[What are the crucial factors affecting the time to admission of patients with suspected stroke to the emergency department?].

Objective: To analyse the factors influencing the time of admission of patients presenting an acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) to the emergency department.

Patients And Methods: Between May 2006 and July 2007, all patients with suspected stroke admitted to the emergency department were included. Patients' characteristics and the nature and timing of the events following symptom detection were recorded in the emergency department.

Meningitis in adult patients with a negative direct cerebrospinal fluid examination: value of cytochemical markers for differential diagnosis.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to determine the ability of various parameters commonly used for the diagnosis of acute meningitis to differentiate between bacterial and viral meningitis, in adult patients with a negative direct cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination.

Methods: This was a prospective study, started in 1997, including all patients admitted to the emergency unit with acute meningitis and a negative direct CSF examination. Serum and CSF samples were taken immediately on admission.