PTX3 was found to be significantly higher in patient with acute appendicitis compared to the control group and the patients with non-specific abdominal pain. PTX3 can be used as an aid in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

No abstract

Objectives:To develop a low-cost biomaterial-covered chest tube simulation model and assess its possible usefulness for developing the chest tube insertion skills among medical interns.Methods:This mannequin-based interventional study was performed in a University hospital setting. We included 63 physicians performing emergency medicine internship at the Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey, between January 2015 and March 2015. A dummy was prepared for training simulation using a display mannequin. Medical interns received instruction concerning pneumothorax and the chest tube procedure. A total of 63 medical interns participating in this interventional study were asked to insert a chest tube in a biomaterial-covered mannequin. A senior trainee scored their performance using a check list and the mean of the total scores was calculated (21 items; total score, 42).Results:The mean procedural score was 40.9 ± 1.3 of a possible 42. The maximum score of 42 was achieved by 39.7% of the medical interns, while another 33.3% achieved a score of 41. Of the participants, 85% succeeded in inserting the tube via an appropriate technique, achieving a score of 40 or more.Conclusion:Our results indicated that this model could be useful for effective training of medical interns for chest tube insertion, which is an important skill in emergency medicine. This biomaterial-covered model is inexpensive and its use can potentially be widened to improve training methods without significant financial demand.

Introduction-Drones can transmit live video and geographic coordinates during the planning stages for search and rescue operations and the operations themselves. There are few simulation studies in which drones provided rescue support. However, the literature does not contain any simulation studies involving the use of drones to locate lost "victims" represented by dummies in rivers. We developed a simulation model to compare the first visual contact times for drone-assisted search techniques (DAST) and classic search techniques (CST).Methods-In this prospective experimental simulation study, we used both DAST and CST to perform a series of river searches for unconscious victims (represented by dummies). We calculated the first visual contact times, total scanned area, scanned area per minute, flight-walking distances, and flight-walking speeds and compared the results between both groups. The data are presented as mean±SD.Results-We performed 20 search and rescue operations, 10 with the CST and 10 with the DAST. The time to reach the victim was 823±177 s using CST and 80±14 s using DAST. The area scanned by unit time was 3091±54 m 2 •min -1 using CST and 22,640±1622 m 2 •min -1 using DAST.Conclusions-The drone-assisted search technique located a simulated victim drifting in a river faster than the classic search technique. The use of drones in search and rescue operations could improve the time to find victims.

No abstract

Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the value of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and PERK in predicting the success of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or post-CPR survival. Materials and Methods Non-traumatic out-of-hospital CA patients were included in this prospective, nested case-control study. Standard CPR and post-resuscitative care were applied. Levels of ER stress markers were measured at presentation and were investigated to determine whether they might constitute a marker predicting return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) or sustained ROSC, and of 24-h, and 1 and 3-month survival. Results Fifty-two out of 99 non-traumatic CA patients were enrolled. ROSC was determined at a level of 25%, sustained ROSC at 23%, 24-h survival at 7%, and 1- and 3-month survival at 4.6%. No difference was determined in terms of ER stress markers between patients with and without ROSC or sustained ROSC. Only PERK levels were higher in surviving patients than non-surviving subjects in terms of 24-h survival (p = 0.01). Otherwise, no stress markers differed between surviving and non-surviving patients at any survival time point. Conclusion ER stress markers are of no value in determining establishment of ROSC or sustained ROSC, success of CPR, or survival. Only PERK levels may be valuable in terms of 24-h survival.

No abstract

No abstract