Isr Med Assoc J
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Comparative Study
A simplified fall-risk assessment tool for patients hospitalized in medical wards.
Falls are a common problem among hospitalized patients, having a significant impact on quality of life and resource utilization. ⋯ Our new simple and easy-to-use fall-risk assessment tool identified most of the fall-prone patients. These findings suggest that this tool may enable us to prevent two-thirds of falls on the medical ward by providing effective fall-prevention facilities to only one-third of the patients.
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The presence of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide autoantibody is highly specific for rheumatoid arthritis. Certain HLA-DR4 (HLA-DRB1*04) alleles, also known as the "shared epitope," are associated with increased susceptibility to RA. In addition, these alleles may also have relevance for disease outcome. Anti-CCP antibody positivity has been associated with the presence of HLA-DR4 alleles in patients with RA. However, there is little information regarding a relationship between quantitative anti-CCP production (serum anti-CCP concentrations) and the shared epitope. ⋯ There is significant association between anti-CCP and RF, as well as between anti-CCP and SE positivity in RA. In addition, the presence of one or two copies of HLA-DRB1*04 alleles has been associated with higher serum anti-CCP antibody levels. Thus, patients carrying HLA-DRB1*04 alleles exhibited an overall tenfold increase in serum anti-CCP antibody levels in comparison to HLA-DRB1*04-negative subjects. Increased anti-CCP production may also be associated with other non-SE HLA-DRB1 genotypes, such as DRB1*13 or DRB1*15. In reports by other investigators, both anti-CCP concentrations and SE positivity were related to more rapid disease progression and unfavorable outcome.
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Non-operative management of blunt splenic trauma is the preferred option in hemodynamically stable patients. ⋯ Admission systolic blood pressure and limited extra-abdominal injury can be used to identify patients with blunt splenic trauma who do not require splenectomy and can be safely monitored outside an ICU environment.
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Clinicians routinely practice in a state of incomplete information--about the patient, and about medical knowledge pertaining to patients' care. Consequently, there is now growing interest in the use of CDSS to bring decision support to the point of care. ⋯ Although the adoption of CDSS has proceeded at a slow pace, there is a widespread recognition that CDSSs are expected to play a crucial role in reducing medical errors and improving the quality and efficacy of health care. This will be facilitated by the gradual maturation of electronic health record systems and the emergence of standard terminologies and messaging standards for the exchange of clinical data.