Outcomes following operative vs. non-operative management of blunt traumatic pancreatic injuries: a retrospective multi-institutional study.

Background: Traumatic pancreatic injuries are rare, and guidelines specifying management are controversial and difficult to apply in the acute clinical setting. Due to sparse data on these injuries, we carried out a retrospective review to determine outcomes following surgical or non-surgical management of traumatic pancreatic injuries. We hypothesize a higher morbidity and mortality rate in patients treated surgically when compared to patients treated non-surgically.

Elevated circulating levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor in individuals with acute spinal cord injury.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is elevated in the circulation of individuals with acute spinal cord injury (SCI) compared with uninjured individuals.

Design: Prospective, observational pilot study.

Setting: Academic medical center.