An XAI approach for COVID-19 detection using transfer learning with X-ray images.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has continued to cause severe challenges during this unprecedented time, affecting every part of daily life in terms of health, economics, and social development. There is an increasing demand for chest X-ray (CXR) scans, as pneumonia is the primary and vital complication of COVID-19. CXR is widely used as a screening tool for lung-related diseases due to its simple and relatively inexpensive application.

COVID-19: vaccination vs. hospitalization.

Objective: Vaccination is the most efficient way to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but vaccination rates remain below the target level in most countries. This multicenter study aimed to evaluate the vaccination status of hospitalized patients and compare two different booster vaccine protocols.

Setting: Inoculation in Turkey began in mid-January 2021.

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.

COVID-19 Pandemic and the Global Perspective of Turkish Thoracic Society.

It has been more than 3 months now since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Turkey. Globally, the number of confirmed cases and deaths reached 9,653,048 and 491,128 respectively, as reported by 216 countries by June 27, 2020. Turkey had 1,396 new cases, 194,511 total cases, and 5,065 deaths by the same date.

The role of mediastinoscopy in the diagnosis of non-lung cancer diseases.

Background: Mediastinoscopy is a good method to evaluate mediastinal lesions. We sought to determine the current role of mediastinoscopy in the investigation of non-lung cancer patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical parameters (age, gender, histological diagnosis, morbidity, mortality) of all patients without lung cancer who consecutively underwent mediastinoscopy in Hospital of Faculty of Medicine of Dicle University between June 2003 and December 2016.

Urgent thoracotomy for penetrating chest trauma: analysis of 158 patients of a single center.

Background: Penetrating injuries to the chest present a frequent and challenging problem, but the majority of these injuries can be managed non-\operatively. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of penetrating chest trauma and the ultimate techniques used for operative management, as well as the diagnosis, complications, morbidity and mortality.

Methods: A retrospective 9-year review of patients who underwent an operative procedure following penetrating chest trauma was performed.

Quality of life, depression and anxiety in young male patients with silicosis due to denim sandblasting.

The aim of this study was to estimate the quality of life, depression and anxiety in patients with silicosis due to denim sandblasting. This study was conducted on 50 young male patients with silicosis and 30 controls. A socio-demographic data form, Short Form-36 (SF-36), the Beck depression inventory (BDI) and the Beck anxiety inventory (BAI) were used to determine quality of life, depression and anxiety.

Adapted T cell interferon-gamma release assay for the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis.

Background: Better and more rapid tests are needed for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE), given the known limitations of conventional diagnostic tests.

Objectives: To estimate diagnostic accuracy of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) test (and its components) using data-derived cutoffs in pleural fluid.

Methods: The QFT-GIT test was performed on whole blood and pleural fluid from 43 patients with TPE and 29 control subjects (non-TPE).

MDCT findings of denim-sandblasting-induced silicosis: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Denim sandblasting is as a novel cause of silicosis in Turkey, with reports of a recent increase in cases and fatal outcomes. We aimed to describe the radiological features of patients exposed to silica during denim sandblasting and define factors related to the development of silicosis.

Methods: Sixty consecutive men with a history of exposure to silica during denim sandblasting were recruited.

Environmental asbestos-related pleural plaque in southeast of Turkey.

It is known that many malignant and benign pleural diseases occur due to environmental exposure to mineral fibers. Calcified pleural plaque (CPP) is an important sign of asbestos exposure on chest radiographic examination. To study the possible change in the prevalence of CPP and diffuse pleural thickening 3 decades after cessation of asbestos exposure.

Incidence of tuberculosis disease and latent tuberculosis infection in patients with end stage renal disease in an endemic region.

Aim: Patients in chronic renal failure suffer impaired cellular immunity and have an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB). Our aim in this multicenter study was to determine the incidence of TB and to evaluate latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the frequency of TB in 779 dialysis patients at 13 hemodialysis centers in five different cities in Southeast Turkey.

Effects of atorvastatin on smoking-induced alveolar injury in rat lungs.

Background: Smoking is one of the most serious health care issues worldwide, as one third to one half of all people who smoke eventually use tobacco habitually. Chronic smoke exposure causes airway and lung parenchymal inflammation and the destruction of alveolar cell walls. Statins may have anti-inflammatory effects that would play a role in preventing the cellular damage associated with smoking.