Privately insured medical patients are more likely to have a head CT.

Previous studies suggest overuse disparity of head computed tomography (CT) in white pediatric trauma patients with minor head injuries. Our study is meant to determine if race or insurance status impacts the probability of obtaining head CT in patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) = 15. Using the 2008-2010 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey for Emergency Departments (NHAMCS) database, the following variables were analyzed: race, emergency medical services (EMS) arrival, triage category, admission status, gender, age, and insurance status.

Cost-effectiveness of noninvasive ventilation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related respiratory failure in Indian hospitals without ICU facilities.

Introduction: The majority of Indian hospitals do not provide intensive care unit (ICU) care or ward-based noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIV). Because no mechanical ventilation or NIV is available in these hospitals, the majority of patients suffering from respiratory failure die.

Objective: To perform a cost-effective analysis of two strategies (ward-based NIV with concurrent standard treatment vs standard treatment alone) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) respiratory failure patients treated in Indian hospitals without ICU care.

Characterization of a reverse-phase perfluorocarbon emulsion for the pulmonary delivery of tobramycin.

Background: Aerosolized delivery of antibiotics is hindered by poor penetration within distal and plugged airways. Antibacterial perfluorocarbon ventilation (APV) is a proposed solution in which the lungs are partially or totally filled with perfluorocarbon (PFC) containing emulsified antibiotics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate emulsion stability and rheological, antibacterial, and pharmacokinetic characteristics.

Alcohol and trauma--in every age group.

Background: The purpose was to determine the proportion of alcohol-positive (AlcPos) trauma patients in different age groups and any association with mortality using the National Trauma Data Bank.

Methods: Several variables were extracted from the National Trauma Data Bank (version 6.2) using MS Access 2007: age, alcohol presence, Injury Severity Score (ISS), and discharge status (alive vs dead).