Clinical characteristics of patients requiring lung transplantation referral in national cystic fibrosis registry data.

Background: We aimed to determine the number of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients recorded in the Cystic Fibrosis Registry of Türkiye (CFRT) who were in need of lung transplantation (LT) referral and examine clinical differences between patients who were LT candidates due to rapid forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) decline and LT candidates without rapid FEV₁ decline in the last year to identify a preventable cause in patients with such rapid FEV₁ decline.

Methods: All CF patients recorded in the CFRT in 2018 were evaluated in terms of LT. Patients were divided into those with FEV₁ below 50% and in need of LT due to a decrease of 20% or more in the previous year (Group 1) and those who did not have FEV₁ decline of more than 20% in the previous year but had other indications for LT (Group 2).

A case-control study of the effects of Aspergillus clinical phenotypes on pulmonary functions in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Introduction: There are no precise data about the effect of Aspergillus infection on lung function other than allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in patients with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). Here, we aimed to determine clinical phenotypes caused by Aspergillus spp. using laboratory and immunologic parameters and to compare Aspergillus phenotypes in terms of pulmonary function tests (PFT) prospectively.

The association of antiviral drugs with COVID-19 morbidity: The retrospective analysis of a nationwide COVID-19 cohort.

Background And Objectives: Although several repurposed antiviral drugs have been used for the treatment of COVID-19, only a few such as remdesivir and molnupiravir have shown promising effects. The objectives of our study were to investigate the association of repurposed antiviral drugs with COVID-19 morbidity.

Methods: Patients admitted to 26 different hospitals located in 16 different provinces between March 11-July 18, 2020, were enrolled.

Association Between Known Close Contact History and Severity of COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Preliminary Evidence Supporting Importance of Filiation.

Objective: The role of a known contact history in coronavirus disease 2019 severity in secondary cases is unknown. The study was aimed to investigate the relationship between the close contact history and the severity of the disease in coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia.

Material And Methods: Hospitalized patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia were included.

Cuban Blue Scorpion Venom and Lung Carcinoma: Is it Always True What Does Not Kill Me Makes Me Stronger?

Historically snake, scorpion, and hymenoptera venom have been used to treat various diseases. It is well known that alternative and/or complementary treatment options are widely used, especially among cancer patients. The case we describe here has lung carcinoma and received blue scorpion venom as an alternative therapy.

The success of the Cystic Fibrosis Registry of Turkey for improvement of patient care.

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) registries play an essential role in improving disease outcomes of people with CF. This study aimed to evaluate the association of newly established CF registry system in Turkey on follow-up, clinical, growth, treatment, and complications of people with this disease.

Methods: Age at diagnosis, current age, sex, z-scores of weight, height and body mass index (BMI), neonatal screening results, pulmonary function tests, history of meconium ileus, medications, presence of microorganisms, and follow-up were evaluated and compared to data of people with CF represented in both 2017 and 2019 registry data.

AI-Based Quantitative CT Analysis of Temporal Changes According to Disease Severity in COVID-19 Pneumonia.

Objective: To quantitatively evaluate computed tomography (CT) parameters of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia an artificial intelligence (AI)-based software in different clinical severity groups during the disease course.

Methods: From March 11 to April 15, 2020, 51 patients (age, 18-84 years; 28 men) diagnosed and hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia with a total of 116 CT scans were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into mild (n = 12), moderate (n = 31), and severe (n = 8) groups based on clinical severity.

Tocilizumab treatment in severe COVID-19: a multicenter retrospective study with matched controls.

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) associated pneumonia may progress into acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Some patients develop features of macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). Elevated levels of IL-6 were reported to be associated with severe disease, and anti-IL-6R tocilizumab has been shown to be effective in some patients.

Factors related to oxygen desaturation during flexible bronchoscopy and endobronchial ultrasound.

Introduction: Oxygen desaturation is a significant event during bronchoscopy. In this study, it was aimed to identify factors related to oxygen desaturation during flexible bronchoscopy (FB) and Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS).

Materials And Methods: From 16 April 2019 to 14 February 2020, 196 consecutive patients (146 FB and 50 EBUS) undergoing bronchoscopy were evaluated retrospectively.

The predictors of COVID-19 mortality in a nationwide cohort of Turkish patients.

The COVID-19-related death rate varies between countries and is affected by various risk factors. This multicenter registry study was designed to evaluate the mortality rate and the related risk factors in Turkey. We retrospectively evaluated 1500 adults with COVID-19 from 26 centers who were hospitalized between March 11 and July 31, 2020.

Clinical implications of fungal isolation from sputum in adult patients with cystic fibrosis.

Background/aim: Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disease with a defect in mucociliary activity that is characterized by recurrent pulmonary infections. Bacterial agents frequently implicated in airway colonization are Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus spp., and Pseudomonas spp.

The comparison of the survival rates of intensive and palliative care units.

Introduction: Palliative care is a multidisciplinary therapy formed by physical, social, psychological, cultural and spiritual support of patients and families. The aim of the present study is to compare the survival rates of the intensive care unit (ICU) and palliative care unit (PCU).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study was performed using the database of an intensive care unit.

Correlation of thrombosed vessel location and clot burden score with severity of disease and risk stratification in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Objective: Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is used for the main diagnosis in acute pulmonary embolism (APE). Determining the thrombus location in the pulmonary vascular tree is also important for predicting disease severity. This study aimed to analyze the correlation of the thrombus location and the clot burden with the disease severity and the risk stratification in patients with APE.

Visual and software-based quantitative chest CT assessment of COVID-19: correlation with clinical findings.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate visual and software-based quantitative assessment of parenchymal changes and normal lung parenchyma in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. The secondary aim of the study was to compare the radiologic findings with clinical and laboratory data.

Methods: Patients with COVID-19 who underwent chest computed tomography (CT) between March 11, 2020 and April 15, 2020 were retrospectively evaluated.

Lung and kidney perfusion deficits diagnosed by dual-energy computed tomography in patients with COVID-19-related systemic microangiopathy.

Objectives: There is increasing evidence that thrombotic events occur in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). We evaluated lung and kidney perfusion abnormalities in patients with COVID-19 by dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) and investigated the role of perfusion abnormalities on disease severity as a sign of microvascular obstruction.

Methods: Thirty-one patients with COVID-19 who underwent pulmonary DECT angiography and were suspected of having pulmonary thromboembolism were included.

Risk factors of unfavorable outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients treated with noninvasive ventilation for acute hypercapnic respiratory failure.

Background-aim: Noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) failure rate is reported to be 5%-60% of intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Despite all precautions and well-known reasons, the risk factors of NIV failure are unclear for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with acute respiratory failure (ARF). The aim of this study was to examine risk factors for NIV failure in COPD patients with ARF, other than well defined.

Unclear Issues Regarding COVID-19.

Scientists from all over the world have been intensively working to discover different aspects of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) since the first cluster of cases was reported in China. Herein, we aimed to investigate unclear issues related to transmission and pathogenesis of disease as well as accuracy of diagnostic tests and treatment modalities. A literature search on PubMed, Ovid, and EMBASE databases was conducted, and articles pertinent to identified search terms were extracted.

Severity of acidosis affects long-term survival in COPD patients with hypoxemia after intensive care unit discharge.

Background: Patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with acute respiratory failure (ARF) due to COPD have high mortality and morbidity. Acidosis has several harmful effects on hemodynamics and metabolism, and the current knowledge regarding the relationship between respiratory acidosis severity on the short- and long-term survival of COPD patients is limited. We hypothesized that COPD patients with severe acidosis would have a poorer short- and long-term prognosis compared with COPD patients with mild-to-moderate acidosis.

Eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic COPD patients with chronic respiratory failure: neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as an exacerbation marker.

Aim: Increased dyspnea, sputum volume, and purulence are subjective symptoms in COPD patients. To diagnose COPD exacerbations with chronic respiratory failure (CRF) and to assess the requirement for antibiotic treatment, physicians require more objective criteria. We aimed to investigate whether neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) can be used as an infectious exacerbation marker in COPD patients with CRF.

Role of the Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio in the Differential Diagnosis of Exudative Pleural Effusion.

Objectives:: Pleural effusion is a common diagnostic and clinical problem. The differential diagnosis of pleural effusion may be difficult and may require several procedures, including invasive ones. Certain studies have investigated biochemical parameters to facilitate the diagnosis of exudative pleural effusion; however, it remains a challenging problem in clinical practice.