Alexander Y. Li

Microfluidic single-cell transcriptional analysis rationally identifies novel surface marker profiles to enhance cell-based therapies.

Current progenitor cell therapies have only modest efficacy, which has limited their clinical adoption. This may be the result of a cellular heterogeneity that decreases the number of functional progenitors delivered to diseased tissue, and prevents correction of underlying pathologic cell population disruptions. Here, we develop a high-resolution method of identifying phenotypically distinct progenitor cell subpopulations via single-cell transcriptional analysis and advanced bioinformatics. When combined with high-throughput cell surface marker screening, this approach facilitates the rational selection of surface markers for prospective isolation of cell subpopulations with desired transcriptional profiles. We establish the usefulness of this platform in costly and highly morbid diabetic wounds by identifying a subpopulation of progenitor cells that is dysfunctional in the diabetic state, and normalizes diabetic wound healing rates following allogeneic application. We believe this work presents a logical framework for the development of targeted cell therapies that can be customized to any clinical application.

The Role of Stem Cell Therapeutics in Wound Healing: Current Understanding and Future Directions

Background: Chronic wounds present unique challenges for healthcare providers as they place patients at increased risk for various morbidities and mortality. Advances in wound care technology have expanded the treatment options available for wound management, but few products fully address the underlying core deficiencies responsible for the development of poorly healing wounds. In the future, addressing these derangements will undoubtedly play a key role in the treatment of these patients. Broad enthusiasm has surrounded the field of stem cell biology, which has shown great promise in repairing damaged tissues across numerous disease phenotypes. Methods: In this review, we provide a comprehensive review of the literature and evaluate the present landscape of wound therapeutics while discussing the rationales and allure behind stem cell–based products. We further propose 2 challenges that remain as new stem cell–based therapies are being developed and as this technology moves toward clinical translation. Results: Given the relatively young age of this newer technology in wound healing, numerous challenges continue to surround its effective use including identifying the ideal population of stem cells to use and determining the optimal cell delivery method. However, significant forward progress has been made, with several clinical trials beginning to demonstrate reliable clinical benefit. Conclusion: The upward trajectory of stem cell technologies provides an exciting opportunity to positively impact patient outcomes through the controlled application of regenerative cell–based therapy.

Why Women Request Labiaplasty

Background: In recent years, labiaplasty has jumped in popularity, despite opposition to the procedure. In 2007, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists declared the recommendation of cosmetic vaginal procedures to be “untenable,” although in 2016 they allowed consideration of labiaplasty in adolescents if symptoms persist. The reasons for labiaplasty requests are not yet fully understood, and physician opposition limits patient access to surgical relief. Methods: In this prospective study, 50 consecutive patients consulting about labiaplasty were given a questionnaire assessing 11 physical and appearance-related symptoms associated with elongated labia. Results: The mean patient age was 33.5 years (range, 17 to 51 years). Fifty-eight percent of women had given birth, 52 percent noticed that their labia had become elongated as they got older, and 93 percent had bilateral elongation. When asked about physical symptoms, over half of patients experienced tugging during intercourse, found tight pants uncomfortable, experienced twisting of the labia, and noted labia visibility in yoga pants. Nearly half experienced pain during intercourse, and 40 percent said their labia could become exposed in bathing suits. Regarding appearance, almost all patients were self-conscious and over half felt less attractive to their partner, experienced restricted clothing choice, and noted a negative impact on self-esteem and intimacy. Nearly all patients experienced at least four symptoms. Conclusions: Most patients requesting labiaplasty experience both physical and appearance-related symptoms. Understanding this patient perspective is crucial in assessing surgical outcomes. Furthermore, the better all physicians understand labia symptomatology, the better supported patients will be in seeking surgical relief.

Social Media and the Plastic Surgery Patient

Background: Many plastic surgeons use social media as a marketing tool to attract and retain patients, but information about how patients use social media and their preferred types of plastic surgery posts have been lacking. Methods: To investigate patients’ preferred social media networks and the type of posts they wished to see, a cross-sectional study was conducted in a single aesthetic practice of two plastic surgeons by surveying 100 consecutive patients. Results: The age of the patients averaged 44.4 years (range, 17 to 78 years). Facebook had the greatest patient use and engagement, with YouTube second in use, and Instagram second in number of engaged users. Over half used Pinterest, but with little daily engagement. Only one-fourth used Snapchat, but the percentage of users who were highly engaged was second only to Facebook. The least popular network was Twitter, with the fewest patient users and least engagement. Social media played a minor role compared with the practice’s Web site in both influencing patients to choose the practice and providing information on the day of the appointment. Patients most wanted to see posts on a plastic surgeon’s social media platform related to practice information, before-and-after photographs, and contests. Articles about plastic surgery held the least interest. Among five types of Web site content, patients expressed most interest in before-and-after photographs. Conclusions: This study is the first to articulate the plastic surgery patient perspective regarding social media. The findings aim to help plastic surgeons maximize their influence on their target audience.

Reduced incidence of feeding tube dislodgement and missed feeds in burn patients with nasal bridle securement

INTRODUCTION Feeding tubes in burn patients are at high risk for becoming dislodged as traditional tape securement does not adhere well to sloughed skin, resulting in nutrition delivery disruption and placing patients at increased risk for iatrogenic injury upon reinsertion. METHODS Seventy-four patients admitted to our regional burn center requiring nasoenteric nutritional support were prospectively followed. Fourty-one patients received a nasal bridle while thirty-three received traditional tape and elastic dressings. Primary outcomes centered on measuring clinical efficacy of the nasal bridle system. RESULTS Conventional tape-secured feeding tubes were dislodged more frequently (0.9±0.2 times per 10 feeding days vs. 0.2±0.1 times per 10 feeding days; p=0.005). Nasal bridle secured tubes showed significantly longer functional life on Kaplan Meier analysis (hazard ratio 0.35; p=0.01). Fewer abdominal x-ray studies were performed to confirm tube placement in nasal bridle patients (1.48±0.13 for nasal bridle vs. 2.21±0.21 for conventional tape-secured; p=0.003). Overall, patients with bridle securement had fewer hours of missed enteric feeds (2.51±0.95hours vs. 6.72±2.07hours; p=0.05). Importantly, utilization of a nasal bridle decreased overall estimated costs for enteric feeding management (

Gender Differences in the Professional and Personal Lives of Plastic Surgeons

1,379.72±120.70 vs.

Regional Variation and Trends in the Timing of Lower Extremity Reconstruction: A 10-Year Review of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample

1,107.66±63.95; p=0.05). CONCLUSIONS Utilization of a nasal bridle system provides a reliable method for securement of nasoenteric feeding tubes with clinical benefits in the burn patient population.