Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and intermittent left bundle branch block: an unusual electrocardiographic presentation of mad honey poisoning

Saritas, Ayhan/0000-0002-4302-1093; Saritas, Ayhan/0000-0002-4302-1093; Kandis, Hayati/0000-0001-9151-6050WOS: 000297498400025PubMed: 22179175

Effects of Urtica dioica on hepatic ischemia‐reperfusion injury in rats

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of Urtica dioica on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: Thirty adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: sham group (group 1), control group (group 2), and Urtica dioica group (group 3). All the rats were exposed to hepatic ischemia for 60 min, followed by 60 min of reperfusion. In group 2, a total of 2 ml/kg 0.9% saline solution was given intraperitoneally. In group 3, a total of 2 ml/kg Urtica dioica was given intraperitoneally. At the end of the procedure, liver tissue and blood samples were taken from all rats. Serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, ceruloplasmin, catalase, paraoxonase, arylesterase, and lipid hydroperoxide levels were measured. Liver tissue histopathologies were also evaluated by light microscopy. RESULTS: Serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase levels were significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1, and significantly lower in group 3 than in group 2. Also, group 2 had higher serum lipid hydroperoxides and ceruloplasmin levels but lower catalase, paraoxonase, and arylesterase levels than group 1. In group 3, serum lipid hydroperoxides and ceruloplasmin levels were significantly lower, and catalase, paraoxonase, and arylesterase levels were higher than those in group 2. Histopathological examination showed that liver tissue damage was significantly decreased in group 3 compared with group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Urtica dioica has a protective effect on the liver in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion-injured rats

The evaluation of Pat-Pat related injuries in the western black sea region of Turkey

BACKGROUND: Accidents caused by motorized vehicle in the agricultural sector are frequently observed. In Turkey; accidents arising from motorized vehicles, named Pat-Pat, which are used by farmers in the Western Black Sea region is not unusual. METHODS: One hundred five patients who were brought into the Emergency Department of Duzce University, Medical Faculty Hospital between September 2009 and August 2010 due to Pat-Pat related accidents were evaluated. RESULTS: The cases consisted of 73 (69.5%) males and 32 (30.5%) females, ranging from 2 to 73 years of age. In the 10-39 age group, a total of 63 (60.0%) cases were determined. The months when the greatest rate of cases applied to the hospital consisted of July, August, September and the season is summer. The cases were exposed to trauma in roads in 54 (51.4%), and 51 (48.6%) occurred in agricultural area without roads. Eighty seven (82.9%) cases were injured due to the overturning of vehicle. The patients were brought to the hospital using a private vehicle in 54 (51.4%) of the cases and in 51 (48.6%) cases, 112 ambulance system was used. The cases were determined to apply to the hospital most frequently between 6 pm-12 am. The injuries frequently consisted of head-neck and spine traumas, thorax traumas and upper extremity traumas. In 55 (52.4%) cases, open wound-laceration was determined. Seventy five (71.4%) cases were treated in the Emergency Department, and 28 (26.7%) were hospitalized. Three (2.9%) cases were deceased. CONCLUSIONS: Serious injuries can occur in Pat-Pat related accidents, and careful systematic physical examination should be conducted. In order to prevent these accidents, education of farm operators and engineering studies on the mechanics and safety of these vehicles should be taken and legal regulations should be created

Can serum NSE and S100-beta protein levels predict central nervous system injury in patients with carbon dioxide retention?

Objectives: To evaluate whether serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) or S100-beta protein levels are helpful in predicting central nervous system (CNS) injury in patients with carbon dioxide (CO2) retention Design: A case-control study Setting: This study was performed in the Emergency Department of a University Hospital which functions as the only tertiary center in the city. Subjects: One hundred patients who were admitted to the emergency department and seen to have an arterial partial carbon dioxide pressure above 45 mmHg were included as the study group and 48 healthy volunteers as the control group. Interventions: None Main outcome measures: Possible elevations in serum NSE and/or S100-beta protein levels in the study group were main outcome measures. The levels of these markers were measured using enzyme-linked immunoassay kits, and mean values of these parameters were compared between the study and the control groups. Results: Mean NSE level was found to be 69.45 +/- 36.39 ng/ml, and mean S100-beta level was 160.57 +/- 54.05 pg/ml in the study group. Mean NSE and S100-beta levels of the control group were 30.99 +/- 20.04 ng/ml and 129.31 +/- 415.17 pg/ml, respectively. Mean NSE levels differed significantly between the study and control groups; however, mean S100-beta levels did not. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that NSE can be used to predict CNS injury in patients with CO2 retention, but S100-beta protein cannot. New studies including larger number of patients are needed to obtain more accurate results on this topic.Scientific Research Projects Foundation of Duzce UniversityDuzce UniversityWe would like to thank the Scientific Research Projects Foundation of Duzce University for their financial support to the study.WOS:00054076230000

Use of argyrophilic nucleolar-organizer region-associated protein synthesis in skeletal muscle cells for prediction of chronic carbon monoxide exposure

This study aims to evaluate possible effects of chronic carbon monoxide (CO) exposure on argyrophilic nucleolar-organizer region (AgNOR)-associated protein synthesis in striated muscle cells. Eighteen rats were randomly divided into three groups. Rats in group II and group III were given CO gas (1000 and 3000 ppm, respectively) for 30 min a day for 7 d. Mean AgNOR number per nucleus and ratio of total AgNOR area to nuclear area (TAA/NA) were determined. Both TAA/NA ratio and mean AgNOR number provided information about the existence or absence of exposure. TAA/NA ratio was also an indicator of the level of exposure.WOS:0005901196000032-s2.0-8505902600

A nanotechnology roadmapping study for the Turkish defense industry

Purpose - Technologies are constantly developed to address new demands and provide further opportunities. Owing to a number of potential application areas of nanotechnologies within this sector, the purpose of this study is to take defense as a case and propose a strategic roadmap for the use of nanotechnologies in the Turkish Defense Industry

Does determination of drug level in intoxicated patients offer an advantage in diagnosis, treatment, and reducing complications?

Objective: To investigate the effect of determining the drug type and level on emergency management in patients presenting with intoxication, and to identify the factors behind associated mortality. Methods: The retrospective, observational, cross-sectional and single -centre study was conducted at a large tertiary care teaching hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, between September and November 2016 using the hospital's toxicology registry. Data was extracted for patients who had presented to the emergency department from January 1, 2011, to February 28, 2013, and were found to have toxic doses of single active ingredients in the plasma. The patients were evaluated in terms of age, gender, demographic characteristics, time from ingestion to presentation, reason for drug ingestion, type of drug ingested, time elapsed before the emergency service was called, treatment given, drug level, hospitalisation and mortality. Data was analysed using SPSS 11.5. Results: Of the 224 patients, 145(64.8%) were women. The overall mean age was 30.8 +/- 15.4 years. Drug ingestion was more common in women aged 18-30 years (p<0.0001). Besides, 215(96%) patients had ingested drugs with the intent to commit suicide. The minimum education level of 163(72.8%) patients was high school. The most frequently ingested drug was paracetamol 90(40.2%). Overall mortality was 4(1.8%) and all of them were brought to the emergency department after a delay of more than five hours (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Drug type and quantity were found to be of great importance in taking timely decisions while attending to patients with intoxication in an emergency setting. Delay in presentation was associated with mortality.WOS:0005463942000052-s2.0-85084626195PubMed: 3240073