BackgroundThe wound healing process is complex and still poorly understood. Sericin is a silk protein synthesized by silk worms (Bombyx mori). The objective of this study was to evaluate in vivo wound healing effects of a sericin-containing gel formulation in an incision wound model in rats.Material/MethodsTwenty-eight Wistar-Albino rats were divided into 4 groups (n=7). No intervention or treatment was applied to the Intact control group. For other groups, a dorsal skin flap (9×3 cm) was drawn and pulled up with sharp dissection. The Sham operated group received no treatment. The Placebo group received placebo gel without sericin applied to the incision area once a day from day 0 to day 9. The Sericin Group 3 received 1% sericin gel applied to the incision area once a day from day 0 to day 9. Hematoxylin and eosin stain was applied for histological analysis and Mallory-Azan staining was applied for histoimmunochemical analysis of antibodies and iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase), and desmin was applied to paraffin sections of skin wound specimens. Parameters of oxidative stress were measured in the wound area.ResultsEpidermal thickness and vascularization were increased, and hair root degeneration, edema, cellular infiltration, collagen discoloration, and necrosis were decreased in Sericin group in comparison to the Placebo group and the Sham operated group. Malonyldialdehyde (MDA) levels were decreased, but superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were increased in the sericin group.ConclusionsWe found that sericin had significant positive effects on wound healing and antioxidant activity. Sericin-based formulations can improve healing of incision wounds.

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.

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Tricyclic antidepressant overdose is known to cause cardiopulmonary and central nervous system complications. As with other cardiovascular complications, amitriptyline toxicity may cause acute myocardial infarction. This paper reports the case of a young female with acute myocardial infarction as a novel consequence of tricyclic antidepressant overdose.Tricyclic antidepressant overdose is the one of the most common in self-poisoning. Tricyclic antidepressants account for the third largest number of deaths reported to American poison control centres. Amitriptyline is the most common single agent (Watson et al. 2005). The high rate of mortality in tricyclic antidepressant overdosing is due to central nervous system and cardiovascular system toxicity. Evidence of cardiovascular toxicity is present in the majority of tricyclic antidepressant overdoses. Cardiotoxicity is hypotension, QRS widening and ventricular arrhythmias (Smilkstein 1990). Transient electrocardiographic changes and cardiac arrhythmias are well-documented complications of tricyclic antidepressant overdose, however acute myocardial infarction has only been rarely reported. Here we report a case of tricyclic antidepressant overdose, followed by acute myocardial infarction. Materials and MethodsCase report. A 33 year old female was referred to Emergency Department after ingestion of 30 tablets (300 mg) of amitriptyline for suicidal purpose. She was admitted to state hospital 4 hr after ingestion, and because of decreased level of consciousness (Glasgow coma score 3) she had been intubated with nasogastric tube administered, 50 g of activated charcoal and the finally referred to the Emergency Departments.Her past medical history was major depression, and she had been heated with amitriptyline for five years. She had no coronary artery risk factors such as a diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, smoking and no family history of heart disease. Her blood pressure was 110/70 mmHg, heart rate was 120 beats/min., and pulse oxymetre with artificial ventilation was 100% on admission. Her oral mucous membrane was dry, and bowel sounds werediminished. Her pupils reacted to light and no neurological signs were found. The rest of physical examination was also normal. Her initial ECG revealed sinus tachycardia, QRS widening (120 msec.) and QTc interval prolongation (521 msec.) ( fig. 1). Initial complete blood count and serum electrolytes were normal. Arterial blood gas examination Author for corresponcence: Selahattin Kiyan, Ege University Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, 35100, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey (fax π90 232 388 38 05, e-mail selahattin.kiyan/ege.edu.tr). revealed respiratory alkalosis (pH: 7.55, PaCO2: 24.9 mmHg, PaO2: 99.3 mmHg, BE: 1.7 mmol/l). D Dimer 0.4 mg/ml (0-0.5 mg/ml) was normal. Toxicological screen cocaine, amphetamine, opiates and heroin was negative. In our institution, amitriptyline level could not be measured. The patient was extubated 26 hr after ingestion. She denied any drug ingestion other than amitriptyline after...

Most of the departments have developed the basic components for resident education. Residents and trainers frequently had different views on their own level of knowledge, practical skills, and the content of their training.