Global and local morphometric differences in recently abstinent methamphetamine-dependent individuals.

Methamphetamine (MA) is associated with behavioral and cognitive deficits that may be related to macrostructural abnormalities. Quantitative anatomical comparisons between controls and methamphetamine-dependent individuals have produced conflicting results. We examined local and global differences in brain structure in 61 abstinent methamphetamine-dependent individuals and 44 controls with voxel-based morphometry and tissue segmentation. We related regional differences in gray matter density and whole brain segmentation volumes to performance on a behavioral measure of impulsivity and group membership using multiple linear regression. Within the MA group, we related cortical and subcortical gray matter density to length of abstinence. Controls had greater density relative to MA in bilateral insula and left middle frontal gyrus. Impulsivity was higher in the MA group and, within all subjects, impulsivity was positively correlated with gray matter density in posterior cingulate cortex and ventral striatum and negatively correlated in left superior frontal gyrus. Length of abstinence from MA was associated with greater amygdalar density. Earlier age of first use of MA (in subjects who initiated use before age 21) was associated with smaller intracranial volume. The findings are consistent with multiple possible mechanisms including neuroadaptations due to addictive behavior, neuroinflammation as well as dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotoxicity.

Air versus ground transport of major trauma patients to a tertiary trauma centre: a province-wide comparison using TRISS analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of adult (aged > 15 yr) blunt trauma patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) = 12 who were transported to a single tertiary trauma centre (TTC) by helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) versus those transported by ground ambulance. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all adult (aged > 15 yr) trauma patients between March 27, 1998 and March 28, 2002 with an ISS score = 12, as identified through the provincial trauma registry. We used the Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) methodology to determine a difference in outcomes between the 2 groups. RESULTS: We identified 823 patients; of these, we excluded 32 (3.9%) penetrating trauma patients. Of the blunt trauma cases (n = 791) 237 (30%) patients were transported by air and 554 were transported by ground (70%). A total of 770 (97.3%) patients were eligible for TRISS analysis. Using the TRISS methodology, the air group had a Z statistic of 2.77, yielding a W score of 6.40. This compared with the ground transport group, whose Z statistic was 1.97 and W score was 2.39. CONCLUSION: The transport of trauma patients with an ISS = 12 by a provincially dedicated rotor wing air medical service was associated with statistically significantly better outcomes than those transported by standard ground ambulance. This is the first large Canadian study to specifically compare the outcome of patients transported by ground with those transported by air.

Emergency room presentation of colorectal cancer: a consecutive cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Emergency room presentation (ERP) in colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with worse cancer-related outcomes. The goal of this study was to determine the frequency of ERP and identify factors associated with ERP of CRC. METHODS: We performed a prospective consecutive cohort study of all patients undergoing resection for CRC from 02/2002 to 02/2004. Standardized data collection involved hospital record review, patient interview, and prospective follow-up. ERP was defined as the diagnosis and/or surgical treatment of CRC as a result of presentation to the emergency department. RESULTS: Of the 455 patients in the study 108 (24%) had ERP. Presentation of those with ERP was obstruction in 46 (43%), bleeding/anemia in 35 (32%), pain in 25 (23%), and other (2%). The ERP cohort was older (mean age 70.8 vs. 67.0 years, P = 0.005). ERP was more common amongst females (29.7 vs. 18.2%, P = 0.004) and obesity appears to be associated with increased rates of ERP. ERP of CRC was associated with more advanced TNM stage. The ERP cohort had longer length of stay in hospital (median 10 vs. 8 days respectively, P < 0.001). Peri-operative mortality was higher in ERP patients (7.4 vs. 2.3%, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: ERP in CRC was not infrequent and appeared to be associated with female gender and weight. The known negative prognostic impact of ERP, combined with the increased peri-operative mortality and length of stay, would suggest a potential benefit to targeted strategies aimed at reducing the use of the emergency room in the diagnosis and treatment of CRC.

Air medical transport of suspected aortic emergencies.

PURPOSE: To review and characterize 4 years of experience with suggested nontraumatic aortic emergencies (dissections/ruptures) transported by a new, provincially dedicated rotor-wing air medical program METHODS: Retrospective 4-year review of air medical program's mission records and review of related hospital records. Patients listed as suspected aortic emergencies (nontraumatic) in the air medical records were included. Mission records were reviewed for EMS diagnosis, blood pressures before and after transport, transport times, and mortality. Hospital records were reviewed for diagnosis, interventions/treatment, and mortality. Blood pressures below 80 mmHg systolic were considered hemodynamically unstable. RESULTS: A cohort of 34 patients were identified, of whom 31 (91%) arrived at the hospital alive. Twenty-five patients (74%) arrived hemodynamically stable, with a mean out-of-hospital time of 60 minutes, and nine patients (26%) were hemodynamically unstable (mean out-of-hospital time was 54 minutes). No significant difference arose in times between these two groups (P = 0.16). Overall mortality was 53% (18). Differences in transport time between survivors and deaths was not statistically significant (P = 0.93). The diagnoses on admission to hospital: 14 (41%) were RAAA, five (15%) AAA no rupture, eight (24%) aortic dissections, and four (12%) had no aortic pathology. Seventeen patients (50%) received emergent surgical intervention. The EMS diagnosis was correct in 76% of cases. CONCLUSION: Our program transported 34 suspected aortic emergencies of which 17 were immediate surgical candidates on arrival. Aortic emergencies are not infrequent within our program. Specific policies and procedures based on continuing quality review should be in place to optimize the transport and care of these patients.