Non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis: Background, laboratory features, and acute clinical management.

Rhabdomyolysis is a relatively rare condition, but its clinical consequences are frequently dramatic in terms of both morbidity and mortality. Although no consensus has been reached so far about the precise definition of this condition, the term rhabdomyolysis describes a rapid breakdown of striated, or skeletal, muscle. It is hence characterized by the rupture and necrosis of muscle fibers, resulting in release of cell degradation products and intracellular elements within the bloodstream and extracellular space. Notably, the percentage of patients with rhabdomyolysis who develop acute kidney injury, the most dramatic consequence, varies from 13% to over 50% according to both the cause and the clinical and organizational setting where they are diagnosed. Despite direct muscle injury (i.e., traumatic rhabdomyolysis) remains the most common cause, additional causes, frequently overlapping, include hypoxic, physical, chemical or biological factors. The conventional triad of symptoms includes muscle pain, weakness and dark urine. The laboratory diagnosis is essentially based on the measurement of biomarkers of muscle injury, being creatine kinase (CK) the biochemical "gold standard" for diagnosis, and myoglobin the "gold standard" for prognostication, especially in patients with non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis. The essential clinical management in the emergency department is based on a targeted intervention to manage the underlying cause, combined with infusion of fluids and eventually sodium bicarbonate. We will present and discuss in this article the pathophysiological and clinical features of non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis, focusing specifically on Emergency Department (ED) management.

Influence of air temperature variations on incidence of epistaxis.

OBJECTIVE: Epistaxis is the most common ear, nose, and throat emergency observed in the emergency department (ED). An increased frequency of this condition has been observed during cooler months, but the results of available studies are controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the seasonality and association of epistaxis presentations to a large urban ED with variations of air temperature and humidity. METHODS: This study was a retrospective case series. Information on all the patients who presented for epistaxis in the ED of the Academic Hospital of Parma during the years 2003-2012 and ages ≥ 14 years were retrieved from the hospital data base, excluding those attributable to trauma. The chronologic data of all visits were associated with climate data (air temperature and humidity) by univariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Among the 819,596 ED patients seen throughout the observational period, 5404 were admitted for epistaxis. Of these, 5220 were discharged from the ED, whereas 184 (3.4%) needed hospital admission. A strong seasonality of epistaxis was observed, with a peak during winter. A strong negative correlation was also found between the daily number of epistaxes and the mean daily temperature in the whole population as well as in patient subgroups (those undergoing anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy, or those with hypertension, inherited bleeding disorders, liver cirrhosis, or advanced malignancy). A weaker correlation was also found between air humidity and epistaxis but only in certain subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provided a contribution to improve our understanding of the epidemiology of epistaxis and for specific health policies that should also be planned by considering the seasonality of nosebleed.

Emergency physician's perception of cultural and linguistic barriers in immigrant care: results of a multiple-choice questionnaire in a large Italian urban emergency department.

BACKGROUND: A poor communication with immigrants can lead to inappropriate use of healthcare services, greater risk of misdiagnosis, and lower compliance with treatment. As precise information about communication between emergency physicians (EPs) and immigrants is lacking, we analyzed difficulties in communicating with immigrants in the emergency department (ED) and their possible associations with demographic data, geographical origin and clinical characteristics. METHODS: In an ED with approximately 85 000 visits per year, a multiple-choice questionnaire was given to the EPs 4 months after discharge of each immigrant in 2011. RESULTS: Linguistic comprehension was optimal or partial in the majority of patients. Significant barriers were noted in nearly one fourth of patients, for only half of them compatriots who were able to translate. Linguistic barriers were mainly found in older and sicker patients; they were also frequently seen in patients coming from western Africa and southern Europe. Non-linguistic barriers were perceived by EPs in a minority of patients, more frequently in the elderly and frequent attenders. Factors independently associated with a poor final comprehension led to linguistic barriers, non-linguistic obstacles, the absence of intermediaries, and the presence of patient's fear and hostility. The latter probably is a consequence, not the cause, of a poor comprehension. CONCLUSION: Linguistic and non-linguistic barriers, although quite infrequent, are the main factors that compromise communication with immigrants in the ED, with negative effects especially on elderly and more seriously ill patients as well as on physician satisfaction and appropriateness in using services.

Quality and safety issues of direct oral anticoagulants in the emergency department.

The direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are increasingly used in patients with atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism. The decision making of clinicians and especially emergency physicians for the appropriate management of patients taking DOACs entails a thorough understanding of pharmacologic profile, practical guidance on their usage, and management of bleeding and/or thrombotic events. The available evidence suggests that the bleeding complications observed in patients taking DOACs are less frequent and potentially less severe than those in patients taking vitamin K antagonists or heparins. This should be regarded as an advantage for emergency physicians, since it would decrease the admission rate of anticoagulated patients and probably require a less aggressive treatment in the emergency department (ED). The greatest challenge of DOACs is so far represented by the lack of clinically usable antidotes, since these (i.e., idarucizumab, andexanet alfa, and aripazine) are in different phases of development. A second major concern is the current lack of consensus about laboratory monitoring for these drugs. Although there is widespread perception that patients on DOACs do not require dose adjustment based on laboratory testing, in some selected clinical situations, laboratory testing may be taken into consideration in the ED. The type of laboratory diagnostics needed for emergency management should hence include tests that are promptly available, affordable to all stat laboratories, and cost effective. The aim of this article is to provide a personal overview on quality and safety issues of DOACs with an ED perspective.

Emergency physician's perception of cultural and linguistic barriers in immigrant care: results of a multiple-choice questionnaire in a large Italian urban emergency department / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

@#BACKGROUND: A poor communication with immigrants can lead to inappropriate use of healthcare services, greater risk of misdiagnosis, and lower compliance with treatment. As precise information about communication between emergency physicians (EPs) and immigrants is lacking, we analyzed difficulties in communicating with immigrants in the emergency department (ED) and their possible associations with demographic data, geographical origin and clinical characteristics. METHODS: In an ED with approximately 85000 visits per year, a multiple-choice questionnaire was given to the EPs 4 months after discharge of each immigrant in 2011. RESULTS: Linguistic comprehension was optimal or partial in the majority of patients. Significant barriers were noted in nearly one fourth of patients, for only half of them compatriots who were able to translate. Linguistic barriers were mainly found in older and sicker patients; they were also frequently seen in patients coming from western Africa and southern Europe. Non-linguistic barriers were perceived by EPs in a minority of patients, more frequently in the elderly and frequent attenders. Factors independently associated with a poor final comprehension led to linguistic barriers, non-linguistic obstacles, the absence of intermediaries, and the presence of patient's fear and hostility. The latter probably is a consequence, not the cause, of a poor comprehension. CONCLUSION: Linguistic and non-linguistic barriers, although quite infrequent, are the main factors that compromise communication with immigrants in the ED, with negative effects especially on elderly and more seriously ill patients as well as on physician satisfaction and appropriateness in using services.

The mean platelet volume is decreased in patients with mild head trauma and brain injury.

We planned a prospective study to assess platelet number and size in patients with or without brain injury after mild head trauma (MHT). Platelet count and mean platelet volume (MPV) were assessed in consecutive patients admitted to the emergency department with isolate MHT, as well as in healthy blood donors who served as controls. The study population consisted in 54 patients with MHT, 13 of whom (24%) with intracranial lesions suggestive for brain injury, and 339 healthy blood donors. The value of platelet count was significantly lower in patients with MHT and positive computerized tomography than in healthy controls (P = 0.014). The vales of MPV progressively decreased from healthy controls (11.1 fl) to patients with MHT and negative computerized tomography (9.8 fl; P < 0.001), and further to patients with MHT and positive computerized tomography (8.6 fl; P < 0.001). The MPV was significantly lower in patients with MHT and positive computerized tomography than in those with negative computerized tomography (P = 0.002). As compared with healthy controls, the frequency of decreased MPV values was 10-fold and 17-fold higher in MTH patients with negative and positive computerized tomography, respectively. The MPV exhibited an area under the curve of 0.74 (95% CI, 0.58 to 0.89; P < 0.001) for differentiating MHT patients with positive computerized tomography from those with negative computerized tomography. MHT patients display a larger prevalence of small and hyporeactive platelets. This observation provides a reliable basis for planning further studies to establish whether MPV may be useful for diagnostic evaluation of MHT in the emergency department.

Serum levels of protein S100B predict intracranial lesions in mild head injury.

OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to assess whether serum S100B levels at emergency department admission can be used to omit unnecessary computed tomography (CT) in patients with minor head injury (MHI). DESIGN AND METHODS: Sixty consecutive patients with recent MHI were included in this study. Serum S100B measurement and CT scanning were performed in all patients within 3h from head injury. RESULTS: A positive CT scan was present in 20 out of 60 subjects. Significantly higher values of protein S100B were found in CT positive than in CT negative patients (1.35 versus 0.48 µg/L; p<0.001). The area under the ROC curve for protein S100B was highly significant (AUC 0.80; p<0.001) and a S100B cut-off value of 0.38 µg/L displayed 100% sensitivity and 58% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Serum S100-B levels might allow to omit unnecessary CT in patients with pure MHI, thus reducing radiation exposure and saving healthcare resources.

Association of plasma selenium concentrations with total IGF-1 among older community-dwelling adults: the InCHIANTI study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) stimulates cell proliferation and inhibits cell apoptosis. Recent studies underline its importance as anabolic hormone and nutritional marker in older individuals. IGF-1 synthesis and bioactivity are modulated by nutritional factors including selenium intake. However, whether circulating IGF-1 levels are positively influenced by plasma selenium, one of the most important human antioxidants, is still unknown. METHODS: Selenium and total IGF-1 were measured in 951 men and women ≥ 65 years from the InCHIANTI study, Tuscany, Italy. RESULTS: Means (SD) of plasma selenium and total IGF-1 were 0.95 (0.15) µmol/L and 113.4 (31.2)ng/mL, respectively. After adjustment for age and sex, selenium levels were positively associated with total IGF-1 (ß±SE: 43.76±11.2, p=0.0001). After further adjustment for total energy and alcohol intake, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), congestive heart failure, selenium remained significantly associated with IGF-1 (ß±SE: 36.7±12.2, p=0.003). The association was still significant when IL-6 was introduced in the model (ß±SE: 40.1±12.0, p=0.0008). CONCLUSIONS: We found an independent, positive and significant association between selenium and IGF-1 serum levels in community dwelling older adults.

The poor outcome of ischemic stroke in very old people: a cohort study of its determinants.

OBJECTIVES: To assess how much of the excess risk of poor outcome from stroke in people aged 80 and older aging per se explains, independent of other prognostic determinants. DESIGN: Cohort, observational. SETTING: University hospital. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand five hundred fifty-five patients with first-ever ischemic stroke consecutively referred to an in-hospital Clinical Pathway program were studied. MEASUREMENTS: The relationship between age and 1-month outcome (death, disability (modified Rankin Scale 3-5), and poor outcome (modified Rankin Scale 3-6)) was assessed, with adjustment for several prognostic factors. RESULTS: Six hundred twelve patients aged 80 and older showed worse outcome after 1 month than those who were younger, in terms of mortality (19% vs 5%, hazard ratio (HR)=3.85, 95% confidence interval (CI)=2.8-5.4) and disability (51% vs 33%, odds ratio (OR)=3.16, 95% CI=2.5-4.0), although in multivariate models, the adjusted HR for mortality decreased to 1.47 (95% CI=1.0-2.16) and the ORs for disability and poor outcome decreased to 1.76 (95% CI=1.32-2.3.) and 1.83 (95% CI=137-2.43), respectively. Stroke severity, the occurrence of at least one medical complication, and premorbid disability explained most of the risk excess in the oldest-old. CONCLUSION: Stroke outcome is definitely worse in very old people, and most of the excess risk of death and disability is attributable to the higher occurrences of the most-severe clinical stroke syndromes and of medical complications in the acute phase. These represent potential targets for preventive and therapeutical strategies specifically for elderly people.