Value of plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in distinguishing between acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine whether plasma NGAL levels could be used as a biomarker for distinguishing between AKI and CKD in emergency medicine.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study was conducted at the ED of a training and research hospital over a six-month period in 2015. Three groups were defined: an AKI group - defined as a new onset of at least a 1.

Comparing the success rates of standard and modified Valsalva maneuvers to terminate PSVT: A randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: The study aimed to detect whether modified Valsalva maneuver (VM) is more effective than the standard VM in terminating paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT).

Methodology: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in the emergency department of a training and research hospital between Dec. 1, 2015 and Dec.

Diagnostic value of appendicular Doppler ultrasonography in acute appendicitis.

Background: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common causes of acute abdominal pain prompting emergency department (ED) visits. It is critical for the physicians to promptly and accurately diagnose acute appendicitis. The present study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of Doppler ultrasonography (USG) in patients with acute appendicitis and compare this new method with other commonly used radio-diagnostic tools.

Effects of spinal immobilization at 20° on respiratory functions.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to investigate whether spinal immobilization with a long backboard (LBB) and semirigid cervical collar (CC) at 20° instead of 0° conserve pulmonary functions, including forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC ratio.

Methodology: The study included 56 adult healthy volunteers. Volunteers were randomly divided into 2 groups, and those in the first group (group 1) had LBBs and CCs applied at 0° (n=30), whereas volunteers in the second group (group 2) had LBBs and CCs applied at 20° (n=26).

Antiepileptic drug poisoning: Three-year experience.

Introduction: Antiepileptic drugs, which are also called anticonvulsants, are used in the therapy and prophylaxis of epileptic seizures. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the relevant epidemiological data and to determine which of these drugs was the most frequent cause of intoxication. Another purpose of this study was to determine the neurological, cardiac, and biochemical problems caused by antiepileptics.

Prognostic importance of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in critically ill patients: short- and long-term outcomes.

Study Objective: The number of critically ill patients admitted to the emergency department increases daily. To decrease mortality, interventions and treatments should be conducted in a timely manner. It has been found that the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is related to mortality in some disease groups, such as acute coronary syndrome and pulmonary emboli.

Predictors of Inhospital Mortality in Geriatric Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Ischemic Stroke.

Aim: To determine the most important predictors of inhospital mortality that could be assessed in geriatric patients presenting with ischemic stroke at admission to the emergency department(ED).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out in geriatric patients with ischemic stroke who were diagnosed in the ED. The primary outcome measure was determined as all-cause inhospital mortality after 30 days of ischemic cerebrovascular event.

Can we use serum gamma-glutamyl transferase levels to predict early mortality in stroke?

Objective: Serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) is a marker for alcohol consumption and hepatobiliary diseases. There are reports on the prognostic role of GGT in coronary artery diseases and stroke. The aim of our study was to identify the potential differences in GGT levels in different types of stroke, and to evaluate the correlation between GGT and 30-day mortality.

Comparison of end-tidal carbon dioxide levels with cardiopulmonary resuscitation success presented to emergency department with cardiopulmonary arrest.

Objective: To measure end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure (PetCO2) in preset interval in order to evaluate the efficiency of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performed on patients in cardiopulmonary arrest, evaluate the validity of PetCO2 in predicting the mortality and finally assess the PetCO2 levels of the patients in cardiopulmonary arrest based on the initial presenting rhythm.

Methods: This prospective study was conducted at the Ankara Training and Research Hospital on patients who presented with cardiopulmonary arrest. Standard ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) protocols were performed.

The experiences in a toxicology unit: a review of 623 cases.

Background: To evaluate the etiological and demographic characteristics of adult poisoning patients followed up in a toxicology unit in Konya, Turkey.

Methods: Patients (≥ 15 years old) followed up with the diagnosis of poisoning in our toxicology unit in 2011 were included in this retrospective study. The patients' medical records were investigated.

Comparison of the effectiveness of intravenous piracetam and intravenous dimenhydrinate in the treatment of acute peripheral vertigo in the emergency department.

Introduction: We aimed to compare the effectiveness of intravenous piracetam with that of intravenous dimenhydrinate in the treatment of acute peripheral vertigo in the emergency department.

Methods: This double-blind study comprised a total of 200 patients, aged between 18 and 70 years, who had presented to the emergency department of Ankara Training and Research Hospital and were diagnosed with peripheral vertigo. Evaluation of the severity of the patients' vertigo was performed using a visual analogue scale, before and after drug administration.

A new marker for myocardial injury in carbon monoxide poisoning: T peak-T end.

Objectives: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning frequently affects repolarization, resulting in abnormal electrocardiography findings. The goal of this study was to examine the effect of CO poisoning on the novel transmyocardial repolarization parameters T peak-T end (Tp-e), Tp-e dispersion, and Tp-e/QT and the relationship of these parameters to myocardial injury (MI).

Methods: This prospective study included 94 patients with CO poisoning and 40 healthy controls.

Hepatic toxocariasis: a rare cause of right upper abdominal pain in the emergency department.

Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati are common helminths that reside in the intestinal tract of cats and dogs. Toxocariasis and, commonly, T. canis, is a disease commonly seen in children, which is characterised by hypereosinophilia, hepatomegaly, fever, transient pulmonary infiltration, and hypergammaglobulinaemia.

[The role of blood S100B and lactate levels in minor head traumas in children and adults and correlation with brain computerized tomography].

Background: In this study, we aimed to set levels of blood S100B and lactate and to determine any correlation with brain computerized tomography in minor head traumas in children and adults.

Methods: This clinical trial is a prospective study including 100 head trauma patients who applied to Ankara Training and Research Hospital emergency service.

Results: In this study, cut-off ranges of 0.

Our new stethoscope in the emergency department: handheld ultrasound.

Background: The concept of Focused Assessment with Ultrasound for Trauma (FAST), which was introduced by Rozycki et al. in 1996, has started a new era in the management of trauma patients. Today, Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) suggests bedside ultrasonography (USG) evaluation of trauma patients.

Hemodialysis as an alternative treatment of mexiletine intoxication.

Mexiletine is a class IB antiarrhythmic agent. Although it is primarily used in treating ventricular arrhythmias, recent indications for use of mexiletine include chronic and neuropathic pains. At high doses, mexiletine causes drowsiness, confusion, nausea, hypotension, sinus bradycardia, paresthesia, seizures, bundle branch block, atrioventricular heart block, ventricular arrhythmias, asystole, cardiovascular collapse, and coma.

Role of C-reactive protein, D-dimer, and fibrinogen levels in the differential diagnosis of central and peripheral vertigo.

Vertigo is encountered frequently in emergency services. Researchers have explored the role of serologic markers in the differentiation of central and peripheral vertigo. The study reported here was designed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of serologic markers (fibrinogen, D-dimer, and C-reactive protein [CRP]) in the differential diagnosis of peripheral and central vertigo.

Metabolic syndrome and its association with ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is the term that encompasses metabolic risk factors that may lead to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of MS in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease (CVD), according to National Cholesterol Education Program/Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria. A total of 40 patients who were referred to the emergency department and given a diagnosis of CVD were included in this study.