Impact of scorpion stings on electrocardiographic changes and relationship with body oxidant and antioxidant status.

Objective: To investigate electrocardiogram changes due to scorpion stings and association between oxidative stress index, body oxidant/antioxidant system and the electrocardiogram changes.

Methods: The study was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Turkey, between May 2009 and October 2010. It comprised 44 patients admitted to the emergency department for scorpion sting, and a control group of matched age and gender of 20 persons.

Oxidant/antioxidant status in cases of snake bite.

Background: Snake bites are an important cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, especially in rural areas.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate serum paraoxonase (PON), arylesterase (ARLY), ceruloplasmin (Cp), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) and total sulfhydryl group (-SH) levels in patients with snake venom poisoning.

Methods: The study included 49 patients with snake bite envenomation (Group 1) and 39 healthy volunteers as the control group (Group 2).

Plasma exchange as a complementary approach to snake bite treatment: an academic emergency department's experiences.

Snake bites are leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in rural areas. Therapeutic plasma exchange has been used in the treatment of many different conditions such as immunologic diseases, toxicologic disorders, and snake envenomation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of plasma exchange treatment on clinical status, outcomes, and discharge of patients who were bitten by venomous snakes.

An assessment of oxidant/antioxidant status in patients with snake envenomation.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the antioxidant status (TAS), oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) in patients with snake envenomation and to learn more about the pathophysiology of snake envenomation.

Method: Between May 2009 and October 2010, 47 patients were admitted to our emergency department with snake bites, and as a control group 20 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Serum, plasma, and erythrocyte components were prepared for all patients on admission and at the control after 1 month.

Prolonged bleeding due to a medicinal leech bite: another treatment method, primary suture.

Medicinal leeches have been used in the treatment of many diseases for thousands of years. A 25-year-old man presented to our emergency department with bleeding from right and left side of his neck. He had applied leeches 10 h previously to both sides of his neck to treat acne.

A rare case of portal vein gas: accidental hydrogen peroxide ingestion.

Hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) is a colourless and odourless liquid with oxidant characteristics used for various purposes. Whereas in lower concentrations (3%), H(2)O(2) is used as a disinfectant in home cleaning products and wound care, in higher concentrations (35%) it is used in textile and paper industry as a bleaching agent and is diluted for use in lightening hair dyes. Like other caustic substances, direct injuries may develop if H(2)O(2) is swallowed and systemic air embolisms may occur due to the resultant gaseous oxygen.

Compartment syndrome on a patient's forearm related to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, nonirritating, toxic gas produced by the incomplete oxidation of hydrocarbons. Common sources of CO include motor vehicles, house fires, furnaces/heaters, and wood-burning stoves. It is a serious health problem resulting in approximately 50,000 visits to the emergency department and is responsible for 3500 deaths annually in the United States.

A case of non-fatal oleander poisoning.

We present a case of non-fatal poisoning with oleander blooms in a 42-year-old woman. After repeated vomiting and gastrointestinal distress, the patient was admitted to the hospital with cardiac symptoms 4 h after the ingestion. Urine and blood samples were assayed for drugs of abuse and for general toxicological screen.