Objectives: This study aimed to provide an overview of morbidity and mortality among patients admitted to the Hospital of the Medicine Faculty of Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey, after the 1999 Marmara earthquake. Methods: Retrospective analysis of the medical records of 645 earthquake victims. Patients' demographic data, diagnosis, dispositions, and prognosis were reviewed. Results: A total of 330 patients with earthquake related injuries and illness admitted to our hospital were included and divided into three main groups: crush syndrome (n = 110), vital organ injuries (n = 57), and non-traumatic but earthquake related illness (n = 55). Seventy seven per cent of patients were hospitalised during the first three days after the earthquake. The rate of mortality associated with the crush syndrome, vital organ injury, and non-traumatic medical problems was 21% (23/110), 17.5% (10/57), and 9% (5/ 55), respectively. The overall mortality rate was 8% (50/645). Conclusions: In the first 24-48 hours after a major earthquake, hospital emergency departments are flooded with large numbers of patients. Among this patient load, those patients with crush syndrome or vital organ injuries are particularly at risk. Proper triage and prompt treatment of these seriously injured earthquake victims may decrease morbidity and mortality. It is hoped that this review of the challenges met after the Marmara earthquake and the lessons learned will be of use to emergency department physicians as well as hospital emergency planners in preparing for future natural disasters.

MR imaging can be helpful in revealing DAI lesions in patients with normal CT scan findings after MTBI. FLAIR, GRE and DW sequences are superior to conventional spin-echo images in detecting DAI lesions.

from 1996 to 2006. Of 305 patients treated over a 10-year period, only 1 case was recorded as suicide. The CO source was a coal heater in 85.9% of cases. Mean Glasgow coma score (GCS) on admission was 12.8 (SD 0.2) and mean carboxyhaemoglobin level was 21.6% (SD 0.92%). There were statistically significant associations between higher GCS score, older age and higher HbCO level. Better education of the public is vital for the prevention of these injuries.

This study was performed to investigate the relationships between markers of inflammation in serum (interleukin-6 [IL-6], interleukin-10 [IL-10], and granulocyte elastase [GE]), severity of injury, and clinical outcomes, and to evaluate the predictive value of these markers for major complications and mortality. This study, which was conducted between August 2003 and May 2005, examined patients older than 16 y who were admitted to the Emergency Unit of the Uludag University Medical School within 12 h after trauma, and who had traumatic hemorrhagic shock (THS) at admission. Three groups were established: the THS group (n=20), the pure hemorrhagic shock (PHS) group (n=20), and the healthy control group (n=20). Demographic data were recorded for all subjects, and blood samples were taken for lactate, base excess, GE, IL-6, and IL-10 measurements. The Glasgow Coma Score, the Revised Trauma Score, the Injury Severity Score, the New Injury Severity Score, and the Trauma Score-Injury Severity Score were calculated; complications and final clinical outcomes were monitored. A total of 35 men and 25 women were included in the study; mean patient age was 41+/-17 y. In the THS group, scores were as follows: Revised Trauma Score, 10.2+/-2.2; Trauma Score-Injury Severity Score, 0.86+/-0.2; Injury Severity Score, 24.8+/-9.0; and New Injury Severity Score, 32.7+/-9.0. IL-6, IL-10, lactate, and base excess levels in the THS group were significantly higher than those in the PHS and healthy control groups. The serum GE level of the THS group was significantly higher than that of the healthy control group, but it did not differ significantly from that of the PHS group. Complications such as sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and multiple organ failure occurred in 50% of the THS group and in 20% of the PHS group. Mortality was 30% in the THS group and 10% in the PHS group. In the THS group, no significant differences were noted between markers of inflammation and trauma scores of patients who died and those who survived. The investigators concluded that although the levels of markers of inflammation increased in THS patients, they were inadequate for predicting mortality and the development of complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, multiple organ failure, and sepsis. A larger study based on the use of serial marker measurements is warranted.

The demographic and diagnostic features of acute poisoning cases treated in our hospital are similar to those reported in the literature. Adults and women are in a high-risk group for acute poisonings and medicine poisoning, which is the most common type of poisoning.