RESUMO
This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of thiol-disulfide homeostasis in patients with acute appendicitis [AA]. A total of 43 patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis in the emergency department and 59 healthy individuals were evaluated. Age, gender, white blood cell count, and thiol-disulfide homeostasis parameters [native thiol, total thiol, disulfide, disulfide/native thiol, native thiol/total thiol, and disulfide/total thiol ratios] were compared between groups. Thiol-disulfide homeostasis was determined using a newly developed method by Erel and Ne?elio?lu. White blood cell counts were statistically significantly higher in the AA group, but no significant difference [P = 0.742] was found between native thiol, total thiol, and disulfide levels of the patient and control groups. Also, no statistically significant difference was observed in disulfide/native thiol, disulfide/total thiol, and native thiol/total thiol ratios [P = 0.117] between groups. This was thought to be a result of early diagnosis of AA in patients at the emergency department. Hence, the inflammatory response did not increase significantly at the time of diagnosis
RESUMO
This study aimed to determine the role of the serum growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins 3 levels measured in the first 24 h in the diagnosis and pathophysiology of acute myocardial infarction [AMI]. The levels of serum Growth hormone, insulin-like growth factors1, and insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins 3 of the patients diagnosed with AMI in the first 24 h of onset and that of the control group at the time of admission were compared between January 1 and August 31, 2010. The average age of the patient group was 59.36 +/- 13:25 years, and 79.4% of the patients were males. The serum growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins 3 levels were significantly higher in the patient group [P < 0.05]. However, no differences were found between insulin-like growth factors 1 levels in both the groups [P > 0.05]. The sensitivity of growth hormone was 84.1% with a cutoff value of 0.14; the sensitivity of insulin-like growth factors1 was 33.6% with a cutoff value of 162; and the sensitivity of insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins 3 was 75.7% with a cutoff value of 2862. The present study showed that growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins 3 markers play important roles in the pathophysiology of myocardial infarction. Hence, it is thought that they can be used in the diagnosis of AMI. Further studies are needed to validate the conclusion
RESUMO
To measure end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure [PetCO2] in preset interval in order to evaluate the efficiency of cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR] performed on patients in cardiopulmonary arrest, evaluate the validity of PetCO2 in predicting the mortality and finally assess the PetCO2 levels of the patients in cardiopulmonary arrest based on the initial presenting rhythm. This prospective study was conducted at the Ankara Training and Research Hospital on patients who presented with cardiopulmonary arrest. Standard ACLS [Advanced Cardiac Life Support] protocols were performed. Patients were categorized in two groups based on their rhythms as Ventricular Fibrillation and Asystole. Patients' PetCO2 values were recorded. PetCO2 levels of the Return of Spontaneous Circulation [ROSC] group in the 5th, 10th, 15th and 20th minutes were significantly higher compared to the exitus group [p < 0.001]. In distinguishing ROSC and exitus, PetCO2 measurements within 5-20 minute intervals showed highest performance on the 20th and lowest on the 5th minutes. PetCO2 values are higher in the ROSC group. During the CPR, the most reliable time for ROSC estimation according to PetCO2 values is 20th minute. None of the patients who had PetCO2 levels less than 14 mmHg survived