No abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate effectiveness of the poisoning severity score (PSS), Glasgow coma scale (GCS), and corrected QT (QTc) interval in predicting outcomes in acute organophosphates (OP) poisoning. Over a period of 2 years, 62 patients with OP poisoning were admitted to emergency department (ED) of Erciyes University Medical School Hospital. The age, sex, cause of contact, compound involved, time elapsed between exposure and admission to the ED, duration of hospital stay, and cardiac manifestations at the time of presentation were recorded. GCS and poisoning severity score (PSS) was calculated for each patient. Electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis included the rate, rhythm, ST-T abnormalities, conduction defects, and measurement of PR and QT intervals. Sixty-two patients with OP poisoning presented to our ED from January 2007 to December 2008 from which 54 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 34.1 ± 14.8 years. Of the cases, 53.7% were female. Twenty-six patients had a prolonged QTc interval. Mean PSS of men and women was 1.8 ± 1.0. No statistically significant correlation was found between the PSS and QTc intervals of the cases. A significant correlation was determined between the GCS and PSS of grade 3 and grade 4 cases. GCS is a parameter that helps clinician to identify advanced grade OP poisoning patients in the initial assessment in the ED. However, ECG findings, such as prolonged QTc interval, are not effective in determination of short-term prognosis and show no relationship with PSS.

No abstract

Although IBS is widely present in Turkey, its prevalence is lower than that reported in Western communities. In the region where this study was carried out, IBS was more prevalent in females and in individuals with low educational and economical status.

In conclusion, computerized tomography (CT) was found to have higher specificity and sensitivity than Alvarado score and USG which are not sufficient on their own for taking the decision for surgery. We also found that CT scan had lower negative laparotomy rate when compared with the other two modalities.

No abstract

Organophosphate poisoning is a common cause of severe morbidity and mortality among patients admitted to emergency departments. Tissue damages as a consequence of organophosphate poisoning are frequently reported, but preventing this potentially severe complication has not been the subject of much research. We tested whether interleukin-10, a cytoprotective agent, could prevent or diminish pathological signs of tissue damages caused by organophosphate poisoning. Thirty rats were divided into three equal groups (n = 10). Group 1 (sham) did not receive any agent during the experiment. Group 2 (control) received 0.8 g/kg of fenthion intraperitoneally, followed by 6 ml/kg of intraperitoneal normal saline 30 min. and 3 hr later. Group 3 (treatment) received 0.8 g/kg of fenthion intraperitoneally, followed by 2 µ g/kg of interleukin-10 intraperitoneally 30 min. and 3 hr later. All rats were killed under anaesthesia after 6 hr and tissue samples were obtained from liver, kidneys and lungs. Even organophosphate poisonings do not cause significant clinical problems; several degrees of damages could be observed in liver, kidneys and lungs. These damages could be reduced by interleukin-10 treatment.

The objective of this study was to describe the demographic and clinical features of patients who were admitted to the emergency department (ED) due to wild mushroom poisoning and to point the importance of mushroom poisonings in our area. This study was performed by examining the files of wild mushroom poisoning patients who were admitted to the ED of Firat University, Faculty of Medicine, between January 2000 and June 2004, retrospectively. Patients ≥16 years of age were included in the study. The frequency of wild mushroom poisoning, age and sex of the patients, season, place of the residence, laboratory findings, treatment and outcome of the patients were investigated. During the study period, 64 patients with wild mushroom poisoning were admitted to the ED. From 64 overall patients, 25 (39.1%) were males. The most common complaints during the admission were nausea, vomiting and abdominal discomfort. The duration of hospitalization was two (range 1—4 days) days. No death was observed. Severity of mushroom poisoning depends on the type of mushroom eaten, the time lag between the poisoning and admission to the hospital, and the rapid and correct treatment given to the patient either in the ambulance or at health centre. Human & Experimental Toxicology (2007) 26: 579—582.