Assessing the uptake of persistent identifiers by research infrastructure users.

Significant progress has been made in the past few years in the development of recommendations, policies, and procedures for creating and promoting citations to data sets, software, and other research infrastructures like computing facilities. Open questions remain, however, about the extent to which referencing practices of authors of scholarly publications are changing in ways desired by these initiatives. This paper uses four focused case studies to evaluate whether research infrastructures are being increasingly identified and referenced in the research literature via persistent citable identifiers.

Epidemiology of workplace-related fall from height and cost of trauma care in Qatar.

Background: This study was designed to identify the incidence, injury patterns, and actual medical costs of occupational-related falls in Qatar, in order to provide a reference for establishing fall prevention guidelines and recommendations.

Settings And Design: Retrospective database registry review in Level 1 Trauma Center at Tertiary Hospital in Qatar.

Materials And Methods: During a 12-month period between November 1(st) 2007 and October 31(st) 2008, construction workers who fell from height were enrolled.

Concurrent rib and pelvic fractures as an indicator of solid abdominal organ injury.

Objectives: To study the association of solid organ injuries (SOIs) in patients with concurrent rib and pelvic fractures.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from November 2007 to May 2010. Patients' demographics, mechanism of injury, Injury severity scoring, pelvic fracture, and SOIs were analyzed.

Occult hemopneumothorax following chest trauma does not need a chest tube.

Background: The increasing use of thoracic computed tomography (CT) in trauma patients has led to the recognition of intrapleural blood and air that are not initially evident on admission plain chest X-ray, defining the presence of occult hemopneumothorax. The clinical significance of occult hemopneumothorax, specifically the role of the tube thoracostomy, is not clearly defined.

Objective: To identify those patients with occult hemopneumothorax who can be safely managed without chest tube insertion.

Presentation and outcome of traumatic spinal fractures.

Background: Motor vehicle crashes and falls account for most of the spine fractures with subsequent serious disability.

Aim: To define the incidence, causes, and outcome of spinal fractures.

Materials And Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from trauma registry database of all traumatic spinal injuries admitted to the section of trauma surgery in Qatar from November 2007 to December 2009.

Trauma caused by falling objects at construction sites.

Background: Workplace-related injuries carry a significant health care challenge. The state of Qatar is developing rapidly, with much construction and an expanding industrial work force. This study aimed to assess the incidence and social impact of work-related injuries requiring hospitalization caused by falling objects at the construction sites.

Clinical management of occult hemothorax: a prospective study of 81 patients.

Background: Intrapleural blood detected by computed tomography scan, but not evident on plain chest radiograph, defines occult hemothorax. This study determined the role for tube thoracostomy.

Methods: Hemothorax was quantified on computed tomography by measuring the deepest lamellar fluid stripe at the most dependent portion.

Rib fracture patterns predict thoracic chest wall and abdominal solid organ injury.

Blunt trauma patients with rib fractures were studied to determine whether the number of rib fractures or their patterns were more predictive of abdominal solid organ injury and/or other thoracic trauma. Rib fractures were characterized as upper zone (ribs 1 to 4), midzone (ribs 5 to 8), and lower zone (ribs 9 to 12). Findings of sternal and scapular fractures, pulmonary contusions, and solid organ injures (liver, spleen, kidney) were characterized by the total number and predominant zone of ribs fractured.

Prospective study of validity of neurologic signs in predicting positive cranial computed tomography following minor head trauma.

Introduction: The ability to discriminate among a large number of patients with mild head injury to detect those most likely to have an intracranial abnormality may offer an advantage in mass-casualty situations and when clinical needs exceed diagnostic capabilities.

Hypothesis: In patients with mild head injury (Glasgow Coma Scale score = 13-15), the likelihood of intracranial abnormality, as defined by cranial computed tomography (CT), varies according to presenting neurologic signs and symptoms.

Methods: This prospective study consisted of 152 patients with blunt head trauma and one or more of the following: initial loss of consciousness (LOC), headache, vomiting, convulsions, or amnesia.

Laparoscopic rapid totally diverting loop colostomy: a new twist on an old technique.

A minimally invasive variation of an established technique of colostomy is described. The method was originally published in 1977. In a setting where traditional celiotomy is not required, three ports are placed with the left lateral port used for the stoma.

Evaluation of postinjury hepatocyte function by central amino acid clearance.

It has been demonstrated by other investigators that central plasma clearance of amino acids accurately predicts hepatocyte function in patients with liver disease and correlates with clinical outcome. This methodology has not heretofore been studied in the trauma patient. It is our hypothesis that central amino acid clearance in trauma patients is more reflective of hepatocyte function than traditional liver function tests.

Ascorbic acid dynamics in the seriously ill and injured.

Background: In addition to the known beneficial effects of ascorbic acid on wound healing and the immune response, it is also a potent extracellular antioxidant. Recent work in septic rats suggests that high-dose ascorbic acid total parenteral nutrition (TPN) supplementation may protect cells from free radical injury and improve survival. In this study, we determined ascorbic acid levels in the immediate post-injury/illness period and evaluated the ability of early short-term high levels of ascorbic acid in TPN to normalize plasma levels.

Handsewn versus stapled anastomosis in penetrating colon injuries requiring resection: a multicenter study.

Background: Although the use of stapling devices in elective colon surgery has been shown to be as safe as handsewn techniques, there have been concerns about their safety in emergency trauma surgery. The purpose of this study was to compare stapled with handsewn colonic anastomosis following penetrating trauma.

Methods: This was a prospective multicenter study and included patients who underwent colon resection and anastomosis following penetrating trauma.

Current status of nonoperative management of liver injuries.

The successful use of nonoperative management of liver injuries requires a hemodynamically stable patient and early access to computed tomography (CT). Extensive intraperitoneal blood and extravasation of contrast on CT predict potential clinical failures. The CT appearance of the liver injury has poor correlation with clinical outcome.

Penetrating colon injuries requiring resection: diversion or primary anastomosis? An AAST prospective multicenter study.

Background: The management of colon injuries that require resection is an unresolved issue because the existing practices are derived mainly from class III evidence. Because of the inability of any single trauma center to accumulate enough cases for meaningful statistical analysis, a multicenter prospective study was performed to compare primary anastomosis with diversion and identify the risk factors for colon-related abdominal complications.

Methods: This was a prospective study from 19 trauma centers and included patients with colon resection because of penetrating trauma, who survived at least 72 hours.