This study aimed to assess the relationship between scorpion sting incidents that resulted in emergency department (ED) visits in Bodrum, Muğla, located in the Aegean region, and local climatic variables, from 2015 to 2023. This retrospective, single-center observational study included scorpion sting incidents that resulted in ED visits between 2015 and 2023, along with meteorological data from the Bodrum district. Meteorological variables, including maximum and minimum air temperatures, relative humidity, and seawater temperature, from 2015 to 2023, were obtained from the Turkish State Meteorological Service. All temperature values were recorded in degrees Celsius (°C), relative humidity as percentage (%), and seawater temperature in degrees Celsius. The meteorological data were collected as annual average values calculated from daily measurements throughout each year. Years exceeding the regional mean temperature of 21.2°C were classified as high-temperature years; those below this threshold were classified as low-temperature years. The relationship between changes in meteorological parameters and scorpion sting incidents was demonstrated using Pearson correlation analysis. A total of 473 scorpion sting incidents were included in the analysis. In the comparison based on the average temperature value, the average prevalence rate in years with above-average temperatures was found to be 0.21% ± 0.052%, which was significantly higher than in years with below-average temperatures (0.14% ± 0.018%, P = .014). Both the minimum temperature in the Bodrum district (Pearson r = 0.7919, P = .011) and the average temperature (Pearson r = 0.878, P < .001) were positively correlated with scorpion sting incidence. A negative correlation was found between relative humidity and incidence (Pearson r = −0.695, P = .037). No significant correlation was observed between sea temperature and incidence. Hospitalization rates were positively correlated with both minimum and average temperatures. Rising local temperatures are associated with an increase in scorpion sting incidents and may serve as an exploratory indicator for monitoring trends in scorpion sting frequency. Additionally, when appropriate meteorological data are used, this can help determine the number of antivenom vials required in EDs. However, these findings are descriptive and exploratory and should be interpreted with caution. Larger datasets and more robust analyses are needed to confirm the observed associations.

Amaç: Bu çalışmada biyokimyasal parametreler, vital bulgular ve nötrofil-lenfosit oranı (NLR) değerlerinin COVID-19 hastalarında yoğun bakım yatış endikasyonunun belirlenmesinde kullanılabilir olup olmadığı amaçlandı. Hastalar ve Yöntem: Bu retrospektif gözlemsel çalışma, bir üniversite hastanesinin acil servisinde gerçekleştirildi. 1-31 Temmuz 2020 tarihinde hastanemize başvurmuş SARS-CoV-2 PCR testi pozitif olan hastalar çalışmaya dahil edildi. Elektronik ortamda hastaların laboratuvar sonuçları, demografik bulguları ve klinik sonuçları toplandı. Hastalar taburcu edilmiş, servise veya yoğun bakıma yatışı yapılmış olarak 3 gruba ayrıldı. Gruplar arasında semptomların görülme sıklığı, şiddeti, ek hastalıklar, laboratuvar değerleri, NLR değerleri kıyaslandı. Bulgular: Çalışmaya toplam 489 hasta dahil edildi. Dahil edilen hastaların ortalama yaşı 48.69 + 17.25 yıl iken bunların 260’ı (%53,16) kadındı. Bu hastaların 248’i (%50,9) taburcu edilirken, 207’si (%42,3) servislere, 33 (%6,7)’ü de yoğun bakım ünitelerine alındı. Yoğun bakıma yatış yapılan hastaların yaş, kalp hızı, üre, kreatinin, CRP, D-dimer ve NLR değerleri diğer gruplara kıyasla yüksekken, bu grupta oksijen saturasyonu ise istatiksel olarak anlamlı derecede düşüktü. Yoğun bakımı yatışı olanlarda Diabetes Mellitus, Esansiyel Hipertansiyon, Kronik Obstrüktif Akciğer hastalığı gibi eşlik eden sistemik rahatsızlıklar daha fazlaydı. Çok değişkenli analizde oksijen satürasyonu (OR:0.803) ve nötrofil-lenfosit oranı (OR:1.09) yoğun bakım ünitesinde yatış endikasyonunun bağımsız öngördürücüsü olarak bulundu. Sonuç: Çalışmamızın sonucunda acil servise COVID-19 nedeni ile başvuran hastalarda özellikle düşük oksijen satürasyonu ve yüksek nötrofil-lenfosit oranının yoğun bakım yatış endikasyonun belirlenmesinde kullanılabileceklerini düşünüyoruz.

Background Currently, the most effective method to combat the COVID-19 pandemic is vaccination. This study investigated whether the combined use of vaccines obtained by different methods affected the side-effect profile. Methods This cross-sectional study evaluated 437 people (265 females, 172 males; mean age, 42.04±14.49 years) who applied to the emergency department due to side effects among 26,974 vaccinated people (13,460 females, 13,514 males). The complaints and outcomes of the patients who applied to the emergency department were recorded. Results While the rate of admission to the emergency department due to post-vaccination side effects was 1.6% among all vaccinated participants, this rate was 3% in the mixed vaccination group. It was observed that hospitalization was required in only two patients due to side effects. When vaccination methods were compared, the frequency of admission to the emergency department due to side effects was higher in the patients in the group in which the mRNA vaccine was mixed with the booster shot. However, it was not statistically significant (p=0.113). Conclusion Different vaccine methods did not change the side effect profile, so different vaccine combinations could be used together if necessary.

Background/Objectives: Pediatric forensic cases represent a growing public health concern and impose substantial burdens on emergency departments (EDs). However, data on operational predictors of ED length of stay (ED-LOS) in this specific population remain limited. We aimed to identify predictors of increased ED length of stay (ED-LOS) and evaluate clinical profiles of pediatric forensic cases. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 1113 pediatric forensic cases. Cox proportional hazards regression was used as the primary method to identify predictors of time-to-discharge. Firth’s penalized logistic regression and Random Forest (RF) were used for binary prediction based on a data-derived 45 min high-acuity threshold established via Reciever Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis. Performance was assessed via AUC, Brier score, bootstrap validation, and Decision Curve Analysis (DCA). Results: The cohort was predominantly adolescent (71.5%) and male (65.3%), with interpersonal assault (36.7%) and standard forensic examinations (26.7%) being the most frequent etiologies. In the Cox regression, lower clinical acuity (higher Emergency Severity Index [ESI] scores) significantly increased the hazard of discharge (Hazard Ratio [HR]: 1.954). Conversely, specific trauma mechanisms notably delayed discharge, particularly intoxication (HR: 0.126), burns (HR: 0.127), and out-of-vehicle traffic accidents (HR: 0.237). Parent-accompanied presentation was independently associated with faster ED processing (HR: 1.303), while ambulance arrival was not a significant independent driver of overall time-to-discharge (p = 0.176). RF confirmed that the ESI was the dominant operational predictor (37.0% importance; test AUC 0.906), and the Firth regression demonstrated that these same mechanisms were the strongest predictors. The model showed high Negative Predictive Value (96.9%) and DCA benefit. Conclusions: This study proposes a framework for predicting increased ED-LOS in pediatric forensic cases. Cox regression suggested that ESI and trauma mechanisms modulate discharge speed, reflecting operational patterns. The findings may support triage stratification and resource allocation, but external validation is needed.