Intraoperative factors associated with unplanned return to the operating room after emergent hemorrhage control surgery.

BACKGROUND: Unplanned return to the operating room (uROR) is associated with worse outcomes and increased mortality. Little is known regarding intraoperative factors associated with uROR after emergent surgery in trauma patients. The objective of this study was to identify intraoperative factors associated with uROR after emergent hemorrhage control procedures in bleeding trauma patients. METHODS: We used anesthetic record of intraoperative management to perform a retrospective study (2017-2022) of bleeding trauma patients who were taken for an emergent hemorrhage control operation. RESULTS: A total of 225 patients met the inclusion criteria, 46 (20%) had uROR, and 181 (80%) did not. While there was no difference in demographics, mechanism, admission physiology, or time from emergency department to operating room, the uROR patients had a higher Injury Severity Score (30 vs. 25, p = 0.007). While there was no difference in volume of crystalloid infused (3,552 ± 2,279 mL vs. 2,977 ± 2,817 mL, p = 0.20), whole blood (2.2 ± 0.9 vs. 2.0 ± 0.5, p = 0.20), or platelets (11.6 ± 8.6 vs. 9.2 ± 9.0, p = 0.14), the uROR group received more packed red blood cells (11.5 ± 10.6 vs. 7.8 ± 7.5, p = 0.006) and plasma (9.6 ± 8.3 vs. 6.5 ± 6.6, p = 0.01), and more uROR patients received ≥10 U of packed red blood cells (48% vs. 27%, p = 0.006). Damage-control surgery (DCS) was more common in uROR patients (78% vs. 45%, p < 0.0001). After logistic regression, ≥10 U of packed cells in the operating room (4.3 [1.5-12.8], p = 0.009), crystalloid (1.0 [1.0-1.001], p = 0.009), International Normalized Ratio (INR) (7.6 [1.3-45.7], p = 0.03), and DCS (5.7 [1.7-19.1], p = 0.005) were independently associated with uROR. CONCLUSION: Massive transfusion, crystalloid resuscitation, persistent coagulopathy, and DCS are the most significant risk factors for uROR. During hemorrhage control surgery in bleeding trauma patients who receive ≥10 U of blood, providers must maintain a keen focus on minimizing crystalloid and ongoing balanced resuscitation, particularly during damage-control procedures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Retrospective/Descriptive; Level IV.

Comparative safety and efficacy of a hybrid intravenous and oral diltiazem protocol for acute rate control in the emergency department.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Intravenous diltiazem has experienced numerous supply shortages over the past few years. The purpose of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of a traditional diltiazem intravenous bolus and continuous infusion protocol to a diltiazem intravenous bolus and oral maintenance protocol for acute rate control in the emergency department. METHODS: Patients who received intravenous diltiazem in the emergency department between January 1, 2018 and May 31, 2019 were screened. Patients were included if they received the diltiazem intravenous bolus and continuous infusion protocol (IV + infusion group) or the hybrid diltiazem intravenous bolus and oral maintenance protocol (IV + PO group). The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with rate control, without need for additional rate control agents or additional boluses during the maintenance phase. RESULTS: A total of 106 patients were matched with 53 patients in each group. For the primary outcome of rate control at four hours, 62.3% of patients in the intravenous bolus + infusion group versus 75.5% of patients in the IV bolus + PO group (p = 0.142) achieved rate control. There was no difference in rates of hypotension or bradycardia between groups. CONCLUSION: Results of this study demonstrated no difference in acute rate control when using a hybrid IV and oral diltiazem protocol, compared to a traditional IV bolus and infusion strategy. This information supports the further use of a hybrid diltiazem IV and oral protocol, which provides increased flexibility during shortages of either medication.

Savoring mental imagery: Electrocortical effects and association with depression.

The ability to focus on and increase positive emotion in response to mental imagery may play a key role in emotional wellbeing. Moreover, deficits in this ability might underlie emotional disorders such as depression. Here, we set out to determine whether people could use savoring to upregulate subjective and electrocortical response to mental imagery of previously viewed positive and neutral pictures, and whether this would be negatively affected by depression. On each trial, participants (N = 49) viewed a positive or neutral picture, prior to simply re-imagining the previously presented picture ("view") or re-imagining the picture while savoring it ("savor"). Results showed that savoring increased electrocortical and subjective response to imagined stimuli; however, this effect was only evident at the electrocortical level when controlling for depression. Moreover, depression moderated electrocortical findings, such that individuals who were more depressed showed a reduced effect of savoring on neural response to mental imagery. Results are in line with recent work that has shown the benefits of positive affect treatment for depression, to suggest that deficits in savoring mental imagery may play a role in the development and/or maintenance of depression.

Constitutive Flt3 signaling impacts conventional dendritic cell function.

The development of dendritic cells (DCs) depends on signaling via the FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (Flt3) receptor. How Flt3 signaling impacts terminally differentiated DC function is unknown. This is important given the increasing interest in exploiting Flt3 for vaccination and tumor immunotherapy. Here, we examined DCs in mice harboring constitutively activated Flt3 (Flt3-ITD). Flt3ITD/ITD mice possessed expanded splenic DC subsets including plasmacytoid DC, conventional DC (cDC)1, cDC2, double positive (DP) cDC1 (CD11c+ CD8+ CD11b- CD103+ CD86+), noncanonical (NC) cDC1 (CD11c+ CD8+ CD11b- CD103- CD86-) and single positive (SP) cDC1 (CD11c+ CD8+ CD11b- CD103- CD86+). Outcomes of constitutive Flt3 signaling differed depending on the cDC subset examined. In comparison with wild type (WT) DCs, all Flt3ITD/ITD cDCs displayed an altered surface phenotype with changes in costimulatory molecules, major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) and II (MHC II). Cytokine secretion patterns, antigen uptake, antigen proteolysis and antigen presenting function differed between WT and Flt3ITD/ITD subsets, particularly cDC2. In summary, Flt3 signaling impacts the function of terminally differentiated cDCs with important consequences for antigen presentation.

GPR41 and GPR43 regulate CD8+ T cell priming during herpes simplex virus type 1 infection.

Naïve CD8+ T cells need to undergo a complex and coordinated differentiation program to gain the capacity to control virus infections. This not only involves the acquisition of effector functions, but also regulates the development of a subset of effector CD8+ T cells into long-lived and protective memory cells. Microbiota-derived metabolites have recently gained interest for their influence on T cells, but much remains unclear about their role in CD8+ T cell differentiation. In this study, we investigated the role of the G protein-coupled receptors (GPR)41 and GPR43 that can bind microbiota-derived short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in CD8+ T cell priming following epicutaneous herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection. We found that HSV-specific CD8+ T cells in GPR41/43-deficient mice were impaired in the antigen-elicited production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), granzyme B and perforin, and failed to differentiate effectively into memory precursors. The defect in controlling HSV-1 at the site of infection could be restored when GPR41 and GPR43 were expressed exclusively by HSV-specific CD8+ T cells. Our findings therefore highlight roles for GPR41 and GPR43 in CD8+ T cell differentiation, emphasising the importance of metabolite sensing in fine-tuning anti-viral CD8+ T cell priming.

Generalization of savoring to novel positive stimuli.

Savoring is a positive emotion up-regulation technique that can increase electrocortical and self-reported valence and arousal to positive and neutral pictures, with effects persisting to increase response to the same stimuli when encountered later. Outside of the lab, emotion regulation techniques that persist to affect not just encounters with the same stimuli but also encounters with similar, but previously unencountered stimuli should save individuals time and effort. Here, we used event-related potentials and picture ratings to test whether savoring would generalize to similar, but previously unseen positive pictures. To this end, 89 participants (56 female; M age = 18.96 years, SD = 1.87) were asked to savor positive pictures from one category (e.g., happy people) and to view positive pictures from another category (e.g., cute animals), as well as to view neutral pictures (e.g., plants). In a subsequent passive picture viewing task, participants viewed novel pictures from all three categories (i.e., happy people, cute animals, plants). In the first task, savoring was effective for pictures of animals throughout picture presentation, but only for pictures of people during the later part of picture presentation. In the second task, savoring generalized to novel pictures of animals, though this was only evident in the early portion of picture processing (and for self-reported ratings). Therefore, savoring holds promise as a useful technique for increasing positive emotion in everyday life, though more work is needed to understand whether effects may vary depending on different types of picture content.

Asthma is associated with a lower incidence of metastatic colorectal cancer in a US patient cohort.

In previous pre-clinical studies, we examined the contribution of interleukin 4 receptor (IL4R) signaling in the progression and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Aberrant activation of this receptor can result in atopic diseases such as asthma. We hypothesized that further evidence for the contribution of excessive IL4R being associated with CRC progression could be seen in medical records, and specifically that chronic asthma patients were more likely to be diagnosed with metastatic CRC. To test this hypothesis, we took advantage of the Synthetic Derivative, a resource developed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center that hosts de-identified data taken from the electronic medical record. We developed search protocols that produced retrospective cohorts of invasive CRC patients and cancer-free equivalents. In comparing 787 metastatic CRC patients to 238 non-metastatic patients, we actually found significantly fewer asthmatics went on to develop metastatic CRC (P=0.0381). By comparing these groups together against 1197 cancer-free patients, even fewer asthmatic patients would develop invasive CRC (P<0.0001). While these results are clearly in opposition to our original hypothesis, they still support a link between chronic asthma and metastatic CRC development. One intriguing possibility, that will be examined in the future, is whether treatment for chronic asthma may be responsible for the reduction in metastatic cancer.

Transdiagnostic Fear and Anxiety: Prospective Prediction Using the No-Threat, Predictable Threat, and Unpredictable Threat Task.

Background: Fear and anxiety are distinct dimensions of psychopathology that may be characterized by differences in dimensional threat reactivity. Heightened response to predictable threat is hypothesized to underlie fear symptomatology, whereas increased response to unpredictable threat may underlie anxiety. Despite widespread acceptance of this model, these purported associations have rarely been tested, and the prognostic value of predictable and unpredictable threat responding is unclear. Here we examined multilevel indicators of predictable and unpredictable threat response as cross-sectional correlates and prospective predictors of transdiagnostic fear and anxiety. Methods: Fifty-two individuals with varying levels of internalizing psychopathology (31 female) performed the no-threat, predictable threat, and unpredictable threat task. Transdiagnostic fear and anxiety were assessed at baseline (time 1) and approximately 1.5 years later (time 2). We used event-related potential, the stimulus-preceding negativity, as a measure of threat anticipation and startle eyeblink as a measure of defensive reactivity during the no-threat, predictable threat, and unpredictable threat task. These probes were assessed as cross-sectional correlates and prospective predictors of fear and anxiety. Results: Participants with larger time 1 stimulus-preceding negativities to predictable threat were characterized by greater time 1 fear. Larger time 1 stimulus-preceding negativities to unpredictable threat were associated with greater increases in time 2 anxiety. Heightened time 1 startle to predictable threat predicted larger increases in time 2 fear. Conclusions: Results validate predictable and unpredictable threat responding as dimensional correlates of transdiagnostic fear versus anxiety and suggest that psychophysiological measures of predictable and unpredictable threat response hold promise as prospective predictors of trajectories of fear and anxiety.

CD4+ T cell calibration of antigen-presenting cells optimizes antiviral CD8+ T cell immunity.

Antiviral CD8+ T cell immunity depends on the integration of various contextual cues, but how antigen-presenting cells (APCs) consolidate these signals for decoding by T cells remains unclear. Here, we describe gradual interferon-α/interferon-ß (IFNα/ß)-induced transcriptional adaptations that endow APCs with the capacity to rapidly activate the transcriptional regulators p65, IRF1 and FOS after CD4+ T cell-mediated CD40 stimulation. While these responses operate through broadly used signaling components, they induce a unique set of co-stimulatory molecules and soluble mediators that cannot be elicited by IFNα/ß or CD40 alone. These responses are critical for the acquisition of antiviral CD8+ T cell effector function, and their activity in APCs from individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 correlates with milder disease. These observations uncover a sequential integration process whereby APCs rely on CD4+ T cells to select the innate circuits that guide antiviral CD8+ T cell responses.

Impact of Outpatient Antihypertensive Medication Use on Epinephrine Resistance in Anaphylaxis.

BACKGROUND: There has been an increase in allergy-related emergency department (ED) visits over the past several years. Underlying cardiovascular disease or respiratory disease and concurrent beta blocker or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use have been identified as potential risk factors for severe or refractory anaphylactic reactions. Conflicting evidence exists regarding the association between antihypertensive (AH) use and the incidence of refractory anaphylaxis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of refractory anaphylaxis in patients presenting to the ED while prescribed select AH medications outpatient. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of all adult and pediatric patients presenting to the ED between February 16, 2021, and August 31, 2021, with a diagnosis of anaphylaxis. The primary objective was to compare the proportion of patients experiencing refractory anaphylaxis that were prescribed versus not prescribed AH medications in the outpatient setting. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients were treated for anaphylaxis in the ED during the study timeframe with 13 patients in the AH group and 88 patients in the no AH group. There was no difference in the incidence of refractory anaphylaxis between groups (0% vs 9%; p=0.48). Significantly fewer patients in the AH group required any epinephrine doses compared to the no AH group (38% vs 88%; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient use of select AH medications was not associated with an increased incidence of refractory anaphylaxis in patients presenting to the ED.

Implementation of a pharmacist toxicology service on treatment of paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose.

INTRODUCTION: Paracetamol is a leading cause of fatality following a toxic ingestion. Individualized treatment is imperative in improving outcomes. Acetylcysteine is the standard of care for paracetamol overdose. Laboratory values and other clinical criteria can be used to guide treatment duration. Our hospital's protocol allows paracetamol overdose to be managed by the emergency department pharmacists. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a pharmacist toxicology service on the management of paracetamol overdose. METHODS: This was a single center, retrospective, cohort evaluation. All patients receiving acetylcysteine were divided into pre- and post-implementation groups with data obtained from August 1, 2013 to January 14, 2018 and January 15, 2018 to September 30, 2021, respectively. The primary outcome was the frequency of individualized acetylcysteine therapy. RESULTS: A total of 238 patients were screened for inclusion in the study with 120 patients included in the final analysis. There were 60 patients included in each cohort. The frequency of individualized acetylcysteine therapy was significantly higher in the post-implementation group versus the pre-implementation group (85% vs. 60% [95% CI 9.1-39.4; P = 0.002]). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a pharmacist toxicology service correlated with increased poison center consultation as well as increased frequency of individualized acetylcysteine therapy and decreased number of missed acetylcysteine doses.

Terpene biosynthesis in marine sponge animals.

Sea sponges are the largest marine source of small-molecule natural products described to date. Sponge-derived molecules, such as the chemotherapeutic eribulin, the calcium-channel blocker manoalide, and antimalarial compound kalihinol A, are renowned for their impressive medicinal, chemical, and biological properties. Sponges contain microbiomes that control the production of many natural products isolated from these marine invertebrates. In fact, all genomic studies to date investigating the metabolic origins of sponge-derived small molecules concluded that microbes-not the sponge animal host-are the biosynthetic producers. However, early cell-sorting studies suggested the sponge animal host may play a role particularly in the production of terpenoid molecules. To investigate the genetic underpinnings of sponge terpenoid biosynthesis, we sequenced the metagenome and transcriptome of an isonitrile sesquiterpenoid-containing sponge of the order Bubarida. Using bioinformatic searches and biochemical validation, we identified a group of type I terpene synthases (TSs) from this sponge and multiple other species, the first of this enzyme class characterized from the sponge holobiome. The Bubarida TS-associated contigs consist of intron-containing genes homologous to sponge genes and feature GC percentage and coverage consistent with other eukaryotic sequences. We identified and characterized TS homologs from five different sponge species isolated from geographically distant locations, thereby suggesting a broad distribution amongst sponges. This work sheds light on the role of sponges in secondary metabolite production and speaks to the possibility that other sponge-specific molecules originate from the animal host.

A Neurobiological Profile Underlying Comorbidity Load and Prospective Increases in Dysphoria in a Focal Fear Sample.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the neural mechanisms underlying increased disease burden in anxiety disorders that is unaccounted for by individual categorical diagnoses could lead to improved clinical care. Here, we tested the utility of a joint functional magnetic resonance imaging-electroencephalography neurobiological profile characterized by overvaluation of negative stimuli (amygdala) in combination with blunted elaborated processing of these same stimuli (the late positive potential [LPP], an event-related potential) in predicting increased psychopathology across a 2-year period in people with anxiety disorders. METHODS: One hundred ten participants (64 female, 45 male, 1 other) including 78 participants with phobias who varied in the extent of their internalizing comorbidity and 32 participants who were free from psychopathology viewed negative and neutral pictures during separate functional magnetic resonance imaging blood oxygen level-dependent and electroencephalogram recordings. Dysphoria was assessed at baseline and 2 years later. RESULTS: Participants with both heightened amygdala activation and blunted LPPs to negative pictures showed the greatest increases in dysphoria 2 years later. Cross-sectionally, participants with higher comorbidity load (≥2 additional diagnoses, n = 34) showed increased amygdala activation to negative pictures compared with participants with lower comorbidity load (≤1 additional diagnosis, n = 44) and compared with participants free from psychopathology. In addition, high comorbid participants showed reduced LPPs to negative pictures compared with low comorbid participants. CONCLUSIONS: Heightened amygdala in response to negative stimuli in combination with blunted LPPs could indicate overvaluation of threatening stimuli in the absence of elaborated processing that might otherwise help regulate threat responding. This brain profile could underlie the worsening and maintenance of internalizing psychopathology over time.

Identification of Isonitrile-Containing Natural Products in Complex Biological Matrices through Ligation with Chlorooximes.

Isonitrile-containing natural products have garnered attention for their manifold bioactivities but are difficult to detect and isolate due to the chemical lability of the isonitrile functional group. Here, we used the isonitrile-chlorooxime ligation (INC) in a reactivity-based screening (RBS) protocol for the detection and isolation of alkaloid and terpene isonitriles in the cyanobacterium Fischerella ambigua and a marine sponge of the order Bubarida, respectively. A trifunctional probe bearing a chlorooxime moiety, a UV active aromatic moiety, and a bromine label facilitated the chemoselective reaction with isonitriles, UV-Vis spectroscopic detection, and mass spectrometric analysis. The INC-based RBS allowed for the detection, isolation, and structural elucidation of isonitriles in microgram quantities.

Microbial Metabolites in the Maturation and Activation of Dendritic Cells and Their Relevance for Respiratory Immunity.

The respiratory tract is a gateway for viruses and bacteria from the external environment to invade the human body. Critical to the protection against these invaders are dendritic cells (DCs) - a group of highly specialized myeloid cells that monitors the lung microenvironment and relays contextual and antigenic information to T cells. Following the recognition of danger signals and/or pathogen molecular associated patterns in the lungs, DCs undergo activation. This process arms DCs with the unique ability to induce the proliferation and differentiation of T cells responding to matching antigen in complex with MHC molecules. Depending on how DCs interact with T cells, the ensuing T cell response can be tolerogenic or immunogenic and as such, the susceptibility and severity of respiratory infections is influenced by the signals DCs receive, integrate, and then convey to T cells. It is becoming increasingly clear that these facets of DC biology are heavily influenced by the cellular components and metabolites produced by the lung and gut microbiota. In this review, we discuss the roles of different DC subsets in respiratory infections and outline how microbial metabolites impact the development, propensity for activation and subsequent activation of DCs. In particular, we highlight these concepts in the context of respiratory immunity.

Comparative hemostatic efficacy of 4F-PCC in patients with intracranial hemorrhage on factor Xa inhibitors versus warfarin.

OBJECTIVE: Patients experiencing an intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) on oral anticoagulants often require rapid reversal. This study evaluated patients taking factor Xa inhibitors or warfarin that received reversal with 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC) for an ICH. The objective of the study was to determine if the efficacy of 4F-PCC for the reversal of factor Xa inhibitors is noninferior to its use in warfarin reversal in patients with ICH. METHODS: This was a retrospective, single center, noninferiority trial. Patients presenting to the emergency department with ICH were divided into two cohorts: those taking factor Xa inhibitors versus those taking warfarin. In each cohort, patients received anticoagulation reversal with weight-based 4F-PCC. The primary endpoint was hemostatic efficacy defined as ≤20% expansion in hematoma volume on repeat computed tomography imaging. A pre-specified noninferiority margin of -10% was selected to evaluate the difference between groups for the primary endpoint. RESULTS: A total of 221 patients were included in the study (factor Xa inhibitors, n = 87; warfarin, n = 134). Effective hemostasis was achieved in 70 patients (81%) on factor Xa inhibitors compared to 111 patients (83%) on warfarin, (-2.4% difference, [95% confidence interval, -12.87 to 8.12]; p = 0.654). There was no statistically significant difference between groups with regards to the primary outcome; however, the use of 4F-PCC in factor Xa inhibitor reversal was not noninferior when compared to 4F-PCC use for warfarin reversal. Hospital length of stay and discharge disposition were similar between cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of 4F-PCC in reversing factor Xa inhibitor-related ICH compared to warfarin-related ICH was not significantly different between groups; however, these results did not prove noninferiority. Further study is warranted to delineate 4F-PCC's role in reversing factor Xa inhibitors in patients with ICH.

Ubiquitin-like protein 3 (UBL3) is required for MARCH ubiquitination of major histocompatibility complex class II and CD86.

The MARCH E3 ubiquitin (Ub) ligase MARCH1 regulates trafficking of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) and CD86, molecules of critical importance to immunity. Here we show, using a genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen, that ubiquitin-like protein 3 (UBL3) is a necessary component of ubiquitination-mediated trafficking of these molecules in mice and in humans. Ubl3-deficient mice have elevated MHC II and CD86 expression on the surface of professional and atypical antigen presenting cells. UBL3 also regulates MHC II and CD86 in human dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages. UBL3 impacts ubiquitination of MARCH1 substrates, a mechanism that requires UBL3 plasma membrane anchoring via prenylation. Loss of UBL3 alters adaptive immunity with impaired development of thymic regulatory T cells, loss of conventional type 1 DCs, increased number of trogocytic marginal zone B cells, and defective in vivo MHC II and MHC I antigen presentation. In summary, we identify UBL3 as a conserved, critical factor in MARCH1-mediated ubiquitination with important roles in immune responses.

The use of monoclonal antibody therapy in pediatric patients with COVID-19: a retrospective case series.

BACKGROUND: Monoclonal antibody (MCA) therapies have been utilized under emergency use authorization (EUA) for high-risk pediatric patients with mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the outpatient setting since late 2019. The purpose of this study was to describe the use of MCA therapy in pediatric patients in the pediatric emergency department (ED) at a large community hospital. METHODS: This was a retrospective case series of high-risk pediatric patients 12 to 17 years of age who received MCA therapy in the pediatric ED between December 8, 2020 and June 3, 2021. The primary outcome was to describe the patient characteristics, clinical presentation, and safety profile of the pediatric population that received MCA therapy. The secondary outcome was to describe the incidence of hospitalizations or ED visits up to 28 days following therapy. RESULTS: A total of 44 patients were included in the analysis. The median number of days of symptoms was 4 with 41% of patients having symptoms between 0 and 3 days at time of MCA administration. Only one patient experienced a mild adverse event that did not require epinephrine administration. Two patients returned to the ED for reevaluation during the study follow-up period. No patients required admission within 28 days post-therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of MCA therapy in high-risk pediatric patients in the pediatric ED was well-tolerated with subjective improvement noted in COVID-19 symptoms post-therapy. Further studies are necessary to determine the role MCA therapy may play in reducing morbidity from COVID-19 infection in high-risk pediatric patients.

Improving trauma care - A case study from Dodoma, Tanzania.

AIM: This article describes work done to support improvements to a trauma system in Dodoma, Tanzania. It was completed to augment a study-abroad program. BACKGROUND: Dodoma is in the center of Tanzania in East Africa and has, in recent years, been designated as a center of government. Formerly the commercial and political center was Dar es Salaam which became an overcrowded city that was rich in resources but often inaccessible for the majority of the citizens. This has impacted the once quiet community f Dodoma with a great influx of people. Commerce and the services that are needed to support development have led to massive growth with plans for a well thought-out infrastructure to support it. It has also brought challenges to the region. Preparing for this growth, hospital personnel needed to be prepared to meet the health needs of the population. Rutgers' School of Nursing has embarked on a relationship with the region that has been beneficial to the Dodoma community as well as the Rutgers community. DESIGN: This is a descriptive analysis of work that has been done in collaboration with Rutgers University, School of Nursing, University of Dodoma and the Regional Hospital of Dodoma which has included faculty and students. METHODS: An analysis was completed of bi-lateral work that has been conducted over three years. RESULTS: Systems have been developed both clinically as well as educationally to increase knowledge of trauma care of patients. CONCLUSION: Bilateral relationships are important not only for the visiting students and faculty but also for the country that is being visited.

Impact of the utilization of 500 mL IV bags on crystalloid resuscitation volumes administered to trauma patients.

INTRODUCTION: Administering large volumes of crystalloids to trauma patients has been shown to exacerbate metabolic complications of hemorrhage including dilutional coagulopathy and worsening acidosis The aim of this study was to evaluate crystalloid administration volumes in trauma patients after replacing 1 L IV containers with 500 mL IV containers in the emergency department trauma resuscitation bay. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-center, IRB-approved, retrospective cohort evaluation of adult trauma patients conducted at an 864-bed community tertiary referral center located in the southeastern United States. Patterns of crystalloid administration were examined before and after the trauma resuscitation bay began to exclusively stock 500 mL IV containers. The primary outcome was mean total crystalloid volume infused from time of injury to hospital admission. Secondary outcomes included mean total crystalloid volume infused prior to administration of blood products, proportion of patients who received less than 2 L total of crystalloids, time to initiation of blood products, and mortality in both the emergency department and in-hospital. RESULTS: Patient characteristics were largely similar between both groups including age, mechanism of injury, and Injury Severity Score. For the primary outcome, the mean total crystalloid volume infused from time of injury to hospital administration, patients in the 500 mL IV fluid container group were administered 555 mL less crystalloid when compared to the 1 L IV fluid container group, 1048 mL vs 1603 mL (p < 0.01; 95% CI 406 mL - 704 mL), respectively. After conversion to the 500 mL IV container bags, there was a 27.5% increase in the proportion of patients receiving less than 2 L of crystalloid, 90.5% vs 63.0% in the 500 mL IV fluid container and 1 L IV fluid container groups, respectively (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Due to reduced mortality, expanding literature and guidelines clearly support minimizing IV crystalloid resuscitation. Institutions must now work to minimize use of IV crystalloids to hemorrhaging trauma patients and a simple solution of using smaller IV fluid bags was shown to improve adherence to this practice.