Small airway disease and asthma control.

Aim: Maximum mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) is one of the pulmonary function tests that report small airway disease. Our study aimed to investigate the role of MMEF values in asthma control, the prevalence of small airway disease, and their effect on asthma control in patients with asthma with normal forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV) values.

Material And Method: Patients who presented to the Chest Diseases outpatient clinic of our hospital between 2018 and 2019 and were diagnosed as having asthma were included in the study.

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 Predict Bleomycin Toxicity with PET-CT?

Aim: Bleomycin is an antitumor antibiotic used successfully to treat a variety of malignancies, predominantly germ cell tumors and Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). The major limitation of bleomycin therapy is the potential for life-threatening interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Early identification of asymptomatic patients who may develop toxicity is important.

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.

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.

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in diagnosing intrathoracic tuberculous lymphadenitis.

Aims: Patients with suspected tuberculosis without pulmonary lesions and with intrathoracic lymphadenopathy often pose a diagnostic challenge. The aim of this study was to describe the diagnostic utility of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in patients with isoleted intrathoracic lymphadenopathy due to tuberculosis (TB).

Materials And Methods: Cases with tuberculous lymphadenitis (TBLA) as the final diagnosis were analysed among patients in whom EBUS-TBNA had been performed.

Overnight Transcutaneous Carbon Dioxide Monitoring in Eucapnic Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

Objectives: We monitored increases in CO levels during sleep by measuring transcutaneous pCO (PtcCO) to determine its relationship with polysomnographic data in normocapnic patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

Material And Methods: Between October 2011 and December 2012, 139 patients underwent PtcCO monitoring with polysomnography. All patients were evaluated with arterial blood gas (ABG) measurements and pulmonary function tests (PFTs).

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.

The role of thoracic ultrasonography in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

Objectives: The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) is still a problem especially at emergency units. The purpose of study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) in patients with PE.

Methods: In this prospective study, 50 patients with suspected PE were evaluated in Department of Pulmonary Diseases of a Training and Reasearch Hospital between January 2010 and July 2011.

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 role of convex probe endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis of malignant mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes.

Background: In the diagnosis of malignant lymph nodes (LNs) and staging of lung cancer, sampling of mediastinal and hilar LNs is essential. Mediastinoscopy is known as the gold standard. Convex probe (CP) endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) is a noninvasive and highly sensitive diagnostic method in mediastinal and hilar LN sampling.

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.

Sensitivity of convex probe endobronchial sonographically guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis of granulomatous mediastinal lymphadenitis.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the sensitivity and diagnostic value of convex probe endobronchial sonographically guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in the diagnosis of granulomatous mediastinal lymphadenitis.

Methods: Patients clinically and radiologically suspected to have granulomatous mediastinal disease and followed in our clinic between October 2008 and July 2010 were included. Convex probe EBUS with local anesthesia and under conscious sedation and EBUS-TBNA from hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes were performed after physical examination, chest radiography, computed tomography of the thorax, and routine biochemical analysis.

[A rare complication of port catheter].

Central venous ports are used in long term therapies of cancer patients. The insertion technique and maintenance of central venous ports is very important to avoid catheter associated complications. Widely used central venous ports in cancer patients should be periodically maintained and evaluated by expert physicians.

Efficacy of iodopovidone pleurodesis and comparison of small-bore catheter versus large-bore chest tube.

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of iodopovidone as an agent for pleurodesis in malignant pleural effusion (MPE) and to compare the efficacy of small-bore catheter (Pleuracan, Braun, Melsungen, Germany) and conventional large-bore chest tube in pleural fluid drainage and sclerotherapy.

Methods: Patients with MPE were prospectively consecutively randomized into two groups between August 2004 and February 2007: pleurodesis via conventional (32F) chest tube (group 1) and small-bore catheter (group 2), both using iodopovidone. After 3 months' follow-up, response rates (complete or partial), complication rates, and duration of procedures within whole group, group 1, and group 2 were compared.

The effect of body mass index on functional parameters and quality of life in COPD patients.

Malnutrition increases dyspnea and exercise intolerance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients by effecting respiratory muscle strength (RMS) and thereby decreasing quality of life (QoL). This is a prospective study conducted to find out the differences due to pulmonary function tests (PFT), arterial blood gases (ABG), RMS, exercise capacity (EC) and QoL in COPD patients having low and normal body mass index (BMI). The study was carried out between April 2003-June 2004 and included 65 male COPD patients with a mean age of 63.

Effects of prognostic factors and treatment on survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

In this study, 304 stage III-B and IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases diagnosed and followed up in our hospital between January 2000 and December 2002 are retrospectively analysed. The effects of demographic, clinical, laboratory findings and different therapeutic modalities on survival were investigated. Of the cases, 31 (10.