The Journal of surgical research
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The incidence of motorcycle fatalities over the last 10 y has nearly doubled. There is considerable evidence that motorcycle helmets save lives, but there are little data regarding the impact that helmets have on functional outcomes after a motorcycle crash. The objective of this study was to determine the difference between helmeted and non-helmeted motorcyclists in the odds of developing a functional deficit at discharge in three domains: speech, locomotion, and feeding. ⋯ Helmeted motorcyclists are less likely to die and develop a deficit in speech after a motorcycle collision. These data support that motorcycle helmets are important in preventing functional deficits related to head injury.
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Blood product transfusion has been known for immunosuppressive effects, and over-transfusion is linked with adverse outcomes. In cardiac surgery, the risk of non-transfusion can be poor postoperative oxygen delivery and hemorrhage. We hypothesized that infectious complications, organ dysfunction, and mortality result after a given threshold of blood product transfusion is exceeded. ⋯ Bloodless cardiac surgery is associated with a decreased morbidity and mortality. Limiting transfusion is advisable. Transfusion of less than 5.5 units of total blood-products may not have deleterious effects on outcomes.
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Healing of the burn wound is a critical component of the burn patient's successful recovery. While inflammation is a critical component of the healing process, it is unknown whether the inflammatory response differs between non-burn and burn wounds. To study this, mice were subjected to major burn injury or sham procedure. ⋯ Significant numbers of the cells from both burn and non-burn wounds were CD11b(+), GR1(+), and F4/80(+), suggestive of a myeloid suppressor cell phenotype, whereas CD3(+) T-cells were negligible under both conditions. LPS induced TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1, KC, and nitric oxide production in both cell populations, however, IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1, and KC levels were suppressed in burn wound cell cultures. These findings indicate that significant differences in the wound inflammatory response exist between burn and non-burn cutaneous wounds and that the unique characteristics of the inflammatory response at the burn site may be an important contributing factor to post-burn wound healing complications.