Uric acid as a prognostic predictor in COVID-19.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to investigate the incidence and prognostic significance of baseline and control uric acid values in COVID-19.

Methods: The study population included patients admitted with the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 between March 2020 and March 2021. The demographic data, clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings were recorded.

Comparative Analysis of Three Different Drug Distribution Schemes for Smoking Cessation.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the success rate of 3 different drug prescription policies: Free drugs with online system prescription, free drugs with doctor's prescription, and drugs paid for by patients with doctor's prescription.

Material And Methods: The effect of 2 different Ministry of Health (MoH) projects with free-of-charge and self-payment pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation were compared. Patients who completed 6 months of pharmacotherapy and follow-up were evaluated.

Can we enhance compliance to treatment by performing a continuous positive airway pressure trial in obstructive sleep apnea?

Background: Although continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the most effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), it is not always easy to gain adherence to therapy. We aimed to evaluate how short-term CPAP application during the daytime before the titration night affects polysomnographic data and CPAP adherence in OSA.

Methods: Patients with moderate to severe OSA for whom CPAP titration was recommended were prospectively randomized to daytime CPAP application (group 1) or usual care (group 2).

Ultrasonographic evaluation of lung parenchyma involvement in sarcoidosis.

Purpose: To use ultrasonography (USG) for the evaluation of lung parenchyma in patients with sarcoidosis, andto compare the USG findings with the results of a high-resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function test-carbon monoxide diffusion test (PFT-DLCO), which are commonly used methods in the evaluation of parenchymal involvement in sarcoidosis.

Material And Methods: Patients with sarcoidosis and healthy controls were enrolled in the study between January 2015 and December 2017. The clinical findings, HRCT and PFT-DLCO results of all subjects were recorded, and USG findings and comet tail artifact (CTA) measurements were recorded by another pulmonologist.

Can positron emission tomography/computed tomography be predictive of diagnostic success in endobronchial biopsies performed through a fiber-optic bronchoscopy in lung cancer?

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of homogeneous/heterogeneous (necrotic) involvement and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) value of the lesion on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) of patients who underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) for prediagnosis of lung cancer and biopsy for endobronchial lesion on the diagnostic success of biopsy procedure.

Methods: Between January 2014 and December 2016, patients with final diagnosis of pulmonary malignancy as determined by FOB biopsy and patients who failed to be diagnosed by FOB biopsy and diagnosed with pulmonary malignancy by a different diagnostic method were examined. These patients were divided into two groups as those with diagnosis by FOB biopsy (Group 1) and those who failed to be diagnosed by this method and diagnosed with pulmonary malignancy by a different diagnostic method (Group 2).

A New Modality for the Diagnosis of Bleomycin-induced Toxicity: Ultrasonography.

Objective: To evaluate the role of ultrasonography (USG) in the diagnosis of bleomycin-induced pulmonary toxicity (BT).

Material And Methods: The study included patients with suspected BT during treatment with bleomycin due to various oncologic diseases between June 2015 and May 2017. The patients initially underwent clinical and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) examinations and pulmonary function tests (PFT)-diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO), followed by registration of USG findings-number of comet tail artifact (CTA) images by a different pulmonologist.

Relationship of asymmetric dimethylarginine levels with disease severity and pulmonary hypertension in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) has emerged as a risk marker for many conditions related to pulmonary hypertension (PH); however, little is known about ADMA and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) plasma concentrations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Our interest centers on the role of ADMA in regulation of endothelial function in COPD and secondary PH. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum ADMA, SDMA, and L-arginine concentrations in COPD and its association with PH.

Vitamin D Deficiency in Patients Referred for Evaluation of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Study Objectives: A recent study reported an association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and low vitamin D levels. In this study, we measured vitamin D levels in patients referred for evaluation of suspected OSA and sought to identify associated risk factors for vitamin D deficiency. Our objective was to determine whether evaluations of patients with suspected OSA should include routine screening for vitamin D deficiency.

The Effect of Pulmonary Function Testing on the Success of Smoking Cessation.

Background: In several studies, low spirometric levels have been shown to increase the success rates of smoking cessation, whereas other studies have indicated that pulmonary function has no effects on quitting smoking. Given the fact that there are contradictory results on this subject, we aimed to investigate the effect of identifying airway obstruction via spirometry and its explanation to subjects on the success rate of smoking cessation in the short term.

Methods: Subjects who were admitted to the smoking cessation out-patient clinic, underwent pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and completed at least 3 months of the cessation program following their admittance were included in the study.

Can a Computer-Based Prescription of Free Medication Increase Smoking Cessation Rates Efficiently?

Objectives: In 2011, in the context of a research project, bupropion and varenicline were distributed to smoking cessation clinics by the Ministry of Health of Turkey to be prescribed free of charge by a computer-based system. In the present study, we compared smoking cessation rates between patients who were prescribed free medications during the period of the project and those who had to pay for their medication.

Material And Methods: Six hundred four patients who applied during the project period were given either bupropion or varenicline, which were prescribed using an algorithm-based computer system.

The effect of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and snoring severity to intima-media thickening of carotid artery.

Introduction: Intima-media thickening (IMT), which is the early finding of carotid artery atherosclerosis, has been shown to be associated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). In our study, we aimed to assess prospectively the effect of severity of OSAS and snoring on carotid artery IMT.

Methods: A total of 102 patients who were admitted to sleep laboratory between May 2011 and May 2012 were included in the study.

CPAP adherence of patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and bi-level positive airway pressure (BPAP) are the gold standard treatments for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), but CPAP/BPAP is not well tolerated and requires long-term follow-up.

Objective: We prospectively assessed subjective and objective adherence and factors that affect adherence in OSAS patients.

Methods: Subjects using CPAP/BPAP were questioned about adverse effects of CPAP/BPAP and were assessed with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) at the first, third, sixth, and twelfth month, and once every 6 months after the first year.

The utility of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in mediastinal or hilar lymph node evaluation in extrathoracic malignancy: Benign or malignant?

Objective: Newly arising enlarged or hypermetabolic mediastinal/hilar lymph nodes (LNs) in patients with previously diagnosed extrathoracic malignancies raise suspicion of metastasis. Relatively high proportion of these LNs is due to a benign condition. We aimed to determine frequency of malignant LNs and role of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for clarification of the origin of suspicious LNs in these patients.