Material and Methods: A prospective observational study was performed in patients with symptoms or signs of premature rupture of membranes (PROM) at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University. Conventional standard methods were performed to establish the diagnosis and were compared with PAMG-1 immunoassay results. ROM was diagnosed if visualization of fluid leaking from the cervical

os or two of the following three conditions were present: positive nitrazine test, ferning test, and nile blue test. The diagnosis of ROM was confirmed by reviewing the medical records after delivery.

Results: One hundred patients (gestational age 36.5 +/- 3.5 weeks, range 22-41 weeks of gestation) were recruited into the study. Seventy-six percent were preterm and 24% were at term. PAMG-1 immunoassay had a sensitivity of 97.2%, specificity buy Smoothened Agonist of 69%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 90.8%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 90.9% and an accuracy of 89%. In contrast, conventional combined standard learn more methods had a sensitivity of 88.7%, specificity of 96.6%, PPV of 98.4%, NPV of 77.8%, and accuracy

of 91% for the diagnosis of ROM.

Conclusion: PAMG-1 immunoassay is a rapid method for the diagnosis of ROM. PAMG-1 has a higher sensitivity than conventional standard methods for the diagnosis of ROM.”
“Background: In hospital cardiac arrests (CA) treated with cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) outside of the intensive care unit (ICU) have poor outcomes. Most are preceded by deranged vital signs. There are, however, limited studies assessing antecedents to CAs inside

the ICU.

Objectives: To study the antecedents to, and characteristics of CAs in ICU.

Study population: We prospectively identified PARP phosphorylation CA cases that occurred inside our ICU between January 2010 and July 2012. Controls were obtained by sequentially matching ICU patients based on APACHE III diagnosis, APACHE III score, age, gender and length of stay in ICU.

Results: Thirty-six patients had a CA during the study period (6.28/1000 admissions). In the 12 h prior to CA, index patients had higher maximum (22 breaths/min vs. 18 breaths/min, p=0.001) and minimum respiratory rates (16 breaths/min vs. 12 breaths/min, p=0.031), a lower median mean arterial pressure (65 mmHg vs. 70 mmHg, p=0.029) and systolic blood pressure (97 mmHg vs. 106 mmHg, p=0.033), a higher central venous pressure (14 cm H2O vs. 11 cm H2O, p=0.008) and a lower bicarbonate level (20.5 mmol vs. 26 mmol, p=0.018) compared to controls. CA patients also had a higher maximum dose of noradrenaline (norepinephrine) (17.5 mcg/min vs. 8.0 mcg/min, p=0.052) but there was no difference in any other levels of intensive care support. Two-thirds of CA’s occurred within the first 48 h of ICU admission.