Sex-related differences in D-dimer levels for venous thromboembolism screening.

Background: D-dimer is generally considered positive above 0.5 mg/L irrespective of sex. However, women have been shown to be more likely to have a positive D-dimer after controlling for other factors.

Investigation of age-adjusted D-dimer using an uncommon assay.

Background: Use of an age-adjusted D-dimer for the evaluation of acute pulmonary embolus (PE) has been prospectively validated in the literature and has become a practice recommendation from major medical societies. Most research on this subject involves the most common D-dimer assays reporting in Fibrinogen Equivalent Units (FEU) with a non-age-adjusted manufacturer-recommended cutoff of 500 ng/ml FEU. Limited research to date has evaluated age-adjustment in assays that report in D-Dimer Units (D-DU), which use a manufacturer-recommended cutoff of 230 ng/ml D-DU.

International, multicenter evaluation of a new D-dimer assay for the exclusion of venous thromboembolism using standard and age-adjusted cut-offs.

Introduction: We sought to determine the test characteristics of an automated INNOVANCE D-dimer assay for the exclusion of pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in emergency department (ED) patients using standard and age-adjusted cut-offs.

Methods: Cross-sectional, international, multicenter study of consecutive patients with suspected DVT or PE in 24 centers (18 USA, 6 Europe). Evaluated patients had low or intermediate Wells PE or DVT scores.

Correlation of Venous Blood Gas and Pulse Oximetry With Arterial Blood Gas in the Undifferentiated Critically Ill Patient.

Rationale: Blood gas analysis is often used to assess acid-base, ventilation, and oxygenation status in critically ill patients. Although arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis remains the gold standard, venous blood gas (VBG) analysis has been shown to correlate with ABG analysis and has been proposed as a safer less invasive alternative to ABG analysis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation of VBG analysis plus pulse oximetry (SpO) with ABG analysis.

Vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and gastroenteritis.

Diseases that cause vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and gastroenteritis are major problems for populations worldwide. Patients, particularly infants, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals, may present at any point in a wide spectrum of disease states, underscoring the need for the clinician to treat these ailments aggressively. Several promising new treatment modalities, from oral rehydration solutions to antiemetic therapies, have been introduced over the past decade.

The utility of handheld ultrasound in an austere medical setting in Guatemala after a natural disaster.

Objective: To identify equipment needs, utility, clinical applications, and acuity of diagnoses made by hand-carried ultrasound (HCU) after a natural disaster.

Methods: An HCU with four probes (curved array, linear array, phased array, and endocavitary) was taken to the site of a natural disaster in Guatemala as part of the relief effort after mudslides killed approximately 1,000 people. Ultrasound (US) scans were classified by transducer type, anatomic region, presenting complaint, and therapeutic urgency of treatment.

Hemin induces an iron-dependent, oxidative injury to human neuron-like cells.

Hemin is released from hemoglobin after CNS hemorrhage and is present at high micromolar concentrations in intracranial hematomas. This highly reactive compound is potentially cytotoxic via a variety of oxidative and nonoxidative mechanisms. However, despite its clinical relevance, little is known of its effect on neuronal cells.