An Analysis of Outcomes and Management Strategies for Patients With Cholecystostomy Tubes.

Background: Percutaneous cholecystostomy tube (PCT) drainage is an effective management strategy for acute cholecystitis in patients medically unfit for surgery. However, little is known about the fate of patients managed by PCT. We conducted this study to determine tube management outcomes for patients with acute cholecystitis managed by PCT.

Effects of a fragmenting handgun bullet: Considerations for trauma care providers.

Introduction: Expanding or fragmenting bullets have been known to cause extensive injuries since they became available in the late 19th century. Although these bullets are now banned from international warfare, their use by civilians and law enforcement is still legal in the US. In this case report, we describe the complex injuries and subsequent complicated hospital course of a civilian trauma patient who was shot with a newly-designed fragmenting bullet, known as a Radically Invasive Projectile (RIP) bullet.

A Case of Malignant Pheochromocytoma Presenting 7 Years After the Initial Surgery.

Background: Pheochromocytoma (PHEO) is a rare tumor of the adrenal medulla and sympathetic ganglion that produces the catecholamines norepinephrine and epinephrine. Traditionally, approximately 10% of PHEOs were thought to be malignant, but recent developments in PHEO research have noted that specific genetic mutations are associated with higher risk of metastatic spread.

Case Report: We report the case of a 71-year-old female who presented with abdominal pain in September 2009 when she was 64 years old.

Coping with stress: the effectiveness of different types of music.

Listening to classical and self-selected relaxing music after exposure to a stressor should result in significant reductions in anxiety, anger, and sympathetic nervous system arousal, and increased relaxation compared to those who sit in silence or listen to heavy metal music. Fifty-six college students, 15 males and 41 females, were exposed to different types of music genres after experiencing a stressful test. Several 4 x 2 mixed design analyses of variance were conducted to determine the effects of music and silence conditions (heavy metal, classical, or self-selected music and silence) and time (pre-post music) on emotional state and physiological arousal.