Comparison of the New Injury Severity Score and the Injury Severity Score.

Background: The New Injury Severity Score (NISS) was proposed in 1997 to replace the Injury Severity Score (ISS) because it is more sensitive for mortality. We aim to test whether this is true in our patients.

Methods: This study was a retrospective review of data from 6,231 consecutive patients over 3 years in the trauma registry of a Level I trauma center studying outcome, ISS, and NISS.

Follicular neoplasms of the thyroid: predictors of malignancy?

Follicular neoplasms of the thyroid present a therapeutic challenge. Initial limited thyroidectomy may result in some patients requiring completion thyroidectomy for malignancy. In the current study we examined age, gender, race, time from nodule discovery to operation in months, history of radiation exposure, tumor size (cm), and cell type in patients with follicular neoplasms identified at the time of thyroidectomy in two socioeconomically diverse settings from 1993 through 2000 to identify possible factors associated with a greater chance of malignancy.

The use of absorbable mesh in splenic trauma.

Previous reports from this hospital documented a splenic preservation rate of 50% (18/36) in adults after blunt and penetrating trauma. Recently (January through December 1984), use of an absorbable mesh helped to attain a 67% (22/33) salvage rate. The mesh is applied in such a fashion that it acts by tamponade.

Parenteral fat emulsions and immune adherence. The effects of triglycerides on red cell and neutrophil immune adherence in vitro and in vivo.

Parenteral fat emulsions may not only exert nutritional effects but may also affect immune adherence phenomena and red cell morphology. Red cell immune adherence (RCIA) was augmented in vitro by 0.05% to 0.