Pneumomediastinum after retching.

A 25-year-old woman with hirsutism presented to the Emergency Department of the medicine faculty in Gaziantep University with a 4-h History of dyspnoea, dysphagia, coughing, continuous and progressive chest pain radiating to the back and palpation of her neck. The physical examination was significant for diffuse neck and chest subcutaneous emphysema. The x-ray study and CT scan of the chest revealed pneumomediastinum.

Coronary sinus dilatation is associated with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and poor functional status in subjects with chronic heart failure.

Reliable echocardiographic markers additional to plasma biomarkers that would establish prognosis of chronic heart failure and guide therapeutic approach would be beneficial. In our hypothesis, echocardiographic assessment of coronary sinus anatomic alteration, which has been ignored, may be part of remodeling process in heart failure. We also aimed to evaluate relationship between coronary sinus anatomic alteration and left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Effectiveness of Ankaferd blood stopper in the topical control of active bleeding due to cutaneous-subcutaneous incisions.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of Ankaferd blood stopper (ABS) in the topical control of bleeding due to cutaneous/subcutaneous incisions.

Methods: We included in this study, 69 patients with cancer that were admitted for port insertion to the Emergency Department of Gaziantep University Hospital, Gaziantep, Turkey, between May and July 2008. We used the wet compress form of ABS in 37 patients (group I), and regular dry sterile sponges in 32 patients (group II), to stop the bleeding that occurs during the clinically indicated vascular port insertion in patients with cancer.

The effect of chronic carbon-monoxide exposure on the peak expiratory flow values of grill-kebab chefs.

Objective: To determine the effect of chronic carbon-monoxide (CO) exposure on blood carboxy-hemoglobin (COHb) values in grill-kebab chefs, and if there is any subsequent airway obstruction.

Methods: The study was carried out in Sahinbey Hospital, Medical School of Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey, between March 2007 and November 2007. Forty male grill-kebab chefs, working in restaurants for at least 3 years, and 48 non-smoker, male healthy volunteers were gathered for this study.

Serum levels of NT-ProBNP as an early cardiac marker of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning may cause cardiotoxicity. The natriuretic peptides, including atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), N-BNP, and NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide), are endogenous cardiac hormones that may be secreted upon myocardial stress. The aim of this study was to assess the plasma NT-proBNP level in acute CO poisoning and to compare it with healthy control.