Influence of an Alternative Diagnosis on the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Thromboembolism.

Background: The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) is based on the application of a priori probability scales such as the Wells scale or PERC. However, the clinical heterogeneity of this pathology results in the absence of a target population to apply these algorithms. The Wells score does consider the possibility of an alternative diagnosis, awarding an additional point if no other diagnosis is likely, yet the presence of objective alternative diagnoses can still complicate clinical assessment and lead to unnecessary testing or missed diagnoses.

Interactions of Comorbidity and Five Simple Environmental Unhealthy Habits Concerning Physical and Mental Quality of Life in the Clinical Setting.

The objective of this study was to examine the interactions between comorbidity and five lifestyle single habits concerning different subscales of quality of life (QoL). For the study, 302 patients were consecutively recruited at the internal medicine department of a tertiary teaching hospital. Lifestyle habits, comorbidities and QoL were recorded according to validated questionnaires.

Cross-sectional evaluation of the interaction between activity relative-time expenditure and comorbidity concerning physical quality of life.

Quality of life (QoL) is a matter of concern in both healthy and diseased individuals. Lifestyle factors such as physical activity and sleep have a direct impact on QoL. In this context, interactions between activity time expenditure and QoL might be different in comorbid and non comorbid patients.

[Recommendations for the management of emergencies in patients with diabetes, acute metabolic complications of diabetes, and steroid-related hyperglycemia].

Persons with diabetes make up a large percentage of patients attended in the emergency department. Most will be discharged, but patients who remain under observation in wards managed by the emergency department or who wait are waiting to be admitted to a conventional ward must receive appropriate, protocol-guided treatment for their diabetes. Situations of hyper- or hypoglycemia must be avoided because both worsen prognosis.

[Bacterial meningitis due to gram-negative bacilli in adults].

Introduction: Gram-negative bacilli are causative agents of bacterial meningitis in the neonatal period but rarely cause meningitis in adults without risk factors.

Aim: To report on meningitis due to gram-negative bacilli (MGNB) in adults diagnosed in a hospital over a 25-year period.

Patients And Methods: We reviewed the medical records of all patients with an age > or = 14 years who had been diagnosed with MGNB between 1982 and 2006.