Focal Neurologic Deficit After Epidural Catheter Removal Leads to Meningioma Diagnosis.

We present an unusual case of a 60-year-old female who developed subtle, new-onset left upper and lower extremity weakness on day five of perioperative thoracic epidural placement. The onset of a focal neurological deficit after epidural placement usually raises suspicion for the presence of an epidural hematoma, abscess, or traumatic cord lesion. However, in this patient, brain imaging revealed a large, previously undiagnosed intracranial mass.

Is Online Treatment as Effective as In-Person Treatment?: Psychological Change in Two Relationship Skills Groups.

Psychotherapy has undergone a widespread change recently, with many interventions now available as wireless device apps or online courses. The current study compared the efficacy of an online program with a personal group treatment intervention. The in-person group (n = 37) attended a 6-day workshop called Tapping Deep Intimacy that focused on the development of interpersonal skills.

Emotional Freedom Techniques to Treat Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans: Review of the Evidence, Survey of Practitioners, and Proposed Clinical Guidelines.

Background: High prevalence rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in active military and veterans present a treatment challenge. Many PTSD studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT).

Objectives: To develop clinical best practice guidelines for the use of EFT to treat PTSD, on the basis of the published literature, practitioner experience, and typical case histories.

EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) and Resiliency in Veterans at Risk for PTSD: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Prior research indicates elevated but subclinical posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as a risk factor for a later diagnosis of PTSD. This study examined the progression of symptoms in 21 subclinical veterans. Participants were randomized into a treatment as usual (TAU) wait-list group and an experimental group, which received TAU plus six sessions of clinical emotional freedom techniques (EFT).

Emotional Freedom Techniques for Anxiety: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) combines elements of exposure and cognitive therapies with acupressure for the treatment of psychological distress. Randomized controlled trials retrieved by literature search were assessed for quality using the criteria developed by the American Psychological Association's Division 12 Task Force on Empirically Validated Treatments. As of December 2015, 14 studies (n = 658) met inclusion criteria.

Medical biofilms--nanotechnology approaches.

Biofilms are colonies of bacteria or fungi that adhere to a surface, protected by an extracellular polymer matrix composed of polysaccharides and extracellular DNA. They are highly complex and dynamic multicellular structures that resist traditional means of killing planktonic bacteria. Recent developments in nanotechnology provide novel approaches to preventing and dispersing biofilm infections, which are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality.

Reactive oxygen species-activated nanoprodrug of Ibuprofen for targeting traumatic brain injury in mice.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an enormous public health problem, with 1.7 million new cases of TBI recorded annually by the Centers for Disease Control. However, TBI has proven to be an extremely challenging condition to treat.

Insurance-and race-related disparities decrease in elderly trauma patients.

Background: Little focus is on health care disparities in the elderly, a population largely covered by public insurance. We characterized insurance type and race in elderly trauma patients to determine if lack of insurance or minority status predict increased mortality.

Methods: The National Trauma Data Bank (version 7.

β-adrenergic receptor inhibition affects cerebral glucose metabolism, motor performance, and inflammatory response after traumatic brain injury.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate how β-adrenergic receptor inhibition after traumatic brain injury (TBI) alters changes in early cerebral glucose metabolism and motor performance, as well as cerebral cytokine and heat shock protein (HSP) expression.

Methods: Mouse cerebral glucose metabolism was measured by microPET fluorodeoxyglucose uptake and converted into standardized uptake values (SUV). Four groups of C57/Bl6 mice (wild type [WT]) were initially evaluated: sham or TBI, followed by tail vein injection of either saline or a nonselective β-adrenergic receptor inhibitor (propranolol, 4 mg/kg).

Elevated systolic blood pressure after trauma: tolerated in the elderly.

Background: We undertook the current study to determine the impact of elevated admission systolic blood pressure (SBP) on trauma patients without severe brain injury.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the Los Angeles County Trauma System database to identify all patients with moderate to severe injuries (injury severity score >9) admitted between 2003 and 2008. Patients with head abbreviated injury score >3 were excluded.

Long-term effect of trauma splenectomy on blood glucose.

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that the spleen harbors stem cells that act as precursors to insulin-producing pancreas cells. Additionally, small studies with short-term follow-up associate splenectomy with increased rates of diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to analyze the long-term effect of trauma splenectomy on blood glucose.

Admission heart rate is a predictor of mortality.

Background: The association between admission heart rate (AHR) and mortality after trauma can assist initial emergency department triage and resuscitation. In addition, increased AHR is often associated with sympathetic hyperactivity which may require targeted treatment. We determined whether AHR was a predictor for mortality in trauma patients.

Transient ischemic dilation for coronary artery disease in quantitative analysis of same-day sestamibi myocardial perfusion SPECT.

Background: Transient ischemic dilation (TID) of the left ventricle in myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS) has been shown to be a clinically useful marker of severe coronary artery disease (CAD). However, TID has not been evaluated for 99mTc-sestamibi rest/stress protocols (Mibi-Mibi). We aimed to develop normal limits and evaluate diagnostic power of TID ratio for Mibi-Mibi scans.

Elevated admission systolic blood pressure after blunt trauma predicts delayed pneumonia and mortality.

Background: Although avoiding hypotension is a primary focus after trauma, elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) is frequently disregarded. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between elevated admission SBP and delayed outcomes after trauma.

Methods: The Los Angeles County Trauma System Database was queried for all patients between 2003 and 2008 with blunt injuries who survived for at least 2 days after admission.

Gender influences outcomes in trauma patients with elevated systolic blood pressure.

Background: This analysis explored the association between gender and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in trauma patients and then established how gender influenced outcomes in those with elevated SBP.

Methods: Demographics and outcomes were compared using the Los Angeles County Trauma System Database and multivariable modeling determined predictors for SBP, pneumonia, and mortality.

Results: Age and male sex were significant predictors for increased SBP, whereas the Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥16 was a significant predictor for decreased SBP.

Mortality by decade in trauma patients with Glasgow Coma Scale 3.

The aim of this study was to assess how increasing age affects mortality in trauma patients with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 3. The Los Angeles County Trauma System Database was queried for all patients aged 20 to 99 years admitted with GCS 3. Mortality was 41.

Diabetic patients with traumatic brain injury: insulin deficiency is associated with increased mortality.

Background: Hyperglycemia after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an independent predictor of mortality. Insulin deficiency, as opposed to elevated blood glucose, might be the reason for increased mortality. TBI patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) were analyzed to determine how insulin deficiency affects mortality after TBI.

IL6 deficiency affects function after traumatic brain injury.

Objective: Interleukin-6 (IL6) is a major inflammatory mediator and one of the first cytokines produced after traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study evaluates early behavioral changes and acute inflammation after TBI in IL6 knock-out mice using electromagnetic controlled cortical impact.

Methods: IL6 knock-out (KO) and C57BL/6 (WT) male mice were subjected to TBI or sham injury (n = 6 mice per group) using electromagnetic controlled cortical impact.

Emergency department crystalloid resuscitation of 1.5 L or more is associated with increased mortality in elderly and nonelderly trauma patients.

Background: Recent evidence suggests a survival advantage in trauma patients who receive controlled or hypotensive resuscitation volumes. This study examines the threshold crystalloid volume that is an independent risk factor for mortality after trauma.

Methods: This study analyzed prospectively collected data from a Level I Trauma Center between January 2000 and December 2008.