Serum myeloperoxidase, paraoxonase, and plasma asprosin concentrations in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the serum biomarkers myeloperoxidase (MPO), paraoxonase (PON), and plasma asprosin in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) diagnosis and assess their compatibility with routinely screened cardiac biomarkers. Methods: This study was conducted using a prospective cross-sectional design and included 90 patients, consisting of 60 patients diagnosed with AMI (30 with ST-segment elevation and 30 with non-ST-segment elevation on ECG) and 30 controls (without a diagnosis of AMI). Changes in the levels of cardiac biomarkers (Hs-cTnI, CK, CK-MB), lipid profile (TC, TG, LDL, HDL), MPO, PON, asprosin, and routine biochemical parameters of patients were evaluated. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed the diagnostic value of Hs-cTnI, MPO, PON, and asprosin in predicting AMI. Binary logistic regression analysis of cardiac marker concentrations was used to predict the presence of AMI. In contrast, multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to predict the type of AMI and the control group. Results: The median levels of MPO and plasma asprosin were found to be higher in the patient group (3.22 [interquartile range {IQR}: 2.4-4.4] ng/ml and 10.84 [IQR: 8.8-17.8] ng/ml, respectively) than in the control group (2.49 [IQR: 1.9-2.9] ng/ml and 4.82 [IQR: 4.6-8.0] ng/ml, respectively) (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The median levels of PON were 8.94 (IQR: 7.6-10.4) ng/ml in the patient group and 10.44 (IQR: 9.1-20.0) ng/ml in the control group (p < 0.001). In the binary logistic regression model, compared with the control group, a 1 ng/ml increase in MPO level increased the odds of having AMI by 3.61 (p = 0.041, 95% CI: 1.055-12.397), whereas a 1 ng/ml increase in asprosin level increased the odds of having AMI by 2.33 (p < 0.001, 95% CI: 1.479-3.683). In the multinominal logistic regression model, compared with the control group, a 1 ng/ml increase in the MPO level increased the odds of having NSTEMI by 4.14 (p = 0.025, 95% CI: 1.195-14.350), whereas a 1 ng/ml increase in asprosin concentrations increased the odds of having NSTEMI by 2.35 (p < 0.001, 95% CI: 1.494-3.721). Conclusion: Herein, MPO and asprosin concentrations increased with Hs-cTnI, and a decrease in PON concentration indicated that oxidant-antioxidant parameters and adipokines were related to AMI pathogenesis.

Evaluation of the diagnosed incidental diabetes mellitus in patients with hyperglycaemia in the emergency department.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to determine the frequency and clinical features of patients who were diagnosed incidentally as having diabetes mellitus (DM) in the emergency department. AIM: Our aim was to investigate the ratio of DM in patients whose high blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia) were detected, and to examine the subsequent treatment for these patients. METHODS: The participants were selected from among patients who had a glucose level of ≥200 mg/dL and admitted to emergency department with symptoms of hyperglycaemia in the past one year. Age, gender, presence of chronic disease and the laboratory blood parameter results of the patients were recorded. We divided the patients into three groups as those who had never been admitted to clinics for treatment, those who were admitted and given treatment and not given treatment. RESULTS: According to their genders, 73 (52.1%) were male and 67 (47.9%) were female. It was determined that 86 of the 140 patients included in the study were admitted to clinics for control. It was determined that no medication was given to 50 of these patients, but treatment was initiated in 36. Patients with glucose level ≥300 mg/dL were found to be receiving more treatment significantly (P = .031). There were significantly fewer patients with renal disease in the group in which medication was initiated than in the group for which medication was not initiated. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with blood sugar ≥200 mg/dL in the emergency department should be sent to the DM outpatient clinic. It was observed that regular drug use after the diagnosis of DM had a protective effect on renal disease.

Comparison of efficacy dimenhydrinate and metoclopramide in the treatment of nausea due to vertigo; a randomized study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the therapeutic efficacy of dimenhydrinate and metoclopramide in patients with nausea and vertigo. METHODS: A prospective, double-blind, randomized clinical trial was performed on patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) with nausea and vertigo in the six month period between Nov 1st 2012 and May 1st 2013. Adult patients who were 18 to 65 years old presenting to the ED with nausea and vertigo or motion sickness were included in the study. A total of 200 patients were divided into 2 groups who were admitted to ED with complaints of vertigo accompanied by nausea. In the first group, 50 mg dimenhydrinate and 10 mg metoclopramide infusions were given intravenously for 15 min. The efficacy of treatment was measured by using a 10 mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) performed at 0, 15 and the 30th minute. The primary outcome variable was a reduction in vertigo intensity documented on the VAS at the 30th minute after medication administration. RESULTS: A total of 200 patients were included in the randomization (n=100 in both groups). The baseline vertigo VAS scores were 7.57±1.42 in the dimenhydrinate (DMT) group and 7.27±1.40 in the metoclopramide (MTP) group (p=0.09). In the 30th minute of treatment, the average vertigo VAS score was 2.46 ± 2.39 in the DMT group and 2.31±1.96 in the MTP group; no significant differences were detected between groups. The baseline nausea VAS scores were 7.62±1.48 in the DMT group and 7.45±1.27 in the MTP group (p=0.36). In the 30th minute of treatment the average vertigo VAS score decreased to 2.27±2.24 in the DMT group and 2.70±2.48 in the MTP group, no significant differences were detected between groups. No significant differences were detected between nausea VAS changes and vertigo VAS changes at 30th minutes of the treatment (p=0.06, p=0.85 respectively). Rescue medication need was similar in both treatment groups (p=0.94). No significant differences were detected about the side effects which are sedation (p=0.56) and hypotension (p=0.57). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this prospective, double-blind, randomized study showed that both DMT and MTP have similar efficacy in reducing nausea and vertigo symptoms in the ED.

Use of WhatsApp for Polyclinic Consultation of Suspected Patients With COVID-19: Retrospective Case Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Telephones, internet-connected devices (phablets, personal computers), chat platforms, and mobile apps (eg, Skype, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp) can be exploited for telemedicine applications. WhatsApp and similar apps are also widely used to facilitate clinical communication between physicians. Moreover, WhatsApp is used by emergency department (ED) physicians and consulting physicians to exchange medical information during ED consultations. This platform is regarded as a useful app in the consultation of dermatological and orthopedic cases. Preventing overcrowding in the ED is key to reducing the risk of disease transmission, and teleconsulting practice is thought to be effective in the diagnosis, treatment, and reduction of transmission risk of disease, most notably during the COVID-19 pandemic. Video consultation is highly recommended in some countries on the grounds that it is likely to reduce the risk of transmission. WhatsApp-like apps are among the video consultation platforms that are assumed to reduce the risk of contamination by minimizing patient-physician contact. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of WhatsApp video consultation on patient admission and discharge times in comparison to bedside consultation in the evaluation of potential patients with COVID-19 visiting a COVID-19 outpatient clinic during the pandemic. METHODS: Patients who presented to the ED COVID-19 outpatient clinic between March 11 and May 31, 2020, and for whom an infectious disease specialist was consulted (via WhatsApp or at bedside) were included in the study in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eventually, 54 patients whose consultations were performed via WhatsApp and 90 patients whose consultations were performed at bedside were included in our study. RESULTS: The median length of stay in the ED of discharged patients amounted to 103 minutes (IQR 85-147.75) in the WhatsApp group and 196 minutes (IQR 141-215) in the bedside group. In this regard, the length of stay in the ED was found to be significantly shorter in the WhatsApp group than in the bedside group (P<.001). Among the consulted and discharged patients, 1 patient in each group tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction test and thus was readmitted and hospitalized (P=.62). The median length of stay of the inpatients in the ED was found to be 116.5 minutes (IQR 85.5-145.5) in the WhatsApp group and 132 minutes (IQR 102-168) in the bedside group. The statistical analysis of this time difference revealed that the length of stay in the ED was significantly shorter for patients in the WhatsApp group than in the bedside group (P=.04). CONCLUSIONS: Consultation via WhatsApp reduces both contact time with patients with COVID-19 and the number of medical staff contacting the patients, which contributes greatly to reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. WhatsApp consultation may prove useful in clinical decision making as well as in shortening process times. Moreover, it does not result in a decreased accuracy rate. The shortened discharge and hospitalization timespans also decreased the length of stay in the ED, which can have an impact on minimizing ED crowding. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04645563; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04645563.