Use of point-of-care testing and early assessment model reduces length of stay for ambulatory patients in an emergency department.

Background: To assess whether the use of point-of-care testing (POCT) and early assessment team (EAT) model shortens emergency department (ED) length of stay (LOS).

Methods: This prospective, observational study with comparison between three study periods was performed in three phases in a metropolitan ED with 57,000 annual visits. Data were collected from adult ambulatory patients who were discharged home.

Population-based audit of fresh-frozen plasma transfusion practices.

Background: In contrast to decreasing red blood cell (RBC) consumption in Finland, the use of fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) has been increasing since the 1990s, suggesting that FFP use may not always be optimal. To improve transfusion practices, knowledge of current FFP use and regional, national, and international comparison is necessary.

Study Design And Methods: Nine (of 21) Finnish hospital districts participated.

Distribution and determinants of serum high-sensitive C-reactive protein in a population of young adults: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

Objectives: Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) is a suggested risk marker for cardiovascular disease. We aimed at investigating the distribution and determinants of CRP levels in young adults.

Design: Population-based study.

Obesity in youth is not an independent predictor of carotid IMT in adulthood. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

Being obese in childhood may be associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adulthood. We examined the relationship between obesity and overweight identified in youth and carotid artery intima-media thickness assessed in adulthood. As part of the longitudinal Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study, we assessed tracking of body mass index (BMI) from youth (ages 3-18 years) to young adulthood (ages 24-39 years) in a cohort of 2,260 subjects.

Endothelial dysfunction and increased arterial intima-media thickness in children with type 1 diabetes.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction may play a pathophysiological role in the development of atherosclerosis in subjects with type 1 diabetes. We examined whether alterations in vascular endothelial function exist in children with type 1 diabetes and tested the hypothesis that endothelial dysfunction is associated with early structural atherosclerotic vascular changes in these children.

Methods And Results: Noninvasive ultrasound was used to measure brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) responses and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) in 75 children (mean age 11+/-2 years), 45 with type 1 diabetes (diabetes duration 4.