Hasan Demir

Mad Honey Intoxication: A Case Series of 21 Patients

Background. The “grayanotoxin (mad honey)” poisoning is not known commonly, there are some case series and case reports in the medical literature about it, especially in Turkey. The aim of this study was to describe the presentation of 21 natural honey intoxication cases and to review the literature. Material and Method. This study is retrospective analysis of twenty one patients who were admitted to the emergency department due to honey poisoning. Results. Median age of 21 patients was 55. The mean length of delay after consumption is 3.4 hrs. Dizziness, weakness, excessive perspiration, nausea-vomiting, and low blood pressure were the most observed symptoms. Mean pulse rate was 56/min. Mean systolic blood pressure was 102 mmHg. The mean length of hospital stay is 14.7 hrs. Patient rhytms on arrival were as follows: 10 patients were in normal sinus rhytm, 7 sinus bradycardia, 3 nodal rhytm, 1 atrial fibrillation. Atropine was given to 18 patients. None of our patients died and all were discharged home without any complication. Discussion. In the emergency setting, poisoning is a clinical state which is very hard to identify. We have to keep in mind that drugs and toxins may cause lethal dysrhythmias.

The effects of adrenomedullin in traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common cause of death and disability throughout the world. A multifunctional peptide adrenomedullin (AM) has protective effects in the central nervous system. We evaluated AM in an animal model as a therapeutic agent that reduces brain damage after traumatic brain injury. A total of 36 rats was divided into 3 groups as sham, head trauma plus intraperitoneal (ip) saline, and head trauma plus adrenomedullin ip. The diffuse brain injury model of Marmarou et al. was used. Blood samples were taken from all groups at the 1st, 6th and 24th hours for analysis of TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α), IL-1β (interleukin-1β) and IL-6 (interleukin-6) levels. At the end of the study (at the 24th hour) a neurological examination was performed and half of the rats were decapitated to obtain blood and tissue samples, the other half were perfused transcardiacally for studying the histopathology of the brain tissue. There were no statistically significant changes in plasma levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α relative to the sham group. Also, changes in tissue levels of malonedialdehyde, myeloperoxidase and glutathione were not statistically significant. However, neurological scores and histopathological examinations revealed healing. AM individually exerts neuroprotective effects in animal models of acute brain injury. But the mechanisms of action remain to be assessed.

Analysis of Repeated CT Scan Need in Blunt Head Trauma.

Background. Computed tomography (CT) is a vital tool in the workup of patients with closed head trauma. The aim of this study was to investigate the necessity of serial CT scans in patients with blunt head trauma. Methods. This is a retrospective study analyzing trauma patients between January and June 2012. Data were analysed by using frequencies, Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S), and Chi-square tests. Results. Of the total 351 control Head CTs, it was seen there were no different in 346 (98.6%). In CTs of another 3 patients (0.9%), there were increasing or new, in the other 2 (0.6%) there was a decrease in the pathology present. Of 24 (6.8%) patients who had a hemorrhage in the first CT, there was an increase in the hemorrhage in one of them, a decrease of the pathology in 2 of them. Of 27 (7.7%) patients who had fracture in first CT, 2 had a new intracranial hemorrhage. The relation of the results between the first and second CTs were statistically significant (P < 0.001, χ 2 test). Conclusion. Repeated CT scans after 6 hours in EDs observation rooms are not necessary if first CT is normal in most situations. Special attention may be needed in patients with an underlying chronic disease.

An unusual complication following unconventional use of high pressure injector

High pressure injection injuries most commonly occur in industrial accidents. In accident due to high pressure gun injuries, the nature of injected materials, the degree of toxicity, and the amount injected will affect the clinical outcome. Early vigorous treatment is essential to reduce morbidity. We reported a case of hand injuries due to inadvertent use of a high pressure injector device for haemostasis. 46-year-old male technician tried to stop bleeding from his injured hand by directing air jet from a high pressure injector to the wound resulting in significant subcutaneous emphysema. Adequate training and knowledge on occupational safety should be reinforced to avoid similar accidents.

Diagnostic value of Tei index for acute myocardial infarction in patients presenting to emergency department with ischemic chest pain and correlation with Hs-troponin

Background: Acute myocardial infarction is one of the most common causes of mortality in developed countries, and high-sensitive troponin test usually becomes positive within 3 h from the onset of symptoms. Myocardial perfusion index (Tei index) is a parameter measured during the echocardiographic examination. Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic value of the Tei index for early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction in the emergency department and to evaluate the correlation between the Tei index and Hs-Troponin value. Materials and Methods: A total of 129 cases were evaluated, and patients were divided into two groups according to their final diagnosis as “acute myocardial infarction (non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction)” and “non-acute myocardial infarction” groups. Baseline and third-hour Hs-Troponin levels and Tei index values were determined, and their correlation was analyzed. Results: A total of 84 cases were diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction (non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction), 84.5% had positive Tei index results at the time of admission while the remaining 45 patients were diagnosed as non-acute myocardial infarction and only 48.9% of them had positive Tei index. The diagnostic value of the Tei index and Hs-troponin were calculated as 79.8% and 60%; 67.9% and 60%, respectively. Also, we found that a 0.02 or more increase in the Tei index value has a 97.6 sensitivity and 97.5 specificity for the diagnosis of non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. A weak correlation was found between the Tei index and Hs-Troponin values in the acute myocardial infarction group (r = 0.425) and a negative correlation in non-acute myocardial infarction patients at presentation. Conclusion: It is suggested that the use of Tei index might be used as a supportive measure for the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, and the deterioration of Tei index seems to be more significant than Hs-Troponin especially in ruling out acute myocardial infarction.

Assessment of intra-interobserver reliability of the sonographic optic nerve sheath diameter measurement

Diagnosis and measuring the level of increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) is critical, especially for the management of trauma patients in the emergency department and intensive care unit. However, measurements are operator‐dependent as in all of the sonographic diagnoses. The aim of this study is to assess the operator variations in the measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD). There were four emergency medicine specialists involved in the study. Each had at least 1 year of experience of ultrasound scans and performed at least 25 prior ocular scans examining the ONSD. Two measurements were made 1 week apart from both axial and longitudinal planes. Sixty healthy adults were involved in the study and every investigator obtained four measurements from each. Intra‐interobserver reliabilities were tested. The investigators performed 60 ocular ultrasounds on individual healthy adults and obtained two measurements in axial and longitudinal planes 1 week apart. Therefore, 960 measurements were analyzed. The levels of compatibilities for most of the measurements were found at acceptable levels statistically. However, it is not possible to say that there was a perfect compatibility among the sonographers according to the previously conducted reliability studies of ultrasound measurements. According to our results, it is hard to say that sonographic measurement of the ONSD is a highly reliable method both in longitudinal and transverse planes.

The Role Of Inflammatory Cytokines In Traumatic Head Injury

Travmatik beyin hasarı dünyada, 45 yaş altı bireylerde mortalite ve morbiditenin başlıca nedenlerinden biridir. Oluşan bu birincil lezyonlardan daha çok, esas olarak, bu direkt etkinin başlattığı ikincil süreç, mortalite ve morbiditeden sorumludur ve teröpatik müdahalelere de duyarlıdır. Birincil ve ikincil patofizyolojik süreçlerin her ikisi de hücresel mediatörlerin (proinflamatuvar sitokinler, prostaglandinler, serbest radikaller ve komplemanlar) salınımına, adezyon moleküllerinin ekspresyonuna, savunma ve glial hücrelerinin kemotaksisine ve transmigrasyonuna neden olmaktadır. Travmatik beyin hasarından sonra proinflamatuvar sitokinlerin üretimi ve sekresyonu hem insan hem de deneysel hayvan modellerinde gösterilmiştir. Beyinde travmadan sonra interlökin 1, interlökin 6, tümör nekroz faktör ve santral sinir sistemi kaynaklı sitokinlerin yüksek konsantrasyonlarda saptanması onların travmayı takiben gelişen patolojik süreçte önemli rol oynadıklarını düşündürmektedir. Bu sitokinlerinlerin hasar sürecinde oynadığı rolü bilmek ve geliştirilecek uygun ajanlar ile kendi kendine ilerleyici bu süreci bir noktada durdurmak yani nöronal hasarı azaltmak, kafa travmasında hayat kurtarıcı olabilir. (Marmara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi 2012;25:114-7) Anah tar Ke li me ler: Travmatik beyin hasarı, İnterlökin-1, İnterlökin-6, Tümör nekroz faktör alfa Abstract