The role of corticosteroids in preventing invasive procedures in patients with parapneumonic effusion in the exudative phase: An observational study.

The aim of the study was investigate the effect of corticosteroid use on the need for invasive procedure like tube thoracostomy with underwater seal drainage (TT-UWSD) and Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) in adult patients diagnosed with parapneumonic effussion in the exudative phase. A retrospective cohort study was performed in a chest diseases hospital. A total of 65 patients were included in the study.

Can the ADO Index Be Used as a Predictor of Mortality from COVID-19 in Patients with COPD?

Background: Several studies have shown that the risk of mortality due to COVID-19 is high in patients with COPD. However, evidence on factors predicting mortality is limited.

Research Question: Are there any useful markers to predict mortality in COVID-19 patients with COPD?.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease phenotypes in Turkey: the COPET study-a national, multicenter cross-sectional observational study.

Background: While mortality rates decrease in many chronic diseases, it continues to increase in COPD. This situation has led to the need to develop new approaches such as phenotypes in the management of COPD. We aimed to investigate the distribution, characteristics and treatment preference of COPD phenotypes in Turkey.

Trehalose-Induced Regulations in Nutrient Status and Secondary Metabolites of Drought-Stressed Sunflower ( L.) Plants.

Trehalose regulates key physio-biochemical parameters, antioxidants, and the yield of plants exposed to a dry environment. A study was conducted to assess the regulatory roles of exogenously applied trehalose in drought-stressed sunflower plants. Two cultivars of sunflowers (Hysun 33 and FH 598) were subjected to drought stress (60% field capacity) and varying (0, 10, 20, and 30 mM) concentrations of trehalose.

Airflow patterns in the trachebronchial tree of a patient with an accessory cardiac bronchus: A rare congenital anomaly.

Accessory cardiac bronchus (ACB) is a rare congenital anomaly mainly located in the medial wall of the intermediate bronchus. This anomaly can present with dyspnea, recurrent infections, and hemoptysis. It usually has a blind ending, which may have an impact on airflow patterns and lobar distribution regardless of its diameter and depth.

Is the revascularisation strategy and outcome different in patients with acute coronary syndrome in COVID-19 pandemic era: a tertiary centre experience.

Background: In this study, we aimed to compare the management and clinical outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) before and during pandemic.

Methods: A total of 239 patients with ACS were enrolled into the study. Patients who were admitted during pandemic were compared with pre-pandemic patients according to their demographic, biochemical, angiographic features, revascularisation strategies and clinical outcomes.

The comparison of favipiravir and lopinavir/ritonavir combination in COVID-19 treatment.

Background/aim: SARS-CoV-2, a ribonucleic acid coronavirus, rapidly spread worldwide within a short timeframe. Although different antiviral, antiinflammatory, and immunomodulatory drugs are used, current evidence is insufficient as to which drug is more efficient. Our study compared favipiravir and lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/RTV) therapies in inpatient care for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia.

Impact of exogenously applied trehalose on leaf biochemistry, achene yield and oil composition of sunflower under drought stress.

This study was carried out to assess the influence of trehalose, a non-reducing disaccharide involved in improving plant stress tolerance, on two cultivars (Hysun 33 and FH 598) of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) grown under control and drought stress conditions. At pre-flowering stage, varying concentrations (10, 20 and 30 mM) of trehalose were applied to the foliage.

Evaluation of plasma antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and nuclear factor-kappaB levels in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Antimicrobial peptides are effectors of host defence against infection and inflammation and can encourage wound repair.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to investigate the plasma antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) levels in patients with stable COPD compared with a control group and to highlight their importance in immune inflammation.

Methods: One hundred and thirty-eight stable COPD patients and 33 control subjects were enrolled in the study.

Burden of community-acquired pneumonia in adults over 18Â y of age.

This study aimed to determine the economic burden and affecting factors in adult community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients (≥ 18 years) by retrospectively evaluating the data of 2 centers in Istanbul province, Turkey. Data of outpatients and inpatients with CAP from January 2013 through June 2014 were evaluated. The numbers of laboratory analyses, imaging, hospitalization days, and specialist visits were multiplied by the relevant unit costs and the costs of the relevant items per patient were obtained.

The comparative value of pleural fluid adenosine deaminase and neopterin levels in diagnostic utility of pleural tuberculosis.

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the diagnostic accuracy of pleura levels of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and neopterin for the differential diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis (TP).

Patients And Methods: The study included 50 patients with TB, 27 patients with malignancies, and 24 patients with pleural effusion of non-tuberculous and non-malignant origin as controls. ADA and neopterin levels in pleural fluid were measured by spectrofotometric and ELISA method, respectively.

Application of non-invasive mechanical ventilation in an asthmatic pregnant woman in respiratory failure: a case report.

The use of non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) during an asthma attack is controversial. We report a case of a 28-year-old female patient in her 16th week of pregnancy with community-acquired pneumonia who presented during an asthma attack, which led to hypoxic respiratory failure. She was successfully treated using NIV.

Endobronchial Watanabe spigot embolisation in the treatment of bronchopleural fistula due to tuberculous empyema in intensive care unit.

Tuberculosis may be complicated with empyema and fistula in patients with cellular immune deficiency. The case presented was a 39-year-old male patient with diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis developed hydropneumothorax while taking steroid and immunosuppressive treatment and examination of pleural fluid revealed acid-fast bacilli. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit due to respiratory failure and underwent bronchoscopic examination due to air leakage.

Central airway obstruction due to malignant fibrous histiocytoma metastasis in a case with Mounier-Kuhn syndrome.

Malign fibrous histiocytoma is one of the most observed soft tissue sarcomas seen in the adults. The most common metastasis region is the lung and metastasis. Mounier-Kuhn syndrome is characterized by the highly dilatation of the trachea and bronchi.

Can immune parameters be used as predictors to distinguish between pulmonary multidrug-resistant and drug-sensitive tuberculosis?

Introduction: Despite the development and wide implementation of Directly Observed Therapy Strategies (DOTS), multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) remains a serious global health threat. In this study, the role of host immune response in patients with MDR-TB is investigated and compared with that of patients with smear-positive drug-sensitive tuberculosis (SP-TB).

Material And Methods: 27 patients with SP-TB, 20 patients with MDR-TB, and 20 healthy controls were included in the study.

18F-FDG PET-CT features of primary primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the chest wall.

A case of primary primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) of the chest wall in an adolescent is presented with imaging findings including 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron-emission computed tomography (PET-CT). To date, radiological description of the PNET of the chest wall has mainly been carried out by radiographic analysis, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We demonstrated that 18F-FDG PET-CT visualizes the active focus of glucose metabolism of PNET of the chest wall and is effective for the preoperative evaluation of patients with this tumor.

Potential role of matrix metalloproteinase-2,-9 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1,-2 in exudative pleural effusions.

Purpose: To investigate diagnostic values of pleural fluid matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and TIMP-2 measurements in tuberculous pleurisy(TP) and malignat pleurisy (MP).

Methods: The study included 24 patients with TP, 22 patients with MP and 15 patients with pleural effusion of non-tuberculous and non-malignant origin as controls. MMP-2,-9 and TIMP-1,-2 levels in pleural fluid were measured by ELISA method.

P-wave duration and dispersion in obese subjects.

Background: Although previous studies have documented a variety of electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities in obesity, P-wave alterations, which represent an increased risk for atrial arrhythmia, have not been studied very well in these patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate P-wave duration and P dispersion (Pd) in obese subjects, and to investigate the relationship between P-wave measurements, and the clinical and echocardiographic variables.

Methods: The study population consisted of 52 obese and 30 normal weight control subjects.

Diagnostic potential of serum N-terminal pro-B-type brain natriuretic peptide level in detection of cardiac wall stress in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a cross-sectional comparison study.

Background: In addition to the negative effect on fertility, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been associated with cardiac pathology. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a possible marker for cardiac risk, therefore we investigated whether N-terminal pro-B-type BNP (NT-proBNP) increases in women with PCOS compared with healthy women of comparable age and body mass index.

Methods: Thirty women with PCOS and 30 healthy women not suffering from overt cardiac disease were involved in the study.

A case of a large intrapericardial lipoma occupying pericardial space: an unusual complication of a coronary artery bypass surgery.

Although cardiac lipomas are quite rare, they represent the second most common primary benign cardiac tumors. In this case report we present a 71-year-old man with a large intrapericardial lipoma originating from pericardium. In this case, intrapericardial lipoma was diagnosed by echocardiographic methods (transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography) and imaging techniques such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging.

Gemcitabine and cisplatin as neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer: a phase II study.

The combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin is one of the most active chemotherapy regimens against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine combined with cisplatin in a 3-week cycle regimen for patients with operable, early stage NSCLC. Gemcitabine at a dose of 1000 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 of each 21-day cycle for 3 cycles, followed by cisplatin at a dose of 75 mg/m(2) on day 1 was administered to patients with previously untreated, operable, early stage (IB-IIIA) NSCLC.

Increased high sensitive CRP level and its significance in pathogenesis of slow coronary flow.

Previous studies have suggested that microvascular abnormalities cause slow coronary flow (SCF). The role of inflammation has not been investigated, to date. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of inflammation in pathogenesis of SCF.

QT interval analysis in patients with chronic liver disease: a prospective study.

In previous studies, it has been shown that QT interval prolongation is related to an increased mortality rate in chronic liver disease (CLD). But QT dispersion (QTd) and its clinical significance in CLD has not been well studied. The objectives of this study were to investigate the relation between QTd and severity of the disease and determine its prognostic value in cirrhotic patients.