Evaluation of index of cardiac-electrophysiological balance in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Various electrocardiographic (ECG) changes occur after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Prolonged QT and corrected QT (QTc) intervals are notable changes. QT, QTc, T peak-to-end T(p-e) intervals, and Tp-e/QTc ratio are used as ventricular arrhythmia indices. In recent publications, the cardiac electrophysiological balance index (ICEB), which provides more information than other ECG parameters (QT, QTc, etc.), is recommended in predicting the risk of ventricular arrhythmia. This study aims to assess ICEB in aneurysmal SAH patients. METHODS: The study included 50 patients diagnosed with aneurysmal SAH and 50 patients diagnosed with hypertension without end-organ damage as the control group. All patients' Fisher scores and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores were recorded. Both groups were given 12-lead ECGs. QT, QTc, Tp-e intervals, QRS duration, ICEB (QT/QRS), ICEBc (QTc/QRS), and T(p-e)/QTc values were calculated and analyzed between groups. RESULTS: Compared to the control group; QT (426,64 ± 14,62 vs. 348,84 ± 12,24 ms, p < 0,001), QTc (456,24 ± 28,84 vs. 392,48 ± 14,36 ms, p < 0,001), Tp-e (84,32 ± 3,46 vs. 70,12 ± 3,12, p < 0,001), Tp-e/QTc (0,185 ± 0,08 vs. 0,178 ± 0,02, p < 0,001), ICEB (4,53 ± 0,78 vs. 3,74 ± 0,28, p < 0,001) and ICEBc (4,86 ± 0,86 vs. 4,21 ± 0,24, p < 0,001) were significantly higher in patients with aneurysmal SAH. QT, QTc and Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QTc ratio, ICEB (QT/QRS) and ICEBc (QTc/QRS) were positively correlated with the Fisher score and were negatively correlated with the GCS. According to linear regression analyses, the ICEBc (QTc/QRS) found to be independently associated with the Fisher score. CONCLUSION: The values of the ICEB and ICEBc were significantly increased in patients with aneurysmal SAH. The severity of SAH was positively correlated with the ICEB and ICEBc. The ICEBc (QTc/QRS) independently associated with the Fisher score. This may that SAH suggest may predispose to malignant ventricular arrhythmias.

Evaluation of Plasma Asprosin Concentration in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract Introduction: The goal of this study is to investigate the association between diagnosis and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and Asprosin level. Methods: Patients diagnosed with CAD who underwent conventional coronary angiography for the first time were included in the present study. The patients were divided into four groups, each consisting of 20 individuals, as medical group, single coronary lesion group, double coronary lesion group, and multiple coronary lesions group. Serum Asprosin values and Gensini scores of the groups were compared in terms of compliance. Results: In this study, Asprosin values were found to be significantly higher in the multiple coronary lesions group than in the medical, single coronary, and double coronary lesion groups (P<0.05). In the double coronary lesion group, Asprosin values were significantly higher (P<0.05) than the in the medical and single coronary lesion groups. It was also found that Asprosin values did not differ at significant levels in the medical and single coronary lesion groups (P>0.05). It was determined that the increases in Asprosin values and Gensini scores were compatible with each other. Conclusion: The present study showed that the increases in serum Asprosin levels, along with the increases in the number of coronary arteries with critical stenosis, might be a marker in diagnosing and determining the severity of CAD.

Evaluation of myocardial performance index in patients with COVID-19: An echocardiographic follow-up study.

Introduction and Objectives: Myocardial performance may be impaired in cytokine-mediated immune reactions. The myocardial performance index (MPI) is a practical parameter that reflects systolic and diastolic cardiac function. We aimed to assess the MPI in patients with COVID-19. Methods: The study population consisted of 40 healthy controls and 40 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who had mild pneumonia and did not need intensive care treatment. All participants underwent echocardiographic examination. First, the MPI and laboratory parameters were compared between healthy controls and patients in the acute period of infection. Second, the MPI and laboratory parameters were compared between the acute infection period and after clinical recovery. Results: Compared with healthy controls, patients with COVID-19 had a significantly higher MPI (0.56±0.09 vs. 0.41±0.06, p<0.001), longer isovolumic relaxation time (IRT) (112.3±13.4 vs. 90.6±11.2 ms, p<0.001), longer deceleration time (DT) (182.1±30.6 vs. 160.8±42.7 ms, p=0.003), shorter ejection time (ET) (279.6±20.3 vs. 299.6±34.7 ms, p<0.001) and higher E/A ratio (1.53±0.7 vs. 1.21±0.3, p<0.001). Statistically significantly higher MPI (0.56±0.09 vs. 0.44±0.07, p<0.001), longer IRT (112.3±13.4 vs. 91.8±12.1 ms, p<0.001), longer DT (182.1±30.6 vs. 161.5±43.5 ms, p=0.003), shorter ET 279.6±20.3 vs. 298.8±36.8 ms, p<0.001) and higher E/A ratio (1.53±0.7 vs. 1.22±0.4, p<0.001) were observed during the acute infection period than after clinical recovery. Left ventricular ejection fraction was similar in the controls, during the acute infection period and after clinical recovery. Conclusions: Subclinical diastolic impairment without systolic involvement may be observed in patients with COVID-19. This impairment may be reversible on clinical recovery.

Introducão e objetivos: O desempenho miocárdico pode ser prejudicado em reações imunes mediadas por citocinas. O índice de performance miocárdico (IPM) é um parâmetro que reflete a função cardíaca sistólica e diastólica. O nosso objetivo foi avaliar o IPM em doentes com COVID-19. Métodos: O presente estudo consistiu em analisar 40 casos controlo saudáveis e 40 doentes com diagnóstico de COVID-19 que apresentavam pneumonia ligeira e não necessitavam de tratamento intensivo. Todos os participantes foram submetidos a avaliação ecocardiográfica. Primeiro, o IPM e os parâmetros laboratoriais foram comparados entre os casos controlo saudáveis e os doentes com período agudo de infeção. Em segundo lugar, o IPM e os parâmetros laboratoriais foram comparados entre o período agudo de infeção e após a recuperação clínica. Resultados: Em comparação com os casos controlo saudáveis, os doentes com COVID-19 tiveram um IPM significativamente maior (0,56±0,09 versus 0,41±0,06, p<0,001), tempo de relaxamento isovolumétrico (TRI) mais longo (112,3±13,4 versus 90,6±11, 2 ms, p<0,001), tempo de desaceleração maior (TD) (182,1±30,6 versus 160,8±42, 7 ms, p=0,003), tempo de ejeção (TE) menor (279,6±20,3 versus 299,6±34, 7 ms, p<0,001) e razão E/A maior (1,53±0,7 versus 1,21±0,3, p<0,001). Um IPM superior estatisticamente significativo (0,56±0,09 versus 0,44±0,07, p<0,001), um TRI mais longo (112,3±13,4 versus 91,8±12, 1 ms, p<0,001), um TD mais longo (182,1±30,6 versus 161,5±43,5 ms, p=0,003), um TE mais curto (279,6±20,3 versus 298,8±36,8 ms, p<0,001) e razão E/A mais elevada (1,53±0,7 versus 1,22±0,4, p<0,001) foram observados durante o período agudo de infeção em comparação com aqueles após a recuperação clínica. A fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo foi semelhante nos casos controlo saudáveis, período agudo de infeção e após a recuperação clínica. Conclusão: A disfunçao diastólica subclínica sem difunção sistólica pode ser observada em doentes com COVID-19. Esta deficiência pode ser reversível na recuperação clínica.

Evaluation of Plasma Asprosin Concentration in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

INTRODUCTION: The goal of this study is to investigate the association between diagnosis and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and Asprosin level. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with CAD who underwent conventional coronary angiography for the first time were included in the present study. The patients were divided into four groups, each consisting of 20 individuals, as medical group, single coronary lesion group, double coronary lesion group, and multiple coronary lesions group. Serum Asprosin values and Gensini scores of the groups were compared in terms of compliance. RESULTS: In this study, Asprosin values were found to be significantly higher in the multiple coronary lesions group than in the medical, single coronary, and double coronary lesion groups (P<0.05). In the double coronary lesion group, Asprosin values were significantly higher (P<0.05) than the in the medical and single coronary lesion groups. It was also found that Asprosin values did not differ at significant levels in the medical and single coronary lesion groups (P>0.05). It was determined that the increases in Asprosin values and Gensini scores were compatible with each other. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that the increases in serum Asprosin levels, along with the increases in the number of coronary arteries with critical stenosis, might be a marker in diagnosing and determining the severity of CAD.

The medico-legal evaluation of injuries from falls in pediatric age groups.

Blunt trauma from accidental falls or intentional jumping from great heights occurs frequently in forensic medicine. The goal of this study was to investigate injuries due to falls in children under 19 years of age. Injuries from falls are the leading cause of visits to emergency departments and to deaths due to injuries. Various methods are used in the classification of falls. In this study, we have classified falls as "high-level" (≥ 5 m), "low-level" (<5 m) and "ground-level". We have retrospectively evaluated 814 boys (61.18%) and 512 girls (38.62%), making up a total of 1326 children (under 19 years old) with the mean age of 7.85 ± 3.46, that were admitted to State Hospital between January 2009 and December 2013 due to falls from heights and falls on ground-level. Falls were low-level in 738 cases, high-level in 176 cases, and ground-level in 412 cases. Cases were categorized by gender, age, age group, fall height, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), injured body part(s), mortality rate, and distribution according to months. In conclusion, falls merit attention because of their high risk of mortality and morbidity, as well as their burden on medical budgets. If the medico-legal aspects of falls were evaluated with regard to preventive event or death, the importance of the topic could be better understood.

Comparison of internal organ injuries by blunt abdominal trauma in rats with empty or full stomach.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to investigate if there was a difference in injury in intra-abdominal viscera due to blunt abdominal trauma sustained by rats with empty or full stomach and to examine which viscera is affected most, based on the direction of the trauma. METHODS: Since there is no data in the literature on the force of trauma, a pilot study was carried out before commencing the experimental study. An apparatus was built to determine the trauma force that would not cause sudden death, and rats were allowed free fall from a height of 40 and 45 cm so that they would land on their abdomen. The most appropriate force of trauma (F=69.978 N) and absorbed energy (E=½mv2=0.979 Joules) were obtained in rats weighing 250 g that fell from a height of 40 cm. RESULTS: Thirty six rats were included in the study and separated into six groups. Any statistically significant differences between groups with regard to the stomach being empty or full during trauma and its direction were examined (anterior, right/left sided). CONCLUSION: It was observed that there were differences in injuries sustained by the internal organs depending on the fullness or emptiness of the stomach and the direction of the trauma.

Suicides in adolescence: a twelve-year study from Eastern Turkey.

Suicide is a form of behavior brought about by a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors and the adverse effects of those factors on individuals, their surroundings, society, and subsequent generations. In this study, attention is focused on the increase in adolescent suicides in Elazig and the surrounding province. The probable suicide cases among adolescent deaths that occurred in Eastern Turkey between 2001 and 2012 were examined retrospectively. A total of 67 cases were evaluated in terms of age, sex, method of death, death location, and the time of the year at which death occurred. Of the 67 study cases, 40 were female (59.70%) and 27 were male (40.29%). When the methods of suicide were analyzed, it was found that hanging came in first place with 34 cases (50.74%), followed by death using a firearm with 27 cases (40.29%). Other types of death were self-poisoning in four cases (5.97%) and jumping from a height in two cases (2.98%). According to this study, there are common risk factors both for suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. Defining the prevalence of suicidal thoughts leading to suicide attempts, determining the risk factors, and evaluating the relationship between those factors and mental disorders will enable society to develop new approaches to suicidal behavior.

Comparison of the severity of traumatic brain injuries in pedestrians and occupants of motor vehicles admitted to Firat health center: a five-year series in an Eastern Turkish city.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of death of people in motor vehicle (MV) accidents, which have been increasing in number in developing countries. A retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate all cases admitted to the emergency department of the authors' institution with suspected injury after involvement in a MV-related accident between January 2000 and January 2005. MATERIAL/METHODS: During the study period a total of 2014 cases were admitted: 1258 were occupants of motor vehicles and 756 were pedestrians. Cases with traumatic brain injury were evaluated with respect to gender, age, Glasgow Coma Scales (GCS), and death. RESULTS: Five hundred thirty-two of the cases (386 male, 146 female, mean age: 26.8+/-20.3 years) involved in MV accidents experienced traumatic brain injuries, of which 299 were MV occupants and 233 were pedestrians. The pediatric (< or =16 years: 65.4%) and elderly (> or =65 years: 64.7%) groups were frequently involved as pedestrians in MV accidents; adults 17-64 years of age were involved as pedestrians at a lower rate (25.4%, p<0.001). The GCS values of the pedestrian victims were significantly lower than those of the MV occupants on admission (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results show that improvements in car safety have reduced life-threatening conditions for occupants of motor vehicles, but this does not include pedestrian safety. There is great need for practical strategies to reduce or prevent MV accident-related injuries among pedestrians, especially for the pediatric and elderly groups who are most exposed to these injuries.

Sudden death following periorbital pellet injury.

PURPOSE: To report an uneventful sudden death because of a periorbital pellet injury. METHOD: Review of autopsy findings. RESULTS: A 20-year-old hunter was shot accidentally during hunting. At autopsy, the body showed no significant injuries or deformity except for the pellet injuries and ecchymosis on the medial side of the left lower eyelid. Skull roentgenography located a pellet in the base of the cranium. Upon craniotomy, the cause of death was diagnosed as subarachnoidal haemorrhage due to incomplete basilar artery injury. The pellet entered through the medial cantus, passed through the inferior orbital fissure than the sphenooccipital junction and basilar artery and lodged in the pons. CONCLUSION: A-high index of suspicion is required in order to detect an intracranial extension in periorbital injuries.

Forensic value of gunpowder tattooing in identification of multiple entrance wounds from one bullet.

Multiple entrance gunshot wounds can give useful information in forensic evaluation of deaths from homicide and suicide. Although the presence of multiple entrance gunshot wounds does not absolutely exclude the possibility of suicide, they are important to the forensic investigators and pathologists in cases of assault, attempted homicide and suicide as they provide important clues for determination of number of shots fired and direction of firing. We present a case of 16 years of young woman who was shot to death by her husband. External examination revealed an entrance wound with semi-lunar shot residue at the dorsal side of her left hand at 5th metacarpus, and exit wound on the hypothenar muscle. There was also a second wound entrance located on her left zygoma. Direction of the bullet was downward traveling from left-to-right. Initially it was thought that there were two close shots, but when her left hand was placed over the malar area her face, it was determined that the gunshot powder tattoos were completing the nature of a single shot from a close distance. Crime scene investigation revealed only one cartridge casing. The autopsy and radiography findings showed that the bullet was entered from dorsal site of the left hand exiting from the palm and re-entering from the zygomatic region, hit the base of the skull, and remained in the soft tissue of the right mandible after passing the soft palate. The bullet was caused an incomplete laceration of the right internal arteria carotid and she died of internal and external bleeding. Detailed investigation of gunshot residues can provide important information for clarification of close distance gunshot wounding. We present this case due to its interesting nature, and to highlight the importance of detailed investigation of the gun powder residues in cases with multiple entry wounds.