The Relevance of Implanted Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Orthopedics Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Background: Percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) is a form of neuromodulation that involves the transmission of electrical energy via metal contacts known as leads or electrodes. PNS has gained popularity in orthopedic surgery as several studies have supported its use as a pain control device for patients suffering from pain due to orthopedic pathologies involving the knee, shoulder, and foot. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize the literature involving peripheral nerve stimulation in orthopedic surgery. The existing body of literature provides support for further research regarding the use of PNS in the management of knee pain, hip pain, shoulder pain, foot pain, and orthopedic trauma. Notably, the evidence for its efficacy in addressing knee and shoulder pain is present. Methods: This study was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Seven hundred and forty-five unique entries were identified. Two blinded reviewers assessed each article by title and abstract to determine its relevance and categorized them as "include", "exclude", and "maybe". After a preliminary review was completed, reviewers were unblinded and a third reviewer retrieved articles labeled as "maybe" and those with conflicting labels to determine their relevance. Twenty-eight articles were included, and seven hundred and seventeen articles were excluded. Articles discussing the use of PNS in the field of orthopedic surgery in patients > 18 years of age after 2010 were included. Exclusion criteria included neuropathic pain, phantom limb pain, amputation, non-musculoskeletal related pathology, non-orthopedic surgery related pathology, spinal cord stimulator, no reported outcomes, review articles, abstracts only, non-human subjects. Results: A total of 16 studies analyzing 69 patients were included. All studies were either case series or case reports. Most articles involved the application of PNS in the knee (8) and shoulder (6) joint. Few articles discussed its application in the foot and orthopedic trauma. All studies demonstrated that PNS was effective in reducing pain. Discussion: Peripheral nerve stimulation can be effective in managing postoperative or chronic pain in patients suffering from orthopedic pathology. This systematic review is limited by the scarcity of robust studies with substantial sample sizes and extended follow up periods in the existing literature.

Application of Delta T1 maps for quantitative and objective assessment of extent of resection and survival prediction in glioblastoma.

Background and Objectives: Gross-total resection (GTR) and low residual tumor volume (RTV) have been associated with increased survival in glioblastoma. Largely due to the subjectivity involved, the determination of GTR and RTV remains difficult in the postoperative setting. In response, the objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of an easy-to-use MRI metric, called delta T1 (dT1), to quantify extent of resection (EOR) and RTV, in comparison to radiologist impression, to predict overall survival (OS) in glioblastoma patients. Methods: 59 patients who underwent resection of glioblastoma were retrospectively identified. Delta T1 (dT1) images, automatically created from the difference between calibrated post- and pre-contrast T1-weighted images, were used to quantify EOR and RTV. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were determined for EOR categories, an RTV cutoff of 5cm3 and radiologist interpretation of EOR. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to evaluate RTV and EOR along with effects related to sex, KPS, MGMT, and age on OS. Results: Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in median OS for a dT1-determined RTV cutoff of 5 cm3 (P=.0024, HR=2.18 (1.232-3.856)), but not for radiological impression (P=0.666) or dT1-determined EOR (P=0.0803), which was limited to a comparison between partial and subtotal resections. Furthermore, when covariates were accounted for in multivariate Cox regression, significant differences in OS were retained for dT1-determined RTV. Additionally, a significantly strong yet short-term effect of MGMT methylation status on OS was revealed for each RTV and EOR model. Conclusion: The utility of dT1 maps to quantify EOR and RTV in glioblastoma and predict survival, suggests an emerging role for dT1s with relevance for intraoperative MRI, neuro-navigation and postoperative disease surveillance.

The sympathetic nervous system response to a Continuous Performance Task.

A Continuous Performance Task is an example of a mental stressor which requires vigilance, attention, and effort. We hypothesized that a sympathetic nervous system response would be evident from a resting baseline period to this attention test, and explored if physiological measures were correlated to state and trait anxiety, perceived stress, mindfulness, and performance on the task. In 20 undergraduates, blood pressure and skin conductance increased due to the attention test but heart rate variability did not change. The physiological variables did not correlate to psychological variables; there was a trend of higher perceived stress correlating to lower foil accuracy rate ( p = 0.09). ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06098352.

Persistent changes in calcium-regulating hormones and bone turnover markers in living kidney donors more than 20 years after donation.

In a previous study, we observed decreased 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and increased bone turnover markers in living kidney donors (LKDs) at 3 months and 36 months after kidney donation. In our recent survey-based study, we found no increased risk of fractures of all types but observed significantly more vertebral fractures in LKDs compared with matched controls. To elucidate the long-term effects of kidney donation on bone health, we recruited 139 LKDs and 139 age and sex matched controls from the survey-based participants for further mechanistic analyses. Specifically, we assessed whether LKDs had persistent abnormalities in calcium- and phosphorus-regulating hormones and related factors, in bone formation and resorption markers, and in density and microstructure of bone compared with controls. We measured serum markers, bone mineral density (BMD), bone microstructure and strength (via high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography and micro-finite element analysis [HRpQCT]), and advanced glycation end-products in donors and controls. LKDs had decreased 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations (donors mean 33.89 pg/mL vs. controls 38.79 pg/mL, percent difference = -12.6%; P < .001), increases in both parathyroid hormone (when corrected for ionized calcium; donors mean 52.98 pg/mL vs. controls 46.89 pg/mL,% difference 13%; P = .03) and ionized calcium levels (donors mean 5.13 mg/dL vs. controls 5.04 mg/dL; P < .001), and increases in several bone resorption and formation markers versus controls. LKDs and controls had similar measures of BMD; however, HRpQCT suggested that LKDs have a statistically insignificant tendency toward thinner cortical bone and lower failure loads as measured by micro-finite element analysis. Our findings suggest that changes in the hormonal mileu after kidney donation and the long-term cumulative effects of these changes on bone health persist for decades after kidney donation and may explain later-life increased rates of vertebral fractures.

Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Accessibility: An Area Deprivation Index (ADI) Analysis of National Basketball Association (NBA) Players' Profiles.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Youth sports are increasingly shifting towards a "pay to play" model which has introduced financial barriers to participation. The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is the main organization for club basketball, serving as a platform where young athletes can compete beyond the recreational level. Outside the realm of athletes who have access to state-of-the-art facilities and top-tier coaching, the pathway to playing basketball at the next level may be predominantly available to those who can afford the considerable costs of AAU participation. The objective of this study is to determine the accessibility of AAU teams of active National Basketball Association (NBA) players through use of the Area Deprivation Index (ADI). RECENT FINDINGS: We identified 114 AAU teams with physical addresses for 250 (50%) currently active domestic NBA players. The State ADI of the high schools as well as national and state ADIs of prior AAU teams of active NBA players were significantly skewed toward lower ADI rankings (higher socioeconomic status) (p < 0.05). The mean distance between high school location and AAU location was 170 miles. Prior AAU teams of currently active NBA players are more frequently located in areas of higher socioeconomic status with nearly 50% being within the top 3rd lower state decile as measured by the area deprivation index. Similarly, we found the high schools these players attended, as a proxy for areas they grew up in, were also more frequently located in areas of higher socioeconomic status.

Influence of Bone Cement Augmentation on Complications in Cephalomedullary Nail Fixation of Geriatric Intertrochanteric Hip Fractures.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine if augmentation of the helical blade with polymethylmethacrylate bone cement decreases the rates of varus cut-out and medial perforation in geriatric intertrochanteric hip fracture fixation. Methods: This was a retrospective comparative cohort study at two urban Level I trauma centers. Patients with an intertrochanteric hip fracture (classified as AO 31A1-3) who were treated with the TFN-Advanced Proximal Femoral Nailing System (TFNA) from 2018 to 2021 were eligible for the study. Medical records and post-operative radiographs were reviewed to determine procedure complications and reoperations. Results: Of the 179 patients studied, cement augmentation (CA) was used in 93 patients (52%) and no cement augmentation (NCA) was used in 86 (48%). There were no significant differences between group demographics and fracture reduction grades. Varus cut-out occurred three times in the CA group and five times in the NCA group (p = 0.48). Medial perforation occurred three times, all in the NCA group (p = 0.11). The most frequent complication was symptomatic blade lateralization from fracture collapse, with eight occurrences in the CA group compared with two in the NCA group (p = 0.10). There were 10 reoperations in the CA group and 9 in the NCA group (p = 0.99). The most common reason for reoperation was varus cut-out and the most common revision procedure was hip arthroplasty. Conclusions: Intertrochanteric hip fractures treated with the TFNA fixation system with and without cement augmentation have similar complication profiles and reoperation rates.

Causal evidence for cholinergic stabilization of attractor landscape dynamics.

There is substantial evidence that neuromodulatory systems critically influence brain state dynamics; however, most work has been purely descriptive. Here, we quantify, using data combining local inactivation of the basal forebrain with simultaneous measurement of resting-state fMRI activity in the macaque, the causal role of long-range cholinergic input to the stabilization of brain states in the cerebral cortex. Local inactivation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (nbM) leads to a decrease in the energy barriers required for an fMRI state transition in cortical ongoing activity. Moreover, the inactivation of particular nbM sub-regions predominantly affects information transfer in cortical regions known to receive direct anatomical projections. We demonstrate these results in a simple neurodynamical model of cholinergic impact on neuronal firing rates and slow hyperpolarizing adaptation currents. We conclude that the cholinergic system plays a critical role in stabilizing macroscale brain state dynamics.

Rapid recognition and optimal management of hemophilia in the emergency department: A quality improvement project.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a continuous quality improvement initiative at the University of Florida Health Physicians practice in reducing the time to administer factor replacement therapy (FRT) for hemophilia patients presenting with bleeding in the emergency department (ED). Methods: The study, a quasi-experimental, interventional design, was conducted between January 2020 and January 2023. The intervention, implemented in September 2021, involved training ED physicians, creating a specialized medication order set within the electronic health record (EHR), and a rapid triage system. The effectiveness was measured by comparing the time from ED arrival to factor administration before and after the intervention and benchmarking it against the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation's Medical and Scientific Advisory Council (MASAC)-recommended 1-hour timeline for factor administration. An interrupted time series (ITS) analysis with a generalized least squares model assessed the intervention's impact. Results: A total of 43 ED visits (22 pre-intervention and 21 post-intervention) were recorded. Post-intervention, the average time from ED arrival to factor administration decreased from 5.63 to 3.15 hours. There was no significant increase (27% vs. 29%) in the patients receiving factor within 1-hour of ED arrival. The ITS analysis predicted a 20-hour reduction in the average quarterly time to administer factor by the end of the study, an 84% decrease. Conclusions: The quality improvement program decreased the time to administer FRT for patients with hemophilia in the ED. However, the majority of patients did not achieve the 1-hour MASAC-recommended timeline for factor administration after ED arrival.

Case report: Regression of in-transit metastases of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with combination pembrolizumab and topical diphencyprone.

While typically low-risk, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) can infrequently progress to metastatic disease with in-transit lesions, localized to the dermis or subcutaneous tissue between the primary tumor and draining regional lymph nodes. These lesions are associated with poor prognostic values, including decreased survival rates and increased risk of recurrence. We present the case of a 75-year-old male with cSCC and in-transit metastases on his scalp treated with the immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) pembrolizumab in conjunction with diphencyprone (DPCP), a topical hapten that induces a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction in the skin. The patient was enrolled in a clinical trial (NCT05481658) that involved the twice-weekly application of DPCP 0.04% ointment to four of the in-transit metastases on his frontal scalp, concurrent with pembrolizumab 300 mg administered every three weeks. Following effective sensitization and a twelve-week treatment course, complete clearance of all lesions, DPCP-treated and non-DPCP treated, was achieved, with no adverse events. The immunologic profiles of the post-treatment biopsies were analyzed by TaqMan Low Density Array quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to measure immune marker gene expression. Relative to the non-DPCP-treated lesion, the DPCP-treated lesion demonstrated increased pro-inflammatory genetic markers and T-cell activation. This case represents the first reported instance of in-transit metastases of cSCC successfully treated with DPCP and an ICI. It highlights the potential safety and efficacy of DPCP with systemic immunotherapy for the management of in-transit metastases of cSCC in patients for whom surgery and radiation may be contraindicated.

Embryology of the fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata): A marsupial model for comparative mammalian developmental and evolutionary biology.

BACKGROUND: Marsupials are a diverse and unique group of mammals, but remain underutilized in developmental biology studies, hindering our understanding of mammalian diversity. This study focuses on establishing the fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata) as an emerging laboratory model, providing reproductive monitoring methods and a detailed atlas of its embryonic development. RESULTS: We monitored the reproductive cycles of female dunnarts and established methods to confirm pregnancy and generate timed embryos. With this, we characterized dunnart embryo development from cleavage to birth, and provided detailed descriptions of its organogenesis and heterochronic growth patterns. Drawing stage-matched comparisons with other species, we highlight the dunnarts accelerated craniofacial and limb development, characteristic of marsupials. CONCLUSIONS: The fat-tailed dunnart is an exceptional marsupial model for developmental studies, where our detailed practices for reproductive monitoring and embryo collection enhance its accessibility in other laboratories. The accelerated developmental patterns observed in the Dunnart provide a valuable system for investigating molecular mechanisms underlying heterochrony. This study not only contributes to our understanding of marsupial development but also equips the scientific community with new resources for addressing biodiversity challenges and developing effective conservation strategies in marsupials.

Potential consumer response to the healthy symbol proposed by the U.S. food and Drug Administration.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed updates to the definition of "healthy," including distinctions between types of sugar and fats and limits on added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium. To communicate the updated standards, the FDA is developing a Healthy symbol to display on food packages, which could reduce knowledge gaps by assisting U.S. consumers in meeting recommended nutritional guidelines. This study aimed to explore the potential for the label to increase consumers' ability to correctly identify a food product that met the FDA's criteria for a healthy symbol. To complete the study objective, 1018 adults were recruited to represent the U.S. population regarding gender, age, income, and geographic region, and a randomized group experiment was used to determine the potential communication value of an FDA Healthy symbol. Respondents were randomized to a group shown either a healthy yogurt with the FDA symbol, a healthy yogurt without the symbol, or an unhealthy yogurt. Respondents were then asked whether they considered the yogurt shown to be healthy, a question examining the desired criteria for the Healthy symbol, willingness to accept various costs to implement the symbol, and questions to measure objective dietary knowledge. Adding the symbol to yogurt that already met the healthy criteria only yielded about a 4 percentage point increase in the proportion of respondents identifying it as healthy. However, 53 % of participants still identified a yogurt too high in added sugars as healthy. For the desired label criteria, 64 % of respondents selected limits on added sugars, 57 % selected limits on sodium, and 54 % selected limits on saturated fats, which all align with the proposed updates to the definition of healthy. Over half of the participants supported the implementation of the label, even at a cost of $40 annually, and 86 % supported implementation at no cost.

Pro-inflammatory macrophage activation does not require inhibition of mitochondrial respiration.

Pro-inflammatory macrophage activation is a hallmark example of how mitochondria serve as signaling organelles. Upon classical macrophage activation, oxidative phosphorylation sharply decreases and mitochondria are repurposed to accumulate signals that amplify effector function. However, evidence is conflicting as to whether this collapse in respiration is essential or largely dispensable. Here we systematically examine this question and show that reduced oxidative phosphorylation is not required for pro-inflammatory macrophage activation. Only stimuli that engage both MyD88- and TRIF-linked pathways decrease mitochondrial respiration, and different pro-inflammatory stimuli have varying effects on other bioenergetic parameters. Additionally, pharmacologic and genetic models of electron transport chain inhibition show no direct link between respiration and pro-inflammatory activation. Studies in mouse and human macrophages also reveal accumulation of the signaling metabolites succinate and itaconate can occur independently of characteristic breaks in the TCA cycle. Finally, in vivo activation of peritoneal macrophages further demonstrates that a pro-inflammatory response can be elicited without reductions to oxidative phosphorylation. Taken together, the results suggest the conventional model of mitochondrial reprogramming upon macrophage activation is incomplete.

Understanding 2p core-level excitons of late transition metals by analysis of mixed-valence copper in a metal-organic framework.

The L2,3-edge X-ray absorption spectra of late transition metals such as Cu, Ag, and Au exhibit absorption onsets lower in energy for higher oxidation states, which is at odds with the measured spectra of earlier transition metals. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations for Cu2+/Cu+ reveal a larger 2p core-exciton binding energy for Cu2+, overshadowing shifts in single-particle excitation energies with respect to Cu+. We explore this phenomenon in a Cu+ metal-organic framework with ∼12% Cu2+ defects and find that corrections with self-consistent excited-state total energy differences provide accurate XAS peak alignment.

Sir2 and Fun30 regulate ribosomal DNA replication timing via Mcm helicase positioning and nucleosome occupancy.

The association between late replication timing and low transcription rates in eukaryotic heterochromatin is well-known, yet the specific mechanisms underlying this link remain uncertain. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the histone deacetylase Sir2 is required for both transcriptional silencing and late replication at the repetitive ribosomal DNA arrays (rDNA). We have previously reported that in the absence of SIR2, a derepressed RNA PolII repositions MCM replicative helicases from their loading site at the ribosomal origin, where they abut well-positioned, high-occupancy nucleosomes, to an adjacent region with lower nucleosome occupancy. By developing a method that can distinguish activation of closely spaced MCM complexes, here we show that the displaced MCMs at rDNA origins have increased firing propensity compared to the non-displaced MCMs. Furthermore, we found that both, activation of the repositioned MCMs and low occupancy of the adjacent nucleosomes critically depend on the chromatin remodeling activity of FUN30. Our study elucidates the mechanism by which Sir2 delays replication timing, and it demonstrates, for the first time, that activation of a specific replication origin in vivo relies on the nucleosome context shaped by a single chromatin remodeler.

Examination of Wnt signaling as a therapeutic target for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) using a pancreatic tumor organoid library (PTOL).

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) presents at advanced stages and is refractory to most treatment modalities. Wnt signaling activation plays a critical role in proliferation and chemotherapeutic resistance. Minimal media conditions, growth factor dependency, and Wnt dependency were determined via Wnt inhibition for seven patient derived organoids (PDOs) derived from pancreatic tumor organoid libraries (PTOL). Organoids demonstrating response in vitro were assessed in vivo using patient-derived xenografts. Wnt (in)dependent gene signatures were identified for each organoid. Panc269 demonstrated a trend of reduced organoid growth when treated with ETC-159 in combination with paclitaxel or gemcitabine as compared with chemotherapy or ETC-159 alone. Panc320 demonstrated a more pronounced anti-proliferative effect in the combination of ETC-159 and paclitaxel but not with gemcitabine. Panc269 and Panc320 were implanted into nude mice and treated with ETC-159, paclitaxel, and gemcitabine as single agents and in combination. The combination of ETC-159 and paclitaxel demonstrated an anti-tumor effect greater than ETC-159 alone. Extent of combinatory treatment effect were observed to a lesser extent in the Panc320 xenograft. Wnt (in)dependent gene signatures of Panc269 and 320 were consistent with the phenotypes displayed. Gene expression of several key Wnt genes assessed via RT-PCR demonstrated notable fold change following treatment in vivo. Each pancreatic organoid demonstrated varied niche factor dependencies, providing an avenue for targeted therapy, supported through growth analysis following combinatory treatment of Wnt inhibitor and standard chemotherapy in vitro. The clinical utilization of this combinatory treatment modality in pancreatic cancer PDOs has thus far been supported in our patient-derived xenograft models treated with Wnt inhibitor plus paclitaxel or gemcitabine. Gene expression analysis suggests there are key Wnt genes that contribute to the Wnt (in)dependent phenotypes of pancreatic tumors, providing plausible mechanistic explanation for Wnt (in)dependency and susceptibility or resistance to treatment on the genotypic level.

Selective adsorption of fluorinated super greenhouse gases within a metal-organic framework with dynamic corrugated ultramicropores.

Perfluorocompound (PFC) gases play vital roles in microelectronics processing. Requirements for ultra-high purities traditionally necessitate use of virgin sources and thereby hinder the capture, purification, and reuse of these costly gases. Most importantly, gaseous PFCs are incredibly potent greenhouse gases with atmospheric lifetimes on the order of 103-104 years, and thus any environmental emissions have an outsized and prolonged impact on our climate. The development of sorbents that can capture PFC gases from industrial waste streams has lagged substantially behind the progress made over the last decade in capturing CO2 from both point emission sources and directly from air. Herein, we show that the metal-organic framework Zn(fba) (fba2- = 4,4'-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)bis-benzoate) displays an equilibrium selectivity for CF4 adsorption over N2 that surpasses those of all water-stable sorbents that have been reported for this separation. Selective adsorption of both CHF3 and CH4 over N2 is also evident, demonstrating a general preference for tetrahedral C1 gases. This selectivity is enabled by adsorption within narrow corrugated channels lined with ligand-based aryl rings, a site within this material that has not previously been realized as being accessible to guests. Analyses of adsorption kinetics and X-ray diffraction data are used to characterize sorption and diffusion of small adsorbates within these channels and strongly implicate rotation of the linker aryl rings as a gate that modulates transport of the C1 gases through a crystallite. Multi-component breakthrough measurements demonstrate that Zn(fba) is able to resolve mixtures of CF4 and N2 under flow-through conditions. Taken together, this work illuminates the dynamic structure of Zn(fba), and also points toward general design principles that can enable large CF4 selectivities in sorbents with more favorable kinetic profiles.

Perioperative Cefazolin for Total Joint Arthroplasty Patients Who Have a Penicillin Allergy: Is It Safe?

BACKGROUND: Cefazolin is the standard of care for perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) in the United States. The potential allergic cross-reactivity between cefazolin and penicillin causes uncertainty regarding optimal antibiotic choice in patients who have a reported penicillin allergy (rPCNA). The purpose of this study was to determine the safety of perioperative cefazolin in PCNA patients undergoing primary TJA. METHODS: We identified all patients (n = 49,842) undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (n = 25,659) or total knee arthroplasty (n = 24,183) from 2016 to 2022 who received perioperative intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis. Patients who had an rPCNA (n = 5,508) who received cefazolin (n = 4,938, 89.7%) were compared to rPCNA patients who did not (n = 570, 10.3%), and to patients who did not have an rPCNA (n = 43,359). The primary outcome was the rate of allergic reactions within 72 hours postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included the rates of superficial infections, deep infections, and Clostridioides difficile infections within 90 days. RESULTS: The rate of allergic reactions was 0.1% (n = 5) in rPCNA patients who received cefazolin, compared to 0.2% (n = 1) in rPCNA patients who did not (P = .48) and 0.02% (n = 11) in patients who have no rPCNA (P = .02). Allergic reactions were mild in all 5 rPCNA patients who received cefazolin and were characterized by cutaneous symptoms (n = 4) or dyspnea in the absence of respiratory distress (n = 1) that resolved promptly with antibiotic discontinuation and administration of antihistamines and/or corticosteroids. We observed no differences in the rates of superficial infections (0.1 versus 0.2%, P = .58), deep infections (0.3 versus 0.4%, P = .68), or C difficile infections (0.04% versus 0%, P = .99) within 90 days in rPCNA patients who received cefazolin versus alternative perioperative antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: In this series of more than 5,500 patients who had an rPCNA undergoing primary TJA, perioperative prophylaxis with cefazolin resulted in a 0.1% incidence of allergic reactions that were clinically indolent. Cefazolin can be safely administered to most patients, independent of rPCNA severity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Bottlebrush Networks: A Primer for Advanced Architectures.

Bottlebrush networks (BBNs) are an exciting new class of materials with interesting physical properties derived from their unique architecture. While great strides have been made in our fundamental understanding of bottlebrush polymers and networks, an interdisciplinary approach is necessary for the field to accelerate advancements. This review aims to act as a primer to BBN chemistry and physics for both new and current members of the community. In addition to providing an overview of contemporary BBN synthetic methods, we developed a workflow and desktop application (LengthScale), enabling bottlebrush physics to be more approachable. We conclude by addressing several topical issues and asking a series of pointed questions to stimulate conversation within the community.