Role of Procalcitonin in Evaluation of the Severity of Acute Cholecystitis.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between procalcitonin (PCT) level and the severity of acute cholecystitis.

Materials And Methods: This study included 200 patients diagnosed with acute cholecystitis. To diagnose and assess the severity of acute cholecystitis; physical examination and abdominal ultrasound findings were evaluated and blood samples were taken to determine white blood cell (WBC) count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and levels of coagulation factors, blood gas, C-reactive protein (CRP) and PCT.

Comparison of success and pain levels of supination-flexion and hyperpronation maneuvers in childhood nursemaid's elbow cases.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the hyperpronation (HP) and the supination-flexion (SF) reduction techniques for reducing nursemaid's elbow in terms of efficacy and pain.

Methods: This prospective, pseudorandomized, controlled, nonblinded study was conducted in an urban tertiary care emergency department between October 1, 2009, and October 1, 2010. A total of 150 patients (51 males [34%] and 99 females [66%] between the ages of 0 to 6 years) were included in the study.

[Juguler vein gunshot injury from blank cartridges].

Blank cartridge guns, which are produced for self-defence needs and considered harmless, can be easily purchased by adults due to lack of legal regulations. We present this case because injuries caused by gunshot from blank cartridges may be fatal and are rarely encountered in emergency departments. A 3-year-old boy was brought to the emergency department since he had a wound on his neck caused accidentally by gunshot from blank cartridges.