Worldwide distribution and clinical characteristics of mad honey poisoning cases.

OBJECTIVES: Mad honey poisoning is a common public health problem that can be seen in many parts of the world. In this study, the symptoms and clinical findings of mad honey poisoning cases and their distribution worldwide were investigated based on current data. METHODS: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases were searched. The demographic characteristics of the cases, clinical findings, amount of consumed honey, duration of hospitalization, and data of the region where mad honey was produced were recorded. RESULTS: 900 cases were identified. The majority of poisoning cases (91.44%) were reported from mad honey produced in Turkey, Nepal (4.67%) came second and Korea (1.56) third. The majority of cases in Turkey were due to honey produced in the Black Sea Region. It was also determined that the mad honey was produced in the west Black Sea Region in most of the cases (35.22%), followed by the east Black Sea Region with a rate of 33.22%. In poisonous cases, it was determined that the mad honey was mostly produced in Rize, followed by Trabzon and Kastamonu, respectively. The most common signs of mad honey poisoning were bradycardia (88.48%) and hypotension (76.04%). CONCLUSION: The majority of cases have been reported from Turkey. When examining where the mad honey was produced in Turkey, it was seen that the western Black Sea Region came first, and the eastern Black Sea Region came second. Rize came first among the provinces, followed by Trabzon and Kastamonu. There is a parallelism between the distribution of mad honey poisoning cases and the distribution areas of Rhododendron species. However, although Rhododendron species show a widespread distribution throughout the world, why the majority of the cases were reported from Turkey draws attention as an issue that needs to be investigated.

Simulation-Based Drone Assisted Search Operations in a River.

INTRODUCTION: Drones can transmit live video and geographic coordinates during the planning stages for search and rescue operations and the operations themselves. There are few simulation studies in which drones provided rescue support. However, the literature does not contain any simulation studies involving the use of drones to locate lost "victims" represented by dummies in rivers. We developed a simulation model to compare the first visual contact times for drone-assisted search techniques (DAST) and classic search techniques (CST). METHODS: In this prospective experimental simulation study, we used both DAST and CST to perform a series of river searches for unconscious victims (represented by dummies). We calculated the first visual contact times, total scanned area, scanned area per minute, flight-walking distances, and flight-walking speeds and compared the results between both groups. The data are presented as mean±SD. RESULTS: We performed 20 search and rescue operations, 10 with the CST and 10 with the DAST. The time to reach the victim was 823±177 s using CST and 80±14 s using DAST. The area scanned by unit time was 3091±54 m2·min-1 using CST and 22,640±1622 m2·min-1 using DAST. CONCLUSIONS: The drone-assisted search technique located a simulated victim drifting in a river faster than the classic search technique. The use of drones in search and rescue operations could improve the time to find victims.

A Comparison of the Effects of Grayanotoxin-Containing Honey (Mad Honey), Normal Honey, and Propolis on Fracture Healing.

OBJECTIVES: Delayed healing and non-union of fractures have a significant effect upon patient morbidity. Studies have therefore largely concentrated on accelerating fracture healing. This study was intended to compare the effect of "mad honey" and propolis on fracture healing using radiological and histopathological analysis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Femur fracture was surgically performed on 48 rats, followed by fixation. Animals were then divided into 8 groups: 2 control groups (15- and 30-day) and 6 treatment groups (15- and 30-day normal honey, 15- and 30-day "mad honey," and 15- and 30-day propolis). Rats were sacrificed at the end of these periods, and radiological and histological examinations were performed. RESULTS: Radiological healing in the propolis group after 15-day therapy was statistically better than in the control (p = 0.004) and normal honey (p = 0.006) groups. After 30-day therapy, healing in the propolis group (p = 0.005) and grayanotoxin-containing "mad honey" group (p = 0.007) were significantly better than in the control group. Histologically, there was a statistically significant difference between the 15-day propolis group and the other groups (control, honey, mad honey: p = 0.003, p = 0.003, and p = 0.002, respectively). We also found a statistically significant difference when the 30-day propolis group (p = 0.005) and "mad honey" group (p = 0.007) were compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that grayanotoxin-containing "mad honey" and propolis can accelerate fracture healing.

Endovascular embolization in the management of traumatic and postoperative abdominopelvic bleeding: a single-center experience

Background/aim: Endovascular embolization is widely used instead of surgery in the treatment of traumatic and postoperative abdominopelvic bleeding. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of computed tomography in the determination of active bleeding and the efficiency of endovascular embolization in traumatic and postoperative abdominopelvic bleeding. Materials and methods: Thirty-one patients admitted to our hospital with traumatic and postoperative abdominopelvic bleeding between January 2006 and September 2012 and treated with endovascular embolization were retrospectively enrolled in the study. In 15 hemodynamically stable patients, abdominal computed tomography was performed to detect the presence and/or localization of the hemorrhage. All 31 patients underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and endovascular embolization. Results: Active hemorrhage was detected in all patients evaluated by computed tomography. Thirty-two embolization procedures were performed in 31 patients. Embolization was successful in all procedures. Two patients needed retreatment because of recurrent bleeding. One patient died 2 days after embolization as a result of concomitant multiorgan injury. Conclusion: Computed tomography is able to detect active bleeding, allowing it to take the place of diagnostic DSA. If careful patient selection is carried out, endovascular embolization may be the final treatment, despite high-grade visceral organ injury.

The effect of ethyl pyruvate and N-acetylcysteine on ischemia-reperfusion injury in an experimental model of ischemic stroke.

INTRODUCTION: Reperfusion therapies play an important role in early-period treatment for patients presenting to the emergency department due to stroke. However, the ischemia-reperfusion injury that may occur with reperfusion must then be considered. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and ethyl pyruvate in preventing ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHOD: This study is a randomized, controlled experimental study. In group 1, rats' left main carotid arteries were clamped. Reperfusion was established by releasing the clamp after 1.5 hours. In group 2, the left main carotid artery was clamped, and 20 mg/kg intraperitoneal NAC was administered after 1 hour. The clamp was released 0.5 hour after NAC administration. In group 3, rats' left carotid arteries were clamped, and 50 mg/kg ethyl pyruvate was administered intraperitoneally after 1 hour. The clamp was released 0.5 hour after ethyl pyruvate administration. All tissue samples were collected 2.5 hours after reperfusion. Brain tissues were compared histopathologically. RESULTS: A higher percentage of degenerative neurons was determined in group 1 compared with groups 2 and 3 (P values: P(a) = .003 and P(c) = .003, respectively). A significant difference was also observed between groups 2 and 3 (P(b) = .003), with the percentage of degenerative neurons being lower in the NAC group than in the ethyl pyruvate group. CONCLUSION: The use of NAC and ethyl pyruvate reduces injury resulting from ischemia-reperfusion in an experimental animal model of acute ischemic stroke and subsequent reperfusion.

A study to develop clinical decision rules for the use of radiography in wrist trauma: Karadeniz wrist rules.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with wrist trauma using physical examination findings and functional tests and to identify findings with high sensitivity and specificity among the parameters assessed in patients with fracture in the wrist. The ultimate objective was thus to establish a reliable and widely usable clinical decision rule for determining the necessity of radiography in wrist trauma. METHODS: This prospective, multicenter study was performed in 8 hospitals. The relation between radiologically determined fracture and clinical findings consisting of physical examination findings and functional tests was assessed in terms of whether or not these were markers of radiography requirement, with the aim of identifying predictive values for fracture. RESULTS: A total of 603 eligible trauma patients presented to the participating EDs during the study period. Fracture was identified in 24.5% of patients (n = 148). The 4-way combination with the highest sensitivity was identified as axial compression and the positive distal radioulnar drawer test, and pain with radial deviation and dorsal flexion. Sensitivity at distal ulna palpation was added as a fifth parameter, and sensitivity and negative predictive value thus increased to 100%. CONCLUSION: With their 100% sensitivity and 100% negative predictive values, the Karadeniz wrist rules may represent a clinical decision rule that can be used in practice in EDs. If all 5 findings are negative, there is no indication for wrist radiography.

Mad Honey Poisoning-Related Hypothermia: A Case Series.

BACKGROUND: Mad honey-related intoxication frequently leads to bradycardia, hypotension, and syncope. Hypothermia is a potentially life-threatening condition if not identified early and treated appropriately. CASE REPORT: Three patients are reviewed. Patient 1 was a 66-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with nausea, vomiting, and faintness beginning 2 h after consuming honey. His temperature was 34°C, his blood pressure was 70/40 mm Hg, and his heart rate was 30 beats/min. Patient 2, a 57-year-old man, presented to the emergency department with headache, feeling cold, and faintness beginning 3 h after consuming honey. His temperature was 35°C, his blood pressure was 60/40 mm Hg, and his heart rate was 46 beats/min. Patient 3 was a 79-year-old woman who presented with nausea, vomiting, and headache 2 h after consuming honey. Her temperature was 35°C, her blood pressure was 70/40 mm Hg, and her heart rate was 40 beats/min. All 3 patients were discharged in good condition after appropriate therapy. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Bradycardia and hypotension are frequently encountered in mad honey intoxication. However, intoxication accompanied by hypothermia has attracted little attention to date.

Determination of radiography requirement in wrist trauma.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate predetermined physical examination and function tests recommended to identify severe injury among patients presenting with wrist injury to the emergency department and to establish a reliable clinical decision rule capable of determining the need for radiography in wrist injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter prospective derivation study of wrist injuries. All patients were assessed in terms of mechanism of trauma, inspection findings, heart rate, sensitivity at palpation, presence of pain with active movement, grasp strength, and functional tests using an examination form under main headings. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were expressed for each sign and each examination finding. RESULTS: One hundred nineteen adult patients were enrolled during the 6-month study period. Fracture was identified in 24.3% (n = 29). Presence of pain on the radial deviation, dorsal flexion, distal radioulnar drawer, and axial compression tests exhibited high sensitivity (82.8%, 89.7%, 82.8%, and 86.2%, respectively) and high negative predictive values (88.6%, 81.3%, 87.5%, and 93.6%, respectively) for wrist fracture. Sensitivity of 96.6% was observed when these 4 tests were evaluated together. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of one of these examination findings increases the likelihood of fracture and is adequate to recommend wrist radiography. In addition, there is a strong possibility of radiography being unnecessary if all 4 test results are negative in patients presenting with wrist injury, potentially preventing many nonessential radiographs being performed.

Diagnostic value of plasma signal peptide-Cub-Egf domain-containing protein-1 (SCUBE-1) in an experimental model of acute ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVES: This study was intended to examine possible diagnostic value of plasma Signal Peptide-Cub-Egf domain-containing protein-1 (SCUBE1) levels in an experimental model of acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: Twenty-four female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Blood and brain tissue specimens were collected immediately following artery ligation (control; Group 1), 1h after ligation (Group 2), 2 h after ligation (Group 3) and 6h after ligation (Group 4). SCUBE1 levels were investigated in the serum specimens. The brain samples were examined histopathologically. Correlation analysis was performed between the values. RESULTS: Median SCUBE1 values were 1.75 ng/ml in the control group, 3.80 ng/ml, 3.71 ng/ml and 4.19 ng/ml in the groups 2, 3 and 4, respectively (n=6 for each, P=0.004, for each group compared to control values). Histopathological analysis revealed median atrophic neuron percentages of 16% (in group 1), 42%, 55% and 76% in group 2, 3 and 4 respectively (n=6 for each, P=0.004, for each group compared to control group). A higly significant correlation was determined between SCUBE-1 levels and percentage of atrophic neurons (r=0.744 P=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: In this experimental model of acute ischemic stroke plasma SCUBE1 levels rose from the 1st hour of induced stroke and remained high up to 6th hour tested. Results of this experimental study has a potential to become the basis for a clinical study to confirm whether SCUBE1 can be used as a biomarker in the early diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke patients.

Medical Response to the February 6, 2023, Earthquakes in Hatay: Challenges Faced in the Deadliest Disaster in the History of Türkiye.

OBJECTIVE: The Kahramanmaras earthquakes struck the north-eastern part of Türkiye and Syria on February 6, 2023. It is well known that timely coordination and provision of emergency medical care in the field is particularly important to save lives after earthquakes. This study aimed to identify the challenges faced by medical responders on the ground. METHODS: This exploratory-descriptive qualitative study was conducted in Hatay, the province most affected by the earthquakes. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and field observations, and then analyzed using thematic analysis approach. RESULTS: The study was carried out with 15 first responders from the medical profession. The study revealed 9 themes of challenges faced by medical responders: providing safety and security, human resources management, meeting personal needs, recording data, communication, patient transport, burial procedures, psychological acumen, and logistical problems. Some problems were resolved after 72 h and some continued until day 7. CONCLUSIONS: Inadequate organization of volunteer health workers, communication breakdowns, and logistical problems are some of the main challenges. To address these issues, satellite phones and radio systems can be promoted, as well as disaster-resilient logistical planning and better coordination of volunteers.

The relationship between oxidative stress and apoptosis of histopathological changes in the ovary made by mad honey containing grayanotoxin.

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of grayanotoxin in mad honey on ovarian tissue folliculogenesis in terms of cell death and nitric oxide expression. Three groups of 18 female Sprague-Dawley rats were formed. The first group received mad honey (80 mg/kg), the second group received normal honey (80 mg/kg), and the third group was the control. The first and second groups received normal and mad honey by oral gavage for 30 days before being sacrificed under anesthesia. Caspase 3 immunostaining showed a moderate to strong response, particularly in the mad honey group. In the mad honey group, immunostaining for caspase 8 and caspase 9 revealed a moderate immunoreaction in the granulosa cells of the Graaf follicles. The majority of Graaf follicles exhibited TUNEL positive in the mad honey group. The iNOS immunoreaction revealed a high level of expression in the mad honey group. In all three groups, eNOS immunostaining showed weak reactivity. According to the findings of apoptotic and nitric oxide marker expression, it was determined that mad honey may result in an increase in follicular atresia in ovarian follicles when compared to normal honey and control groups.

Strategies for Strengthening the Resilience of Public Health Systems for Pandemics, Disasters, and Other Emergencies.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify and prioritize strategies for strengthening public health system resilience for pandemics, disasters, and other emergencies using a scorecard approach. METHODS: The United Nations Public Health System Resilience Scorecard (Scorecard) was applied across 5 workshops in Slovenia, Turkey, and the United States of America. The workshops focused on participants reviewing and discussing 23 questions/indicators. A Likert type scale was used for scoring with zero being the lowest and 5 the highest. The workshop scores were analyzed and discussed by participants to prioritize areas of need and develop resilience strategies. Data from all workshops were aggregated, analyzed, and interpreted to develop priorities representative of participating locations. RESULTS: Eight themes emerged representing the need for better integration of public health and disaster management systems. These include: assessing community disease burden; embedding long-term recovery groups in emergency systems; exploring mental health care needs; examining ecosystem risks; evaluating reserve funds; identifying what crisis communication strategies worked well; providing non-medical services; and reviewing resilience of existing facilities, alternate care sites, and institutions. CONCLUSIONS: The Scorecard is an effective tool for establishing baseline resilience and prioritizing actions. The strategies identified reflect areas in most need for investment to improve public health system resilience.

Age-dependent structural and radiological changes in the larynx.

AIM: To define radiological physiological changes in the larynx by establishing an age-related scale. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present retrospective study used radiological records of patients that had undergone lateral cervical imaging. Three hundred patients were included. Thyroid cartilage was divided into anatomical regions. The hyoid bone was evaluated as the body and greater horns. Cases were compared by grouping by age and gender. RESULTS: Thyroid tissue and cricoid cartilage only became visible after the second decade. Ossification in the thyroid cartilage began in the posterior inferior horn and progressed to the superior horn and central lamina. It also began in the posterior part of the cricoid cartilage and moved forward with age. In the first decade, the body and greater horn parts of the hyoid bone could be seen more distinctly, and after the third decade the hyoid bone appeared as a single bone. The hyoid bone was the only structure ossified in the laryngeal region below the age of 20 and formed an image on direct imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Age-related changes to the laryngeal tissues are evident on radiographs. Clinicians should bear this in mind when evaluating neck radiographs.

Pseudocholinesterase levels are not decreased in grayanotoxin (mad honey) poisoning in most patients.

BACKGROUND: The symptoms of mad honey poisoning resemble those of cholinergic toxidromes; however, it is not clear whether they share a common biochemical basis. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate a possible resemblance between mad honey poisoning and cholinergic toxidromes. METHODS: This is a descriptive study performed prospectively in patients presenting to a University Medical Faculty Emergency Medicine Department emergency service with mad honey poisoning over 1 year, from September 2008 to September 2009. Adult patients with clinical findings suggesting mad honey poisoning (i.e., bradycardia, hypotension, syncope, and vertigo) and with a history of honey consumption were enrolled. Pseudocholinesterase levels in blood samples taken from the mad honey-poisoned patients were analyzed to determine whether these were lower than normal pseudocholinesterase levels for adults (5400-13,200 U/L). RESULTS: The most common symptoms of the 30 patients enrolled in the study were vertigo and nausea. Low blood pressure and bradycardia were the most frequently observed physical examination findings. None of the patients enrolled had a history of disease that might cause low pseudocholinesterase. Mean pseudocholinesterase levels in our patients with mad honey poisoning were 7139.30 ± 2316.41 U/L (min-max: 1785-12,835). Blood pseudocholinesterase levels were within normal limits in 90% of patients and below normal in 10%. CONCLUSION: A low pseudocholinesterase level was found in 3 (10%) of our 30 patients. These biochemical data do not support the hypothesis that mad honey poisoning should be regarded as cholinergic poisoning.

A wild wolf attack and its unfortunate outcome: rabies and death.

Wild animal attacks are potential occurrences in rural areas of Turkey. Wolf attacks, however, are rare this century, but there are many anecdotal reports from previous times. Attacks by wolves are generally directed against animals, such as cows and sheep, and for feeding purposes. Wolf attacks on humans are a little known and unexpected phenomenon. A 60-year-old man was brought to the emergency department with facial injuries caused by a wolf emerging from a rural area and leaping at his face as he was sitting in his garden. During the incident, the patient strangled the wolf to death. Despite postexposure prophylaxis the patient likely died because of rabies.

Ischemia-modified albumin levels in carbon monoxide poisoning.

OBJECTIVES: Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) is an emerging diagnostic biomarker for many ischemic conditions. This study was conducted to investigate whether there is a change in IMA levels in carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and, if so, the clinical relevance of IMA levels. METHODS: This cohort study, performed between November 2008 and April 2009, compared the serum IMA levels of 33 CO-poisoned patients taken at the time of presentation at the emergency department and after 3 hours of treatment and 49 healthy controls. In addition, IMA and carboxyhemoglobin levels were analyzed according to CO poisoning patients' poisoning severity scores. RESULTS: Carbon monoxide patients' IMA levels were higher than those of the control group both at time of admission and at the third hour of the treatment, P < .0001. A significant fall was determined in carboxyhemoglobin (CO-Hb) levels at the end of the third hour of treatment, P < .0001. However, there was no significant difference between the IMA levels measured at admission and at the end of the third hour of treatment (P > .05). There was no significant correlation between IMA and CO-Hb levels in CO-poisoned patients. Also, there was no difference in blood IMA levels in classification according to patients' poisoning severity score and CO-Hb levels. CONCLUSION: Results from this pioneering study established a high level of IMA in CO-poisoned patients, suggesting that IMA may also be sensitive to hypoxia. Considering the preliminary nature of this study, the clinical utility of IMA levels in CO poisoning should be further investigated with more comprehensive studies.

Differences in ischemia-modified albumin levels between end stage renal disease patients and the normal population.

INTRODUCTION: Conventional biomarkers suffer from the drawback of being elevated in chronic renal failure even in the absence of myocardial ischemia. Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) is a new biomarker proposed for the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia. This study was performed with the primary aim of determining IMA levels in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). The secondary aim of the study was to determine the impact of hemodialysis (HD), HD speed, and hemoglobin (Hb) levels on IMA levels. METHODS: The study was conducted with 108 ESRD patients entering HD and 30 healthy volunteers. The serum IMA levels of ESRD patients were compared with the post-HD levels and also with healthy individuals. The interaction between Hb levels and HD treatment and the IMA levels were tested by using the Generalized Linear Model for repeated measurements. RESULTS: The IMA levels of ESRD patients, both pre- and post-HD, were significantly higher than those of the control group. The baseline IMA levels of "low" and "high Hb groups" were not significantly different. Hb level modifies the effect of HD treatment on IMA concentration in ESRD patients. Furthermore, post-HD levels of IMA were increased at a lower dialysis speed. CONCLUSIONS: Both pre- and post-dialysis IMA levels are higher in ESRD patients entering HD than in healthy individuals. Anemia is an effect-modifier for the effect of HD treatment on IMA levels in ESRD patients.

The prognostic value of neuron-specific enolase in head trauma patients.

In recent years, in addition to neurological examination and neuroradiologic examinations, attempts have been made to assess the severity of post-traumatic brain injury and to obtain an early idea of patient prognosis using biochemical markers with a high degree of brain tissue specificity. One such enzyme is neuron-specific enolase (NSE). This study investigates the correlation between serum NSE levels, Glasgow Coma Score, and prognosis measured by Glasgow Outcome Scores in head trauma patients. This was a prospective study conducted with 80 trauma patients presenting to the Emergency Department. Patients were divided into four groups. The first group consisted of patients with general body trauma, but no head trauma. The second group had minor head trauma. The third group had moderate head trauma, and the fourth group had severe head trauma. The relationship between subjects' admission NSE levels and admission and discharge Glasgow Coma Scores (GCS) and Glasgow Outcome Scores (GOS) 1 month later was examined. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed using a serum NSE cutoff level of 20.52 ng/mL and a GOS of 3 or less as the definition of poor neurologic outcome. There was a significant difference in the NSE levels between group 1 (general trauma) and group 3 (moderate head trauma). There was also a statistically significant difference in NSE levels between group 1 (general trauma) and group 4 (severe head trauma) (p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant inverse relationship between NSE levels and GOS as determined within groups 3 (moderate) and 4 (severe head trauma) (p < 0.05). When NSE levels were compared with admission GCS, it was found that GCS fell as NSE levels rose. There was no significant correlation between NSE and GCS within groups 3 (moderate) or 4 (severe). There was a statistically significant correlation within group 2 (mild) (p < 0.05). By ROC analysis, serum NSE was 87% sensitive and 82.1% specific in predicting poor neurologic outcome in the study patients. The area under the curve was 0.931. This study shows that initial serum NSE levels in moderate and severe head trauma patients correlate inversely with GOS 1 month later, but only within the moderate and severe head trauma groups. However, serum NSE was 87% sensitive and 82.1% specific in predicting poor neurologic outcome in all of the study patients. This derived cutoff value now needs to be prospectively validated.

A case of intratracheal schwannoma presenting at the emergency department with a diagnosis of asthmatic attack.

Primary tumors of the tracheobronchial tree are rare, and benign tumors are even rarer. Patients with tracheobronchial tumors are at times wrongly diagnosed with asthma. A 77-year-old woman presented to our Emergency Department with increasing dyspnea and stridor. She had been treated for bronchial asthma for the last 7 years. Due to the presence of the stridor, a cervical soft tissue computed tomography scan was performed. It revealed a tracheal polyp at the level of the thyroidal isthmus. Polyp excision with rigid bronchoscopy was performed by a thoracic surgeon. This case demonstrates that intratracheal masses should be considered in patients with dyspnea and stridor or in patients with asthma refractory to usual treatment.

Does mad honey poisoning require hospital admission?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe current patterns of monitoring and treatment of mad honey intoxication to make recommendations for a more standardized approach to care of patients with mad honey poisoning. METHODS: Patients presenting to emergency departments because of honey poisoning between January and October 2007. Age, length of stay in the emergency department, pulse rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure are cited as mean +/- SD. RESULTS: Forty-seven cases presenting to the 3 health institutions during 2007 were investigated. It was determined that patients had ingested "mad" honey between 0.5 and 9 hours (mean +/- SD, 2.8 +/- 1.8 hours) before presentation. Patients' pulse rates were 30 to 77/min (mean +/- SD, 46.6 +/- 12.1/min), and systolic blood pressure ranged from 50 to 140 mm Hg (mean +/- SD, 46.6 +/- 12.1 mm Hg). Patient rhythms on arrival were determined as 37 (7.7%) sinus bradycardia, 6 (12.8%) nodal rhythm, 3 (6.4%) normal sinus rhythm, and 1 (2.1%) complete atrioventricular block. Lengths of stay in hospital were 3.6 +/- 2.2 hours in the first university hospital, 22.2 +/- 3.8 hours in the second university hospital, and 3.4 +/- 1.7 hours in the state hospital. A 0.5 to 2 mg of atropine was given to all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study did not reveal any difference in complications or mortality between patients cared for with brief emergency department observation when compared with patients cared for with 1 day inpatient observation.