ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence and determinants of acute pancreatitis in patients with acute brucellosis.MethodsAdult patients with brucellosis were retrospectively recruited. Brucellosis and acute pancreatitis were diagnosed according to standard criteria. Laboratory analyses included Wright agglutination titre, serum biochemical parameters and blood count.ResultsPatients with acute pancreatitis (n = 21) had significantly higher Wright agglutination titres, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, amylase, lipase and serum glucose concentrations, and significantly lower haemoglobin concentrations and haematocrit than patients with brucellosis alone (n = 326).ConclusionsHyperglycaemia, anaemia, and liver transaminase and cholestatic enzyme concentrations may represent new approaches for assessing disease severity in patients with brucellosis and acute pancreatitis.

Objective: Although seen rarely compared to all tumors, cardiac tumors are tumors which may have a mortal course with possible complications. The most common cardiac tumor in adults is myxoma with its benign character. The results of cardiac tumors resected with open cardiac surgery in our center are reported in this study. Materials and Methods: Twenty-three cardiac tumor patients electively operated on in our clinic between January 2010 and August 2017 were retrospectively included in the study. Information of the patients participating in the study were registered. The patients were between 25 and 67 years of age, and 18 were female (72.3%), and 5 were male (21.7%). The average age of the patients was 42.1 ± 8.9 years. Echocardiography was used for diagnosis in all patients. There was no common complaint for the patients, with the complaints changing according to tumor location. All patients were operated on by means of cardiopulmonary bypass with aortic cross-clamp and bicaval cannulation. Preoperative demographical characteristics and perioperative and postoperative data were registered for the patients and were evaluated statistically. Results: Nineteen of the tumors (82.6%) were in the left atrium, and 4 were (17.4%) in the right atrium. Diameter of the tumors changed between 2.5 × 1.5 and 8.5 × 6.5 cm. The tumoral structure was resected together with the solid tissue located in its root in all patients operated on. Pericardial patch was used for 11 (47.8%), and primary closure was used for 12 (51.2%) of the defects. Early and late mortality was not observed in any patient. Conclusion: To prevent possible complications of cardiac myxomas, they need to be resected together with the surrounding healthy tissue as soon as possible after the diagnosis. Cardiac myxomas can be operated on with a tolerable operation risk. Echocardiography should be made annually for any possible relapse after operation.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the most common cardiac operation performed worldwide. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between post-operative serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level and atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients who received CABG. A total of 198 patients who had undergone CABG between January 2016 and February 2018 in our cardiovascular surgery clinics were included in the study. According to CRP levels, patients were into 2 groups; Group 1 serum CRP level <8.0mg/L and Group 2 serum CRP level 8.0mg/L. There were 82 patients in Group 1 (31 Female, 51 Male) and 116 patients (48 Female, 68 Male) in Group 2. Patients who died within 30 days after CABG were excluded. While the mean age of the cohort was 61.2 ± 8.1 years; it was 59.8 ± 9.4 years and 61.5 ± 7.4 years in Group 1 and 2, respectively. AF was observed in 65 patients (32.8%) including 13 patients in Group 1 (15.8%) and 52 patients (44.8%) in Group 2. The rate of AF was significantly higher in Group 2 (p<0.05). Coronary artery disease itself is significant risk factor of mortality and morbidity. Our study showed that post-operative serum CRP level would be an indicator of AF. Although increased levels of CRP alone cannot be the primary cause of AF, the rate of post-operative AF was higher in CABG patients with high CRP level.

Blood-fluid warmers are commonly used in clinical practice, particularly in the emergency service and the operating rooms, for transfusing blood, blood products, and fluids by preventing the adverse effects of hypothermia. Line-type blood-fluid warmers are the most commonly used types since they are highly practical, inexpensive, and also do not require an additional kit for administration. [1][2][3] In Turkey, most medical devices such as blood infusion sets and blood bags are made of polyvinylchloride (PVC) that contain di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) as a plasticizer C.It is commonly known that DEHP leaches from the bag into the blood and blood products as a result of warming. 4,5 Moreover, DEHP converts to a more toxic metabolite known as mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) during the heating process. [4][5][6] It has been previously shown that exposure to DEHP-containing substances through inhalation or skin contact may result in gonadal injury or toxic effects on the reproductive system and kidneys. 2 It has also been recently reported that there is an association between exposure to DEHP and atopic dermatitis. 7 However, various harms of phthalate exposure have also been reported in human studies. [8][9][10]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of procalcitonin level at application time and 48th hour on the mortality and the length of stay in this study. Materials and Methods: In our cross-sectional retrospective study. patients who applied for emergency services within 3 months and were hospitalized with a diagnosis of pancreatitis were included in the study. CRP. Procalcitonin levels at application time and 48th h, Computed Tomography Severity Index, Leukocyte, platelet, lymphocyte, neutrophil counts. Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio, platelet lymphocyte ratio values, age, gender, presence of chronic illness, alcohol intake, stone existence, ranson value of all patients included in the study that we appraised affect on mortality and morbidity in 6 months. Results: 48 patients (n=19) and 51.3% (n=20) of 39 patients were included in the study. Alcohol use was found in 10.3% of patients (n=4) and stone presence was found in 53.8% (n=21) of patients who were diagnosed as pancreatitis. Positive and statistically significant correlations were found between admission duration and C-reactive protein values. Ranson 48th hour values of 6 month mortality (+) were statistically higher than Ranson 48th hour values of 6 month mortality (-). There was no statistically significant effect of procalcitonin on admision procalcitonin 48th h levels and their 6-month mortality and length of stay. Conclusion: In pancreatitis patients. C-reactive protein values in emergency patients can be used to estimate the duration of hospitalization. The on admision and 48th h values of procalcitonin are not suitable for the evaluation of the duration of emergency servitude and mortality. Ranson 48th h time evaluation can be used in predicting mortality. Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı başvuru ve 48. saatte alınan prokalsitonin seviyesinin mortalite ve yatış süresi üzerine etkisinin araştırılmasıdır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Kesitsel retrospektif olan çalışmamızda 3 ay içerisinde acil servise başvuran ve pankreatit tanısı ile servise yatırılan hastalar çalışmaya alındı. Çalışmaya dahil edilen tüm hastaların yaş, cinsiyet, kronik hastalık varlığı, alkol alımı, taş varlığı, ranson geliş değeri, ranson 48. saat değeri, bilgisayarlı tomografi şiddet indeksi, lökosit, platelet, lenfosit, nötrofil sayıları, nötrofil lenfosit oranları, platelet lenfosit oranları, C-Reaktif Protein, Prokalsitonin 0.saat, Prokalsitonin 48.saat düzeyleri ve bunların 6 aylık mortalite ve morbidite üzerine etkisi değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Çalışmaya alınan 39 hastanın %48.7 si (n=19)'u erkek %51.3'ü (n=20) kadındı. Pankreatit tanısı alan hastalardan %10.3 hastada (n=4) alkol kullanımı, %53.8 hastada(n=21) taş varlığı tesbit edildi. Olguların yatış süreleri ile C-Reaktif Protein değerleri arasında pozitif yönde ve istatistiksel olarak anlamlı korelasyon bulundu. 6 aylık mortalite (+) olguların Ranson 48. Saat değerleri 6 aylık mortalite (-) olguların Ranson 48. saat değerlerinden istatistiksel olarak anlamlı yüksek bulundu. Prokalsitonin başvuru esnasında, Prokalsitonin 48.saat düzey...