Development and validation of a model to predict the need for emergency front-of-neck airway procedures in trauma patients

The present study aimed to develop and validate a model for predicting the need for emergency front-of neck airway (eFONA) procedures among trauma patients. This was a multicentre retrospective cohort study using data from the Japan Trauma Data Bank between January 2004 and December 2017. Only adult trauma patients were included. The cohort was divided into development and validation cohorts. A simple scoring system was developed to predict the necessity for emergency front-of neck airway procedures in the development cohort using a logistic regression model. The external validity and diagnostic ability of the scoring system was assessed in the validation cohort. In total, 198,182 out of 294,274 patients were included; emergency front-of-neck airway occurred in 467 patients (0.24%) they were divided into development (n = 100,120 with 0.22% undergoing emergency front-of neck airway) and validation (n = 98,062 with 0.25% undergoing emergency front-of neck airway) cohorts. The 'eFONA' prediction scoring system was developed in the development cohort, with a score of +1 for each of the following: Eye opening (no eye opening in response to any stimuli); Fall from height or motor bike; Oral-maxillofacial injury; Neck tracheal injury; and Airway management by paramedics. In the validation cohort, the C-statistic of the scoring system was 0.820. Setting the cut-off value at one for rule-out, the sensitivity and negative likelihood ratios were 0.86 and 0.22, respectively. Setting the cut-off value at two for rule-in, the specificity and positive likelihood ratios were 0.91 and 6.6, respectively. The present scoring system may assist in predicting the need for emergency front-of neck airway procedures among the general trauma population.

Analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes using flow cytometry in polymyalgia rheumatica, RS3PE and early rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

Clinical pictures of poly-myalgia rheumatica (PMR) and remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) are often indistinguishable from those of early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To investigate whether there is a difference in immunological aspects among these 3 disorders, we performed a phenotypic analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eleven patients with early RA, 14 with PMR and 11 with RS3PE were enrolled in this study. After separation of mononuclear cells from peripheral blood using the Ficoll-Hypaque method, surface markers and intracellular cytokines of lymphocytes were analyzed by 2- or 3-color flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Both PMR and RS3PE showed a significant decrease in CD8⁺CD25⁺ cells (p<0.05), and significant increases in CD4⁺IFN-gamma⁺IL-4- (p<0.05), CD8⁺IFN-gamma⁺IL-4- (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively) and CD4⁺TNF-alpha⁺ cells (p<0.05) compared with early RA. CD3⁺CD4⁺ cells were higher in PMR than in RS3PE (p<0.01), but there were no significant differences in any other phenotypes between these disorders.

CONCLUSION

A decrease in activated cytotoxic/suppressor T cells and increases in circulating Th1 and Tc1 cells may be common characteristics of PMR and RS3PE in comparison with early RA. Both disorders are clearly different from early RA, and probably belong to the same disease entity with regard to phenotypes of peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Speed of back-swimming of Lymnaea

The pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis, can locomote on its back utilizing the surface tension of the water. We have called this form of movement 'back-swimming'. In order to perform this behavior, the snail must flip itself over on its back so that its foot is visible from above. Little is known about the mechanism of this back-swimming. As a first step for the elucidation of this mechanism, we measured the speed of back-swimming of Lymnaea at the different times of the day. They back-swam significantly faster in the morning than just before dark. These data are consistent with our earlier findings on circadian-timed activity pattern in Lymnaea. Lymnaea appear to secrete a thin membrane-like substance from their foot that may allow them to back-swim. To confirm the existence of this substance and to examine whether this substance is hydrophobic or hydrophilic, we applied a detergent onto the foot during back-swimming. A single drop of 1% Tween 20 drifted Lymnaea away that were still kept at the water surface. These results suggest that Lymnaea secrete a hydrophobic substance from their foot that floats to the water surface allowing Lymnaea to back-swim.