Gut microbiota profiles of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. Multiple genetic factors, environmental exposures, micro-aspirations secondary to gastroesophageal reflux, age, sex, smoking habit, and infections contribute to its etiology; consequently, its pathogenesis remains unclear. The homeostasis of gut microbiota, including bacteria, archaea, and fungi, can influence the functions of both the intestine and remote organs.

Correlation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells with C-reactive protein, ferritin and lactate dehydrogenase levels in patients with severe COVID-19.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains a global health emergency, and understanding the interactions between the virus and host immune responses is crucial to preventing its lethal effects. The expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in COVID-19, thereby suppressing immune responses, has been described as responsible for the severity of the disease, but the correlation between MDSC subsets and COVID-19 severity remains elusive. Therefore, we classified patients according to clinical and laboratory findings-aiming to investigate the relationship between MDSC subsets and laboratory findings such as high C-reactive protein, ferritin and lactate dehydrogenase levels, which indicate the severity of the disease.

Diagnostic value of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine and of periostin in eosinophilic asthma: A prospective study.

Serum thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and periostin are reliable biomarkers in eosinophilic asthma. This study was carried out to determine the use of periostin and TARC as biomarkers in asthma and to compare the superiority of one over the other, especially in asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype. The study was conducted with 87 patients with asthma and 42 healthy control subjects.

Diagnostic value of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine and of periostin in eosinophilic asthma: A prospective study.

Background: Serum thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and periostin are reliable biomarkers in eosinophilicasthma.

Objective: This study was carried out to determine the use of periostin and TARC as biomarkers in asthma and to comparethe superiority of one over the other, especially in asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype.

Methods: The study was conducted with 87 patients with asthma and 42 healthy control subjects.

The evaluation of prognostic value of acute phase reactants in the COVID-19.

Aims: The aim of this study was to explain the demographic data, comorbidity and laboratory findings of our first cases in COVID-19 pneumonia in our country.

Methods: We gathered the data of COVID-19 pneumonia participants from our electronic medical system, including daily medical knowledge and laboratory, radiological, and microbiological results between March 10 to April 7, 2020.

Results: Totally, 125 patients, whose findings were compatible with COVID-19, were included in the study, 42 patients were excluded from the study.

Impact of low molecular weight heparin administration on the clinical course of the COVID-19 disease.

Background: Lymphopenia is the most important criterion of mortality and discharging feature for patients infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to investigate the clinical impact of a low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) treatment on the clinical course of COVID-19.

Materials And Methods: Patients’ clinical symptoms, radiologic outcomes, hematologic, biochemical, D-dimer, and C-reactive protein (CRP) results were obtained from their medical records.

The relationship between the findings of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials and severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Purpose: Our study aimed to evaluate the effects of chronic hypoxic state in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) on brainstem pathways using Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) test and to investigate the presence of new markers likely to be correlated with the severity of the disease.

Methods: The study was planned as prospective and double blind. A total of 60 patients (120 ears) diagnosed with mild, moderate and severe OSAS were included in the study and the patients are grouped as 20 patients in each group.

Redefining Cut-Points for High Symptom Burden of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Classification in 18,577 Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be classified into groups A/C or B/D based on symptom intensity. Different threshold values for symptom questionnaires can result in misclassification and, in turn, different treatment recommendations. The primary aim was to find the best fitting cut-points for Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) symptom measures, with an modified Medical Research Council dyspnea grade of 2 or higher as point of reference.

Comparison of the efficacy of prednisolone, montelukast, and omalizumab in an experimental allergic rhinitis model.

Aim: To compare the efficacy ofprednisolone, montelukast, and omalizumab in reducing allergic symptoms and inflammation at tissue level in an experimental allergic rhinitis model.

Materials And Methods: Forty Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into 5 groups as naive (NS/NC), sensitized/challenged (S/C) by subcutaneous ovalbumin antigen injection, and montelukast-, prednisolone-, and omalizumab-treated groups. A nasal allergen challenge was performed every day from day 20 to day 26.

Cognitive function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: relationship to global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease 2011 categories.

Background And Objective: Recently, comorbidities such as impaired cognitive function have been attracting more focus when considering the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Here we investigated the relationship between cognitive function and the categories given in the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines in 2011. Specifically, after controlling for non-COPD covariates, we assessed the clinical features that may be predictive of cognitive impairment in patients with COPD.

Serum C-reactive protein and procalcitonin levels in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Aim Of The Study: The basic uses of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) in clinical practice are in the diagnosis and follow-up of infectious disease. The fact that CRP already achieves high levels in cases with lung cancer, however, limits its diagnostic specificity. Procalcitonin may be an important marker in the differential diagnosis of lung cancer patients who have fever and high CRP levels.

Assessment of ocular neurotoxicity in patients treated with systemic cancer chemotherapeutics.

Purpose: Cisplatin and Paclitaxel are two chemotherapeutic agents known to produce neurotoxicity when used for cumulative dose regimens. In this study we aim to assess their toxicity in the optic nerve, and to evaluate the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness and visual field changes in lung cancer patients treated with Cisplatin and Paclitaxel.

Methods: Fifteen patients who were treated intravenously with 75 mg/m(2) cisplatin and 175 mg/m(2) paclitaxel every 3 weeks, up to a maximum of six courses, were enrolled in this prospective clinical trial.

Phenotyping of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using the modified Bhalla scoring system for high-resolution computed tomography.

Background: Identifying different phenotypes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is important for both therapeutic options and clinical outcome of the disease.

Objective: To characterize the phenotypes of COPD according to high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings; and to correlate HRCT scores obtained using the modified Bhalla scoring system with clinical and physiological indicators of systemic inflammation.

Methods: The present study included 80 consecutive patients with stable COPD.

Attentional control is partially impaired in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is associated with executive cognitive impairment. An important question is whether impairment in executive functioning in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is independent of dysfunction in attention. Attentional control is a subcomponent of executive functioning that is mediated by frontal lobe processing.

Flexible bronchoscopy may decrease respiratory muscle strength: premedicational midazolam in focus.

Background: Flexible bronchoscopy (FB) is a procedure accepted to be safe in general, with low complication rates reported. On the other hand, it is known that patients with pre-existing respiratory failure have developed hypoventilation following FB. In this study the effects of FB on respiratory muscle strength were investigated by measuring maximum respiratory pressures.

Effects of simvastatin on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in female rats.

Statins reduce cholesterol levels by inhibiting 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase and have a major place in the treatment of atherosclerotic disease. Recent studies have shown anti-inflammatory properties of statins. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of simvastatin on bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of sirolimus on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats.

Purpose: Pulmonary fibrosis is a devastating disease with a poor prognosis. Although the diagnosis and pathophysiology of this disease have been better characterized over the past few years, there is no effective therapy for the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of sirolimus (SRL), which is a potential anti-fibrotic agent, by using bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis model in rats.

Pneumothorax as an initial manifestation of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Case Report: A sixty-five-year-old man with bullous lung disease was admitted to emergency service with chest pain and dyspnea that developed during sleep. Pneumothorax was diagnosed both clinically and radiologically. After the chest drainage, the patient presented with a prolonged air leak that required thoracotomy.

Respiratory failure caused by giant thymolipoma.

The authors present the case of a 31-year-old woman with a massive anterior mediastinal tumor who presented with respiratory failure. A thoracic computed tomographic scan suggested a mediastinal lipomatous mass, and an operation was performed. Resection of the tumor resulted in immediate improvement in the patient's pulmonary status, and the histopathologic examination revealed thymolipoma.

Comparison of different dose regimens of enoxaparin in deep vein thrombosis therapy in pregnancy.

Introduction: Pregnant women have a higher risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and consequent thrombogenic events, including pulmonary embolisms. Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) products have been shown to successfully treat DVT with few significant side effects. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two dose regimens of enoxaparin (a LMWH) in the management of DVT in pregnancy.