We investigated Turkish emergency physicians' views regarding family witnessed resuscitation (FWR) and to determine the current practice in Turkish academic emergency departments with regard to family members during resuscitation. A national cross-sectional, anonymous survey of emergency physicians working in academic emergency departments was conducted. Nineteen of the 23 university-based emergency medicine programs participated in the study. Two hundred and thirty-nine physicians completed the survey. Of the respondents, 83% did not endorse FWR. The most common reasons for not endorsing FWR was reported as higher stress levels of the resuscitation team and fear of causing physiological trauma to family members. Previous experience, previous knowledge in FWR, higher level of training and the acceptance of FWR in the institution where the participant works were associated with higher rates of FWR endorsement for this practice among emergency physicians.

Summary The objective of this study was to determine whether Ramadan is changing frequencies and demographics of visits due to certain diseases. Data obtained from the charts of the adult patients admitted into the emergency department (ED) due to 10 predetermined entities between 2000 and 2004 were analysed. Demographic variables analysed separately for certain entities visiting the ED in Ramadan were not found to be different from visits in other times of year. Visit frequencies for hypertension and uncomplicated headache in Ramadan were significantly higher than in non-Ramadan months (chi(2) test, p = 0.015 for hypertension, p < 0.001 for uncomplicated headache). Mean age of the patients admitted to the ED due to diabetes-related conditions in Ramadan was significantly lower than in pre- and post-Ramadan months (59.91 +/- 14.60 and 62.11 +/- 14.61, respectively) (Mann-Whitney U-test, p = 0.032). The patients with diabetes presenting in Ramadan were found significantly younger than their peers in the rest of the year. For other diseases, Ramadan does not appear to be a risk factor.

AIM:We aimed to intend to contribute to our countries database for acute stroke patients with identifying etiological, epidemiological, demographic and clinical features of those patients. METHODS:This is a retrospective descriptive study. Patients' charts are identified with help of ICD-10 coding system. 124 patients were enrolled to the study. RESULTS:Patients in male gender were 56.5 % (n: 70) and mean age of the study group was 67.5 ± 11.8. Average time of the onset of the symptoms was found to be 13.0 ± 18.5 hours. Only twenty five patients (20.5 %) were attended to the emergency department (ED) with in the there hours of symptoms onset.In patients past medical history, 58.8 % (n: 73) patients are hypertensive, 35.0 % (n: 43) are diabetic, 25.0 % (n: 31) of them have coronary artery disease, 20.1 % (n: 25) have a previously known stroke attack.Hundred patients (80.6 %) have a normal head CT. Mortality and morbidity rate was found to be 0.8 % and 6.5 % respectively in patients who were observed in the ED. Average observation time in the ED was 21.5 ± 30.5 hours (1-168). Fifty one patients (41.1 %) were admitted to intensive care unit and six patients were admitted to the neurology ward. CONCLUSION:Acute ischemic stroke is common in old male patients. Most important risk factors are hypertension and diabetes. Patients mostly attend to the hospitals lately. Observation periods of those patients are very long in the ED.

Peganum harmala, commonly called "Syrian rue," is native to countries around the Mediterranean sea and western United States. Known for its sedative effects when consumed by farm animals, its seeds have stimulant and hallucinogenic effects at low doses (3-4 g when eaten) in humans. Its active ingredients harmaline and harmine have monoamine oxidase inhibitor properties. A 41-year-old female prepared a hot drink by boiling approximately 100 g of P. harmala seeds in water (10-20 times the recommended dose for "calming one's nerves"). Upon presentation to the emergency department, she was unconscious and had hypertension, tachycardia, and tachypnea. Hepatic and renal function markers were grossly elevated. After intubation, she improved with supportive care over the course of five days. Her level of consciousness, renal and hepatic markers gradually returned to normal. Poisoning with high doses of Peganum harmala can be life-threatening, although patients usually recover with supportive therapy alone.