World journal of emergency medicine
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Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) is one of the airway condensate derived markers, reflecting mainly airway inflammation in asthma and other lung diseases. The changes of eNO levels as pathophysiology of neonatal hypoxemic respiratory failure (HRF) in early postnatal life have not been thoroughly studied. The present study was to establish a method for measuring eNO concentrations in neonates with or without HRF. ⋯ We established a method for measuring eNO and found difference in neonates with or without HRF, which diminished with prolonged postnatal days, reflecting pathophysiological characteristics of HRF.
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von Willebrand factor (vWF) is only released from endothelial cells and platelets and is an in vivo and in vitro marker of endothelial injury in septic patients with acute lung injury (ALI). Interleukin-8 (IL-8), as a proinflammatory mediator causing recruitment of inflammatory cells, induces an increase in oxidant stress mediators and makes it as a key parameter for localized inflammation. However, it has not been well established whether the level of serum IL-8 is associated with the severity of lung injury and whether it is a prognosis marker for severe lung contusion. This study was to investigate the expression of plasma vWF and IL-8 and their association with the severity and outcomes of severe pulmonary contusion. ⋯ The elevated levels of plasma vWF and serum IL-8 in severe pulmonary contusion patients reflect the severity of pulmonary injury and patients outcomes, suggesting that the plasma vWF and serum IL-8 are sensitive markers for clinical evaluation of the severity of pulmonary injury and predication of patient prognosis.
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Biomarkers may be helpful in risk stratification and prediction of mortality in septic patients. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic role of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell-1(sTREM-1), procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and other inflammatory markers in patients with sepsis. ⋯ Plasma sTREM-1 is useful in the diagnosis of sepsis at early stage. The increased level of sTREM-1 during the first 24 hours may be correlated with poor outcome of patients with sepsis.
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There have been numerous reports of sudden cardiac death attributable to the condition of commotio cordis. Primarily, these are reports from the USA. Although three Australian cases have been mentioned in the published literature, the present case appears to be the first described Australian case. ⋯ Commotio cordis is rare in sports (and Emergency Medicine). However it has a high mortality rate, and rapid recognition of the condition allows early defibrillation, generally with a good outcome. The improvement of participant care is recommended at community and other sport events.
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The purpose of triage is to identify patients needing immediate resuscitation, to assign patients to a pre-designed patient care area, and to initiate diagnostic/therapeutic measures as appropriate. This study aimed to use emergency severity index (ESI) in a pediatric emergency room. ⋯ In pediatric emergency rooms, ESI is a suitable tool for identifying severe cases and then immediate interventions can be performed accordingly.