Poisoning from Wild Mushroom in the Trakya Region: An Analysis of Seven Years

Introduction

Mushroom poisoning is a medical emergency, diagnostic and treatment dilemma for physicians. Most cases present with self-limiting gastrointestinal symptoms. The regional profile of poisoning epidemiology in Turkey has previously been reported. However, information about mushrooms is still limited. The aim of this study was to identify the epidemiology of wild mushroom poisonings in the Trakya region in a 7-year period.

Materials and methods

The study was designed retrospectively by examining the files of the patients who presented to the emergency department of Trakya University Faculty of Medicine from January 2002 to July 2008.

Results

The overall male to female ratio was 0.88:1. All patients were intoxicated due to accidental pick up and consumption of wild mushrooms from open fields, woodlands and meadows. The most common findings on physical examination were epigastric pain. Fifty-six patients (74.7%) were discharged from the emergency department, 18 patients (24.0%) were hospitalized (one died on the 5th day), and one patient died in the emergency department.

Conclusions

Care should be taken especially for patients presenting late. Patients may have hepatic dysfunction that needs haemodialysis or even liver transplantation.

Co-occurrence of Cardiac and Cerebral Hydatid Cysts: A Case Report

Cardiac and cerebral hydatid cysts are rarely encountered. In this case, we report a male patient admitted to our hospital with hemiparesis, headache and dysphasia which occurred as a result of complications of both 3,1x3,5 cm single hydatid cyst in the left cardiac ventricle and multiple cerebral hydatid cysts (approximately 18 particles, the largest being 3× 2,2cm). He had undergone surgery 17 month earlier due to a multiple brain hydatid cysts. Although he had been treated with albendazole, multiple cerebral hydatid cysts re-appeared 17 months after operation. This was a rare case in which left ventricular intracavitary hydatid cyst occurred together with brain multiple cysts at the same time. Physicians should be alert about the probability of cardiac involvement when a cerebral hydatid cyst is diagnosed and appropriate investigations should always be conducted.

Attenuation of bleomycin induced lung fibrosis by erdosteine and inhibition of the inducible nitric oxide synthase

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Despite advances in treatment modalities, the discovery of optimal medical therapies still remains a necessity in the management of pulmonary fibrosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The experiments were performed in 35 adult Sprague Dawley rats, randomly allotted into one of five groups (n=7). The control group was treated with 1 ml/kg, 0.9 % saline; the BLM group was given a single dose of BLM (2.5 U/kg); the BLM+ER group was treated with ER (10 mg/kg/day po) for 14 days after BLM administration; the BLM+SMT group was treated with i.p injections of SMT (20 mg/kg/ day) for 14 days after BLM administration; the BLM+ER+SMT group was treated with ER and SMT for 14 days after BLM administration. At the end of day 14, the results of histopathological, biochemical, and immunohistochemical investigations were analyzed.

RESULTS

Serum TNF-α, nitrate/nitrite, and TBARS levels significantly increased in BLM group compared to control group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.05 respectively). Lung tissue content of IL-6 was found to be lower in BLM+ER, BLM+SMT and BLM+ER+SMT groups compared to BLM group by immunhistochemical examinations (p < 0.01, p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Similarly, the TNF-α reactions (p < 0.01 for each group) and NF-kB expressions were shown to be significantly different among the study groups (p < 0.05, p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Based on our study, ER and SMT attenuate BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis; the combination of two agents has a greater protective efficacy against fibrosis than one alone, reducing the inflammatory markers (Tab. 2, Fig. 2, Ref. 31).

Ameliorative effect of Leflunomide on lung injury following an aspiration

BACKGROUND

We aimed to investigate the therapeutic effectiveness of leflunomide (LEF) in lung injury after an aspiration of unknown pathophysiology.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Forty-two healthy Sprague Dawley rats were anesthetized and allocated to six experimental groups: saline (S) aspirated, S+LEF, hydrochloric acid (HCl) aspirated, HCl+LEF, formula aspirated (FOR), and FOR+LEF. The treatment groups (S+LEF, HCl+LEF, and FOR+LEF) received 20 mg/kg/day intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of LEF for seven days. At the end of the seven days, blood and tissue samples were taken from the rats for histopathological, biochemical, and immunohistochemical examination.

RESULTS

There was a significant increase in serum levels of YKL-40, a chitinase-like protein, in the HCl group after the aspiration (p<0.01). The increase in serum YKL-40 levels decreased significantly with LEF treatment (p<0.01). There was no significant difference in serum YKL-40 levels in the FOR group compared to the control group at pretreatment and in the FOR+LEF group at post-treatment. There was a significant increase in serum thiobarbituric acid-reactive species (TBARS) values in the HCl and FOR groups compared to the control group (p=0.001 and p<0.01, respectively). In both treatment groups, the serum TBARS values significantly decreased after treatment with LEF (p=0.001 and p<0.05, respectively). There was a significant improvement in the histopathological scores, which deteriorated after the aspiration, and in the number of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-positive cells after treatment with LEF.

Amitriptyline overdose in emergency department of university hospital: evaluation of 250 patients

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the patients with acute amitriptyline poisoning and investigate predictive factors for the development of life-threatening complications.

METHODS

Demographics, clinical, laboratory, and electrocardiographic (ECG) findings of 250 patients were evaluated retrospectively. Predictive parameters for the development of serious complications were studied.

RESULTS

Median age of patients was 14.6 years, of which, 70% of patients were female and 66% were in pediatric age group. The most common pathological clinical finding and laboratory abnormality were alteration of consciousness and hyponatremia. The rate of convulsive seizure, arrhythmia, and respiratory depression were 17 (6.8%), 16 (6.4%), and 11 (4.4%), respectively. These complications were more seen in pediatric patients than adults (15.8% and 1.2%). The incidence of hyponatremia was more in pediatric patients and severe poisoning groups (38.8 and 53.4%, respectively). The levels of amitriptyline and nortriptyline were significantly higher in the group with complications than the group without complications (p < 0.05). All adult patients were discharged with good prognosis. In pediatric age group, one patient was discharged with severe neurological sequelae and one patient died. QRS duration >100 ms, long corrected QT duration interval, and low Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) at admission were identified as independent risk factors for the development of life-threatening complications (odds ratio: 69.4, 1.9, and 1383, respectively; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Amitriptyline poisoning may be associated with life-threatening complications, especially in pediatric age group and in patients with hyponatremia. Low GCS, presence of hyponatremia, high serum drug levels, and pathological ECG findings on admission may be helpful in predicting the development of complications and poor prognosis.

Neuroprotective effects of carvacrol and pomegranate against methotrexate-induced toxicity in rats

BACKGROUND

Studies related to the use of various antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drugs to decrease the toxic side effects related to MTX have been carried out. However, since no medicine providing full protection against the side effects of MTX has been discovered, the discovery of new agents is required.

AIM

The aim of this study was to determine whether methotrexate (MTX) causes oxidative stress and an inflammatory response in sciatic nerve, as well as whether carvacrol (CAR) and pomegranate (POM) have protective effects against the resulting oxidative stress and inflammatory response.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

32 adult male Wistar albino rats were used in the study. The animals were divided into 4 groups: Group C: the rats were not given any medication; Group MTX: On study day 2, the rats were given a single dose of 20 mg/kg MTX, administered intraperitoneally; Group MTX+CAR: On study day one, the rats were administered a single dose of 73 mg/kg CAR intraperitoneally. On study day two, a single dose of 20 mg/kg MTX was administered intraperitoneally; Group MTX+POM: For seven days starting from the study day one, rats were given 225 mg/kg POM extract once a day through orogastric gavage. On study day two, a single dose of 20 mg/kg MTX was administered intraperitoneally. All animals were sacrificed on the day eight. TOS, TAS, MDA, TNF-α and IL-1β levels were evaluated in the sciatic nerve tissue.

RESULTS

In comparison to the control group, a decrease in TAS levels and an increase in TOS, MDA, IL-1β and TNF-α levels were detected in the MTX group. Compared to the MTX group, the MTX+CAR group had a significant increase in TAS level and significant decreases in TOS, MDA, IL-1β and TNF-α levels. In comparison to the MTX group, the MTX+POM group had a significant decrease in MDA, IL-1β and TNF-α levels. When the MTX+CAR and MTX+POM groups were compared, the TNF-α level measured was lower in the MTX+CAR group.

CONCLUSIONS

In this work, we have shown that MTX causes a significant oxidative stress and inflammatory response in rats' sciatic nerve tissue and that CAR had an antioxidant effect in this system. Furthermore, we have proven, for the first time, that both CAR and POM decreased the pro-inflammatory response.

Laparoscopic salvage for malfunctioning of peritoneal dialysis catheters

AIM

The aim of this study was to emphasize the efficacy of the laparoscopic surgical method performed for elimination of catheter-induced mechanical complications developing in CAPD patients.

METHODS

Medical records of 31 patients who had undergone CAPD catheter implantation at the Dicle University Medical Faculty Hemodialysis Unit between January 2001 and June 2012 were examined retrospectively. Double-felted spiral Tenckhoff catheters were used in all patients for peritoneal access.

RESULTS

We performed a retrospective review of 31 patients who, over an 11-year period, underwent revision of a peritoneal dialysis catheter using laparoscopy. Chronic renal failure requiring dialysis occurred in 31 patients (12 males and 19 female). Ages ranged from 13 to 77 years (mean age 35.8 years).

CONCLUSION

As a conclusion, CAPD is currently a choice to be frequently used in patients with ESRD. In the treatment of CAPD-associated mechanical catheter complications laparoscopic method may be preferred because of patient comfort, short hospital stay, and lesser postoperative complications.

Surgical Treatment of Cervical Arteriovenous Fistula in a Patient with Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Vasculopathies are frequently associated with neurofibromatosis type-1, and they are generally occlusive or stenotic type lesions. Vertebral arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is quite rare in neurofibromatosis type 1 patients. They can be treated with surgical excision or endovascular occlusion. We describe a surgically treated cervical AVF in a neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) patient and discuss the selection of the patient for the surgery. Although endovascular occlusion is the first line treatment option for cervical AVFs, some selected cases can be successfully treated by surgery. Surgery should be considered as a treatment option in spite of its risks, especially for cervical AVF which is associated with fibromuscular system diseases like NF-1.

Spinal cord compression of primary extragonadal giant yolk sac tumor

STUDY DESIGN

Case report.

OBJECTIVE

To report an adult male patient with a primary extragonadal giant yolk sac tumor presenting with acute spinal cord compression.

SETTING

Faculty of Medicine, University of Dicle, Diyarbakir, Turkey.

METHOD

A 31-year-old man was referred to our department with a diagnosis of Pott's disease, a complaint of back pain and gait difficulty for 2 weeks. Neurological examination showed spastic paraparesis and hypoesthesia below the L2 dermatome level. He also had urinary incontinence. Abdominal computed tomography and lumbar magnetic resonance imaging study revealed a giant cystic mass lesion located in the psoas muscle. Posteriorly, the third lumbar vertebral body was destructed and the tumor was compressing the dural sac. A combined anterior and posterior approach was performed. Pathological diagnosis was a yolk sac tumor.

RESULT

His neurological status improved during the postoperative course. A chemotherapy protocol was given including bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin. Five months after the last chemotherapy, he was brought to the emergency unit in sepsis and died despite antibiotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Yolk sac tumor should be considered in young adult male patients presenting with acute paraparesis even without any signs or medical history of a testis tumor. These tumors may be unresectable; however, decompression of neural structures and stabilization of the spine with instrumentation may cause substantial improvement in neurological deficit and pain relief.

Complete L1-L2 lateral dislocation without fracture and neurologic deficit in a child

Spinal injuries in the infantile age group are relatively rare, mainly due to anatomical and biomechanical features of the pediatric spine. With its hypermobile character, pediatric spine can withstand trauma without fracture, and the elastic nature of the young spine allows easy slippage between segments, especially under the age of 8. Clinically, a few of the cases present with subluxation only, which seldom involve the lumbar level. We report an extremely rare case of traumatic complete upper lumbar lateral lystesis in a 3-year-old boy. The patient was treated conservatively and followed up for 2 years with some degree of correction.

Spontaneous acute subdural hematoma following contralateral calcified chronic subdural hematoma surgery: an unusual case

Calcified chronic subdural hematoma (CCSDH) is a well-known disease to many neurosurgeons but only few cases have been reported regarding its surgical complications. We report a spontaneous acute subdural hematoma following contralateral CCSDH surgery in a 16-year-old boy and discuss its possible mechanisms. The first few days of the postoperative period, especially for the cerebral atrophy cases, should be monitored carefully and a control computerized tomography scan should be performed early for possible complications. To our knowledge, spontaneous acute subdural hematoma following contralateral CCSDH surgery has not been reported previously.