Methods. We examined the role of H-2g in monocyte chemotaxis in vitro. We used an RA synovial tissue (ST)-SCID mouse chimera model to evaluate the role of H-2g in monocyte recruitment in vivo. We used Western blots to examine signaling molecules activated by H-2g in monocytes.Results. H-2g induced human monocyte migration in vitro, which was mediated by Src and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase), since inhibitors and antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) of Src and PI 3-kinase significantly decreased H-2g-induced monocyte migration (P < 0.05). H-2g significantly increased mononuclear cell (MNC) homing in vivo into an RA ST-SCID mouse chimera (P < 0.05).

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Background: Blood transfusion and old age have been independently associated with worse outcomes and higher mortality in the trauma population. Determining specific volumes and ratios of blood products for the elderly population, a special population with varied hemodynamic responses to traumatic injury, is a challenge. This study was aimed at delineating the relationship between specific transfusion volumes and mortality with an ultimate goal of finding an optimal threshold where risk outweighs benefit. Methods: A retrospective study of data from patients aged 65 and older at a level II urban trauma center was conducted. All patients who were included in the study presented to the emergency department between January 2013 and January 2016 and received a blood product transfusion (n = 93). The primary outcome was defined as mortality 24 h after transfusion, while the secondary outcome measured was length of hospital stay. Optimal cutoff points were estimated using Youden J coefficients, and Cox proportional hazard ratio (HR) was performed to calculate mortality risk. Results: Patients receiving less than 5 units of blood product had a shorter length of stay (5.19 days) and decreased risk of mortality (HR = 2.48, P = 0.01). Patients receiving ≥ 5 units of a blood product had a statistically significant increase in risk of mortality (HR = 6.207, P < 0.001) and length of hospital stay (12.47 days), regardless of injury severity score. The administration of fresh frozen plasma was also an independent predictor of mortality. Patients who received a plasma transfusion had an increased risk of mortality (HR = 3.25, P < 0.001). Conclusion: In this study, a threshold point of greater than 5 units of blood products has been associated with increased mortality and length of hospital stay. A more restrictive transfusion strategy has potential for improved outcomes.

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BACKGROUND: Acute care surgeons perform more than 850,000 operations annually on emergency general surgery patients in the United States. Emergency general surgery conditions are associated with a disproportionate excess of patient complications and death. Innovative quality improvement strategies have focused on addressing the excess morbidity and mortality among this patient population. Minimally invasive surgical techniques have been shown to reduce the burden experienced by emergency general surgery patients. Still, limited adoption by acute care surgeons has restricted this application's potential. An institutional robotics acute care surgery program provides acute care surgeons additional opportunities to expand minimally invasive surgery access to emergency general surgery patients irrespective of the time or day of the week. METHODS:A robotics acute care surgery program was developed and implemented at a high-volume academic institution within the division of trauma and acute care surgery. RESULTS:Three attending surgeons and two fellows within the trauma and acute care surgery division had successfully completed a defined robotics clinical pathway. As a result, around-the-clock use of a robotic surgical platform for emergency general surgery cases was implemented with routine use by trained robotic acute care surgeons and practicing fellows. CONCLUSION: The advancement of robotic surgical technology has opened new avenues for surgical application in the emergency setting. The development of a robotic acute care surgery program allows acute care surgeons to diversify their practice while providing greater access to minimally invasive approaches for emergency general surgery patients.