Expeditious exclusion of acute coronary syndrome diagnosis by combined measurements of copeptin, high-sensitivity troponin, and GRACE score.

Background: High-sensitivity troponin (HS-TnT) combined with copeptin have been proposed to expedite the diagnostic exclusion of acute myocardial infarction. The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) has been validated and recommended by the European Society of Cardiology as a prognostic score in the management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) without ST-segment elevation (non-ST+) on the electrocardiogram. Our study examined whether a low GRACE score (<108) combined with negative HS-TnT (<14 ng/L) and copeptin (<14 pmol/L) reliably exclude the diagnosis of non-ST+ ACS, including non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and unstable angina.

Out-of-hospital traumatic cardiac arrest: an underrecognized source of organ donors.

Whereas the gap between organ supply and demand remains a worldwide concern, resuscitation of out-of-hospital traumatic cardiac arrest (TCA) remains controversial. The aim of this study is to evaluate, in a prehospital medical care system, the number of organs transplanted from victims of out-of-hospital TCA. This is a descriptive study.

Burnout among French GPs in training: a cross-sectional study.

Background: French GPs in training have an important role in making hospitals function and are the future workforce, however burnout among this group is not uncommon.

Aim: To assess burnout among French trainees.

Design And Setting: Descriptive, epidemiological, transverse cross-sectional study in France.

In vitro evaluation of a ball-and-socket cervical disc prosthesis with cranial geometric center.

Object: Few biomechanical in vitro studies have reported the effects of disc replacement on motion and kinematics of the cervical spine. The purpose of this study was to analyze motion through 3D load-displacement curves before and after implantation of a ball-and-socket cervical disc prosthesis with cranial geometric center; special focus was placed on coupled motion, which is a well-known aspect of normal cervical spine kinematics.

Methods: Six human cervical spines were studied.

Spinopelvic alignment of patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Objective: The main objectives of this study were to analyze and compare spinopelvic parameters, including the pelvis shape, in a population of 40 patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis (DSPL) and to compare these patients with a control group of asymptomatic volunteers.

Methods: Forty patients with DSPL were included in this study. Spinopelvic parameters were analyzed on preoperative full spine x-rays in a standardized standing position.

Sagittal balance of the pelvis-spine complex and lumbar degenerative diseases. A comparative study about 85 cases.

Retrospective analysis of the spino-pelvic alignment in a population of 85 patients with a lumbar degenerative disease. Several previous publications reported the analysis of spino-pelvic alignment in the normal and low back pain population. Data suggested that patients with lumbar diseases have variations of sagittal alignment such as less distal lordosis, more proximal lumbar lordosis and a more vertical sacrum.

Methods to estimate the optimal threshold for normally or log-normally distributed biological tests.

Putting a screening or a diagnostic test into everyday use requires the determination of its threshold. The authors present methods that yield a point and an interval estimation of the threshold that maximize the population utility whenever the test results are normally or log-normally distributed among healthy and among diseased subjects, with equal variances. These methods were assessed for bias, coverage probability, coverage symmetry, and confidence-interval width using simulation.

Quantitative anatomic evaluation of cervical lateral mass fixation with a comparison of the Roy-Camille and the Magerl screw techniques.

Study Design: An anatomic and computed tomography (CT) study of the Roy-Camille and the Magerl techniques with quantitative comparison of the safety zones of the two surgical techniques.

Object: The purpose of this study was to compare quantitatively the safety zones of the Roy-Camille and the Magerl techniques as a function of the vertebral level from C3-C6.

Summary Of Background Data: The two most popular techniques for lateral mass screws are the Roy-Camille and the Magerl technique.

Biomechanical evaluation of cervical lateral mass fixation: a comparison of the Roy-Camille and Magerl screw techniques.

Object: The purpose of this study was to assess human cervical spine pullout force after lateral mass fixation involving two different techniques: the Roy-Camille and the Magerl techniques. Although such comparisons have been conducted previously, because of the heterogeneity of results and the importance of this procedure in clinical practice, it is essential to have data derived from a prospective and randomized biomechanical study involving a sufficient sample of human cervical spines. The authors also evaluated the influence of the sex, the vertebral level, the bone mineral density (BMD), the length of bone purchase, and the thickness of the anterior cortical purchase.