Head positioning in suspected patients with acute stroke from prehospital to emergency department settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: This study aimed to clarify whether the lying-flat position from prehospital to emergency department settings more effectively improves neurological outcomes of patients suspected with acute stroke over the sitting-up position.

Methods: We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Igaku Chuo Zasshi for published randomized controlled trials until September 2019. The study population included patients suspected with acute stroke from prehospital to emergency department settings.

Clinical characteristics of non-convulsive status epilepticus diagnosed by simplified continuous electroencephalogram monitoring at an emergency intensive care unit.

Aim: The present study aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics of non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) in patients with altered mental status (AMS).

Methods: This single-center retrospective study comprised 149 patients who were hospitalized between March 1, 2015 and September 30, 2015 at the emergency intensive care unit (ICU) of the Kagawa University Hospital (Kagawa, Japan). The primary outcome was NCSE incidence.

A national survey examining recognition, demand for antivenom, and overall level of preparedness for redback spider bites in Japan.

Aim: Redback spiders are rapidly becoming a nationwide problem in Japan. The domestic production of antivenom for redback spider bites has been started because of extremely low supply. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of emergency physicians to recognize redback spider bites and to examine the demand for antivenom and identify the ideal choice for storage.

Potentially fatal coagulopathy secondary to yamakagashi () bites that completely recovered with antivenom treatment.

Case: A healthy 40-year-old man was admitted with severe coagulopathy that developed after bites. On admission, he showed significantly elevated levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complex (60 ng/mL), plasmin-alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor complex (22.3 μg/mL), and fibrinogen degradation products (592 μg/mL).