Improving the early diagnosis and clinical outcomes of shock patients via laser speckle contrast imaging assessment of peripheral hemodynamics.

Shock is defined as a critical circulatory failure that requires prompt diagnosis to optimize patient outcomes. Traditional diagnostic methods have limitations, including contact-based measurements, high costs, and lengthy procedures. The study evaluated the efficacy of laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI), a noncontact technique, for assessing peripheral hemodynamics in shock patients.

Improving iPSC Differentiation Using a Nanodot Platform.

Differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is an extremely complex process that has proven difficult to study. In this research, we utilized nanotopography to elucidate details regarding iPSC differentiation by developing a nanodot platform consisting of nanodot arrays of increasing diameter. Subjecting iPSCs cultured on the nanodot platform to a cardiomyocyte (CM) differentiation protocol revealed several significant gene expression profiles that were associated with poor differentiation.

Fatality Rates After Infection With the Omicron Variant (B.1.1.529): How Deadly has it been? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Since late 2019, the global community has been gripped by the uncertainty surrounding the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In November 2021, the emergence of the Omicron variant in South Africa added a new dimension. This study aims to assess the disease's severity and determine the extent to which vaccinations contribute to reducing mortality rates.

Improvement of clinical wound microcirculation diagnosis using an object tracking-based laser speckle contrast imaging system.

Wound monitoring is crucial for effective healing, as nonhealing wounds can lead to tissue ulceration and necrosis. Evaluating wound recovery involves observing changes in angiogenesis. Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) is vital for wound assessment due to its rapid imaging, high resolution, wide coverage, and noncontact properties.

Prehospital ultrasound scanning for abdominal free fluid detection in trauma patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Focused assessment with sonography for trauma helps detect abdominal free fluid. Prehospital ultrasound scanning is also important because the early diagnosis of hemoperitoneum may reduce the time to definitive treatment in the hospital. This study investigated whether prehospital ultrasound scanning can help detect abdominal free fluid.

The Coronary Reperfusion Effect and Safety of Prehospital P2Y12 Inhibitor in Primary-PCI STEMI Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The concept of early administration of P2Y12 inhibitor in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is widely accepted, but whether prehospital administration results in greater coronary reperfusion remains unclear. Our study aims to analyze the benefit and safety of prehospital P2Y12 inhibitor compared to in-hospital P2Y12 inhibitor administration.

Method: Three databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library) were searched from database inception to June 2023.

Designing 3D-Printed Mesh-Covered Fluid Collecting Racks (MFCRs) to Prevent Moisture-Related COVID-19 Sampling Interruptions in Taiwan.

A sampling platform (or table) set at the patient's side in a zero-exposure screening center (booth) might be used for specimen collection during public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. However, repeated sanitization causes moisture problems. Such moisture problems would not only be noted by patients but also interrupt the sampling process.

The adjusted impact of different severities of acute exacerbations and medications on the risk of developing dementia in COPD patients.

Background: Although a relationship between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and dementia has been reported, the initial severity upon emergency department (ED) visits and the medications used have not been well evaluated as risk factors for increased dementia occurrence. We aimed to analyze the risks of dementia development over 5 years among patients with COPD compared to matched controls (primary) and the impact of different severities of acute exacerbations (AEs) of COPD and medications on the risk of dementia development among COPD patients (secondary).

Method: This study used the Taiwanese government deidentified health care database.

Guidelines for COVID-19 Laboratory Testing for Emergency Departments From the New Diagnostic Technology Team of the Taiwan Society of Emergency Medicine.

COVID-19 tests have different turnaround times (TATs), accuracy levels, and limitations, which emergency physicians should be aware of. Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) can be divided into standard high throughput tests and rapid molecular diagnostic tests at the point of care (POC). The standard NAAT has the advantages of high throughput and high accuracy with a TAT of 3-4 hours.

The Impact of Do-Not-Resuscitate Order in the Emergency Department on Respiratory Failure after ICU Admission.

(1) Background: It has been hypothesized that a discrepancy exists in the understanding of a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order among physicians. We hypothesized that a DNR order signed in the emergency department (ED) could influence the patients’ prognosis after intensive care unit (ICU) admission. (2) Methods: We included patients older than 17 years, who visited the emergency department for non-traumatic disease, who had respiratory failure, required ventilator support, and were admitted to the ICU between January 2010 and December 2016.

Assessment of Brain Functional Activity Using a Miniaturized Head-Mounted Scanning Photoacoustic Imaging System in Awake and Freely Moving Rats.

Understanding the relationship between brain function and natural behavior remains a significant challenge in neuroscience because there are very few convincing imaging/recording tools available for the evaluation of awake and freely moving animals. Here, we employed a miniaturized head-mounted scanning photoacoustic imaging (hmPAI) system to image real-time cortical dynamics. A compact photoacoustic (PA) probe based on four in-house optical fiber pads and a single custom-made 48-MHz focused ultrasound transducer was designed to enable focused dark-field PA imaging, and miniature linear motors were included to enable two-dimensional (2D) scanning.

Comparative effectiveness of ultrasound-guided and anatomic landmark percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Ultrasound-guided tracheostomy (UGT) and bronchoscope-guided tracheostomy (BGT) have been well compared. However, the differences in benefits between UGT and landmark tracheostomy (LT) have not been addressed and, in particular, lack a detailed meta-analysis. We aimed to compare the first-pass success, complication rate, major bleeding rate, and tracheostomy procedure time between UGT and LT.

Development of an Electrochemical Immunosensor for Detection of Cardiac Troponin I at the Point-of-Care.

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) plays an important role in the assessment of various cardiac diseases. However, accurate detection of cTnI at the point-of-care (POC) remains unfeasible. In this study, we report the development of an electrochemical immunosensor designed for rapid and accurate cTnI detection in pre-hospital settings.

AMBtalk: A Cardiovascular IoT Device for Ambulance Applications.

Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and other heart emergency events require immediate chest pain identification in the ambulance. Specifically, early identification and triage is required so that patients with chest pain can be quickly sent to a hospital with appropriate care facilities for treatment. In the traditional approach, ambulance personnel often use symptom checklists to examine the patient and make a quick decision for the target hospital.

Impact of Using a Non-Rebreathing Mask in Patients With Respiratory Failure.

Background: Liberal oxygen therapy might increase the mortality rate of patients. Non-rebreathing masks (NRM) are a high-flow, non-invasive oxygen device that can provide oxygen concentration up to 95%. This study aimed to determine the impact of using NRM in patients with respiratory failure.

Clinical treatment and medication in decreasing the development of major depression caused by spinal fracture.

Background: Chronic pain and limited activities of daily living after spinal fracture may induce the occurrence of major depression (MD); however, risk factors regarding medications, surgical intervention, and severity of fracture are unclear. We aimed to analyze risk factors of MD development after spinal fracture.

Methods: This was a retrospective database study, using the health care database of the Taiwan government.