Varsha Sivagami Sathappan

All Publications

• Income Disparities in Outcomes of Horizontal Strabismus Surgery in a Pediatric Population. Journal of pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus Zdonczyk, A. N., Gupte, G., Schroeder, A., Sathappan, V., Lee, A. R., Culican, S. M. 2022; 59 (3): 156-163

  Abstract

  To examine postoperative outcomes in pediatric patients undergoing strabismus surgery to determine the potential impact of socioeconomic disparities on ophthalmic outcomes.This study included 284 children undergoing strabismus surgery at a tertiary institution with at least 11 months of follow-up and no prior strabismus surgery or other neurologic or ophthalmologic conditions. Demographics, insurance, operative parameters, and appointments scheduled/attended were collected via chart review. Ocular alignment was recorded preoperatively and postoperatively at 3, 12, and 24 months. Two-sided t tests and chi-squared analyses were used to compare demographic and operative parameters. Logistic regression was employed to determine predictive factors for ophthalmic outcomes.There was no difference in failure rates between patients with Medicaid and patients with private insurance 24 months postoperatively (45.9% vs 50.5%, respectively, P = .46). Patients with Medicaid were more likely to not follow up postoperatively (28.2% vs 9.6%, respectively, P < .01), whereas patients with private insurance were more likely to complete more than three follow-up appointments in 24 months (21.5% vs 39.0%, respectively, P < .01). Postoperative attendance was linked to Medicaid status (P < .01) but not travel time, neighborhood income levels, or social deprivation index factors.There was no difference in failure rates between patients with Medicaid and patients with private insurance. Medicaid status was significantly predictive of loss to follow-up. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2022;59(3):156-163.].

  View details for DOI 10.3928/01913913-20210824-02

  View details for PubMedID 34928767

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC9133206

• A virtual COVID-19 ophthalmology rotation. Survey of ophthalmology Wendt, S., Abdullah, Z., Barrett, S., Daruwalla, C., Go, J. A., Le, B., Li, E., Livingston, C., Miller, M., Nakhleh, L., Pecha, J., Pothula, S., Pradhan, S., Sathappan, V., Shah, A., Sonuyi, A. M., Ugoh, P., Wang, Q., Weber, N., Succar, T., Blieden, L., Mortensen, P., Elkin, Z., Sun, G., Lee, A. G. 2021; 66 (2): 354-361

  Abstract

  The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic temporarily suspended medical student involvement in clinical rotations, resulting in the need to develop virtual clinical experiences. The cancellation of clinical ophthalmology electives and away rotations reduces opportunities for exposure to the field, to network with faculty, conduct research, and prepare for residency applications. We review the literature and discuss the impact and consequences of COVID-19 on undergraduate medical education with an emphasis on ophthalmic undergraduate medical education. We also discuss innovative learning modalities used from medical schools around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic such as virtual didactics, online cases, and telehealth. Finally, we describe a novel, virtual neuro-ophthalmology elective created to educate medical students on neuro-ophthalmology foundational principles, provide research and presentation opportunities, and build relationships with faculty members. These innovative approaches represent a step forward in further improving medical education in ophthalmology during COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.survophthal.2020.10.001

  View details for PubMedID 33058927

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC7550053

• Novel finding of atrophic extraocular muscles in Loeys-Dietz syndrome: a case report and review of the literature. Journal of AAPOS : the official publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Sathappan, V. S., Matharu, K. S., Coats, D. K., Paysse, E. A. 2021; 25 (2): 119-121

  Abstract

  A 19-year-old man with Loeys-Dietz syndrome and right exotropic Duane syndrome after bilateral lateral rectus recessions at age 22 months presented with recurrent progressive exotropia 17 years after his initial surgery. Surgical correction was aborted intraoperatively when extreme atrophy of the right medial rectus, lateral rectus, and superior rectus muscles was observed, later corroborated by orbital magnetic resonance imaging.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jaapos.2020.11.010

  View details for PubMedID 33675960

• Maternally expressed NLRP2 links the subcortical maternal complex (SCMC) to fertility, embryogenesis and epigenetic reprogramming. Scientific reports Mahadevan, S., Sathappan, V., Utama, B., Lorenzo, I., Kaskar, K., Van den Veyver, I. B. 2017; 7: 44667

  Abstract

  Mammalian parental genomes contribute differently to early embryonic development. Before activation of the zygotic genome, the maternal genome provides all transcripts and proteins required for the transition from a highly specialized oocyte to a pluripotent embryo. Depletion of these maternally-encoded transcripts frequently results in failure of preimplantation embryonic development, but their functions in this process are incompletely understood. We found that female mice lacking NLRP2 are subfertile because of early embryonic loss and the production of fewer offspring that have a wide array of developmental phenotypes and abnormal DNA methylation at imprinted loci. By demonstrating that NLRP2 is a member of the subcortical maternal complex (SCMC), an essential cytoplasmic complex in oocytes and preimplantation embryos with poorly understood function, we identified imprinted postzygotic DNA methylation maintenance, likely by directing subcellular localization of proteins involved in this process, such as DNMT1, as a new crucial role of the SCMC for mammalian reproduction.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/srep44667

  View details for PubMedID 28317850

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5357799