Predicting hospitalization from real-world measures in patients with chronic kidney disease: A proof-of-principle study.

Objective: To investigate if in-clinic measures of physical function and real-world measures of physical behavior and mobility effort are associated with one another and to determine if they predict future hospitalization in participants with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: In this secondary analysis, novel real-world measures of physical behavior and mobility effort, including the best 6-minute step count (B6SC), were derived from passively collected data from a thigh worn actigraphy sensor and compared to traditional in-clinic measures of physical function (e.g.

SARS-CoV-2 innate effector associations and viral load in early nasopharyngeal infection.

COVID-19 causes severe disease with poor outcomes. We tested the hypothesis that early SARS-CoV-2 viral infection disrupts innate immune responses. These changes may be important for understanding subsequent clinical outcomes.

SARS-CoV-2 Innate Effector Associations and Viral Load in Early Nasopharyngeal Infection.

To examine innate immune responses in early SARS-CoV-2 infection that may change clinical outcomes, we compared nasopharyngeal swab data from 20 virus-positive and 20 virus-negative individuals. Multiple innate immune-related and transcripts increased with infection and were strongly associated with increasing viral load. We found widespread discrepancies between transcription and translation.

Getting cardiogenic shock patients to the right place-How initial intensive care unit triage decisions impact processes of care and outcomes.

The objective of this study was to determine how initial intensive care unit triage decisions impact processes of care and outcomes for emergency department patients hospitalized with cardiogenic shock. Individuals with cardiogenic shock were stratified based upon whether they were initially admitted to a cardiac versus noncardiovascular intensive care setting. Those initially triaged to a noncardiovascular intensive care unit were less likely to receive potentially life-saving interventions, including percutaneous coronary intervention and temporary mechanical circulatory support, and were more likely to see significant delays in these interventions if ultimately used.

Emergency Department Observation Unit Utilization Among Older Patients With Chest Pain.

Background: Although some emergency department observation units (EDOUs) may exclude patients over 65 years old, our EDOU accepts patients up to 79 years old. We assessed the utilization of our EDOU by older patients (those 65-79 years old).

Methods: We prospectively enrolled emergency department (ED) patients with chest pain.

Family history of venous thromboembolism predicts the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism in the emergency department.

Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) clinical decision rules do not consider a patient's family history of venous thromboembolism (VTE). We evaluated whether a family history of VTE predicts acute PE in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: Over a 5.

Mechanical chest compression devices are associated with poor neurological survival in a statewide registry: A propensity score analysis.

Objective: To compare functional survival (discharge cerebral performance category 1 or 2) among victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) who had resuscitations performed using mechanical chest compression (mech-CC) devices vs. those using manual chest compressions (man-CC).

Methods: Observational cohort of 2600 cases of OHCA from a statewide, prospectively-collected cardiac arrest registry (Utah Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival).

Feasibility of Proton Beam Therapy for Ocular Melanoma Using a Novel 3D Treatment Planning Technique.

Purpose: We evaluated sparing of normal structures using 3-dimensional (3D) treatment planning for proton therapy of ocular melanomas.

Methods And Materials: We evaluated 26 consecutive patients with choroidal melanomas on a prospective registry. Ophthalmologic work-up included fundoscopic photographs, fluorescein angiography, ultrasonographic evaluation of tumor dimensions, and magnetic resonance imaging of orbits.

Prospective evaluation of outcomes among geriatric chest pain patients in an ED observation unit.

Objective: Because of concerns of high admission rates and adverse events in geriatric patients, hospitals may exclude this group from emergency department observation unit (EDOU) chest pain protocols. We sought to evaluate characteristics and outcomes of geriatric chest pain patients treated in an EDOU.

Methods: We performed a prospective, observational study of chest pain patients admitted to our EDOU over a 36-month period.

Acute medical impairment among elderly patients involved in motor vehicle collisions.

Background: The association between acute medical illness and motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) among elderly emergency department patients is unclear. We sought to determine the prevalence of acute medical conditions that might impair driving ability among the elderly involved in MVCs and determine if there was an increased risk of the driver having an acute medical condition compared to similarly aged passengers.

Methods: We reviewed charts of patients aged 65 years or older whose emergency department visit was prompted by a motor vehicle collision between 1 July 2000 and 30 June 2010 at two Level 1 trauma centres.

The use of prehospital variables to predict acute coronary artery disease in failed resuscitation attempts for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Aim Of The Study: To determine the ability of readily available prehospital variables to predict acute coronary artery disease (CAD) as the cause of arrest in failed out-of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) resuscitations.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database of all adult cases of OHCA who underwent resuscitation attempts and later post-mortem examination by the state Medical Examiner (ME) over a 6 year period. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to identify predictors.

False-positive rates of provocative cardiac testing in chest pain patients admitted to an emergency department observation unit.

Emergency department observation units (EDOUs) typically perform routine cardiac stress testing or coronary computed tomography (CCTA) to rule out ischemic cardiac chest pain. Some have questioned the utility of routine stress testing and advanced anatomic imaging in the low-risk chest pain patients. EDOU chest pain patients undergoing stress testing or CCTA prior to cardiac catheterization between June 1, 2009 and May 31, 2012 were studied in a prospective, observational manner.

Characteristics of the first two years of applicants to a new emergency medicine residency program.

Background: To the best of our knowledge, no study has compared the effect of using the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) on applicant pool characteristics for a new emergency medicine (EM) residency program.

Objective: We sought to compare applicants in an EM residency program's first year, in which the ERAS is not typically used, to applicants in year 2 (using ERAS).

Methods: We reviewed the applications to the new University of Utah EM residency program for the entering classes of 2005 (year 1) and 2006 (year 2).

Evaluating applicants to a new emergency medicine residency program: subjective assessment of applicant characteristics.

Background: Because of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and the Residency Review Committee (RRC) approval timelines, new residency programs cannot use Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) during their first year of applicants.

Aim: We sought to identify differences between program directors' subjective ratings of applicants from an emergency medicine (EM) residency program's first year (in which ERAS was not used) to their ratings of applicants the following year in which ERAS was used.

Method: The University of Utah Emergency Medicine Residency Program received approval from the ACGME in 2004.

Scene transport of pediatric patients injured at winter resorts.

Objective: To examine the characteristics of pediatric patients (age =16 years) injured at winter resort scenes and transported by helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) or ground EMS (GEMS) ambulance services to regional trauma centers.

Methods: Between 1997 and 2001, a total of 119 patients (GEMS = 69; HEMS = 50) were identified from trauma registries and HEMS transport records. Demographic data, initial vital signs, hospital interventions, and discharge status of the two groups were examined.

Transport of winter resort injuries to regional trauma centers.

Introduction: This study examined the epidemiology of winter resort injuries presenting to regional trauma centers by helicopter (HEMS) or ground (GEMS) ambulance.

Methods: Five hundred seventy-five patients (GEMS 289; HEMS 286) were identified from trauma registries and HEMS transport records. Demographic data, hospital interventions, and discharge status were examined.

Transient transfection of CHO-K1-S using serum-free medium in suspension: a rapid mammalian protein expression system.

With the recent completion of the human genome sequencing project, scientists now face the daunting challenge of deciphering the function of these newly found genes quickly and efficiently. For biotechnology, it is equally important to identify the therapeutically relevant genes as quickly as possible. Mammalian expression systems provide many advantages to aid in this task.

The 2003 Air Medical Leadership Congress: findings and recommendations.

To address important concerns facing the air medical community, 149 air medical transport leaders, providers, consultants, and experts met September 4-6, 2003, in Salt Lake City, Utah, for a 3-day summit-the Air Medical Leadership Congress: Setting the Health Care Agenda for the Air Medical Community. Using data from a Web-based survey, top air medical transport issues were identified in four core areas: safety, medical care, cost/benefit, and regulatory/compliance. This report reviews the findings of previous congresses and summarizes the discussions, findings, recommendations, and proposed industry actions to address these issues as set forth by the 2003 congress participants.

Evaluation of an electronic esophageal detector device in patients with morbid obesity and pulmonary failure.

Objective: Undetected esophageal intubation can result in permanent injury or death. Clinical confirmation of tube location may be misleading. Adjunctive methods should be used to supplement clinical judgment.