The assessment of the malignant mesothelioma cases and environmental asbestos exposure in Sivas province, Turkey.

One of the most significant diseases related to environmental asbestos exposure is malignant mesothelioma (MM). Sivas province is located in the Central Anatolia where asbestos exposure is common. We aimed to study clinical, demographical and epidemiologic features of the patients with MM in Sivas, along with the history of asbestos exposure.

Clinical characteristics, treatment and survival outcomes in malignant mesothelioma: eighteen years' experience in Turkey.

Background: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an insidious tumor with poor prognosis, arising from mesothelial surfaces such as pleura, peritoneum and pericardium. We here aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical, and radiological features of patients with MM followed in our center as well as their survival.

Methods: The study included 228 patients (131 male, 97 female) who were followed up in our institution between 1993 and 2010 with the diagnosis of MM.

Oxidative stress levels in exhaled breath condensate associated with COPD and smoking.

Background: COPD is characterized by chronic air-flow limitation. Smoking is the most important factor in the pathogenesis of COPD. Smoking is associated with increased oxidative stress in the lungs.

Oxidative status in the lungs associated with tobacco smoke exposure.

Background: Oxidative stress has a critical role in inflammatory responce against tobacco smoke (TS). Testing exhaled breath condensate (EBC) samples is one of the methods used for assessment of airway inflammation caused by TS. We aimed to investigate oxidative stress in the lungs associated with TS and to evaluate the effect of this stress with pulmonary function tests (PFTs).

[Evaluation of the knowledge and manner of workers of workplaces in Tokat about the ban on restriction of indoor smoking].

To evaluate the knowledge and manner of cafe, pub and restaurant (with/without alcohol) workers in our city center about the ban on restriction of indoor smoking. To determine the preparation about the ban, smoking characteristics of workers, the knowledge on passive smoking. A questionnaire was performed to workers.

An unusual case of Wegener's granulomatosis with tongue involvement.

Wegener's granulomatosis is a type of vasculitis characterized by necrotizing granulomatosis respiratory tract lesions and necrotising glomerulonephritis. Nasal, lung and renal biopsies and positive antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (c-ANCA) analysis is helpful in diagnosis. Early diagnosis and treatment is critical in prognosis.

Denim sandblasting and silicosis two new subsequent cases in Turkey.

Unlabelled: In our country quartz is widely used for denim sandblasting and new cases with silicosis are defined. Silicosis is a preventable occupational lung disease caused by inhaled dust containing crystalline silica and no effective treatment for silicosis is available (1). CASE 1: A 23-years old man was admitted to the hospital with dyspnea on effort and cough.

[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 skin manifestations in patients with lung cancers].

It is also common to observe skin manifestations in many internal malignancies. The lung cancer is a frequently seen internal cancer. Due to its gradually increasing incidence, it has become the first reason of death from cancer also in women by overtaking the breast cancer.

Strong association between the GSTM1-null genotype and lung cancer in a Turkish population.

Glutathione S-transferases are possibly related to the detoxification of many xenobiotics involved in the etiology of cancer. To investigate the role of the glutathione S-transferase M1 deletion (GSTM1-null) in lung cancer, the polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the GSTM1 genotypes of lung cancer patients (n=101) and hospital (n=206) in a Turkish population. The prevalence of the GSTM1-null genotype in the case group was 48%, compared to 18% in the control group, giving an odds ratio (OR) of 4.

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).

Evaluation of pulmonary changes due to biomass fuels using high-resolution computed tomography.

Biomass fuels are frequently used in rural areas of the world for cooking and heating frequently. It has been reported that the use of these fuels causes hazardous effects on the lungs. In this study, we evaluated the pulmonary changes due to the use of biomass fuels in a female population that lives in our territory by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT).

Tracheobronchial rupture: a considerable risk for young teenagers.

Tracheobronchial (TB) ruptures are ten times lower in children than in adults. Despite its rarity in the literature, we found that it is as common as in adults in our series. We investigated TB ruptures in childhood regarding age, trauma presentation, injury localization and treatment options.