Correction: Clinical Predictors of Survival for Patients with Stage IV Cancer Referred to Radiation Oncology.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Clinical Predictors of Survival for Patients with Stage IV Cancer Referred to Radiation Oncology.

Background: There is an urgent need for a robust, clinically useful predictive model for survival in a heterogeneous group of patients with metastatic cancer referred to radiation oncology.

Methods: From May 2012 to August 2013, 143 consecutive patients with stage IV cancer were prospectively evaluated by a single radiation oncologist. We retrospectively analyzed the effect of 29 patient, laboratory and tumor-related prognostic factors on overall survival using univariate analysis.

Descriptive study of prescriptions for opioids from a suburban academic emergency department before New York's I-STOP Act.

Introduction: Controlled prescription opioid use is perceived as a national problem attributed to all specialties. Our objective was to provide a descriptive analysis of prescriptions written for controlled opioids from a database of emergency department (ED) visits prior to the enactment of the I-STOP law, which requires New York prescribers to consult the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) prior to prescribing Schedule II, III, and IV controlled substances for prescriptions of greater than five days duration.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective medical record review of patients 21 years of age and older, who presented to the ED between July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2012 and were given a prescription for a controlled opioid.

A research primer, Part 2: Guidelines for developing a research project.

In this article, the second in a series on the basic concepts of research, the authors review aspects of research design including participant considerations, randomization, reliability and validity of measurements, and data collection and management. The authors also discuss considerations for research using questionnaires and tests. The goal of this article is to assist the novice researcher in identifying potential problems that must be addressed during the design of a research project.

Is fever treated more promptly than pain in the pediatric emergency department?

Background: Fever can be treated with a higher priority than pain in the pediatric emergency department (ED) population.

Objective: The primary objective was to assess whether patients with a fever are treated with acetaminophen or ibuprofen more promptly than they are treated for pain.

Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was performed on all patients between the ages of 3 and 19 years who received acetaminophen or ibuprofen in the pediatric ED from February 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011.

A research primer: basic guidelines for the novice researcher.

Research can achieve many objectives, primarily by establishing a supportable, verifiable basis for clinical decisions. An evidence-based practice can streamline patient care, improving safety through consistency of care and making health care more affordable for patients. By cultivating research skills, osteopathic physicians and trainees can begin to forge a reciprocal relationship with medical literature and current findings, approaching research as active contributors as well as consumers.

Medical reconciliation in patients discharged from the emergency department.

Background: Medication errors are considered to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. For each patient, emergency departments (EDs) are expected to compile a list of medications, reconcile them, and pass them along to the next provider. The electronic medical record provides a method to automatically capture and propagate what may be incorrect information.

Blue 470-nm light kills methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in vitro.

Background Data: In a previous study, we showed that 405-nm light photo-destroys methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The 390-420 nm spectral width of the 405-nm superluminous diode (SLD) source may raise safety concerns in clinical practice, because of the trace of ultraviolet (UV) light within the spectrum.

Objective: Here we report the effect of a different wavelength of blue light, one that has no trace of UV, on two strains of MRSA--the US-300 strain of CA-MRSA and the IS-853 strain of HA-MRSA--in vitro.

Visible 405 nm SLD light photo-destroys methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in vitro.

Background: Infections with MRSA remain a growing public health concern, prompting the need to explore alternative treatments instead of the on-going effort to develop stronger drug-based therapies. We studied the effect of 405 nm blue light on two strains of MRSA-US-300 strain of CA-MRSA and the IS853 strain of HA-MRSA-in vitro.

Methods: We cultured and plated each strain, following which bacteria colonies were irradiated with 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, or 60 J cm(-2) energy densities-just once-using a Solaris superluminous diode (SLD) device.

Prediction of left main coronary artery obstruction by 12-lead electrocardiography: ST segment deviation in lead V6 greater than or equal to ST segment deviation in lead V1.

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) resulting from culprit lesion in left main coronary artery (LMCA) can cause rapid hemodynamic deterioration. It is important to identify these patients early to facilitate timely revascularization. ST segment elevation in aVR greater than or equal to V(1) (aVR-V(1)>or= 0) has been suggested as a sensitive predictor of LMCA disease.

In hospital cardiac arrest: a role for automatic defibrillation.

Introduction: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) survival decreases by 10% for each minute of delay in defibrillation, however, survival rates of 98% can be achieved when defibrillation is accomplished within 30s of collapse. Recently, a fully automated external cardioverter-defibrillator (AECD) was approved by the FDA for in-hospital use. The AECD can be programmed to automatically defibrillate when a life threatening ventricular arrhythmia occurs.

Osteopathic manipulative treatment in the emergency department for patients with acute ankle injuries.

Study Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) as administered in the emergency department (ED) for the treatment of patients with acute ankle injuries.

Methods: Patients aged 18 years and older with unilateral ankle sprains were randomly assigned either to an OMT study group or a control group. Independent outcome variables included edema, range of motion (ROM), and pain.