Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase Levels: The Grim Reaper Sign in Acute Pancreatitis?

Background And Aims: Acute pancreatitis (AP) frequently presents in emergency departments and poses challenges in predicting severity and mortality. Established scoring systems like Ranson criteria, Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE) II, and Bedside Index of Severity in Acute Pancreatitis (BISAP) have varying effectiveness. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), an enzyme released during tissue damage, shows promise as a marker for organ injury in AP.

Assessment of Contributing Risk Factors Leading to Heart Failure in Patients Who Are Methamphetamine Users.

Background: Methamphetamine abuse is a public health problem across the world, and the cardiovascular system experiences a significant effect on the myocardium over time. Methamphetamine is a common cause of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The prevalence and risk factors for HFpEF and HFrEF in this patient population remain unclear.

Revolutionizing Cardiology: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Echocardiography.

Artificial intelligence (AI) in echocardiography represents a transformative advancement in cardiology, addressing longstanding challenges in cardiac diagnostics. Echocardiography has traditionally been limited by operator-dependent variability and subjective interpretation, which impact diagnostic reliability. This study evaluates the role of AI, particularly machine learning (ML), in enhancing the accuracy and consistency of echocardiographic image analysis and its potential to complement clinical expertise.

Development of the PRECIOUS Short-Form (PRECIOUS-SF) quality of care measure for children with serious illnesses.

Background: Rising number of children with complex medical conditions necessitate regular healthcare quality evaluation to achieve optimal outcomes. To address the need for a periodic and quick assessment of quality of care in serious childhood illnesses, we developed a short version of previously validated 45-item PaRental Experience with care for Children with serIOUS illnesses (PRECIOUS) measure.

Methodology: PRECIOUS was administered by parents of children living with serious illnesses at two time-points (baseline and two weeks) in an online survey.

Disparities in Trauma Care for Latino Patients: An Analysis by Trauma Center Verification Level.

Introduction Trauma is the leading cause of death for individuals under 45 in the United States (US), with significant disparities in outcomes among minority groups. Latinos, the largest ethnic minority in the US, often face barriers to optimal trauma care that may require additional resources. This study aimed to compare trauma outcomes for Latino patients treated at Level I versus Level II/III trauma centers (TCs).

Trauma Survivors Network: history and evolution of a program empowering survivors and families impacted by traumatic injury.

The Trauma Survivors Network (TSN), a program of the American Trauma Society (ATS), has a unique history spanning decades with a vision to continue expanding and strengthening services to support survivors and families impacted by traumatic injury. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the ATS has adapted TSN services to provide both virtual and in-person services for trauma survivors, increasing equity and inclusion for many survivors to access TSN services for the first time. The recent policy changes in the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma provide an impetus for the TSN to grow and expand services in support of a diverse group of trauma survivors and their loved ones.

Barriers to Healthcare Access and Utilization Among Racial and Ethnic Minorities with Noninfectious Uveitis.

Objective: To investigate barriers to healthcare access and utilization among patients with noninfectious uveitis (NIU) across different racial and ethnic groups.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Subjects: Participants diagnosed with chronic NIU in the nationwide All of Us Research Program.

Decreased Duration of Hospital Stays in Uncomplicated Diverticulitis With Initiation of Enteral Feeds Within 24 Hours.

Diverticulitis is a complication of a mostly benign condition called diverticulosis. Diverticulitis is a common illness that medical staff see in emergency departments and hospital inpatient services. The thought process behind this study was looking at the treatment of other diseases like pancreatitis or other critical illnesses and the data supporting timing of feeds.

A Rare Case of Anti-Caspr2 Autoimmune Encephalitis Associated with a Testicular Mixed Germ Cell Tumor.

Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (PLE) is a poorly understood condition, thought to be caused by the cross-reacting of tumor antibodies with neurons in the brain, resulting in neuropsychiatric sequelae, such as personality and behavioral changes, psychosis, memory loss, and seizures. Anti-contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CASPR2) antibodies can cause PLE in patients with particular tumors, which in most cases can be identified as thymoma, lung cancer, or endometrial cancer. Some case reports show rare instances with other tumors, such as throat or sigmoid carcinoma.

Review of Attributes and Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients with Alcohol Withdrawal.

Background: Alcohol abuse leads to millions of hospital admissions each year in the United States. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is associated with several serious complications, including seizures, delirium tremens, and death. Benzodiazepines have been the mainstay of treatment for hospitalized patients with alcohol withdrawal.

Comparative Effectiveness of Calcium-Channel Blockers, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme/Angiotensin Receptor Blockers and Diuretics on Cardiovascular Events Likelihood in Hypertensive African-American and Non-Hispanic Caucasians: A Retrospective Study Across HCA Healthcare.

Background: Hypertension, a leading global risk factor for mortality and disability, disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities. Our study investigates the association between the type of prior antihypertensive medication use and the likelihood of cardiovascular events (CVE) and assesses whether the patient's race influences this relationship.

Methods: A retrospective study of 14 836 hypertension cases aged ≥ 40 years was conducted using data from HCA Healthcare between 2017 and 2023.

Catheter-directed therapy for pulmonary embolism in pediatrics: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a serious and potentially fatal condition that is relatively rare in the pediatric population. In patients presenting with massive/submassive PE, catheter-directed Therapy (CDT) presents an emerging therapeutic modality by which PE can be managed.

Methods: Electronic databases were systematically searched through May 2024.

Factors Associated with the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Rural Northern Victoria, Australia.

About one-third of Australians use the services of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM); but debate about the role of CAM in public healthcare is vociferous. Despite this, the mechanisms driving CAM healthcare choices are not well understood, especially in rural Australia. From 2016 to 2018, 2,679 persons from the Goulburn Valley, northern Victoria, were surveyed, 28% (755) of whom reporting visiting CAM practitioners.

Global Health Inequities in Electrophysiology Care: A State-of-the-Art Review.

This state-of-the-art review examines disparities in the diagnosis, management, and outcomes of cardiac arrhythmias globally. These arrhythmias include atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachyarrhythmias underlying sudden cardiac death, and bradyarrhythmias associated with sinus node and atrioventricular node disease. Arrhythmias in low- and middle-income countries often result in higher mortality rates due to complex and poorly documented risk factors, lack of clinical expertise among health care personnel, lack of sufficient infrastructure, and challenges in access to care.

Colorectal cancer: local results and significance in Hungary.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) causes substantial morbidity and mortality internationally. In Hungary, the incidence and mortality of CRC are among the world's highest. Fortunately, CRC is a highly preventable disease, since there is a long asymptomatic phase before neoplastic transformation.

The Use of Knives With Versus Without Integrated Water-jet Function During Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy for Patients With Achalasia: A Meta-analysis.

Background: Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a well-established endoscopic treatment for achalasia, utilizing an endoscopic knife for dissection. Recently, new knives with an integrated water-jet (WJ) function have been introduced. This study aims to compare the technical, perioperative, and late postoperative outcomes between WJ knives and conventional (C) knives, which lack the WJ function, through a pairwise meta-analysis of published comparative studies.

Posterior Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy With Versus Without Sparing of the Oblique/Sling Fibers: A Meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: Several studies have hypothesized that sparing the oblique/sling fibers during posterior peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) may reduce the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and reflux esophagitis without compromising the established safety and efficacy of the procedure. This study compares perioperative, postoperative motility-related, and postoperative GERD-related outcomes between posterior oblique/sling fibers-sparing POEM (OFS-POEM) and conventional posterior POEM through a pairwise meta-analysis of comparative studies.

Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines to identify articles directly comparing posterior OFS-POEM with conventional posterior POEM.

Fever in the Trauma Bay: A Marker for Greater Risk of Adverse Outcomes.

Previous work identified a sub-group of trauma patients at risk for bacteremia who presented with signs of infection, including fever. A majority were older adult falls who had early onset bacteremia. Fever in the trauma bay is associated with a greater risk of adverse outcomes and identifies patients who might benefit from early initiation of interventions for sepsis.

Think With Your Gut: A Retrospective Analysis on the Effects of Chronic Gastrointestinal Illness and Psychiatric Comorbidities.

Background: As mental health awareness increases, healthcare professionals must understand the interplay between chronic gastrointestinal (GI) conditions and psychological well-being, particularly regarding healthcare utilization. This study uniquely aggregates various chronic GI disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and eosinophilic esophagitis, to examine their impact on depression and anxiety.

Methods: Utilizing a retrospective observational design, we analyzed data from 34,876 patients admitted to HCA national hospitals from January 2016 to December 2022.