Liver injury diagnosed on computed tomography after use of an automated cardiopulmonary resuscitation device.

We report a case of an 89-year-old female with active extravasation and hemoperitoneum from a liver laceration demonstrated on multidetector computed tomography (CT), attributed to the use of an automated mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) device. Although iatrogenic internal injuries related to manual CPR and CPR devices have previously been reported [1, 2], there has been no reported CT evidence of liver injury related to automated CPR devices to the authors' knowledge. Imaging findings of complications related to the use of automated CPR devices are important to recognize and also help explain the possible mechanisms of injury.

Manic behavior resulting from left frontal closed head injury in an adult with fetal alcohol syndrome.

Closed head trauma has been associated with various neuropsychiatric sequelae, including mood disturbances such as depression and mania. Although mood disturbances can occur with injury to either hemisphere, mania has been primarily associated with right-side frontal lobe injury. We present a case of manic behavior after a closed head injury to the left hemisphere in an adult with preexisting fetal alcohol syndrome.

Does the addition of glutamine to enteral feeds affect patient mortality?

Objective: Studies have failed to consistently demonstrate improved survival in intensive care unit (ICU) patients receiving immune-modulating nutrient-enhanced enteral feeds when compared with standard enteral feeds. The objective was to study in a prospective fashion the effects of adding glutamine to standard or immune-modulated (supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids, beta-carotene, and amino acids such as glutamine and arginine) tube feeds.

Design: Prospective, unblinded study using sequential allocation.

Primary human hepatocytes in spheroid formation to study hepatitis C infection.

Background: Hepatitis C (HCV) is a worldwide health problem, affecting nearly 170 million people. Current models for studying Hepatitis C have focused primarily on the use of poorly permissive cell lines and viral constructs, because of the lack of a suitable animal model or an in vitro system for studying functional infection. As hepatocytes are the primary reservoir for the virus in vivo, we report on a model using primary human hepatocytes cultured in spheroid formation.