Traumatic brain injury in patients aged ≥65 years versus patients aged ≥80 years: a multicenter prospective study of mortality and medical resource utilization.

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether there is a difference in mortality and medical resource utilization between geriatric (aged ≥65 years) and super-geriatric patients (aged ≥80 years) with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: We obtained comprehensive data (demographics, injury characteristics, injury severities, and outcomes) of geriatric and super-geriatric TBI patients from an emergency department-based injury surveillance system database from 2011 to 2016. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to compare the mortality and nonroutine discharge (NRDC) status between both groups.

Effect of pain control in suspected acute appendicitis on the diagnostic accuracy of surgical residents.

Objective: To determine the influence of early pain relief for patients with suspected appendicitis on the diagnostic performance of surgical residents.

Methods: A prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted for patients with suspected appendicitis. The patients were randomized to receive placebo (normal saline intravenous [IV]) infusions over 5 minutes or the study drug (morphine 5 mg IV).

The effect of cyclosporine A in hemorrhagic shock model of rats.

Background: The inhibition of mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening during ischemia-reperfusion can ameliorate injuries. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cyclosporine A (CsA) in rats after hemorrhagic shock.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to pressure-controlled hemorrhagic shock (mean arterial pressure, 38 ± 1 mm Hg) for 90 minutes.

Systemic capillary leak syndrome induced by influenza type A infection.

A 42-year-old man visited the emergency department complaining of lower extremity swelling and myalgia. His influenza A antigen test was positive, and he was admitted for supportive care of severe myalgia. On the first hospital day, the swelling in his lower legs was aggravated with intolerable pain, and his creatine phosphokinase and hemoglobin levels were elevated.

Awareness and knowledge of sepsis in the general Korean population: comparison with the awareness and knowledge of acute myocardial infarction and stroke.

Objective: Patients with severe sepsis or septic shock require timely, aggressive management to improve their outcomes, and early presentation of patients to the hospital may also be important. Thus, public awareness about sepsis may be important for improved outcomes. However, there are no studies regarding the public awareness of sepsis in the general Korean population.

Gradual and stepwise increase of blood pressure in hemorrhagic shock: Mimicking ischemic post-conditioning.

Hemorrhagic shock, and subsequent resuscitation leads to global ischemia/reperfusion injury. It may result in multiple organ injury and death. Ischemic post-conditioning has been suggested to reduce organ injury.

Red cell distribution width is a prognostic factor in severe sepsis and septic shock.

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the association of red cell distribution width (RDW) with 28-day mortality in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. Patients' demographic data, comorbidities, the blood test results including RDW at admission to the emergency department, and Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation II score were compared between 28-day survivors and nonsurvivors.

Effect of therapeutic hypothermia according to severity of sepsis in a septic rat model.

Aim Of Study: The effects of therapeutic hypothermia (HT) during experimental sepsis may be influenced by disease severity. We experimentally investigated the effect of therapeutic HT on varying disease severity in a septic rat model.

Materials And Methods: An adult male Sprague-Dawley rat model of intra-abdominal sepsis was used.

Prognostic implication of initial coagulopathy in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Objective: We sought to investigate the prognostic implication of early coagulopathy represented by initial DIC score in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Methods: OHCA registry was analyzed to identify patients with ROSC without recent use of anticoagulant between 2008 and 2011. Patients were assessed for prehosptial factors, initial laboratory results and therapeutic hypothermia.

Prognostic performance of diffusion-weighted MRI combined with NSE in comatose cardiac arrest survivors treated with mild hypothermia.

Background: MRI-based prognostication of comatose cardiac arrest survivors has shown promising results. However, the technique has not been validated in patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia and it is unknown how it might add to NSE-based prognostication. We sought to evaluate the prognostic performance of regional apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in comatose out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients treated with mild hypothermia and its added value to NSE-based prognostication.

Red cell distribution width as a prognostic marker in patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Background: Red cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with mortality in both the general population and in patients with certain diseases. However, the relationship between RDW and mortality in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of RDW with mortality in patients with CAP.

Therapeutic hypothermia attenuates liver injury in polymicrobial sepsis model of rats via Akt survival pathway.

Background: Therapeutic hypothermia has been proposed to protect organs in some diseases. However, the effect of therapeutic hypothermia on liver injury in sepsis is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of therapeutic hypothermia on liver injury in sepsis.

Heart-type fatty acid-binding protein as a prognostic factor in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate whether heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) could predict 28-day mortality in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.

Methods: We performed a prospective observational study and included consecutive patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. Patients' demographic data, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, and the blood test results including H-FABP concentrations were compared between the 28-day survivors and nonsurvivors.

Red blood cell distribution width as an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in out of hospital cardiac arrest.

Objective: Post-resuscitation period is characterized by high early mortality due to post-cardiac arrest syndrome. Recent studies found that elevated red cell distribution width (RDW) is a strong predictor of mortality in critically ill patients. We investigated the prognostic significance of RDW in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) victims.