with controls, LBBB patients had greater dyssynchrony (56% vs. 40%), larger LV volumes, and lower EF (54% vs. 67%) (all P &lt; 0.001), as well as higher stress CVR (37 vs. 34 mmHg/mL·min−1·g−1), and lower MBF (2.4 vs. 2.6 mL/min/g), MFR (2.4 vs. 2.6), and SLR (0.95 vs. 1.00) (all P &lt; 0.05). Among patients with dyssynchrony, SLR &lt;1.0 identified greater remodelling. In multivariable regression, phase entropy and SLR independently predicted LV volumes and EF, with adverse effects of SLR reduction amplified in LBBB (interaction P &lt; 0.01). In Cox analysis, phase entropy (HR:1.02, P = 0.01), MFR (HR:0.62, P &lt; 0.001), and LVEF (HR:0.97, P &lt; 0.001) were independently associated with death or heart failure hospitalization, whereas LBBB was not. Conclusion Mechanical dyssynchrony and perfusion heterogeneity independently predict adverse LV remodelling, irrespective of LBBB. Integrated imaging improves cardiomyopathy stratification.

Abstract Objectives Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) offers significant advantages over conventional sternotomy, including reduced trauma and faster recovery. Preoperative planning is crucial, with computed tomography (CT) emerging as an essential imaging tool. This systematic review aims to evaluate CT’s role in MICS planning, focusing on imaging protocols, surgical guidance, and patient outcomes. Methods This study included studies published between January 2003 and January 2025 that examined the role of CT imaging in planning minimally invasive valvular heart surgery. A comprehensive search was conducted in Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE) using predefined keywords and medical subject headings (MeSH) terms related to CT imaging, angiography, minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery, aortic valve surgery, and mitral valve surgery. Results Initial search found 378 studies, and 17 studies were included in the review. The studies highlight CT’s value in assessing surgical feasibility, vascular access, and risk stratification. CT aids in selecting arterial cannulation sites, guiding aortic occlusion strategies, and optimizing port placement. It also identifies contraindications, such as extensive atherosclerosis and anatomical abnormalities, that may necessitate sternotomy. Conclusions Current evidence underscores CT’s critical role in optimizing MICS planning and enhancing patient safety.

Abstract SARS-CoV-2 infection disrupts iron homeostasis in organs such as the lung. Emerging evidence suggests similar dysregulation in the placenta may impair function and fetal growth. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death, is driven by the accumulation of labile ferrous iron, catalyzing the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the absence of sufficient iron storage or antioxidant defenses. This pathway has been implicated in SARS-CoV-2-related tissue damage in other organs and may contribute to placental dysfunction during pregnancy. However, the influence of infection timing, symptom severity, and fetal sex on placental iron regulation remains unexamined. We analyzed placental samples from a cohort of SARS-CoV-2-exposed pregnancies in the first (n = 6), second (n = 14), or third trimester (n = 30), classified by symptom severity (asymptomatic n = 23, symptomatic n = 27) and fetal sex, alongside unexposed controls (n = 47). We assessed placental iron deposition, lipid peroxidation, and mRNA and protein expression of ferroptosis markers. Publicly available RNA-sequencing datasets from human placenta tissue, exposed or not to SARS-CoV-2, were analyzed to assess ferroptosis-related gene expression. SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly in symptomatic cases, was associated with reduced placental weight and birth weight. Asymptomatic cases showed increased placental iron deposition, which correlated with lower birthweight and was accompanied by elevated expression of nuclear receptor coactivator 4, a cytosolic adaptor protein that mediates the selective autophagic degradation of ferritin (ferritinophagy) and iron release. Placentas from symptomatic patients exhibited evidence of altered iron transport and sex-specific down-regulation of antioxidant defenses. Transcriptomic analyses further suggested widespread disruption of ferroptosis pathways in placentas from infected patients. Our findings reveal that SARS-CoV-2 infection alters placental iron homeostasis and is associated with ferroptosis-related changes, with distinct molecular responses based on timing of infection, symptom severity, and fetal sex.

Abstract Background High-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assays are recommended for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Here, we characterize the analytical performance of a next-generation hs-cTn assay, Elecsys® Troponin T hs Gen 6 (Roche Diagnostics International). Methods Surplus lithium-heparin plasma or serum samples from patients or healthy volunteers were run on Cobas® e 801, e 402, and Pro analyzers. Limits of blank (LoB), limits of detection (LoD), and limits of quantitation (LoQ) were determined according to CLSI EP17-A2, with target values of 1.0 and 1.5 ng/L for LoB/LoD and 3.0 ng/L (10% CV) and 1.5 ng/L (20% CV) for LoQ, respectively. Precision was measured, per CLSI EP17-A2, using 3 QC samples (approximately 4, 30, and 220 ng/L), 12 native samples, and 3 reagent lots. Linearity, per CLSI EP06-Ed2, was determined by diluting samples with cardiac troponin T (cTnT) concentration above the measuring range with a low/blank sample. Interference (per Glick) with endogenous and assay components at 5 cTnT concentrations was assessed. Results Measured values for LoB, LoD, and LoQ at 10% and 20% CV were 0.1 to 0.7 ng/L, 0.3 to 1.4 ng/L, 1.0 to 2.9 ng/L, and 0.4 to 1.2 ng/L, respectively. Repeatability CVs were 1.0 to 5.8% for mean cTnT concentrations of 2.6 to 9230 ng/L in lithium-heparin plasma. High precision was shown across lots, and linearity was observed across the measuring range (1.5 to 9500 ng/L, all Pearson's r = 1.00). No interferences were observed, specified up to ≤1000 mg/dL hemoglobin, ≤50 mg/dL [≤855 µmol/L] icterus/bilirubin, and ≤1200 ng/mL biotin. Conclusions The analytical performance characterization of the assay demonstrated high sensitivity, high precision at the low end and across the measuring range, and resistance to interference.