The aims of the study are to detect whether there are any possible effects of chronic carbon monoxide (CO) exposure on the argyrophilic nucleolar-organizing region (AgNOR)–associated protein synthesis and evaluate any possible relationship between the amount of AgNOR protein and the level of myocardial injury also and between AgNOR and histopathological evaluation methods. Adult male albino Wistar rats ( n = 18) were randomly divided into three groups (groups A, B, and C). Group A served as control, while groups B and C were rats exposed to CO gas chronically (1000 and 3000 ppm CO concentration with a flow rate of 4 L/min for 30 min/day for 7 days, respectively). Total AgNOR area/nuclear area (TAA/NA) and the mean AgNOR numbers for each myocyte nucleus were determined. There were significant differences among all groups for TAA/NA ratio. These differences were not significant for mean AgNOR numbers. According to the histopathological evaluation scores, there were significant differences between the groups. The differences were significant among the groups for loss of sarcomere pattern. A strong positive correlation between histopathological injury scores and TAA/NA ratio was found ( Rsq = 0.48; p = 0.002), however, the correlation was not significant for mean AgNOR numbers ( Rsq = 0.08; p = 0.25). In conclusion, TAA/NA ratio can be used as an indicator for obtaining information about the level of myocardial damage instead of histopathological evaluation scores.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the demographic characteristics, emergency department (ED) complaints, laboratory findings, and latent phase periods of patients who presented to the ED due to mushroom poisoning (MP) as well as the efficacy of conventional and hemofiltration therapies. Method: The study was conducted on patients who presented to the ED with MP between 2010 and 2012. The patient’s demographic characteristics, complaints at the ED, latent phases, laboratory findings, and treatments of MP cases were evaluated. Results: The mean age of patients was 38.03 ± 15.96, where 63.8% of them were female and 36.2% were male. Visits occurred most frequently in the autumn (32.6%). When presenting to the ED, the most frequent complaint was nausea–vomiting. The aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), international normalised ratio (INR), and blood urea nitrogen values of patients with a latent phase between 0 h and 5 h were significantly lower than the values of patients with a latent phase between 6 h and 24 h. In this study, 62% of the patients ( n = 36) had stomach lavage and received activated charcoal. Altogether, 55.2% of the patients had received conventional therapy, 37.9% of them received hemofiltration, and all of them received supportive treatment. The AST, ALT, and INR values of those who had received hemofiltration and conventional therapies were significantly higher than of those who received only supportive treatment ( p < 0.01). Conclusion: Hemofiltration, in combination with conventional therapy, seems to be an effective treatment for reducing mortality in suspected MP cases involving late acting toxins.

There is little data regarding the diagnostic ability of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in acute coronary syndrome. Therefore, we aimed to assess the predictive value of NLR in the discrimination of troponin-positive patients. We enrolled 244 patients (mean age 61.3 ± 11.7 years, 70.5% male) who presented to the emergency service with acute chest pain. Patients were divided into 2 groups based upon the troponin positivity in the 12- to 24-hour follow-up. The admission NLR was significantly higher in the troponin-positive group (5.49 ± 4.01 vs 2.40 ± 1.36, P < .001). A cutoff point of 2.80 for NLR measured on admission had 79% sensitivity and 73% specificity in predicting follow-up troponin positivity. After multivariate analysis, admission NLR and glucose levels remained significant predictors of follow-up troponin positivity. In conclusion, NLR may be an early diagnostic marker in emergency service for discriminating patients who will have a positive troponin test in the follow-up.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless and odourless gas appearing as a result of incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels. Many domestic or occupational poisonings are caused by CO exposure. Malfunctioning heating systems, improperly ventilated motor vehicles, generators, grills, stoves and residential fires may be listed in the common sources of CO exposure. The aim of this study was to emphasize the significance of early diagnosis of CO poisoning with non-invasive measurement of CO levels of the patients with non-specific symptoms using a pulse oximeter device in the triage. Our study was a cross-sectional study. Patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) due to non-specific symptoms and had a Canadian Triage and Acuity scale level of 4 or 5 were included in the study; 106 (5.9%) of 1788 patients admitted during the study period were diagnosed with CO poisoning. Patients with CO poisoning and the other patients had statistically significant differences in terms of presenting symptoms, namely, headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. More CO poisoning cases were admitted in the fall and winter compared to the spring and summer. The number of CO poisoning victims can be decreased if preventive measures like CO monitoring systems and well-designed ventilation systems are generalized at homes and workplaces. Measurement of carboxyhaemoglobin levels of patients presenting to ED due to non-specific symptoms like headache and dizziness during cold seasons and winter months using a pulse CO-oximeter should be a part of the routine of emergency medicine triage.

BACKGROUND:Weather conditions are thought to increase the risk of stroke occurrence. But their mechanism has not yet been clarifi ed. We investigated possible relationships between ischemic stroke and weather conditions including atmospheric pressure, temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed. METHODS:One hundred and twenty-eight patients with ischemic stroke who had been admitted to our hospital between January 1 and December 31, 2010 were enrolled in this study. We investigated the relationship between daily cases and weather conditions the same day or 1, 2, and 3 days before stroke. RESULTS:A negative correlation was found between maximum wind speed and daily cases 3 days before stroke. As the relationship between daily cases and changes of weather conditions in consecutive days was evaluated, a negative correlation was found between daily cases and change of atmospheric pressure in the last 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS:The maximum wind speed 3 days before stroke and change of atmospheric pressure in the last 24 hours were found to increase the cases of ischemic stroke. We recommend that individuals at risk of ischemic stroke should pay more attention to preventive measures, especially on days with low maximum wind speed, on subsequent 3 days, and on days with low atmospheric pressure in the last 24 hours.