Search

This study evaluated automated machine learning (AutoML) in classifying the presence or absence of hemoperitoneum in ultrasonography (USG) images of Morrison's pouch. In this multicenter, retrospective study, 864 trauma patients from trauma and emergency medical centers in South Korea were included. In all, 2200 USG images (1100 hemoperitoneum and 1100 normal) were collected. Of these, 1800 images were used for training and 200 were used for the internal validation of AutoML. External validation was performed using 100 hemoperitoneum images and 100 normal images collected separately from a trauma center that were not included in the training and internal validation sets. Google's open-source AutoML was used to train the algorithm in classifying hemoperitoneum in USG images, followed by internal and external validation. In the internal validation, the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve were 95%, 99%, and 0.97, respectively. In the external validation, the sensitivity, specificity, and AUROC were 94%, 99%, and 0.97, respectively. The performances of AutoML in the internal and external validation were not statistically different (p = 0.78). A publicly available, general-purpose AutoML can accurately classify the presence or absence of hemoperitoneum in USG images of the Morrison's pouch of real-world trauma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translational cognitive neuroscience of dementia involves mainly two areas: the validation of newly developed dementia animal models and the preclinical assessment of novel drug candidates in such model animals. To validate new animal models, a multidomain panel (battery) approach is essential in that dementia is, by definition, not merely a memory disorder but rather a multidomain cognitive/behavior disorder: animal modeling with a certain type of dementia would develop cognitive impairments in multiple (two at minimum) domains in a specific order according to unique spreading patterns of its neuropathology. In new drug development, the availability of highly sensitive tools assessing animal cognition is crucial to the detection of cognitive decline at the earliest stage of the disease, which may be an optimal time point to test a drug candidate. Using interspecies translatable (analogous) cognitive tasks would also be necessary to successfully predict the efficacy of drug candidates in subsequent clinical trials. Currently, this translational prediction is seriously limited given discrepancies in behavioral assessment methods between animals and humans in the preclinical and clinical trials, respectively. Since neurodegenerative diseases are often accompanied by not only cognitive but also affective and movement disorders, simultaneous assessment of task‐relevant locomotor behavior and motivation is also important to rule out the effects of potential confounders. The touchscreen operant platform may satisfy these needs by offering several advantages over conventional methodology. In this review, we discuss the touchscreen operant chamber system and highlight some of its qualities as a promising and desirable tool for translational research of dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injuries caused by mobile machinery or special purpose vehicles (SPVs) can lead to high socio-medical cost and fatality. In this descriptive study, we compared the epidemiology and injury profile of injured patients involved in SPVs-related incidents. We analyzed a nationwide database of SPV-related injured patients between January 2011 and December 2016. Injured patients were classified into three groups: pedestrian, motor vehicle occupant (MVO), and SPV operator groups. Of 1,419 cases, the highest number of SPV-related injured patients were found in the age group 40–59 years (671 cases, 47.3%) and at transport area (771 cases, 54.3%). The injury was most severe in the SPV operator group. The lower extremities were the most common fracture site, and intrathoracic injury was the most common visceral regions for SPV-related injured patients. SPV operator could lead to fatal intrathoracic injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A suture line placed with the same direction as the relaxed skin tension line leads to good healing, but a suture line with over 30 degrees of angle from the relaxed skin tension line leads to longer healing time and more prominent scarring. W-plasty is widely used to change the direction of the scar or to divide it into several split scars. In this study, we applied W-plasty to patients with facial lacerations in the emergency department.Methods: From June 2012 to December 2014, 35 patients underwent simple repair or W-plasty for facial lacerations. Patients in the simple repair group underwent resection following a thermal margin, and the W-plasty group was resected within a pre-designed margin of W-shaped laceration. We assessed prognosis using the Stony Brook Scar Evaluation Scale (SBSES) after 10 days (short-term) and six months (long-term), respectively, following suture removal.Results: Among 35 patients, 15 (42.9%) underwent simple debridement and 20 (57.1%) underwent W-plasty. In the W-plasty group, there was no difference between short-term and long-term follow-up showing high SBSES, but in the simple debridement group, long-term follow-up SBSES significantly decreased. W-plasty SBSES was higher than simple debridement at short-term as well as long-term follow-up.Conclusion: We experienced good results of direct W-plasty application at six-month long-term follow-up. Therefore, W-plasty application is more effective in reducing scar appearance than a simple debridement method for facial laceration patients with an angle of 30 degrees or more to the relaxed skin tension line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a rapidly developing technology that has the potential to revolutionize emergency and critical care medicine. The use of POCUS can improve patient care by providing real-time clinical information. However, appropriate usage and proper training are crucial to ensure patient safety and reliability. This article discusses the various applications of POCUS in emergency and critical care medicine, the importance of training and education, and the future of POCUS in medicine.