The American journal of emergency medicine
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Observational Study
Amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, inferior vena cava ultrasound, and biolectrical impedance analysis for the diagnosis of acute decompensated heart failure.
Both Framingham criteria and natriuretic peptides (NPs) may worsen their diagnostic validity for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in elderly patients with comorbidities, mainly renal failure. Ultrasound of inferior vena cava (IVCu) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) are useful tools for detecting ADHF, although their utility compared with NP is not fully established. ⋯ Inferior vena cava ultrasonography and BIA analysis are as useful as NT-proBNP to ADHF diagnosis, validated in an elderly population with kidney disease.
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Accidental drowning can cause out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). We investigated the effect of drowning location on outcomes of individuals who experienced drowning-OHCA. ⋯ Individuals who experience drowning-OHCA in public locations with safety regulations had a better rate of survival. There should be improved public awareness of the significantly greater risk of drowning-OHCA in locations that have no safety regulations.
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Multicenter Study
Accuracy of the history of injury obtained from the caregiver in infantile head trauma.
We investigated the accuracy of parental reports of infant trauma history. ⋯ The accuracy of the history obtained from the caregivers of infants may be low in severe infantile head trauma. Therefore, medical professionals should treat the mechanism of injury obtained from caregivers as secondary information and investigate for possible AHT in cases with inconsistencies between the history that was taken and the severity of the injury observed.
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Although preventing recurrent violent injury is an important component of a public health approach to interpersonal violence and a common focus of violence intervention programs, the true incidence of recurrent violent injury is unknown. Prior studies have reported recurrence rates from 0.8% to 44%, and risk factors for recurrence are not well established. ⋯ Recurrent violent injury is a common and costly phenomenon, and effective violence prevention programs are needed. Prevention must include the nontrauma centers where many patients seek care.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Elite Motorcycle Racing: Crash Types and Injury Patterns in the MotoGP Class.
Crashes are a small but regular feature of elite motorcycle racing. These crashes provide a novel opportunity to benchmark and analyze motorcycle crash mechanics, crash types, and associated injuries at high speeds in a cohort of riders who are well protected and in a controlled environment. ⋯ Lowside crashes are lower risk than highside crashes. Most highside crashes are caused by oversteering to prevent an impending lowside crash. Strategies to reduce oversteering to prevent a lowside crash may reduce highside crashes, enhance the safety for riders in MotoGP racing, and be applicable to recreational motorcycle riding.