The effects of cognitive and emotional status on smoking cessation.

OBJECTIVE: Smoking cessation is affected by multiple factors including cognitive status of the patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of demographic, emotional and cognitive functions of 39 male and 42 female patients who applied to the smoking cessation outpatient clinic on smoking cessation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study recruited 81 healthy volunteers of equal age, gender, and educational level. Total Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores were compared according to age, gender, cessation methods, and Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scores in smoking cessation settings. RESULTS: In our study, there were 39 (48.1%) male patients and 42 (51.9%) female patients. While 36 patients were able to quit smoking, the remaining 38 were unable to do so. During follow-up, 7 patients had yet to be reached. Age, years of smoking, number of cigarettes smoked per day, education level, first reason for starting smoking, reasons for quitting smoking, quitting method, and medical drugs used were found to have no effect on smoking cessation; however, the MoCA total score, Beck depression scale, Beck anxiety scale, and smoking cessation scale score were found to have significant effects on smoking cessation. CONCLUSIONS: Various cognitive processes, particularly visuospatial and attention skills, have been found to be useful in quitting smoking. Furthermore, emotional states, such as depression and anxiety have a negative impact on quitting smoking. We believe that if it is provided to the patients in the smoking cessation outpatient clinic to boost cognitive capabilities and treat mood problems, the success of smoking cessation will increase.

A practical means of evaluating the prognosis of acute pancreatitis, as measurement of carotid artery intima-media thickness.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Factors such as age, obesity, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia that cause adverse prognosis in acute pancreatitis also cause an increase in carotid intima-media thickness. In this study, we aimed to investigate the usability of the measurement of carotid intima-media thickness, which is an easy to apply, cost-effective means of measurement applied to the patients, in predicting AP prognosis, apart from the criteria currently utilized to predict AP prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 101 patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis were prospectively enrolled into the study. Right and left common carotid artery intima-media thickness, right and left internal carotid artery intima-media thickness were measured with ultrasonographic images performed within the first 24 hours of hospitalization. local or systemic complications and organ failure development were monitored in the follow-up of the patients. RESULTS: After the ROC analysis was performed and the threshold value was determined. The patients with main and internal carotid artery intima-media thickness above 0.775 mm were seen to have a more severe AP (p = 0.000). Local and systemic complications and organ failure were also more common in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of carotid intima-media thickness is a non-invasive method that can be used to predict the prognosis in patients with acute pancreatitis at presentation.

Hemoptysis and massive focal alveolar hemorrhage after successful biventricular pacemaker implantation.

During and after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) implantation, many adverse events may occur. We present an interesting and important patient with hemoptysis and massive focal alveolar hemorrhage in a patient after a successful CRT implantation. CRT implantation was completed without any problems. In the follow-up, complaints of cough and hemoptysis began 1 h after the procedure. On the PA chest X-ray, a ground glass image was found in the left upper zone. Thorax CT revealed focal alveolar hemorrhage in the left upper lobe anterior segmental lung parenchyma. The patient was followed up with medical treatment and discharged in good health.