Annals of emergency medicine
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Review Meta Analysis
Diagnostic accuracy of noncontrast computed tomography for appendicitis in adults: a systematic review.
We seek to determine the diagnostic test characteristics of noncontrast computed tomography (CT) for appendicitis in the adult emergency department (ED) population. ⋯ We found the diagnostic accuracy of noncontrast CT for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in the adult population to be adequate for clinical decisionmaking in the ED setting.
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Molecular definition of disease has been changing all aspects of medical practice, from diagnosis and screening to understanding and treatment. Acute appendicitis is among many human conditions that are complicated by the heterogeneity of clinical presentation and shortage of diagnostic markers. Here, we sought to profile the urine of patients with appendicitis, with the goal of identifying new diagnostic markers. ⋯ High-accuracy mass spectrometry urine proteome profiling allowed identification of diagnostic markers of acute appendicitis. Usage of LRG and other identified biomarkers may improve the diagnostic accuracy of clinical evaluations of appendicitis.
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Multicenter Study
Multicenter study of central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO(2)) as a predictor of mortality in patients with sepsis.
Abnormal (both low and high) central venous saturation (ScvO(2)) is associated with increased mortality in emergency department (ED) patients with suspected sepsis. ⋯ The maximum ScvO(2) value achieved in the ED (both abnormally low and high) was associated with increased mortality. In multivariate analysis for initial ScvO(2), the hyperoxia group was associated with increased mortality, but not the hypoxia group. This study suggests that future research aimed at targeting methods to normalize high ScvO(2) values by therapies that improve microcirculatory flow or mitochondrial dysfunction may be warranted.