Expanding the Public Health Role of Pediatric Trauma Centers: Drug Screening for Adolescent Trauma Patients.

Background: Injury and overdose are leading causes of adolescent death in the United States, with high rates of problematic substance use among injured adolescents. We sought to determine whether drug screening prevalence and positivity at pediatric trauma centers have changed with the ongoing adolescent overdose crisis.

Study Design: This study evaluated trends in biochemical drug screening prevalence and positivity among injured adolescents (12-17 years) from the 2017-2022 Trauma Quality Improvement Program dataset.

Unpacking the link between substance use disorders and 30-day unplanned readmission.

Background And Aims: Given the more than twofold increase in the prevalence of substance use disorders in the United States in the past decade, more hospital inpatients can be expected to carry substance use disorder diagnoses, necessitating evaluation of potential links to 30-day unplanned readmissions, a marker of quality of care. This study aimed to measure the association between substance use disorder diagnoses, discharge disposition and 30-day unplanned hospital readmissions.

Design: This retrospective cohort study extracted data from electronic health records of all inpatients.

Implementation of Trauma Quality Improvement in Cameroon: A Qualitative Stakeholder Analysis.

Introduction: Trauma quality improvement (QI) is an integral part of trauma systems development but has had limited uptake in low- and middle-income countries. Stakeholder buy-in is critical to QI implementation. In 2019, a trauma QI program was implemented in four hospitals in Cameroon.

Epidemiological Profile of Road Traffic Injury Patients in Hospitals in Fako Division, Cameroon: A Foundation for Tailored Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Management.

Background: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a major global public health concern, often leading to serious physical and psychological consequences, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A limited understanding of specific RTI patient characteristics particularly regarding PTSD screening recommendation and uptake in Cameroon hinders, the development of effective PTSD management strategies. This study aimed to determine the epidemiological profile of RTI patients in Fako Division, Cameroon, to inform the development of tailored PTSD management interventions.

Knowledge and attitudes of commercial motorcyclists on personal protective equipment in the crisis-affected Limbe and Tiko Health Districts of Cameroon toward injury prevention: A formative research study for a health education intervention.

Background: In Cameroon, commercial motorcycle riders are essential for urban transportation; however, they face considerable health risks from road traffic accidents and workplace hazards. Despite the critical role of personal protective equipment (PPE) in reducing injury risks, riders often possess limited knowledge and attitudes towards PPE. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of motorcycle riders in the Limbe and Tiko Health Districts.

Do deferred emergency payment programmes increase use of injury care services in Cameroon? A trauma registry analysis.

Background: Injured patients in Cameroon face high out-of-pocket costs and care discrepancies based on ability to pay. Per government declaration, all Cameroonian hospitals instituted emergency payment deferral (EPD) programmes to mitigate financial barriers to emergency care. Doctors or nurses decide on patients' eligibility for the EPD programme.

Interpersonal violence-related physical injury in low- and middle-income countries and its association with markers of socioeconomic status: a systematic review.

Background: Interpersonal violence-related physical injury (IPVRPI) is a leading cause of death in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), yet reliable data relating socioeconomic status (SES) and IPVRPI in these settings are lacking. We analyzed existing literature on associations between SES and IPVRPI in LMICs to understand how SES is measured in these contexts and synthesize data relating markers of SES to IPVRPI at the individual-level in order to inform future hospital-based IPVRPI prevention efforts.

Methods: We searched Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Global Health databases in January 2022 for analytical studies from LMICs that explored individual-level associations between IPVRPI and markers of SES.

Association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and anti-apolipoprotein A-1 antibody in children.

Background And Aims: Autoantibodies against apolipoprotein A-1 (AAA1) are elicited by SARS-CoV-2 infection and predict COVID-19 symptoms persistence at one year in adults, but whether this applies to children is unknown. We studied the association of SARS-CoV-2 exposure with AAA1 prevalence in children and the association of AAA1 seropositivity with symptom persistence.

Methods: Anti-SARS-CoV-2 and AAA1 serologies were examined in 1031 participants aged 6 months to 17 years old from the prospective SEROCOV-KIDS cohort and recruited between 12.

Organizational change using a novel, structured plan for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in an academic surgical department.

Introduction: Ethnic, gender-based, socioeconomic, and racial inequities persist in academic medical centers across the United States. Integration of principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) with policies, procedures and organizational culture remains a challenge for many departments of Surgery.

Methods: Starting in June of 2021, we implemented a structured justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion plan with the goal of enhancing organizational and cultural change within our department.

Factors associated with mortality in thoracic trauma patients in Cameroon.

Background: Thoracic trauma is the third most common cause of death after abdominal injury and head trauma in polytrauma patients. The identification of a patient at risk of thoracic trauma mortality is necessary to avoid delays that may lead to morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the objective was to assess the factors associated with mortality among thoracic trauma patients in Cameroon.

Wealth is health: High economic status in Cameroon correlates with protective gear use in traffic injuries and improved clinical outcomes.

Introduction: Africa is the least motorized populated continent, yet it experiences the highest traffic fatality rate. Despite laws mandating helmet and seatbelt use, data on protective gear use among Cameroonian road traffic injury (RTI) patients remains sparse.

Methods: We extracted Cameroon Trauma Registry data prospectively collected from 10 hospitals during July 2022 to December 2023.

Epidemiological pattern of trauma among children 0-9 years in Cameroon.

Background: In low- and middle-income countries, trauma is the leading cause of death among youth and it is also a major cause of disability. Globally, more than 1,600 children and adolescents below the age of 19-years die every day from preventable injuries. Traffic-related injuries, falls, sports-related injuries, assaults, burns, and drownings are the most commonly reported causes of traumatic mortality among children.

Integrating political prioritisation into national surgical planning: a scoping review of surgical, obstetric and anaesthesia care in Cameroon.

Background: Surgical diseases contribute substantially to death and disability in Cameroon. Strategic planning for surgical, obstetric and anaesthesia (SOA) care in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) requires consideration of the policy environment in addition to the issue severity. We aimed at the current landscape of SOA care in Cameroon, incorporating a framework for political prioritisation.

Recent trends and risk factors for chemical and physical restraint use in the emergency department evaluation and treatment of trauma patients.

Background: Despite research linking chemical and physical restraints to negative outcomes including unplanned intubations and psychological distress, there is little guidance for their use in the care of trauma patients. We used institutional data to describe recent trends in chemical and physical restraint in the emergency department evaluation and treatment of trauma patients and to identify characteristics associated with their use.

Methods: This study includes adult trauma activations at a United States urban level I trauma center from January 2016 to July 2022.

Linking Antibodies Against Apolipoprotein A-1 to Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis in Mice.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) is a common liver and health issue associated with heightened cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, with Cytokeratin 18 (CK-18) as a marker of liver injury across the MASLD to cirrhosis spectrum. Autoantibodies against apolipoprotein A-1 (AAA-1s) predict increased CVD risk, promoting atherosclerosis and liver steatosis in apoE-/- mice, though their impact on liver inflammation and fibrosis remains unclear. This study examined AAA-1s' impact on low-grade inflammation, liver steatosis, and fibrosis using a MASLD mouse model exposed to AAA-1s passive immunization (PI).

Prehospital factors associated with mortality among road traffic injury patients: analysis of Cameroon trauma registry data.

Background: Cameroon is amongst the worst affected countries by road traffic injuries with an estimated 1443 disability-adjusted life years per 100,000 population. There have been very limited reports on the crucial prehospital response to road traffic injuries in Cameroon. This study aimed to identify prehospital factors associated with RTI mortality in Cameroon.

Association of sociodemographic characteristics with the timeliness of surgery for patients with open tibial fractures.

Background: The American College of Surgeons recommends operative debridement of open tibial fractures within 24 h of presentation. It is unknown what the compliance rates are with this recommendation and what factors contribute to delays to operation.

Methods: To determine the characteristics associated with delays to operation for open tibial fractures, we conducted a retrospective cohort study utilizing American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program data from 2017 to 2021.

Prevalence and Factors Associated With Alcohol-Related Road Traffic Injuries in Cameroon.

Introduction: While the negative effects of drunk driving, including road traffic injuries (RTIs) have been well documented in high-income countries, little has been reported in African countries like Cameroon. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of alcohol-related RTIs (ARRTIs), its associated factors, and its association with injury severity.

Methods: The Cameroon Trauma Registry prospectively collects trauma data from 10 hospitals in Cameroon.

Preventability of injury-related morbidity & mortality at four hospitals in Cameroon: A systematic approach to trauma quality improvement.

Background: Adverse events reviews are a fundamental component of trauma quality improvement (QI) that facilitate the correction of systemic issues in care. Although injury-related mortality in Cameroon is substantial, to our knowledge, opportunities for QI have not been formally assessed. Thus, a formal review of adverse events in Cameroonian trauma patients was implemented as a first step toward identifying targets for systems modification.

Who seeks care after intimate partner violence in Cameroon? sociodemographic differences between a hospital and population sample of women.

Introduction: Little is known regarding health care seeking behaviors of women in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically Cameroon, who experience violence. The proportion of women who experienced violence enrolled in the Cameroon Trauma Registry (CTR) is lower than expected.

Methods: We concatenated the databases from the October 2017-December 2020 CTR and 2018 Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) into a singular database for cross-sectional study.

Gender-based violence and its health risks on women in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Introduction: Gender-based violence (GBV) is a major public health problem that disproportionately affects women. In Cameroon, as well as other countries worldwide, GBV has immediate effects on women's health, with one in three women experiencing physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner, affecting their physical and reproductive health. The objective of this study was to determine the health risks associated with GBV among women in Yaoundé.

Anti-apolipoprotein A-1 IgG, incident cardiovascular events, and lipid paradox in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To validate the prognostic accuracy of anti-apolipoprotein A-1 (AAA1) IgG for incident major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events (MACE) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and study their associations with the lipid paradox at a multicentric scale.

Method: Baseline AAA1 IgG, lipid profile, atherogenic indexes, and cardiac biomarkers were measured on the serum of 1,472 patients with RA included in the prospective Swiss Clinical Quality Management registry with a median follow-up duration of 4.4 years.

Association of uninsured status and rurality with risk of financial toxicity after pediatric trauma.

Background: Pediatric traumatic injury is associated with long-term morbidity as well as substantial economic burden. Prior work has labeled the catastrophic out-of-pocket medical expenses borne by patients as financial toxicity. We hypothesized uninsured rural patients to be vulnerable to exorbitant costs and thus at greatest risk of financial toxicity.