Morphometric Analysis of Retinal Ganglion Cell Axons in Normal and Glaucomatous Brown Norway Rats Optic Nerves.

Purpose: A reference atlas of optic nerve (ON) retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons could facilitate studies of neuro-ophthalmic diseases by detecting subtle RGC axonal changes. Here we construct an RGC axonal atlas for normotensive eyes in Brown Norway rats, widely used in glaucoma research, and also develop/evaluate several novel metrics of axonal damage in hypertensive eyes. Methods: Light micrographs of entire ON cross-sections from hypertensive and normotensive eyes were processed through a deep learning-based algorithm, AxoNet2.0, to determine axonal morphological properties and were semiquantitatively scored using the Morrison grading scale (MGS) to provide a damage score independent of AxoNet2.0 outcomes. To construct atlases, ONs were conformally mapped onto an ON "template," and axonal morphometric data was computed for each region. We also developed damage metrics based on myelin morphometry. Results: In normotensive eyes, average axon density was ∼0.3 axons/µm2 (i.e., ∼80,000 axons in an ON). We measured axoplasm diameter, eccentricity, cross-sectional area, and myelin g-ratio and thickness. Most morphological parameters exhibited a wide range of coefficients of variation (CoV); however, myelin thickness CoV was only ∼2% in normotensive eyes. In hypertensive eyes, increased myelin thickness correlated strongly with MGS (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: We present the first comprehensive normative RGC axon morphometric atlas for Brown Norway rat eyes. We suggest objective, repeatable damage metrics based on RGC axon myelin thickness for hypertensive eyes. Translational Relevance: These tools can evaluate regional changes in RGCs and overall levels of damage in glaucoma studies using Brown Norway rats.

Exploring patient perspectives on telemedicine monitoring within the operating room.

BACKGROUND: Clinical decision support systems and telemedicine for remote monitoring can together support clinicians' intraoperative decision-making and management of surgical patients' care. However, there has been limited investigation on patient perspectives about advanced health information technology use in intraoperative settings, especially an electronic OR (eOR) for remote monitoring and management of surgical patients. PURPOSE: Our study objectives were: (1) to identify participant-rated items contributing to patient attitudes, beliefs, and level of comfort with eOR monitoring; and (2) to highlight barriers and facilitators to eOR use. METHODS: We surveyed 324 individuals representing surgical patients across the United States using Amazon Mechanical Turk, an online platform supporting internet-based work. The structured survey questions examined the level of agreement and comfort with eOR for remote patient monitoring. We calculated descriptive statistics for demographic variables and performed a Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test to assess whether participants were more comfortable with familiar clinicians from local hospitals or health systems monitoring their health and safety status during surgery than clinicians from hospitals or health systems in other regions or countries. We also analyzed open-ended survey responses using a thematic approach informed by an eight-dimensional socio-technical model. RESULTS: Participants' average age was 34.07 (SD = 10.11). Most were white (80.9%), male (57.1%), and had a high school degree or more (88.3%). Participants reported a higher level of comfort with clinicians they knew monitoring their health and safety than clinicians they did not know, even within the same healthcare system (z = -4.012, p < .001). They reported significantly higher comfort levels with clinicians within the same hospital or health system in the United States than those in a different country (z = -10.230, p < .001). Facilitators and barriers to eOR remote monitoring were prevalent across four socio-technical dimensions: 1) organizational policies, procedures, environment, and culture; 2) people; 3) workflow and communication; and 4) hardware and software. Facilitators to eOR use included perceptions of improved patient safety through a safeguard system and perceptions of streamlined care. Barriers included fears of incorrect eOR patient assessments, decision-making conflicts between care teams, and technological malfunctions. CONCLUSIONS: Participants expressed significant support for intraoperative telemedicine use and greater comfort with local telemedicine systems instead of long-distance telemedicine systems. Reservations centered on organizational policies, procedures, environment, culture; people; workflow and communication; and hardware and software. To improve the buy-in and acceptability of remote monitoring by an eOR team, we offer a few evidence-based guidelines applicable to telemedicine use within the context of OR workflow. Guidelines include backup plans for technical challenges, rigid care, and privacy standards, and patient education to increase understanding of telemedicine's potential to improve patient care.