Compartment syndrome after "bath salts" use: a case series.

In recent years, synthetic cathinones, often labeled as "bath salts" in an attempt to evade drug laws, have emerged as substances of abuse. Sympathomimetic drugs are well known to cause rhabdomyolysis but are rarely associated with acute compartment syndrome. In this case series, we describe 3 patients who presented with sympathomimetic signs or symptoms including hyperthermia and agitation and had confirmed synthetic cathinone use. All 3 patients had severe rhabdomyolysis with delayed development of an acute compartment syndrome. Two patients developed paraspinal compartment syndromes, whereas 1 developed bilateral forearm compartment syndromes. Management included fasciotomy in 2 patients and medical management in the third. Two of the 3 patients made a complete recovery before hospital discharge; the third patient was hemodialysis dependent at 5-month follow-up.

Unintentional use of mistaken insulin products: a retrospective review of poison center data.

BACKGROUND: There are no guidelines for the management of accidental insulin administration. We hypothesized that home monitoring of asymptomatic patients (pts) was safe following unintentionally insulin administration. METHODS: Retrospective review of poison center (PCC) charts from 1/1/2000-12/31/2010 looking for accidental insulin administrations. INCLUSION CRITERIA: pt must be prescribed insulin. Information recorded from charts: pt age/gender, "intended" and "mistaken" insulin formulations/doses, use of oral diabetic agents, management site, Emergency Department (ED) referral, symptoms, blood glucose values, and treatments. Defined outcomes: symptoms (e.g., altered sensorium); hypoglycemia (<60 mg/dL); management site; health care facility (HCF) admission; and death. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine outcome predictors. RESULTS: 652 charts met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 56.4 years; most (58.5%) were women. Most (89%) calls originated from home, 10.7% from a HCF, 0.3% from Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Overall, 397 (60.9%) pts were managed at home. Two pts managed at home were later evaluated by EMS; neither required admission. Symptoms developed in 56 (8.6%) pts. There were no deaths. Only 40 (6.1%) pts were admitted to a HCF; 18 (45%) pts were hypoglycemic. The development of hypoglycemia (odds ratio [OR] 5.94; p < 0.001) and amount of insulin accidentally administered (OR 1.04; p < 0.001) predicted HCF referral. The type and dose of insulin administered did not predict symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Based on a retrospective analysis of a single PCC's cases, home observation of asymptomatic patients after unintentional administration of a wrong insulin formulation appears safe.

Post-traumatic stress disorder in an emergency department population one year after Hurricane Katrina.

BACKGROUND: Hurricane Katrina resulted in a significant amount of injury, death, and destruction. STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of, and risk factors for, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in an emergency department (ED) population, 1 year after hurricane Katrina. METHODS: Survey data including the Primary Care PTSD (PC-PTSD) screening instrument, demographic data, and questions regarding health care needs and personal loss were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Seven hundred forty-seven subjects completed the survey. The PC-PTSD screen was positive in 38%. In the single variate analysis, there was a correlation with a positive PC-PTSD screen and the following: staying in New Orleans during the storm (odds ratio [OR] 1.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28-2.34), having material losses (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.03-2.60), experiencing the death of a loved one (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.35-1.87), needing health care during the storm (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.48-2.73), and not having health care needs met during the storm (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.26-3.18) or after returning to New Orleans (OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.40-3.73). In the multivariate analysis, the death of a loved one (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.26-2.78), being in New Orleans during the storm (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.22-2.33), and seeking health care during the storm (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.22-2.35) were associated with positive PC-PTSD screens. CONCLUSIONS: There was a high prevalence of PTSD in this ED population surveyed 1 year after hurricane Katrina. By targeting high-risk patients, disaster relief teams may be able to reduce the impact of PTSD in similar populations.

An FTIR investigation of flanking sequence effects on the structure and flexibility of DNA binding sites.

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and a library of FTIR marker bands have been used to examine the structure and relative flexibilities conferred by different flanking sequences on the EcoRI binding site. This approach allowed us to examine unique peaks and subtle changes in the spectra of d(AAAGAATTCTTT)(2), d(TTCGAATTCGAA)(2), and d(CGCGAATTCGCG)(2) and thereby identify local changes in base pairing, base stacking, backbone conformation, glycosidic bond rotation, and sugar puckering in the studied sequences. The changes in flanking sequences induce differences in the sugar puckers, glycosidic bond rotation, and backbone conformations. Varying levels of local flexibility are observed within the sequences in agreement with previous biological activity assays. The results also provide supporting evidence for the presence of a splay in the G(4)-C(9) base pair of the EcoRI binding site and a potential pocket of flexibility at the G(4) cleavage site that have been proposed in the literature. In sum, we have demonstrated that FTIR is a powerful methodology for studying the effect of flanking sequences on DNA structure and flexibility, for it can provide information about the local structure of the nucleic acid and the overall relative flexibilities conferred by different flanking sequences.

Clinical Presentation and Outcomes Associated with Different Treatment Modalities for Pediatric Bark Scorpion Envenomation.

INTRODUCTION: Scorpion envenomation is potentially life-threatening and affects children in the Southwestern USA. An FDA-approved antivenom is available, but its high cost has led to use of off-label antivenom dosing or supportive care alone as alternatives to FDA-recommended dosing. This study sought to determine whether treatment approach influences outcomes in envenomated children. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of children with grade III or IV scorpion envenomation evaluated in Phoenix Children's Hospital ED between September 1, 2011, and March 31, 2014. Patients were grouped based on treatment: group 1, supportive care only; group 2, FDA-recommended dosing (3-vial initial dose); group 3, "off label" dosing (1-2 vial initial dose). Primary outcomes were ED length of stay and hospital admission. Secondary outcomes were mechanical ventilation and aspiration pneumonia. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-six patients were included with 58 patients in group 1, 16 patients in group 2, and 82 patients in group 3. Group 1 was significantly older than the antivenom groups (p < 0.001), and group 2 was younger than group 3 (p = 0.024). Envenomation grade was also different, with group 1 having fewer grade IV then groups 2 and 3 (p < 0.001). Three percent of group 1, 56 % of group 2, and 28 % of group 3 had respiratory distress (p < 0.001). ED LOS was not significantly different between groups. Hospital admission occurred in 3.4 % group 1, no group 2, and 8.5 % group 3 patients. Two intubations and two aspirations occurred in group 3. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, clinical presentation appeared to influence treatment. Groups that received antivenom had a higher envenomation grade than the group that received supportive care. The FDA-recommended dosing group was younger and had more respiratory distress than those treated with initial doses of 1-2 vials. Outcomes were not significantly different between groups. Prospective studies may identify the ideal population for each treatment approach.