Brain Study Suggests a Link Between CTE and Football—Even Among Youths Key point: A high proportion of deceased players of American football showed pathological evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, suggesting that CTE may be related to prior participation in football. Citation: Mez J, Daneshvar DH, Kiernan PT, et al. Clinicopathological evaluation of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in players of American football. JAMA. 2017;318(4):360–370. This widely referenced JAMA study presents a convenience sample of 202 deceased players of …
Read MoreAbstracts in Urgent Care October 2017
Validating a Quantitative EEG-Based Brain Function Index Key point: A novel EEG-based point of care, handheld, and noninvasive head injury assessment device, utilizing an index based on EEG measures reflective of concussion, was demonstrated to provide a quantitative index of brain function impairment in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Citation: Hanley D, Prichep LS, Badjatia N, et al. A brain electrical activity (EEG) based biomarker of functional impairment in traumatic head injury: a multisite validation …
Read MoreAbstracts in Urgent Care- September 2017
Finding New Pathways that Protect Head Injury Patients Key point: Using an EEG-based biomarker in adult patients has potential benefit. Citation: Hanley D, Prichep LS, Bazarian J, et al. Emergency department triage of traumatic head injury using a brain electrical activity biomarker: a multisite prospective observational validation trial. Acad Emerg Med. 2017;24(5):617-627. Prior studies estimate that traumatic head injury (TBI) accounts for over 2.5 million ED visits annually in the U.S., also revealing that ED …
Read MoreAbstracts in Urgent Care – July 2017
Tracking Antibiotic Prescriptions for Nonbacterial Acute URI Key point: Patients were more likely to receive prescriptions from mid- or late-career physicians and from those with higher daily patient volumes. Citation: Silverman M, et al. Antibiotic prescribing for nonbacterial acute respiratory infections in elderly persons. Ann Intern Med. [Epub ahead of print May 9, 2017] This retrospective analysis of linked administrative health care data was drawn from 8,990 primary care physicians and 185,014 patients who presented …
Read MoreAbstracts in Urgent Care – June 2017
New Data Measure Risks with Oral Corticosteroids Key point: Remember—all medications have risks! Citation: Waljee AK, Rogers MA, Lin P, et al. Short term use of oral corticosteroids and related harms among adults in the United States: population based cohort study. BMJ. 2017;357:j1415. This cohort study looks at patients with short-term steroid use (<30 days) and potential complications at 30 and 90 days out. Endpoints included fracture, sepsis, and blood clot. This study included 1.5 …
Read MoreAbstracts in Urgent Care – May 2017
Consider Vitamin D Supplementation for Patients Prone to URIs Key point: Vitamin D supplementation was both safe and protective against acute respiratory tract infection. Citation: Martineau AR, Jolliffe DA, Hooper RL, et al. Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory tract infections: systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data. BMJ. 2017;356:i6583. An ounce of prevention would definitely be a good idea when it comes to upper respiratory infection. With the currently limited treatments for …
Read MoreAbstracts in Urgent Care – April 2017
Lessons from Recent Terrorist Attacks Key point: Investment, integration, standardization, and focus on translating military knowledge. Citation: Goralnick E, Van Trimpont F, Carli P. Preparing for the next terrorism attack: lessons from Paris, Brussels, and Boston. JAMA Surg. 2017 Jan 25. [Epub ahead of print] This viewpoint article in JAMA Surgery sheds light on the need for a more global concerted effort to gather and share lessons from recent terrorist attacks such as those that …
Read MoreAbstracts in Urgent Care March 2017
Clindamycin Reduces Resistance to Group A Strep Key point: Another use for clindamycin. Citation: Andreoni F, Zurcher C, Tamutzer A, et al. Clindamycin affects group A streptococcus virulence factors and improves clinical outcome. J Infect Dis. 2017;215(2):269-277. Necrotizing fasciitis is a life-threatening infection not frequently seen in the urgent care center, though it does occur. This article from the Infectious Diseases Society of America discusses the importance of adding clindamycin to the treatment regimen. No …
Read MoreAbstracts in Urgent Care February 2017
Earlier Return to Activities May Benefit Concussed Children Key point: Another (possibly surprising) view on rest after concussion. Citation: Grool AM, Aglipay M, Momoli F. Association between early participation in physical activity following acute concussion and persistent postconcussive symptoms in children and adolescents. JAMA. 2016;316(23):2504-2514. In this prospective, multicenter cohort study, approximately 2,400 children aged 5-18 years with acute concussion diagnosed at nine emergency departments across Canada were evaluated for persistent postconcussive symptoms (PPCS). Each …
Read MoreAbstracts in Urgent Care – January 2017
How Much Time with the Physician is “Enough” Time? Key point: Length of time with a provider may not be related to patient experience. Citation: Elmore N, Burt J, Abel G, et al. Investigating the relationship between consultation length and patient experience: a cross-sectional study in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 2016;66(653):e896-e903. This study documented the length of stay for 529 patients who were seen by a primary care physician. Patients were then asked to fill out a survey about …
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