Applicability of Xpert MTB/RIF assay for routine diagnosis of tuberculosis: a four-year single-center experience.

Background/aim: The aim of this study is to assess the Xpert MTB/RIF assay for diagnosis of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in clinical samples and to compare the results by reference to the diagnostic method, Bactec MGIT 960.

Materials And Methods: A total of 7407 samples were included from patients not primarily suggesting pulmonary or extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB), collected from patients required to be screened for TB and excluding TB diagnoses since it was a differential diagnosis. Also included were a total of 411 samples from patients primarily suggesting pulmonary or extrapulmonary TB.

Diagnostic usefulness of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in suspected pulmonary embolism.

Background: The role of biomarkers for prognostication and diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) is increasing. It has been reported that pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) can be used as a proatherosclerotic marker. The present study was aimed to evaluate whether PAPP-A levels are helpful in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with suspected PE.

Significance of serum cardiac troponin I levels in pulmonary embolism.

Background: Some biomarkers can be helpful in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) and determining of severity and prognosis of the disease. In this study, we aimed to analyze the elevated cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels and its association with electrocardiography (ECG) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) findings in patients with PE.

Methods: Totally 106 patients with suspected PE were included in the study.

[The practice of respiratory disability assessment in a university hospital: the analysis of 136 patients].

Introduction: This study, to examine the outcomes of the respiratory disability assessment in our clinic.

Materials And Methods: The reports of 136 patients who attended the chest diseases clinic between January 2010 and June 2011 for the assessment of the respiratory disability were examined retrospectively.

Results: Of 10.

Pulmonary toxicity of chronic exposure to tobacco and biomass smoke in rats.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the separate and combined effects of tobacco and biomass smoke exposure on pulmonary histopathology in rats.

Introduction: In addition to smoking, indoor pollution in developing countries contributes to the development of respiratory diseases.

Methods: Twenty-eight adult rats were divided into four groups as follows: control group (Group I, no exposure to tobacco or biomass smoke), exposed to tobacco smoke (Group II), exposed to biomass smoke (Group III), and combined exposure to tobacco and biomass smoke (Group IV).