Impact of desert dust storms, PM10 levels and daily temperature on mortality and emergency department visits due to stroke.

Objective: It is known that the inhalation of air pollutants adversely affects human health. These air pollutants originated from natural sources such as desert storms or human activities including traffic, power generating, domestic heating, etc. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of desert dust storms, particulate matter ≤10 µm (PM10) and daily maximum temperature (MT) on mortality and emergency department (ED) visits due to stroke in the city of Gaziantep, Southeast Turkey. Method: The data on mortality and ED visits due to stroke were retrospectively recruited from January 1, 2009, to March 31, 2014, in Gaziantep City Centre. Results: PM10 levels did not affect ED visits or mortality due to stroke; however, MT increased both ED visits [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.002, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.001-1.003] and mortality (OR = 1.006, 95% CI = 0.997-1.014) due to stroke in women. The presence of desert storms increased ED visits due to stroke in the total population (OR = 1.219, 95% CI = 1.199-1.240), and all subgroups. It was observed that desert dust storms did not have an increasing effect on mortality. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that MT and desert dust storms can induce morbidity and mortality due to stroke.

Evaluation of the diagnostic value of platelet indices in pediatric acute appendicitis.

OBJECTIVE: Abdominal examination findings in pediatric acute appendicitis (AA) significantly vary by age. Therefore, grading systems have been developed for diagnosing pediatric appendicitis, and laboratory and radiological findings have an important role in this diagnosis. However, there is a need to develop new parameters for diagnosing AA. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of platelet indices in AA. METHODS: This retrospective, observational study included 207 pediatric patients who were admitted to the Emergency Department and operated on for AA. The patients were divided into three groups on the basis of their surgical and histopathological findings (non-AA, uncomplicated AA, and complicated AA). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the mean platelet volume/platelet count (MPV/PC) ratio among the groups. The white blood cell (WBC) count and the MPV/PC ratio showed a significant negative relationship (r = -0.239). The specificity for MPV was 61.8% and the sensitivity was 68.8%. Receiver operating curve analysis of WBC and MPV showed significance for diagnosing AA. CONCLUSION: There is a negative, but weak, relationship between the WBC count and the MPV/PC ratio. However, the MPV/PC ratio could be a useful parameter for diagnosing pediatric AA according to receiver operating curve analysis.

Effects of Dust Storms and Climatological Factors on Mortality and Morbidity of Cardiovascular Diseases Admitted to ED.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the effects of Desert Dust Storms and Climatological Factors on Mortality and Morbidity of Cardiovascular Diseases admitted to emergency department in Gaziantep. METHOD: Hospital records, obtained between September 01, 2009 and January 31, 2014, from four state hospitals in Gaziantep, Turkey, were compared to meteorological and climatological data. Statistical analysis was performed by Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) for windows version 24.0. RESULTS: 168,467 patients were included in this study. 83% of the patients had chest pain and 17% of patients had cardiac failure (CF). An increase in inpatient hospitalization due to CF was observed and corresponded to the duration of dust storms measured by number of days. However, there was no significant increase in emergency department (ED) presentations. There was no significant association of cardiac related mortality and coinciding presence of a dust storm or higher recorded temperature. The association of increases in temperature levels and the presence of dust storms with "acute coronary syndrome- (ACS-) related emergency service presentations, inpatient hospitalization, and mortality" were statistically significant. The relationship between the increase in PM10 levels due to causes unrelated to dust storms and the outpatient application, admission, and mortality due to heart failure was not significant. The increase in particle matter 10 (PM) levels due to causes outside the dust storm caused a significant increase in outpatient application, hospitalization, and mortality originated from ACS. CONCLUSION: Increased number of dust storms resulted in a higher prevalence of mortality due to ACS while mortality due to heart failure remained unchanged. Admission, hospitalization, and mortality due to chest pain both dependent and independent of ACS were increased by the presence of dust storms, PM10 elevation, and maximum temperature.