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Objectives: This study aims to investigate the dynamic thiol-disulfide balance in the early period of patients diagnosed with acute pulmonary thromboembolism in the emergency department. Materials and Methods: Serum thiol-disulfide levels in venous blood samples drawn from 58 patients diagnosed with acute pulmonary embolism in the emergency department were analyzed using the newly developed Erel-Neşelioğlu method, and the results were compared with the measurements of the healthy control group. In the emergency department, the pre-diagnosis of pulmonary embolism was considered with clinical and laboratory findings and confirmed with contrast-enhanced thorax computed tomography angiogram. Results: Mean native thiol and total thiol levels were significantly lower in pulmonary embolism patients compared to the control group (308.53 ± 78; 414.13 ± 50.86; p <0.002; 346.03 ± 81.13; 453.05 ± 52.46 μmol/l, p <0.003 respectively). Disulphide/native thiol and disulphide/total thiol ratios were found to be significantly higher in pulmonary embolism patients compared to the control group (p <0.001). Conclusion: Thiol-disulfide balance is altered oxidatively in patients with pulmonary embolism. This may play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last few years scientists have been the targets for cybercrime in a few different ways. Hijacked or fake journals and predatory journals have emerged, and many scientists have been victimized by these journals. Those journals are trying to deceive authors and readers intentionally by not doing what they say they are doing, but still charging the authors for the services that they do not provide like peer review or editorial review. They also do not follow traditional standards for the acceptance of articles. Our goal is to disseminate knowledge and awareness about such journals and offer some basic skills to the authors so that they avoid fake or predatory publishers. One must be careful because predatory journals may take away not only your money but also, more importantly, your prestige and reputation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Our goal was to study the effects of fasting and mean weather temperature on blood biochemical parameters and urine test results in a group of patients that present with renal colic to an emergency department during the month of Ramadan. Material and Methods: Patients who presented to our emergency department from August 1-29, 2011 with a diagnosis of renal colic were included in the study. Patient demographic characteristics, major complaints, laboratory values and the average temperature of the day were recorded. Results: During the 29-day period, 61 patients were diagnosed with renal colic. Thirty-five patients were fasting, while 26 of them were not. In the comparison of fasting and non-fasting patients, there were no statistically significant differences in terms of age, arterial blood pressure, body temperature, blood glucose level, serum urea and creatinine levels, urine erythrocytes, leukocytes, ketones and density or in the chief complaint (p>0.05). Conclusion: Low urine volume reflects low fluid intake or excessive fluid loss, and directly increases kidney stone risk by increasing the urinary saturation of stone-forming salts. Fasting may result in limited fluid intake and increase renal colic presentations by affecting blood chemistry and urine concentration. In this study, no significant differences were observed between fasting and non-fasting patients in terms of the mechanisms that can cause renal colic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this study, our goal was to assess the theoretical levels of knowledge of emergency medicine residents, to determine the subjects that they are more successful and less successful in, and to compare the levels of knowledge of residents in university and training/research hospitals; by evaluating the results of a general examination that was set for the residents of emergency medicine throughout Turkey. Material and Methods: The examination results of a total number of 30 training/ research hospitals and university hospitals that agreed to take the examination were analysed. The results of training/research hospitals and university hospitals were compared regarding distribution of main topics. Results: A total of 320 residents participated in the examination, of whom 207 (64.7%) were working in university hospitals and 113 (35.3%) were in training and research hospitals. According to results, there was statistically significant difference between university hospitals and training hospitals in some subgroups (pediatric emergencies, gynecologic emergencies, internal medicine), however the number of correct answers did not vary. Conclusion: Widespread increase in academic emergency departments necessitate standardization of educational efforts. Emergency medicine residents should be directed according to appropriate guidelines in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemorrhagic complications due to warfarin use are frequently seen in emergency departments. However, nontraumatic massive hemothorax is an unexpected complication. We report a 59-year-old woman with warfarin overdose, who hadmassive hemothorax in right lung without any history of trauma. Her main complaint was significant dyspnea, which has gradually increased in three days. On her physical examination, she was tachypneic and had decreased lung sounds on her right hemithorax. She took warfarin regularly for aortic and mitral valve replacement for 18 years. Her INR level was 12.9 (0.8-1.2). Computed tomography of thorax revealed massive hemothorax with mediastinal shift. Fresh frozen plasma infusion was started immediately. Tube thoracostomy was performed for reexpansion of right lung and 2000 cc blood was drained in 5 minutes. Although hemorrhagic complications can be expected in warfarin therapy, thoracic hemorrhage related to warfarin therapy is relatively rare (3% of all hemorrhagic complications due to warfarin therapy). To our knowledge, massive hemothorax due to warfarin use is an extremely rare condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]