Swyer-James-Macleod syndrome mimicking an acute pulmonary embolism: a report of six adult cases and a retrospective analysis.

Background And Aim: In patients with pulmonary embolism (PE), a pulmonary radiograph may reveal oligemic fields (the Westermark sign) associated with sites of occlusion of the pulmonary arteries, interruption or loss of the artery line (the knuckle sign), and even unilateral hyperlucency attributable to reduced overall lung vascularity. In Swyer-James-Macleod syndrome (SJMS), which develops as a result of bronchiolitis obliterans, unilateral hyperlucency is evident because of emphysema and hypoplasia of the pulmonary artery and its branches. Therefore, SJMS cases with clinical and laboratory data compatible with PE may in fact be confused with PE.

What should be done in the event of simultaneous massive pulmonary embolism and myocardial infarction with ST elevation?

Massive pulmonary embolism (MPE) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are life-threatening conditions with well-known diagnosis and treatment. Symptoms and findings such as dyspnea, chest pain, hypotension, ECG changes and elevation of cardiac enzymes are seen in both diseases. However, MPE and AMI are rarely simultaneous in a single case.

QuantiFERON-TB Gold test for screening latent tuberculosis infection in hemodialysis patients.

Hemodialysis patients are at increased risk of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) compared with the general population. QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-G) for LTBI detection is more promising than tuberculin skin test (TST) in hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study is to determine whether the QFT-G is more sensitive than the TST in hemodialysis patients in LTBI.

Cerebral Venous Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism with Prothrombin G20210A Gene Mutation.

A 25-year-old man presented with symptoms of syncope, cough, headache and hemoptysis. Cranial MR and venography showed thrombus formation in the right transverse sinus and superior sagittal sinus. Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) showed an embolic thrombus in the right pulmonary truncus and lung abscess.

Oddi sphincter fibrosis due to chemotherapy agents in small cell lung cancer: case report.

A 62-year-old, man patient was diagnosed as small cell lung cancer. Cisplatin (80 mg/m(2), first day) and etoposide (100 mg/m(2), three days) chemotherapy was started for once 21 days. As the patient received third course of chemotherapy, jaundice and hyperbilirubinemia were detected.

Interstitial lung disease in coppersmiths in high serum copper levels.

Coppersmith is a worker who uses copper most commonly for the production of kitchen appliances in Turkey. This is an ancient occupation practiced for centuries in Turkey. Our objective was to investigate the prevalence of parenchymal lung diseases among coppersmiths in Kahramanmaras city in Turkey.

Unusual combination of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica and AA amyloidosis.

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is a rare disorder of unknown cause characterized by the presence of multiple submucosal osseous and/or cartilaginous nodules that protrude into the lumen of the trachea and large bronchi. A simultaneous diagnosis of TO and amyloidosis is rarely reported. In this report, a case initially suspected to be asthma bronchiole that could not be treated, was radiologically diagnosed as TO, and also secondary amyloidosis is presented.

Prevalence of and factors affecting pulmonary hypertension in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) has been reported to be high among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) flow in the pathogenesis of PH and the prevalence of PH in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) and to suggest other possible etiologic factors.

Methods: The prevalence of PH was prospectively estimated by Doppler echocardiography in 116 ESRD patients on regular hemodialysis (HD).

Miliary tuberculosis accompanying paravertebral tuberculosis abscess in an adolescent.

Although miliary tuberculosis (TB) is well known, the incidence of miliary TB accompanying paravertebral abscess is extremely rare in adolescent children. We report a case of paravertebral TB abscess and miliary TB in a 17-year-old male initially presenting with fever, general weakness, back pain, sweating, cough, dyspnea and weight loss. The patient was diagnosed as paravertebral TB abscess and miliary TB.

A multicentre study of doctors' approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in Turkey.

Background: Inappropriate anti-tuberculosis (TB) treatment, particularly at the beginning of the disease, is a major cause of drug resistance. This survey was performed to evaluate doctors' approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of TB.

Method: The study was conducted in 12 cities, each from a different geographical region of Turkey.

[The opinions of Turkish physicians about the tasks of tuberculosis central dispensary].

Department of tuberculosis control is the main tuberculosis branch of Minister of Health, with coordinators in cities as intermediate departments and Tuberculosis Central Dispensaries (TCD) as peripheral branches. This study was performed through January-May 2007 in seven different geographical regions to figure out opinions of physicians on tuberculosis dispensaries. A specific questionnaire was distributed to doctors in two cities in each geographical region.

Relationship of metabolic alkalosis, azotemia and morbidity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hypercapnia.

Background: Exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality, but the effect of metabolic compensation of respiratory acidosis (RA) on mortality is not fully understood.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between metabolic compensation and mortality in COPD patients with RA.

Methods: We prospectively investigated all COPD patients with RA admitted to the respiratory intensive care unit between February 2001 and March 2007.

Clinical review of tuberculous peritonitis in 39 patients in Diyarbakir, Turkey.

Abdominal tuberculosis (TB) is a rare manifestation, which can be overlooked on long-lasting and non-specific findings unless a high index of suspicion is maintained. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic features of 39 patients hospitalized with tuberculous peritonitis (TBP) in Dicle University Hospital, Turkey between January 1994 and August 2003. Twenty-two patients were male; patient age ranged between 1 and 59 years (mean: 16.