Trauma Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.
These are the MediaLab courses that cover Trauma and links to relevant pages within the course.
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| Three Main Functions of CSF Cerebrospinal fluid has three main functions:CSF protects brain and spinal cord from trauma.CSF supplies nutrients to nervous system tissue.CSF removes waste products from cerebral metabolism.
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| False Positive Results A false positive result for blood on the reagent strip can occur when oxidizing contaminants, such as hypochlorite (bleach), remain in collection bottles after cleaning. Contamination of the urine with provodine-iodine, a strong oxidizing agent, used in surgical procedures can result in a false positive reaction. Microbial peroxide found in association with urinary tract infections may also cause false-positive results. Capoten® (Captopril) can cause decreased reactivity. The muscle tissue form of hemoglobin, myoglobin is a well-known cause of false-positive reactions on the blood portion of the reagent strip. When tissue hemoglobin is present, the urine specimen has a clear red appearance. Patients suffering from muscle-wasting disorders or muscular destruction due to trauma, prolonged coma, or convulsions or individuals engaging in extensive exertion may have myoglobin in their urine. Specific tests for myoglobin, such as immunodiffusion techniques or protein electrophoresis, are needed to confirm the presence of this substance in a urine specimen. Levels of ascorbic acid normally found in urine do not interfere with this test. | View Page |
| Clinical Significance No blood is found in the urine of healthy individuals although samples from menstruating females, frequently, but not always, test positive for blood. Hematuria is associated with renal or genital urinary disorders in which the bleeding is the result of irritation to the involved organs or trauma. Examples include renal calculi, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, tumors, trauma or exposure to toxic chemicals or drugs and/or strenuous exercise. Hemoglobinuria may be due to the lysis of red cells within the urinary tract. If it is caused by intravascular hemolysis, the hemoglobin is then filtered through the glomeruli. In the normal individual, the hemoglobin molecule attaches to haptoglobin and in this way bypasses the kidney filtration system. When the hemoglobin/haptoglobin system is overwhelmed, as in cases of hemolytic anemia, severe burns, transfusion reaction, infection or strenuous exercise, hemoglobin passes into the urine. | View Page |
| Following a myocardial infarction which of the following enzymes will be the first to
become elevated: | View Page |
| Increases in the MB fraction of CK is associated with: | View Page |
| The following LDH Isoenzyme pattern would be seen in: | View Page |
| The following LDH Isoenzyme pattern would be seen in: | View Page |
| The following CK isoenzyme pattern would be seen in: | View Page |
| When performing a routine venipuncture in which you are collecting a serum separator tube for immunology, a green top tube for chemistry, a blue top tube for coagulation, and a lavender top tube for hematology, which tube should be collected first? | View Page |
| High Sensitivity-C-Reactive Protein C-reactive protein (CRP) is a very sensitive acute phase reactant. Serum CRP levels increase following a variety of pro-inflammatory events such as infection, tissue necrosis, trauma, surgery and even malignancy. CRP levels can increase quickly and dramatically (often 100 fold) during inflammation. CRP can activate compliment, bind Fc receptors and can function as an opsonin, enhancing phagocytosis with certain infections. Measurement of CRP is not new, it has been on clinical laboratory testing menus for decades. However, a newer version of the CRP test is now in use to assess cardiovascular risk.High sensitivity-CRP (hs-CRP) assays have been developed that are more sensitive to the more subtle changes that can occur during chronic vascular inflammation. (Recall that atherosclerosis is an inflammatory process.) By measuring hsCRP we can get a glimpse at vascular function. CRP has been shown to be an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic disease and cardiac death. A 2002 prospective study of more than 27,000 patients showed that the CRP concentration is a stronger predictor of cardiovascular events than the LDL-cholesterol level. | View Page |
| Which of the following best represents the quantity of resultant bleed in order of smallest bleed to largest. (Assuming identical trauma) | View Page |
| Coagulation Disorders This course began with a discussion on homeostasis, the body’s desire to maintain a status of physiological equilibrium. Our inborn system of chemical checks and balances, activators and inhibitors, can be disrupted by numerous factors, two of the more common being acquired disease states and disorders passed on to offspring via inheritance. In regard to coagulation, both disease status and genetics can adversely affect the functionality of many hemostatic processes. Impaired hemostatic mechanisms, be it acquired in cases of disease or inherent, may result in situations of either hemorrhage or thrombosis. A situation of hemorrhage, or bleeding external to the vasculature, most often stems from physical vessel trauma, but may also arise from a wide variety of disease states. Thrombosis does not require physical trauma, and is the activation of hemostatic processes at an inappropriate time in an inappropriate place, and may arise from a number of inherited or acquired disease states. The following pages are intended to serve as an introduction to some of the more commonly encountered coagulation disorders. | View Page |
| Causes of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders The primary goal of ergonomics is the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). There are many potential causes of MSDs. Injury can occur from a single event (strain, sprain, slip, or fall) or result from build-up of tissue damage from many small injuries. An MSD can develop over time if a motion is repeated consistently so that the constant trauma causes damage to a muscle, tendon, bone, or bursa of a joint. Force, vibration, or maintenance of an awkward position for a prolonged period of time can cause MSDs.Some specific causes of MSDs that are related to laboratory tasks are: Prolonged use of a keyboard or mouse Prolonged sitting at a microscope Pipetting Screwing and unscrewing vial caps Standing at a laboratory instrument for a prolonged period of time Lack of rest - intensive hours at the workstation with few breaks Sustained awkward position | View Page |
| The most common eye complication in patients with candidiasis is: | View Page |
| Which of the following identifies a major mechanism of electricity-induced injury? | View Page |
| Electricity-induced Injury The major mechanisms of electricity-induced injury include: Electrical energy causing direct tissue damage Conversion of electrical energy into thermal energy causing massive tissue destruction Direct trauma resulting from falls or violent muscle spasms | View Page |
| Hematosis A hematoma is a blood clot which forms within the body. It is caused by leakage of blood into the tissues from an injured vein . It will resolve spontaneously.Hematomas are caused by excessive needle trauma to a vein, for example, by a needle which passed entirely through a vein and came out the other side.Apply compression to help stabilize a hematoma.
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| The misshapened "spiked" erythrocytes included in the photograph may be found in each of the following conditions except: | View Page |
| Limits of Semen Analysis Semen analysis can provide important information related to the function of the male reproductive system but, even when results are within normal limits, it does not ensure that a male is fertile.
A normal semen analysis result does not mean that all causes of male infertility have been ruled out. One reason for this is that there can be considerable differences between one semen analysis result and another in a single individual.
On the other hand, an abnormal result does not always mean that a couple cannot conceive a pregnancy. Men with suboptimal sperm counts have been known to father children. Also, infection, trauma, stress, febrile illness and medications can cause temporary subfertility.
For all of these reasons multiple specimens are recommended for a complete analysis of the semen.
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| Literature and online resources Literature Dutton RP, Shih D, Edelman BB, Hess J, Scalea TM. Safety of uncrossmatched type-O red cells for resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock. J Trauma. 2005 Dec;59(6):1445-9. Johnson ST, Rudmann SV,Wilson, SM. Serologic problem solving strategies:a systematic approach. Bethesda, MD: AABB, 1996.Online resourcesThe following are online examples of good practice. The information should not be used as a substitute for technical and clinical judgment. Medical and technical information becomes obsolete quickly and current sources relevant to the user's location should always be consulted. Urgent requirements for blood (Calgary Laboratory Services, Calgary,Alberta, Canada) Online resource for laboratory's clients Why is there never enough O Rh negative blood? (American Red Cross) Advice for physicians on how to help prevent shortages of O Rh negative blood Transfusion reactions: Transfusion complications (Canadian Blood Services) Education website for CBS's hospital customers REACT (Sunnybrook HSC, Toronto, ON, Canada) Pocket reference card for nurses on signs and symptoms of transfusion reactions Quick cals (online calculator of p values for Fisher's exact test) Use a one-tailed test (since we would expect an antibody to react with red cells that are positive for the corresponding antigen) | View Page |