Correlation of actin crosslinker and capper expression levels with stereocilia growth phases.

During development of the chick cochlea, actin crosslinkers and barbed-end cappers presumably influence growth and remodeling of the actin paracrystal of hair cell stereocilia. We used mass spectrometry to identify and quantify major actin-associated proteins of the cochlear sensory epithelium from E14 to E21, when stereocilia widen and lengthen. Tight actin crosslinkers (i.e. fascins, plastins, and espin) are expressed dynamically during cochlear epithelium development between E7 and E21, with FSCN2 replacing FSCN1 and plastins remaining low in abundance. Capping protein, a barbed-end actin capper, is located at stereocilia tips; it is abundant during growth phase II, when stereocilia have ceased elongating and are increasing in diameter. Capping protein levels then decline during growth phase III, when stereocilia reinitiate barbed-end elongation. Although actin crosslinkers are readily detected by electron microscopy in developing chick cochlea stereocilia, quantitative mass spectrometry of stereocilia isolated from E21 chick cochlea indicated that tight crosslinkers are present there in stoichiometric ratios relative to actin that are much lower than their ratios for vestibular stereocilia. These results demonstrate the value of quantitation of global protein expression in chick cochlea during stereocilia development.

SARS-Co-V-2 positive status is associated with a more seriously injured population of trauma patients but not independently associated with worse outcomes of trauma care.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 positive status has been considered a predominantly incidental finding among trauma patients. We sought to examine whether concurrent infection is associated with worse outcomes in a contemporary cohort of injured patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Retrospective cohort analysis of a level I trauma center's institutional registry from May 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. The prevalence of COVID in the trauma population was compared monthly using prevalence ratios relative to population estimates. Unadjusted cohorts of COVID+ vs COVID- trauma patients were compared. COVID+ patients then were matched on age, mechanism of injury, year, and injury severity score (ISS) with COVID- controls for adjusted analysis with a primary composite outcome of mortality. RESULTS: Out of n=2,783 trauma activations, n=51 (1.8%) were COVID+. Compared to the general population, the trauma population had prevalence ratios for COVID of 5.3 to 79.7 (median=20.8). Compared to COVID- patients, COVID+ patients had worse outcomes, including a higher proportion who were admitted to the ICU, required intubation, underwent a major operation, and had greater total charges and a longer length of stay. However, these differences appeared related to more severe injury patterns in the COVID+ cohort. In the adjusted analysis, no significant differences between groups in any of the outcome variables were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Worse trauma outcomes in COVID+ patients appear to be correlated to the more substantial patterns of injury observed in this group. Trauma patients have substantially higher rates of SARS-CoV-2 positivity than the local population at large. These results reinforce that this population is vulnerable to multiple threats. They will guide the ongoing delivery of care in shaping the needs for testing, PPE for those delivering care, and the capacity and operational needs of trauma systems that must care for a population with such high rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

National patterns of injury and outcomes of gunshot wounds to the penis: A Trauma Quality Programs retrospective cohort analysis.

AIM: Gunshot wounds (GSW) to the penis represent a rare type of traumatic injury in the civilian United States population. Although small, single-center studies have reported results of care for these types of injured patients, no national analyses have examined this group. METHODS: A cohort of patients with GSW to the penis was identified using the 2017 American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Programs database, a comprehensive national database of 753 accredited trauma centers. RESULTS: Gunshot wounds to the penis occurred in 722 patients, which represents 1.7% of all GSW patients (n = 41,017). Gunshot wounds from altercations with law enforcement or accidental discharge of a firearm were rare; the vast majority (n = 655, 90.7%) occurred as a result of assault, intentional self-harm, attempted suicide, or attempted homicide. Patients with a major concomitant non-genitourinary injury comprised 119 (16.5%) patients of the cohort. Most patients (n = 499, 69.1%) underwent a genitourinary procedure during their trauma admission. Penile salvage was successful in most cases, with only 13 (1.8%) patients requiring completion penectomy. Most patients (87.8%) required admission with a median length of stay of 49.8 h. Most patients were treated at the initial trauma center without requiring transfer to another center, and complications during admission were rare. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis, the first national examination of care of patients with GSW to the penis, reveals overall favorable outcomes. Admission and surgical intervention were required in most patients, but penectomy was rare and length of stay was generally short. These results will guide resource utilization and quality improvement efforts in this patient cohort.

Pregnant trauma patients may be at increased risk of mortality compared to nonpregnant women of reproductive age: trends and outcomes over 10 years at a level I trauma center.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy has been identified as a risk factor for poor outcomes after traumatic injury, but prior outcome analyses are conflicting and dated. We sought to examine outcomes in a contemporary cohort. METHODS: Retrospective cohort analysis at a level I trauma center's institutional registry from 2009 to 2018, with comparison to population-level demographic trends in women of reproductive age and pregnancy prevalence. Unadjusted cohorts of pregnant versus nonpregnant trauma patients were compared. Pregnant patients then were matched on age, mechanism of injury, year, and injury severity score with nonpregnant controls for adjusted analysis with a primary outcome of maternal mortality. RESULTS: Despite declining birth and pregnancy rates in the population, pregnant women comprised a stable 5.3% of female trauma patients of reproductive age without decline over the study period (p = 0.53). Compared with nonpregnant women, pregnant trauma patients had a lower injury severity score (1 [1-5] vs 5 [1-10] p < 0.0001) and a shorter length of stay (1 [1-2] vs 1 [1-4] p = 0.04), were less likely to have CT imaging (48.8% vs 67.4%, p < 0.0001) and more likely to be admitted (89.3% vs 79.2%, p = 0.003). Positive toxicology screens were less prevalent in pregnant women, but only for ethanol (5.4% vs 31.4%, p < 0.0001); there was no difference in rates of cannabis, opiates, or cocaine. After matching to adjust for age, year, mechanism of injury, and injury severity score, mortality occurred significantly more frequently in the pregnant cohort (2.1% vs 0.2%, OR = 13.5 [1.39-130.9], p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Pregnant trauma patients have not declined in our population despite population-level declines in pregnancy. After adjusting for lower injury severity, pregnant women were at substantially greater risk of mortality. This supports ongoing concern for pregnant trauma patients as a vulnerable population. Further efforts should optimize systems of care to maximize the chances of rescue for both mother and fetus.