Reference values for venous and capillary S100B in children

Abstract in UndeterminedBackground: The current management guidelines for pediatric mild head injury (MHI) liberally recommend computed tomography (CT) and frequent admission. Serum protein S100B, currently used in management of adult head injury, has recently shown potential for reducing unnecessary CT scans after pediatric mild head injury. Capillary sampling in children is commonly used when venous sampling fails or is inappropriate. We present reference values for both venous and capillary samples of protein S100B in children.Methods: Neurologically healthy children aged 1–16, scheduled for minor surgery requiring general anesthesia, were prospectively included. Samples for S100B were drawn before (venous) and after (venous and capillary) sedation.Results: Serum values of 455 children (255 boys, 200 girls) aged 1–14 were computed. S100B was higher in younger children for both venous (r = − 0.32) and capillary samples (r = − 0.28). Reference levels for children aged 1 and 2 were significantly higher than for children aged 3–14 years (venous 0.15 μg/L, capillary 0.37 μg/L). For capillary blood, a gender difference was found in the youngest age groups.Conclusions: We present reference values for venous and capillary S100B in healthy children. These results can be utilized when considering future studies on pediatric head injury and S100B levels

"Bazaar and pawn shop: ethnography at the interface of formal and informal economy"

Bazaar and pawnshop: etnography at the interface of formal and informal economy Abstract: In this paper I deal with the issue, regarding what actually constitutes bazaar-pawnshop and what this facility means for different groups of customers. Basic research method is auto- ethnography, because best suits in the situation, where I am myself the owner of such shop and during field research I use my own memories and perform both as a direct participant-owner as well as an anthropologist, examining the environment of bazaar. In the empirical part, I offer a brief characterization of different types of customers, depending on the way how they use the bazaar-pawnshop. By describing and analyzing relationships and interactions occurring in the course of business negotiations in the bazaar-pawnshop, I try to show what this type of economy, often referred to as informal or marginal, means for different groups of customers. In particular, I focus on the question how marginalized groups perceive bazaar-pawnshop and how they incorporate it into their lifestyle. On the basis of collected data I infer that they regard the bazaar- pawnshop as a standard economic facility and as an almost necessary part of their everyday life. Keywords: bazaar-pawnshop, purchase, sale, pawn, loan, used goods, customers, marginalized group

Additional file 12: of Scandinavian guidelines for initial management of minor and moderate head trauma in children

Discharge advice for the guardians of a child who has sustained a mild head trauma or concussion. (DOCX 23 kb

Additional file 7: Table S7. of Scandinavian guidelines for initial management of minor and moderate head trauma in children

Results of the modified Delphi process, round 1. Delphi point 1 = strongly disagree, Delphi point 7 = strongly agree. Two members did not reply. Delphi points 1-5 refer to recommendations concerning clinical question 1. Delphi points 6-7 refer to the recommendations regarding clinical question 2. Point 8 refers to the written discharge instructions, point 9 to the observation schedule for in-hospital observation, and point 10 refers to the guideline draft including the guideline flow-chart. Result refers to percentage in favour of the recommendations. Cf = consensus for, nC = no consensus, Ca = consensus against. (DOCX 20 kb

Comparison between capillary, venous and arterial levels of protein S100B in patients with severe brain pathology

Background: Protein S100B is soon in clinical use as a sensitive marker after mild traumatic head injury in adults. Initial studies of S100B in pediatric head injury have shown promising results. Venous sampling can be challenging in children and capillary samples are often a preferred option. The aim of the study was to investigate the relation between capillary, venous and arterial measurements of protein S100B, primarily by determining whether capillary S100B differ from venous and if capillary S100B can predict venous S100B levels, and secondarily, if arterial S100B samples can substitute venous samples in severely brain-injured patients. Methods: Venous, arterial and capillary blood samples for S100B were collected simultaneously once a day for a maximum of 6 days. Patients were >= 18 years old and admitted to neurointensive care due to severe brain pathology. Results: Capillary S100B samples were on average 0.08 mu g/L higher than venous S100B samples. Prediction of venous concentration from capillary samples yielded a prediction error of 0.07 mu g/L. The mean difference between venous and arterial samples was 0.01 mu g/L. The mean prediction error was 0.03 mu g/L. Conclusions: Capillary and venous serum S100B are not interchangeable, and should be considered as two separate, although related, variables. Arterial measurements of S100B can successfully predict the corresponding venous concentration