This research focuses on developing an improved and robust measurement for emergency department (ED) performance and a criterion standard for global use via kinetic analysis. Based on kinetic ...approach, the input-throughput-output conceptual model of ED crowding is compared to the procedure of enzyme catalysis. All in average, the retented patients in EDs are defined as substrate (S), whereas the patients who depart the EDs as product (P). Therefore, the average ED departure velocity (V) can be presented as (P)divided by a given time (t) of the ED length of stay (LOS). The S-V and S²-P plots are depicted hourly for the kinetic analysis. The long-term stability of the kinetic parameters is ascertained by the method of coefficient of variation (CV). The participants collected for this study are from the EDs of Changhua Christian Medical Center and the five branched hospitals, all located in Taiwan. Based on the S-V plot analysis, the results clearly show 2 curves, an upper and a lower curve. The timeline of the lower curve includes approximately the total ED busy hours, and thus it can be used for the subsequent kinetic analysis. In order to explore the adequate kinetic parameters for ED performance, the try-and-error process was followed in this study. As a result, the S²-V plots adapted from the lower curves show the best linear regression of S² on V with a good coefficient of determination (R). The Pan-Wen constant (PW), which is the slope of the liner regression line, and the ED medical personnel unit turnover number (EDMPU TON) were deduced from the kinetic meanings of (Equation is included in full-text article.)plots. In this research, the 2 kinetic parameters, PW and EDMPU TON were applied for the ED performance evaluations. An innovative relationship between the ED retented patients and the ED departure velocity is verified as PW; whereas, a feasible kinetic parameter, the EDMPU TON explicates the teamwork efficiency of the ED providers. Moreover, the EDMPU TON may not only be a reliable universal criterion standard for the ED performance, but also a valuable reference for both ED providers and payers.
Abstract Objectives Bacteremia is a severe bacterial infection with significant mortality and morbidity. Clinical parameters that reliably predict the presence of community-onset bacteremia are less ...elucidated. Methods During 96 randomly selected days between August 2006 and July 2007, a prospective study was conducted to analyze the risk factors of community-onset bacteremia among febrile adults who visited the emergency department (ED) of a medical center. Patients hospitalized in the 30 days prior to the study, patients experiencing consciousness alteration, and nursing facility residents were excluded. Results The mean age of the 396 febrile adults enrolled in the study was 53.8 years (range, 18–95 years), and 60 (15.2%) patients had true bacteremia, with the predominance of monomicrobial Gram-negative pathogens (42 patients). In a multivariate analysis, several factors were independently associated with community-onset bacteremia, including an age of >65 years (odds ratio OR, 2.81; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.25–6.33), the presence of rigor (OR, 13.7; 95% CI, 4.47–42.0) or chills (OR, 6.04; 95% CI, 1.10–32.9), a body temperature >39.9 °C (OR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.03–6.94), blood urea nitrogen >20 mg/dL (OR, 5.56; 95% CI, 2.03–15.7), a blood urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio >16 (OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.03–5.11), and thrombocytopenia (OR, 6.09; 95% CI, 1.84–20.0). After scoring each risk factor, a logistic regression model for the prediction of bacteremia was developed, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.91. Conclusions Some easily determined clinical parameters were independently associated with community-onset bacteremia among febrile adults, and the most significant predictor was the presence of rigor. Although the proposed predictive model needs further validation, it may be of use for the early identification of bacteremic episodes in ED practice.
Abstract Enterobacteriaceae is a leading pathogen of community-onset bacteremia. This study aims to establish a predictive scoring algorithm to identify adults with community-onset Enterobacteriaceae ...bacteremia who are at risk for abscesses. Of the total 1262 adults, 152 (12.0%) with abscess occurrence were noted. The 6 risk factors significantly associated with abscess occurrence—liver cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, thrombocytopenia and high C-reactive protein (>100 mg/L) at bacteremic onset, delayed defervescence, and bacteremia-causing Klebsiella pneumoniae —were each assigned +1 point to form the scoring algorithm. In contrast, the elderly, fatal comorbidity (McCabe classification), and bacteremia-causing Escherichia coli were each assigned −1 point, owing to their negative associations with abscess occurrence. Using the proposed scoring algorithm, a cut-off value of +1 yielded a high sensitivity (85.5%) and an acceptable specificity (60.4%). Although the proposed predictive model needs further validation, this simple scoring algorithm may be useful for the early identification of abscesses by clinicians.
Abstract Background Because out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) due to a major trauma rarely present with shockable rhythms, the potential benefits of using automated external defibrillators ...(AEDs) at the scene of traumatic OHCAs have not been examined. Methods We conducted an observational, retrospective cohort study using an Utstein-style analysis in Tainan city, Taiwan. The enrollees were adult patients with traumatic OHCAs accessed by emergency medical technicians (EMTs) from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2010. The exposure was the use or non-use of AEDs at the scene, as determined by the clinical judgment of the EMTs. The primary outcome evaluated was a sustained (≥2 h) return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and the secondary outcomes were prehospital ROSC, overall ROSC, survival to hospital admission, survival at one month and favorable neurologic status at one month. Results A total of 424 patients (313 males) were enrolled, of whom 280 had AEDs applied, and 144 did not. Only 25 (5.9%) patients had received bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and merely 21 (7.5%) patients in the AED group presented with shockable rhythms. Compared to the non-AED group, the primary and secondary outcomes of the AED group were not significantly different, except for a significantly lower prehospital ROSC rate (1.1% vs 4.9%, p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed no significant interactions between the use of AEDs and other key variables. Use of the AED was not associated with sustained ROSC (OR 1.33; 95% CI 0.75–2.38, p = 0.33). Conclusions In a community with a low prevalence of shockable rhythms and administration of bystander CPR in patients with traumatic OHCA, we found no significant differences in the sustained ROSC between the AED and the non-AED groups. Considering scene safety and the possible interruption of CPR, we do not encourage the routine use of AEDs at the scene of traumatic OHCAs.
Organotin compounds (OTCs) have been widely used as stabilizers in the production of plastic, agricultural pesticides, antifoulant plaints and wood preservation. The toxicity of triphenyltin (TPT) ...compounds was known for their embryotoxic, neurotoxic, genotoxic and immunotoxic effects in mammals. The carcinogenicity of TPT was not well understood and few studies had discussed the effects of OTCs on gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) of cells.
In the present study, the effects of triphenyltin chloride (TPTC) on GJIC in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells were evaluated, using the scrape-loading dye transfer technique.
TPTC inhibited GJIC after a 30-min exposure in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Pre-incubation of cells with the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor did not modify the response, but the specific MEK 1 inhibitor PD98059 and PI3K inhibitor LY294002 decreased substantially the inhibition of GJIC by TPTC. After WB-F344 cells were exposed to TPTC, phosphorylation of Cx43 increased as seen in Western blot analysis.
These results show that TPTC inhibits GJIC in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells by altering the Cx43 protein expression through both MAPK and PI3-kinase pathways.
Abstract Hypercalcemia is an uncommon cause of abdominal pain and may be overlooked in the Emergency Department. In this case report, we describe the case of a 48-year-old woman with a prior history ...of urolithiasis who presented to the Emergency Department with diffuse abdominal pain. She had taken Trichlormethiazide 1 mg daily for her urolithiasis. She was diagnosed with thiazide-related hypercalcemia; hyperparathyroidism and thyroid papillary carcinoma were unveiled during her hospitalization. A thorough history and complete physical examination, paired with appropriate but judicious diagnostic testing, are essential to detecting these unusual causes of abdominal pain.
Abstract Necrotizing fasciitis (NF), a rare but severe infection, usually occurs in individuals with underlying chronic illness, but its clinical presentation among cirrhotic patients is infrequently ...discussed. Forty-two cirrhotic patients with 47 episodes of NF between 1995 and 2006 were analyzed. Their mean age was 55.6 years, with male preponderance (34 patients, 81%). Lower extremities were mainly involved (70%). Of 42 episodes with identified pathogens, 41 (97%) were monomicrobial infections and were caused mainly by Gram-negative rods (GNBs) (32, 76%), including Vibrio (15, 36%), Klebsiella (9, 21%), and Aeromonas spp. (6, 14%). As compared with NF caused by Gram-positive cocci (GPCs), NF caused by GNBs tended to have concurrent bacteremia (81% versus 50%, P = 0.09) and initially presented with septic shock (75% versus 30%, P = 0.02). However, the in-hospital mortality rate was similar for NF caused by GNBs and GPCs (34% versus 30%, P = 1.00). In multivariate analyses, higher sepsis-related organ failure assessment scores (>8) and Child–Pugh class C at initial presentation were independently associated with poor prognoses.
Multiple osteochondromatosis, also known as hereditary multiple exostoses (HME), is an inherited autoso-mal dominant disorder characterized by the presence of multiple exostoses on the long bones. ...These exostoses are benign cartilaginous tumors (enchondromata). Three different exostosis (EXT) loci on chromosomes 8q (exostosin 1,
EXT1), 11p (exostosin 2,
EXT2) and 19p (exostosin 3,
EXT3) have been reported. Recently, the
EXT1 and
EXT2 genes were identified by positional cloning. Using polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing, we analyzed the
EXT1 and
EXT2 genes in three familial cases and one sporadic case of HME in Taiwanese patients. We found three novel mutations (S277X in the
EXT1 gene, and G194X and 939+1G>A in the
EXT2 gene) and a known mutation (Q172X in the
EXT2 gene). Mutation analysis in families with HME allows for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.
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