Phone-based telemonitoring of arterial hypertension versus usual care: the HOROSCOPE study.

The Horoscope trial aimed to assess the efficacy of home blood pressure (BP) telemonitoring (TLM) in controlling BP reduction in hypertensive patients compared with usual care. This is a multi-center, prospective randomized, parallel-group trial comparing TLM with usual care during a period of 6 months in patients with hypertension. We included 525 patients randomly assigned in a 1-1 ratio to telemonitoring (TLM group; n = 260) or usual care (control group; n = 265).

Piroxicam and paracetamol in the prevention of early recurrent pain and emergency department readmission after renal colic: Randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: Renal colic (RC) is a common urologic emergency often leading to significant pain and recurrent hospital visits. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of piroxicam versus paracetamol in preventing pain recurrence and hospital readmission in patients treated for RC and discharged from the emergency department (ED).

Methods: A prospective, randomized, single-blind trial was conducted in four EDs.

Value of Lung Ultrasound Sonography B-Lines Quantification as a Marker of Heart Failure in COPD Exacerbation.

Introduction: Identifying heart failure (HF) in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) can be challenging. Lung ultrasound sonography (LUS) B-lines quantification has recently gained a large place in the diagnosis of HF, but its diagnostic performance in AECOPD remains poorly studied.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the contribution of LUS B-lines score (LUS score) in the diagnosis of HF in AECOPD patients.

Magnesium Sulfate Versus Lidocaine as an Adjunct for Renal Colic in the Emergency Department: A Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Trial.

Study Objective: We wished to determine whether the addition of magnesium sulfate (MgSO) or lidocaine to diclofenac could improve the analgesic efficacy in emergency department (ED) patients with acute renal colic.

Methods: In this prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial of patients aged 18 to 65 years with suspected acute renal colic, we randomized them to receive 75 mg intramuscular (IM) diclofenac and then intravenous (IV) MgSO lidocaine, or saline solution control. Subjects reported their pain using a numerical rating scale (NRS) before drug administration and then 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, and 90 minutes afterwards.

Canine olfactory detection and its relevance for the medical identification of patients with COVID-19.

Introduction: The assessment of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath or sweat represents a potential non-invasive and rapid diagnostic tool for respiratory diseases.

Objective: To determine if trained dogs can reliably identify the odour associated with COVID19.

Methods: This is a monocentric prospective study carried out in the Emergency Department (ED) of a university hospital fromJulyto November 2021.

Value of inferior vena cava collapsibility index as marker of heart failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation.

Introduction: Inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter variability with respiration measured by ultrasound was found to be useful for the diagnosis of heart failure (HF) in ED patients with acute dyspnea. Its value in identifying HF in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation (AECOPD) was not specifically demonstrated.

Objective: To determine the value of ΔIVC in the diagnosis of HF patients with AECOPD.

Comparison of simulation and video-based training for acute asthma.

Background: Emergency medicine is particularly well suited to simulation training. However, evidence for the efficacy of simulation-based medical training remains limited especially to manage high-risk cases such as acute asthma.

Objective: The objective of our study was to compare the performance of high-fidelity simulation (HFS) and interactive video-case challenge-based training (IVC) for final-year medical students in the management of acute asthma.

Mobile Phone-Based Telemonitoring for Improving Adherence to Analgesic Treatment in Trauma Patients After Emergency Department Discharge: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To determine the impact of mobile-phone telemonitoring on patients' adherence and satisfaction with posttrauma pain treatment.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized clinical trial including patients with minor trauma discharged from the emergency department (ED) with analgesic treatment. Patients were randomized to one of 3 groups, the control group, where patients received a phone call on day-7, the short message service (SMS) group, where patients received a daily text message to remind them to take their treatment during 7 days, and the mobile-phone based telemonitoring (TLM) group.

Melatonin, vitamins and minerals supplements for the treatment of Covid-19 and Covid-like illness: A prospective, randomized, double-blind multicenter study.

Background: Melatonin, zinc, and multivitamins are among most recommended supplements in the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of this association in the treatment of COVID-19 and COVID-like illnesses.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

Pulse amplitude ratio under noninvasive ventilation as a new method in the diagnosis of left heart failure in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Left heart failure (LHF) is commonly associated with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) but its role is often underestimated.

Aim Of Study: To evaluate the performance of a new diagnostic technique based on the measurement of the pulse amplitude ratio (PAR) using non-invasive ventilation (NIV) for the early identification LHF in patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) for AECOPD.

Results: 73 patients were included in this study: 32 in LHF group and 41 in non LHF- group.

Twice-Daily Oral Zinc in the Treatment of Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial.

Background: Zinc supplementation has been considered a potential therapy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to examine zinc efficacy in adult patients with COVID-19 infection.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial.

Analgesic Effect of Topical Piroxicam vs Phytotherapy Gel in the Treatment of Acute Soft Tissue Injuries: A Randomized Controlled Noninferiority Study.

Objective: The study compared the efficacy and tolerability of piroxicam gel and a new topical combination of medicinal plant products (Soulagel®; Belpharma Tunisia) to treat pain caused by soft tissue injuries.

Methods: Patients (n = 1,525) were assigned to receive piroxicam gel or Soulagel. Efficacy assessments included a change of at least 50% in the pain-on-movement visual numeric scale rating from emergency department discharge (baseline) to day 7 final assessment, as well as the time required to reach pain resolution criteria, the need for rescue analgesia, patients' satisfaction, and the rate of adverse effects.

Two-day seven-day course of levofloxacin in acute COPD exacerbation: a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Duration of antibiotic treatment in acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) is most commonly based on expert opinion. Typical administration periods range from 5 to 7 days. A 2-day course with levofloxacin was not previously assessed.

30 day predicted outcome in undifferentiated chest pain: multicenter validation of the HEART score in Tunisian population.

Background: Chest pain remains one of the most challenging serious complaints in the emergency department (ED). A prompt and accurate risk stratification tool for chest pain patients is paramount to help physcian effectively progrnosticate outcomes. HEART score is considered one of the best scores for chest pain risk stratification.

Value of nitroglycerin test in the diagnosis of heart failure in emergency department patients with undifferentiated dyspnea.

Background: Rapid diagnosis of heart failure (HF) in acutely dyspneic patients can be challenging for emergency department (ED) physicians.

Hypothesis: Cardiac output (CO) change with sublingual nitroglycerin (NTG) could be helpful in the diagnosis of HF in patients with acute undifferentiated dyspnea.

Materials And Methods: A prospective study of patients >18 years admitted to the ED for acute dyspnea.

Value of Dynamic Variation of Impedance Cardiac output in the diagnosis of Heart Failure in emergency department patients with undifferentiated dyspnea.

Aim Of Study: Cardiac output (CO) responses to acute changes in body position and Valsalva maneuver (VM) were proposed to assess cardiac contractile reserve. We investigated the value of sitting position (SP), leg raising (LR), and VM for identifying heart failure (HF) in patients with undifferentiated dyspnea.

Materials And Methods: It is a prospective study including patients over 18 years old admitted to the emergency department (ED) for dyspnea.

2-Day versus C-reactive protein guided antibiotherapy with levofloxacin in acute COPD exacerbation: A randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Duration of antibiotic treatment in acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) is most commonly based on expert opinion. Biomarker guided strategy is increasingly recommended to limit unnecessary antibiotic use. We performed a randomized controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of 2-day versus C-reactive protein (CRP)-guided treatment with levofloxacin in patients with AECOPD.

Bedside lung ultrasonography by emergency department residents as an aid for identifying heart failure in patients with acute dyspnea after a 2-h training course.

Background: Ultrasonographic B-lines have recently emerged as a bedside imaging tool for the differential diagnosis of acute dyspnea in the Emergency Department (ED). However, despite its simplicity, LUS has not fully penetrated emergency department. This study aimed to assess the accuracy and reproducibility of ultrasonographic B-lines performed by emergency medicine (EM) residents for the diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF) in patients admitted to ED for acute dyspnea.

Acetaminophen, Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, or Combination of Both Analgesics in Acute Posttrauma Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen (also called paracetamol) are the most frequent analgesics used to relieve posttrauma pain in the emergency department (ED). However, the utility of combining both treatments is still controversial. We sought to explore the benefits of combining an NSAID with acetaminophen compared to acetaminophen alone, or NSAID alone, in the treatment of posttraumatic pain of the extremity after discharge from the ED.

External validations of the ABCD2 score in prediction of stroke risk after transient ischemic attack. A Tunisian hospital-based cohort study.

Background And Purpose: Identification of patients with high risk of stroke after transient ischemic attack (TIA) could be helpful to optimize stroke prevention. We aimed to externally validate the ABCD2 score for the prediction of stroke after TIA in a Tunisian population.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study of consecutive patients admitted for TIA in four university hospitals in Tunisia.

Value of systolic time intervals in the diagnosis of heart failure in emergency department patients with undifferentiated dyspnea.

Aim Of The Study: The diagnosis of heart failure in the emergency department (ED) is challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate systolic time intervals (STIs) using phonoelectrocardiography for the diagnosis of heart failure (HF) in ED patients with undifferentiated dyspnea.

Methods: A total of 855 patients with dyspnea and suspected HF were prospectively enrolled.