Injury-related Deaths Research Articles

Mortality due to traumatic spinal cord injuries in Europe: a cross-sectional and pooled analysis of population-wide data from 22 countries

BackgroundTraumatic spinal cord injuries (TSCI) pose a significant burden globally, while existing epidemiological data–especially on population mortality–are limited. The aim of this study was to calculate the age-standardized population mortality rates attributable to TSCI in 22 European countries, along with the pooled age-standardized mortality rate attributable to TSCI in Europe.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted. Crude and age-standardized mortality rates attributable to TSCI for the year 2012 for 22 European countries were compared using data from death certificates provided by Eurostat. Pooled age-standardized mortality rates were calculated using the random effects model, and overall number of cases were estimated by extrapolating our findings to the populations of EU and Europe (48 countries), in 2012.ResultsA total of 1840 TSCI-related deaths were identified, of which 1084 (59%) were males. The pooled age-standardized TSCI-related mortality rate of 6.7 per million (95% CI: 5.2 to 8.2) overall, 9.4 (95% CI: 7.3 to 11.5) for males, and 4.5 (95% CI: 3.4 to 5.6) for females. Extrapolating our results, 3152 (95% CI: 2441 to 3915) deaths would occur in 2012 in the EU-28 and 4570 (95% CI: 3538 to 5675) deaths in the whole Europe. TSCI-related deaths contributed by 2% (95% CI: 1.8% to 2.2%) to the overall injury related mortality. 61% of fatal TSCI were located in the cervical spine area.ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the largest study that reports TSCI-related population-based mortalities to date which brings valuable information that can inform further research or prevention strategies. Our study presents a comprehensive and large-scale overview of TSCI-related population mortality in Europe. With an estimated toll of nearly five thousand lives that could be potentially saved by prevention, our findings confirm TSCI as an important cause of injury related deaths in Europe. Further action towards harmonization of case ascertainment and towards prevention strategies targeted mainly on the elderly is warranted.

Emergency Management of Tension Pneumothorax for Health Professionals on Remote Cat Island Bahamas.

Patients living in remote areas have higher rates of injury-related death than those living in cities. Rural and remote health professionals working in sparsely populated places, such as Cat Island Bahamas, may have scant resources for treating emergency conditions. Local health professionals must be prepared to rely solely upon clinical judgment to perform emergency “high-stakes low-frequency” procedures while also accurately and effectively communicating with distantly located receiving specialists. However, these health providers may not recently have performed or had the opportunity to practice such emergency procedures. Telesimulation may be a useful way to teach remote practitioners both emergency procedures and communication skills. This technical report describes a simulation exercise for teaching these skills.

Acute administration of catalase targeted to ICAM-1 attenuates neuropathology in experimental traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) contributes to one third of injury related deaths in the US. Treatment strategies for TBI are supportive, and the pathophysiology is not fully understood. Secondary mechanisms of injury in TBI, such as oxidative stress and inflammation, are points at which intervention may reduce neuropathology. Evidence suggests that reactive oxygen species (ROS) propagate blood-brain barrier (BBB) hyperpermeability and inflammation following TBI. We hypothesized that targeted detoxification of ROS may improve the pathological outcomes of TBI. Following TBI, endothelial activation results in a time dependent increase in vascular expression of ICAM-1. We conjugated catalase to anti-ICAM-1 antibodies and administered the conjugate to 8 wk old C57BL/6J mice 30 min after moderate controlled cortical impact injury. Results indicate that catalase targeted to ICAM-1 reduces markers of oxidative stress, preserves BBB permeability, and attenuates neuropathological indices more effectively than non-targeted catalase and anti-ICAM-1 antibody alone. Furthermore, the study of microglia by two-photon microscopy revealed that anti-ICAM-1/catalase prevents the transition of microglia to an activated phenotype. These findings demonstrate the use of a targeted antioxidant enzyme to interfere with oxidative stress mechanisms in TBI and provide a proof-of-concept approach to improve acute TBI management that may also be applicable to other neuroinflammatory conditions.

Assessing the impact of an emergency trauma course for senior medical students in Kenya

IntroductionNinety percent of all injury-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. The WHO recommends short, resource-specific trauma courses for healthcare providers. Studies show that teaching trauma courses to medical students in developed countries leads to significant increases in knowledge and skill. High costs hinder widespread and sustained teaching of these courses in low-income countries.MethodsA two-day trauma course was designed for students at Moi College of Health Sciences in Eldoret, Kenya. Participants underwent pre- and post-course written and simulation testing and rated their confidence in 21 clinical scenarios and 15 procedures pre- and post-course using a five point Likert scale. A subset of the students was re-evaluated nine months post-course. Using the paired t-test, mean written, simulation and confidence scores were compared pre-course, immediately post-course and nine months post-course.ResultsTwenty-two students were enrolled. Written test score means were 61.5% pre-course and 76.9% post-course, mean difference 15.5% (p < 0.001). Simulation test score means were 36.7% pre-course and 82.2% post-course, mean difference 45.5% (p < 0.001). Aggregate confidence scores were 3.21 pre-course and 4.72 post-course (scale 1–5). Ten out of 22 (45.5%) students were re-evaluated nine months post-course. Results showed written test score mean of 75%, simulation score mean of 61.7%, and aggregate confidence score of 4.59 (scale 1–5). Mean differences between immediate post- and nine months post-course were 1.6% (p = 0.75) and 8.7% (p = 0.10) for the written and simulation tests, respectively.ConclusionSenior Kenyan medical students demonstrated statistically significant increases in knowledge, skills and confidence after participating in a novel student trauma course. Nine months post-course, improvements in knowledge skills and confidence were sustained.

The epidemiology of drowning in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review

BackgroundAccording to the World Health Organization, drowning is the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths worldwide, accounting for 370,000 annual deaths and 7% of all injury-related deaths. Low- and middle-income countries are the most affected, accounting for 91% of unintentional drowning deaths.MethodsThe authors performed a systematic review of literature indexed in EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Traumatology journals formerly indexed in PubMed in January 2014 and again in September 2016. s were limited to human studies in English, conducted in low- and middle-income countries, and containing quantitative data on drowning epidemiology.ResultsA total of 62 articles met inclusion criteria. The majority of articles originate from Asia (56%) and Africa (26%). Risk factors for drowning included young age (<17–20 years old), male gender (75% vs. 25% female), rural environment (84% vs. 16% urban), occurring in the daytime (95% vs. 5% night time), lack of adult supervision (76% vs. 18% supervised), and limited swimming ability (86% vs. 10% with swimming ability). There was almost equal risk of drowning in a small body of water versus a large body of water (42% ponds, ditches, streams, wells; 46% lakes, rivers, sea, ocean).ConclusionDrowning is a significant cause of injury-related deaths, especially in LMICs. Young males who are unsupervised in rural areas and have limited formal swimming instruction are at greatest risk of drowning in small bodies of water around their homes. Preventative strategies include covering wells and cisterns, fencing off ditches and small ponds, establishing community daycares, providing formal swimming lessons, and increasing awareness of the risks of drowning.

Sex and age differences in phenylephrine mechanisms and outcomes after piglet brain injury.

BackgroundTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of injury related death in children, with boys and children under 4 having particularly poor outcomes. Cerebral autoregulation is often impaired after TBI, contributing to poor outcome. In prior studies of newborn pigs, phenylephrine (Phe) preferentially protected cerebral autoregulation in females but not males after TBI. We hypothesized that, in contrast to the newborn, Phe prevents impairment of autoregulation and tissue injury following TBI in both sexes of older pigs.MethodsCerebral autoregulation, CSF ERK and endothelin, and histopathology were determined after moderate fluid percussion brain injury (FPI) in male and female juvenile pigs after Phe.ResultsAutoregulation was more impaired in male subjects than females. Phe protects autoregulation in both sexes after FPI, blocked ERK and endothelin, and decreased the number of necrotic neurons in males and females after FPI.ConclusionsThese data indicate that Phe protects autoregulation and limits neuronal necrosis via block of ERK and endothelin after FPI in maleas and females. Together with prior observations in newborn pigs where Phe protected autoregulation in female but not male subjects, these data suggest that use of Phe to improve outcome after TBI is both sex and age dependent.

K channel impairment determines sex and age differences in epinephrine-mediated outcomes after brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of injury-related death in children, with boys and children under 4 years having particularly poor outcomes. Activation of ATP- and calcium-sensitive (KATP and KCa ) channels produces cerebrovasodilation and contributes to autoregulation, both of which are impaired after TBI, contributing to poor outcomes. Upregulation of the c-Jun-terminal kinase (JNK) isoform of mitogen-activated protein kinase produces K channel function impairment after CNS injury. Vasoactive agents can be used to normalize cerebral perfusion pressure. Epinephrine (EPI) prevents impairment of cerebral autoregulation and hippocampal neuronal cell necrosis after TBI in female and male newborn and female juvenile but not male juvenile pigs via differential modulation of JNK. The present study used anesthetized pigs equipped with a closed cranial window to address the hypothesis that differential K channel impairment contributes to age and sex differences in EPI-mediated outcomes after brain injury. Results show that pial artery dilation in response to the KATP and KCa channel agonists cromakalim and NS 1619 was impaired after TBI and that such impairment was prevented by EPI in female and male newborn and female juvenile but not male juvenile pigs. Using vasodilation as an index of function, these data indicate that EPI protects cerebral autoregulation and limits histopathology after TBI through protection of K channel function via blockade of JNK in an age- and sex-dependent manner. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Epidemiology and outcomes of injuries in Kenya: A multisite surveillance study

Injury is a leading cause of disability and death worldwide, accounting for over 5 million deaths each year. The injury burden is higher in low- and middle-income countries where more than 90% of injury-related deaths occur. Despite this burden, the use of prospective trauma registries to describe injury epidemiology and outcomes is limited in low- and middle-income countries. Kenya lacks robust data to describe injury epidemiology and care. The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiology and outcomes of injuries at 4 referral hospitals in Kenya using hospital-based trauma registries. From January 2014 to May 2015, all injured patients presenting to the casualty departments of Kenyatta National, Thika Level 5, Machakos Level 5, and Meru Level 5 Hospitals were enrolled prospectively. Data collected included demographic characteristics, type of prehospital care received, prehospital time, injury pattern, and outcomes. A total of 14,237 patients were enrolled in our study. Patients were predominantly male (76.1%) and young (mean age 28years). The most common mechanisms of injury were road traffic injuries (36.8%), falls (26.4%), and being struck/hit by a person or object (20.1%). Burn was the most common mechanism of injury in the age category under 5years. Body regions commonly injured were lower extremity (35.1%), upper extremity (33.4%), and head (26.0%). The overall mortality rate was 2.4%. Significant predictors of mortality from multivariate analysis were Glasgow Coma Scale ≤12, estimated injury severity score ≥9, burns, and gunshot injuries. Hospital-based trauma registries can be important sources of data to study the epidemiology of injuries in low- and middle-income countries. Data from such trauma registries can highlight key needs and be used to design public health interventions and quality-of-care improvement programs.

Anesthetic Management of Traumatic Brain Injury

Worldwide, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. It is the third most common cause of injury related death with direct and indirect costs totaling an estimated 60 billion dollars annually in the United States. Management of a TBI patient is guided by recommendations made by the Brain Trauma Foundation (BTF). Despite advances made in care, there is still a high mortality rate depending on severity of injury. Knowing when to obtain imaging for TBI patients can prevent excessive strain on hospital resources. There continues to be a debate on how to secure an airway in patients suspected to have a cervical spine injury. The purpose of this review article is to highlight initial management of a TBI patient, securing an airway, and recommendations for intraoperative management.

Trauma care in India: A review of the literature

We reviewed the published literature related to prehospital and hospital trauma care in India to identify how trauma care is defined in the literature and what factors limit the delivery of appropriate trauma care. In summarizing the evidence and recommendations regarding trauma care, this review identifies essential research and development goals to address the burden of injury in India. A review of the literature was conducted between August 2014 and September 2014. The literature was sorted into 3 categories: prehospital care, hospital clinical care, and hospital administrative care. The characteristics of trauma care were explored using the Essential Trauma Care Project of the World Health Organization. A total of 38 studies were included. Prehospital care lacked care provided at the scene of the injury, timely transport to a hospital, and transport via ambulance. With regard to hospital care, we found a lack of capabilities of basic clinical care, such as airway management, insertion of chest tubes, and efforts at resuscitation. There was a lack of administrative capabilities, including trauma data systems, trauma-specific training, quality improvement, and development of designated trauma teams. The high rate of injury-related deaths and disabilities in India could be in part due to the absence of integrated and organized systems of trauma care. In the prehospital setting, a multisector approach must be implemented to address the training of emergency medical service providers and community members. Prehospital transport time can be decreased through improved communication and transport modalities. The Indian trauma care system could also be strengthened through hospital-based training programs and trauma response teams.

Traumatic Brain Injury-Related Emergency Department Visits, Hospitalizations, and Deaths - United States, 2007 and 2013.

Problem/ConditionTraumatic brain injury (TBI) has short- and long-term adverse clinical outcomes, including death and disability. TBI can be caused by a number of principal mechanisms, including motor-vehicle crashes, falls, and assaults. This report describes the estimated incidence of TBI-related emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and deaths during 2013 and makes comparisons to similar estimates from 2007.Reporting Period2007 and 2013.Description of SystemState-based administrative health care data were used to calculate estimates of TBI-related ED visits and hospitalizations by principal mechanism of injury, age group, sex, and injury intent. Categories of injury intent included unintentional (motor-vehicle crashes, falls, being struck by or against an object, mechanism unspecified), intentional (self-harm and assault/homicide), and undetermined intent. These health records come from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project’s National Emergency Department Sample and National Inpatient Sample. TBI-related death analyses used CDC multiple-cause-of-death public-use data files, which contain death certificate data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.ResultsIn 2013, a total of approximately 2.8 million TBI-related ED visits, hospitalizations, and deaths (TBI-EDHDs) occurred in the United States. This consisted of approximately 2.5 million TBI-related ED visits, approximately 282,000 TBI-related hospitalizations, and approximately 56,000 TBI-related deaths. TBIs were diagnosed in nearly 2.8 million (1.9%) of the approximately 149 million total injury- and noninjury-related EDHDs that occurred in the United States during 2013. Rates of TBI-EDHDs varied by age, with the highest rates observed among persons aged ≥75 years (2,232.2 per 100,000 population), 0–4 years (1,591.5), and 15–24 years (1,080.7). Overall, males had higher age-adjusted rates of TBI-EDHDs (959.0) compared with females (810.8) and the most common principal mechanisms of injury for all age groups included falls (413.2, age-adjusted), being struck by or against an object (142.1, age-adjusted), and motor-vehicle crashes (121.7, age-adjusted). The age-adjusted rate of ED visits was higher in 2013 (787.1) versus 2007 (534.4), with fall-related TBIs among persons aged ≥75 years accounting for 17.9% of the increase in the number of TBI-related ED visits. The number and rate of TBI-related hospitalizations also increased among persons aged ≥75 years (from 356.9 in 2007 to 454.4 in 2013), primarily because of falls. Whereas motor-vehicle crashes were the leading cause of TBI-related deaths in 2007 in both number and rate, in 2013, intentional self-harm was the leading cause in number and rate. The overall age-adjusted rate of TBI-related deaths for all ages decreased from 17.9 in 2007 to 17.0 in 2013; however, age-adjusted TBI-related death rates attributable to falls increased from 3.8 in 2007 to 4.5 in 2013, primarily among older adults. Although the age-adjusted rate of TBI-related deaths attributable to motor-vehicle crashes decreased from 5.0 in 2007 to 3.4 in 2013, the age-adjusted rate of TBI-related ED visits attributable to motor-vehicle crashes increased from 83.8 in 2007 to 99.5 in 2013. The age-adjusted rate of TBI-related hospitalizations attributable to motor-vehicle crashes decreased from 23.5 in 2007 to 18.8 in 2013.InterpretationProgress has been made to prevent motor-vehicle crashes, resulting in a decrease in the number of TBI-related hospitalizations and deaths from 2007 to 2013. However, during the same time, the number and rate of older adult fall-related TBIs have increased substantially. Although considerable public interest has focused on sports-related concussion in youth, the findings in this report suggest that TBIs attributable to older adult falls, many of which result in hospitalization and death, should receive public health attention.Public Health ActionsThe increase in the number of fall-related TBIs in older adults suggests an urgent need to enhance fall-prevention efforts in that population. Multiple effective interventions have been identified, and CDC has developed the STEADI initiative (Stopping Elderly Accidents Deaths and Injuries) as a comprehensive strategy that incorporates empirically supported clinical guidelines and scientifically tested interventions to help primary care providers address their patients’ fall risk through the identification of modifiable risk factors and implementation of effective interventions (e.g., exercise, medication management, and Vitamin D supplementation).

Medication use and risk of falls among nursing home residents: a retrospective cohort study.

Background Geriatric falls are leading causes of hospital trauma admissions and injury-related deaths. Medication use is a crucial element among extrinsic risk factors for falls. To reduce fall risk and the prevalence of adverse drug reactions, potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) lists are widely used. Objective Our aim was to investigate the possible predictors of geriatric falls annualized over a 5-year-long period, as well as to evaluate the medication use of nursing home residents. Setting Nursing home residents were recruited from the same institution between 2010 and 2015 in Szeged, Hungary. Method A retrospective epidemiological study was performed. Patient data were analysed for the first 12months of residency. Chi-squared test and Fisher's-test were applied to compare the categorical variables, Student's t test to compare the continuous variables between groups. Binary logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine the association of falls with other variables found significant in univariate analysis. Microsoft Excel, IBM SPSS Statistics (version 23) and R (3.2.2) programs were used for data analysis. Main outcome measure Falls affected by age, gender, number of chronic medications, polypharmacy, PIM meds. Results A total of 197 nursing home residents were included, 150 (76.2%) women and 47 (23.8%) men, 55 fallers (annual fall prevalence rate was 27.9%) and 142 non-fallers. Gender was not a predisposing factor for falls (prevalence in males: 23.4 vs 29.3% in females, p>0.05). Fallers were older (mean years±SD; 84.0±7.0) than non-fallers (80.1±9.3, p<0.01). The age ≥80years was a significant risk factor for falls (p<0.001). The number of chronic medications was higher in male fallers (12.4±4.0) than in non-fallers (6.9±4.2, p<0.001). Polypharmacy (taking four or more chronic medications) was a significant risk factor of falls (p<0.01). Those PIMs carrying fall risk were taken by 70.9% of fallers and 75.3% of non-fallers (p>0.05). Taking pantoprazole, vinpocetine or trimetazidine was a significant risk factor for falls. Conclusion Older age, polypharmacy and the independent use of pantoprazole, vinpocetine, and trimetazidine were found to be major risk factors for falls. Further real-life epidemiological studies are necessary to confirm the role of particular active agents, and to help professionals prescribe, evaluate and review geriatric medication use.

Strategies and policies to address the opioid epidemic: A case study of Ohio

ObjectiveTo describe the strategies and policies implemented in Ohio to improve opioid safety and to discuss the role that pharmacists can play in implementing, promoting, and enhancing the effectiveness of these policies. SettingOhio has the fifth highest rate of drug overdose deaths (24.6 deaths per 100,000) in the United States. Unintentional drug overdose has become the leading cause of injury-related death in Ohio. In 2015, there were 3050 overdose deaths in Ohio, and in 2014 there were an estimated 12,847 overdose events reversed by emergency medical services with naloxone. Practice descriptionNot applicable. Practice policy innovationIn 2011, the Governor's Cabinet Opiate Action Team was created to implement a multifaceted strategy, in part (1) to promote the responsible use of opioids, (2) to reduce the supply of opioids, and (3) to support overdose prevention and expand access to naloxone. Innovations to assist these goals include the development of Ohio guidelines on the responsible use of opioids, mandatory use of Ohio's prescription drug monitoring program, closing pill mills, promotion of drug take-back programs and increased access to naloxone and public health campaigns. EvaluationNot applicable. ResultsSince the development of the Governor's Cabinet Opiate Action Team, there were 81 million fewer doses of opioids dispensed to Ohio patients in 2015 compared with 782 million doses dispensed in 2011. As such, the proportion of unintentional drug overdose deaths involving prescription opioids has reduced from 45% in 2011 to 22% in 2015. ConclusionStrong political support was crucial in Ohio to facilitate the rapid implementation opioid overdose prevention programs and the promotion of public awareness campaigns. However, the misuse and abuse of prescription opioids are complex problems requiring a comprehensive and multifaceted approach. Pharmacists are identified as a crucial component of the state strategy to addressing opioid abuse by promoting responsible prescribing and adopting prevention practices.

Examining Fatal Opioid Overdoses in Marion County, Indiana.

Drug-related overdoses are now the leading injury-related death in the USA, and many of these deaths are associated with illicit opioids and prescription opiate pain medication. This study uses multiple sources of data to examine accidental opioid overdoses across 6years, 2010 through 2015, in Marion County, IN, an urban jurisdiction in the USA. The primary sources of data are toxicology reports from the county coroner, which reveal that during this period, the most commonly detected opioid substance was heroin. During the study period, 918 deaths involved an opiod, and there were significant increases in accidental overdose deaths involving both heroin and fentanyl. In order to disentangle the nature and source of opioid overdose deaths, we also examine data from Indiana's prescription drug monitoring program and the law enforcement forensic services agency. Results suggest that there have been decreases in the number of opiate prescriptions dispensed and increases in law enforcement detection of both heroin and fentanyl. Consistent with recent literature, we suggest that increased regulation of prescription opiates reduced the likelihood of overdoses from these substances, but might have also had an iatrogenic effect of increasing deaths from heroin and fentanyl. We discuss several policy implications and recommendations for Indiana.

Frequency of forensic toxicological analysis in external cause deaths among nursing home residents: an analysis of trends.

There is a paucity of research examining the utility of forensic toxicology in the investigation of premature external cause deaths of residents in nursing homes. The aim of this study is to describe the frequency and characteristics of toxicological analysis conducted in external cause (injury-related) deaths amongst nursing home residents in Victoria, Australia. This study was a retrospective cohort study examining external cause deaths among nursing home residents during the period July 1, 2000 to December 31, 2012 in Victoria, Australia, using the National Coronial Information System (NCIS). The variables examined comprised: sex, age group, year-of-death, cause and manner of death. One-third of deaths among nursing home residents in Victoria resulted from external causes (n=1296, 33.3%) of which just over one-quarter (361, 27.9%) underwent toxicological analysis as part of the medical death investigation. The use of toxicological analysis varied by cause of death with a relatively low proportion conducted in deaths from unintentional falls (n=286, 24.9%) and choking (n=36, 40.4%). The use of toxicological analysis decreased as the decedents age increased. Forensic toxicology has the potential to contribute to improving our understanding of premature deaths in nursing home residents however it remains under used and is possibly undervalued.

Rates and predictors of injury in a population-based cohort of people living with HIV.

Injuries are responsible for 10% of the global burden of disease; however, the epidemiology of injury among people living with HIV (PLHIV) has not been well elucidated. This study seeks to characterize rates and predictors of injury among PLHIV compared to the general population in British Columbia (BC), Canada. A population-based dataset was created via linkage between the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS and PopulationDataBC. PLHIV aged 20 years and older were compared to a random 10% sample of the adult general population. The International Classification of Diseases 9 and 10 codes were used to classify unintentional and intentional injuries based on the external cause of the injury from 1996 to 2013. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) Poisson regression models were fit to estimate the effect of HIV status on rates of unintentional and intentional injury, and to identify correlates of injury among PLHIV. The crude incidence rate of unintentional injury was 18.56/1000 person-years [95% confidence interval (CI) 17.77-19.39] among PLHIV and 8.51/1000 person-years (95% CI 8.42-8.59) in the general population. Among PLHIV, 13.45% of deaths were due to injury, compared to 5.52% of deaths in the general population. In adjusted models, PLHIV were more likely to report unintentional (incidence rate ratio 1.42, 95% CI 1.32-1.52) and intentional injury (incidence rate ratio 1.93, 95% CI 1.70-2.18) compared to the general population. We identified elevated rates of intentional and unintentional injury among PLHIV. Injuries are largely preventable; as such, targeted efforts are needed to decrease the burden of injury-related disability and death among PLHIV.

Sex and Age Differences in Epinephrine Mechanisms and Outcomes after Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of injury-related death in children, with boys and children <4 years of age having particularly poor outcomes. Cerebral autoregulation is often impaired after TBI, contributing to poor outcome. Cerebral perfusion pressure can be normalized by use of vasoactive agents. The c-Jun-terminal kinase (JNK) isoform of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) produces hemodynamic impairment after TBI, but less is known about its role in histopathology. We investigated whether epinephrine (EPI), age, and sex dependently protected cerebral autoregulation and limited histopathology after TBI, and sought to determine the role of JNK in that outcome. Lateral fluid percussion injury (FPI) was produced in anesthetized pigs. Pial artery reactivity was measured via a closed cranial window. Phosphorylated JNK MAPK was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results show that EPI preserves autoregulation, prevents histopathology, and blocks phosphorylated JNK upregulation in newborn males and females and juvenile females but not juvenile males after TBI. These data indicate that EPI preserves cerebral autoregulation and limits histopathology after TBI through blockade of JNK in an age- and sex-dependent manner.

Epidemiology of Injury-Related Death in Children under 5 Years of Age in Hunan Province, China, 2009-2014.

BackgroundInjury is an important cause of childhood mortality in China. We described the epidemiology and trends of injury-related deaths of children <5 years of age in Hunan province, and discussed several policy implications.MethodsInjury-related deaths of children <5 years of age in 2009–2014 were identified from surveillance data. All specific injury mortality and mortality rates in urban and rural area were calculated from census data; Cochran-armitage trend test was used to assess the time trends.ResultsInjury was the leading cause of death in children <5 years of age. Overall injury mortality was 48.96 per 100,000 persons, gradually declined with the year (Z = -18.75, P<0.001), and accounted for 27.14% of all deaths. Injury mortality in rural areas was 64.66 per 100,000 persons, which was more than 3.73 times higher than the rate in urban areas. The three leading causes of injury-related death were drowning (43.63%), suffocation (27.57%), and traffic accidents (14.34%). Suffocation was the leading cause in children <1 year of age (79.49%). Suffocation has high incidence in the winter and spring, and drowning has high incidence in the summer season. Drowning was the leading cause in children 1–4 years of age (62.80%). Drowning and suffocation accounted for 67.74% and 65.11%, of injury-related deaths that occurred at home; while the traffic injury deaths (54.12%) occurred mainly in transit.ConclusionsInjury-related fatalities in children <5 years of age followed time trends that were different in rural and urban areas. Effective childhood injury prevention may require different prevention policies combination depending on epidemiological characteristics such as development of injury surveillance and public education on injury knowledge. There is a need for evidence-based surveillance of risk factors for development of effective injury prevention programs.

Statistical Analysis of Legal Autopsy Cases Performed in the Jeollabuk-do Province of Korea in 2016

This study aimed to obtain basic regional data of legal autopsy cases observed in the Jeollabuk-do province concerning causes and manner of death. We investigated 170 autopsy cases (114 males [67.0%] and 56 females [33%]) performed at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School, in 2016. Of these, seven (4.1%) were children aged <10 years. Regarding the manner of death, there were 95 unnatural deaths (55.9%), 69 natural deaths (40.6%), and six deaths from unknown causes (3.5%). Among the 95 unnatural deaths, 29 suicides (30.5%), 10 homicides (10.5%), 52 accidental deaths (54.7%), and four undetermined deaths (4.2%) were recorded. Concerning causes of unnatural death, there were 39 traumatic injury-related deaths (41.2%), 10 asphyxiations (10.5%), 25 poisonings (26.3%), 13 thermal injury-related deaths (13.7%), and eight deaths due to drowning (8.4%). The most common cause of unnatural death was injury from falls (n=15), followed by agrochemical poisoning (n=12), traffic injury (n=12), and death from fire (n=11). Of 69 natural deaths, 31 were from cardiac diseases (44.9%), eight from cerebral or vascular diseases (11.6%), 12 from digestive system diseases (17.4%), one from respiratory system disease (1.4%), five from endocrine/metabolic/nutritional disorders (7.2%), and nine due to causes of unknown origin (including sudden manhood and sudden infant death syndromes) (13.1%).

Insight on Secondary Brain Injuries from Paramedic Treatment that are 4-Times Likely to Occur Prior to Pre-Hospital Treatment and ER Submissions

Inevitably, severe brain injuries occur each year. The most common cause is falls, which have become increasingly common as a source of severe traumatic brain injury. According to a Canadian report, falls account for approximately 40% of both overall trauma and injury-related deaths. According to statistics, there are additional brain injuries that can increase the risk of desaturation associated with intubation. The purpose of this study is to propose new and fast regulations that can be used or implemented by the First Response Team (FRT) in the prehospital setting. The amount of ER patients with head trauma or TBI and the results of aftercare have shown a gap that can be reduced with the percentage of brain damage after initial service from the FRT, even with ventilated patients, by carefully monitoring end-tidal CO2 and preventing hyperventilation. In conclusion, It is important for the FRT to have proper training and the ability to work quickly and efficiently along with conducting proper airway management for preventing hypoxia as a priority in a pre-hospital setting (in response to a patient who has suffered TBI). There are no prospective controlled trials being conducted to address the efficacy of paramedic FRTs for patients suffering from severe TBI. The significant evidence shown regarding the increased risks of brain injury to patients being treated in pre-hospital settings should be a concern and a cause for further research.