Personalised risk prediction following emergency department assessment for syncope.

Background: Published risk tools do not provide possible management options for syncope in the emergency department (ED). Using the 30-day observed risk estimates based on the Canadian Syncope Risk Score (CSRS), we developed personalised risk prediction to guide management decisions.

Methods: We pooled previously reported data from two large cohort studies, the CSRS derivation and validation cohorts, that prospectively enrolled adults (≥16 years) with syncope at 11 Canadian EDs between 2010 and 2018.

Creation and implementation of the Ottawa Handbook of Emergency Medicine.

Implication Statement Medical students face multiple academic challenges during their transition to clerkship, including the ability to navigate various educational resources and translate acquired knowledge clinically. The Ottawa Handbook of Emergency Medicine (EM) was created by referencing EM textbooks and relevant literature, followed by a local peer-review process. A website metrics assessment was performed to assess student uptake.

The revised Approved Instructional Resources score: An improved quality evaluation tool for online educational resources.

Background: Free Open-Access Medical education (FOAM) use among residents continues to rise. However, it often lacks quality assurance processes and residents receive little guidance on quality assessment. The Academic Life in Emergency Medicine Approved Instructional Resources tool (AAT) was created for FOAM appraisal by and for expert educators and has demonstrated validity in this context.

Fascial space odontogenic infections: Ultrasonography as an alternative to magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: The introduction of modern diagnostic tools has transformed the field of maxillofacial radiology. Odontogenic infection and fascial space involvement have been evaluated with many diagnostic tools, including ultrasonography (USG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Aim: To explore USG as an alternative model to MRI in the detection of fascial space spread of odontogenic infections.

Evaluation of Midpalatal Suture Ossification Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography: A Digital Radiographic Study.

Background: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging techniques are the recent rage in the field of oral diagnostic imaging modality. It is noninvasive, faster and lacks anatomic superimposition. Earlier maxillary occlusal radiographs were used to assess and evaluate the mid palatal suture, but being a two dimensional imaging modality it could not assess the ossification process which takes place in multiple planes mostly due to curved nature of the palate.

Resident learning during a pandemic: Recommendations for training programs.

Resident education in emergency medicine (EM) relies upon a variety of teaching platforms and mediums, including real-life clinical scenarios, simulation, academic day (lectures, small group sessions), journal clubs, and teaching learners. However, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted teaching and learning, forcing programs to adapt to ensure residents can progress in their training. Suddenly, academic days cannot be held in person, emergency department (ED) volumes are dynamically changing, and the role of residents in ED procedures has been questioned.

CanadiEM: Accessing a Virtual Community of Practice to Create a Canadian National Medical Education Institution.

Background: The rise of free open-access medical education (FOAM) has led to a wide range of online resources in emergency medicine. Canadian physicians have been active contributors to FOAM.

Objectives: We aimed to create a virtual community of practice that would serve as a national platform for collaboration, learning, and knowledge dissemination.

Stem cells in dentistry: A study regarding awareness of stem cells among dental professionals.

Background: Dental stem cell, a type of adult stem cell, exhibits multipotent differentiation capacity and is drawing worldwide attention because of its numerous applications. The advances in applications of dental stem cells seem to be unsurpassed in the near future, for which specialized skills and knowledge in this arena are of prime significance. Hence, there is a need to acquire more knowledge about dental stem cells to obtain maximum benefits from it in the coming years.

Prospective validation of a clinical decision rule to identify patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain who can safely be removed from cardiac monitoring.

Background: Most patients with chest pain in the emergency department are assigned to cardiac monitoring for several hours, blocking access for patients in greater need. We sought to validate a previously derived decision rule for safe removal of patients from cardiac monitoring after initial evaluation in the emergency department.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled adults (age ≥ 18 yr) who presented with chest pain and were assigned to cardiac monitoring at 2 academic emergency departments over 18 months.

Prediction of osteoporosis using dental radiographs and age in females.

Aims And Objectives: To evaluate the role of dental radiograph as a screening tool for diagnosis of osteoporosis in females.

Materials And Methods: In the present study, 50 women between the age group of 40-60 were recruited, and patients with systemic disorder and taking calcium supplements, and women who are not willing for investigation were excluded. Their detailed medical history was obtained and dental radiographs were made, bone mineral density was measured at left radial bone using ultrasound.

Salivary alterations in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients: Salivary glucose could be noninvasive tool for monitoring diabetes mellitus.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an endocrine disease characterized by hyperglycemia, the pathogenic mechanisms by which hyperglycemia arises differ widely. Monitoring people with diabetes involve repeated estimations of plasma glucose either by finger pricks or by intravenous blood sampling. Hence, a noninvasive procedure for glucose measurements would be most precious under the circumstances.

Computer order entry systems in the emergency department significantly reduce the time to medication delivery for high acuity patients.

Background: Computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems are designed to increase safety and improve quality of care; however, their impact on efficiency in the ED has not yet been validated. This study examined the impact of CPOE on process times for medication delivery, laboratory utilization and diagnostic imaging in the early, late and control phases of a regional ED-CPOE implementation.

Setting: Three tertiary care hospitals serving a population in excess of 1 million inhabitants that initiated the same CPOE system during the same 3-week time window.

Dose and duration of nerve growth factor (NGF) administration determine the extent of behavioral recovery following peripheral nerve injury in the rat.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) has been previously shown to support neuron survival and direct neurite outgrowth in vitro, and to enhance axonal regeneration in vivo. However, a systematic analysis of NGF dose and dose duration on behavioral recovery following peripheral nerve injury in rodents has not been previously investigated. Here, we show that NGF promotes a bell shaped dose-response, with an optimal threshold effect occurring at 800 pg/μl.

Collagen nerve conduits promote enhanced axonal regeneration, schwann cell association, and neovascularization compared to silicone conduits.

Peripheral nerve regeneration within guidance conduits involves a critical association between regenerating axons, Schwann cells (SCs), and neovascularization. However, it is currently unknown if there is a greater association between these factors in nonpermeable versus semipermeable nerve guide conduits. We therefore examined this collaboration in both silicone- and collagen-based nerve conduits in both 5- and 10-mm-injury gaps in rat sciatic nerves.