Lung transplantation in Turkey: lessons from surgeons and pulmonologists.

Background/aim: In order to actualize an efficient lung transplantation program, it is necessary to determine priorities and set up strategies. This study aimed to estimate the present situation in Turkey by determining the level of interest and knowledge of pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons regarding lung transplantation.

Materials And Methods: A questionnaire was prepared to establish the level of interest and knowledge of physicians on lung transplantation.

History of Lung Transplantation.

History of lung transplantation in the world can be traced back to the early years of the 20 century when experimental vascular anastomotic techniques were developed by Carrel and Guthrie, followed by transplantation of thoracic organs on animal models by Demikhov and finally it was James Hardy who did the first lung transplantation attempt on human. But it was not until the discovery of cyclosporine and development of better surgical techniques that success could be achieved in that field by the Toronto Lung Transplant Group led by Joel Cooper. Up to the present day, over 51.

Should Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin be Preferred Over Unfractionated Heparin After Thrombolysis for Severity Pulmonary Embolism?

Purpose: The role of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in managing nonmassive pulmonary embolism (PE) is well known. In unstable cases, especially after thrombolytic therapy for massive PE, unfractionated heparin (UFH) is preferred for PE management. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of LMWH after thrombolytic therapy.

Combination and comparison of two models in prognosis of pulmonary embolism: results from TUrkey Pulmonary Embolism Group (TUPEG) study.

Background: Clinical parameters, biomarkers and imaging-based risk stratification are widely accepted in pulmonary embolism(PE). The present study has investigated the prognostic role of simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI) score and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) model.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included a total of 1078 patients from a multi-center registry, with objectively confirmed acute symptomatic PE.

Comparison of tuberculin skin testing and QuantiFERON-TB Gold-In Tube test in health care workers.

The purpose of this prospective, cross-sectional observational study was to compare the tuberculin skin testing (TST) with QuantiFERON-TB Gold-In Tube (QTF-GIT) for the detection of latent tuberculosis infection in healthcare workers (HCWs). The study included 78 volunteers who are HCWs at the same tertiary care teaching hospital for chest diseases and tuberculosis. Participants with active tuberculosis, immunodefficiency or malnutrition were not included.

The evaluation of the Quantiferon-TB Gold test in pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

In our study we evaluated the Quantiferon-TB Gold (QFT-G) test and compared it with tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity in 44 pulmonary and 21 extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases in whom active tuberculosis infection was suspected on clinical, microbiologic and radiologic grounds. QFT-G positivity was 75% in pulmonary tuberculosis and 76.2% in extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

A clinical dilemma: abdominal tuberculosis.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical, radiological and microbiological properties of abdominal tuberculosis (TB) and to discuss methods needed to get the diagnosis.

Methods: Thirty-one patients diagnosed as abdominal TB between March 1998 and December 2001 at the Gastroenterology Department of Kartal State Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey were evaluated prospectively. Complete physical examination, medical and family history, blood count erythrocyte sedimentation rate, routine biochemical tests, Mantoux skin test, chest X-ray and abdominal ultrasonography (USG) were performed in all cases, whereas microbiological examination of ascites, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, colonoscopy or barium enema, abdominal tomography, mediastinoscopy, laparoscopy or laparotomy were done when needed.