J Trauma
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Comparative Study
The value of serum biomarkers in prediction models of outcome after mild traumatic brain injury.
To determine, using a civilian model of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), the added value of biomarker sampling upon prognostication of outcome at 1 week and 6 weeks postinjury. ⋯ Biomarkers, in conjunction with other readily available determinants of outcome assessed in the acute period after injury, add value in the early prognostication of patients with mTBI. Our findings are consistent with the notion that S100B and NSE point to biological mechanisms underlying poor outcome after mTBI.
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Comparative Study
Epidemiology of bone fracture across the age span in blacks and whites.
Gender and racial disparities in injury mortality have been well established, but less is known regarding differences in fracture-related hospitalizations across the age span. ⋯ Despite historical studies demonstrating higher bone density in Blacks, this study found racial disparities with increased fracture risk in both Black children and adults across most nonfall-related injury mechanisms examined.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound as a useful adjuvant during distraction osteogenesis: a prospective, randomized controlled trial.
Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) was proven to have a positive impact on bone healing in animal and clinical studies. ⋯ Therapeutic application of LIPUS during callus distraction constitutes a useful adjuvant treatment during distraction osteogenesis and has a positive effect on healing time with no negative effects.
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Conflicting data exist regarding optimal glycemic control in critically ill trauma patients. We therefore compared glucose parameters and outcomes among three different glycemic control regimens in a single trauma intensive care unit (ICU), hypothesizing that a moderate regimen would yield optimal avoidance of hyper- and hypoglycemia with equivalent outcomes when compared with a more aggressive approach. ⋯ Hyperglycemic events (glucose >180 mg/dL) most strongly predicted mortality. Of glucose control protocols analyzed, the "moderate" protocol had fewest hyperglycemic events. As outcomes were otherwise equivalent between "moderate" and "aggressive" protocols, we conclude that hyperglycemia can be safely avoided using a moderate glycemic control protocol without inducing hypoglycemia.