The role of serum markers in assessing the severity and outcome of community acquired pneumonia in Trinidadian population

Our aim was to determine whether the use of serum inflammatory markers such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT), either individually or in combination, is significantly associated with community-acquired pneumonia and to determine the role in assessment of the severity and outcome. This study was a prospective cohort study, included forty Trinidadian patients diagnosed with community acquired pneumonia. Blood samples were collected to measure inflammatory markers. Patients were classified according to the pneumonia severity index (PSI) scoring where after serum marker levels were compared among respective groups. Proportions test for positive predictive value of the serum marker indicated that CRP (P=0.001) and ESR (P=0.001) had higher sensitivities to community acquired pneumonia than PCT (P=0.05). There was no association between each of the serum markers and PSI. Eighty three percent low risks had a length of stay of two weeks, while only 18% of high risk stayed for the same duration. The combination of highly sensitive markers like CRP and ESR and a specific marker such as PCT emphasize their importance in better risk assessment in community acquired pneumonia patients.

Cybersuicide and the adolescent population: challenges of the future

Cybersuicide is a term used in reference to suicide and its ideations on the internet. It is associated with web sites which lure vulnerable members of society and empower them with various methods and approaches to deliberate self-harm. Ease of accessibility to the internet and the rate at which information is dispersed; contribute to the promotion of offing one's self which is particularly appealing to adolescents. This study aims to explore this phenomenon which seems to be spreading across generations, cultures and races. Information and articles regarding internet suicide and other terminology as well as sub classifications concerning this new form of suicide were reviewed. Through search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Wikipedia differentiations between web cam suicide, net suicide packs, sites which merely offer advice on how to commit suicide and sites which are essential in providing the means of performing the act were investigated. Also, materials published in scientific journals and data published by the Public Health Services, Centers for Disease Control, and materials from private media agencies were reviewed. Resources were also sourced from The Faculty of Medical Sciences Library, UWI at Mt. Hope. Cybersuicide is a worldwide problem among adolescents and is a challenge of the future.

Cybersuicide and the adolescent population: challenges of the future?

Cybersuicide is a term used in reference to suicide and its ideations on the Internet. Cybersuicide is associated with websites that lure vulnerable members of society and empower them with various methods and approaches to deliberate self-harm. Ease of accessibility to the Internet and the rate at which information is dispersed contribute to the promotion of 'offing' one's self which is particularly appealing to adolescents. This study aims to explore this phenomenon, which seems to be spreading across generations, cultures, and races. Information and articles regarding Internet suicide and other terminology, as well as sub-classifications concerning this new form of suicide, were reviewed. Through search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Wikipedia, we investigated the differentiations between 'web cam' suicide, 'net suicide packs', sites that merely offer advice on how to commit suicide and sites that are essential in providing the means of performing the act. Additionally, materials published in scientific journals and data published by the Public Health Services, Centers for Disease Control, and materials from private media agencies were reviewed. Resources were also sourced from The Faculty of Medical Sciences Library, UWI at Mt. Hope. Cybersuicide is a worldwide problem among adolescents and a challenge of the future.