Effects of aging and risk-taking behaviors on fatal injuries among old motorcyclists in Taiwan: Evidence from 2011 to 2022.

Background And Objectives: Fatality rates of motor vehicle crashes among the old population have risen, primarily in association with age-related declines in health and functional abilities. Comparatively little research has been conducted to examine the impacts of risk-taking behaviors (such as unhelmeted, unlicensed, and drunk riding) on fatalities among old motorcyclists.

Materials And Methods: This study employed the Taiwan National Traffic Crash Dataset from 2011 to 2022 to investigate fatal injuries among old motorcyclists.

Flanker task assessment of inhibitory control in ICU survivors: Preliminary insights into cognitive impairment.

Background And Purpose: Cognitive assessment tools for ICU survivors often lack sensitivity to detect subtle impairments. This study examines whether combining standard screening instruments with computerized inhibitory control measures enhances post-ICU cognitive evaluation.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study conducted at a university-affiliated hospital, participants included ICU survivors aged ≥ 40 years, functionally independent prior to admission, and alert upon ICU discharge.

Clinical and Imaging Characteristics to Discriminate Between Complicated and Uncomplicated Acute Cholecystitis: A Regression Model and Decision Tree Analysis.

: Acute complicated cholecystitis (ACC) is associated with prolonged hospitalization, increased morbidity, and higher mortality. However, objective imaging-based criteria to guide early clinical decision-making remain limited. This study aimed to develop a predictive scoring system integrating clinical characteristics, laboratory biomarkers, and computed tomography (CT) findings to facilitate the early identification of ACC in the emergency department (ED).

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and stroke risk in patients with diabetes and stroke risk factors: A real-world cohort study.

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) improve the cardiovascular outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, whether this effect extends to stroke prevention in high-risk patients remains unclear.

Aims: This study aims to investigate the effect of SGLT2i in stroke prevention in patients with T2D and concomitant risk factors.

Cortical Vein Opacification Score Predicts Stroke Outcomes after Thrombectomy: A Frequentist and Bayesian Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Good cortical venous outflow has been considered in association with favorable functional outcomes (FFOs) for large vessel occlusion-related stroke patients treated after an intra-arterial endovascular thrombectomy (IA-EVT).

Methods: A diagnostic meta-analysis was performed using the index test of cortical vein opacification score (COVES) on computed tomographic angiography for prediction of 3-month FFOs (reference standard). Literature search for relevant articles was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases from January 1, 2014, to July 8, 2024.

Monocyte distribution width enhances the detection of infection in patients after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Monocyte distribution width (MDW) may serve as an infection marker in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), where infection rates range from 2.4% to 16.6%.

Efficacy of the Basilar Artery on Computed Tomography Angiography Score in Predicting Functional Outcomes after Thrombectomy for Basilar Arterial Occlusion: A Frequentist and Bayesian Meta-Analysis.

Background: The Basilar Artery on Computed Tomography Angiography (BATMAN) score is a 10-point grading system assessing arterial opacification and thrombus burden in the posterior circulation. It predicts outcomes in endovascular thrombectomy, with lower scores reflecting poor opacification.

Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of the BATMAN score in predicting 90-day functional outcomes after thrombectomy.

Diagnostic accuracy of reduced electroencephalography montages for seizure detection: A frequentist and Bayesian meta-analysis.

Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of reduced montage electroencephalography (EEG) for seizure detection and provide evidence-based recommendations.

Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we conducted a diagnostic meta-analysis to assess the sensitivity and specificity of reduced EEG montages in detecting seizure activity. A hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curve (HSROC) model was used to estimate the area under the curve (AUC).

Risk factors for overtaking, rear-end, and door crashes involving bicycles in the United Kingdom: Revisited and reanalysed.

Background And Objective: Relevant research has provided valuable insights into risk factors for bicycle crashes at intersections. However, few studies have focused explicitly on three common types of bicycle crashes on road segments: overtaking, rear-end, and door crashes. This study aims to identify risk factors for overtaking, rear-end, and door crashes that occur on road segments.

Pericholecystic Fat Stranding as a Predictive Factor of Length of Stays of Patients with Acute Cholecystitis: A Novel Scoring Model.

The 2018 Tokyo Guidelines (TG18) are used to classify the severity of acute cholecystitis (AC) but insufficient to predict the length of hospital stay (LOS). For patients with AC, clinical factors and computed tomography features, including our proposed grading system of pericholecystic fat stranding were used for predicting an LOS of ≥7 days in the logistic regression models. Our multivariable model showed age ≥ 65 years (OR: 2.

ABCD2-I Score Predicts Unplanned Emergency Department Revisits within 72 Hours Due to Recurrent Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background: the ABCD2 score is valuable for predicting early stroke recurrence after a transient ischemic attack (TIA), and Doppler ultrasound can aid in expediting stroke triage. The study aimed to investigate whether combining the ABCD2 score with carotid duplex results can enhance the identification of early acute ischemic stroke after TIA.

Methods: we employed a retrospective cohort design for this study, enrolling patients diagnosed with TIA who were discharged from the emergency department (ED).

Early Identification of Sepsis-Induced Acute Kidney Injury by Using Monocyte Distribution Width, Red-Blood-Cell Distribution, and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio.

Sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in patients with severe illness and leads to increased risks of mortality and chronic kidney disease. We investigated the association between monocyte distribution width (MDW), red-blood-cell volume distribution width (RDW), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), sepsis-related organ-failure assessment (SOFA) score, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and other risk factors and sepsis-induced AKI in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED). This retrospective study, spanning 1 January 2020, to 30 November 2020, was conducted at a university-affiliated teaching hospital.

Efficacy and safety of tirofiban in patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with endovascular thrombectomy: A frequentist and Bayesian meta-analysis.

Background: Tirofiban is an antiplatelet treatment approved for acute coronary syndrome, but it has not been rigorously evaluated for efficacy and safety in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) treated with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT).

Methods: Electronic databases were systematically searched for studies conducted from January 1, 2015, to July 31, 2021, that evaluated tirofiban administration for patients with AIS treated with EVT in comparison with control. Risk ratios (RRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for favorable functional outcomes (FFOs), mortality, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH), each 90 days after AIS.

Predictors of 72-h unscheduled return visits with admission in patients presenting to the emergency department with abdominal pain.

Background: Unscheduled return visits (URVs) to the emergency department (ED) constitute a crucial indicator of patient care quality.

Objective: We aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients who visited the ED with abdominal pain and to identify the risk of URVs with admission (URVAs) from URVs without admission (URVNAs).

Methods: This retrospective study included adult patients who visited the ED of Taipei Medical University Hospital because of abdominal pain and revisited in 72 h over a 5-year period (January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2018).

Application of Artificial Neural Network Models to Differentiate Between Complicated and Uncomplicated Acute Appendicitis.

Preoperative prediction of complicated appendicitis is challenging, and many clinical tools are developed to predict complicated appendicitis. This study evaluated whether a supervised learning method can recognize complicated appendicitis in emergency department (ED). Consecutive patients with acute appendicitis presenting to the ED were enrolled and included into training and testing datasets at a ratio of 70:30.

Evaluating the effect of drunk driving on fatal injuries among vulnerable road users in Taiwan: a population-based study.

Background: Most studies have focused on injuries sustained by intoxicated drivers themselves, but few have examined the effect of drunk driving on injury outcomes among VRUs (vulnerable road users) in developing countries. This study aims to evaluate the effect of drunk driving on fatal injuries among VRUs (pedestrians, cyclists, or motorcyclists).

Methods: The data were extracted from the National Taiwan Traffic Crash Dataset from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2019.

Split-hand index for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis: A frequentist and Bayesian meta-analysis.

Objective: Preferential wasting of the thenar muscles, the split-hand sign, may be used for early diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods: Electronic databases were searched for studies assessing the split-hand index (SHI) and the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitudes of abductor pollicis brevis (APB), first dorsal interosseous (FDI), and abductor digiti minimi (ADM). The SHI was obtained by multiplying CMAP amplitudes of APB and FDI and dividing the product by the CMAP amplitude of ADM.

A novel scoring system combining Modified Early Warning Score with biomarkers of monocyte distribution width, white blood cell counts, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio to improve early sepsis prediction in older adults.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate whether combining scoring systems with monocyte distribution width (MDW) improves early sepsis detection in older adults in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: In this prospective observational study, we enrolled older adults aged ≥60 years who presented with confirmed infectious diseases to the ED. Three scoring systems-namely quick sepsis-related organ failure assessment (qSOFA), Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS), and National Early Warning Score (NEWS), and biomarkers including MDW, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and C-reactive protein (CRP), were assessed in the ED.

Monocyte Distribution Width in Children With Systemic Inflammatory Response: Retrospective Cohort Examining Association With Early Sepsis.

Objectives: To investigate the association between increased monocyte distribution width (MDW) and pediatric sepsis in the emergency department (ED).

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: A single academic hospital study.

Fever, Tachypnea, and Monocyte Distribution Width Predicts Length of Stay for Patients with COVID-19: A Pioneer Study.

(1) Background: Our study investigated whether monocyte distribution width (MDW) could be used in emergency department (ED) settings as a predictor of prolonged length of stay (LOS) for patients with COVID-19. (2) Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted; patients presenting to the ED of an academic hospital with confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to obtain the odds ratios (ORs) for predictors of an LOS of >14 days.

Diagnostic test accuracy of pretreatment collateral score in predicting stroke outcomes after intra-arterial endovascular thrombectomy: a meta-analysis in DSA and CTA.

Objectives: This study compared the diagnostic accuracy of pretreatment circulation collateral scoring (CS) system using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and computed tomography angiography (CTA) in predicting favorable functional outcome (FFO) after intra-arterial endovascular thrombectomy (IA-EVT). Subgroup analysis characterizing scoring systems within each category was additionally conducted.

Materials And Methods: We performed a diagnostic meta-analysis to assess the sensitivity and specificity of each CS system by using DSA and CTA, respectively.

Periappendiceal fat-stranding models for discriminating between complicated and uncomplicated acute appendicitis: a diagnostic and validation study.

Background: Recent studies have reported promising outcomes of non-operative treatment for uncomplicated appendicitis; however, the preoperative prediction of complicated appendicitis is challenging. We developed models by incorporating fat stranding (FS), which is commonly observed in perforated appendicitis.

Material And Methods: We reviewed the data of 402 consecutive patients with confirmed acute appendicitis from our prospective registry.

Pediatric Traffic Injuries on Halloween in the United Kingdom: Prevalence and Injury Severity.

The study results serve as a reminder for parents, children, and drivers to be alert to the danger of traffic crashes on Halloween. The aim of this study was to examine whether Halloween is associated with a higher incidence of traffic injuries and whether traffic injuries sustained on Halloween are more severe than those sustained on other days. The U.

Monocyte Distribution Width, Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio, and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Improves Early Prediction for Sepsis at the Emergency.

(1) Background: Sepsis is a life-threatening condition, and most patients with sepsis first present to the emergency department (ED) where early identification of sepsis is challenging due to the unavailability of an effective diagnostic model. (2) Methods: In this retrospective study, patients aged ≥20 years who presented to the ED of an academic hospital with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) were included. The SIRS, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), and quick SOFA (qSOFA) scores were obtained for all patients.

Effect of Distance to Trauma Centre, Trauma Centre Level, and Trauma Centre Region on Fatal Injuries among Motorcyclists in Taiwan.

Background: Studies have suggested that trauma centre-related risk factors, such as distance to the nearest trauma hospital, are strong predictors of fatal injuries among motorists. Few studies have used a national dataset to study the effect of trauma centre-related risk factors on fatal injuries among motorists and motorcyclists in a country where traffic is dominated by motorcycles. This study investigated the effect of distance from the nearest trauma hospital on fatal injuries from two-vehicle crashes in Taiwan from 2017 to 2019.