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INTRODUCTION: Acute kidney injury (AKI) can evolve quickly and clinical measures of function often fail to detect AKI at a time when interventions are likely to provide benefit. Identifying early markers of kidney damage has been difficult due to the complex nature of human AKI, in which multiple etiologies exist. The objective of this study was to identify and validate novel biomarkers of AKI. METHODS: We performed two multicenter observational studies in critically ill patients at risk for AKI - discovery and validation. The top two markers from discovery were validated in a second study (Sapphire) and compared to a number of previously described biomarkers. In the discovery phase, we enrolled 522 adults in three distinct cohorts including patients with sepsis, shock, major surgery, and trauma and examined over 300 markers. In the Sapphire validation study, we enrolled 744 adult subjects with critical illness and without evidence of AKI at enrollment; the final analysis cohort was a heterogeneous sample of 728 critically ill patients. The primary endpoint was moderate to severe AKI (KDIGO stage 2 to 3) within 12 hours of sample collection. RESULTS: Moderate to severe AKI occurred in 14% of Sapphire subjects. The two top biomarkers from discovery were validated. Urine insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2), both inducers of G1 cell cycle arrest, a key mechanism implicated in AKI, together demonstrated an AUC of 0.80 (0.76 and 0.79 alone). Urine [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7] was significantly superior to all previously described markers of AKI (P <0.002), none of which achieved an AUC >0.72. Furthermore, [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7] significantly improved risk stratification when added to a nine-variable clinical model when analyzed using Cox proportional hazards model, generalized estimating equation, integrated discrimination improvement or net reclassification improvement. Finally, in sensitivity analyses [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7] remained significant and superior to all other markers regardless of changes in reference creatinine method. CONCLUSIONS: Two novel markers for AKI have been identified and validated in independent multicenter cohorts. Both markers are superior to existing markers, provide additional information over clinical variables and add mechanistic insight into AKI. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01209169.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: To define better the bacteria responsible for infections of dog and cat bites, we conducted a prospective study at 18 emergency departments. To be eligible for enrollment, patients had to meet one of three major criteria for infection of a bite wound (fever, abscess, and lymphangitis) or four of five minor criteria (wound-associated erythema, tenderness at the wound site, swelling at the site, purulent drainage, and leukocytosis). Wound specimens were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria at a research microbiology laboratory and, in some cases, at local hospital laboratories. RESULTS: The infected wounds of 50 patients with dog bites and 57 patients with cat bites yielded a median of 5 bacterial isolates per culture (range, 0 to 16) at the reference laboratory. Significantly more isolates grew at the reference laboratory than at the local laboratories (median, 1; range, 0 to 5; P<0.001). Aerobes and anaerobes were isolated from 56 percent of the wounds, aerobes alone from 36 percent, and anaerobes alone from 1 percent; 7 percent of cultures had no growth. Pasteurella species were the most frequent isolates from both dog bites (50 percent) and cat bites (75 percent). Pasteurella canis was the most common isolate of dog bites, and Past. multocida subspecies multocida and septica were the most common isolates of cat bites. Other common aerobes included streptococci, staphylococci, moraxella, and neisseria. Common anaerobes included fusobacterium, bacteroides, porphyromonas, and prevotella. Isolates not previously identified as human pathogens included Reimerella anatipestifer from two cat bites and Bacteroides tectum, Prevotella heparinolytica, and several porphyromonas species from dog and cat bites. Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was isolated from two cat bites. Patients were most often treated with a combination of a beta-lactam antibiotic and a beta-lactamase inhibitor, which, on the basis of the microbiologic findings, was appropriate therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Infected dog and cat bites have a complex microbiologic mix that usually includes pasteurella species but may also include many other organisms not routinely identified by clinical microbiology laboratories and not previously recognized as bite-wound pathogens.

BACKGROUND: The successful treatment of intraabdominal infection requires a combination of anatomical source control and antibiotics. The appropriate duration of antimicrobial therapy remains unclear. METHODS: We randomly assigned 518 patients with complicated intraabdominal infection and adequate source control to receive antibiotics until 2 days after the resolution of fever, leukocytosis, and ileus, with a maximum of 10 days of therapy (control group), or to receive a fixed course of antibiotics (experimental group) for 4±1 calendar days. The primary outcome was a composite of surgical-site infection, recurrent intraabdominal infection, or death within 30 days after the index source-control procedure, according to treatment group. Secondary outcomes included the duration of therapy and rates of subsequent infections. RESULTS: Surgical-site infection, recurrent intraabdominal infection, or death occurred in 56 of 257 patients in the experimental group (21.8%), as compared with 58 of 260 patients in the control group (22.3%) (absolute difference, -0.5 percentage point; 95% confidence interval [CI], -7.0 to 8.0; P=0.92). The median duration of antibiotic therapy was 4.0 days (interquartile range, 4.0 to 5.0) in the experimental group, as compared with 8.0 days (interquartile range, 5.0 to 10.0) in the control group (absolute difference, -4.0 days; 95% CI, -4.7 to -3.3; P<0.001). No significant between-group differences were found in the individual rates of the components of the primary outcome or in other secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with intraabdominal infections who had undergone an adequate source-control procedure, the outcomes after fixed-duration antibiotic therapy (approximately 4 days) were similar to those after a longer course of antibiotics (approximately 8 days) that extended until after the resolution of physiological abnormalities. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health; STOP-IT ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00657566.).

ABSTRACT Introduction Psychological, interpersonal, and sociocultural factors play a significant role in making one vulnerable to developing a sexual concern, in triggering the onset of a sexual difficulty, and in maintaining sexual dysfunction in the long term. Aim To focus on psychological and interpersonal aspects of sexual functioning in women and men after a critical review of the literature from 2010 to the present. Methods This report is part 1 of 2 of our collaborative work during the 2015 International Consultation on Sexual Medicine for Committee 2. Main Outcome Measures Systematic review of the literature with a focus on publications since 2010. Results Our work as sexual medicine clinicians is essentially transdisciplinary, which involves not only the collaboration of multidisciplinary professionals but also the integration and application of new knowledge and evaluation and subsequent revision of our practices to ensure the highest level of care provided. There is scant literature on gender non-conforming children and adolescents to clarify specific developmental factors that shape the development of gender identity, orientation, and sexuality. Conversely, studies consistently have demonstrated the interdependence of sexual function between partners, with dysfunction in one partner often contributing to problems in sexual functioning and/or sexual satisfaction for the other. We recommend that clinicians explore attachment styles of patients, childhood experiences (including sexual abuse), onset of sexual activity, personality, cognitive schemas, infertility concerns, and sexual expectations. Assessment of depression, anxiety, stress, substance use and post-traumatic stress (and their medical treatments) should be carried out as part of the initial evaluation. Clinicians should attempt to ascertain whether the anxiety and/or depression is a consequence or a cause of the sexual complaint, and treatment should be administered accordingly. Cognitive distraction is a significant contributor to sexual response problems in men and women and is observed more consistently for genital arousal than for subjective arousal. Assessment of physical and mental illnesses that commonly occur in later life should be included as part of the initial evaluation in middle-aged and older persons presenting with sexual complaints. Menopausal status has an independent effect on reported changes in sex life and difficulties with intercourse. There is strong support for the use of psychological treatment for sexual desire and orgasm difficulties in women (but not in men). Combination therapies should be provided to men, whenever possible. Conclusion Overall, research strongly supports the routine clinical investigation of psychological factors, partner-related factors, context, and life stressors. A biopsychosocial model to understand how these factors predispose to sexual dysfunction is recommended.

Mycobacterium leprae causes leprosy. M leprae strains collected worldwide have been genetically clonal, which poorly explains the varying severity and clinical features of the disease. We discovered a new Mycobacterium species from 2 patients who died of diffuse lepromatous leprosy (DLL). The Mycobacterium was purified from heavily infected, freshly frozen autopsy liver tissue followed by DNA extraction in 1 case. Paraffin-embedded skin tissue was used for DNA extraction in another case. Six genes of the organism were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, sequenced on cloning or from amplicons, and analyzed. Significant genetic differences with M leprae were found, including a 2.1% divergence of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene, a highly conserved marker of bacterial evolution, and 6% to 14% mismatches among 5 less conserved genes. Phylogenetic analyses of the genes of 16S rRNA, rpoB, and hsp65 indicated that the 2 most related organisms evolved from a common ancestor that had branched from other mycobacteria. These results and the unique clinicopathologic features of DLL led us to propose Mycobacterium lepromatosis sp nov. This species may account for some of the clinical and geographic variability of leprosy. This finding may have implications for the research and diagnosis of leprosy.

BACKGROUND: Dysbiotic vaginal microbiota have been implicated as contributors to persistent HPV-mediated cervical carcinogenesis and genital inflammation with mechanisms unknown. Given that cancer is a metabolic disease, metabolic profiling of the cervicovaginal microenvironment has the potential to reveal the functional interplay between the host and microbes in HPV persistence and progression to cancer. METHODS: Our study design included HPV-negative/positive controls, women with low-grade and high-grade cervical dysplasia, or cervical cancer (n = 78). Metabolic fingerprints were profiled using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Vaginal microbiota and genital inflammation were analysed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and immunoassays, respectively. We used an integrative bioinformatic pipeline to reveal host and microbe contributions to the metabolome and to comprehensively assess the link between HPV, microbiota, inflammation and cervical disease. FINDINGS: Metabolic analysis yielded 475 metabolites with known identities. Unique metabolic fingerprints discriminated patient groups from healthy controls. Three-hydroxybutyrate, eicosenoate, and oleate/vaccenate discriminated (with excellent capacity) between cancer patients versus the healthy participants. Sphingolipids, plasmalogens, and linoleate positively correlated with genital inflammation. Non-Lactobacillus dominant communities, particularly in high-grade dysplasia, perturbed amino acid and nucleotide metabolisms. Adenosine and cytosine correlated positively with Lactobacillus abundance and negatively with genital inflammation. Glycochenodeoxycholate and carnitine metabolisms connected non-Lactobacillus dominance to genital inflammation. INTERPRETATION: Cervicovaginal metabolic profiles were driven by cancer followed by genital inflammation, HPV infection, and vaginal microbiota. This study provides evidence for metabolite-driven complex host-microbe interactions as hallmarks of cervical cancer with future translational potential. FUND: Flinn Foundation (#1974), Banner Foundation Obstetrics/Gynecology, and NIH NCI (P30-CA023074).

The in vivo imaging probe [11C]-PIB (Pittsburgh Compound B, N-methyl[11C]2-(4'-methylaminophenyl-6-hydroxybenzathiazole) is under evaluation as a key imaging tool in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to date has been assumed to bind with high affinity and specificity to the amyloid structures associated with classical plaques (CPs), one of the pathological hallmarks of the disease. However, no studies have systematically investigated PIB binding to human neuropathological brain specimens at the tracer concentrations achieved during in vivo imaging scans. Using a combination of autoradiography and histochemical techniques, we demonstrate that PIB, in addition to binding CPs clearly delineates diffuse plaques and cerebrovascular amyloid angiopathy (CAA). The interaction of PIB with CAA was not fully displaceable and this may be linked to the apolipoprotein E-epsilon4 allele. PIB was also found to label neurofibrillary tangles, although the overall intensity of this binding was markedly lower than that associated with the amyloid-beta (Abeta) pathology. The data provide a molecular explanation for PIB's limited specificity in diagnosing and monitoring disease progression in AD and instead indicate that the ligand is primarily a non-specific marker of Abeta-peptide related cerebral amyloidosis.

We have shown in the parkinsonism-inducing neurotoxin MPP(+)/MPTP model that alpha-Synuclein (alpha-Syn), a presynaptic protein causal in Parkinson's disease (PD), contributes to hyperphosphorylation of Tau (p-Tau), a protein normally linked to tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we investigated the kinase involved and show that the Tau-specific kinase, glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta), is robustly activated in various MPP(+)/MPTP models of Parkinsonism (SH-SY5Y cotransfected cells, mesencephalic neurons, transgenic mice overexpressing alpha-Syn, and postmortem striatum of PD patients). The activation of GSK-3beta was absolutely dependent on the presence of alpha-Syn, as indexed by the absence of p-GSK-3beta in cells lacking alpha-Syn and in alpha-Syn KO mice. MPP(+) treatment induced translocation and accumulation of p-GSK-3beta in nuclei of SH-SY5Y cells and mesencephalic neurons. Through coimmunoprecipitation (co-IP), we found that alpha-Syn, pSer396/404-Tau, and p-GSK-3beta exist as a heterotrimeric complex in SH-SY5Y cells. GSK-3beta inhibitors (lithium and TDZD-8) protected against MPP(+)-induced events in SH-SY5Y cells, preventing cell death and p-GSK-3beta formation, by reversing increases in alpha-Syn accumulation and p-Tau formation. These data unveil a previously unappreciated role of alpha-Syn in the induction of p-GSK-3beta, and demonstrate the importance of this kinase in the genesis and maintenance of neurodegenerative changes associated with PD.

While high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a well-established risk factor for cervical cancer, there are likely other factors within the local microenvironment that contribute to cervical carcinogenesis. Here we investigated relationships between HPV, vaginal pH, vaginal microbiota (VMB) composition, level of genital immune mediators and severity of cervical neoplasm. We enrolled women with low- and high-grade cervical dysplasia (LGD, HGD), invasive cervical carcinoma (ICC), and healthy controls. HPV16, HPV45, HPV58, and HPV31 were the most prevalent in our cohort with HPV16 and HPV31 genotypes more prevalent in Hispanics. Vaginal pH was associated with ethnicity and severity of cervical neoplasm. Lactobacillus dominance decreased with the severity of cervical neoplasm, which correlated with elevated vaginal pH. Hispanic ethnicity was also associated with decreased Lactobacillus dominance. Furthermore, Sneathia was enriched in all precancerous groups, ICC, abnormal pH and Hispanic origin. Patients with ICC, but not LGD and HGD, exhibited increased genital inflammatory scores and elevated specific immune mediators. Notably, IL-36γ was significantly associated with ICC. Our study revealed local, host immune and microbial signatures associated with cervical carcinogenesis and provides an initial step to understanding the complex interplay between mucosal inflammation, HPV persistence and the VMB.

INTRODUCTION: Pregnancy and childbirth is a special period in a woman's life, which involves significant physical, hormonal, psychological, social, and cultural changes that may influence her own sexuality as well as the health of a couple's sexual relationship. AIM: To comprehensively review the literature on the effects of pregnancy and the postpartum period on a couple's sexual health and well-being. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Evidence from the published literature of the impact of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period on sexual function. METHODS: Medline and PubMed search for relevant publications on the effects of pregnancy and childbirth on sexual health and function, with particular focus on the physical, hormonal, psychological, social, and cultural changes that may occur during the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum period. RESULTS: Despite fears and myths about sexual activity during pregnancy, maintaining a couple's sexual interactions throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period can promote sexual health and well-being and a greater depth of intimacy. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians must seek to engage in an open discussion and provide anticipatory guidance for the couple on expected changes in sexual health as well as promote the design of rigorous, evidence-based studies to further elucidate our understanding of sexual function during pregnancy and the postpartum.

AIMS: This study aimed to highlight the salient sociocultural factors contributing to sexual health and dysfunction and to offer recommendations for culturally sensitive clinical management and research as well for an ethically sound sexual health care, counseling and medical decision-making. BACKGROUND: There are limited data on the impact of sociocultural factors on male and female sexual function as well as on ethical principles to follow when clinical care falls outside of traditional realms of medically indicated interventions. METHODS: This study reviewed the current literature on sociocultural and ethical considerations with regard to male and female sexual dysfunction as well as cultural and cosmetic female and male genital modification procedures. RESULTS: It is recommended that clinicians evaluate their patients and their partners in the context of culture and assess distressing sexual symptoms regardless of whether they are a recognized dysfunction. Both clinicians and researchers should develop culturally sensitive assessment skills and instruments. There are a number of practices with complex ethical issues (eg, female genital cutting, female and male cosmetic genital surgery). Future International Committee of Sexual Medicine meetings should seek to develop guidelines and associated recommendations for a separate, broader chapter on ethics.

BACKGROUND: Surgery is a skill-driven discipline. While other high-stake professions with comparable cognitive and psychomotor skill requirements often use warm-up exercises for achieving better proficiency, the effects of such practice have not been investigated sufficiently in surgical tasks. DESIGN: Subjects performed standardized exercises as a preoperative warm-up, after which the standardized exercises were repeated in a randomized order. In a variation to investigate the generalizability of preoperative warm-up, the experimental group was allowed to warm-up with the standardized exercises, after which a different task (electrocautery simulation) was performed. To investigate the effect of warm-up on fatigue, participants were involved in eight sessions (four before night call, four after night call), after which the tasks were repeated. Results were analyzed using ANOVA to plot differences between warm-up and followup condition. RESULTS: All outcomes measures demonstrated statistically significant improvements after all of the post-warm-up exercises (p < 0.01), and were seen in all groups with differing experience levels. In addition, the simple warm-up exercises led to a significant increase in proficiency in followup electrocautery task for the experimental group when compared with the control group (p < 0.0001). There was also significant improvement in performance of the fatigued group to approximately baseline performance (p < 0.05), although they were not able to reach their optimal potential performance. CONCLUSION: Preoperative warm-up for 15 to 20 minutes with simple surgical exercises leads to a substantial increase in surgical skills proficiency during followup tasks.

PURPOSE: To determine whether thromboembolic risk factor assessment could accurately indicate the pretest probability for pulmonary embolism (PE), and if so, computed tomographic (CT) angiography might be targeted more appropriately than in current usage, resulting in decreased costs and radiation exposure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval was obtained. Electronic medical records of 2003 patients who underwent CT angiography for possible PE during 1(1/2) years (July 2004 to February 2006) were reviewed retrospectively for thromboembolic risk factors. Risk factors that were assessed included immobilization, malignancy, hypercoagulable state, excess estrogen state, a history of venous thromboembolism, age, and sex. Logistic regressions were conducted to test the significance of each risk factor. RESULTS: Overall, CT angiograms were negative for PE in 1806 (90.16%) of 2003 patients. CT angiograms were positive for PE in 197 (9.84%) of 2003 patients; 6.36% were Emergency Department patients, and 13.46% were inpatients. Of the 197 patients with CT angiograms positive for PE, 192 (97.46%) had one or more risk factors, of which age of 65 years or older (69.04%) was the most common. Of the 1806 patients with CT angiograms negative for PE, 520 (28.79%) had no risk factors. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of risk factor assessment in all patients were 97.46% and 99.05%, respectively. All risk factors, except sex, were significant in the multivariate logistic regression (P < .031). CONCLUSION: In the setting of no risk factors, it is extraordinarily unlikely (0.95% chance) to have a CT angiogram positive for PE. This selectivity and triage step should help reduce current costs and radiation exposure to patients.

Emergency medicine (EM) has a scientifically derived and commonly accepted description of the domain of its clinical practice. That document, “The Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine” (EM Model), was developed through the collaboration of six organizations: the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM), the administrative organization for the project, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors (CORD), the Emergency Medicine Residents' Association (EMRA), the Residency Review Committee for Emergency Medicine (RRC-EM), and the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM). Development of the EM Model was based on an extensive practice analysis of the specialty. The practice analysis relied on both empiric data gathered from actual emergency department visits and several expert panels (1Hockberger R.S. LaDuca A. Orr N.A. et al.Creating the model of a clinical practice: the case of emergency medicine.Acad Emerg Med. 2003; 10: 161-168Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar). The resulting product was first published in 2001, and has successfully served as the common source document for all EM organizations (2Core Content Task Force II The Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine.Ann Emerg Med. 2001; 37: 745-770Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (162) Google Scholar, 3Core Content Task Force II The Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine.Acad Emerg Med. 2001; 8: 660-681Crossref PubMed Scopus (38) Google Scholar). One of its strengths is incorporating the reality that EM is a specialty driven by symptoms not diagnoses, requiring simultaneous therapeutic and diagnostic interventions. The task force that developed the EM Model recommended that a new task force, composed of representatives from all six organizations, be formed every 2 years to assess the success of the document in accomplishing its objective of supporting the ongoing development of the specialty of emergency medicine; to consider alterations to the EM Model suggested by the collaborating organizations; and to recommend changes to the six sponsoring organizations. The initial 2-year review occurred in 2003, with representatives from each of the six organizations suggesting changes and reporting how their respective organizations had used the document. The initial 2-year update was published in Annals of Emergency Medicine and Academic Emergency Medicine in 2005 (4Hockberger R.S. Binder L.S. Chisholm C.D. et al.The Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine: a 2-year update.Ann Emerg Med. 2005; 45: 659-674Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (38) Google Scholar, 5Hockberger R.S. Binder L.S. Chisholm C.D. et al.The Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine: a 2-year update.Acad Emerg Med. 2005; 12: 543-558Crossref Google Scholar). Subsequently, a task force met every 2 years to review the EM Model and recommend changes (6Thomas H.A. Binder L.S. Chapman D.M. et al.The 2003 Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine: the 2005 update.Ann Emerg Med. 2006; 48: e1-e17Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (17) Google Scholar, 7Thomas H.A. Binder L.S. Chapman D.M. et al.The 2003 Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine: the 2005 update.Acad Emerg Med. 2006; 13: 1070-1073Crossref PubMed Scopus (22) Google Scholar, 8Thomas H.A. Beeson M.S. Binder L.S. et al.The 2005 Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine: the 2007 update.Acad Emerg Med. 2008; 15: 776-779Crossref PubMed Scopus (28) Google Scholar, 9Thomas H.A. Beeson M.S. Binder L.S. et al.The 2005 Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine: the 2007 update.Ann Emerg Med. 2008; 52: e1-e17Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (22) Google Scholar, 10Perina D.G. Beeson M.S. Char D.M. et al.The 2007 Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine: the 2009 update.Acad Emerg Med. 2011; 18: e8-e26Crossref PubMed Scopus (18) Google Scholar, 11Perina D.G. Beeson M.S. Char D.M. et al.The 2007 Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine: the 2009 update.Ann Emerg Med. 2011; 57: e1-e15Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (20) Google Scholar, 12Perina D.G. Brunett C.P. Caro D.A. et al.The 2011 Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine.Acad Emerg Med. 2012; 19: e19-e40Crossref PubMed Scopus (37) Google Scholar, 13Counselman F.L. Borenstein M.A. Chisholm C.D. et al.The 2013 Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine.Acad Emerg Med. 2014; 21: 574-598Crossref PubMed Scopus (41) Google Scholar). In 2013, a seventh organization, the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM), was added as a collaborating organization. In 2014, the collaborating organizations made the decision to review the EM Model on a 3-year review cycle. This article provides a brief review of the original EM Model, along with the changes to the EM Model as recommended by the 2016 EM Model Review Task Force. Significant changes occurred with the 2016 review, including extensive revision of Category 17, Toxicologic Disorders. A summary of all 2016 changes and an update on current uses of the EM Model by the seven collaborating EM organizations are also included in this article. The EM Model is a three-dimensional description of EM clinical practice. The three dimensions are patient acuity; physician tasks; and a listing of medical knowledge, patient care, and procedural skills. All of these dimensions are interrelated and used concurrently by a physician when providing patient care. The emergency physician's initial approach is determined by the acuity of the patient's presentation. While assessing the patient, the physician completes a series of tasks in collecting information. Through this process, the physician is able to select the possible etiologies of the patient's problem from the listing of medical knowledge, patient care, and procedural skills. Through simultaneous application of all three components, the physician is able to determine the most probable diagnosis and implement a treatment plan for the patient. Hence, the three dimensions of the EM Model are interrelated and applied concurrently in the practice of EM. The three dimensions, as revised in 2016, are included in Table 1, Table 2, Table 3 and Supplementary Table 1.Table 1Matrix of Physician Tasks by Patient AcuityPhysician TasksPatient AcuityCriticalEmergentLower AcuityPrehospital careEmergency stabilizationPerformance of focused history and physical examinationModifying factorsLegal issuesProfessional issuesDiagnostic studiesDiagnosisTherapeutic interventionsPharmacotherapyObservation and reassessmentConsultationTransitions of carePrevention and educationDocumentationMultiple patient careTeam managementMass casualty/disaster managementPatient-centered communication skillsPrognosis Open table in a new tab Table 2Patient Acuity DefinitionsCriticalEmergentLower AcuityPatient presents with symptoms of a life-threatening illness or injury with a high probability of mortality if immediate intervention is not begun to prevent further airway, respiratory, hemodynamic, or neurologic instability.Patient presents with symptoms of an illness or injury that may progress in severity or result in complications with a high probability for morbidity if treatment is not begun quickly.Patient presents with symptoms of an illness or injury that have a low probability of progression to more serious disease or development of complications. Open table in a new tab Table 3Physician Task DefinitionsPhysician TaskDefinitionPrehospital careParticipate actively in prehospital care; provide direct patient care or on- or off-line medical direction or interact with prehospital medical providers; assimilate information from prehospital care into the assessment and management of the patient.Emergency stabilizationConduct primary assessment and take appropriate steps to stabilize and treat patients.Performance of focused history and physical examinationEffectively interpret and evaluate the patient's symptoms and history; identify pertinent risk factors in the patient's history; provide a focused evaluation; interpret the patient's appearance, vital signs and condition; recognize pertinent physical findings; perform techniques required for conducting the examination.Modifying factorsRecognize age, gender, ethnicity, barriers to communication, socioeconomic status, underlying disease, and other factors that may affect patient management.Professional issuesUnderstand and apply principles of professionalism and ethics pertinent to patient management.Legal issuesUnderstand and apply legal concepts pertinent to the practice of emergency medicine.Diagnostic studiesSelect and perform the most appropriate diagnostic studies and interpret the results, eg, electrocardiogram, emergency ultrasound, radiographic and laboratory tests.DiagnosisDevelop a differential diagnosis and establish the most likely diagnoses in light of the history, physical, interventions, and test results.Therapeutic interventionsPerform procedures and nonpharmacologic therapies, and counsel.PharmacotherapySelect, prescribe, and be aware of adverse effects of appropriate pharmaceutical agents based upon relevant considerations such as intended effect, financial considerations, possible adverse effects, patient preferences, institutional policies, and clinical guidelines; and monitor and intervene in the advent of adverse effects in the emergency department.Observation and reassessmentEvaluate and re-evaluate the effectiveness of a patient's treatment or therapy, including addressing complications and potential errors; monitor, observe, manage, and maintain the stability of one or more patients who are at different stages in their work-ups.ConsultationCollaborate with physicians and other professionals to help guide optimal management of patients.Transitions of careArrange for patient admission, discharge (including follow-up plan), observation, or transfer and transitions of care as appropriate, and communicate these arrangements effectively with patients, family, and involved health care team members.Prevention and educationApply epidemiologic information to patients at risk; conduct patient education; select appropriate disease and injury prevention techniques.DocumentationCommunicate patient care information in a concise and appropriate manner that facilitates quality care and coding.Multiple patient carePrioritize and implement the evaluation and management of multiple patients in the emergency department, including handling interruptions and task switching, in order to provide optimal patient care.Team managementCoordinate, educate, or supervise members of the patient management team and utilize appropriate hospital resources.Mass casualty/disaster managementUnderstand and apply the principles of disaster and mass casualty management including preparedness, triage, mitigation, response, and recovery.Patient-centered communication skillsEstablish rapport with and demonstrate empathy toward patients and their families; listen effectively to patients and their families.PrognosisForecast the likely outcome of a medical disease or traumatic condition. Open table in a new tab The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requires each specialty to develop outcomes-based milestones for resident performance within the six general (core) competencies (ie, patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal skills, professionalism, and system-based practice). The six general competencies are an integral part of the practice of EM and are embedded in the EM Model (14Chapman D.M. Hayden S. Sanders A.B. et al.Integrating the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Core Competencies into the Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine.Ann Emerg Med. 2004; 43: 756-759Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (65) Google Scholar, 15Chapman D.M. Hayden S. Sanders A.B. et al.Integrating the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Core Competencies into the Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine.Acad Emerg Med. 2004; 11: 674-685Crossref PubMed Google Scholar). The EM Model is closely aligned with the general competencies, using section headings with similar terminology. The EM Model is designed for use as the core document for the specialty. It provides the foundation for developing medical school and residency curricula, certification examination specifications, continuing education objectives, research agendas, residency program review requirements, and other documents necessary for the definition, skills acquisition, assessment, and practice of the specialty. In conjunction with the EM Model, these six general competencies construct a framework for evaluation of physician performance and curriculum design to further refine and improve the education and training of competent emergency physicians. The six competencies and the EM Model also form the core of ABEM Maintenance of Certification. For further information on this program see ABEM's website, www.abem.org. The 2016 EM Model Review Task Force met to consider changes based on input received from the seven collaborating organizations. Each organization was asked to comment on how it uses the EM Model, identify changes in practice or updated evidence, and to recommend changes in the document that would address any deficiencies. Supplementary Table 2 lists the changes recommended by the 2016 EM Model Review Task Force and accepted by the seven organizations. The AAEM uses the EM Model as a reference document to identify topics for annual conference programming. The ABEM uses the EM Model to define its examination specifications. Each question or structured case used in any ABEM examination is referenced to the EM Model. Every test and examination that ABEM develops is based on a blueprint derived directly from the EM Model. The ACEP uses the EM Model primarily as the basis for its educational activities. In addition, the ACEP Academic Affairs Committee uses the EM Model to align programming with academic educational needs. This information is used to develop a comprehensive list of web-based educational resources that can be incorporated into residency curricula. The integration of the competencies into the EM Model meets the program requirements of the RRC-EM that the six core competencies are included in residency training. The EM Model is a major tool for CORD and EM program faculty to use when integrating the competencies into the training, residency curricula, and evaluation of residents. The EMRA uses the EM Model as a reference document to identify content at risk for testing on the in-training and certification examinations. The SAEM uses the EM Model as a reference document to identify topics and plan programming. In summary, the EM Model is accomplishing the intended purposes for which it was developed. The 2016 review of the EM Model resulted in significant changes and clarifications, including comprehensive review and revision of Category 17, Toxicologic Disorders. Several EM organizations are using the EM Model to support the ongoing development of the specialty of EM. The complete updated 2016 EM Model can be found on the websites of each of the seven collaborating organizations. The 2016 Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine is used with permission of the AAEM, ABEM, ACEP, CORD, EMRA, RRC-EM, and the SAEM (copyright 2017). Download .doc (.29 MB) Help with doc files Supplementary Tables 1 and 2 Regarding the Joint Statement From the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma and the American College of Emergency Physicians Regarding the Clinical Use of Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the AortaJournal of Emergency MedicineVol. 55Issue 2PreviewTrauma remains a leading cause of mortality in the United States (1,2). In 2016, American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma were major stakeholders in the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine report that suggested there are up to 30,000 preventable deaths from trauma annually in the United States, many from uncontrolled hemorrhage (3). As the frontline provider, the emergency physician (EP) must receive extensive training in the care of traumatically injured patients. Full-Text PDF

BACKGROUND: The assessment of jaundice in outpatient neonates is problematic. Visual assessment is inaccurate, and more exact methodologies are cumbersome and/or expensive. Our goal in this study was to assess the accuracy of a technology based on the analysis of digital images of newborns obtained using a smartphone application called BiliCam. METHODS: Paired BiliCam images and total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels were obtained in a diverse sample of newborns (<7 days old) at 7 sites across the United States. By using specialized software, data on color values in the images ("features") were extracted. Machine learning and regression analysis techniques were used to identify features for inclusion in models to predict an estimated bilirubin level for each newborn. The correlation between estimated bilirubin levels and TSB levels was calculated. In addition, the sensitivity and specificity of the estimated bilirubin levels in identifying newborns with high TSB levels were calculated by using 2 recommended decision rules for jaundice screening. RESULTS: Estimated bilirubin levels were calculated and compared with TSB levels in a diverse sample of 530 newborns (20.8% African American, 26.3% Hispanic, and 21.2% Asian American). The overall correlation was 0.91, and correlations among white, African American, Hispanic, and Asian American newborns were 0.92, 0.90, 0.91, and 0.88, respectively. The sensitivities of BiliCam in identifying newborns with high TSB levels were 84.6% and 100%, respectively, by using 2 decision rules; specificities were 75.1% and 76.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: BiliCam provided accurate estimates of TSB values, demonstrating that an inexpensive technology that uses commodity smartphones could be used to effectively screen newborns for jaundice.

Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the vital factor driving cervical carcinogenesis; however, other features of the local cervicovaginal microenvironment (CVM) may play a critical role in development of precancerous cervical dysplasia and progression to invasive cervical carcinoma (ICC). Here we investigated relationships between locally secreted cancer biomarkers and features of the local CVM to better understand the complex interplay between host, virus and vaginal microbiota (VMB). We enrolled women with ICC, high- and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, as well as, HPV-positive and healthy HPV-negative controls. A broad range of cancer biomarkers was present in the local CVM and specifically elevated in ICC patients. The majority of cancer biomarkers were positively correlated to other biomarkers and linked to genital inflammation. Several cancer biomarkers were also negatively correlated to Lactobacillus abundance and positively correlated with abnormal vaginal pH. Finally, a hierarchical clustering analysis of cancer biomarkers and immune mediators revealed three patient clusters, which varied in levels of cancer biomarkers, genital inflammation, vaginal pH and VMB composition. Specific cancer biomarkers discriminated patients with features of the CVM, such as high genital inflammation, elevated vaginal pH and dysbiotic non-Lactobacillus-dominant VMB, that have been associated with HPV persistence, dysplasia and progression to ICC.

Priapism defined as persistent, painful and prolonged penile erection, was previously thought to be associated only with the use of the older, conventional first generation or typical antipsychotic medications as well as some other medications, notably, trazodone. The mechanism of priapism associated with antipsychotics is not clear but is thought to be related to alpha-adrenergic blockage that is mediated by the alpha receptors in the corpora cavernosa of the penis. Atypical antipsychotics, also known as second-generation antipsychotics, owing to their favorable side effect profile, are being prescribed with increasing frequency and are not as frequently considered to cause priapism. Some case reports reporting this side effect with their use, however, are found. Pubmed and Ovid databases were searched to obtain all articles and case reports of antipsychotic drug-induced priapism. Key search words included 'priapism', 'antipsychotics' and 'drug-induced priapism'. References of all identified studies were also reviewed. A total of 50 publications were obtained. Most of the atypical antipsychotics have been reported to cause priapism. These cases have occurred in patients shortly after having been started on the antipsychotic medications as well as in those who have been on them for an extended period of time without modification in dosage, and have also occurred sometimes, with the addition of another antipsychotic, lithium or serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitor. Priapism has been documented with nearly all the atypical antipsychotic medications. It is, however, a rarely reported side effect and therefore, underappreciated. Priapism can cause irreversible erectile dysfunction and is a urologic emergency. Clinicians should monitor patients on these medications for this rare, yet significant side effect. Furthermore, caution must be used when adding new drugs to the regimen and patients should be closely monitored for this side effect. Educating patients about the risk of developing priapism would help increase awareness of the side effect and promote early reporting thereby, decreasing long-term morbidity.

Early excision and autografting are standard care for deeper burns. However, donor sites are a source of significant morbidity. To address this, the ReCell® Autologous Cell Harvesting Device (ReCell) was designed for use at the point-of-care to prepare a noncultured, autologous skin cell suspension (ASCS) capable of epidermal regeneration using minimal donor skin. A prospective study was conducted to evaluate the clinical performance of ReCell vs meshed split-thickness skin grafts (STSG, Control) for the treatment of deep partial-thickness burns. Effectiveness measures were assessed to 1 year for both ASCS and Control treatment sites and donor sites, including the incidence of healing, scarring, and pain. At 4 weeks, 98% of the ASCS-treated sites were healed compared with 100% of the Controls. Pain and assessments of scarring at the treatment sites were reported to be similar between groups. Significant differences were observed between ReCell and Control donor sites. The mean ReCell donor area was approximately 40 times smaller than that of the Control (P < .0001), and after 1 week, significantly more ReCell donor sites were healed than Controls (P = .04). Over the first 16 weeks, patients reported significantly less pain at the ReCell donor sites compared with Controls (P ≤ .05 at each time point). Long-term patients reported higher satisfaction with ReCell donor site outcomes compared with the Controls. This study provides evidence that the treatment of deep partial-thickness burns with ASCS results in comparable healing, with significantly reduced donor site size and pain and improved appearance relative to STSG.

Teamwork training constitutes one of the core approaches for moving healthcare systems toward increased levels of quality and safety, and simulation provides a powerful method of delivering this training, especially for face-paced and dynamic specialty areas such as Emergency Medicine. Team performance measurement and evaluation plays an integral role in ensuring that simulation-based training for teams (SBTT) is systematic and effective. However, this component of SBTT systems is overlooked frequently. This article addresses this gap by providing a review and practical introduction to the process of developing and implementing evaluation systems in SBTT. First, an overview of team performance evaluation is provided. Second, best practices for measuring team performance in simulation are reviewed. Third, some of the prominent measurement tools in the literature are summarized and discussed relative to the best practices. Subsequently, implications of the review are discussed for the practice of training teamwork in Emergency Medicine.

INTRODUCTION: of excised burn. METHODS: A multi-center, prospective, within-subject controlled, randomized, clinical trial was conducted with 30 subjects to evaluate RECELL in combination with a more widely meshed STSG than a pre-defined SOC meshed STSG (RECELL treatment) for the treatment of mixed-depth burns, including full-thickness. Treatment areas were randomized to receive standard meshed STSG (Control treatment) or RECELL treatment, such that each subject had 1 Control and 1 RECELL treatment area. Effectiveness measures were assessed and included complete wound closure, donor skin use, subject satisfaction, and scarring outcomes out to one year following treatment. RESULTS: At 8 weeks, 85% of the Control-treated wounds were healed compared with 92% of the RECELL-treated wounds, establishing the non-inferiority of RECELL treatment for wound healing. Control-treated and RECELL-treated wounds were similar in mean size; however, mean donor skin use was significantly reduced by 32% with the use of RECELL (p<0.001), establishing the superiority of RECELL treatment for reducing donor skin requirements. Secondary effectiveness and safety outcomes were similar between the treatments. CONCLUSIONS: In combination with widely meshed STSG, RECELL is a safe and effective point-of-care treatment for mixed-depth burns without confluent dermis, achieving short- and long-term healing comparable to standard STSG, while significantly decreasing donor skin use.