Possible relation between expression of circulating microRNA and plasma cytokine levels in cases of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a life-threatening infection and early diagnosis is critical for treatment and prevention of transmission. There is evidence of correlation between miRNA expression and cytokine regulation during TB infection. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between expression levels of miRNAs in plasma and cytokine levels as a potential biomarker for genetic predisposition and/or early diagnosis of TB infection.

[Misdiagnosis of pulmonary embolism and causes].

Introduction: Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is not only one of the prevelant diseases with a high mortality risk but also has a high ratio of delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis. In this study, it was aimed to determine the demographical characteristics, risk factors, clinical and laboratory findings of the patients that were diagnosed as PTE at their first hospital visit and of the PE patients who were misdiagnosed at their first admission. We aimed to investigate the factors which can leads to misdiagnosis of PE, and to determine the ways to avoid misdiagnosis.

The impact of hypoxemia on serum total and free prostate-specific antigen levels in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is the most important biochemical marker in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with prostate cancer. In recent years, a relationship between PSA levels and hypoxic conditions has been described. However, no study has investigated the PSA levels in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

[Investigation of the presence of human metapneumovirus in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma and its relationship with the attacks].

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV), an enveloped RNA virus classified in Paramyxoviridae family, was first characterized in 2001 from children with acute respiratory tract infection. Recent studies have suggested hMPV to play a role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma attacks. The aims of this study were to investigate the frequency of hMPV in patients with COPD and asthma, its effects on the severity of the attacks and the relationship between demographical and clinical factors.

[Determination of the cytokine gene polymorphism and genetic susceptibility in tuberculosis patients].

Tuberculosis (TB) is a complicated disease in which biological, socioeconomical and environmental factors play role. Since only 10% of the individuals infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis develop active disease, it has been suggested that host genetic factors may influence the risk for the development of TB. In this study, we aimed to investigate the presence and role of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the gene regions responsible for cytokine production, since these factors are considered to be associated with susceptibility or resistance to disease development.

Assessment of long-term omalizumab treatment in patients with severe allergic asthma long-term omalizumab treatment in severe asthma.

Objective: Several clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of omalizumab in patients with severe allergic asthma but the treatment period has always been relatively short (4-12 months). In the literature, there are a few data about the long-term omalizumab therapy. We aimed to assess the long-term clinical and functional effectiveness of omalizumab treatment in severe allergic asthmatic patients,

Methods: Medical records describing the patients' status before the start of treatment, and also having been registered at the end of 4th, 12th, and 36th months from the commencement of treatment, and at the last visit where the patient was evaluated were used for omalizumab effectiveness assessments.

Small cell lung cancer with metastasis to the thyroid in a patient with toxic multinodular goiter.

Thyroid metastasis of lung cancer is rarely observed in clinical practice. The primary cancers which metastasize to the thyroid gland are mostly renal cell carcinoma, lung cancer, and breast cancer. Transient destructive thyrotoxicosis is caused by massive metastasis of extrathyroid tumors.

The effect of inhaled budesonide and formoterol on bronchial remodeling and HRCT features in young asthmatics.

Asthma is a chronic disease that may cause remodeling of the airways. We aimed to observe the effects of the combined use of inhaled budesonide and formoterol on both the reversibility of remodeling and structural changes in the airways. Thirty-six male patients (age range, 20-31) with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma were given inhaled formoterol and budesonide treatment for three months.

Effect of corticosteroids on hemostasis and pulmonary arterial pressure during chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation.

Background: Hemodynamic and hemostatic abnormalities are reportedly frequent in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Objectives: We investigated the changes in systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAPs) and hemostatic status and the effects of systemic steroid treatment (SST) during COPD exacerbation.

Methods: Consecutive 26 male and 4 female patients as well as 10 controls were enrolled.

The course of serum adenosine deaminase levels in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Background: This study was done to investigate the course of serum adenosine deaminase (sADA) level during pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and its relationship with clinical, radiological, and laboratory parameters in TB patients.

Material/methods: sADA levels were measured at the beginning and after the first, second, and sixth months in 38 smear-positive TB patients. Chest X-rays were taken.

Giant hamartoma originating from the chest wall in an adult.

Hamartomas of the chest wall are rare benign lesions usually appear in infancy. We report an adult with giant hamartoma of the chest wall. A 21-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with swelling on his scapular region.

Delay in the diagnosis of Turkish servicemen with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Objective: This study was designed to assess the time between the first appearance of symptoms and the start of treatment among Turkish servicemen with tuberculosis (TB).

Methods: Ninety-seven patients with pulmonary TB were enrolled in the study. We surveyed their complaints and education levels, the opportunity to visit a health care facility, and the time elapsed until diagnosis and treatment.

[Tuberculin skin test screening in a military school in Istanbul city center].

To investigate the reason of high incidence of annual patients with tuberculosis (TB) in a military school previously known by screening tuberculin skin test (TST) and finding out the proportion of annual infection risk (PAIR), the prevalance of TB infection and the distribution for each grades. Our study is a cross-sectional epidemiologic study made about TB infection. TST were screened for all students in the school.

Does the primary Lung Cancer rate increase among females?

Lung cancer is still the most frequently seen malignancy among males where as females are less affected. Recently the lung cancer prevalence has been reported to increase among females in parallel to the increment in cigarette consumption. In our 2 clinic 11.

[A case of arteriovenous malformation seen as an endobronchial lesion].

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) is an abnormal communication between pulmonary arteries and pulmonary veins, and congenital form is seen more prevalently. The classic radiological appearance is a round, well-circumscribed lesion. PAVM was observed in a 22-year-old male as an endobronchial lesion, and treated by wedge resection.

[The value of bronchial lavage in patients with radiologically suggestive pulmonary tuberculosis with no sputum production and gastric lavage smear negativity].

We assessed whether acid-fast bacilli (AFB) investigation in bronchial lavage (BL) contributes to diagnosis in patients with gastric lavage smear negative and radiologically suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis. Eighty-three patients were recruited for the study, five cases were excluded due to diagnosis of inactive disease or non-tuberculosis disease. The remaining 78 patients were evaluated.

Values of high-resolution computed tomography and pulmonary function tests in managements of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Aim: To investigate pulmonary involvement via pulmonary function tests (PFT) and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with chronic HCV infection without diagnosis of any pulmonary diseases and 10 healthy cases were enrolled in the study. PFT and HRCT were performed in all cases.

Diagnostic contribution of gastric and bronchial lavage examinations in cases suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis.

We assessed whether acid fast bacilli (AFB) determination in gastric lavage (GL) and bronchial lavage (BL) contributes to diagnosis in cases radiologically suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis but with either negative AFB in sputum or the inability to expectorate sputum. Of 129 cases recruited for the study, 22 were excluded due to evaluation as inactive disease or non-tuberculosis disease. The remaining 107 cases were evaluated in 2 groups.

Dental technician's pneumoconiosis: mineralogical analysis of two cases.

Pneumoconiosis was diagnosed by open lung biopsy in two dental technicians who had interstitial lung disease. Mineralogical analysis was performed to investigate the origin of the dust that had been inhaled. A marked accumulation of silicon and phosphorus was found in both cases.

Deaths in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis: an analysis of a chest diseases hospital in Istanbul, Turkey.

Objective: To evaluate the medical records of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in order to determine the inhospital mortality rate.

Materials And Methods: Medical records of 22,651 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis admitted to Gulhane Military Medical Academia, Camlica Chest Diseases Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey from 1977 to 1999 were examined.

Results: Of the 22,651 patients, 133 (0.

Primary antituberculosis drug resistance at Turkish military chest diseases hospital in Istanbul.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of primary drug resistance to tuberculosis.

Methods: We evaluated the clinical data, radiological features and sputum samples from 365 newly diagnosed patients with a positive culture of pulmonary tuberculosis at the Turkish Military Chest Diseases Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. No patients had taken antituberculosis drugs previously.