Utility of pelvic examination in assessing women with bleeding in early pregnancy: a multicenter Canadian emergency department study.

Background: Bleeding in early pregnancy is a common emergency department (ED) presentation. Although variability in approaches has been demonstrated, research is relatively uncommon on practices and outcomes. This study investigated the influence of clinical pattern of care, utility, and contribution of pelvic examination aimed at diagnosing and managing bleeding in early pregnancy at three Canadian EDs.

Physician Management and CT Ordering in the Emergency Department for Primary Headaches.

Objective: Management of primary headache (PHA) varies across emergency departments (ED), yet there is widespread agreement that computed tomography (CT) scans are overused. This study assessed emergency physicians' (EPs) PHA management and their attitudes towards head CT ordering.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken with EPs from one Canadian center.

Effect of a High-Sensitivity Troponin I and Associated Diagnostic Protocol on Emergency Department Length of Stay: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the introduction of a high-sensitivity troponin I (hs-TnI) assay and its associated accelerated protocol on emergency department (ED) length of stay (LOS) for patients presenting with chest pain, compared to an accelerated diagnostic protocol using conventional troponin (TnI) testing.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all adults with a primary presenting complaint of chest pain of cardiac origin and a Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale score of 2 or 3, between November 8, 2019 and November 9, 2021, to a tertiary-care urban Canadian ED. The primary outcome was ED LOS.

Sports-Related Concussions in Adults Presenting to Canadian Emergency Departments.

Objective: To document the occurrence and recovery outcomes of sports-related concussions (SRCs) presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) in a community-based sample.

Design: A prospective observational cohort study was conducted in 3 Canadian hospitals.

Setting: Emergency Department.

A prospective study of patients with low back pain attending a Canadian emergency department: Why they came and what happened?

Low back pain is a common presentation to emergency departments, but the reasons why people choose to attend the emergency department have not been explored. We aimed to fill this gap with this study to understand why persons with low back pain choose to attend the emergency department. Between July 4, 2017 and October 1, 2018, consecutive patients with a complaint of low back pain presenting to the University of Alberta Hospital emergency department were screened.

Screening tools to identify patients with unmet palliative care needs in the emergency department: A systematic review.

Objectives: This systematic review identified and assessed psychometric properties of the available screening tools to identify patients with unmet palliative care (PC) needs in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: A comprehensive search of electronic databases and the gray literature was conducted. Two independent reviewers completed study screening and inclusion, data extraction, and quality assessment.

Comparison of the Management and Short-Term Outcomes between Patients with Advanced Cancer and Other End-of-Life Conditions Presenting to Two Canadian Emergency Departments.

An increasing number of patients with end-of-life (EOL) conditions, particularly those with advanced cancer, are presenting to the emergency department (ED). To assess the characteristics, management and short-term outcomes of ED patients with advanced cancer compared to patients with other EOL conditions. A secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study.

Comparison of characteristics and management of emergency department presentations between patients with met and unmet palliative care needs.

Introduction: This study examined emergency department (ED) presentations of patients with end of life (EOL) conditions and patients having met and unmet palliative care needs were compared.

Methods: Presentations for EOL conditions were prospectively identified and screened for palliative care needs. Descriptive data were reported as proportions, means or medians.

Sex-based differences in outcomes for adult patients presenting to the emergency department with a concussion.

Objective: Patients with concussion frequently present to the emergency department (ED). Studies of athletes and children indicate that concussion symptoms are often more severe and prolonged in females compared with males. Given infrequent study of concussion symptoms in the general adult population, the authors conducted a sex-based comparison of patients with concussion.

An Assessment of Emergency Department-Based Interventions for Patients with Advanced or End-Stage Illness: A Systematic Review.

With the increase of visits among patients with end-of-life needs, palliative care (PC) interventions delivered in the emergency department (ED) have become increasingly important. The objective of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of ED-based PC interventions. A comprehensive search of the literature was conducted to identify any comparative studies assessing the effectiveness of ED-based PC interventions.

How Can Drug Metabolism and Transporter Genetics Inform Psychotropic Prescribing?

Many genetic variants in drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters have been shown to be relevant for treating psychiatric disorders. Associations are strong enough to feature on drug labels and for prescribing guidelines based on such data. A range of commercial tests are available; however, there is variability in included genetic variants, methodology, and interpretation.

Galectin-3 alters the lateral mobility and clustering of β1-integrin receptors.

Glycoprotein receptors are influenced by myriad intermolecular interactions at the cell surface. Specific glycan structures may interact with endogenous lectins that enforce or disrupt receptor-receptor interactions. Glycoproteins bound by multivalent lectins may form extended oligomers or lattices, altering the lateral mobility of the receptor and influencing its function through endocytosis or changes in activation.