Optical Coherence Tomography Characteristics of the Choroid Underlying Congenital Hypertrophy of the Retinal Pigment Epithelium.

Purpose: This study evaluates and characterizes the choroid underlying congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE).

Methods: Retrospective observational study of CHRPE at least 2 mm in diameter. Choroidal vascular architecture was qualitatively examined.

A Citizen Science and Government Collaboration: Developing Tools to Facilitate Community Air Monitoring.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is actively involved in supporting citizen science projects and providing communities with information and assistance for conducting their own air pollution monitoring.

Misclassification of acute respiratory distress syndrome after traumatic injury: The cost of less rigorous approaches.

Background: Adherence to rigorous research protocols for identifying adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) after trauma is variable. To examine how misclassification of ARDS may bias observational studies in trauma populations, we evaluated the agreement of two methods for adjudicating ARDS after trauma: the current gold standard, direct review of chest radiographs and review of dictated radiology reports, a commonly used alternative.

Methods: This nested cohort study included 123 mechanically ventilated patients between 2005 and 2008, with at least one PaO2/FIO2 less than 300 within the first 8 days of admission.

The natural history of symptoms and distress in patients and families following cystectomy for treatment of muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Purpose: We characterized the natural history of symptoms with time in patients with bladder cancer undergoing cystectomy.

Materials And Methods: For 6 months we followed 33 participants treated with muscle invasive bladder cancer treatment with cystectomy in this prospective cohort study. Patients and family caregivers completed validated symptom assessment and satisfaction surveys at baseline, and 2, 4 and 6 months later.

Criteria for empiric treatment of hyperfibrinolysis after trauma.

Background: Recent studies identify a survival benefit from the administration of antifibrinolytic agents in patients with severe injury and trauma. However, identification of hyperfibrinolysis requires thromboelastography, which is not widely available. We hypothesized that analysis of patients with thromboelastography-diagnosed hyperfibrinolysis would identify clinical criteria for empiric antifibrinolytic treatment in the absence of thromboelastography.

Characterization of platelet dysfunction after trauma.

Background: The increased morbidity and mortality associated with coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia after trauma are well described. However, few studies have assessed platelet function after injury.

Methods: Blood samples were prospectively collected from 101 patients with critical injury and trauma on arrival to the emergency department and serially after admission to a Level I urban trauma intensive care unit from November 2010 to October 2011 and functionally assayed for responsiveness to adenosine diphosphate, thrombin receptor-activating peptide, arachidonic acid (AA), and collagen using multiple electrode impedance aggregometry.