Assessment of quality of life in IPF Patients: a multicenter observational study.

Aim: This study aimed to examine how dyspnea, cough, sleep disruption, anxiety, depression, and physiological factors affect the quality of life in newly diagnosed, untreated IPF patients.

Methods: This study is a multicenter observational study. Patients not receiving antifibrotic treatment were included.

Comparative Transcriptomic Analyses of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of COVID-19 Patients without Pneumonia and with Severe Pneumonia in the First Year of Follow-Up.

The multisystemic effects of COVID-19 may continue for a longer time period following the acute phase, depending on the severity of the disease. However, long-term systemic transcriptomic changes associated with COVID-19 disease and the impact of disease severity are not fully understood. We aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 and its severity on transcriptomic alterations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) following 1 year of the disease.

Relationship between nailfold capillaroscopy findings and the etiology and prognosis of interstitial lung disease.

Objectives: Connective tissue-associated interstitial lung diseases (CTD-ILD) are believed to be caused by microvascular damage. The objective of this study was to assess the nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) pattern in patients diagnosed with both CTD-ILD and non-CTD-ILD to identify microvascular changes and determine the relation between capillaroscopic parameters, clinical variables, and disease-related measurements.

Patients And Methods: This cross-sectional study included 95 patients with interstitial lung disease who applied to our Rheumatology and Chest Clinics between September 2021 and July 2023.

Elderly idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients remain on therapy despite higher incidence of adverse events and dose reductions.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) predominantly affects people over the age of 60 years and its incidence increases with age. Limited data is available on the use of antifibrotics in the elderly IPF population. We aimed to examine the tolerability and safety of antifibrotics (pirfenidone, nintedanib) in elderly patients with IPF in a real-world setting.

Microvascular damage evaluation based on nailfold videocapillarosopy in sarcoidosis.

Objectives: Microvascular damage is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis. We aimed to evaluate the nailfold capillaroscopy (NVC) pattern to detect microvascular changes in patients with sarcoidosis and the relationship of capillaroscopic parameters with clinical variables and disease-related measurements.

Patients And Methods: Forty-two patients with sarcoidosis and 42 age- and sex-matched patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and healthy individuals were included in this cross-sectional case-control study.

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.

Transatrial balloon atrial septostomy to facilitate weaning off venoarterial ECMO after pulmonary endarterectomy.

Atrial septostomy has been the last resort in the management of patients with the right ventricular failure related to pulmonary hypertension before lung transplantation. In this paper, we present a simple and safe technique (transatrial approach) for balloon atrial septostomy in a patient who required central venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after pulmonary endarterectomy.

Characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients with IPF: A multi-center retrospective study.

Background: There are few data on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (COVID-19) infection in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The objective of this study is to describe the characteristics and outcomes of IPF patients confirmed COVID-19 infection.

Methods: In this retrospective, multi-center, cohort study, patients from 4 hospital medical records with known IPF and a COVID-19 diagnosis were identified.

Clinical efficacy, safety, tolerability, and survival outcome of long-term inhaled iloprost treatment in the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension: Data from prospective multicenter observational OPTION study.

Objective: To evaluate clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of long-term inhaled iloprost treatment in the daily practice for the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Methods: A total of 115 patients with PAH on inhaled iloprost treatment were included. New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) were recorded at baseline and at 3rd to 24th month visits.

Evaluation of efficacy and safety of pirfenidone 200 mg tablets in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in a real-life setting.

Background/aim: Phase III trials have demonstrated a significant efficacy and an acceptable safety for pirfenidone in patients having mild to moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Real-life data on the use of pirfenidone 200 mg tablets are limited. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of pirfenidone 200 mg tablets for the treatment of IPF in a real-life setting.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the follow-up and treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a cross-sectional, multicentre phone call survey.

Objective: To learn about the attitudes and behaviours of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in relation to the difficulties experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design: A cross-sectional, multicentre phone call survey.

Setting: Four university hospitals in Turkey.

COVID-19 patients' sera induce epithelial mesenchymal transition in cancer cells.

Covid-19 Pneumonia of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic infection, persists to have high disease burden especially in cancer patients. Increased inflammation and thromboembolic processes are blamed to influence cancer patients more than the others but due to lack of knowledge regarding the pathophysiology of the both the virus itself and the response of the host, more basic and translational disease modeling research is needed to understand Cancer-Covid-19 interaction. In this study, serum samples from the patients, who were hospitalized due to Covid-19 pneumonia, applied to different cancer cells and cytotoxicity, motility, proliferation and gene expression analysis were performed.

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.

Evaluation of Patients with Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease: Preliminary results from the Turk-UIP Study.

Objective: Differential diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is important among fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (ILD). This study aimed to evaluate the rate of IPF in patients with fibrotic ILD and to determine the clinical-laboratory features of patients with and without IPF that would provide the differential diagnosis of IPF.

Material And Methods: The study included the patients with the usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern or possible UIP pattern on thorax high-resolution computed tomography, and/or UIP pattern, probable UIP or possible UIP pattern at lung biopsy according to the 2011 ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT guidelines.

Morbidity and mortality of surgical lung biopsy in the diagnosis of usual interstitial pneumonia.

Background: Histology represents the major source of information to define a usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern. However, the procedure is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate morbidity and mortality of surgical lung biopsy (SLB) in diagnosing UIP.

Predictive value of plasma copeptin level for diagnosis and mortality of pulmonary embolism.

Objective: Early diagnosis and risk stratification may provide a better prognosis in pulmonary embolism (PE). Copeptin has emerged as a valuable predictive biomarker in various cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of copeptin in patients with acute PE and to evaluate its relationship with disease severity and PE-related death.

The Effectiveness, Safety, and Tolerability of Pirfenidone in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: In this study we aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety profile of pirfenidone for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in a real-life setting.

Methods: Clinical records of patients diagnosed with mild-to-moderate IPF and receiving pirfenidone treatment across three centers in Turkey between January and September 2017 were retrospectively collected. Pulmonary function measurements, including percentage of forced vital capacity (FVC%) and percentage of diffusion capacity (DLCO%) were analyzed in patients who received pirfenidone treatment for at least 6 months.

Early prediction of sarcoidosis prognosis with HLA typing: a 5 year follow-up study.

A wide range of HLA-DR alleles have been associated with sarcoidosis either in terms of disease phenotype or extra pulmonary involvement, however the effect on non-resolution in different ethnic groups is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether disease characterics and HLA-DRB1 alleles may early reflect non resolution in sarcoidosis. 91 patients who were diagnosed in Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine Department of Chest Diseases between 1993-2012 and were followed up until June 2017 were included in the study.

Ultrasound Accelerated Thrombolysis May Be an Effective and Safe Treatment Modality for Intermediate Risk/Submassive Pulmonary Embolism.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially life-threatening condition and the fact that 90% of PE originate from lower limb veins highlights the significance of early detection and treatment of deep vein thrombosis. Massive/high risk PE involving circulatory collapse or systemic arterial hypotension is associated with an early mortality rate of approximately 50%, in part from right ventricular (RV) failure. Intermediate risk/submassive PE, on the other hand, is defined as PE-related RV dysfunction, troponin and/or B-type natriuretic peptide elevation despite normal arterial pressure.

Could HLA-DR B1*11 allele be a clue for predicting extra-pulmonary sarcoidosis?

Background: Several HLA-DR alleles have been described as a potential risk factor for sarcoidosis between distinct ethnic groups however the relationship between HLA-DR alleles and extra-pulmonary sarcoidosis (EPS) is still scarce.

Objectives: The aim of this prospective study is to investigate the relationship between extra-pulmonary involvement and HLA-DR genetic analysis in Turkish patients with sarcoidosis.

Methods: In this study, we HLA-typed sarcoidosis patients with and without extra-pulmonary involvement, and compared with healthy control subjects.

[Endobronchial capillary hemangioma: a very rare cause of massive hemoptysis].

Tracheal capillary hemangioma is a very rare benign tumor of trachea which may present as massive hemoptysis. Minor to massive hemoptysis can be observed in these patients. Due to its small size and tracheal localization, diagnosis cannot be easily performed by using radiological investigations.

Detection of latent tuberculosis infection in rheumatologic diseases before anti-TNFα therapy: tuberculin skin test versus IFN-γ assay.

We aimed to evaluate tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) test results for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in patients with rheumatologic diseases prior to anti-TNFα therapy. Ninety patients were evaluated in the study at the Departments of Chest Diseases and Rheumatology for anti-TNFα therapy for their rheumatologic diseases. Tuberculin skin test was performed (Mantoux method) and peripheral blood samples were collected for IFN-γ assay (QuantiFeron TB-Gold In Tube) before the anti-TNFα therapy.

Alterations in p16 and p53 genes and chromosomal findings in patients with lung cancer: fluorescence in situ hybridization and cytogenetic studies.

Background: Chromosomal aberrations and instability of gene(s) are two factors related to the genetic instability of cancer cells. A loss of the tumor-suppressor function of the genes p16 and p53 is the most common event leading to the development of human cancers. Carcinoma of the lung is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the world.

Gemcitabine, vinorelbine, and Cisplatin in the treatment of advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Objectives: Currently, cisplatin-based doublet combinations are accepted to be the first-line chemotherapy for advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although triplet chemotherapeutics have been shown to be more effective and active than doublets, their toxicity was higher as expected. Therefore, we conducted this phase II trial using the combination of gemcitabine-cisplatin-vinorelbine with lower than usual but acceptable doses of gemcitabine and cisplatin to obtain higher response rate than doublet but less toxicity than triplet combinations.

[Tuberculous pleurisy after tumour necrosis factor-alpha antagonist usage: case report].

A thirty-six year old male patient presented with dyspnea, right-sided chest pain, night sweats and intermittent fever. He has a history of ankylosing spondylitis treated with tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) antagonist (infliximab). Computed tomography of the chest showed mediastinal lymphadenopathy, right-sided pleural effusion, and atelectasis.