CJEM
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The HEART score is a clinical decision tool that stratifies patients into categories of low, moderate, and high-risk of major adverse cardiac events in the emergency department (ED) but cannot identify underlying cardiovascular disease in patients without prior history. The presence of atherosclerosis can easily be detected at the bedside using carotid ultrasound. Plaque quantification is well established, and plaque composition can be assessed using ultrasound grayscale pixel distribution analysis. This study aimed to determine whether carotid plaque burden and/or composition correlated with risk of events and could improve the sensitivity of the HEART score in risk stratifying ED patients with chest pain. ⋯ Plaque burden with advanced composition features (fibrous and calcium) was associated with increased HEART score. Integrating plaque assessment into the HEART score identified subclinical atherosclerosis in moderate-risk patients.
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Editorial Comment
Trauma-induced coagulopathy, could cryoprecipitates improve outcomes?
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Meta Analysis
Anti-inflammatories as adjunct treatment for cellulitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Existing guideline recommendations suggest considering corticosteroids for adjunct treatment of cellulitis, but this is based on a single trial with low certainty of evidence. The objective was to determine if anti-inflammatory medication (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], corticosteroids) as adjunct cellulitis treatment improves clinical response and cure. ⋯ Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/vkxae?view_only=fb4f8ca438a048cb9ca83c5f47fd4d81 .