A hospital-wide system to ensure rapid treatment time across the entire spectrum of emergency percutaneous intervention.

Objectives: This study's aim was to describe a hospital-wide system to deliver rapid door-to-balloon time across the entire spectrum of emergency percutaneous intervention.

Background: Many patients needing emergency PCI are excluded from door-to-balloon public reporting metric; these groups do not achieve door-to-balloon times ≤90 min and have increased mortality rates.

Methods: We prospectively implemented a protocol for patients with STEMI or other emergency indication for catheterization mandating (1) emergency department physician or cardiologist activation of the catheterization lab and (2) immediate patient transfer to an immediately available catheterization lab by an in-house nursing transfer team.

Antiphospholipid autoantibodies as blood biomarkers for detection of early stage Alzheimer's disease.

A robust blood biomarker is urgently needed to facilitate early prognosis for those at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Redox reactive autoantibodies (R-RAAs) represent a novel family of antibodies detectable only after exposure of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serum, plasma or immunoglobulin fractions to oxidizing agents. We have previously reported that R-RAA antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) are significantly decreased in the CSF and serum of AD patients compared to healthy controls (HCs).

A comparison of MRI and CT imaging clarity of titanium alloy and titanium alloy with cobalt-chromium-alloy pedicle screw and rod implants in the lumbar spine.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) imaging are important postoperative diagnostic and evaluation tools, particularly in patients who have undergone spinal fusions. Advancements in materials and imaging techniques have lessened artifact and improved overall imaging results. Systems that combine titanium alloy and cobalt-chromium components have been introduced to reduce implant profile while maintaining strength.

Neonatal functional lung maturity relative to gestational age at delivery, fetal growth, and pregnancy characteristics in triplet births.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if functional lung maturity (FtLM) of triplets was affected by differentiating factors within the triplet set.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of triplets. Data were collected on maternal, pregnancy and neonatal characteristics and FtLM was determined, based on selected neonatal outcomes.

Redox-reactive antiphospholipid antibody differences between serum from Alzheimer's patients and age-matched controls.

There is no universally acceptable inclusive laboratory biomarker for the diagnosis and staging of neurodegenerative diseases, for example, Alzheimer's. There is an abnormal increase of oxidative stress in the central nervous system (CNS) of Alzheimer's patients that causes oxidation of proteins, lipids and DNA. We have published that the antiphospholipid (aPL) autoantibodies that are members of the redox-reactive autoantibody (R-RAA) family, are significantly decreased or absent in the cerebrospinal fluids of autopsy-confirmed Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.

Financial impact of reducing door-to-balloon time in ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a single hospital experience.

Background: The impact of reducing door-to-balloon time on hospital revenues, costs, and net income is unknown.

Methods: We prospectively determined the impact on hospital finances of (1) emergency department physician activation of the catheterization lab and (2) immediate transfer of the patient to an immediately available catheterization lab by an in-house transfer team consisting of an emergency department nurse, a critical care unit nurse, and a chest pain unit nurse. We collected financial data for 52 consecutive ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing emergency percutaneous intervention from October 1, 2004-August 31, 2005 and compared this group to 80 consecutive ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients from September 1, 2005-June 26, 2006 after protocol implementation.

Emergency department physician activation of the catheterization laboratory and immediate transfer to an immediately available catheterization laboratory reduce door-to-balloon time in ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Consensus guidelines and hospital quality-of-care programs recommend that ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients achieve a door-to-balloon time of < or = 90 minutes. However, there are limited prospective data on specific measures to significantly reduce door-to-balloon time.

Methods And Results: We prospectively determined the impact on median door-to-balloon time of a protocol mandating (1) emergency department physician activation of the catheterization laboratory and (2) immediate transfer of the patient to an immediately available catheterization laboratory by an in-house transfer team consisting of an emergency department nurse, a critical care unit nurse, and a chest pain unit nurse.