Perceptions and barriers to the use and training of point-of-care ultrasound among Finnish emergency physicians - a nationwide survey.

Background: Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) has become integral to emergency medicine (EM) as a critical diagnostic support tool. In Finland, where EM was formally recognised as a specialty as recently as in 2013, a historical lack of systematic training for POCUS has existed. Such training has largely depended on individual initiative rather than a standardised program while many other areas of EM training have already seen the introduction of structured education.

Self-reported skills and self-confidence in point-of-care ultrasound: a cross-sectional nationwide survey amongst Finnish emergency physicians.

Background: The use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is increasing. Numerous investigators have evaluated the learning curves in POCUS, but there are no published studies on how emergency physicians perceive their own competence level with this skill.

Methods: A nationwide survey amongst Finnish emergency physicians was conducted.

Attenuated expression of tenascin-C in ovalbumin-challenged STAT4-/- mice.

Background: Asthma leads to structural changes in the airways, including the modification of extracellular matrix proteins such as tenascin-C. The role of tenascin-C is unclear, but it might act as an early initiator of airway wall remodelling, as its expression is increased in the mouse and human airways during allergic inflammation. In this study, we examined whether Th1 or Th2 cells are important regulators of tenascin-C in experimental allergic asthma utilizing mice with impaired Th1 (STAT4-/-) or Th2 (STAT6-/-) immunity.

Matrix metalloproteinases-7, -8, -9 and TIMP-1 in the follow-up of diisocyanate-induced asthma.

Background: Diisocyanate-induced asthma (DIA) is known to be associated with poor prognosis. We wished to clarify if matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-7, -8 or -9 or tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP-1) are associated with the functional or inflammatory outcome in DIA patients.

Methods: This is a longitudinal study where 17 patients with DIA diagnosed by a specific challenge test to diisocyanates were monitored.

Inflammation and functional outcome in diisocyanate-induced asthma after cessation of exposure.

Background: The clinical outcome of diisocyanate-induced asthma has been found to be poor despite cessation of exposure. Our aim was to study the outcome of diisocyanate-induced asthma after initiation of inhaled steroid treatment at a mean period of 7 months (range 2-60 months) after cessation of exposure by following up lung function and bronchial inflammation.

Methods: Bronchoscopy was performed on 17 patients 2 days after a positive inhalation challenge test, after which budesonide 1600 mug a day was started.