Implementing an Educational Module for Orthopaedic Residents Placing Skeletal Traction.

Introduction: Although placement of a distal femoral traction (DFT) pin is a relatively simple procedure used to stabilize femoral and pelvic fractures, it places patients at risk of iatrogenic vascular, muscular, or bony injury. We designed and implemented an educational module combining theory and practical experience to standardize and improve resident teaching on the placement of DFT pins.

Methods: We introduced a DFT pin teaching module into our second-year resident "boot camp," which is used to help prepare residents for taking primary call in the emergency department at our level I trauma center.

MST1R kinase accelerates pancreatic cancer progression via effects on both epithelial cells and macrophages.

The MST1R (RON) kinase is overexpressed in >80% of human pancreatic cancers, but its role in pancreatic carcinogenesis is unknown. In this study, we examined the relevance of Mst1r kinase to Kras driven pancreatic carcinogenesis using genetically engineered mouse models. In the setting of mutant Kras, Mst1r overexpression increased acinar-ductal metaplasia (ADM), accelerated the progression of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), and resulted in the accumulation of (mannose receptor C type 1) MRC1+, (arginase 1) Arg+ macrophages in the tumor microenvironment.