Comparison of the ability of newly inflammatory markers to predict complicated appendicitis.

Introduction: Acute appendicitis (AA) is the predominant condition responsible for acute abdominal pain across all age demographics. The purpose of this research is to determine if the hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) and modified HALP (m-HALP) scores differ between complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis in patients diagnosed with AA who have applied to the emergency department (ED). Additionally, this study aims to investigate whether HALP and m-HALP scores are superior to other biomarkers. Materials and methods: The retrospective analysis included adult patients, aged eighteen or older, who were diagnosed with AA, and sought treatment at the ED of a tertiary hospital. Patients were divided into two groups: complicated appendicitis (CA) and uncomplicated appendicitis (UCA). The cut-off in diagnostic value measurements was determined using the receiver operating characteristic analysis. Results: A total of 436 patients (CA: 126, UCA: 310) were included. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), neutrophil-to-albumin ratio, systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), and pan-immune inflammation value (PIV) were found to have acceptable diagnostic power in CA detection (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.735-0.783). In detecting UCA, HALP and m-HALP were of fair diagnostic power (AUC: 0.64, 0.68, respectively). Conclusions: In this study, we found that although PIV, SIRI, SII, and NLR had acceptable diagnostic values in distinguishing CA and UCA, HALP and m-HALP had fair diagnostic values.

Evaluation of inflammatory biomarkers affecting mortality in acute cholecystitis in the emergency department.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of pan-immune inflammation value (PIV), systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) in predicting mortality in acute cholecystitis (AC). BACKGROUND: Abdominal pain is one of the most frequent complaints encountered by physicians at emergency department (ED). METHODS: This clinical study is a cross-sectional study among patients admitted to the emergency department of a tertiary hospital and diagnosed with AC. Total survival curves were estimated by the Kaplan‒Meier method. Differences according to risk groups were determined by the log-rank test. RESULTS: A total of 789 patients (survival: 737, non-survival: 52) diagnosed with AC were enrolled in the study. NLR and SII had an excellent diagnostic power in predicting 30-day mortality in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, while the diagnostic power of SIRI and PIV was acceptable. It was observed that the probability of survival period decreased in the presence of NLR (>11.07), SII (>2315.18), SIRI (>6.55), and PIV (>1581.13) above the cut-off levels. The HRs of NLR, SII, SIRI, and PIV were 10.52, 7.44, 6.34, and 5.6, respectively. CONCLUSION: NLR, SII, SIRI, and PIV may be useful markers in predicting 30-day mortality in patients with AC (Tab. 3, Fig. 5, Ref. 25).

The Association Between Hyponatremia and Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter: A Prospective Study.

Background Hyponatremia is a common electrolyte balance disorder. It may result in brain edema and increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measurement remains an increasingly sought-after method in many situations associated with ICP elevations. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between the change of ONSD before and after hypertonic saline (3% sodium chloride) treatment and the clinical improvement with increased sodium levels in patients with symptomatic hyponatremia who presented to the emergency department. Methodology This study was conducted in the emergency department of a tertiary hospital, according to the design of a prospective, self-controlled, non-randomized trial study. Determined by power analysis, 60 patients were included in the study. The statistical analysis of the continuous data was performed using the means, standard deviations, and minimum and maximum values of the feature values. The frequency and percentage values were used to define categorical variables. The mean difference comparison of pre-and post-treatment measurements was evaluated by paired t-test. P<0.05 was considered to be significant. Results The measurement parameters' differences before and after hypertonic saline treatment were evaluated. While the mean of the right eye ONSD was 5.27±0.22 mm before treatment, it declined substantially to 4.52±0.24 mm after treatment (p<0.001). It was also found that the left eye ONSD was 5.26±0.23 mm before the treatment and declined to 4.53±0.24 mm after the treatment (p<0.001). In addition, the mean of the overall ONSD was 5.26±0.23 mm before treatment and 4.52±0.24 mm after treatment (p<0.001). Conclusions Ultrasonic measurement of ONSD can be used to monitor the clinical improvement of patients receiving hypertonic saline therapy for symptomatic hyponatremia.

Diagnostic value of end-tidal carbon dioxide in the differential diagnosis of unstable angina and non-cardiac chest pain.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the diagnostic value of End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) measured non-invasively at the bedside in order to distinguish between unstable angina pectoris (UAP) and non-cardiac chest pain among patients who present to the emergency department with chest pain without a history of cardiac pathology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This clinical study is a prospective case-control study among patients presenting to the emergency department of a tertiary hospital with chest pain. After evaluating the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the patients were divided into two groups: 62 patients with UAP and 62 patients with non-cardiac chest pain. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the cut-off in diagnostic value measurements. For UAP prediction, the odds ratio of ETCO2 (including 95% confidence intervals) was calculated using univariate with binary logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: ETCO2 had an excellent diagnostic power in detecting UAP, with 35 cut-offs determined (AUC: 0.84, 95% Cl: 0.76-0.90, p < 0.001). When ETCO2, which affects both non-cardiac chest pain and UAP, is evaluated, an ETCO2 of <35 is statistically significant and 9.74 times more common among UAP patients than patients with non-cardiac chest pain. CONCLUSION: ETCO2, a non-invasive parameter that can be measured immediately at the bedside, may be proposed as a potential biomarker for differentiating patients with UAP from those with non-cardiac chest pain.

The Utilization of Activated Charcoal in the Management of Anaphylaxis: A Case Series.

Anaphylaxis is a sudden onset of systemic hypersensitivity caused by mast cell and basophil degranulation. Food, Hymenoptera venom, and drug allergy are among the leading causes of anaphylaxis, particularly in adults. We can consider anaphylaxis caused by swallowing food or medication as a form of poisoning. Because in anaphylaxis, just like in poisoning, an allergen entering the body poses a life-threatening risk. Therefore, the allergen should be removed from the digestive system immediately. However, the decontamination of the gastrointestinal tract is not routinely used to prevent further absorption of allergens from the intestine into the systemic circulation. Among the gastrointestinal decontamination methods is the use of activated charcoal. In this article, we present four patients who developed anaphylaxis due to drug and food intake and were administered oral activated charcoal after their primary treatment (on average, 15-45 minutes after the first presentation) was completed. The youngest of the patients was 22 years old, and the oldest was 40. No side effects, prolonged anaphylactic state, and biphasic reactions were observed in the follow-up of the patients. All patients were discharged after 48-72 hours of hospitalization. The routine approach to poisoning treatment includes patient stabilization, toxidrome recognition, antidote administration, and supportive care, as well as measures to enhance toxin elimination. In anaphylaxis caused by oral allergens, the substance that initiates the reaction can be compared to a kind of toxin. Eliminating the allergen and reducing its absorption could be achieved by administering activated charcoal. Activated charcoal should be considered adjunctive therapy in treating food and oral drug-induced anaphylaxis. This treatment, when administered in a timely manner, might prevent the development of biphasic reactions and the prolongation of the allergic process in anaphylaxis.

Diagnostic value of monocyte-lymphocyte ratio and red cell distribution width- lymphocyte ratio against other biomarkers in children with acute appendicitis, cross-sectional study.

Our study aims to ascertain the diagnostic value of the Monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and red cell distribution width (RDW)-lymphocyte ratio (RLR) by comparing them with other biomarkers in distinguishing patients with and without acute appendicitis (AA). A total of 223 children were recruited in the study conducted according to the Cross-Sectional Study design. Patients under 18 years were assigned to 3 groups; AA, nonspecific abdominal pain (NAP), and a control group. According to the outcome of our research, while C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil count (NEU), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and MLR had excellent diagnostic power, RLR had acceptable diagnostic power, and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) had only fair diagnostic power. MLR and NLR, which are simple, inexpensive, and easily accessible parameters, can be recommended to be used together with other biomarkers in diagnosing AA in children.

Assessment of the Diagnostic Value of Novel Biomarkers in Adult Patients With Acute Appendicitis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Acute appendicitis (AA) is one of the most frequent causes of abdominal pain requiring emergency intervention in adults. Approximately one-third of cases present with atypical clinical symptoms. This study aims to compare the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), red cell distribution width (RDW) to lymphocyte ratio (RLR), and systemic immune inflammation index (SII) with other biomarkers in distinguishing patients with and without AA. Methodology A total of 347 patients (AA 125, nonspecific abdominal pain 90, and control group 132) were enrolled in the study according to the cross-sectional study design. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the cutoff in diagnostic value measurements. Statistical significance was determined by the statistics of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Comparison of ROC curves of C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil count (NEU), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), MLR, and SII was evaluated with the pairwise comparison of ROC curves and 95% confidence interval. Results In detecting AA, CRP, WBC, NEU, NLR, MLR, and SII have excellent diagnostic power (area under the curve [AUC] 0.80-0.88), while RDW, lymphocyte count, monocyte (MON) count, and RLR had acceptable diagnostic power (AUC 0.70-0.77). When the power in the diagnosis of AA was compared, a significant difference was found between CRP and NEU, CRP and SII, WBC and NEU, and WBC and SII. Conclusions The diagnosis of AA remains dependent on many factors. Inflammatory biomarkers assist this process. MLR and SII may be recommended to use in diagnosing AA in adults, along with other clinical findings. RLR is adequate but not superior.