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).

Chest X-ray and bacteriology in the initial phase of treatment of 800 male patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Objective: To evaluate chest X-rays of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and to determine whether the extent of radiographic lesions correlates with bacteriological parameters.

Methods: In this retrospective, descriptive study, we evaluated chest X-rays, as well as AFB detection by smear microscopy and culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, initially and during the first two months of treatment, in 800 male patients hospitalized between 1995 and the present at a 250-bed hospital in northwestern Turkey.

Results: The initial mean ESR was 58 ± 37 mm/h.

Bronchial wall thickness in toll collectors.

There is an increasing concern about the possible adverse effects of diesel exhaust particulates on human health. In a diesel exposed occupational group composed of 120 toll collectors, a cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the chest radiographs and 40 toll collectors were selected for computed tomography examination according to hyperinflation and linear markings. The wall thicknesses and luminal diameters of trachea, main bronchi, and segmental bronchi of right apical and posterior basal segments were measured with manual tracing method.

Inspiratory muscle strength is correlated with carnitine levels in type 2 diabetes.

Introduction: Plasma carnitine insufficiency has been known to cause muscle weakness. Carnitine levels and pulmonary functions were lower in patients with diabetes.

Patients And Methods: To determine whether pulmonary functions are correlated with carnitine levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

A frame-shift mutation in the SLC34A2 gene in three patients with pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis in an inbred family.

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare disease characterized by the presence of small calculi in the alveolar space. The SLC34A2 is thought to be responsible for the disease. We encountered three siblings of an inbred family who have PAM.

Annual changes in forced expiratory flows in toll collectors: results from a four years observation.

Diesel exhaust (DE) has been accused for various health outcomes including exacerbation of asthma, chronic bronchitis. Exposure to DE has long-term effects on lung development in children and reductions in lung function have been reported. The aim of the study was to evaluate the annual changes in forced expiratory flows among toll collectors in Duzce city from 2002 to 2005.

[Symptom prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome in health-care providers in central Sivas].

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is the most common sleep disorder that can lead to serious complications. Polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of OSAHS. Unfortunately, PSG studies are expensive, time-consuming, requiring special team and equipment.

[The effects of long-term oxygen therapy on survey in patients with chronic respiratory failure].

Long-term (> or = 15 hours) oxygen therapy (LTOT) increases life-span and improves quality of life (QOL) in patients with chronic respiratory failure (CRF). However, in our clinical practice, we observed that very few patients are using oxygen therapy 15 hours or more. Furthermore, very few literatures about survival of non- or inadequate oxygen users were found.

Validity of the CA125 level in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

The aim of the current study was to determine the possible crucial role of cancer antigen 125 (CA125) in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). The CA125 levels of study and control groups were statistically compared. In a total of 146 patients that were included in the current study, 30 had active PTB, 37 inactive PTB, 28 community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), 25 pleural or pulmonary malignancies, and 13 patients exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

[The prevalence of sleep related disorders among the drivers and it's relation with traffic accidents].

Studies consistently show that patients with sleep related diseases (SRD) have higher accident rates. Polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of SRD. Sleep habits questionnaires are also useful tool for research of the prevalence of SRD on large populations.

The prevalence of sleep related disorders in Sivas, Turkey.

The prevalence of sleep-related disorders (SRD) in adults in Turkey is unknown. The main objective of our study was to assess the prevalence of SRD in Sivas, Turkey. Adults living in Sivas, a city of Turkey from the central region of Anatolia at 20-107 years of age, in both genders, of the 5339 persons, who attended the survey 2638 (49.

Prevalence of asthma and related symptoms in Sivas, Central Anatolia.

Background: In our clinical experience, asthma is an important health problem in our region, but we did not know its prevalence.

Objective: The main objective of our study was to assess the prevalence of asthma in Sivas, a city in Central Anatolia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed using a screening questionnaire adopted from European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS).