Relationships of hospitalization outcomes and timing to endoscopy in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding: A nationwide analysis.

Background: The optimal timing of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and the impact of clinico-demographic factors on hospitalization outcomes in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) remains an area of active research.

Aim: To identify independent predictors of outcomes in patients with NVUGIB, with a particular focus on EGD timing, anticoagulation (AC) status, and demographic features.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of adult patients with NVUGIB from 2009 to 2014 was performed using validated ICD-9 codes from the National Inpatient Sample database.

Noninvasive scores for the prediction of esophageal varices and risk stratification in patients with cirrhosis.

The primary purpose of variceal screening in patients with cirrhosis is to detect gastroesophageal varices at high risk of hemorrhage and implement preventative intervention(s). It was previously recommended that all patients with cirrhosis undergo initial and periodic longitudinal variceal screening upper endoscopy. However, there has been growing interest and methods to identify patients with cirrhosis who may not have clinically significant portal hypertension and therefore be unlikely to have varices requiring intervention or benefit from upper endoscopy.

Southern California neuroinvasive West Nile virus case series.

Approximately 80% of individuals infected with West Nile virus (WNV) are asymptomatic, and less than 1% suffer from neuroinvasion that can result in permanent neurological deficits or mortality. Our institution's location in southern California predisposes it to a sizable case volume of neuroinvasive WNV. A 2-year retrospective study was performed at the Olive View-UCLA Medical Center to identify patients with confirmed WNV infection with neuroinvasion.

Clinical presentation and bacteriologic analysis of infected human bites in patients presenting to emergency departments.

Previous studies of infected human bites have been limited by small numbers of patients and suboptimal microbiologic methodology. We conducted a multicenter prospective study of 50 patients with infected human bites. Seventy percent of the patients and assailants were young adult men.

Neurocysticercosis in radiographically imaged seizure patients in U.S. emergency departments.

Neurocysticercosis appears to be on the rise in the United States, based on immigration patterns and published cases series, including reports of domestic acquisition. We used a collaborative network of U.S.

Same admission colon resection with primary anastomosis for acute diverticulitis.

Current standard of care for complicated diverticulitis includes urgent resection with colostomy versus antibiotic treatment, followed by delayed resection with primary anastomosis at a second admission. In certain circumstances, it is possible to perform resection and anastomosis on the same admission for acute diverticulitis. A retrospective review was completed for patients undergoing surgery for diverticulitis from 1991 to 1998.

White blood cell count is a poor predictor of severity of disease in the diagnosis of appendicitis.

The white blood cell (WBC) count is considered to be a useful test in the diagnosis of appendicitis. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical features of patients with normal WBC appendicitis and also to determine whether a higher WBC count correlates with a more advanced stage of appendicitis. Patients with pathologically confirmed appendicitis from January 1989 to December 1994 were included in the study (n = 1919).

Effects of eye and head position on horizontal and vertical smooth pursuit.

Purpose: To identify and explain the effects of eye and head position on smooth pursuit eye movements in normal humans.

Methods: Horizontal and vertical smooth pursuit were measured in different eye-in-orbit positions in normal subjects, using a magnetic search coil technique with sinusoidal and step-ramp stimuli. Pursuit also was tested in different horizontal head-on-trunk positions.