The Novel MFG-E8-derived Oligopeptide, MOP3, Improves Outcomes in a Preclinical Murine Model of Neonatal Sepsis.

Introduction: Neonatal sepsis is a devastating inflammatory condition that remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Milk fat globule-EGF-factor VIII (MFG-E8) is a glycoprotein that reduces inflammation, whereas extracellular cold-inducible RNA binding protein (eCIRP) worsens inflammation. This study aimed to determine the therapeutic potential of a novel MFG-E8-derived oligopeptide 3 (MOP3) designed to clear eCIRP and protect against inflammation, organ injury, and mortality in neonatal sepsis.

Management of Persistent Low-Suspicion Cervical Lymphadenopathy in Pediatric Patients.

Introduction: Cervical lymphadenopathy in children is typically self-limited; however, the management of persistent lymphadenopathy remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the management and outcomes of patients with persistent cervical lymphadenopathy.

Methods: Single-institution, retrospective review of children <18 years undergoing ultrasound (US) for cervical lymphadenopathy from 2013 to 2021 was performed.

Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Peritoneal and Pleural Mesothelioma: A National Cancer Database Review.

Purpose: Malignant peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma are rare in young patients, with a paucity of data regarding clinical characteristics and outcomes. We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics, treatment strategies, and outcomes for pediatric and adolescent/young adult (AYA) patients.

Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for malignant peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma in pediatric and AYA patients (ages 0-39) from 2004 to 2019.

Financial toxicity in early-onset colorectal cancer: A National Health Interview Survey study.

Background: Financial toxicity is increasingly recognized as a devastating outcome of cancer treatment but is poorly characterized in patients with early-onset colorectal cancer. Young patients are particularly vulnerable to financial toxicity as they are frequently underinsured and may suffer significant disruptions to professional and financial growth. We hypothesized that financial toxicity associated with colorectal cancer treatment confers long-lasting effects on patients' well-being and disproportionately impacts patients diagnosed at <50 years of age.

NCCN Guideline Concordance Improves Survival in Pediatric and Young Adult Rectal Cancer.

Background: Although management guidelines in adult rectal cancer are widely studied, no consensus guidelines exist for the management of pediatric and young adult rectal cancer.

Methods: The National Cancer Database (2004-2018) was queried for pediatric (age 0-21) and young adult (age 22-40) patients with rectal cancer. Patients were analyzed for receipt of National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline-concordant therapy.

Trends and Disparities in Firearm Deaths Among Children.

Background And Objectives: In 2020, firearm injuries became the leading cause of death among US children and adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate new 2021 data on US pediatric firearm deaths and disparities to understand trends compared with previous years.

Methods: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research was queried for firearm mortalities in children/adolescents from 2018 to 2021.

Surgical Rehabilitation for Research Residents: A Pilot Program to Offset Surgical Skill Decay.

Objective: Select general surgery residents in the surgeon-scientist pipeline dedicate time away from clinical residency to conduct research. However, these research residents (RR) are vulnerable to operative skill decay. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of implementation and impact of an organized intervention designed to combat skill decay experienced by RR.

Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs to Reduce Firearm Injuries in Children: A Scoping Review.

Introduction: Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) have shown promise in preventing reinjury and enhancing recovery from violent injuries, including those related to firearms. Historically, HVIPs have primarily focused on at-risk adolescents and young adults. The aim of this study is to perform a scoping review of HVIPs targeting children under the age of 18, describe the evidence supporting these programs, and deduce the potential impact of expanding HVIPs to younger children.

Social Media, Misinformation, and Online Patient Education in Emergency General Surgical Procedures.

Introduction: Patients use the internet to learn about diagnoses and treatment options. These sources vary in quality and accuracy of medical information. Thus, utilization of social media may lead to misinformation regarding treatment for patients in need of emergent general surgery procedures.

Recovery of Skill Decay After COVID-19 Redeployments and Implications for Competency Attainment.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic immediately interrupted procedural training. The lasting impact of reduced caseloads and service redeployments on procedural-resident training has been underexplored. This longitudinal study investigated the long-term perspectives of skill decay after short breaks in training and implications for ensuring resident competency attainment.

Implementation and Assessment of Mentoring and Professionalism in Training (MAP-IT): A Humanistic Curriculum as a Tool to Address Burnout in Surgical Residents.

Objective: Mentoring and Professionalism in Training (MAP-IT), a humanistic mentorship program, has demonstrated positive impact in non-surgical fields. This study assesses the feasibility of implementing MAP-IT in surgical residency and adapts MAP-IT to include residents-as-teachers (RAT). We hypothesize that MAP-IT will benefit surgical residents by building humanistic teaching skills, increasing resilience, reducing burnout, and improving connectedness.

Chromatin-Associated Molecular Patterns (CAMPs) in sepsis.

Several molecular patterns have been identified that recognize pattern recognition receptors. Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are commonly used terminologies to classify molecules originating from pathogen and endogenous molecules, respectively, to heighten the immune response in sepsis. Herein, we focus on a subgroup of endogenous molecules that may be detected as foreign and similarly trigger immune signaling pathways.

Learning to SuRRF: Sustained Engagement and Increased Academic Productivity Over Two Years of a Resident-Led Virtual Laboratory.

Objective: To determine if implementation of a resident-led virtual laboratory can sustain increased engagement and academic productivity in residents and faculty.

Design: We developed and introduced a multimodal virtual Surgery Resident Research Forum (SuRRF) in July 2019. SuRRF utilizes monthly virtual lab meetings, weekly newsletters, a centralized database of projects, project tracking tools, and a shared calendar of deadlines to facilitate research among surgical residents.

Necroptosis-Mediated eCIRP Release in Sepsis.

Introduction: Extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (eCIRP) is an endogenous pro-inflammatory mediator that exacerbates injury in inflammation and sepsis. The mechanisms in which eCIRP is released have yet to be fully explored. Necroptosis is a programmed cell death that is dependent on the activation of mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudo kinase (MLKL) which causes the release of damage-associated molecular patterns.

Extracellular CIRP Promotes GPX4-Mediated Ferroptosis in Sepsis.

Sepsis is characterized by life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (eCIRP) is a damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) that promotes inflammation and induces cell death apoptosis, NETosis, and/or pyroptosis. Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death characterized by the accumulation of lipid peroxide on cellular membranes.

Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair Postoperative Complications in End Stage Renal Disease Patients.

Background: The prevalence of patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring general surgical procedures is increasing. Our aim was to explore the effect of ESRD on patients undergoing elective laparoscopic ventral hernia repair.

Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2010-2015) database was used to identify patients who underwent elective laparoscopic ventral hernia repair.

A Survey of the Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on Skill Decay Among Surgery and Anesthesia Residents.

Objective: The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has profoundly impacted healthcare delivery and strained medical training. This study explores resident and faculty perceptions regarding the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on technical skill decay of surgical and anesthesia residents. We hypothesized that many residents perceived that their technical abilities diminished due to a short period of interruption in their training.

Chronic dantrolene treatment attenuates cardiac dysfunction and reduces atrial fibrillation inducibility in a rat myocardial infarction heart failure model.

Background: Cardiac ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2) dysfunction and elevated diastolic Ca leak have been linked to arrhythmogenesis not only in inherited arrhythmia syndromes but also in acquired forms of heart disease including heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Thus, stabilizing RyR2 may exert therapeutic effects in these conditions.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of stabilizing RyR2 with chronic dantrolene treatment on HF development and AF inducibility in a myocardial infarction (MI)-induced HF model in rats.

Epiglottic hematoma after carotid endarterectomy with cervical block.

There are few trials assessing the risks and benefits of performing a cervical plexus block (CPB) in urgent carotid endarterectomies (CEA). We describe a case of a patient who underwent urgent CEA under CPB and suffered a complication of postoperative epiglottic hematoma. There were clinical findings that helped to distinguish the hematoma from other, more common postoperative complications.